Uchida Mayumi (Ucchi) / 5th Generation

Whoa, her graduation stage is coming up so soon.

And yeah, I also still find it a bit unfair how she's not getting much attention for being the very first Janken center ever in AKB history. At least I'm hoping they'll perform Chance no Junban during her graduation.

 

Uchida Mayumi I think is one of the best examples for showing the flaws in management style/idol system. We have someone who has shown to be very talented in a large variety of fields. At 21 years old she has managed to become a member of the #1 pop group in Japan, became a published author and is a business owner. Not just an owner in name only either she seems to be actively involved in the management of her restaurant. Yet she was never given the time of day within the idol system including (and this I will always think was unfair) not including her in Kibouteki Refrain despite including every other AKB48 center including former members simply because (I assume anyone because I can't think of another reason) she was never elected into the senbatsu and was not popular enough.

She has accomplished more than many do in their whole lives and she has a good head on her shoulders (obviously she is has been thinking about and planning for her life outside of akb48) so I think she will excel after graduation.

 

Is it really a flaw, or more that she just never picked up steam in entertainment?

It happens. Honestly, she would be wasted as an entertainer, because she's clearly a much more capable businessperson.

 

Well it's hard to put into words. Why didn't she pick up steam though? Why did she not grow a fan base why did management choose not to push her that is what I meant by a flaw in the system.

You are right she is shown to be a very level headed businessperson and I hope her restaurant does well. The point I was trying to make is that several times I see members who are not particularly popular (going by SSK ranking) but it confuses me as to why they are not as popular as others. I assume it's cultural differences I just don't understand what makes a strong talent in the idol world. But when I see members who are strong singers, or actresses, or someone like Ucchi who has a list of accomplishments outside of entertainment not gain any traction it confuses me.

 

To be honest it's all about luck. Not every girl pushed works out. Look at Sato Natsuki, one of my former ni-oshis - she was pushed to death, the girl has some really great HS and fan interactions in addition to being one of the best voices of all time in the 48G. No traction at all.

Everything is a hit or miss. Not every push works out.

 

Afraid that Sato Natsuki left before I really became a big fan of AKB48 so I don't know much about her other than what is on the wiki. Though she is another one like Ucchi who seemed to also focus on a life outside of entertainment by getting into a prestigious university. But I get what your saying.

 

She isn't the only one - there are current ones like Natsumikan, Okapan, etc. who are all very underlooked not by management but by fans.

 

I looked so hard for Ucchi's book back in Japan but I was never able to find it. Would Amazon be able to provide me with such a miracle?

I used to hang around Shin-Okubo a lot since it was so close from home in Ikebukuro. Had I known better I would have looked for it. I was almost always there for the beauty products and the 500 yen ddeokbokki tbh.

 

Ucchi Grad stage in around 2h 30m (1815 JST)
COME SUPPORT THE FINAL DAYS OF YOKOYAMA TEAM K
BY CRYING OVER LOCAL YAKINIKU RESTAURANT OWNER'S GRADUATION

Bonus Points aka ALL THE CRYING FOREVER
if they sing/surprise Ucchi with Chance no Junban

 

Her graduation performance report can be found here:
http://akb48.blog48.fc2.com/blog-entry-18369.html (I can't translate, maybe someone wants to do a write up on this.

Encore songs were Tenohira (Mayumi solo), Nante suteki na sekai ni umareta no darou (5th gen) and Chance no junban (All).
there was some video messages from Chikarina and Shimada. It looks like Ucchi even joked asking if Shimada was wearing pregnancy clothes (From what i get from web translators)

 

Yay! Chance no Junban! I'm glad they performed it; it's a good song to send off Ucchi with.

Forever the first Janken queen.

 

Yes, looks like it will

 

YASSSSSSSSSSSS Back to my reading list.

I happen to have found it in CD Japan, as well. This is so exciting!

 

I got not idea it was her last day of activity.

【AKB48】内田眞由美がAKB48としての最後の活動を終える

http://akb48-matome.blog.jp/archives/51981136.html

 

Happy Birthday Ucchi

 

Ucchi and Akicha on an excursion to Kamakura. http://stage48.net/forum/index.php?...-takajo-aki-akicha.1410/page-309#post-1173105

 

Ucchi is in vacation.

In Mossan's backyard.

More precisely, CEBU.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BFXsjhFRfWP/

 

More precisely, has been. She came back last night.

 

Meatballs.

 

looks like there will be a new IWA restaurant in Niigata soon

source

http://headlines.yahoo.co.jp/hl?a=20160526-00000006-spnannex-ent

http://www.sponichi.co.jp/entertainment/news/2016/05/26/kiji/K20160526012656720.html