HKT48: Hopes, Fears, and Predictions for 2021

The Hakata version

 

Hopes:
- Sakura gets her first HKT single
- Team Shuffle (Sakura moves to Team H, she is the HKT ace now)
- Sasshi's produced stage comes into play
- No major graduation (HKT can be the 48G main force next year)

Fears:
- Sakura and Nako stays in iZone (90% unlikely)

Predictions:
- Only 1 single, again
- A new reality show

 

Hopes:
- 2 singles
- Team Shuffle with 5gen being promoted
- Sasshi's original stage
- 10th anniversary in a big concert like Fukuoka dome

Fear:
- Big graduations from 1st and 2nd generation

Predictions:
- Hakata nanairo being performed until the return of sakura and nako
- 1 single in summer SakuNako wcenter
- 5gen promoted without Team Shuffle
- No new stages for the teams

 

Hopes:
-All 5th Gen promoted
-New single/s
-Concert Tour
-Original stages
-Continuation of What is Okehazama?

Predictions:
-The return of Teams H, KIV, TII, and KKS to theater performances
-HKT48 Group Shuffle
-1 Single, midyear-ish
-Korea Project disbanded at end of contract, Nako return to HKT48, Sakura graduate from HKT48 and remains in Korea
-Graduations from each Gens
-More Softbank local sponsorships/collaborations

Fears:
-No original stages
-Sasshi-written stage abandoned by management
-No concerts
-No Single
-No shuffle
-Only part of 5th Gen promoted
-The cancellation of What is Okehazama?
-Some members from 3rd Gen, 4th Gen, 5th Gen graduate

Spoiler

-Eretan graduation

 

Hopes:
The theater is slowly back to full business
Sakura & Nako are back
At least 2 singles
Promotions and / or Team shuffles
Sasshi's original stage
HKT48 keeps going in interesting directions
Major concert in Fukuoka

Fears:
Sakura, Nako don't really bring new fans / add more value
The 2 above leave immediatly after
Miku is put aside
No original stage at all
less TV shows

Predictions:
1 single

 

Hopes: At least two singles. An album to go along with those.
Fears: This isn't my favorite of the Japan based 48 groups so I don't have any particular fears for them outside of the big one (Disbandment).
Predictions: Sakura and Nako return doesn't benefit the group in the long run. I can easily see a chunk of whatever fans they made through their Korean activities becoming "fans" of the group for as long as Sakura and Nako are still in HKT after their return, but the moment both of those girls are out of the picture those "fans" will be too. AKA Sakura and Nako will be the only ones who actually benefit from their Korean activities in the end. In spite of the above I can see a Sakura and Nako W-Center single happening when they return precisely to capitalize while they can instead of focusing on building newer stars. I couldn't even blame them as it would be a sound business decision to capitalize on their return and any potential new "fans" they might bring with them as well as on the cash people who've been waiting for them to come back will be willing to spend on such a single. Heck I could even forgive that kind of single if they went with someone fresh in the single after it.