[GENERAL] The AKB48 Thread

The new original song is titled "Wonderland"
https://twitter.com/AKB48_staff/status/1628938465932115969

Edit:
Song preview:
https://twitter.com/XRWorld_JP/status/1628937885633380352

 

Members that follow XR World's Twitter account:

Shitao Miu
Chiba Erii
Tokunaga Remi
Oguri Yui
Yamauchi Mizuki
Sakagawa Hiyuka

How odd.

 

Must be Naru in disguise

 

It can't be, that one can't follow more than eito accounts.

....................................................................................................................................................................................................

Are?

https://twitter.com/AKB48_staff/status/1629813707177082881
https://video.twimg.com/ext_tw_video/1629813579271790593/pu/vid/1280x720/tXHR9Nq1mjIM82rM.mp4


if the video does not show watch the video here


if the video does not show watch the video here

 

Wow, I'm really curious about what is this, 24h for the full video on youtube

 

New theatre in Harajuku? The 61st single with 21 members and that person is Maho?

We know what 0227 means, but 21?

EDIT: Nevermind, it can't be the 61st => https://twitter.com/s_snowgirl_n/status/1629817080588685313

 

21 pm JST ?

 

Sh-Sh-Shut up!

 

I just saw the videos on YouTube and I was so confused o_o I also thought about a new single maybe, does anyone know what the comments say at the beginning of the video? and the other texts on screen through the video. Maybe this can help to understand lol. well this is an interesting way to introduce something, and it's exciting! Looking forward to tomorrow

 

I hope not, the theater is the the theater

Would be great if someone who can read japanese tell us what is written in the first shots of the video

 

While pretty much everyone simply relayed the staff tweet, Momoka used a different hashtag
#拡散希望
https://twitter.com/momo_0x0_920/status/1629820044254531585

 

21+27=48 (not that it helps much with clues).

 

I can see a lot of theories, but have my own!

21 is the current age of single center!

 

But ! but !!
AKB isn't that old !

 

Hirata Team H
Onishi Team J
Sakaguchi Team K

 

yuki @Oniku014 1hr ago
AKB時代は終わってましたか？
Is the era of AKB over?

yuki @Oniku014 1hr ago
AKB カラオケでよく歌ってたなー
I used to sing AKB at karaoke a lot~

Shimizu @akb555 2hrs ago
時代が変わったなー。AKB懐かしい。
The era has changed~. I miss the old AKB.

SAN-chan @46cyan8 2hrs ago
まだAKBって会いに行けるんだっけ？
Can you still go to see AKB?

Shuuto @bbq31go 3hrs ago
AKBはどこに向かっている?
Where is AKB headed?

Akkii @asayowa 3hrs ago
AKBが輝いていた時代、なつかしー
The time when AKB used to shine, I miss it~

Kaiji @panchika 3hrs ago
今のAKB顔と名前が一致しない。
The face and name of the current AKB don't match.

Search results:
AKB is finished
AKB nostalgic
AKB who are the members
AKB now
AKB I don't know anyone

As the girl starts cycling away from Akihabara, the following phrases show up:

The era of AKB is over
Can you still go to see AKB?

Scene showing banner saying "Akihabara 3rd Floor"

The time when AKB used to shine
Where are they headed?
Who is XX?

Scene showing TOKYO DOME

Where are they headed?
The face and name don't match
Who is the most popular? (一番誰が人気？)
Are they finished?
Is their era already over?
Nostalgic
Who is the most popular?
The face and name don't match
I used to sing them a lot at karaoke
Can you still go to see them?
Unsuccessful (落選)
Nostalgic million

Scene showing Shibuya

Where are they headed?

Scene showing Harajuku train station
Scene showing Takeshita street (shopping street in Harajuku)

Nostalgic

 

Just to join in the fun on trying to solve the cryptic video:
A fan posted some interesting points:

The rider is heading towards Jingumae Tower Building, which is also the office of Universal Music Japan.
Which has some ties to Blowout Inc., that will produce Out Of 48.

Maybe this is the official reveal of OO48?

Also for the rider, another theory says the rider changes over time:

Akiba area is Yuiyui, Shibuya area is Hiichan and Harajuku area is Miion(?)

Spoiler: sources

https://twitter.com/hebaragi48/status/1629828677705035777
https://twitter.com/hebaragi48/status/1629826688518586368
https://twitter.com/hebaragi48/status/1629830530236575749

Regardless, it could be anything, but I just personally love this way of generating buzz!
They need to do this more.

 

I saw some speculation that the "Who is the most popular" line could hint at the return of the sousenkyo.

I do think that AKB lacks a lot of the big events that made them unique in the first place. Like the janken single never sold very well, but it was still a massive event that could gain people's attention. Same with the ssk, even though it seemed quite stressful for the members themselves.

 

Thank you @bonjourmarlene for the translation!
Somehow, from all what is said there, I get the idea that a re-branding(new name) could be possible. Tho very unlikely, but I just like the thought.

 

I visited the theatre today, and it was in need of a new coat of paint in at least the public areas (I didn’t get to go inside the theatre, but I’m guessing it also needs refurbishment). Also seeing the empty photo cabinets are a painful reminder of where AKB48 is today, with team akb4 photos taking up 2/3 of the available space, and team 8 taking up about half the original space.