Single AKB48 56th [Sustainable] (2019/09/18)

^She's 17.

 

That has not stopped her before as we know.

 

Wrong analogy. It's more like K-idol fangirls imagine herself with her bias (not to offense, but most of SEA fans are like this). Heck, some middle-aged JE wota (who are woman, of course) have kind of relationship with newer JE idols.

Have heard about Hana-chan?

It's more like collaboration between AKBG franchise, just like AKB Group Asian Festival. Not like some Kpop artist's collaboration with western artist...

Then can you explain to me (and all of S48 users) how could Hana became center of HKT's 2 singles back-to-back, instead of not only Sakura and Sasshi, but also Mio and NakoMiku?? (not counting Haruppi and Meru since both of them have centered singles before)

Black Pink and Twice have lot of fangirls and they don't have "delusional" relationship toward the girls, unlike Kai and Kang Daniel who have hardcore fangirls (and shippers).
Seolhyun, when the news came, was not so popular anymore like her peak.

Which means extending the franchise around the world, not doing annual world tour.

Oh God, one of them lives in America and rarely goes back to Korea until recently

Her fishing technique?

 

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Both are turnoffs

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Well, mainly the second one, the first only because she blatantly uses them as part of her fishing.

 

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No shit

 

@wlerin let's consider "watch idols grow" as a general idea. This can also works when they selected Yuiyui as Teacher teacher center.

 

Is there really a worse than usual ranting/backlash against Moeka's centership among Japanese fans?

Since so far here in Stage 48, its pretty much just the usual ranting which is totally understandable.

 

There might be other details regarding this, but not selling out 9 slots after getting pushed as single center when she used to sell out everything after 2nd/3rd round seems like a silent but telling response. Social media backlash won't really hurt her, but declining sale might contribute.

Didn't someone who watch the entire thing live say that fans' initial response was also not that appreciative.

Mess, has she really not performed for that long? Why? Her school? The stage is hard? Yu freaking kirin performed at B stage twice recently. Is she somehow already busier than Yukirin?

 

I'm not necessarily trying to defend her but I do have to add that Yukirin is a full time idol, while Moeka is still in school. And while they're on holidays at the moment, as far as I know, Japanese schools give a lot of summer holiday home work. There is also a possibility she might be looking to enrol at a university next year so it's possible she might be studying for something like that, too.

As someone that's just taken a break from university for a semester and worked full-time instead, I can confidently say that having a part-time job and studying to do is a lot more time- and energy-consuming than a full-time job. When you have a full-time job, once you're home, you don't have anything else to do. I'm sure Yukirin practises the dances and songs, but she probably does that at the theatre (and considering how long she's been part of the group, probably knows all the old dances anyway and even if she forgets some moves, has them refreshed quickly); but Moeka has to practise dance and song while also studying, and she's not as experienced as Yukirin.

Just my two cents on why it might be difficult for her to balance both things.

 

If its because of her studies ,she could have just taken a small hiatus like Hiwatan or Maeda Ayaka ...just saying There's a lot of teens in AKB48 and they all manage studies and theater performance tbh

 

I actually searched for japanese people opinions about this. But of course not in 2ch etc. where like every AKB girl gets hate anyway. I searched in Twitter and Youtube. What I can say is that the opinions are very realistic, fair and expected for a new girl being put in center.

First you have the positives: people calling Moeka cute, a few said she looks like a popular actress (I think Hirose Suzu? Not sure. I guess it's the haircut LOL). Many people asking her name because they never heard of Moeka before since she's very new. There has been an increase of searches for her too and especially her singing videos increase a lot in views and of course she only receive praises for her voice. Lots of people are surprised to know someone can sing like this in AKB (tbh they need to watch the singing competition to know better LOL).

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The singing videos:


if the video does not show watch the video here


if the video does not show watch the video here


if the video does not show watch the video here


if the video does not show watch the video here

Then there are mixed opinions. It often comes from the people who said "Moeka is cute but..." that's often how these comments go. The main criticism I saw is the one about her expressions LOL some say she has an amazing amount of expressions but many people thought she will be cuter if she does less, that she does too much. which is something I agree with tbh. Maybe she will read the comments online and work on that. imo the only necessary change is replacing the duck faces with smiles and it will be ideal. Her natural smile is actually very cute. This is one of the things that show how new she is.

Lastly there are the more negative comments who disagree with her being center. Reasons are like how it's too early for her or other girls are better suited.

Honestly I didn't feel like people were being mean or unfair to her even in negativity, from the ones I saw, it wasn't insulting or overly mad. I actually saw more mean and degrading comments in english. I don't doubt that there are japanese people who did that too but probably most of it is on 2ch which is where they belong tbh... I mean negativity and criticism is completely normal. I just think it's good to keep some limits before it becomes total hate or people going too far (I won't say it but some things I saw in english on Twitter was quite awful especially about a 17 years old girl. but it's a minority of people... still :/)

 

I agree so much with this criticism. She is certainly cute, but imo her facial expressions are too forced. Too much duck face during the live performance, it's a little distracting. But I guess 48 groups is all about growth, so hopefully her expression will get better.

 

I see where you're coming from but most of the other teens don't hold a center position or are being pushed. None of us really know what happens behind the scenes.

And, at the end of the day, we don't know where the girls' priorities lie We've had quite a couple of graduations due to "focus on studying"

 

There was an explanation a few pages ago about how Moeka stop having gimmick HS since the previous single. So her sales are slower but you can't really compare it to very older ones. and she also probably lost some from the fans who were just curious about her but didn't convert to regular fans. Now she also had her issue in June and it's recent so there is that too. Her HS can only be compared to the previous single were she also had no gimmick. She did slow down though but considering all happenings, she's not doing bad. If we rank girls by who sell faster, she is still more or less at the place she was in last single. She's also on her way to have all slots sold out so she seems to do fine. So many people were thinking she will totally drop and get surpassed by many but it isn't the case right now... let's see future rounds and next singles, it will be interesting.

Moeka taking a hiatus from AKB when she got all that attention in her first year, called super kenkyuusei etc. #2 in singing competition, strong HS, successful solo concert, first photobook on the way... it would be crazy. You can't compare it to theater girls. Taking a hiatus from AKB when you do this well would be the worst decision ever... actually I was surprised when SKE's Maya who got in AKB senbatsu recently went on hiatus. and she didn't have as much attention as Moeka at all, but I feel that the timing is ruining her chances as idol since she was just getting all opportunities now, and I wonder if she can get in senbatsu again once she is back... AKB change very fast and it's very competitive. You can't ruin your chances. You don't get attention and interest of fans twice... especially not after a hiatus.

The other option would be to take a break from high school but I personally think that the members shouldn't do this and finish high school at minimum for their own good. So in result, it's the only option for Moeka to balance things even if it means not doing everything in AKB. I guess she will be done with school next year or the year after. Then we will see if she tries college but usually if someone is busy in AKB, I think they focus on it after high school. (Random but there was a time Rinrin was so focused on college and I thought AKB won't be her priority ;_; but eventually things changed and it made me happy how much she is dedicated to AKB in the recent years! But of course it's all a personal choice for their own life. it depends on each girl).

 

Look, there are a lot of girls of the past and in the present, who had/has just as much to do as Moeka, if not much, much more work. And they could and can perfectly balance these things. Moeka is simply not fit for being a center. She doesn't perform in the theater unlike other girls. Her popularity is inflated. She has had a major scandal, and despite her excuses, there is no doubt that she indeed did have these scandals (just look for the uncensored pics showing the identity of her boyfriend, which is consistent throughout all the pictures).

Right now Moeka is doing nothing to show she deserves to be center, and to have this gorioshi-level push.

It is also rather remarkable that this one girl, somehow cannot perform her duties, due to supposed school responsibilities, when other center girls have had same responsibilities, and did much more work than her.

If it's the case that she truly cannot balance these things, because to her as an individual this is just too much to handle, then that's fair. But then that is just another argument as to why she shouldn't be center. At all.

Other girls will easily take over that center position, with no complaints whatsoever. Look at Yuirii for example: Queen of the Theater. And now in senbatsu (at least for now). A girl like that is a great example for the others. Then there is Yuiyui of Team 8, who has a lot of activities going on. She balances it just fine, and she is in theater too.

For you to say "we don't know where the girls' priorities lie" is not an acceptable statement, when we're discussing someone who a.) Are in senbatsu, and b.) Are in a center position. Because to be in senbatsu and also have center position means you have a lot of responsibilities.

Moeka's absence from the theater for 10 months now is a complete joke.

 

@Krusha

I don't think you should compare members because there's probably not even 2 girls in this group of hundred girls who have the same personal life and can make the same choices. I agree that Moeka should be in theater more often but who knows why she isn't? She has reasons because she can't just say "no" as a new girl and management would never push her like this if she went against them.

Now I understand that being the center in this situation is not ideal but again they probably planned this a while ago and it's in timing with the increase of attention on her and her photobook too. Let's be honest, they wanted a new girl in center and she seems the choice they found the most interesting. Put any other girl there and there would be more positivity but also 10 times less people talking. and that's not good. and who knows, this could be her only center in a while. They switch often.

I would like to know what makes you think that Moeka's popularity is inflated btw. She has been popular since her 16th gen auditions, then with draft audition... then attention for her visuals which got her more photoshoots. Attention for singing so she got a solo stage at theater after going through training camp in Nemousu. Then high HS sales, center of b-side. #2 in 48G singing competition. Probably why she got her solo concert which was a success. All the photoshoots also resulted in a first photobook. One of the only current AKB girls who get millions of views on Youtube videos about her. Most followed on Twitter for the very new girls by far with 80k currently. I really want to know how this is inflated tbh let's give her a bit of credit even if you don't like her.

 

I never said anywhere that she's fit to be a center, but I did think it's weird to compare her current situation to Yukirin's current situation; adult woman with 13 years of experience vs teenage girl with less than 2 years of experience (and less than one year of being a promoted member). If her HS sales keep dropping and she keeps avoiding theater, for whatever reason, she will surely drop in popularity and be replaced by someone else quickly. If her priorities lie outside of AKB, that will become visible quickly.

I doubt the girls are asked whether they want a senbatsu/center position. I'm sure they all do until they are facing the responsibilities that come with it, and if Moeka doesn't live up to the responsibilities, she will inevitably be replaced. After oshi-ing Tano Yuka, who only got three last-row senbatsu positions in her 7 years with AKB, and now Komiyama Haruka, who is always put into stage and concert senbatsu but never actual single senbatsu, I am well aware of the fact that there are many girls that would die to be in her shoes.

But you only ever know you've made a mistake once the mistake has been made. Maybe with this situation, Moeka will realise that the idol life isn't for her and someone else will take her place (or we'll go back to Yuiyui or Naachan) – or it is exactly the wake up call she needs to realise she needs to put in more effort to live up to the opportunities she has been handed.

 

I understand that this might really offend people and I apologize if it hurts anyone's feelings but...

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I personally really dig Moeka's duck faces.

 

Well, I mean she's no Hattsu, but she shows some good expressions in the background.

 

OK I'll confess...

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A few months ago when I'd been having a bad time I was watching AKBINGO when Moeka's duck face appeared in a small box in the corner of the screen and my face broke into a big smile for the first time that day...

(And just as I finished typing that, @Lusankya posted above exactly what I was referring to!)