[GENERAL] The AKB48 Thread

Talk dates:

5/6 & 7: Pacifico Yokohama (in-person)
5/27 & 28: Online
6/17 & 18: Makuhari Messe (in-person)
7/8 & 9: Online
7/29 & 30: Pacifico Yokohama (in-person)

Purchase link:
https://official-cd.akb48.co.jp/61st/ (AKB48 Group ID required)

1st round (a lottery as usual) is open from now until 12:00 JST on 3/1.

No more Chara-ani - and the Theater eds are now known as Official Shop Editions but WithLive will still be used for online talks.

For the in-person 'offline talks':
"This is an event where you can talk directly with the members at each venue.
We will install a transparent sheet to prevent splashes in the lane that keeps the distance between customers and members.
Please note that customers may wear masks, and members may wear masks and mouth shields."

Senbatsu pic (click for full-size version):

 

No more King Records??? That's big, they've been with them from 2008.

 

Yup. Time to drop the group.

Spoiler

For like two days. Until just before the first round of sales closes.

 

But you see, Wlerin, people do leave the group and they've been doing that for years. The fandom is shrinking. There's a limit for everyone.

 

Hiichan has just many followers, but most of them are even not interested now in AKB48. They're still in K-pop.

About Yukirin fans unfortunately many of them are still just following her, but they're not really following her, because they left her with their kamis years ago. Off course she is still so popular, but what I want to say is that in case of AKB SNS profile followers doesn't mean real impact of idol to core fans and amount of core fans.

 

AKB48's UMJ Artist page https://www.universal-music.co.jp/akb48/
The label is "EMI Records". "Universal Music LLC" (ユニバーサル ミュージック合同会社) are the selling agency.

Last time they did they broke records. It was about time for a change like this. So, who knows what will come out of this.

 

Do you want to know why they picked these three 17ki?

Twitter
Sato Airi: 17k
Hirata Yuki: 15.4k
Yamazaki Sora: 11.1k
Kohama Kokone: 11k
Mizushima Miyuu: 10.3k
Hashimoto Eriko: 9.9k
Masai Maiyuu: 9.4k
Hotei Moka: 8.8k
Ota Yuki: 8.3k
Hatakeyama Nozomi: 6.6k

You were so close, Kokko.

 

Poor Kokko.

I really think about that.

 

Actually Kokko and Sorara keep passing each other in followers, so who knows which one was ahead when they picked the senbatsu lol. I think even if Kokko had more followers, it's too early for her to be senbatsu, she's just about to have her theater debut and she's younger too, they might give her a chance in 1-2 years or so (and for Eriko, Remii... probably soon).

I feel like with the amount of members that AKB has right now, they could have made this senbatsu 18 members tbh... it doesn't make a big difference visually, and more girls can be in.

 

Best Plot Twist!

 

It's not just "many followers" though. Just look how many outside jobs she has, she's the busiest AKB member nowadays. She is the most popular, even if that doesn't bring much attention to the group itself.

 

Just check Theater attendance in 2022 and You'll know that You know nothing John Snow

 

About the same as the current face of the group, Yuiyui

These two are the most popular members right now.

 

That's a fair comment. Hopefully this is a sign of UMJ having confidence in AKB rather than King dropping them and please god it will mean some more marketing and promotion for the group.

I'd love to hear the full unvarnished story of 2008 from the parties involved -Akimoto, TGSK, Defstar, King Records. Fat chance of that ever happening I know but I think it would be fascinating.

 

I don't know what to think with the move to Universal though.
HKT48 are just one artist among their many, and from what I saw on matome, the NMB48 album sales could be better.
Promotion wise they are not doing anything more amazing than LoL records.

There are the in person handshake events but those were to be expected to be back a day or another with the easing of pandemic restrictions.
Wait and see I guess.

 

Yuasa Junji, AKB48's Chief CD Producer, has announced his 'graduation' today via Twitter:
https://twitter.com/yuasajunji/status/1630199701088894982
https://twitter.com/yuasajunji/status/1630205926308454400

DeepL translations:

 

Sayonara, Yuasa-san. The only guy who actually liked Sakaguchi. Right when the boss of Iwashita no Shinshonga was showing interest.

https://twitter.com/yuasajunji/status/1630228570764189696

His stage won't end until April. Probably. He deserves to be the center of 47 no Suteki na Machi e in the senshuuraku. I wish @nigamushiotoko would make a video with the best moments of his career and this song.

 

Does changing label means I don't have to deal with issue like this anymore?

Spoiler: My screenshot kinda big

 

These still belong to their original label, so ...
and since you bring the stage albums question, and Sashi's HKT48 stage is still nowhere to even start pre production. I can only worry for A7 and eventual new AKB48 stages.

 

I unfortunately doubt it since Baby Baby Baby has never been on there, and probably never will.