Single AKB48 59th [Moto Kare Desu] (2022/05/18)

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Welp. That's a lot of non-participating days for a lot of popular HS members. Combined with the recent amount of graduates from the group (with quite a few HS bestsellers too), I fear this points to the 59th selling less than 58th unless they come up with a great marketing tactic. I personally do not care about these sales and stuff but I just hope if this becomes the case, the girls don't take it too hard upon themselves.

But as a Yuiyui kamioshi myself, I wonder what she's gonna be up to on those dates. I do hope it's gonna be a project for her acting career or something.

 

As long as she delivers cheerfull performances like what she did in Rumor, rather than what she did in the Eito tour final, I'm all fine with it.

 

At this rate, if they want to push Hiichan as the upfront members they should push her wholeheartedly since AKB48 is soo... lost of narrative right now after they cancel SSK and other things that happened during that time period. Besides, these two years are pretty much crucial since I don't think that any current upfront members are interested to be the ace after that.

 

Here are the slot differences compared to 58th. Pardon me, I've just stolen @Izzy Trinh post format to do so.

59th single Online talk slot (Senbatsu members colored, only including members with a slot change)
Team A

Spoiler

Okada Nana 0/48 (-24)
Fukuoka Seina 0/44 (-4)
Iwatate Saho 0/44 (-4)
Komiyama Haruka 0/44 (-4)
Yoshihashi Yuzuka 0/40 (-8)
Shimizu Maria (Team 8) 0/40 (-8)
Okabe Rin 0/36 (-33)
Ma Chia-Ling 0/36 (+4)
Takahashi Sayaka (Team 8) 0/33 (+15)
Muto Orin 0/30 (-6)
Saito Haruna 0/0 (-12, hiatus)

Team K

Spoiler

Yamauchi Mizuki 0/72 (+8)
Onishi Momoka (Team 8) 0/60 (+24)
Taguchi Manaka 0/60 (+12)
Oda Erina (Team 8) 0/55 (+7)
Muto Tomu 0/48 (-24)
Mogi Shinobu 0/48 (+12)
Hama Sayuna (Team 8) 0/33 (+21)
Takahashi Ayane (Team 8) 0/30 (+6)
Hattori Yuna (Team 8) 0/30 (+15)
Okuhara Hinako (Team 8) 0/24 (+15)
Uemi Sorano (Team 8) 0/24 (+15)

Team B

Spoiler

Kashiwagi Yuki 0/72 (+12)
Asai Nanami 0/60 (+16)
Oguri Yui (Team 8) 0/54 (-15)
Sakaguchi Nagisa (Team 8) 0/44 (-4)
Omori Maho 0/44 (-4)
Tokunaga Remi (Team 8) 0/36 (+36)
Fukutome Mitsuho (Team 8) 0/36 (+18)
Fujizono Rei (Team 8) 0/36 (+24)
Hidaritomo Ayaka (Team 8) 0/36 (+27)
Yamada Kyoka (Team 8) 0/36 (+27)
Ishiwata Sena 0/33 (-3)
Shinozaki Ayana 0/30 (-6)
Sato Minami 0/24 (+12)
Hashimoto Haruna (Team 8) 0/24 (+9)
Hirano Hikaru (Team 8) 0/16 (+7)

Team 4

Spoiler

Yoshikawa Nanase (Team 8) 0/48 (+4)
Sasaki Yukari 0/44 (+4)
Nagatomo Ayami 0/44 (-4)
Sakagawa Hiyuka (Team 8) 0/36 (+36)
Gyoten Yurina (Team 8) 0/33 (-3)
Yoshida Karen (Team 8) 0/24 (+12)
Kawahara Misaki (Team 8) 0/21 (+12)
Utada Hatsuka (Team 8) 0/18 (+9)
Takaoka Kaoru (Team 8) 0/16 (+7)

17 girls have lost 201 slots between them, and 28 girls have gained a total of 399 slots betwen them. So actually a net gain of slots for the current members, (although still less slots available compared to 58th, due to so many grads) and more girls going up than going down.
The biggest losses are of course Naachan, Berin and Tomu having outside work. On the other hand there's a Team 8 explosion with Sayarin, Onishi, Hamachan, Yuuna, Hiina, Sorano, Remi, Mitsuho, Reichan, Hidaaya, Kyoka, and Hiyuka all gaining 15-36 slots. Yukirin is also back up to full slots that will certainly sell out.

 

Hiichan was actually part of the bottom 3, alongside Nako and Lee Chaeyeon. In terms of handshakes and hi-touch events, they all sold okay, but these three members had the least traction and the least solo stans (Chaeyeon was probably last, I think). Jang Wonyoung, Kim Chaewon and Sakura were the most popular members, at least towards the end, as far as I could judge.

Their sales have been declining. Of course COVID is a factor, but even since the first COVID single sales have kept going down. 714k > 695k > 620k. The center for the upcoming single was originally a member of the brand-new 5th Gen, who haven't even performed yet, but then her scandal was brought to light and they changed the formation. It's a bit messy. People were angry that Nogi wouldn't do research on members.

That's... so sad. You want the whole group to fail simply because you can't acknowledge Hitomi's talent, hard effort and success? You need to grow up.

So you guys have all simply decided to forget and/or ignore how other members have praised Hiichan during the promotions for Ne mo Ha mo Rumor because she helped them learn the discography? You guys have forgotten how Hitomi has been on a shit ton of variety shows over the past year, promoting herself, the group and Ne mo Ha mo Rumor? She posted dance challenges on her personal TikTok, she talked about the costumes, the senbatsu members, the choreography lessons etc etc on so many shows she went on.

Maybe some news outlets have used "ex-IZ*ONE" when talking about her, but that is hardly Hitomi's fault. She's been so amazing and always made it all about AKB48, because she knows there are so many crybabies who will throw up their arms if she dares mention the group that she was part of for 2.5 years that made her stand out and recognisable.

Hitomi has been working hard for AKB48 since day 1 and she's always wanted to be an integral part of the group. Even before IZ*ONE, being an AKB48 center was one of her goals. Now she's finally known as a talented, popular member and you guys are so focused on "omg I hate kpop grrr" that you hate on this poor girl who's done absolutely nothing wrong except work hard and follow her dreams.

Just wondering if you missed out a couple of names? Maybe it's just the one, but Kobayashi Ran is missing T_T I'm not familiar enough with all the new teams to tell if anyone else is missing.

 

Yes, I only included members who had slot changes. If they aren't included, it's because they had the same number as last single.

 

I did not say I want the next single to fail, I just personally prefer that it doesn't do better than Nemoha.

Not doing better than Nemoha is not failing.

I do not hate Hitomi, I'm just not a fan. I've always liked how an AKB fan is NOT oblige to be a fan of all members. Heck, its even acceptable to be an anti (thus the song 'Anti').

 

Ne mo Ha mo Rumor was considered a failure by many fans, if you remember the conversations in that single's thread. So if this single does worse than NmHmR, then that would be a failure.

The single had a massive decline in sales. Yes, there was COVID. Yes, we lost sister group members. But I'm not sure that people who don't follow AKB48 that much will be very lenient on these conditions. For many members, NmHmR was a song that would bring them back into the public limelight, and if the 59th single does not add onto the success of Ne mo Ha mo Rumor, then it'll be considered a one-off. I don't think that's what we want for the group. :/

 

Uhm, people who dont follow AKB probably think AKB's a failure for years now and do not really care to think if Nemoha's a failure or not.

As for this next single, the thought of fans and casuals claiming that a KPop-trained member is making AKB relevant is worth hoping the single won't gain as much (however little) relevance as Nemoha did.

Not wanting it to fail though, coz Nemoha was not a failure.

 

Why does it matter though? If the single doesn't build up on the momentum, then Hitomi will be considered a failure as a center. I don't think that's fair considering how hard she's been working. I really couldn't care less how or why Hitomi did well, as long as she does do well.

If Hitomi wasn't chosen as a center now, in a few years' time people would ask "Why didn't they make use of her popularity?" Similar to how people are now complaining that some girls weren't chosen for senbatsu or center at the peak of their respective popularity.

Gaining fans is a good thing... no matter where they come from. If they buy CDs, stream the songs, buy online talk tickets, share the music video(s) etc etc., then we shouldn't shame people just because they found AKB48 through Hitomi/through IZ*ONE/through K-Pop. I wish we'd stop being such an elitist fandom who shuts out anyone who hasn't been a fan for years.

 

I thought it has been established among fans that a single not earning much is never the center's fault? Did people blame Takamina for her last single breaking the 1M a week streak?

Now fans crediting the center for the success of a single though, that's more common.

 

lmao I do!

 

In that case...

Slots for the 59th single

By slots

Spoiler

Mukaichi Mion 0/72
Yamauchi Mizuki 0/72
Kashiwagi Yuki 0/72
Murayama Yuiri 0/72
Honda Hitomi 0/72
Kuranoo Narumi 0/72
..............................................
Taguchi Manaka 0/60
Asai Nanami 0/60
Onishi Momoka 0/60
..............................................
Oda Erina 0/55
..............................................
Oguri Yui 0/54
..............................................
Okada Nana 0/48
Chiba Erii 0/48
Muto Tomu 0/48
Yamane Suzuha 0/48
Mogi Shinobu 0/48
Inagaki Kaori 0/48
Taniguchi Megu 0/48
Yoshikawa Nanase 0/48
Nagano Serika 0/48
Shitao Miu 0/48
..............................................
Iwatate Saho 0/44
Fukuoka Seina 0/44
Komiyama Haruka 0/44
Omori Maho 0/44
Nagatomo Ayami 0/44
Sakaguchi Nagisa 0/44
..............................................
Yoshihashi Yuzuka 0/40
Sasaki Yukari 0/40
Shimizu Maria 0/40
..............................................
Ma Chia-Ling 0/36
Otake Hitomi 0/36
Suzuki Kurumi 0/36
Tada Kyoka 0/36
Okabe Rin 0/36
Hidaritomo Ayaka 0/36
Sakagawa Hiyuka 0/36
Fukutome Mitsuho 0/36
Tokunaga Remi 0/36
Yamada Kyoka 0/36
Fujizono Rei 0/36
..............................................
Ishiwata Sena 0/33
Takahashi Sayaka 0/33
Hama Sayuna 0/33
Gyoten Yurina 0/33
..............................................
Muto Orin 0/30
Shinozaki Ayana 0/30
Takahashi Ayane 0/30
Hattori Yuna 0/30
..............................................
Kobayashi Ran 0/24
Shimoguchi Hinana 0/24
Sato Minami 0/24
Omori Miyuu 0/24
Okada Rina 0/24
Hashimoto Haruna 0/24
Okuhara Hinako 0/24
Yoshida Karen 0/24
Uemi Sorano 0/24
..............................................
Kawahara Misaki 0/21
..............................................
Utada Hatsuka 0/18
..............................................
Hirano Hikaru 0/16
Takaoka Kaoru 0/16
..............................................
Nakanishi Chiyori 0/12
Michieda Saki 0/12
Yamabe Ayu 0/12
Ichikawa Manami 0/12
Yumoto Ami 0/12
Kitazawa Saki 0/12
Nagano Megumi 0/12
Sato Kiara 0/12
Kurosu Haruka 0/12

By teams

Team A

Spoiler

Mukaichi Mion 0/72
Okada Nana 0/48
Chiba Erii 0/48
Iwatate Saho 0/44
Fukuoka Seina 0/44
Komiyama Haruka 0/44
Yoshihashi Yuzuka 0/40
Ma Chia-Ling 0/36
Otake Hitomi 0/36
Muto Orin 0/30
Nakanishi Chiyori 0/12
Michieda Saki 0/12

Team K

Spoiler

Yamauchi Mizuki 0/72
Taguchi Manaka 0/60
Muto Tomu 0/48
Yamane Suzuha 0/48
Mogi Shinobu 0/48
Kobayashi Ran 0/24
Shimoguchi Hinana 0/24
Yamabe Ayu 0/12
Ichikawa Manami 0/12
Yumoto Ami 0/12

Team B

Spoiler

Kashiwagi Yuki 0/72
Asai Nanami 0/60
Inagaki Kaori 0/48
Omori Maho 0/44
Suzuki Kurumi 0/36
Ishiwata Sena 0/33
Shinozaki Ayana 0/30
Sato Minami 0/24
Kitazawa Saki 0/12
Nagano Megumi 0/12

Team 4

Spoiler

Murayama Yuiri 0/72
Taniguchi Megu 0/48
Nagatomo Ayami 0/44
Sasaki Yukari 0/40
Tada Kyoka 0/36
Omori Miyuu 0/24
Okada Rina 0/24
Sato Kiara 0/12
Kurosu Haruka 0/12

Team 8

Spoiler

Honda Hitomi 0/72
Kuranoo Narumi 0/72
Onishi Momoka 0/60
Oda Erina 0/55
Oguri Yui 0/54
Yoshikawa Nanase 0/48
Nagano Serika 0/48
Shitao Miu 0/48
Sakaguchi Nagisa 0/44
Shimizu Maria 0/40
Okabe Rin 0/36
Hidaritomo Ayaka 0/36
Sakagawa Hiyuka 0/36
Fukutome Mitsuho 0/36
Tokunaga Remi 0/36
Yamada Kyoka 0/36
Fujizono Rei 0/36
Takahashi Sayaka 0/33
Hama Sayuna 0/33
Gyoten Yurina 0/33
Takahashi Ayane 0/30
Hattori Yuna 0/30
Hashimoto Haruna 0/24
Okuhara Hinako 0/24
Yoshida Karen 0/24
Uemi Sorano 0/24
Kawahara Misaki 0/21
Utada Hatsuka 0/18
Hirano Hikaru 0/16
Takaoka Kaoru 0/16

 

Happy about the Hitomi center! But honestly, if the song is disappointing, that wouldn't be enough.

I wonder if we could go back to something like Sayonara Crawl. Or something like IZONE's Shigaisen, which deserved an MV. Please, no weird noisy mess of a song again. I want the melodious 48G summer songs back.

(EDIT: dislikes just for being happy about a hiichan center?! wtf lol)

 

Online Talk sales
1st Sales 1st Round (10th to 11th March)

Spoiler: Team A

04/72 (+04) Honda Hitomi
00/72 (+00) Mukaichi Mion
06/48 (+06) Okada Nana
00/48 (+00) Chiba Erii
00/48 (+00) Nagano Serika
00/44 (+00) Iwatate Saho
00/44 (+00) Komiyama Haruka
00/44 (+00) Fukuoka Seina
00/40 (+00) Shimizu Maria
00/40 (+00) Yoshihashi Yuzuka
00/36 (+00) Otake Hitomi
00/36 (+00) Okabe Rin
00/36 (+00) Ma Chia-Ling
00/33 (+00) Takahashi Sayaka
00/30 (+00) Muto Orin
00/12 (+00) Nakanishi Chiyori
00/12 (+00) Michieda Saki
00/00 (+00) Saito Haruna
00/00 (+00) Mitomo Mashiro

Spoiler: Team K

00/72 (+00) Yamauchi Mizuki
00/60 (+00) Onishi Momoka
00/60 (+00) Taguchi Manaka
00/55 (+00) Oda Erina
00/48 (+00) Muto Tomu
00/48 (+00) Mogi Shinobu
00/48 (+00) Yamane Suzuha
00/33 (+00) Hama Sayuna
00/30 (+00) Takahashi Ayane
00/30 (+00) Hattori Yuna
00/24 (+00) Uemi Sorano
00/24 (+00) Okuhara Hinako
00/24 (+00) Kobayashi Ran
00/24 (+00) Shimoguchi Hinana
00/12 (+00) Ichikawa Manami
00/12 (+00) Yamabe Ayu
00/12 (+00) Yumoto Ami

Spoiler: Team B

00/72 (+00) Kashiwagi Yuki
00/60 (+00) Asai Nanami
04/54 (+04) Oguri Yui
00/48 (+00) Inagaki Kaori
00/44 (+00) Omori Maho
00/44 (+00) Sakaguchi Nagisa
00/36 (+00) Suzuki Kurumi
00/36 (+00) Tokunaga Remi
00/36 (+00) Hidaritomo Ayaka
00/36 (+00) Fukutome Mitsuho
00/36 (+00) Fujizono Rei
00/36 (+00) Yamada Kyoka
00/33 (+00) Ishiwata Sena
00/30 (+00) Shinozaki Ayana
00/24 (+00) Sato Minami
00/24 (+00) Hashimoto Haruna
00/16 (+00) Hirano Hikaru
00/12 (+00) Kitazawa Saki
00/12 (+00) Nagano Megumi

Spoiler: Team 4

04/72 (+04) Murayama Yuiri
00/72 (+00) Kuranoo Narumi
00/48 (+00) Sakagawa Hiyuka
00/48 (+00) Shitao Miu
00/48 (+00) Taniguchi Megu
00/48 (+00) Yoshikawa Nanase
00/44 (+00) Nagatomo Ayami
00/40 (+00) Sasaki Yukari
00/36 (+00) Tada Kyoka
00/36 (+00) Yoshida Karen
00/33 (+00) Gyoten Yurina
00/24 (+00) Omori Miyuu
00/24 (+00) Okada Rina
00/21 (+00) Kawahara Misaki
00/18 (+00) Utada Hatsuka
00/16 (+00) Takaoka Kaoru
00/12 (+00) Kurosu Haruka
00/12 (+00) Sato Kiara

Total: 18/2,652 (+18) [00.68% of all tickets sold out]
Team A: 10/695 [01.44%]
Team K: 00/616 [00.00%]
Team B: 04/689 [00.58%]
Team 4: 04/652 [00.61%]

* The percentage of tickets is based solely on sold-out slots. The actual number is probably higher but inaccessible to the public.

Note: I put Team 8 members in their concurrent teams because that's how they're listed on the online talk website.

 

If you follow J-pop in a broader scope, you must have known that J-pop has been being digitalized, more and more streaming and less and less physical purchase. Even if the pandemic is over, you can't expect any old group to sell as many CD copies as it used to be. The overall numbers of CD sale of the whole J music industry has been declining. Dwindling sale figures can be used to measure the popularity of a group no more.

She liked K-pop enough regardless.

My hate on the costume stems from
1. colorless. AKB has repeatedly rolled out colorless costumes even for a cheerful song. Why can't it be any color?
2. No variety for the texture. Silverly chain accessories over silvery clothes? Some contrast between matte and glossy material will be more pleasing.
3. Incoherent details. The overall style is futuristic & sporty. And, the designer gave pleated details or balloons to some members as feminine decoration but, those details were incompatible with the overall theme.
The designer should have given members colorful cute accessories instead as girly details such as, big pink star-shaped earring, heart-shaped purple necklace, while keeping the cloth-cutting plain and simple and, the problem 1. & 3. are solved.
Some members should be given matte cottony shirt or pants to solve the problem 2.
Also, I wonder how comfortable it is to dance in such metallic clothes.

Judging from the costume, this is a dance focused track. Is there any better dancer than Hitomi among popular members of AKB48?

 

Lol poor girl, hated just for being in kpop group for few years.
While she was working hard like any other kpop idols especially she was in one of the popular group with a lot of works, fans here only like looking at cute underage girls in bikini and the narative 'girls next door doing average dance and sing'. Hmm..

 

Way to box AKB fans under one category.

And again, not being a fan or not caring about a member does not equate hating on her.

Also, not all the members are underage, not all do bikini photos, not all fans prefer the younger members, and Honda is not the only good dancer in the group. There are also a lot of good singers in the group as well.

Fans are not obliged to like all members. Fans like the group and members for different reasons.

 

Shhhhh don't feed the troll