[GENERAL] The AKB48 Thread

ModelPress has put on their Instagram a quiz in which you have to answer who the eyes of 12 48G members belong to:
https://www.instagram.com/p/CKn4v7crLIF/

Three pairs of eyes are shown followed by the answers, then the next three pairs and so on. They've also published an article about the 12 members' eyes:
https://mdpr.jp/news/detail/2405026

I'll paste a Google translation in the spoiler as it contains the answers to the quiz.

Spoiler

1 Furuhata Nao
The first eye is Nao Furuhata of SKE48 , who is gaining popularity for his boyish looks . In addition, she served as her first center position in the group's 25th single "FRUSTRATION". Contrary to the cool shortcuts, the cute rounded eyes are impressive.

2. Shiroma Miru
The second eye is Shiroma Miru, who has passed as the first member of NMB48 and has been stable and popular as a core member of the group . At live performances, many fans were shot by their powerful eyes. In addition, the wide teardrop bag and the sharp, tight eyes have a sensual appeal.

3. Matsuoka Natsumi
The third eye is Matsuoka Natsumi, the captain of HKT48 / Team H , who has a strong support from the same sex for her outstanding style and visuals, such as acting as a runway model for the "Tokyo Girls Collection" . Matsuoka's eyes are adorable with her eyes moistened like a puppy and the mole under her right eye. There is no doubt that her ennui look will be nailed once you see it.

4. Takino Yumiko
The fourth eye is Takino Yumiko, who is in charge of the center position with STU48 's debut single "Darkness" and continues to lead the group as " STU48 's face" . Its outstanding transparency, such as clear eyes and fair skin, is likely to attract more attention as the "next generation ace of the AKB48 group".

5. Matsui Jurina
The fifth eye is Matsui Jurina, who has long supported the group as a regular member of SKE48 / AKB48 . In February 2020, she announced that she would graduate from the same group and received a great deal of feedback. The sharp inner corners of the eyes and the sharp shape of the eyes further accentuate her dignified beauty.

6. Tanaka Miku
The sixth eye is Tanaka Miku of HKT48 , who is steadily gaining popularity, such as being ranked 10th in the "AKB48 53rd Single World Selection General Election" . The lashes that grow straight up and the clear eyes create a gorgeous and lovely atmosphere.

7. Shibuya Nagisa
The 7th eye is Shibuya Nagisa, the captain of NMB48 and Team M , whose high talk skills are highly evaluated and her solo appearances on variety shows are increasing rapidly . The cute "half-moon-shaped" eyes are a perfect match for the warm atmosphere. Her lovely smile heals many fans.

8. Suda Akari
The 8th eye is SKE48 / Suda Akari , who has the nickname of "Queen of the Handshake Event" for the first time in response to the god, and is also sought after in TV programs by taking advantage of her charming personality .
By adding "troublesome eyebrows" to the moist eyes, it gives the impression that you want to protect it somewhere. Seeing her squinting and laughing seems to give her some energy.

9. Moriyasu Madoka
Eyes of No. 9 is to release the "My inside of me," her first solo piano album in January 2020, also active as a pianist HKT48.
The round and wide eyes and gentle eyebrows, which are characteristic of her beautiful visuals, create an elegant and calm atmosphere.

10. Homma Hinata
The 10th eye is Homma Hinata of NGT48 , who was selected as the grand prix of AKB48 group x "bis" x SHOWROOM audition and is currently a regular model in the magazine "bis" .
She has cute eyes like a doll, such as cat-like eyes that shine like crystals and eyelashes that point upwards.

11. Kawakami Chihiro
The 11th eye is Kawakami Chihiro, the captain of NMB48 and Team N, who is expected to play an active role as an actress, such as a guest appearance in the drama "Enmado Sara's Reasoning Kitan" (2020, NHK) . Its beautiful looks and unique career as an experienced figure skating person, such as the nose that goes through the wide double-width tight eyes, have the potential to be "found" in the future.

12. Ishida Chiho
The last 12th will release the 1st photo book "Lemon Season" in December 2020, and will be in charge of her first center position in STU48 's 6th single "If you talk to yourself" (released on February 17). Ishida Chiho is gaining momentum .
Ishida has a cute tear bag and eyes that tend to sag. Her glittering eyes grab the viewer's heart and never let go.

 

They post this kind of quiz quite often, I remember seeing this about AKB only members a while ago. I recognised 10/12 members back then, only 5 out of 12 this time ._.

 

i have a random question, is there still a member who is fluent in english in the japan48/ Sakamichi groups?
Because I think Goto Rara was the last fluent speaker.

 

In the latest generations:
STU48 2nd gen, Kudo Riko
NMB48 7th gen, Yoshino Misaki

if the video does not show watch the video here
13:25

 

https://www.tapioca-ixr.com/
IxR members have been chosen as the ambassadors of RBFoods' Tapioka Drinks.

 

Not sure about 48G but Hinatazaka46's Takase Mana used to live in the UK, so she's fluent in English. All the 48G members that come to my mind have already graduated

 

One other 46G member who is said to be fluent in English (she was born in LA) is Kitagawa Yuri, my Nogizaka46 4th Gen oshimen who was an unsuccessful AKB48 D3 candidate. The only video I can find of her in which she speaks any English is in one of her AKB 3rd Draft Kaigi presentation videos (at 0:20):


if the video does not show watch the video here

As it so happens I have tickets for an online talk with her next Sunday. Problem is though that since last month the staff at 46G online events have been mostly only accepting JP residence cards as ID but a few foreigners have managed to succeed with passports. So I'm keeping my fingers crossed and hopefully I can confirm that she's a fluent English speaker.

 

I'm having cooking stadium flashbacks, sounds like it could be a lot of fun!

 

ooh glad they're doing something for valentines, sounds fun :0 naamin + manaka as hosts is such a powerful duo

 

AKB48 VS Earthquake

if the video does not show watch the video here

 

Not really 99% though. Quite a few of them maybe about 10-20% streams on their iPad, and maybe another 20% or more streams on their secondary phone, either for wifi only device or with a secondary sim card. I'm guessing these wifi only iPads and secondary phones without sim cards won't get the early warning messages.

 

So it's been more than a year since the last AKB single, by now pretty much every 48 sister group in Japan, overseas, and every 46 group too, have released singles since the pandemic. There must be a reason why AKB doesn't, maybe it's the handshake events that they have to reschedule as online event but does it really take so long to do this? I wonder what's really happening? I wish management at least let the fans know about their plans, or announced something. They seem lost :/ I think it might be time to make real big changes in the group, I think something like removing the team system, something that will make the group look a little fresh again? and start new programs, shows, dramas. More promotions for the units etc.

I don't know but they're not doing much and it's getting really sad, when I see AKB videos from early 2018, I can't believe it's been just 2-3 years and it's like a complete different world compared to now and I honestly think the current situation is almost all because management is not trying, they're not really doing anything? it's frustrating to just wait forever ._.

 

The online HS events for 'Shitsuren, Arigato' have nearly finished, there's just 3 more dates left with the last one on 3/14. In any case, in the past new singles have been announced well before the HS events of the previous one have finished. My guess is that management is scared of ending the million streak and as long as only online events are possible it looks likely that million sales aren't possible. However how long can they wait? Are they prepared to wait until the Covid situation improves enough for 'real' HS events to resume? Or will they find another way to boost sales? Maybe online 1- and 2-shot events (i.e. guaranteed rather than a lottery win)? Perhaps sign-kais with photocards or chekis, or even handprints as SKE have done recently? Or will they revive SSK in some form and include voting tickets in the next single?

 

It's really sad if the reason is the million sales because every other group is fine to take the risk and release during pandemic knowing that their sales will go down. and even if AKB sales went down, it wouldn't be something that would hurt them this much considering every group that relies on handshake or fan-events have their sales decreasing during pandemic, so why are they scared of it. I have a feeling it might be because of a different reason/problem than this... But if the million sales is really the problem, then they can fix this easily, they need to bring back elections, it's the right time of the year for it too... it isn't that hard for them to boost the sales again... a lot of other groups try new things to keep their sales.

I'm curious what is AKB's management doing and thinking for 1 full year now, and if the girls are aware of future plans. I'm actually a little surprised that there aren't more girls who are graduating during this period of time where the group does nothing much. Do they know about future plans so they decide to stay? or they stay because they're paid well and they don't want to leave the group if they're not sure to have normal studies/job outside of the group right now because of the pandemic? I don't know...

 

If mgmt. is relying on HS to keep the million sales going, then this group will cease to exist sooner than later.

 

What? Management has literally been relying on HS to keep the million sales since like 2013? And they’ve still lasted pretty long.