The sad part is, graduating center single ensure higher publicity(Rumor, glorified mention and such) and better (milking) sales. Like always.
They could really release it on the same day as her graduation. February 22nd is a Wednesday after all. The thing is, since they haven't announced anything, they don't have that much time to go through all the HS rounds and blablabla, so on that part it seems it's not happening (her being center, at least). I would like for her to be a bit like Sae and just decline her position in senbatsu altogether. I'm surprised we haven't received more info about the PV filming and so on. With Kibouteki we even got a song preview (in crappy LQ, but still).
I think it might get pushed back. I'm not sure if they'll reveal the next single on ANN since Renacchi and her senbatsu members will be there. Sure Feb. 22 is a Wednesday but the week after that is already March so I don't know what they're planning to do with this.
The next single will likely be revealed on the next HS event, which is on February 4th. As for Kojiharu centering it, personally I wouldn't want it but I understand if they went with it. The problem is that we had SSK single - Paruru grad single - Kojiharu grad single. That 3 singles in row with senior members centering it. You can't really do anything with SSK single, but Paruru then Kojiharu is basically a missed opportunity to promote younger members. They will ran out of senior members eventually, but I wish they can make the younger member famous while they are still young. Anyway, if Kojiharu does center the next single, who will replace her doing the promotion? Unlike Paruru, I think during the single promotion she might be gone for the most of it. I wouldn't rule out Kojimako centering it It will depend on what kind of song tho.
Dates of the graduation stages for four AKB48 members have just been released on the Official Blog: Owada Nana - 3/18 Aigasa Moe - 3/21 Umeta Ayano - 3/22 Nishino Miki - 3/27 The final HS event for all four members will be on 3/12.
So that probably means we will have some kind of a shuffle before March, otherwise too much holes in the teams, especially Team A.
We have to wait until AKB48's official Ameblo to announce it but that is the closest I can guess. My apologies.
LoooL new agency for Dasu as well! Congrats!! Just announced it on her showroom https://www.showroom-live.com/48_AKARI_SUDA
I found found this on Oricon http://www.oricon.co.jp/news/2085358/full/ i'm not really sure on what it is exactly about, from what i can get with a translator, it seems AKB will have a new song that will serve some kind of school music contest, organised by NHK. Looks like the same kind of partnership as the aosodora song.
It'll be a song that school choir clubs will have to sing for the NHK contest, along with others. The song will be called Negaigoto no Mochigusare