AKB48 forms “Team Pichipichi NHK” to promote new shows
Posted on March 7, 2011 by tokyograph
9 popular members of idol group AKB48 are forming a limited-time unit to promote NHK’s new television shows that are starting this spring. The unit has been dubbed “Team Pichipichi NHK” (“pichipichi” means “lively”) and consists of Oshima Yuko, Maeda Atsuko, Shinoda Mariko, Itano Tomomi, Watanabe Mayu, Takahashi Minami, Kashiwagi Yuki, Sashihara Rino, and Yokoyama Yui.
NHK is launching 19 shows this spring, with the first ones starting on March 28. The 19 shows have been split up into 9 genres, and each of the Team Pichipichi members will be in charge of one of the genres. The genres are:
Sports (Oshima)
Creative (Maeda)
Common knowledge (Shinoda)
Entertainment (Itano)
Anime (Watanabe)
History (Takahashi)
Work (Kashiwagi)
Radio (Sashihara)
Health (Yokoyama)
The promotional unit will be active between the end of March and the middle of April. They will appear in mini-programs on NHK, on posters, and on a new website called “HaruNavi” that will be used to promote the shows.
French Kiss, the pillows do theme songs for “SKET DANCE” anime
Posted on March 7, 2011 by tokyograph
Shinohara Kenta’s manga “SKET DANCE” has an anime adaptation coming up this spring, and the artists for its theme songs were revealed on Monday. AKB48 sub-unit French Kiss will be handling the show’s opening theme, while rock band the pillows is in charge of the ending.
“SKET DANCE,” which is serialized in Shueisha’s Weekly Shonen Jump, is a shonen manga about a three-member high school club known as the “Campus Support Group” that deal with random problems that come up around campus.
Both French Kiss and the pillows were natural choices for the show’s theme songs. Starting with the third episode, French Kiss member Kashiwagi Yuki is voice acting as Rumi, the sister of the lead character Bossun. The main characters also form a band called The Sketchbook that does a performance of the pillows’ well-known song “Funny Bunny.”
The titles of the theme songs have not yet been announced. More details will be revealed before the anime premieres on April 7 on TV Tokyo.
On Monday, idol group AKB48 updated their official blog to announce that they have opened a bank account for receiving donations for earthquake relief, which will be passed on to the Japanese Red Cross.
In the blog post, it was revealed that some of the members of the AKB48 family (which includes AKB48, SKE48, NMB48, and SDN48) were affected by the recent earthquake and tsunami. The groups felt that they wanted to do something to help all the victims of the disasters, so they decided to work with the Japanese Red Cross for accepting donations.
AKB48′s “Kamikyokutachi” reaches half a million in sales
Idol group AKB48 reached half a million units sold with their best album “Kamikyokutachi” this week, after almost an entire year. Originally released on April 7, 2010, the album sold approximately 2,000 copies this week, pushing its total to 501,000. Although the group has had two million-selling singles in recent months (“Beginner” and “Sakura no Ki ni Narou”), “Kamikyokutachi” is their first album to hit the half-million mark.
In fact, the last female group to sell 500,000 copies of an album was Destiny’s Child, who did it with “#1′s” in 2006 (592,000 in current total sales). Not counting overseas artists, the last female group was Morning Musume with “4th Ikimasshoi!” in 2002 (515,000 in current total sales).
AKB48 is expected to outdo “Kamikyokutachi” with their first original album, “Koko ni Ita Koto,” which was previously scheduled for release on April 6 but is being delayed due to the effects of the March 11 earthquake. No new release date has been decided yet.
Meanwhile, AKB48, their related subgroups, and member Itano Tomomi (as a solo artist) experienced a small boost with their singles this week. Currently, there 12 AKB48-related singles in the Top 100.
AKB48 reschedules album, announces upcoming singles and next Senbatsu
AKB48 has just revealed a new release date for its original album “Koko ni Ita Koto.” Originally scheduled for release on April 6 but delayed due to the Tohoku earthquake, it has now been set for June 8, and part of the revenue from the album’s sales will be donated to the rebuilding efforts in the earthquake-affected areas.
The group also revealed some details about its upcoming singles. Their 21st single, currently untitled, will be released on May 25. Like the album, part of the sales will be donated to charity. The single will come in two versions, “Type-A” and “Type-B.” Each version will have a limited-quantity edition with tickets for a handshake event randomly inserted (there will be two designs for the tickets).
All copies of the single will contain a serial-numbered card used for voting in the group’s next “Senbatsu” election, which will determine the participating members for their 22nd single. The vote-counting day and the single’s release date are not yet known.
AKB48’s Akimoto Sayaka confirmed for ‘Detective Conan’ special live-action drama
Previously, we reported that Japan’s beloved “Detective Conan” series would receive a special live-action drama adaptation called “Kudo Shinichi eno Chousenjou~Kaichou Densetsu no Nazo~“, which will star Mizobata Junpei and Kutsuna Shiori.
On April 3rd, AKB48’s Akimoto Sayaka made a new blog entry and announced that she too would appear in the drama.
Akimoto will play the role of ‘Suzuki Sonoko‘, who is the friend of heroine ‘Mouri Ran’ (Kutsuna Shiori).
The special drama will air on April 15th at 7:00 PM through NTV.
Preview AKB48’s upcoming single, “Everyday, Kachuusha” + “Moshidora” previews
Last December, it was announced that AKB48 member Maeda Atsuko would be starring in her first lead role in the movie, “Moshi Koukou Yakyuu no Joshi Manager ga Drucker no ‘Management’ wo Yondara” (What if the Female Manager of a High School Baseball Team read Drucker’s “Management”?), or “Moshidora” for short. The book is a #1 seller by author Iwasaki Natsumi, so the anticipation has been high.
Maeda will play “Kawashima Minami“, a high school baseball team manager, who accidently purchases the wrong type of management book. She buys a book written by a consultant, “Management: Tasks, Responsibities, Practices” by Peter Drucker. While the book is not about managing a baseball team, Kawashima believes in the books practices and utilizes them to transform the baseball team and take them to nationals.
Although, Iwasaki originally painted the heroine “Kawashima” after AKB48 member, Minegishi Minami, Maeda was chosen because she has more experience in acting. Regardless, Minegishi will appear in the film as “Hojo Ayano”.
But Maeda and Minegishi are not the only things AKB related to this film, as AKB48’s 21st single, “Everyday, Kachuusha” (Everyday, Headband), will be included in the film as well, and the single will release on May 25th.
TV program “PON!” has revealed scenes from the movie, as well as a preview of AKB48’s upcoming single.
AKB48 members face off for rival magazines
Posted on April 5, 2011 by tokyograph
Weekly Young Jump (Shueisha) and Weekly Shonen Magazine (Kodansha) have each recruited a team of AKB48 members for a competitive project called “AKB48 YJ7 vs YM7: Jimbocho x Gokokuji Taisen.” As the name suggests, each of the magazines has assembled a group of 7 idols from AKB48 to compete in a series of contests.
The project takes its name from the office locations of the two magazines, Jimbocho (Shueisha) and Gokokuji (Kodansha). The YJ7 team consists of Minegishi Minami, Kitahara Rie, Sato Amina, Ohta Aika, Yokoyama Yui, Yamauchi Suzuran, and Ichikawa Miori. Opposite them on the YM7 team are Kasai Tomomi, Takajo Aki, Sashihara Rino, Miyazaki Miho, Komori Mika, Sato Sumire, and Takeuchi Miyu.
The project already started with a “First Impression Showdown” in the most recent issues of both magazines, which featured photos of the members on the cover and inside, encouraging readers to vote on the project website for the member they found the cutest.
The teams will compete not only in print, but also on television, radio, and the Internet. The prize for the overall winners has not yet been determined.
In 2009 and 2010, Shueisha sponsored a similar project called “AKB48 Team PB vs. Team YJ” for its magazines Weekly Playboy and Weekly Young Jump. However, this time is a collaboration between two rival magazines from different publishers.
“Bakusho! Dainippon Akan Keisatsu” regular cast includes Yasuda Shota, Tanaka Koki, AKB48
In February, it was announced that comedy duo Downtown will be hosting their variety show “Bakusho! Dainippon Akan Keisatsu” on a weekly basis starting this this spring. It has now been revealed that the show’s regular cast includes Kanjani8’s Yasuda Shota, KAT-TUN’s Tanaka Koki, and several members of AKB48.
Downtown previously hosted the show as a special program three times in 2009 and 2010. Due to its popularity, Fuji TV decided to give it a regular Sunday 8:00pm time slot, starting on April 24. As always, the show will feature Hamada Masatoshi as a police chief and Matsumoto Hitoshi as a commissioner, who lead a team of detectives in investigating absurd cases.
While the show will still have various guests on the show, Downtown has also added two new groups that will make regular appearances. The “Johnny’s Detectives” will consist of Yasuda and Tanaka, and one of them will appear every other week. On the other hand, the “AKB Detectives” will consist of three members, rotating each week.
The first episode of “Bakusho! Dainippon Akan Keisatsu” will be a 2-hour special. Imada Koji, Itao Itsuji, and Higashino Koji will guest star as detectives, and the show’s judges will include Go Hiromi and Daichi Mao. Yasuda will represent the “Johnny’s Detectives,” while Oshima Yuko, Shinoda Mariko, and Kojima Haruna will represent the “AKB Detectives.”
AKB48 releases details on 3rd Senbatsu General Election
AKB48 will be holding their third Senbatsu General Election for their 22nd single (title still unknown). Twenty one members will be chosen by fan votes to be on the Senbatsu team. Although the single is set to be released in August the elections will be held from late May until early June.
Fans will have a chance to vote for their favorite member to be a part of the Senbatsu team. The members up for vote consists of all 70 members of AKB48 (Team A: 16, Team K: 16, Team B: 15, Kenkyuusei: 23), the 57 members of SKE48 (Team S: 16, Team K: 16, Team E: 16, Kenkyuusei: 9) and the 25 members of NMB48 (Team N: 16, Kenkyuusei: 9). Fans will get a chance to vote from a total of 152 candidates. The top 21 will be part of the Senbatsu Team and the top 12 will be considered the media Senbatsu Team, who will be promoting the single on TV shows.
In order to vote, fans must already be registered members of the official fan club. They must also have the serial number code that comes with the regular edition of AKB48’s 21st single “Everyday Kachuusha” (set to release on May 25th). Voting will take place from May 24th at 10:00am all the way to June 8th at 3:00pm. Results will be announced on June 9th. Like before, the ballots will be tabulated by a third party and will be under strict surveillance by lawyers.
It looks to be that this Senbatsu General Election will be another huge event for AKB48!
10th a-nation tour includes AKB48 alongside top Avex artists
Avex held a press conference today to announce details for this year’s a-nation tour, which will proceed despite the effects of the earthquake in the Tohoku region. This will be the 10th time that the annual tour has been held, and its full name has been set as “a-nation 10th Anniversary for Life: Charge & Go! Weider in Jelly.”
While the expected Avex artists such as Hamasaki Ayumi and Koda Kumi are participating, this year’s lineup also includes idol group AKB48 for the first time. While AKB48 is not signed under Avex, their recently formed sub-unit DiVA is making its debut under Avex later this month.
The artists that were announced today are:
TRF
Every Little Thing
Hamasaki Ayumi
Do As Infinity
Koda Kumi
Suzuki Ami
AAA
Goto Maki
GIRL NEXT DOOR
ICONIQ
mihimaru GT
SEAMO
AKB48
3rd Generation J Soul Brothers
The tour will consist of 7 shows at 5 venues, starting with Ehime (July 30), then Fukuoka (August 6), Aichi (August 13), Osaka (August 20-21), and Tokyo (August 27-28).
Tickets will be sold for 7,900 yen, with 100 yen of the price being donated to charity. In consideration of the power shortages caused by the earthquake and tsunami, Avex will be preparing power supply trucks at the venues. The company also plans to make the Tokyo concert on August 28 available for “free public viewing” at Ito Yokado shops in the tsunami-stricken areas.
In addition, Avex will sell goods bearing the logo “for Life,” and auction off items like the artists’ stage outfits. Part of the proceeds will be donated to charity.
April 22, 2011 - Today, as announced in AKB48 Theater, it is confirmed that AKB48 will start regular “Theater Style” live concerts in Singapore for the first time ever overseas.
Planned to be held twice a month, the first concert is scheduled to take place on Sunday May 15th, 2011.
For the 2nd and following live events, not only AKB48, but also SKE48, NMB48, SDN48 will be participating.
Currently, AKB48 has an official shop in Hong Kong and regular events are held which are widely accepted by the fans in Hong Kong.
Please support AKB48, as so they will be popular not only in Japan but around the world.
*Singapore performance details, ticketing, and member information will be announced at a later date.
Maeda Atsuko to release debut solo single “Flower” on June 22
Rumors of a solo debut by AKB48’s Maeda Atsuko are now confirmed. Her first single is titled “Flower” and will be used in her movie “Moshi Koukou Yakyuu no Joshi Manager ga Drucker no Management wo Yondara” (“Moshidora”), which opens in theaters on June 4, 2011.
Maeda personally announced the news on Saturday during AKB48′s handshake event at Nagoya Dome. The song is said to be a slow ballad and will be released on CD on June 22. There will be 3 versions, with different coupling songs and DVD content. It will be released through King Records, the same label as AKB48. More details will be revealed at a later date.
Post time 9-3-2011 12:42 AM
