NMB48 Kenkyuusei Sasaki Nanami to Graduate

As announced on June 16, NMB48 3rd Generation Kenkyuusei Sasaki Nanami will be graduating from the group. The graduation date has not been announced yet.

The reason given is poor physical health, it seems she has problems with her spine that hinder her activities in NMB48.

Sasaki Nanami is the second 3rd Generation member to graduate after Ishikawa Kokoro left in April to focus on her studies.


I hope Nanami wil get well soon. I think it is the right decision not to risk her health. But the high number of NMB48 Kenkyuusei who have graduated so far still bothers me.

SKE48's Imade Mai Announces Her Graduation

At today's SKE48's Kenkyuusei theater performance, 3rd gen KKS Imade Mai announced her graduation. The reason for her announcement was for her wish to study abroad and also because of a leg injury.

She also made a G+ post concerning this:

At today's theater performance,

I, Imade Mai, was allowed to make an announcement about my graduation.

Another time, I will write a detailed post.

For now, I'm sorry.

This is really sad as Mai is the 4th member from SKE to graduate this year. The vacant spot left by Matsushita Yui and Nakamura Yuka as they graduated last year from Team S and Team E respectively still hasn't been filled and now we are losing another one and a kenkyuusei at that. This is all very disheartening.

NMB48 Team M Kodakari Yuuka to Graduate

NMB48's Team M member Kodakari Yuuka announced on April 13, that she will graduate from the group. The reason for her decision is poor physical health.

This announcement comes at a bad timing. Team M will start their first show [Idol no Yoake] on May 5th. They have to find a replacement for Yuuka quickly.

This is also the third graduation announcement from NMB48 in less than two weeks after Ishikawa Kokoro and Hara Mizuki , but this time it is not a Kenkyusei but a full member. Even though quite a few Kenkyusei have left NMB48 in the past months, Kodakari Yuuka is only the second full member to leave, after Mori Ayaka graduated from Team N in June last year.

Kodakari Yuuka's comment.
Original Message

I have something to tell you all.

Joining NMB48 there were painful things too, but everyday was really fun and I felt satisfied.

But I, Kodakari Yuuka, will graduate from NMB48.

To be honest, I was very worried about my physical condition the whole time.
Continuing like this, I felt anxious and, honestly, very scared. Thinking about my future, I thought I should give priority to my physical health.

But I consultated my family and staff several times and they told me 'Why don't you just rest a while?'.

But I don't like doing it halfway, and even if I would continue my activities with this feelings it would be rude and a trouble to all who really support me everyday, so I made the decision to graduate. I am sorry for causing trouble.

The presents, letters, calls during the shows, blog comments from the fans who always supported me, were all my support.

Thank you a lot.

The members I always cried, laughed and worked hard together with: When there were hard times, I felt good again when I saw your smiles. Really, thank you.

From now on, I want to make the one year left of junior high life a fulfilled one while at the same time recover from my poor health. So please somehow watch over me kindly.

Kodakari Yuuka

So many graduations from NMB48. That makes me really sad. I wish Yuuka all the best for her recovery.

NMB48 Kenkyusei Hara Mizuki to Graduate

Hara Mizuki, a 1st Generation NMB48 Kenkyusei, has announced on April 9 that she will be graduating from the group. The reason for the graduation is that she wants to focus on her studies  preparing for high school entrance exams. A graduation date has yet to be announced.

Just one week before Mizuki, 3rd Generation Kenkyusei Ishikawa Kokoro had announced her graduation too. With those two, five Kenkyusei have left or are about to leave NMB48 since late December last year.


Here is a translation of Mizuki's graduation annoucement.

Original Message

It is sudden, but I have an annoucement to make to you all.
I, Hara Mizuki, will graduate from NMB48.

After entering NMB48 I was allowed to perform in the Dareka no Tame ni Show and the Seishun Girls Show. In Dareka no Tame ni I did Raider and in Seishun Girls I was also allowed to do Ame no Doubutsuen. I was happy but on the other side, I failed Shonichi (first performance day) members, and also wasn't chosen for a team or for Senbatsu, so there were also frustrating feelings.

I became a 3rd year student in Junior High, and a student preparing for entrance exams.

Am I going to continue NMB48 this way?

I was really wavering whether I should do my best at studies now, enter the High School I am aiming for, find a goal for the future, and work towards it, but I decided to graduate from NMB48.

I am really glad I joined NMB48.
That is, all my fans who supported me and the members were nice, I was really happy being together with them, and it was a lot of fun.

Being able to be in NMB48 was really fun. Thank you.

Mizuki is a 1st Generation member, but did not make Team N or Team M. Additionally she has high school exams coming up now, so I can understand her decision and wish her all the best. I just hope the other 1st Generation Kenkyusei left don't follow her way.

NMB48 Kenkyusei Ishikawa Kokoro to Graduate

As announced on April 2, NMB48 3rd Generation Kenkyusei Ishikawa Kokoro will graduate from the group on April 28th. The reason given is the same as for all NMB48 graduations so far: she wants to focus on her studies.

Ishikawa Kokoro is the first 3rd Generation member to graduate. This generation just debuted in February and is currently preparing for their first stage [Aitakatta],  a remake of Team A's 2nd Stage, scheduled to start April 29, the day after Kokoro's graduation.


The 3rd Generation members haven't done much yet, so I can't say much about this news other than that I was interested in Kokoro. Her graduation comes quite fast, so maybe she just realized NMB48 is not what she wants to do. Anyways, all the best to her.

Suzuki Rika Graduates from AKB48

Suzuki Rika, a 12th Generation KKS, graduated from AKB48 on March 31st, 2012. She graduated from AKB48 because she wanted to focus on her studies.

On March 30th, 2012, she posted the following message on Google+:


Suzuki Rika  -  Mar 31, 2012  -  Mobile  -  Public

2012/3/31
I will graduate from AKB48 tomorrow.
This was a monumental decision in my life.

But I don't think this is the wrong choice.
Because the choices everyone else made have not been wrong.
When standing at the crossroads of life, people make different choices and no one knows if it's the right choice.
It would be boring, if I only lived one life - like how a mathematical question can only have one correct answer.

I'm sorry about saying these things.
I just want to think that I have not made the wrong choice.

Suziki Rika

Maeda Atsuko Announces Her Graduation

Maeda Atsuko, the face of AKB48, has announced her graduation tonight on the final day of AKB48's [Gyoumu Renraku. Tanomu zo, Katayama-buchou!] concert in Saitama Super Arena. No graduation date has been announced at this time.


Maeda Atsuko's graduation speech

I am a first-generation member and have been here since I was 14. This was my life. It was a big decision. And I will make a second important decision. I am going to graduate.

I have caused some troubles because of my mood swings, but thanks for everyone's help, I am here today. To perform in Tokyo Dome was a dream since I was 14.

Now this dream has come true, at 20 years of age, I have to work hard towards my next dream.

I have worked hard for the past 6-1/2 years. I have to move onto my next dream at the age of 20.  I am anxious and worried because I don't know what will happen. But for the kouhai, I have to take the first step towards this.  No details have been decided.

No graduation date has been announced, but it will most likely be at the end of the AKB48 Tokyo Dome Concert since she said it was her goal. The date for that has not been announced either. It was not mentioned if she will still take part in the AKB48 Senbatsu election this year, but she will still be part of the 26th single [Manatsu no Sounds good!]

Update: Akimoto Yasushi finally posted on G+ about this.  You can see the translations on Bilingual48.


I am just at a loss for words. I didn't expect Acchan to graduate yet. She's only 20, and still has a lot of future for her in AKB48. I was expecting one of the older members like Mariko to graduate first because of her age, but definitely not Acchan. I guess it is inevitable, graduation is part and parcel of idol groups. But AKB48 will be very different without Acchan. She might not be my oshi, but she is among the people I respect the most in my life.


Quoting a line from her solo single Flower

一番美しいFlower
(The most beautiful of all flowers)

SDN48 [Makeoshimi Congratulation] 1st Day Sales

SDN48 released their 5th and final single [Makeoshimi Congratulation] yesterday, ranking in 2nd with 59,971 sold.

Except for AKB48, Arashi is still a major force to deal with. There was no way SDN48 would have ever beaten Arashi for 1st day sales, and they definitely won't for 1st week. Which is quite sad because I wanted them to get the 1st place for their final single.

Makeoshimi Congratulation's sales is quite similar to that of their previous 3 singles, which all sold around 50k for 1st day. This being their last single, I expected more people to buy it. But that's apparently not the case.

2nd day sales are not any better, this time SDN48 has dropped down to 8th place, below fellow idol group Momoiro Clover Z. The sales of 3rd place J Soul Brothers' [Go my way] is 10.5k, so 8th place would be somewhere around 4-5k? Not good news for 1st week sales. At this rate they might even be out of the top 5.

SKE48's Mano Haruka and Yamada Erika Will Graduate Too

More SKE48 members have announced their graduation, this time it is Team E's Mano Haruka (left) and Yamada Erika (right). The two of them will graduate together with Team S's Ono Haruka at the end of March.

Just what is happening in SKE48? After a long time of stability with barely any graduations, now we have 3 graduations in just a week? And we're still in Week 1 of March. All these graduations and no promotions smells like an SKE team shuffle will come soon.

There goes another Haruka in SKE48. Now the only Haruka left is Kenkyuusei Futamura Haruka. Once Harurun and Erika graduate, there will be 3 empty spots in Team E, and a total of 5 in SKE48.



Here is a translation of the announcement after their performance today:

We have something to report to all of you.

I, Mana Haruka, and Yamada Erika, will both graduate at the end of March, after having gained a lot of experience in SKE48.

I have performed with the group for 3 years, but recently I find myself wanting to focus on my studies more, so I came to this conclusion.

I have received a lot of support from all the fans, and I am very very thankful.

There is still some time until the end of March, even though it's only a short time, please keep cheering for me.

As for me [Yamada Erica], I injured myself on January 16th, 2011.  The diagnosis is an herniated disc.

I have been getting treatment and it is getting better, but it may also come back in the future if I do not take good care of it.

So I have decided to graduate and focus on treatment.

Please keep supporting me until the end of March, which is just a short time from now.  Please also keep cheering for Team E.

Thank you for coming to the Team E performance.  To show our gratitude, we will high-five with all of the audience on your way out.

SKE48's Ono Haruka to Graduate at End of March

Announced at the Team S stage show earlier tonight, SKE48's Ono Haruka will graduate at the end of March 2012.

At the show Haachan explained that the decision was nothing sudden and she has been discussing it with the staff since a year or two ago, however the staff told her that it was still too early for her and so she stayed. But now her mind is clear. She didn't saw what she wanted to do after SKE48, but mentioned that she will pursue the music path on her own.

Once she graduates there will be 3 empty spots in SKE48, 2 from Team S (Matsushita Yui, Ono Haruka) and 1 from Team E (Nakamura Yuka).



Translated by Emptystring

I, Ono Haruka, will be graduating from SKE48, after having gained a lot from this experience.

Sorry for the sudden announcement, but I have actually been thinking about this for 1-2 years.
Staff members said, "It's still early" and wanted to stop me, but I have decided to go down a different path than SKE48 and took the chance.

I have not decided what I will be doing, but since I have worked on my singing, I think I want to work on something entirely different.

I have received great support for about...3.5 years.
A long time, but I felt it went by so fast.
Thank you for the support.

I am who I am today because of everyone's support.
Please continue to cheer for me wherever I go.

I am here for another month, please bear with me.

(not quite sure what these last 3 sentences said, but something about graduating with a positive attitude)
前向きな卒業なので、
自分自身も明るい気持ちで羽ばたいていこうと思っているので、
これからもよろしくお願いします。

Nooooo Haachan ;____; I will miss you.
Since the other Team S members present at the show did not seem surprised by her announcement, she probably told them about it beforehand. It's good that she has finally made up her mind after a year. She said that she will continue to be in the music industry so let's hope to see more from her after she graduates.

Yonezawa Rumi and Hirajima Natsumi leaves AKB48

On February 4th 2012, Yonezawa Rumi and Hirajima Natsumi made their apology speeches at the AKB48 Handshake Event. There were 15,000 fans at the event, and they became so quiet you could hear a pin drop. While looking at the two members making their speeches, they could not stop their tears from falling. Below are pictures and a translation of their speeches during the event.

Yonezawa Rumi:
"I would like to apologize for causing troubles to the members, staff and all the fans, I am truly sorry. I have a lot of things I want you to understand but I have no idea how to express them. Having worked in AKB for 5 years, I feel really shameful for hindering the other members. I am also really sorry for betraying the fans. Though I've written down what to say earlier...(Encouragement comes from the fans in the hall)

I am able to stay in this group for 5 years due to the support from the fans. Having broken the rule, I am not sure if you still believe my words, but it is due to your support that I am able to come this far. It was really fun to dance and sing on the stage. Though it was tough at times, I am truly grateful. There are various rumours, but a lot of them are far from the truth. It also pains me to have caused trouble for members who are close to me and SKE members whom I like. Although it is a fact that I have broken the rules, the other members have absolutely nothing to do with this. Maybe my words are no longer trusted, (tears), but please continue giving your support to the rest of the members. (Yonechan call) From now on, I want to give my support to the members, staff and friends who have always been there for someone like me. Though I'm still unsure of what the future holds for me, I shall continue to work my hardest so as to receive support from everyone. I would like to bear everyone's words, be it harsh or kind. From now on please continue giving your support to AKB48. Thank you for these 5 years!"

Hirajima Natsumi
"I am really sorry. I apologize for troubling everyone. I have troubled everyone with my thoughtless actions. I apologize for the inconvenience, and will be resigning from AKB48 and Watarirouka Hashiritai at this Handshake Event. I have really received a lot of love. I really love AKB48 and Watarirouka Hashiritai, though there were tough times, I have never once thought about quitting. I'm really glad that I was able to work as a member of ABK48. Though it's too late to say this, I wanted to appear more on the stage to perform with Team B together in the Tour. I'm very apologetic and shameless for having to leave AKB48 like this. I let my parents down even though my father was always the one to wake me up, and my mother was always there to support me. I have once again realized how painful it would be for me to be unable to see everyone's faces and hearing everyone's voice during performances in Akihabara. I want to appear in front of everyone again, I want to work hard with my 6 years in AKB48 as a support. Thank you for all the love you have given me. I am truly sorry. "

(Warm encouragement from fans at the event)

Yonezawa Rumi and Hirajima Natsumi Scandals

So as you all have heard by now, Yonezawa Rumi and Hirajima Natsumi was caught in a scandal last weekend and subsequently both of them withdrew from AKB48. The previous post regarding this was the announcement. Here we will go into detail about the scandal.

DISCLAIMER: most, if not all, of the information came from 2ch, so please take everything with a grain of salt


So this all started when someone on 2ch posted a thread with the title "I found something incredible" which eventually lead to Yonezawa's private mixi account exposed. According to 2ch posters, these were discovered by Johnnys wotas when combing through Tegoshi's twitter. The ones who are familiar with AKB48 took this information to AKB board and asked if the girl is Yonezawa , and the rest is history.

The first things were screenshots that looked like status updates from Yonezawa's Mixi account. Two of these updates are very important and quite self-explanatory.

1. one of the posts on August 12 said,
"An 'official' sex friend is a boyfriend, and an 'unofficial' sex friend is a lover? I don't like the sound of either! It's 5am and I'm still not asleep because I'm thinking about stupid stuff. Concert in Sendai tomorrow."
Team K did perform in Sendai on August 12. Since she hadn't gone to bed when she posted this at 5am, one can assume that "tomorrow" is really "today", 8/12.

2. the post on August 29 said,
"I've been a lonely girl for 3 weeks. The last time I was a lonely girl was 4 years ago. Maybe it's time to get a boyfriend, but at this point there isn't anyone that I would jump to date, but I really want one..."

Next up was Yonezawa's private twitter account and her yfrog photo album. But they are all defunct by now because the accounts were deleted/deactivated. This is where  Hirajima's name started to come up because she was in some of the photos. Information from her official twitter account (@rumiii0606) matched with responses to her private twitter account, such as a haircut on January 23rd 2012, and photos from Guam just before the March 11 2011 Earthquake.

Then apparently Hirajima also had a private twitter account, and more photos were discovered. Most of the pictures were quite harmless, but one photo in particular showed what was possibly a sleepover with both Hirajima and Yonezawa. This was pretty much the last nail in the coffin.

All while this was unfolding, Yonezawa was still on the flight on the way to Singapore, with no clue to what was happening. Togasaki's twitter account was bombarded with requests for an investigation into the photos.

Yonezawa's last google+ post was also spammed with angry fans, but most of the mean comments was because they were angry she was trying to mislead other girls. It was said that she introduced guys to some SKE48 and NMB48 girls too. A lot of the later comments were like "please don't drag other people down with you".

Everything ended on the early morning hours of the 28th, with Togasaki's post on the AKB48 Official Blog. Both girls have sent in their resignations and Producer Akimoto Yasushi approved of them.
They will still attend the AKB48 handshake event on February 5th, which will be their last event under AKB.


At 6am Akimoto Yasushi wrote a post on his google+ account
https://plus.google.com/113474433041552257864/posts/XzUNoNL9jnY

We had an unfortunate announcement.
After discussing with the members involved, their managers and staff members, I approved the decision.

I don't want to put extra blame on them. If they were normal students, this would not have been a problem.
However, they are members of AKB48, and must abide by the AKB48 rules.
"But then how about that other member?"
Some will surely identify other members with rumors.
But how many yellow cards / warnings do you think their managers and our staff members gave?

They only violated AKB48 rules, and not rules of the society. It seems like they intend to stay in the showbiz even after leaving AKB48, so I will keep giving them my support.

And another at 8am
https://plus.google.com/113474433041552257864/posts/fukLcyCKY1f

I have diligently read everyone's comments. As Executive Producer, I have to apologize for my negligence/carelessness about this matter. I feel that they will need an opportunity to address this to the fans directly.

Please allow me to talk about something unrelated for a moment.

In one of the past auditions, there was a girl who sang well. She had a charismatic voice and had the right attitude. I was unsure until the very end, but I rejected her. I really thought I did the right thing. I believed that I was not able to fully utilize her talents.

But then she met Kobayashi Takeshi, who is the producer for Mr. Children and debuted.
She is Salyu. She probably would not have sold many records had I been the producer. I think she sells well now because she teamed up with Kobayashi.

Does AKB48 have future Salyus?
I am always anxious about this.
Are there members who will do better if I am not the producer?
This is why I am proactively working with outsiders [lit: external creators], leaving the casting for music videos, dramas, movies and TV shows to them.

AKB48 is not everything.
Producer Akimoto Yasushi is not everything.

I am going to talk with both members, see where their talents will blossom and help them get there.

At 9am Togasaki wrote a post on his Google+ account
https://plus.google.com/103388469578205010447/posts/ZcT6koUDsR8

Last night we were busy until the wee hours and couldn't really get any sleep after the announcement.

Since I started working on this project, we've occasionally had to make these sudden but necessary announcements. What happened was both regrettable and frustrating.

It's not just the members. We have said many times before that fans who break rules or behave poorly will be banned. Even if a fan was having a great conversation in my office, he/she would be asked to leave and banned from the theater immediately if he/she behaved improperly.

[I am not sure how to translate this next sentence
その時感じるこのやりきれない思い. maybe "This is just too much"?
If anyone knows please help :)]

All these encounters and departures have made AKB48 who they are today.
They definitely have learned something from what happened yesterday.

We have received a lot of messages from worried fans wanting to know what will happen to those 2 members - we would like to thank you for the messages.

We understand that many of you want to know what will happen to their personal careers more than the impact on AKB48.

With regards to the 2 members, who are 1st and 3rd generation, they had enough courage [lit: guts] coming into AKB48 not knowing where it will lead [lit: not knowing where the AKB48 boat will sail to].
During their time in AKB48, they experienced all sorts of happy and sad things together as friends.
And during times like these, there are a lot of fans who are worried about them.
The staff, just like everyone else, will keep lending their support to these two.

They have courage, friends, and experience.

These are assets that no one can take away from them.

So we think they will be fine wherever they go.
[this actually is a very warm statement but just sounds cold in English]

So long as they do not forget these assets, we have faith in them that things will be ok.

We ask you to keep supporting both AKB48 and the 2 of them.

Now I'm at the end of the post - with regards to their handshake events, we will announce them when we figure something out.

Then at 3pm Togasaki posted both on the blog and his google+ account about the resignations
http://ameblo.jp/akihabara48/page-10.html#main

Here I will explain the circumstances of the sudden resignation announcements of Hirajima Natsumi and Yonezawa Rumi, since many fans are asking to know more.

It started when a private photo was discovered online. The photo was the result of an AKB member's inconsideration and bad judgment.

We were told of this incident by fans and when we investigated, both admitted to breaking AKB48 rules; they are very sorry that they have made a huge mess by taking photos of potentially compromising situations, and that they caused concern/worry among their fans.

They then tendered their resignations from AKB48, and the management announced earlier that their resignation requests are accepted/approved.

They both will attend the handshake event on Feb 5th and greet their fans directly, and this will be their last event under AKB48.

NMB48 Kenkyusei Okada Risako To Graduate

As announced in the theater on January 18th, Okada Risako, a 2nd Generation Kenkyuusei, will graduate from NMB48. The reason is that she wants to focus on her studies.

Risako is the third 2nd Generation Kenkyusei to graduate from NMB48, following Takiyama Akane and Otani Riko, who just recently graduated for the same reasons. This means three 2nd Generation members have left (or are about to leave) the group in the short time of just about one month!

I actually wonder if anything is going on among the 2nd Generation members. Three graduations in such a short time is really unusual, and with the prospect of Team M to be formed soon, I was expecting the 2nd Generation to move forward now.

NMB48 Captain Yamamoto Sayaka made a comment about the graduations too, and she sounds quite devastated to me. Read a translation of her comment below.

Please let me write my true feelings here.
I am sorry if I have made you feel bad.
To be honest, I am perplexed.
Getting to know about the graduation of a member later than the fans is shameful for me as a captain.
This will be the third person and so, even though there is nothing to feel guilty about 'giving priority to school activities', I can't help but feeling insecure wondering 'what is not working in NMB?'.
On the other hand, the 2nd Generation members are even getting used to the graduation of their fellows.
Why...
Stay firm, Sayaka!

NMB48 Kenkyuusei Otani Riko to Graduate

As announced in the NMB48 Theatre, 2nd Generation Kenkyuusei Otani Riko will graduate from NMB48. The reason given is that she wants to focus on her studies. The graduation date has not been announced yet.

Another 2nd Generation member, Takiyama Akane, just graduated from NMB48 a few days ago on December 22 for the same reasons and now we have another NMB48 graduation.

I wonder what is happening with NMB48's 2nd Generation. They aren't featured much and instead of moving forward, the members now start to graduate.

Anyways, I wish Riko all the best for the future.

Otani Riko Graduation Message
translated by Miss Moonlight

I have an important announcement to make.

I, Otani Riko, will graduate from NMB48. I am really sorry to everyone who supported me all the time since our appearance at TCD Hall in June until now. Since the audition, repeatedly I felt conflicts inside me. Every time that happened I remembered that I was chosen among so many applicants and that I was able to meet you all, and thinking ‘Alright, let’s do my best’ I worked hard.

I am a 3rd year junior high school student, so I had a big wall called ‘exam’ in front of me. I thought I could balance it with my activities in NMB48, but going to the senior high school I want to go to is difficult while balancing both activities and I could not completely give up on going to the high school I want to go to.

I was able to make a lot of experiences, like meeting with you all as an NMB48 member or things normal girls cannot experience and things that you just don’t know unless you enter (the group).

The theatre shows as an NMB48 member where I had fun with all of you, the handshake events where I could meet a lot of people, those were a great time. Thank you.

I am also really thankful to the staff who supported NMB48. I think that I was able to come this far thanks to you all and to all the members. Thank you very much.

Original Message

NMB48 Kenkyuusei Takiyama Akane To Graduate

As announced in the theater on December 10, NMB48 2nd Generation Kenkyuusei Takiyama Akane will graduate from the group. The reason given is that she wants to focus on her studies since her wish is to enter university. Her graduation show date is on December 22nd.

Takiyama Akane is the second NMB48 member to graduate after Mori Ayaka, and the first 2nd Generation member to do so. I was interested in her ever since I saw her in the theater, so this news is a bit sad. But I wish her all the best for her studies.

Takiyama Akane Graduation Message
It's sudden but I have an announcement to make so please listen to it.
Even before joining NMB48 I thought about entering university and studied for it. After joining NMB48, everyday was so much fun and I was allowed to perform in shows so everyday was an enriched experience, and so I thought 'I will do my best as NMB48'.
But when I went to school, the wish 'I want to go to university' became stronger. But I also did not want to quit NMB48, wanting to do both I became really half-hearted. I thought 'the way it is now is unexcusable to the members, staff and the fans who support me' and I was thinking the whole time that I had to make a decision.
I really love the members, the members were always my support, so I did not want to part with them. Also, you all (the fans) supported me with comments or letters, or said things like if you see my smile you can become energetic, so I wanted to do this job the whole time, and that is why I really did not want to quit but I thought it's time for me to make a decision.
Now I want to do my best at studying and achieve the goal of entering university. But because I love this job too, because it was my dream since I was a child, I will return to this stage, this NMB48 theater, at all means, so please support me kindly.
I really think it is selfish, but I love NMB48, I love you all, I love the members. That is why I ask you to please support me from now on too.

Original Message

AKB48 teams up with Google+

Just announced at a live press conference, AKB48 will be teaming up with social networking site Google+. AKB48 fans will now be able to follow their favorite AKB48 members on Google+!

Having realized the limitations of handshake events and other gimmicks allowing fans to interact with the members now that AKB48 has increasing amount of fans overseas, Akimoto Yasushi announced that fans are able to add members to their Google+ circles to follow their daily happenings more closely and timely.

As well as AKB48 members, SKE48 and NMB48 members will have Google+ pages. Akimoto Yaushi also mentioned that members of HKT48, JKT48, and all the other OOO48 groups in the future will have accounts too. You can find the Google+ profiles of the members here.

You can also hangout with the idols with Google+, this brings "Idols you can meet everyday" to a whole new level. Maeda Atsuko set up a Hangout just after the announcement and hanged out with 15 fans.

There are also limitation for this project, each Hangout is limited to 10 people only, minus the member who organized the hangout, we are only left with 9 fans. And if you disconnect during the Hangout session, it'd be almost impossible to join back again.

Also, members under 18 years old aren't allowed to be on Google+, therefore you don't actually see all the members on the Google+.

Also mentioned at the announcement, fans may be able to view AKB48 Kouhaku on 20/12 on Google+.

Shimada Rena and Matsuda Shiori return to NMB48

Today at Team N's show in the NMB48 Theater, the results of the fan voting to allow suspended members Shimada Rena and Matsuda Shiori were announced. The votes are shown below.

Matsuda Shiori
Approve: 8,377
Disapprove: 1,406

Shimada Rena
Approve: 7,622
Disapprove: 2,161

Good news for both girls, the majority of the votes approved their return to NMB48. The both of them will resume activities from January 1st 2012.

Although it looks like they both have been allowed to return by a huge majority, it is still disheartening to know that 2,000 fans still disapprove Shimada Rena, and 1,400 for Matsuda Shiori. Hopefully when they return to the stage, they can prove themselves to the fans once more.

One thing I would like to know is why there hasn't been any word about Yoshida Akari's suspension.

AKB48 Tops Karaoke Request Rankings for 2011

In the recently announced results for the [2011 Karaoke Request Ranking], AKB48 takes the top place in both the song and artist category.

For individual songs, AKB48 takes the top place with [Heavy Rotation].  They take additional places in the top ten with [Aitakatta] at #5 and [Ponytail to Shushu] at #7.

In the artist category, AKB48 again takes the #1 spot, beating out many other popular pop artists/groups.

Congrats to them, and I must admit, I sang all three of their songs that placed the last time I went to karaoke!

Full results are listed below:

■2011 Karaoke Request Ranking (Song)
#1 Heavy Rotation (AKB48)
#2 Mister (KARA)
#3 Gee (Girls Generation)
#4 Kiseki (GReeeeN)
#5 Aitakatta (AKB48)
#6 Arigatou (Ikimonogakari)
#7 Ponytail to Shushu (AKB48)
#8 Cruel Angel's Thesis (Takahashi Youko)
#9 Hanamizuki (Hitoto You)
#10 Chisai na Koi no Uta (MONGOL800)


■2011 Karaoke Request Ranking (Artist)
#1 AKB48
#2 EXILE
#3 Hamasaki Ayumi
#4 Koda Kumi
#5 Arashi
#6 Mr.Children
#7 Nishino Kana
#8 Ikimonogakari
#9 Kobukuro
#10 Kitajima Saburou

SKE48 Team E Nakamura Yuka to Graduate by End of 2011

Announced at Team E performance today, SKE48's Team E's Nakamura Yuka will be graduating by the end of 2011. The reason for her graduation is to focus on her studies as she will be taking high school entrance exam in 2012.

Nakamura Yuka's profile: http://www.ske48.co.jp/profile/?id=nakamura_yuka
Nakamura Yuka's blog: http://www.ske48.co.jp/blog/?writer=nakamura_yuka

Here's what she said when she announced her own graduation:

I, Nakamura Yuka, has something I would like to tell everyone. I will be a middle school year 3 next year.I am thinking of placing priority in studying for my high school entrance exam.

I am sorry for not voicing this out earlier. I am sorry graduating just as my schedule is becoming packed this year.

I am truly sorry for being the first to graduate from Team E, but I hope you will continue to support Team E and SKE48. Even though I am graduating, I still love SKE48. I aim to be Team E's greatest fan. I will work hard to become Team E's greatest fan so everyone please work hard as well.

Nakamura Yuka is the first and only member of Team E to graduate. She joined SKE48 in 2010 during the 4th Audition on September, and was promoted to Team E on December. Her unit song in Team E 1st Stage [Shonichi] is Temodemo no Namida, taking on Saeki Mika's lines in the song. Coincidentally, Saeki Mika has also graduated.

Screenshots of the graduation announcement: