AKB48's Ohta Aika, Hirajima Natsumi in “Batsu Game 2"
Posted on December 10, 2011 by tokyograph
The movie “Batsu Game” is getting a sequel next year, with an all-new cast. AKB48 and Watarirouka Hashiritai member Ohta Aika will star, and fellow member Hirajima Natsumi will also appear.
The first movie was released in 2010, starring D-BOYS member Araki Hirofumi (28), with AKB48 members Kikuchi Ayaka (18) and Nakagawa Haruka (19). Based on a suspense novel by Yamada Yusuke, the story involved a college student who becomes wrapped up in a deadly plot for revenge by a former classmate who was bullied.
In “Batsu Game 2,” Ohta plays a student named Saeki, while Hirajima plays a nail stylist named Hagiwara. Along with three other people, they become trapped in a classroom where they are forced to participate in a special “lesson” – a game of survival. Meanwhile, a reporter (Yuki Ryoichi) is pursuing a rumor about an organization that acts as a proxy for people seeking revenge for bullying.
Yamada Masafumi (“Hitori Kakurenbo: Gekijoban”) is directing the movie, with release targeted in spring 2012.
Watanabe Mayu to star in TV Tokyo drama series
Posted on December 10, 2011 by tokyograph
AKB48 member Watanabe Mayu is reportedly starring in a drama series next season on TV Tokyo. This will be her first time with a solo starring role in a drama.
Details about the show’s story and Watanabe’s supporting cast are being kept secret for now, but it is said that the series has a school setting. The series is scheduled to start on January 13.
It was also announced that a manga version of the story will run in Kodansha’s Young Magazine, starting with next year’s issue #7 that goes on sale on January 16.
“AKB0048" anime series voice cast, story revealed
Posted on December 13, 2011 by tokyograph
On Tuesday, the official website for the AKB48 anime series announced the show’s 9 main cast members and revealed its basic story. The cast features 5 AKB48 team members, including Watanabe Mayu.
The anime, titled “AKB0048,” was first announced in October. Voice auditions were held for the 9 main characters, with approximately 200 members of AKB48 and its related groups eligible for the parts. The field was narrowed down to 30 finalists after the first round, and the final judging took place on December 13.
The winners were:
Watanabe Mayu (AKB48 Team B)
Mita Mao (NMB48 research student)
Ishida Haruka (AKB48 Team B)
Sato Sumire (AKB48 Team B)
Hata Sawako (SKE48 Team KII)
Nakaya Sayaka (AKB48 Team A)
Yagami Kumi (SKE48 Team S)
Iwata Karen (AKB48 research student)
Sato Amina (AKB48 Team B)
Four members were also given special awards during the final round of the audition:
Takeuchi Miyu (AKB48 Team 4)
Murashige Anna (HKT48)
Kinoshita Momoka (NMB48 research student)
Furukawa Airi (SKE48 Team KII)
“AKB0048" is set in a world where entertainment is prohibited, but a group of idols named AKB0048 continue to hold guerrilla performances in spite of the law.
The group inherited their name from AKB48, the legendary idol group that existed on Earth before a devastating world war made Earth uninhabitable, forcing its people to migrate to outer space. A galactic alliance was soon formed, which aimed to bring order by outlawing entertainment. Idols and other forms of entertainment have gradually faded away, but AKB0048 was born in an attempt to bring light to the darkness to that has overtaken the galaxy.
“AKB0048" is scheduled to start airing next spring. It was previously announced that the staff includes director Kawamori Shoji of “Macross” fame, screenwriter Okada Mari (“Ano Hi Mita Hana no Namae wo Bokutachi wa Mada Shiranai”), and producer Otsuki Toshimichi (the “Evangelion” movies).
Charts: AKB48, Akanishi Jin
Posted on December 14, 2011 by tokyograph
AKB48’s 24th single, “Ue Kara Mariko,” topped the sales charts with nearly 1.2 million copies sold in its debut week. As announced earlier this week, this gives AKB48 the new record for most million-selling singles by a female artist (6).
AKB48 – Ue Kara Mariko – 1,198,864
Super Junior – Mr. Simple – 88,973
Amuro Namie – Sit! Stay! Wait! Down! / Love Story – 77,758
Houkago Tea Time – Singing! – 47,130
Houkago Tea Time – Unmei wa Endless! – 46,571
flumpool – Present – 33,430
Daikoku Danji – Love Days – 17,758
KAT-TUN – BIRTH – 16,287
RAINBOW – Mach – 15,506
SHU-I – Never Give Up Yeah! – 11,157
In album sales, Akanishi Jin’s American debut mini-album “TEST DRIVE featuring JASON DERULO” took the #1 spot with more than 108,000 copies sold. This is Akanishi’s second consecutive #1 release as a solo artist, after his debut single “Eternal” this past March.
The last time that a Japanese artist took #1 on the Japanese sales charts with an American debut work was in 2004, when Utada Hikaru released her album “Exodus.”
Akanishi Jin – TEST DRIVE featuring JASON DERULO – 108,602
Sandaime J Soul Brothers – TRIBAL SOUL – 92,654
KARA – Super Girl – 79,317
SHINee – THE FIRST – 71,666
Kubota Toshinobu – THE BADDEST ~Hit Parade~ – 56,298
Perfume – JPN – 41,556
JUJU – DELICIOUS – 24,189
Yuki Saori & Pink Martini – 1969 – 21,247
Hilcrhyme – RISING – 15,713
NICO Touches the Walls – HUMANIA – 15,104
Maeda Atsuko to play Moriyama Mirai’s love interest in “Kueki Ressha”
Posted on December 15, 2011 by tokyograph
AKB48 member Maeda Atsuko (20) will take on the role of the heroine in the movie “Kueki Ressha,” it has been revealed. As previously announced, the movie stars Moriyama Mirai (27) and Kora Kengo (24) and is being directed by Yamashita Nobuhiro (“Linda Linda Linda,” “My Back Page”).
Set in 1987, “Kueki Ressha” is an adaptation of an Akutagawa Prize-winning novel about a young man named Kitamichi (Moriyama) who leaves home after finishing junior high school and ends up working a manual labor job at the harbor for 5,500 yen a day. Burdened by his past and his sex offender father, he has no friends nor love life. One day, he meets Kusakabe (Kora), a vocational school student with a bright future, but jealousy gets in the way of their friendship.
Maeda will play Sakurai Yasuko, an employee at a used book store. The character was not in the original novel, but she will be key to the story as Kitamichi secretly falls in love with her.
Filming started on November 25 and is expected to wrap up before the end of this year. The movie will be released in 2012.
TV ad #2 for "Ending Planner" drama (22 Dec, 2011)
Length: 1 min 27 secs
Size: 39 MB
Starring: Yamashita Tomohisa, Maeda Atsuko (AKB48)
Highlights: Pi & Acchan appear at the door of their funeral parlor and he is asked about gobbling down food and women.
Watanabe Mayu to release first solo CD on February 29
Posted on December 19, 2011 by tokyograph
AKB48’s Watanabe Mayu (17), also known affectionately as “Mayuyu,” will be the next member to make her solo debut. On February 29, 2012, she will release her first single “Synchro Tokimeki” under Sony Music Records. The song has also been chosen as the theme song for the TV Tokyo drama series that she will star in.
Watanabe is the fourth active member of AKB48 to have a proper solo debut, after Itano Tomomi, Maeda Atsuko, and Iwasa Misaki (who will debut on February 1 as an enka singer). Watanabe is also part of the subgroup Watarirouka Hashiritai 7, along with Iwasa. In addition, she was recently chosen as one of the main voice cast members for the anime series “AKB0048.”
One source describes “Synchro Tokimeki” as an upbeat song with a nostalgic ’80s melody and a modern arrangement.
Details about her drama series have still not been released, though it was previously reported that it has a school setting. The show’s time slot has been announced (Friday nights, 12:53am), with the first episode scheduled for January 13. It is also known that a manga version of the drama will begin running in Kodansha’s Young Magazine on January 16.
DiVA adds 6 new members
Posted on December 20, 2011 by tokyograph
During the AKB48 Kouhaku event on December 20, sub-unit DiVA revealed that they have added 6 more members, increasing their total size to 10. The new lineup publicly performed the group’s new song “Lost the way” for the first time (release date to be announced).
DiVA consists of AKB48 members Akimoto Sayaka, Miyazawa Sae, Umeda Ayaka, and Masuda Yuka. The unit released their first single in May of this year, but it was announced before then that producer Akimoto Yasushi had plans to hold auditions for 6 new members. At the time, he stated that DiVA’s name will eventually change to DIVA once the group is “complete” and becomes a “vocal and dance unit that everyone can acknowledge.”
The new members are not from an AKB48-related group. They are:
AKB48 wins 53rd Japan Record Award
Posted on December 30, 2011 by tokyograph
The 53rd Japan Record Awards were held on December 30. Although most of the award winners were announced last month, there were still two big awards to be revealed: the Japan Record Award, and the Best New Artist award.
The Japan Record Award is the event’s biggest award, going to one of the 10 Best Song winners. This year, idol group AKB48 won for the first time. The members took the stage in tears to receive the award, then launched into a performance of their winning song, “Flying Get.”
The Best New Artist award, chosen from the four New Artist winners, went to the group Fairies, who debuted with the single “More Kiss / Song For You” this past September.
Watanabe Mayu to play 38-year-old teacher in her drama series “Saba Doru”
Posted on January 3, 2012 by tokyograph
Some plot details have finally been released regarding the drama series “Saba Doru,” starring AKB48 member Watanabe Mayu. The series was announced last month but was initially surrounded by secrecy. It turns out that Watanabe will be playing a dual role, one as herself and one as a 38-year-old teacher.
The story revolves around the 38-year-old Usa Shijimi (Watanabe), who is a high school classical literature teacher. Her students are mean to her, but they don’t realize that she has another identity. Outside school, she lies about her age to be active as the super popular 17-year-old idol Watanabe Mayu, whom the students adore.
The title is a combination of the phrase “nenrei no saba wo yomu” (to lie about one’s age) and the word “aidoru” (idol).
Watanabe commented on the role, “How to act as the 38-year-old Shijimi is especially difficult, but I want to give it my best.” She continued, “The show is a heartful comedy, so I hope I can provide energy to those who watch it.”
Ando Tamae, Sakata Tadashi, Kaminaga Keisuke, and Takahashi Hitomi are among the supporting cast. The planning and original work are being handled by AKB48 producer Akimoto Yasushi.
It was already announced that Watanabe’s solo debut single “Synchro Tokimeki” (being released February 29) will be the drama’s theme song, and that the drama will have a manga version debuting in Kodansha’s Young Magazine on January 16.
“Saba Doru” will air on Friday nights at 12:53am on TV Tokyo, beginning January 13. A total of 12 episodes are planned.
AKB48 overtakes Morning Musume as single sales leader
Posted on January 6, 2012 by tokyograph
According to Oricon sales data, AKB48’s total single sales have now reached 11,787,000 copies with 25 singles. This puts them at #1 for total single sales by a female group, surpassing the previous record holder Morning Musume.
Morning Musume is currently at 11,774,000 copies with 56 singles, over a span of 13 years and 11 months. AKB48 overtook them in only 5 years and 11 months, largely due to several recent singles that have all sold over 1 million copies each. The five singles they released in 2011 alone have sold 7,346,000 copies.
Currently, the top three female groups in single sales are:
AKB48 member Sashihara Rino to release debut solo single in March
Posted on January 8, 2012 by tokyograph
AKB48 member Sashihara Rino (19) will debut as a solo artist this March. The news was announced on Sunday during AKB48's handshake event as a surprise to everyone, including Sashihara herself.
Sashihara’s debut single, which is currently untitled, will be the theme song for her upcoming drama series “Muse no Kagami,” which begins on January 14. The single will be released under avex trax in March.
Sashihara, who belongs to Team A, is currently one of AKB48's more popular members. She is also part of the sub-unit Not yet, along with Oshima Yuko, Kitahara Rie, and Yokoyama Yui.
She will be the fifth active AKB48 member to debut as a soloist, after Maeda Atsuko, Itano Tomomi, Iwasa Misaki, and Watanabe Mayu.
AKB48 charity efforts have raised 1.25 billion yen in donations
During an event at Seibu Dome in Saitama on Saturday, idol group AKB48 announced another major donation to the Japanese Red Cross. More than 580 million yen is being given toward the earthquake relief efforts. Combined with their previous donations, AKB48 has raised a total of more than 1.25 billion yen in aid.
After the earthquake and tsunami in March 2011, AKB48 began collecting donations for the relief efforts through their “Dareka no Tame ni” charity project and at various events. Those donations, plus a portion of the revenue from their CD sales, amounted to 668,916,085 yen up until February 18 of this year. They announced that they will contribute an additional 585,259,888 yen, bringing the total amount to 1,254,175,973 yen.
On top of that, the group will also donate 30 vehicles to the prefectures of Iwate, Fukushima, and Miyagi (10 to each). There are also plans for AKB48, SKE48, NMB48, and HKT48 to hold charity concerts at their respective theaters on March 11 (the anniversary of the earthquake).
Post time 20-12-2011 05:58 PM
