Itano Tomomi to hold “Dance Trial” for her upcoming solo single
It was announced that AKB48’s Itano Tomomi will hold a dance contest “Itano Tomomi ‘1%’ Dance Trial 2013” for her 4th solo single “1%“ that is set for release on June 12th.
Participants post their dance video on YouTube, using the 90 seconds sample video, “1% (Dance Trial Edit)”, as reference. It can be the exact copy of the sample, or you can add your own arrangement. Anyone can participate in the dance contest regardless of age, sex, or dancing experience, and it can also be both solo or a group effort.
Whoever passes the primary selection, will go on to the final selection which will be held in Tokyo, and they will choose winners for “A prize” (opportunity to appear on the MV for Itano’s next solo work + prize money 500,000 yen), “B prize” (appearances on the media, such as dance magazines), and “C prize” (autographed goods). The winner of each prize will also be able to co-star with Itano in “CLUV Tomo. ~DANCE TRIAL 2013 Edition~“, an event to be held for people who purchase the single.
Itano commented, “Since it’s a cool tune, there will be many ways to arrange it. I’m looking forward to seeing everyone’s dance. Please apply for it.”
More details on the “Itano Tomomi ‘1%’ Dance Trial 2013″ can be checked on a special site (here). http://www.dancetrial2013.com/
AKB48's latest single is the best selling single for a female group
Popular idol group AKB48's 31st single "Sayonara Crawl" (released on May 22nd) sold 109,000 copies in the second week, and the cumulative sales number for the single reached 1,872,000 copies.
It exceeded the previous best record for a female group's single sales --1,845,000 copies-- which SPEED had kept for over 15 years with "WHITE LOVE" (released in October 1997).
Until now, AKB48's best selling single was their 26th single "Manatsu no Sounds good!" which sold 1,822,000 copies cumulatively, but they were able to exceed it with the latest single in the second week! Moreover, "Sayonara Crawl" is also the best selling single for the first week release, which sold 1,763,000 copies. It's also the record holder for both male and female artists.
AKB48 had swept 6 singles categories for a female group, which included "total number of chart topping singles", "the number of consecutive chart topping singles", "total number of million-selling singles", "the number of consecutive million-selling singles", "total sales number for all singles", and "sales number for the first week."
And with their latest single, they added one more notch to their belt, "the cumulative sales for a single" category.
Graduation dates for Shinoda Mariko, Itano Tomomi and Akimoto Sayaka revealed
June 24, 2013 @ 11:22 am
On June 24, AKB48's official website announced the graduation dates for members Shinoda Mariko, Itano Tomomi and Akimoto Sayaka.
The three will hold separate graduation performances at AKB48 Theater in Akihabara. Shinoda will part ways with the group on July 22, Itano on August 27, and Akimoto on August 28.
Prior to their graduation performance, the members are scheduled to hold graduation ceremonies. Shinoda will hold her ceremony on July 21 at Fukuoka Yafuoku! Dome, Itano on August 25 at Tokyo Dome, and Akimoto on August 22 at Tokyo Dome.
The last member to hold a graduation ceremony at Tokyo Dome and hold a graduation performance at AKB48 Theater was Maeda Atsuko, who graduated from the group last August.
Details on AKB48's '4th Janken Tournament' revealed
June 26, 2013 @ 7:43 am
On June 26th, AKB48's official blog announced the details on the group's upcoming '4th Janken Tournament' (September 13th at Nippon Budokan), which will determine the senbatsu members for their 34th single (title and release date undecided).
All 62 official members of AKB48 Team A, K, and B have unconditional rights to enter the main tournament. In addition, SKE48's Matsui Jurina and Furuhata Nao, NMB48's Watanabe Miyuki and Yagura Fuuko, HKT48's Kodama Haruka, and JKT48's Takajo Aki and Nozawa Rena, and SNH48's Suzuki Mariya will also participate in the main tournament.
The winner of this year's general election, Sashihara Rino, will once again start in the preliminary tournament. Last year, she lost to Anai Chihiro in the first round.
Graduating members Shinoda Mariko, Akimoto Sayaka, Itano Tomomi (AKB48), and Fukumoto Aina (NMB48) will not participate in the upcoming tournament. Members from overseas sister groups JKT48 and SNH48 will also not participate.
The preliminary round schedule can be seen below.
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AKB48 Research Student Preliminary Janken Tournament
Saturday, July 6th from 6:00 pm
Number of participants: 24
SKE48 Research Student Preliminary Janken Tournament
Tuesday, July 2nd from 6:00 pm
Number of participants: 22
SKE48 Preliminary Janken Tournament
Wednesday, July 3rd from 6:00 pm
Number of participants: 48 (44 official members + 4 research students)
NMB48 Research Student Preliminary Janken Tournament
Saturday, June 29th from 1:00 pm
Number of participants: 20
NMB48 Preliminary Janken Tournament
Thursday, July 4th from 6:30 pm
Number of participants: 46 (43 official members + 3 research students)
HKT48 Research Student Preliminary Janken Tournament and HKT48 Preliminary Tournament
Wednesday, July 10th from 6:00pm
Number of participants: Research Student Preliminary Janken Tournament - 24, Preliminary Tournament - 18 (14 official members + 4 research students)
Majisuka Gakuen 5 new character, playing as Katsuzetsu!
Kodama : This is roughly the first time I am appearing in a drama, so when I heard that I will be able to be in it I was happy. But having the character Katsuzetsu suddenly appearing in the 5th iteration of the story, there’s pressure and uneasiness as I am joining other members who appeared before.
How did you feel when you actually stepped on set ?
Kodama : Katsuzetsu is a character that looks down on Rapapa, that’s why I can’t be timid and have to face them with confidence. But during the action scenes I was afraid because it really felt like the punches and kicks were going to hit.
Then Yuriya-san told me “ It is okay if it hits, it will be easier to act off each other that way”. With the kindness from my seniors the shoot went smoothly.
Your costume is amazing isn’t it ?
Kodama : When I first saw it I thought “ eh ” , I’m not wearing anything!(lol) But wearing a sarashi looks strong doesn’t it. When I wear my costume, it feels like a switch has been turn on which makes me feel easier to get into my role.
Katsuzetsu is a character that is really strong in fighting isn’t it ?
Kodama : The director told me “ Throw away the image of Haruppi the idol and become a man ! ” . But since I don’t have any Yankee friends nor am I a Yankee(lol), I watched the movie series “ Crows ” . So I acted out the image of what I saw, like a female version of “ Crows ” .
But your character name is Katsuzetsu ( lol ) .
Kodama : Yes exactly! Even though the character is strong, the name is Katsuzetsu feel’s weak so I thought isn’t it better to change the character’s name.
Does the character has lisp ?
Kodama : Katsuzetsu doesn’t have lisp, she speaks fine. I don’t have confidence that I the person acting her doesn’t though.(lol)
The background story of your character is that she is classmates with Sakura during her time in kyushu, and now with the purpose of defeating Sakura entered Majisuka Jyogakuen.
Kodama : Yup. I compared the feelings of Katsuzetsu and the idol me and thought aren’t they similar. " Defeat Sakura " I would like to carry on this desire and feeling of rivalry with me.
Note: Sarashi is the white cloth wrap around the chest.
Crows is a series of movies about Yankees in high school.
Post time 4-6-2013 05:32 PM
