General News Thread

[YKT]

Translation by me (and muppet)

Video Research Ltd releases Japanese Talent's CM ''exposure'' rankings for 2012:

1. Ueto Aya
2. Takei Emi
3. Gouriki Ayame
4. Sasaki Nozomi
5. Ayase Haruka
6. Oshima Yuko
7. Takada Junji
8. Shinoda Mariko
9. Takahashi Minami
10. Itano Tomomi
11. Kanako Higuchi
12. (TIE) Kojima Haruna
12. (TIE) Osamu Mukai
14. Ryuta Sato
15. Watanabe Mayu
16. Yu Aoi
17. Shuzo Matsuoka
18. Kashiwagi Yuki
19. Maeda Atsuko
20. Dante Carver
Source:

http://www.cinematoday.jp/page/N0050683

Image from cinematoday:



Another source: http://awabi.2ch.net/test/read.cgi/mnewsplus/1361966772

Excerpt from http://awabi.2ch.net/test/read.cgi/mnewsplus/1361966772

1. 上戸彩（1）2. 武井咲（10）3. 剛力彩芽（388）4. 佐々木希（19）5. 綾瀬はるか（14）6. 大島優子（3）
7. 高田純次（300）8. 篠田麻里子（7）9. 高橋みなみ（12）10. 板野友美（13）

11. 樋口可南子（16）12. 小嶋陽菜（11）12. 向井理（18）14. 佐藤隆太（67）15. 渡辺麻友（21）
16. 蒼井優（71）17. 松岡修造（274）18. 柏木由紀（17）19. 前田敦子（4）20. ダンテ・カーヴァー（6）

The figure within () is 2011's rank, hence Gouriki Ayame made the biggest jump...

[YKT]

^thanks muppet for helping me with the names.

Tokyohive has just posted more stats covering the Nagoya and Kansai region about Japanese Talent's CM ''exposure'' rankings for 2012.  I earlier posted the Kanto region stats above (1st post on this page).

Akimoto Yasushi becomes the most commercially successful lyricist in Japan
by Shiso on February 27, 2013 at 5:38 pm


It was announced that the total number of sales for singles which were written by lyricist Akimoto Yasushi has reached a whopping 68,591,000 copies, which made him the most commercially successful lyricist in Japan.

After including the sales from the latest Oricon weekly ranking, Akimoto surpassed late lyricist Aku Yu’s record of 68,319,000 copies by 272,000 copies.

Akimoto has written the lyrics for many artists such as Onyanko Club, Tunnels, the late Misora Hibari, and in recent years, he’s known for contributing lyrics for AKB48, SKE48, NMB48 and more. Reportedly, Akimoto wrote the lyrics for 506 singles so far, and among all the singles he wrote, the best selling single was AKB48’s 26th single “Manatsu no Sounds good!” (released in May 2012) which sold 1,822,000 copies in total. Moreover, about 30% (19,987,000 copies) of his total sales have come from songs he wrote for AKB48.

Akimoto left the comment, “Thank you. Even after getting No.1 in sales, I still can’t hold a candle to other great senior lyricists, but taking this (record) is very encouraging, I would like to continue to devote myself.”

Akimoto made his debut as a lyricist with “Kotoba ni Shitakunai Tenki” (The coupling track for THE ALFEE’s single ‘Toori Ame‘) in October of 1981. His first chart topping single was Kikuchi Momoko’s “Sotsugyou” (released in February 1985), and a total of 87 singles which Akimoto contributed the lyrics, have topped the chart ever since. 87 chart topping singles is also a record for lyricists, number 2 is Inaba Koshi with 52 singles.

Below is the list of TOP 5 lyricists with their total number of single sales (the parentheses show the best selling singles from the lyricist).

=====

1. Akimoto Yasushi…68,591,000 copies (AKB48 ‘Manatsu no Sounds good!’ 1,822,000 copies)
2. Aku Yu…68,319,000 copies (Pink Lady ‘UFO’ 1,554,000 copies)
3. Matsumoto Takashi…49,838,000 copies (KinKi Kids ‘Glass no Shounen’ 1,792,000 copies)
4. Komuro Tetsuya…42,224,000 copies (Amuro Namie ‘CAN YOU CELEBRATE?’ 2,296,000 copies)
5. Inaba Koshi…37,594,000 copies (B’z ‘Ai no Mama ni Wagamama ni Boku wa Kimi dake wo Kizutsukenai’ 2,021,000 copies)

http://www.tokyohive.com/2013/02/akimoto-yasushi-becomes-the-most-commercially-successful-lyricist-in-japan

[Rust]

Shinoda Mariko opens the first store for her original brand ‘ricori’


On February 27th, AKB48’s Shinoda Mariko attended an opening event for her original brand’s first store opening at Lumine Est Shinjuku.

Regarding the brand name, ricori, Shinoda explained, “I named it ‘ricori’ using Mariko’s ‘riko’ and the word for ‘cute’ in Spanish, ‘rico’.” She also commented on the launching of her brand, saying, “It was a dream of mine since before entering AKB48. I also went to a fashion school for that reason.” She then shared that she has been working on designs for the past 10 years, “I have about 1,000 designs in stock.”

Read more here.


Edit: News video from MAiDiGi! Credit to YKT for the find plz!

[Jul3]

Nakaya Sayaka announces graduation.

Oshima Team K Performance on March 6th will be her last.

"I've been thinking about graduating for a long time.  I am quitting so I can go to the audition for an anime that I really like. When they had an audition last time i was not able to go because I had an AKB job. The audition requires that I am not signed with any recording companies so I am quitting Mousa as well. I am going to be the First Rabbit of Seiyuu."

https://twitter.com/Bilingual48

edit: Her graduation blog post: http://ameblo.jp/nakaya-sayaka/entry-11478969922.html

[YKT]

New CM promo by Asahi


 
News release and full size pics

http://www.asahiinryo.co.jp/company/newsrelease/2013/pick_0304-4.html
http://www.asahiinryo.co.jp/company/newsrelease/2013/image/0304-4a_b.jpg
http://www.asahiinryo.co.jp/company/newsrelease/2013/image/0304-4b_b.jpg

[YKT]

Also from Asahi

[YKT]

Total number of copies sold for AKB48′ singles reaches 20 million



When including the sales from Oricon’s latest weekly single ranking, the total number of copies sold for AKB48’s singles has reached 20,000,000.

Since their indie debut single “Sakura no Hanabira tachi“, which was released in February 2006, it has taken 7 years and a month for them to accomplish this, and it is the fastest record to reach 20 million copies for singles. With this result, they have surpassed Mr.Children’s record of 8 years.

Other artists who have reached the 20 million copies sold mark with singles include B’z (in 1997), Southern All Stars (in 2000), Mr.Children (in 2000), SMAP (in 2005), and Hamasaki Ayumi (in 2006). Thus, AKB48 is the first female group to achieve it.

Congratulations to AKB48!



Source & Image: Oricon

http://www.tokyohive.com/2013/03/total-number-of-copies-sold-for-akb48-singles-reaches-20-million

[YKT]

Aki-P meets with the PM of Japan during a "Cool Japan" conference - promote and likely develop Japan's soft power around the world.



Source http://www.jiji.com/jc/c?g=eco_30&k=2013030400845

[Jul3]

On March 11th, each of the 48 groups (AKB, SKE, NMB, HKT) will hold special earthquake charity performances at their theatres.

[Jul3]

Hashire! Penguin by Team 4 is getting a Music Video and making of included in the 6 discs special bluray edition of AKB48 Request Hour Setlist 2013 (and none of the other versions).

Full info on the release here: http://forum.jphip.com/index.php?topic=33659.msg1159629#msg1159629

[t-motion]

HKT48 officialy opened their Youtube channel!

http://www.youtube.com/user/HKT48

3 opening comment video:

[YKT]

AKB48 Relief Activities Project - official vid uploaded March 6, 2013



There will be a special site for more on March 8, 2013 from 1800 hrs JST at

▼詳細はこちら 3月8日(金)18時よりダウンロード開始予定
http://www.akb48.co.jp/darekanotameni/

[YKT]

AKB48 Relief Activities Project - official vid uploaded March 6, 2013


There will be a special site for more on March 8, 2013 from 1800 hrs JST at

▼詳細はこちら 3月8日(金)18時よりダウンロード開始予定
http://www.akb48.co.jp/darekanotameni/

Follow up

Crest posted details of the above:

AKB48 to distribute free charity song "Tenohira ga Kataru Koto” starting March 8th, proceeds go to Japanese Red Cross Society

Continuing their efforts of Tohoku earthquake and tsunami relief and reconstruction, Tenohira ga Kataru Koto (Tales that Palms Tell) will be available on their project's site (http://www.akb48.co.jp/darekanotameni/) on March 8th at 20:00 JST (UTC +9). Donations will also be collected.

[Jul3]

^ in addition:

On March 11th, each of the 48 groups (AKB, SKE, NMB, HKT) will hold special earthquake charity performances at their theatres.

I think it says that if you purchase one of those 4 LODs on DMM.com the money goes to charity. Also, these shows aren't included if you are a subscriber to one of the four subscriptions, you have to purchase them separately.

http://ameblo.jp/akihabara48/entry-11485407158.html

edit: no, they are free:

The special stage of 11th March LOD will be downloadable for free. All 4 team (AKB, SKE, NMB, HKT).
http://ameblo.jp/akihabara48/entry-11486210210.html
http://www.dmm.com/lod/-/darekanotameni/

[Seigus]

AKB48's Gashapon Official Site opens!

http://www.gashapon.jp/akb48/



First release - Kami Oshi Plates

[Jul3]

On March 11th, each of the 48 groups (AKB, SKE, NMB, HKT) will hold special earthquake charity performances at their theatres.

Setlists:

AKB48	SKE48:	NMB48:	HKT48
M01. Dareka no Tame ni M02. Flying Get M03. Kaze wa Fuiteiru ---MC1--- M04. Manatsu no Sounds Good! M05. Gingham Check ---MC2--- M06. Bingo M07. So long! ---MC3--- M08. Boku no Taiyou M09. Tenohira ga Kataru Koto	M01. Kaze wa Fuiteiru ---MC1--- M02. Ai no Kazu M03. Te wo Tsunaginagara M04. To be continued M05. Sakura no Hanabiratachi ---MC2--- M06. Tsuyoki Mono yo M07. 1! 2! 3! 4! Yoroshiku! M08. Choco no Dorei ---MC3--- M09. Dareka no Tame ni M10. Tenohira ga Kataru Koto	M01. Kaze wa Fuiteiru ---MC1--- M02. Mirai no Tobira M03. Oh My God! ---MC2--- M04. Kimi ga Hoshi ni Naru Made ---MC3--- M05. Tanpopo no Kesshin M06. Minasan mo Goissho ni M07. Dareka no Tame ni ---MC4--- M08. Seishun no Laptime M09. Tenohira ga Kataru Koto	M01. Mirai no Tobira M02. Kimi no Koto ga Suki Dakara ---MC1--- M03. Aozora no Soba ni Ite M04. Dear My Teacher ---MC2--- M05. Oogoe Diamond M06. Kaze wa Fuiteiru M07. HKT48 ---MC3--- M08. Dareka no Tame ni M09. Onegai Valentine M10. Suki! Suki! Skip! M11. Tenohira ga Kataru Koto

Member Lineups:

AKB48: KKS (minus Miichan) + Izuta Rina, Kobayashi Marina, Nakamata Shiori, Morikawa Ayaka, Chikano Rina, Nakata Chisato, Fujita Nana, Matsubara Natsumi, Ishida Haruka, Ichikawa Miori
SKE48: Missing were Matsui Jurina, Matsui Rena, Ogino Risa, and Hidaka Yuzuki
NMB48: Missing were Yamamoto Sayaka, Watanabe Miyuki, Hisada Riko, and Shinohara Kanna
HKT48: Missing were Kodama Haruka, Sashihara Rino, and Ota Aika

The missing members (most of AKB48, and, in general, the popular sister group girls) went around the disaster areas performing: http://forum.jphip.com/index.php?topic=35181.msg1161488#msg1161488

All four LODs can be downloaded from H!O at this link.

[Jul3]

The official blog states that on March 20th, the AKB Kenkyuusei will perform a different setlist to their usual [Boku no Taiyou]...

...no further details... seems unclear whether they are starting a new stage or whether this is a one-off...

http://ameblo.jp/akihabara48/entry-11488769187.html

[Jul3]

Team BS Launched!



Featuring:

AKB48: Takahashi Minami, Oshima Yuko, Watanabe Mayu, Shimazaki Haruka
SKE48: Matsui Rena, Matsui Jurina
NMB48: Yamamoto Sayaka, Watanabe Miyuki
HKT48: Tashima Meru, Sashihara Rino

It's to promote the NHK BS channel http://www.nhk.or.jp/bs/ between 2013.03.20 - 2013.05.31

http://www.nikkansports.com/entertainment/akb48/news/f-et-tp0-20130313-1096873.html

[Jul3]

Team BS Launched!

http://www.oricon.co.jp/news/movie/2022575/full/

[YKT]

^ larger image from RBBTODAY


Namme90 found the following news on stage.  I reupped the img to imgur:

Between the 20th of March and the end of May, Oshima Yuko, Shimazaki Harua, Takahashi Minami, Watanabe Mayu, Matsui Jurina, Matsui Rena, Yamamoto Sayaka, Watanabe Miyuki, Sashihara Rino and Tashima Meru are going to be taking part in a PR campaign for NHK BS1 and BS Premium.

The members - slated as "Team BS" - will be promoting the channel on posters and short commercials.


It seems the campaign is called "Anata wa Dare Oshi? Watashi wa BS Oshi!"
http://www.nikkansports.com/entertainment/akb48/news/f-et-tp0-20130313-1096873.html