AKB48′s Oba Mina suspended, Mori Anna graduatedAKB48’s Team 4 had its roster shaken up on Friday, with the announcement of Oba Mina’s suspension and Mori Anna’s graduation. The news came the same day as the announcement of NMB48 member Shimada Rena’s suspension.Like Shimada’s case, both Oba and Mori were caught in “scandals” involving their personal blogs from the past. As a result, Oba has resigned from the position of Team 4 captain, and she has also requested a self-suspension from her entertainment activities for now. Oba has also decided to withdraw from the upcoming “senbatsu janken tournament” on September 20th.Meanwhile, Mori is immediately graduating from the group, due to the combination of this scandal and her back pains that have been keeping her from fully participating in the group’s theater performances.Both Oba and Mori joined AKB48 as 9th generation research students. This past June, they both were promoted to official member status as part of AKB48′s newly established Team 4.
Apparently she will return to showbiz in December
Former AKB48 idol’s crowdfunding campaign includes date rewardsThe former AKB48 idol Anna Mori is crowdfunding her first photobook after recently turning 20 years old (the “age of majority” in Japan, similar to turning 18 in the U.S.) and quickly raised 2,000,000 yen (about US$16,957) with a little help from some unique backer rewards. Mori offered threedates for backers who paid 200,000 yen (US$1,695).All three dates are sold out. Backers could choose between a picnic and aquarium date with Mori in the Tokyo suburbs; lunch with the all-female photobook staff, including Mori, the photographer, and graphic designer Natsumi; or a “spocha” date with Mori in Tokyo. Spocha is catch-all center for sports, like rollerskating and soccer, and usually also has an arcade and karaoke.Other rewards include invites to attend the photoshoot, photo ops with Mori, an invitation to the book launch party, and a VIP benefits card.The campaign will end in 36 days and so far Mori has raised 2,494,000 yen (US$21,145).Mori was a member of the popular AKB48‘s from 2009 to 2011 before “graduating” from the group and going to college to study childcare and be a nursery school teacher. She graduated with her degree last year.Dating for idols is usually contractually forbidden outside of marketed video games, with heavy punishment like Minami Minegishi famously shaved her head as restitution for dating or i☆Ris‘ Serizawa publicly apologizing for wearing a ring. However, newer groups like the recently formed Happening Girls use their ability to date, and even marry, their fans as a selling point.[Via Otakomu]