General News Thread

[YKT]

This is a General News Thread for minor news.  Add-ons and discussions are welcome.      If the news item generate lots of feedback and discussions, the admin/mods may create a dedicated thread.

[YKT]

This just in 2011.10.02 11:52am, held today, members of AKB48 joined a campaign/promo at NHK Broadcasting Center in Shibuya, Tokyo - NAB Radio / NHK

Click to enlarge:





 
Sources:

http://life.oricon.co.jp/2002320/full/
http://www.nikkansports.com/entertainment/news/f-et-tp0-20111002-843878.html
http://journal.mycom.co.jp/news/2011/10/03/014/index.html
http://www.hotexpress.co.jp/news/111003_akb48/
http://www.daily.co.jp/newsflash/2011/10/02/0004519353.shtml which had this small pic




Video at the official NHK Site:

http://www3.nhk.or.jp/news/html/20111002/t10015983161000.html

[YKT]

“Waratte Iitomo” adds AKB48′s Sashihara Rino and Johnny’s Jrs. Nozawa Yuki, Sanada Yumi

Posted on October 1, 2011 by tokyograph
 
Fuji TV has announced several new cast members for its popular variety show “Waratte Iitomo!” The new regulars are AKB48 member Sashihara Rino (18), comedian Watanabe Naomi (23), and comedian Yamazaki Hironari. In addition, the “Iitomo Seinentai” will get its first Johnny's Jr. members, as both Nozawa Yuki (18) and Sanada Yuma (18) are joining the team.

This past week, comedy duo Audrey, model Sasaki Nozomi, actress Manda Hisako, and talento Yamaguchi Tomomitsu all graduated as cast members of “Waratte Iitomo!” With the start of the fall season, Sashihara, Watanabe, and Yamazaki will be filling in the vacancies.

Sashihara will be a regular on Wednesdays, while fellow AKB48 member Akimoto Sayaka will be moved from Wednesdays to Fridays. At the age of 18, Sashihara is now tied with actress Adachi Yumi (30) for the record of the youngest woman to become a regular member on the show.

Watanabe will join the lineup on Mondays. Yamazaki will appear on Thursdays.

Nozawa and Sanada will be known as the unit “noon boyz,” serving as the show’s 16th “Iitomo Seinentai,” who work as assistants on the show, including doing the usual opening dance.

All of the new members will start appearing on the show this week.

Sources:
Sankei Sports

http://www.tokyograph.com/news/waratte-iitomo-adds-akb48s-sashihara-rino-and-johnnys-jrs-nozawa-yuki-sanada-yumi

[YKT]

Akb48journal tweeted:

AKB48 new radio program, "AKB48 Radio Drama Theater" is starting today, every Monday~Thursday at 23.50~24.00 JST

 

Sources:

http://mantan-web.jp/2011/10/03/20111002dog00m200029000c.html
http://career.oricon.co.jp/news/2002245/

UPDATE:

Posted the audio clip at a new dedicated thread as I expect more clips to emerge in the coming days:

http://forum.jphip.com/index.php?topic=30796.msg953061#msg953061

[YKT]

This just in 2011.10.02 11:52am, held today, members of AKB48 joined a campaign/promo at NHK Broadcasting Center in Shibuya, Tokyo - NAB Radio / NHK

Video at the official NHK Site:

http://www3.nhk.or.jp/news/html/20111002/t10015983161000.html

Vids now on YouTube!

AKB48 若い人"ラジオ"は魅力あるぞ！

AKB48 ラジオの魅力をアピール

AKB48 ラジオの魅力PRイベントで あのスーパースターが受難！？

[YKT]

Confirmed: AKB48 will be performing at the Japan-Vietnam Music Festival

October, 03 2011 12:31:49
Ha Noi Opera House to host Japan-Viet Nam Music Festival

HA NOI – Celebrated Japanese musicians will be performing at the Ha Noi Opera House on Sunday for the second Japan-Viet Nam Music Festival.

Performers include Sugi Ryotaro, folk singer Godai Natsuko and the bands AAA, Exile, W-inds and AKB48.

Ryotaro has sung at numerous charitable events in Viet Nam over the last 20 years. In 1997, President Tran Duc Luong presented him with the Friendship Medal – the highest award for a non-Vietnamese citizen.

Natsuko has won numerous awards in Viet Nam, including the Gold Prize at the National Folk Festival in 1990 and the 13th MATSUO arts award in 1992.

The tour by W-inds, made up of lead singer Keita, and backup artists Ryohei and Ryuichi, last summer attracted an audience of 100,000.

The festival coincided with the Opera House's 100th anniversary.

The performance will be screened on the outside of the Opera House and aired on Viet Nam Television and Japan's NHK channel.

Ryotaro, Natsuko and the band W-inds also performed at the first joint festival in 2008. – VNS

http://vietnamnews.vnagency.com.vn/Pages/PrintView.aspx?ArticleID=216128

[YKT]

^Thanks for the vid!

The writeup from

AKB48 chosen as supporters for 62nd Kouhaku Uta Gassen

At a press conference on Thursday, NHK announced its PR “support team” (“ouentai”) for the 62nd Kouhaku Uta Gassen, to be held at the end of this year. Terry Ito will be a supporter for the 4th year in a row, and he will be joined this time by idol group AKB48. Although AKB48 has participated in Kouhaku for the last three years, this will be their first time as part of the “support team.”

The overall theme for this year’s Kouhaku is “1231 Ashita wo Utaou” (“1231 Let’s Sing of Tomorrow”). During the press conference, AKB48′s Oshima Yuko explained that the “1231″ represents December 31 (the day Kouhaku is held), while the succession of “1, 2, 3!” suggests a feeling of “taking a new step towards tomorrow.”

As part of AKB48′s duties for the “support team,” Watanabe Mayu revealed that the group plans to have an “AKB48 Daily Calendar Countdown” on the official Kouhaku website, where they will update it with a new message every day.

The 62nd Kouhaku Uta Gassen will take place from 7:15pm to 11:45pm on December 31.

Source:
Natalie

[YKT]

"AKB48DAY"  22 October 2011




Source: http://www.his-j.com/kanto/corp/group/event/akb

[YKT]

Umechan going to AKB48 Official Taiwan cafe on October 20, 2011:

10月20日(四) AKB48 Café OPEN 握手會、簽名會決定!!

AKB48 Official Taiwan cafe facebook

[YKT]

Further to the following post on October 3, 2011:

Confirmed: AKB48 will be performing at the Japan-Vietnam Music Festival
[...]

I uploaded a photo and Amp translated Mayuyu's latest blog post:

おはよーーーうございまーすー  まゆゆですっ	Good Mooooooorning! Mayuyu here~
今日からまゆゆは  ベトナム  に行ってきますー！！  しばしのお別れです(>_<)探さないでください。	Today, I'm off to Vietnam!! It's just a brief trip! (>_<) No need to look for me!
ベトナム音楽祭に出てくるんだお！  楽しみ！がんばってくるお。	I'm going for the Vietnam Music Festival, you see. Fun!
みんなもどうぞお元気で！  まゆゆのこと忘れないでね！
ベトナムはじめてだから緊張するお(>_<)	I'm nervous because it's my first time in Vietnam(>_<)
行ってきまーす(^o^) まゆゆより	Bye!(^o^) まゆゆより

From: http://blog.oricon.co.jp/watarirouka/archive/8683/0
Related: http://www.saigon-gpdaily.com.vn/Culture_Art/2011/10/97155/

Buncha other girls going too, apparently.

[YKT]

Further to the following post on October 3, 2011:

Confirmed: AKB48 will be performing at the Japan-Vietnam Music Festival
[...]

I uploaded a photo and Amp translated Mayuyu's latest blog post:

おはよーーーうございまーすー  まゆゆですっ	Good Mooooooorning! Mayuyu here~
今日からまゆゆは  ベトナム  に行ってきますー！！  しばしのお別れです(>_<)探さないでください。	Today, I'm off to Vietnam!! It's just a brief trip! (>_<) No need to look for me!
ベトナム音楽祭に出てくるんだお！  楽しみ！がんばってくるお。	I'm going for the Vietnam Music Festival, you see. Fun!
みんなもどうぞお元気で！  まゆゆのこと忘れないでね！
ベトナムはじめてだから緊張するお(>_<)	I'm nervous because it's my first time in Vietnam(>_<)
行ってきまーす(^o^) まゆゆより	Bye!(^o^) まゆゆより

From: http://blog.oricon.co.jp/watarirouka/archive/8683/0
Related: http://www.saigon-gpdaily.com.vn/Culture_Art/2011/10/97155/

Buncha other girls going too, apparently.

http://i.imgur.com/1szPx.jpg

AKB48 in Vietnam





Everyday, Kachuusha performance in Vietnam



Source
http://www.vtv.vn/Article/Get/Dai-nhac-hoi-Giac-mo-ve-mot-nen-hoa-binh-Am-nhac-ket-noi-trai-tim-1779da814e.html

[YKT]

[YKT]

AKB Journal tweeted:

Sayaka, Tomochin, Tomo~mi, Kitarie, Reinyan, Sae, Yui, Mayu are selected as glasses senbatsu for 24th Japan Glasses Best Dresser Award.

More http://www.ioft.jp/ja/Concurrent-Events/24th-Japan-Best-Dressed-Eyes-Awards/

Kasai Tomomi not present.

   

Source:
http://mantan-web.jp/2011/10/11/20111011dog00m200022000c.html
http://beauty.oricon.co.jp/news/2002607/?cat_id=NRK_TOP20110805
http://www.asahi.com/showbiz/nikkan/NIK201110110277.html
http://news.thetv.jp/article/25233/

[YKT]

AKB48 receives Megane Best Dresser Award
Posted on October 11, 2011 by tokyograph
 
The 24th Megane Best Dresser Awards, given annually to recognize celebrities who look good in glasses, were handed out Tuesday at the Tokyo Big Sight. AKB48 received the special prize as the celebrities whom people would like to see wearing glasses. Akimoto Sayaka, Itano Tomomi, Kitahara Rie, Fujie Reina, Miyazawa Sae, Yokayama Yui, and Watanabe Mayu were selected as the “Megane senbatsu members” to receive the award. Kasai Tomomi was also chosen but could not attend the ceremony due to health reasons.

AKB48 producer Akimoto Yasushi also received a Megane Best Dresser Award back in 2001 in the culture category.

Other winners this year included Tsuchiya Anna in the sunglasses category, former Fuji TV announcer Takashima Aya in the culture category, actor Mizutani Yutaka in the entertainment category, and pro soccer play Miura Kazuyoshi in the sports category.

Source:
Oricon

http://www.tokyograph.com/news/akb48-receives-megane-best-dresser-award/#more-22006

[aefan_27]

ＡＫＢ板野はギャップ萌え派？

[YKT]

Harugon and Nattsumii are in “Koufuku Record” - a play that runs from October 17th through to 25th.



For the cast, click to enlarge:



Source: nihonnouta-caravan.com/koufuku

[YKT]

Japan TV News vids of AKB48 in Vietnam:

AKB48 ベトナムでもJ-POP人気！
AKB48 ベトナムで音楽祭

Japan TV News vids of the 24th Megane Best Dresser Awards:

AKB48 "メガネの似合う著名人"授賞式
AKB48 選抜8人が特別賞に
AKB48 メガネっ娘AKB

[YKT]

Forty-eight member JPOP girl group AKB48, fresh from a trip to Guam for a starring role in last week's number two best selling game, are teaming up with Square Enix for what may end up being the biggest game of the year. AKB48's Yuko Oshima will be Final Fantasy XIII-2's official test player, Oricon reported today.

Oshima will appear in a commercial for the game. Square Enix hasn't yet released the commercial, but according to Oricon, it features Oshima in a business suit attending a morning meeting. She shouts out "Good morning," and after exchanging business cards with her fellow staffers, shows a disc containing a ROM of the game to the camera.

Oshima has also prepared a "manifest" laying out her promise to represent all players and share her positive and negative opinions about the game. She will be serving as the leader for 12 other official test players, and will work with her subordinates to deliver the latest information on the game.

The first Oshima spot will begin airing on the 15th.

Source: http://andriasang.com/comyk7/


tokyoHIVE can't even spell her name right:

http://www.tokyohive.com/2011/10/akb48s-ohshima-yuko-becomes-an-official-final-fantasy-xiii-2-beta-tester/

http://www.oricon.co.jp/news/movie/2002717/full/

More news articles:
http://mantan-web.jp/2011/10/14/20111013dog00m200054000c.html
http://news.tv-asahi.co.jp/ann/geinou/geinou_news/contents/hot_20111014_020.html
http://www.asahi.com/showbiz/nikkan/NIK201110140002.html
http://news.walkerplus.com/2011/1014/2/

[Masa]

Official site: http://www.heros-web.com/campaign/

News article: http://news.searchina.ne.jp/disp.cgi?y=2011&d=1017&f=entertainment_1017_001.shtml

[mode107]

Shinoda Mariko joins “Ouran High School Host Club” movie cast

AKB48’s Shinoda Mariko has been revealed as a new cast member in the upcoming “Ouran High School Host Club” live-action movie, which was first announced in August with the same main cast as the drama series.

Based on the popular manga of the same name by Hatori Bisco, the live-action television adaptation aired this past summer, starring Kawaguchi Haruna and Yamamoto Yusuke. Like the original manga, the story revolves around an ordinary girl named Fujioka Haruhi at a prestigious high school who ends up involved with an unusual group of male students who have formed their own club as hosts.

Shinoda will play a half-Japanese character named Michelle, the daughter of a major corporation in Asia who moves from Singapore to Japan for a short study-abroad term. While Shinoda is typically known for her short straight hair, her character will have long curled hair. Other highlights of her character include some English lines and various costume scenes.

The “Ouran High School Host Club” movie premieres in theaters in March 2012.

http://www.tokyograph.com/news/shinoda-mariko-joins-ouran-high-school-host-club-movie-cast/#more-22080