[NEWS] AKB turning into a School Plan

[Rust]

Sourced from 九期の絆 (゜ー゜４) 栄の絆, at:
http://gekikaraclub.tumblr.com/post/30287685227/akb-turning-into-a-school-plan-rough-summarised#notes

ＡＫＢ“学校化”計画　成績表に校則、保護者会…意識改革狙い
 
ＡＫＢ４８劇場支配人の戸賀崎智信氏（３８）は人材育成のため「学校化計画」があることを明かした。

　東京ドーム公演、前田敦子卒業を経てＡＫＢ４８は「第２章」の幕を開ける。

　急がれるのは、新たなエースの育成だ。２９日発売の新曲「ギンガムチェック」では、選抜総選挙で１位になった大島優子（２３）がセンターを務めるが、その次の新曲以降のセンターはまだ決まっていない。

　ＡＫＢグループには数多くのメンバーが在籍。「中には現在の選抜メンバーに負けない潜在能力を持った人はいる。問題は意識の差」（関係者）という指摘がある。

　初期メンバーは東京・秋葉原のＡＫＢ４８劇場で、一般の観客が７人しかいないという下積みから東京ドームまで歩んできた。それに対し、ＡＫＢがブームになってから加入したメンバーはすぐにテレビやネットなどのメディアに登場できる環境が整っており、逆境に耐える苦労を経験していない。その意識の改革が今後のエースづくりに不可欠とされる。

　東京ドーム公演の初日に発表されたチーム編成の変更は意識改革の一環だが、それが全てではない。ＡＫＢ４８劇場支配人の戸賀崎智信氏は本紙の取材に対し、ＡＫＢグループの「学校化計画」を明かした。

　今後、メンバーに問題が起きた時の罰則などを定める「校則」や、ファン数の変化を明示する「成績表」、家族に理解を求める「保護者会」などを検討しているという。

　「初期メンバーが経験した“戦争”を新しいメンバーはもう経験できないので、それに代わるシステムをつくる必要がある。毎月、成績表を発表するのは本人たちにとって厳しいことだが、事前に“ＡＫＢにはこのような校則がありますが、入学しますか？”と明示して理解を求めたい」と戸賀崎氏は説明する。

　目指すは、ＡＫＢの「名門校」化。現在の選抜メンバーたちが卒業した後も次々と優秀な生徒（スター）を輩出することだ。

　「ＡＫＢというプロジェクトはもともと１０年計画。今年で７年なので、あと３年で完成させたい。来年が正念場だと考えている」と戸賀崎氏は話している。

—-
Rough + summarised translation

AKB turning into a school plan.

This is an interview with TGSK.
After Maeda Atsuko graduates, AKB 2nd phrase will start.
Even though the center for the 27th single is Oshima Yuko, but whether this will continue is uncertain.
There are members who are better than the senbatsu members, the reason why they are not in it is because of the lack of awareness.
The first generation only had 7 people watching them. On the otherhand, the members that joined after that have not experienced struggling and withstanding hardships. Reforming of consciousness is essential for a new Ace.
Reshuffling of the groups was only part of the revolution.

If the members have any problems from now on, they would be dealt via respective punishments, known as 「School Rules」
The 「Report Card」 for the members will be based on the amount of fans they have, but it might be given out monthly. They are also considering a 「Meet the parents session」 so that the members would be able to understand AKB’s 「School Rules」 before they enter.

The goal is to turn AKB into a 「Prestigious school」. After the current senbatsu members graduate, there would be good students(stars) one after another to replace them.

AKB is a 10year plan. It’s only into it’s 7th year now. There are still 3 more years. TGSK believes its a crucial stage next year.

[Crossing Crossroads]

LOLwhat? I kind of don't understand? I wonder what they mean by Report Card? I'm just clueless right now, my brain is refusing to work...

[GekiDan]

I wonder how this will work out...

[chiimin]

someone take aki-p's pills away from him, he's having way too many ideas. lol

[kuronekosan]

10 year plan? They only plan on being successful with the current members for 3 more years? It's scary how it seems anyone can just be discarded in their world. Having it in school system may be more organised, but....doesn't it seem a bit much? Sucks out all the fun....

[YKT]

Why do I get the feeling that by the 10th year (at the latest), they are gonna extend the so called 10 year plan?

Too many stakeholders and AKB48 is still the so called mothership if the AKS empire is to really go Global.  HKT48, SNH48 and JKT48 are still in their infancy, not to mention TPE48.
 

[Rust]

^
^Good day kuronekosan:
For the ten-year plan mentioned in the interview, I don't think it implies that they only plan on being successful for three more years. Granted, my Japanese are poor, & I am relying only on the translated information, but I think the ten-year plan mentioned is more like a road map drafted by Aki-P & TGSK at the beginning of AKB48, when they were still new & without success. So personally, I would not worry about any members getting discarded as a result of renewing the ten-year plan. That is my own interpretation however, so I might misunderstood what he meant myself too.



As for the school system, frankly speaking, I am really excited about it; in fact more so then the team shuffle. Personally, AKB48 & all of its sister groups always felt like a school, where members with specific aspiration (e.g. Yuko & her goal of being a actress) can gain the experience,  the necessary skill sets, & the popularity to be successful in pursuing their dream career. So this school plan, in my opinion, merely formalized what that have always been true to me.

So why am I excited? I believe the "cabinet" mentioned by Takamina is going to play a prominent role in this new "school plan." Having more experienced & established members taking an active part in the development of younger members have always been something I envisioned & hoped to come true. I believe the different perspectives & variety of skill sets the established members brings will be invaluable in the development of youngsters in the "school".

Finally, regarding the "School Rules", maybe it will be like the idea I mentioned in the reply section in the "HKT Members Resigned" threads, where I suggested specific penalties for specific rules. I should have put it in the prediction thread for unlimited bragging right! With so less info however, it might be something completely different too thou. Certainly would love to see more regarding all of this.

[zeebulb]

Aki-p and his 'incredible' moment again 

But i like report card system,even though I still feel weird about shuffel,
but I think they will knew their progress and getting better and better

cmiiw

[yukofan]

i'm confused with this. but, i'm excited. rather than being in "comfort zone", aki-p make big changes (like the team suffle and now this) that make akb become dynamic. it makes me curious about the result.

[almond]

For the report card, though, how will they know the number of fans? Based off mixi ratings, G+ followers and handshake lines?

I wonder if they'll do away with the election next year, if so....


Anyway, personally I'm excited. They needed a damn shakeup after the exact same damn thing for the past 3 years. Hopefully we have a new release concept next year instead of Sakura-Bikini-Election-Cool-Janken

[boykun]

I think the whole school thing is a bit silly.

The 10 year plan thing is quite interesting though. I believe Aki-P and tgsk planned for AKB48 as a concept to be successful in 10 years. The next three years are crucial because they will really need to hammer down and make AKB48 more than just a popular idol group. The concept has to work; it needs to be a brand name to secure longetivity. They're setting up this school system so that when the brand is established, future graduates will have good careers following them. It's well enough at the moment that Maeda Atsuko will definitely have a successful career, or all the senbatsu for that matter. Let's see this work, Aki-P! AKB forevar!

tl;dr : They wanna be like Johnnys.

Can't say I like the school thing, but I'm excited for what's gonna come.

[chiimin]

So why am I excited? I believe the "cabinet" mentioned by Takamina is going to play a prominent role in this new "school plan." Having more experienced & established members taking an active part in the development of younger members have always been something I envisioned & hoped to come true.

Reminds me of Mariko-sama's role in AKB0048  This should totally happen.

[Amplifier]

tl;dr : They wanna be like Johnnys.

This. Also:

[THUNDERDUCK]

The 48 family is trying to be an academy per se for those wanting a future in the entertainment industry.  Decent idea, how it will work in practice is something to see through.  Similar to how Avex has an academy for their artists, but this is a lot more visible.