[News] Minegishi Minami demoted to kenkyuusei and shaves her head

[korin48]

AKS is taking down the Minegishi apology video. She apologized in person at the handshake event today.

Great... You better take down that video... rather than spreading more false story to other country...
It makes me really pissed when i heard other countries spread false story like "sex scandal" of Miichan! DX

[Jul3]

News report from Oricon:

Miichan gave a public apology at the handshake event today at the Makuhari Messe. She got lots of cheers and applause from the fans. There were apparently many requests from fans for the video to be removed from youtube, so it will shortly be taken down from AKB48's official channel.

http://www.oricon.co.jp/news/entertainment/2021292/full/

Edit: it appears this is the same as a post by Togasaki on the official blog: http://ameblo.jp/akihabara48/entry-11462312241.html

[korin48]

Here's the English translation from Togasaki in official blog

Notice of termination of Minegishi Minami's video message
峯岸みなみメッセージ映像 配信終了時間のお知らせ
Notice of termination of Minegishi Minami’s video message

本日、2月2日(土）の大握手会において、峯岸みなみより、改めて来場のファンの皆さまの前で、今回の件につきまして謝罪をさせていただきました。
Today, at the big handshake event on February 2 (Sat), Minegishi Minami has once again apologized to the fans coming to this event about the issue this time.
　

ファンの皆さまの暖かい拍手に包まれ、峯岸の反省とAKB48への思いは、峯岸自身の言葉できちんとファンの皆さまにもお伝えできたのではないか、と思います。
Surrounded by the warm applause of the fans, I think that Minegishi might have been able to tell the fans her self-reflection and her feelings toward AKB48 in her own words.

つきましては、ファンの皆さまから、「みぃちゃんの誠意は充分に伝わったから、YouTubeの映像は取り下げてほしい」というご要望をたくさんいただきました。
Also, we’ve received a lot of requests from the fans such as “Mii-chan’s sincerity had been passed to us enough, so we want you to remove the video on YouTube”.
　

峯岸本人に、ファンの皆さまからの要望を伝えたところ、「ファンの皆さんからの声は、ほんとうにありがたい気持ちでいっぱいです」ということでしたので、ファンの皆さまからのご要望、及び本人の気持ちも考慮し、本日いっぱいをもって、謝罪映像は削除させて頂くことに致します。
When we told Minegishi herself about the requests from the fans, she said “I’m filled with a lot of grateful feelings to the fans’ voices.”, and so, with a lot of considerations today about the fans’ requests and Minegishi’s feelings, we would like to remove the apologize video.

今回の件につきましては、改めて猛省を促すと共に、今後、ファンの皆さまからの信頼を回復し得るまで、峯岸自身の謝罪の念が消えることはないと思いますが、ファンの皆さまにおかれましては、今後とも、峯岸みなみ、およびAKB48の応援をよろしくお願い申し上げます。
About this issue, along with urging her to reflect herself seriously, I think that Minegishi’s apologetic feelings wouldn’t disappear until she could regain the trust from the fans, but I would like the supports toward Minegishi Minami and AKB48 within the fans to be kept continuing in the future.

AKB48グループ総支配人　戸賀崎智信

AKB48 group general manager Togasaki Tomonobu

Source: http://chichan54.tumblr.com/

[akaiseigo]

This incident has taken the world by storm! And i feel very uncomfortable.It's like a small bushfire and then a huge gust of wind starts fanning it.I think this is a terrible year within the AKB Family since Acchan left and the reshuffling and all it happen in just a month or two.how i wish it will all end next week so i can have a better sleep and let those sensationalised scandals laid to rest. 

[DJ Maimai]

I'm getting so sick of hearing people who don't understand idol culture talk to me about this. They're all like "Did you hear about the Japanese girl who was FORCED TO SHAVE ALL HER HAIR OFF ON YOUTUBE" and I just want to punch them in the face every time I hear it because I'm tired of explaining all the reasons why AKB48 managers would never do that, because it's COMPLETELY ILLOGICAL.

[theblueknight]

I'm getting so sick of hearing people who don't understand idol culture talk to me about this. They're all like "Did you hear about the Japanese girl who was FORCED TO SHAVE ALL HER HAIR OFF ON YOUTUBE" and I just want to punch them in the face every time I hear it because I'm tired of explaining all the reasons why AKB48 managers would never do that, because it's COMPLETELY ILLOGICAL.

same here dow I was just sick of how the international media got hold of the story and made all big and bad and everyone that wasent a fan or didn't know anything about her or akb48 etc would talk trash about her it made me mad reading all those articles online and watching all those vids on youtube that and the news on tv they took it too far id say its sad really...im glad no one ask me in person about it cause im not sure what I would do to them  im just hoping this all blows all over for michan's sake  good thing shes not the top trending topic on yahoo anymore which is good dow its a bit upsetting that people found out about akb48 for the first time throught this supposed sex scandal... but oh well cant be help I guess and hoping that it happens soon so that she can get on with her life its hard to believe that these happen she was supposibly the luckiest of all the members for this year .... I keep hearing stuff about how everyone is curse or something cause acchan aint around anymore or something I think its just mumbo jumbo to me... 

I just want michan to be her old self I love her when she went to ny she was sooo funny (btw michan I love shrimp tooo)




and other random vids of other peoples opinion and news







http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=minami+minegishi%2C+this+week&lclk=this_week

[Jul3]

Code: [Select]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pMoGij7gKPI

Thanks so much! I watched the BBC news as I thought they would appear on that since the story was 5th "most shared" story on their website and they even dubbed some of Miichan's vid: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-21299324

But I didn't think of watching the Channel 4 news so very excited they appeared on it. Wish I'd watched this live on TV but good to have this recording.

It was so cool! They showed clips of PVs, explained the group fairly well and even the Puccho commercial with Paruru + Yuko "kiss", and some of Miichan's Guam confession scene. Krishnan Guru-Murthy was pretty good at pronouncing her name too.

The headline in the screencap of the youtube is "Girls allowed?", a nice play on Girls Aloud, the British girl band.

[paraspam]

The problem here isn't people not understanding idol culture but instead it's the out-dated opinion that woman have to be "pure" which still seems to be popular in the year 2013 in some developed countries.

[theblueknight]

Code: [Select]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pMoGij7gKPI

Thanks so much! I watched the BBC news as I thought they would appear on that since the story was 5th "most shared" story on their website and they even dubbed some of Miichan's vid: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-21299324

But I didn't think of watching the Channel 4 news so very excited they appeared on it. Wish I'd watched this live on TV but good to have this recording.

It was so cool! They showed clips of PVs, explained the group fairly well and even the Puccho commercial with Paruru + Yuko "kiss", and some of Miichan's Guam confession scene. Krishnan Guru-Murthy was pretty good at pronouncing her name too.

The headline in the screencap of the youtube is "Girls allowed?", a nice play on Girls Aloud, the British girl band.

your welcome  this vid was actually the only one I like it seemed accurate to me and not annoying or irritating to watch dow I didn't get to see this one in particular on tv I did see a clip or two on two Spanish news channels on tv dow I cant find them on youtube  yes I noticed they had acouple of actual akb48 vids on there and I thought it was interesting them showing the passing around the candy from mouth to mouth vid  yup gotta love yuko  and miichan too 

[theblueknight]

well from what I read and heard they took down miichan's vid which is great and im also glad she not the top trending on yahoo anymore now I hope she can start a new you know hakuna matata dow I went on their youtube and this vid was on there any chance you guys may know what it says? im still not good and Japanese language but I think it say something about miichan .... sorry for asking 

[CtrlZee]

I'm really not sure about what a 14 year old like me can say about such a broad issue in my fandom. I know you guys have a bigger, more mature say on this, so I'll keep my mouth shut.

I'm just certain that she did what she think is best for herself, AKB48, the fans, and everyone else.

I'm also happy that the steady fanbase isn't taking this too negatively but instead with warmth and support.


I heard that this got around worldwide. Meanwhile, this news also reached the Philippines. The way it's written is trash. SEX scandal? Hilarity.

http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/292975/showbiz/showbizabroad/japan-pop-idol-shaves-head-after-sex-scandal

Why idols of Japan are shown with a character as horrible like this internationally, it's ridiculous. Also, they've never written about AKB's successes, but all about their "failures" and "downfalls". No hope for my country's media much?

[theblueknight]

I'm really not sure about what a 14 year old like me can say about such a broad issue in my fandom. I know you guys have a bigger, more mature say on this, so I'll keep my mouth shut.

I'm just certain that she did what she think is best for herself, AKB48, the fans, and everyone else.

I'm also happy that the steady fanbase isn't taking this too negatively but instead with warmth and support.


I heard that this got around worldwide. Meanwhile, this news also reached the Philippines. The way it's written is trash. SEX scandal? Hilarity.

http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/292975/showbiz/showbizabroad/japan-pop-idol-shaves-head-after-sex-scandal

Why idols of Japan are shown with a character as horrible like this internationally, it's ridiculous. Also, they've never written about AKB's successes, but all about their "failures" and "downfalls". No hope for my country's media much?

my mother always says don't listen or believe what you read on tv or newspaper they never tell the whole story ... im 24 years old and dow im older than I still not sure what to say exactly about this my mother always said follow your heart never let anyone control you and what you wanna do ...yeah I know right everywhere they talk about this and I thought people were starting to forgot I just log into my aol and this was on the latest news

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/02/02/pop-star-shaves-head-minami-minegishi-japan_n_2608048.html?utm_hp_ref=world&ir=World

[daigong]

WOW. Yeah who is what to believe. Esp. with a big corporation. You see stories planted at just the right time.

Feel free to express yourself CtrlZee! 14 to 44 to 84 we all got something to say!

I support GISH. First thing I thought was DAMN! She wants to look like my Homie, Masa, now dat's just straight

[Daisuki Daiiyo]

Some comments from Japanese fans

Comments from 2ch.net:

Mura (Imo):
Isn’t this culture of accepting an apology if someone shaves off their hair a bit weird? Especially when there are some people nowadays who do it themselves for the sake of fashion.


Exotic Short-hair (Kanagawa):
Wow, that really is close-cropped w Still, she’s minging.


Mura (Imo):
Akimoto (AKB48 manager): ‘doing something like this would save her from her criticism (with a smirk)’


Snow Lepoard (Iwate):
Close-cropped, hilarious www This has set a good precedent, let’s find out all the scandals and make JKC48.


Turkish Van (Tokyo):
Ha, sacked or not sacked, surely she’d have her hair cut this much.
Nothing left if not in AKB.


Scottish Fold (Yamaguchi):
YouTube is international, a Japanese shame to the world.
It’s just like a girl being a hostage of terrorists and apologizing or something.


Kuro ashi neko(Tochigi):
It’s abuse of human rights not to allow them to have their own romantic relationships I reckon?
They still can’t moan, otherwise they’d be sacked.
Total power harassment preying on the weak, sick eugh.
Fingers crossed Akimoto is going to be punished!


Wildcat (Niwa):
Is this what she gets in return for a quick shag?


Comments from Itai News:

Siam (Kinoko)：
Gross wwwwwww Turns me off.


Kodokodo (Yawaraka Ginkou)：
The physical punishment at Sakuranomiya high school has been such a big thing in papers and now she’s shaved her head?(゜д゜)


Jaguar (Yawaraka Ginkou)：
Close-cropped hair now? SO timely, well setup, AKB is such a business.


Himalayan (Kantou・Koushin'etsu)：
Straight after the Judo thing at high school? That’d give the world the strong impression that Japan ignores women’s human rights w.


Kuro ashi neko (Tochigi)：
Let’s spread this around the world and see how they feel about it. Westerners would definitely find it weird.


Munchkin (Tokyo)：
She’s 20, she only shagged a guy, she didn’t have to shave her head. Surely she’d have kept shagging him if it hadn’t been revealed by the media.


Andean cat (Tokyo)：
Awful. It’s just abuse, isn’t it? Does this make her fans any happy?


Hyou (Xinjiang Uygur Territory)：
It suits her. Better looking now.


Spain Lynx (Ibaraki)：
What about telly? Can she still make appearances?


Kiji Tora (Tokyo)：
They’re more like a religious organisation now w


Black (Chiba)：
It’s going way too far to make her do this.


Suna Neko (Kyoto)：
This is a human rights matter now. The Japanese media is bloody useless and I don’t suppose they can’t recognise what they’ve done or atone for it until they get forced to by external pressure.

I believe the translator is British, which explains all of the British slang incorporated into the translations I think most of it is pretty common knowledge though, the only one that it took me a minute to decipher was Minger/Minging - which is unattractive (I think anyway. It's been a while since I've seen Skins lol).

But it seems that some fans feel that this was taking it a bit far as well. We have to also take into consideration the translators possible bias, and that they could have just plucked comments that suited their POV.

Anyway, I've said this other places, and will say it again: I don't like how publicly it was handled personally, but it all worked out well for Miichan in the end.

[RikoLiFan]

I don't think Miichan imagined it'd led to such a massive shitstorm

But what puzzles is she went a head to commence her head shaving i.e. she basically confessed: was it done on rash impulse?
Her image is, after all, the interest, no, make that business of her managing agency

Had she thought of consulting Aki-P's management first? Idols' agencies are prepared & have stuck with their girls & said "no, didn't happen" & moved on; like the case with Sashihara

[Jul3]

Miichan made her first appearance performing in the AKB Theatre with the current kenkyuusei for their stage "Boko no Taiyou"

Since she appeared in this stage when Himawarigumi did it, she takes her old position, including the unit song "Idol Nante Yobanaide".

However, since Iwatate Saho is currently in this spot, Miichan did the first half of the show and Saho the second half. Miichan wasn't officially scheduled in the member list for this show which already had 16 members, but for the next lot of KKS shows there are only 15 members scheduled...

The most shocking thing - she appeared in a wig:



Personally, I think this wig looks ridiculous, and since she made the bold move to shave her head to apologise, she should show it in public in her performances, otherwise what was the point? Especially as this wig isn't a good look anyway - but maybe she can find a better one soon.

[Ruka Kikuchi]

I told you she'd have to wear a wig!!!

[SomethingWild]

If they gave her that Acchan wig on purpose I can sort of the see the humor/irony of it 

[WindCaliber]

Going through G+, and I see a "Trending" post about Miichan, and these comments people make totally make me want to punch them in the face 

....Many of these girls have even become porn stars because of how they were manipulated....

[theblueknight]

Going through G+, and I see a "Trending" post about Miichan, and these comments people make totally make me want to punch them in the face 

....Many of these girls have even become porn stars because of how they were manipulated....

now I admit I haven't been a fan of akb48 /no3b that long I started following them around nov of last year so yea but I thought it was like 2 or 3 that went into that kind of biss now I may be wrong here two of them if im correct were sisters? not all akb48 ex members end up doing that kind of thing im pretty positive