AKB48 in Taiwan's 7-Eleven Advertisement

Started airing in Taiwan since yesterday, advertising Sanrio's products in Madarin. Lunar New Year theme was used and 'Heavy Rotation' was used in the background.

I am still anticipating for advertisements by AKB48 to be aired in my country. Hope this CM means that my anticipation is going to be not that impossible soon! >w<

SKE48 Team KII Single - 'ラムネの飲み方' ('Ramune no Nomikata')

'Ramune no Nomikata' is a song from SKE48 Team KII's third stage and due to it's huge popularity, it is decided to be released as a single, on the 14th of March. The song ranked second in the 'SKE48 Request Hour Set List Best 50 2011 ~ Fan Sorezore no Kamikyokutachi~' as part of their 'Omatase Set List'. More details are yet to be announced.

I personally love the KII 3rd stage and the song 'Ramune no Nomikata'. Am totally anticipating for the release of the single!

(Photos credit to SKE48)

乃木坂46 「会いたかったかもしれない」 (Nogizaka46 - 'Aitakatta Kamoshirenai')

'Aitakatta Kamoshirenai', Nogizak46's version of AKB48's 'Aitakatta'

Didn't really expect much from Nogizaka46 initially but when they performed their version of AKB48's 'Aitakatta', 'Aitakatta Kamoshirenai' in their TV show - 'Nogizakatte Doko?', I was totally amazed.
They are doing real good for an unpolished fresh new group! Now their debut single is really something to anticipate. I see some serious rivalry now =w=

By the way, this is AKB48's Aitakatta back in 2006:

AKB48 Singapore Theater 'Live' Vol.11: 'AKB48 6TH STAGE'

The member list for the AKB48 6th stage in Singapore, and also the first stage in Singapore for 2012, was just revealed and tickets sales will begin sale on www.akb.48.com.sg on 14th of January at 12pm. Physical sales and collections of tickets will begin on 17th of January at 11am.
The stage would be on the 28th of January.
And as usual, there's two time slots, 2pm and 6pm.

Team A
Haruka Katayama 片山 陽加
Asuka Kuromochi 倉持 明日香
Chisato Nakata 中田 ちさと
Sayaka Nakaya 仲谷 明香
Natsumi Matsubara 松原 夏海

Team K
Mayumi Uchida 内田 眞由美
Ayaka Umeda 梅田 彩佳
Miku Tanabe 田名部 生来
Moeno Nito 仁藤 萌乃
Misato Nonaka 野中 美郷
Rumi Yonezawa 米沢 瑠美

Team B
Amina Sato 佐藤 亜美菜
Natsuki Sato 佐藤 夏希
Shihori Suzuki 鈴木 紫帆里
Mariya Suzuki 鈴木 まりや
Yuka Masuda 増田 有華

Hmm... I think I shall give it a pass for this time. Ordered too many stuff (all '48' related) and don't have the spare cash at the moment. Furthermore, I doubt I would be able to make it to the concert after going to the NTU talks on their courses. Maybe at the most, I would drop by later in the day to view the concert through the TV screen outside the concert grounds (*SCAPE 2F Warehouse).

Handshake event in China

A handshake event by Kashiwagi Yuki, Komori Mika, and Maeda Ami was held in Shanghai, China yesterday. Out of 4,000 fans who applied, only 1,300 were chosen to attend the event.

I hope Yukirin would come Singapore also, at least for a shop visit or handshake event T_T

(from Sankei Sports)

SUPER☆GiRLS 2nd Album - 'EveryBody JUMP!!'

Last year, it was announced that SUPER☆GiRLS would be releasing their 2nd album 'EveryBody JUMP!!' on the 1st of February 2012. The album would be having 13 tracks, including 'がんばって 青春' ('Ganbatte Seishun'), 'ＭＡＸ！乙女心' ('MAX! Otome Gokoro'), and '女子力←パラダイス' ('Joshiryoku←Paradise').

They held a free mini-live and handshake event at Yoyogi Park as part of their promotion for their album yesterday and it attracted a rather huge crowd of about 5000 fans!

Album details were also released,

Limited Edition (CD +DVD)

1. [Disc 1] Welcome to S☆G Show!!
2. [Disc 1] 女子力←パラダイス
3. [Disc 1] 絶対自分前進宣言!
4. [Disc 1] がんばって青春
5. [Disc 1] メガ★トゥインクル
6. [Disc 1] シェルターなんかいらない
7. [Disc 1] 夕焼け空に、また明日。
8. [Disc 1] My dream
9. [Disc 1] MAX!乙女心
10. [Disc 1] BELIEVER
11. [Disc 1] EveryBody JUMP!!
12. [Disc 1] Dear〜未来の地図〜
13. [Disc 1] 笑顔の羽根
14. [Disc 2] がんばって青春 (Music Video)
15. [Disc 2] がんばって青春 (Music Video Making)
16. [Disc 2] MAX!乙女心 (Music Video)
17. [Disc 2] MAX!乙女心 (Music Video Making)
18. [Disc 2] 女子力←パラダイス (Music Video)
19. [Disc 2] 女子力←パラダイス (Music Video Making)
20. [Disc 2] EveryBody JUMP!! (Music Video)
21. [Disc 2] EveryBody JUMP!! (Music Video Making 超絶ver.)
22. [Disc 2] みらくるが止まンないっ! (超絶特典映像集)
23. [Disc 2] ときめき色の風とキミ (超絶特典映像集)
24. [Disc 2] がんばって青春 (超絶特典映像集)
25. [Disc 2] MAX!乙女心 (超絶特典映像集)
26. [Disc 2] EveryBody JUMP!! (超絶特典映像集)
CDJapan
HMV Online

Regular Edition (CD + DVD)

1. [Disc 1] Welcome to S☆G Show!!
2. [Disc 1] 女子力←パラダイス
3. [Disc 1] 絶対自分前進宣言!
4. [Disc 1] がんばって青春
5. [Disc 1] メガ★トゥインクル
6. [Disc 1] シェルターなんかいらない
7. [Disc 1] 夕焼け空に、また明日。
8. [Disc 1] My dream
9. [Disc 1] MAX!乙女心
10. [Disc 1] BELIEVER
11. [Disc 1] EveryBody JUMP!!
12. [Disc 1] Dear〜未来の地図〜
13. [Disc 1] 笑顔の羽根
14. [Disc 2] がんばって青春 (Music Video)
15. [Disc 2] MAX!乙女心 (Music Video)
16. [Disc 2] 女子力←パラダイス (Music Video)
17. [Disc 2] EveryBody JUMP!! (Music Video)
18. [Disc 2] EveryBody JUMP!! (Music Video Making) (映像特典)
CDJapan
HMV Online

Regular (CD only)

CDJapan
HMV Online

Short preview of the PV

AKB48 Request Hour Setlist Best 100 2012 & AKB48 Unit Festival 2012 to be aired in Singapore

AKB48 REQUEST HOUR SETLIST BEST 100 2012 (TOP 100 Countdown 2012), will take place January 19 to 22. This is the fifth year of the annual New Year's concert event, and an opportunity for idols and fans to reflect on their achievements for the past year. AKB48 fans voted for their favorite songs from October 25 to November 30, 2011. The top 100 songs will be performed by the members of AKB48, SKE48, SDN48 and NMB48 in an epic 4-day concert event.

On January 23, for the first time ever, the AKB48 unit groups will perform a 1-day event concert - AKB48 Unit Festival. Featuring popular AKB48 units: Not yet, DiVA, French kiss, no 3b and many more!

from GV Singapore

Golden Village Singapore

Hmm... I do not have Golden Village Movie Club Membership and let say I want to go for all five days.. $45 x 5 = $225! Woah, that's some serious damage to the wallet right before the Lunar New Year! I just hope that there would be online streaming again, just like the AKB48's Kouhaku Utagassen.

UPDATE (19th January):
Live screening of Day 1 & 2 are cancelled at Golden Village Vivocity

Golden Village Singapore

It was also announced on the AKB48 official blog that the last day (Top25~1 22/1 Sunday) would be streamed live on Youtube and Google+
http://ameblo.jp/akihabara48/entry-11139007866.html

Sashihara Rino from AKB48 to debut with a solo single in March

It was announced during the handshake event for AKB48’s 24th single, 'Ue kara Mariko', that Sashihara Rino, from AKB48 and also in sub-unit 'Not Yet', would be making her solo debut in March under avex trax. The single would be used as the theme song for the drama she would be starring in, 'Muse no Kagami', which would start airing on 14th of January.

This makes her the 5th member from AKB48 to make a solo debut, after Itano Tomomi, Maeda Atsuko, Iwasa Misaki and Watanabe Mayu. Congratulations Sasshi!! \(^o^)/

Not only I was quite shocked by this sudden announcement for a moment, Sasshi herself was rather taken aback upon hearing the news.

Am really anticipating to the release and am already wondering what could the style of the songs be like.

Source: natalie|tokyohive

French Kiss 5th Single & 1st Album

It was just blogged on Ameba by Kashiwagi Yuki (from AKB48 and sub-unit 'French Kiss') that French Kiss is currently working on their 5th single and that their first album would be released within this year. More details are yet to be announced.

Like their 4th Single, 'Saisho no Mail', I am going to support their 5th Single and 1st Album, full force! >D

AKB48 25th Single - 'GIVE ME FIVE!'

On 13th December last year, it was revealed that AKB48 25th Single would be Sakura-themed, which was rather expected as all the singles released around this season of every year have been Sakura-themed. The track lists and Senbatsu members for the single were just released and it was also revealed that the PVs were directed by Sugita Shigemichi, known for his 'Kita no Kuni Kara' series and the movie, 'Saigo no Chushingura'. The single would be releasing on 15th of February 2012.

Type A (CD + DVD) - Limited/Regular
1. [CD] GIVE ME FIVE!
2. [CD] スイート&ビター (セレクション6) [Sweet & Bitter (Selection 6)]
3. [CD] NEW SHIP (スペシャルガールズA) [NEW SHIP (Special Girls A)]
4. [CD] GIVE ME FIVE! Off vocal ver.
5. [CD] スイート&ビター Off vocal ver.
6. [CD] NEW SHIP Off vocal ver.
7. [DVD] GIVE ME FIVE! Music Video
8. [DVD] スイート&ビター Music Video [Sweet & Bitter Music Video]
9. [DVD] NEW SHIP Music Video
10. [DVD] GIVE ME FIVE! MAKING 前編 [GIVE ME FIVE! MAKING Part 1]
11. [DVD] 美しいMIX講座 [Utsukushii MIX Kouza]

Limited:
CDJapan
HMV Online
Regular:
CDJapan
HMV Online

Type B (CD + DVD) - Limited/Regular
1. [CD] GIVE ME FIVE!
2. [CD] スイート&ビター (セレクション6) [Sweet & Bitter (Selection 6)]
3. [CD] 羊飼いの旅 (スペシャルガールズB) [Hitsujikai no Tabi (Special Girls B)]
4. [CD] GIVE ME FIVE! off vocal ver.
5. [CD] スイート&ビター off vocal ver.
6. [CD] 羊飼いの旅 off vocal ver.
7. [DVD] GIVE ME FIVE! Music Video
8. [DVD] スイート&ビター Music Video [Sweet & Bitter Music Video]
9. [DVD] 羊飼いの旅 Music Video [Hitsujikai no Tabi Music Video]
10. [DVD] GIVE ME FIVE! MAKING 後編 [GIVE ME FIVE! MAKING Part 2]
11. [DVD] 美しいoverture&アンコール講座 [Utsukushii overture & encore Kouza]

Limited:
CDJapan
HMV Online
Regular:
CDJapan
HMV Online

Member lists:

'GIVE ME FIVE!'
Team A: Kojima Haruna / Sashihara Rino / Shinoda Mariko / Takajo Aki / Takahashi Minami / Maeda Atsuko
Team K: Itano Tomomi / Oshima Yuko / Minegishi Minami / Miyazawa Sae / Yokoyama Yui
Team B: Kasai Tomomi / Kashiwagi Yuki / Kitahara Rie / Watanabe Mayu
SKE48: Matsui Jurina / Matsui Rena
NMB48: Yamamoto Sayaka

'Sweet & Bitter' – Selection 6
Team A: Sashihara Rino / Shinoda Mariko / Takahashi Minami / Maeda Atsuko
Team K: Itano Tomomi / Oshima Yuko

'NEW SHIP' – Special Girls A
Team B: Sato Sumire
Team 4: Ichikawa Miori / Iriyama Anna / Shimazaki Haruka / Yamauchi Suzuran
Research Students: Iwata Karen / Kato Rena / Kawaei Rina / Takahashi Juri / Tano Yuka
SKE48 Team S: Kizaki Yuria / Matsui Jurina
SKE48 Team E: Kimoto Kanon
NMB48 Team N: Watanabe Miyuki
HKT48: Kodama Haruka
JKT48: Melody Nurramdhani Laksani

'Hitsujikai no Tabi' – Special Girls B
Team A: Iwasa Misaki / Oota Aika / Katayama Haruka / Kuramochi Asuka / Kojima Haruna / Takajo Aki
Team K: Akimoto Sayaka / Umeda Ayaka / Kikuchi Ayaka / Fujie Reina / Matsui Sakiko / Minegishi Minami / Miyazawa Sae / Yokoyama Yui
Team B: Kasai Tomomi / Kashiwagi Yuki / Kitahara Rie / Sato Amina / Masuda Yuka / Watanabe Mayu
Team 4: Shimada Haruka / Nagao Mariya
SKE48 Team S: Matsui Rena
SKE48 Team KII: Takayanagi Akane

UPDATE (13th January):
Radio Preview


UPDATE (23rd January):
Covers released

UPDATE (26th January):
It was revealed that the full 'GIVE ME FIVE!' PV would be a 34 minute long drama-styled format. It would be the longest PV AKB48 ever have and would be directed by Sugita Shigemichi.
An extract on how the PV would be like:

The music video takes place at a part-time high school, and centers around several students. “Ogata Atsuko” (Maeda Atsuko) is a girl whose parents are divorced, and she works hard at a ramen store for her alcoholic father. “Kobayashi Yuki” (Kashiwagi Yuki) suffers from the trauma of being bullied in the past. Takahashi Minami plays “Ichikawa Minami”, a girl who’s quick with her hands but never sticks to anything very long. Finally, we have Oshima Yuko, who portrays “Osawa Yuko”, a determined girl who lies about her age and works at a brothel in order to pay off her parents’ debt.

One day, the girls join the school’s music club based on the recommendation of their teacher, “Mamushi” (played by Jinnai Takanori). They form a girl’s band named “Baby Blossom” with their other classmates.

Through this band, these lost girls finally find a place where they feel they belong, and discover a joy in overcoming difficulties. With several thoughts in their hearts, they slowly approach the day of graduation…

from tokyohive|Oricon

UPDATE (14th February):
Free AKB48 ‘Baby Blossom’ guitar picks were distributed at JR Shinjuku Station at JR Shinjuku Station (North), in commemoration for the release of their latest single, “GIVE ME FIVE!”. The guitar picks were pasted on the poster and could be taken off by peeling them off.
The guitar picks are designed to match the exact guitar picks used by the band, Baby Blossom (Maeda Atsuko, Kashiwagi Yuki, Oshima Yuko, and Takahashi Minami).
Within an hour, the total of 5000 guitar picks were all taken.

From tokyohive/natalie