Jo Eriko Graduates from NMB48

Yesterday, Jo Eriko (Team M) graduated from NMB48 after holding her graduation concert at NMB48 Theater in Namba, Osaka. She graduated from the group to focus on her studies and mentioned that she will be back, auditioning for NMB48 again when she is in high school.

Source: tokyohive/Sanspo

Watanabe Mayu 3rd Single 'ヒカルものたち' ('Hikaru Monotachi')

It was announced yesterday that Watanabe Mayu will be releasing her third single on the 21st of November. 'Hikaru Monotachi' is said be an up-tempo electronic track and the coupling track, 'Sayonara no Hashi', is used as the theme song for an upcoming anime movie 'Nerawareta Gakuen' (10th of November release) - where the protagonist is voiced by Mayuyu herself.

First press limited editions will get a DVD which includes a bonus footage of Mayuyu in different school uniforms from all 47 prefectures of Japan.

More details are yet to be revealed.

Source: tokyohive/natalie

Type A (CD + DVD)
1. [Disc 1] ヒカルものたち [HIKARU MONO TACHI]
2. [Disc 1] 地平線の彼方はどこにある? -Beyond the horizon- [CHIHEISEN NO KANATA HA DOKO NI ARU? -BEYOND THE HORIZON-]
3. [Disc 1] サヨナラの橋 [SAYONARA NO HASHI]
4. [Disc 1] ヒカルものたち (instrumental)
5. [Disc 1] 地平線の彼方はどこにある? -Beyond the horizon- (instrumental)
6. [Disc 1] サヨナラの橋 (instrumental)
7. [Disc 2] ヒカルものたち (Music Video) [HIKARU MONO TACHI music video]
8. [Disc 2] ヒカルものたち (Music Video メイキング) [HIKARU MONO TACHI music video making]
9. [Disc 2] サヨナラの橋 (Music Video) (まゆゆ制服コレクション) [SAYONARA NO HASHI music video (Mayuyu Seifuku Collection)]
CDJapan
HMV Online

Type B (CD + DVD)
1. [Disc 1] ヒカルものたち [HIKARU MONO TACHI]
2. [Disc 1] ハートのスープ [HEART NO SOUP]
3. [Disc 1] サヨナラの橋 [SAYONARA NO HASHI}
4. [Disc 1] ヒカルものたち (instrumental)
5. [Disc 1] ハートのスープ (instrumental)
6. [Disc 1] サヨナラの橋 (instrumental)
7. [Disc 2] ヒカルものたち (Music Video) [HIKARU MONO TACHI music video]
8. [Disc 2] ヒカルものたち (Music Video メイキング) [HIKARU MONO TACHI music video making]
9. [Disc 2] 超・女神降臨?巨大マユユ、秋葉原に出現!!? [CHOU.MEGAMI KOURIN-KYODAI MAYUYU.AKIHABARA NI SHUTSUGEN!!?]
CDJapan
HMV Online

Type C (CD + DVD)
1. [Disc 1] ヒカルものたち [HIKARU MONO TACHI]
2. [Disc 1] 2人の夜明け [FUTARI NO YOAKE]
3. [Disc 1] サヨナラの橋 [SAYONARA NO HASHI]
4. [Disc 1] ヒカルものたち (instrumental)
5. [Disc 1] 2人の夜明け (instrumental)
6. [Disc 1] サヨナラの橋 (instrumental)
7. [Disc 2] ヒカルものたち (Music Video) [HIKARU MONO TACHI music video]
8. [Disc 2] ヒカルものたち (Music Video メイキング) [HIKARU MONO TACHI music video making]
9. [Disc 2] まゆたんって魔法つかえるの? [MAYUTANTTE MAHOU TSUKAERUNO?]
CDJapan
HMV Online

Regular Edition (CD Only)
1. ヒカルものたち [HIKARU MONO TACHI]
2. 恋を踏んじゃった [KOI WO FUNJATTA]
3. サヨナラの橋 [SAYONARA NO HASHI]
4. ヒカルものたち (instrumental)
5. 恋を踏んじゃった (instrumental)
6. サヨナラの橋 (instrumental)
CDJapan
HMV Online

Limited Edition (CD Only)
1. ヒカルものたち [HIKARU MONO TACHI]
2. 恋を踏んじゃった [KOI WO FUNJATTA]
3. サヨナラの橋 [SAYONARA NO HASHI]
4. ヒカルものたち (instrumental)
5. 恋を踏んじゃった (instrumental)
6. サヨナラの橋 (instrumental)
HMV Online

Takahashi Minami top make a solo debut!

On the second day of the Tokyo Dome concert yesterday, it was announced that Takahashi Minami will be making her solo debut - at last!! She has been working so hard for not only AKB48 but also the whole '48' family as the main leader. She totally deserves her solo debut. Details on when will it be wasn't announced yet.

AKB48 28th Single - 'UZA'

The title of the upcoming AKB48 single is revealed and the song was performed for the first time during the AKB48's 3rd Janken Tournament at Nippon Budokan. In 'UZA', Oshima Yuko and Matsui Jurina are chosen as double centers - where this is the second time Jurina is chosen as center for an AKB48 single (The first time was 'Oogoe Diamond' where Maeda Atsuko and Jurina were chosen as double centers). The single is scheduled to be released on the 31st of October.

Like the previous Janken Tournament, I am very impressed with the new song 'UZA' ('Kaze wa Fuiteiru' for the previous) and can't wait for the release of the single and PV. Well, the singles released around this period of the year for the past few years are 'cool' themed after all  - Kaze wa Fuiteiru, Beginner, RIVER... and just happen that these few are my top favourites!

The other Senbatsu members for the single are:
Shimazaki Haruka, Watanabe Miyuki (AKB48/NMB48), Miyawaki Sakura (HKT48/first senbatsu), Yokoyama Yui, Minegishi Minami, Sashihara Rino (HKT48), Yamamoto Sayaka (NMB48), Kojima Haruna, Shinoda Mariko, Matsui Rena (SKE48), Kashiwagi Yuki, Itano Tomomi, Takahashi Minami, and Watanabe Mayu.
More details are yet to be announced.

Source: tokyohive/Oricon

Type A (CD + DVD)
1. [CD] UZA
2. [CD] 次のSeason (アンダーガールズ) [Tsugi no Season (Under Girls)]
3. [CD] 孤独な星空 (新チームA) [Kodoku na Hoshizora (New Team A)]
4. [CD] UZA off vocal ver.
5. [CD] 次のSeason off vocal ver.
6. [CD] 孤独な星空 off vocal ver.
7. [DVD] UZA Music Video
8. [DVD] UZA Music Video -Dance ver.-
9. [DVD] 次のSeason Music Video [Tsugi no Season music video]
10. [DVD] 孤独な星空 Music Video [Kodoku na Hoshizora music video]
11. [DVD] ギンガムチェック Music Video 〜高橋栄樹監督ver.〜 [Gingham Check Music Video ~Director Takahashi Eiki ver.~]
CDJapan [LE/Regular]
HMV Online [LE/Regular]

Type K (CD + DVD)
1. [CD] UZA
2. [CD] 次のSeason (アンダーガールズ) [Tsugi no Season (Under Girls)]
3. [CD] スクラップ&ビルド (新チームK) [Scrap & Build (New Team K)]
4. [CD] UZA off vocal ver.
5. [CD] 次のSeason off vocal ver.
6. [CD] スクラップ&ビルド off vocal ver.
7. [DVD] UZA Music Video
8. [DVD] UZA Music Video -Dance ver.-
9. [DVD] 次のSeason Music Video [Tsugi no Season music video]
10. [DVD] スクラップ&ビルド Music Video [Scrap & Build music video]
11. [DVD] ギンガムチェック Music Video 〜高橋栄樹監督ver.〜 [Gingham Check Music Video ~Director Takahashi Eiki ver.~]
CDJapan [LE/Regular]
HMV Online [LE/Regular]

Type B (CD + DVD)
1. [CD] UZA
2. [CD] 次のSeason (アンダーガールズ) [Tsugi no Season (Under Girls)]
3. [CD] 正義の味方じゃないヒーロー (新チームB) [Seigi no Mikata Janai Hero (New Team B)]
4. [CD] UZA off vocal ver.
5. [CD] 次のSeason off vocal ver.
6. [CD] 正義の味方じゃないヒーロー off vocal ver.
7. [DVD] UZA Music Video
8. [DVD] UZA Music Video -Dance ver.-
9. [DVD] 次のSeason Music Video [Tsugi no Season music video]
10. [DVD] 正義の味方じゃないヒーロー Music Video [Seigi no Mikata Janai Hero music video]
11. [DVD] ギンガムチェック Music Video 〜高橋栄樹監督ver.〜 [Gingham Check Music Video ~Director Takahashi Eiki ver.~]
CDJapan [LE/Regular]
HMV Online [LE/Regular]

Theater Edition (CD Only)
1. [CD] UZA
2. [CD] 次のSeason (アンダーガールズ) [Tsugi no Season (Under Girls)]
3. [CD] 大人への道（研究生楽曲） [Otona e no Michi (Research Students)]
4. [CD] UZA off vocal ver.
5. [CD] 次のSeason off vocal ver.
6. [CD] 大人への道 off vocal ver.

Hmm... somehow I prefer the performance of 'UZA' at the Janken tournament than the PV... but the PV actually is kind of addictive too. Can't stop looping it again and again. =X

UPDATE (10th October):
Covers and tracklists revealed
Source: tokyohive/King Records

Results of AKB48's 3rd Janken Tournament

Earlier today, AKB48 had their 3rd Janken Tournament which decides the senbatsu members for their 29th single. Here's the results taken from tokyohive..

=====

♤ Round 1: ♤

[A Block]
Iwasa Misaki vs. Minegishi Minami –> Winner: Iwasa Misaki
Nonaka Misato vs. Takahashi Juri –> Winner: Nonaka Misato
Itano Tomomi vs. Komori Mika –> Winner: Itano Tomomi
[B Block]
Takano Yui vs. Kobayashi Ami –> Winner: Takano Yui
Kimoto Kanon vs. Ishida Haruka –> Winner: Kimoto Kanon
Kitahara Rie vs. Chikano Rina –> Winner: Chikano Rina
[C Block]
Oba Mina vs. Ota Aika –> Winner: Oba Mina
Saeed Yokota Erena vs. Takajo Aki –> Winner: Takajo Aki
Yamauchi Suzuran vs. Kojima Haruna –> Winner: Kojima Haruna
[D Block ]
Tano Yuuka vs Kato Rena –> Winner: Tano Yuuka
Kuramochi Asuka vs. Kawaei Rina –> Winner: Kuramochi Asuka
[E Block]
Sato Natsuki vs. Sato Sumire –> Winner: Sato Natsuki
Nakaya Sayaka vs. Yokoyama Yui –> Winner: Yokoyama Yui
Nakata Chisato vs. Sato Seira –> Winner: Nakata Chisato
[F Block]
Moriyasu Madoka vs. Sato Mieko –> Winner: Moriyasu Madoka
Akimoto Sayaka vs. Ueno Kasumi –> Winner: Ueno Kasumi
Suzuki Shihori vs. Nakamata Shiori –> Winner: Suzuki Shihori
[G Block]
Nakanishi Chiyori vs. Yamagishi Natsumi –> Winner: Nakanishi Chiyori
Miyazaki Miho vs. Matsui Sakiko –> Winner: Matsui Sakiko
Hikawa Ayame vs. Miyazawa Sae –> Winner: Hikawa Ayame
[H Block]
Tanabe Miku vs. Izuta Rina -> Winner: Tanabe Miku
Kasai Tomomi vs. Matsubara Natsumi –> Winner: Matsubara Natsumi

*****

♤ Round 2: ♤

[A Block]
Iwasa Misaki vs. Uchida Mayumi –> Winner: Uchida Mayumi
Nonaka Misato vs. Shimada Haruka –> Winner: Shimada Haruka
Itano Tomomi vs. Kobayashi Kana –> Winner: Itano Tomomi
[B Block]
Takano Yui vs. Takagi Yumana –> Winner: Takagi Yumana
Kimoto Kanon vs. Kawakami Rena –> Winner: Kimoto Kanon
Chikano Rina vs. Watanabe Miyuki –> Winner: Chikano Rina
Takeuchi Miyu vs. Kobayashi Marina –> Winner: Takeuchi Miyu
[C Block]
Oba Mina vs. Nakagawa Haruka –> Winner: Nakagawa Haruka
Takajo Aki vs. Nito Moeno –> Winner: Nito Moeno
Kojima Haruna vs. Kotani Riho–> Winner: Kojima Haruna
Umeda Ayaka vs. Simono Yuki –> Winner: Umeda Ayaka
[D Block]
Tano Yuuka vs. Nakanishi Yuka –> Winner: Tano Yuuka
Oya Shizuka vs. Shinoda Mariko –> Winner: Shinoda Mariko
Kuramochi Asuka vs. Oshima Yuko –> Winner: Oshima Yuko
Maeda Ami vs. Morikwa Ayaka –> Winner: Maeda Ami
[E Block]
Sato Natsuki vs. Nakatsuka Tomomi –> Winner: Nakatsuka Tomomi
Yokoyama Yui vs. Sato Amina –> Winner: Yokoyama Yui
Nakata Chisato vs. Iwata Karen –> Winner: Nakata Chisato
Natori Wakana vs. Ichikawa Miori –> Winner: Ichikawa Miori
[F Block]
Moriyasu Madoka vs. Shinohara Kanna –> Winner: Moriyasu Madoka
Ueno Kasumi vs. Kikuchi Ayaka –> Winner: Ueno Kasumi
Suzuki Shihori vs. Hiramatsu Kanako –> Winner: Suzuki Shihori
Iriyama Anna vs. Abe Maria –> Winner: Abe Maria
[G Block]
Nakanichi Chiyori vs. Shimazaki Haruka –> Winner: Shimazaki Haruka
Matsui Sakiko vs. Nagao Mariya–> Winner: Nagao Mariya
Hikawa Ayame vs. Kashiwagi Yuki –> Winner: Kashiwagi Yuki
Fujita Nana vs. Suzuki Mariya –> Winner: Suzuki Mariya
[H Block]
Tanabe Miku vs. Takahashi Minami –> Winner: Takahashi Minami
Matsui Jurina vs. Nakamura Mariko –> Winner: Nakamura Mariko
Matsubara Natsumi vs. Katayama Haruka –> Winner: Matsubara Natsumi
Fujie Reina vs. Kojima Natsuki –> Winner: Fujie Reina

*****

♤ Round 3: ♤ [ Winners = Senbatsu Members!]

[A Block]
Uchida Mayumi vs. Shimada Haruka -> Winner: Uchida Mayumi
Itano Tomomi vs. Watanabe Mayu -> Winner: Itano Tomomi
[B Block]
Takagi Yumana vs. Kimoto Kanon -> Winner: Kimoto Kanon
Chikano Rina vs. Takeuchi Miyu -> Winner: Takeuchi Miyu
[C Block]
Nakagawa Haruka vs. Nito Moeno -> Winner: Nito Moeno
Kojima Haruna vs. Umeda Ayaka -> Winner: Umeda Ayaka
[D Block]
Tano Yuuka vs. Shinoda Mariko -> Winner: Shinoda Mariko
Oshima Yuko vs. Maeda Ami -> Winner: Maeda Ami
[E Block]
Nakatsuka Tomomi vs. Yokoyama Yui -> Winner: Yokoyama Yui
Nakata Chisato vs. Ichikawa Miori -> Winner: Nakata Chisato
[F Block]
Moriyasu Madoka vs. Ueno Kasumi -> Winner: Ueno Kasumi
Suzuki Shihori vs. Abe Maria -> Winner: Abe Maria
[G Block]
Shimazaki Haruka vs. Nagao Mariya -> Winner: Shimazaki Haruka
Kashiwagi Yuki vs. Suzuki Mariya -> Winner: Kashiwagi Yuki
[H Block]
Takahashi Minami vs. Nakamura Mariko -> Winner: Nakamura Mariko
Matsubara Natsumi vs. Fujie Reina -> Winner: Matsubara Natsumi

*****

♤ Round 4: ♤

[A Block]
Uchida Mayumi vs. Itano Tomomi -> Winner: Uchida Mayumi
[B Block]
Kimoto Kanon vs. Takeuchi Miyu -> Winner: Takeuchi Miyu
[C Block]
Nito Moeno vs. Umeda Ayaka -> Winner: Nito Moeno
[D Block]
Shinoda Mariko vs. Maeda Ami -> Winner: Shinoda Mariko
[E Block]
Yokoyama Yui vs. Nakata Chisato -> Winner: Yokoyama Yui
[F Block]
Ueno Kasumi vs. Abe Maria -> Winner: Abe Maria
[G Block]
Shimazaki Haruka vs. Kashiwagi Yuki -> Winner: Shimazaki Haruka
[H Block]
Nakamura Mariko vs. Matsubara Natsumi -> Winner: Nakamura Mariko

*****

♤ Quarter-Finals: ♤

Uchida Mayumi vs. Takeuchi Miyu -> Winner: Uchida Mayumi
Nito Moeno vs. Shinoda Mariko -> Winner: Nito Moeno
Yokoyama Yui vs. Abe Maria -> Winner: Yokoyama Yui
Shimazaki Haruka vs. Nakamura Mariko -> Winner: Shimazaki Haruka

*****

♤ Semi-Finals: ♤

Uchida Mayumi vs. Nito Moeno -> Winner: Nito Moeno
Yokoyama Yui vs. Shimazaki Haruka -> Winner: Shimazaki Haruka

*****

☆ FINAL WINNER ☆

Nito Moeno vs, Shimazaki Haruka -> Winner: Shimazaki Haruka

Wasn't able to follow/watch the tournament as it happen, as I am serving my National Service, sadly.

Anyways, the senbatsu members are as follows,
Center - Shimazaki Haruka
Best 8 - (in order) Nito Moeno, Yokoyama Yui, Uchida Mayumi, Shinoda Mariko, Abe Maria, Takeuchi Miyu, Nakamura Mariko
Best16 - Itano Tomomi, Kimoto Kanon, Umeda Ayaka, Maeda Ami, Nakata Chisato, Ueno Kasumi, Kashiwagi Yuki, Matsubara Natsumi

Source: AKB48 Mobile Twitter

Even though my kamioshi, Akicha didn't make it into Senbatsu again but am still happy with the results as my faourite members, Paruru got the center position and Yukirin made it into Best16!
おめでとう!!

Matsui Sakiko Solo Debut - '呼吸するピアノ' ('Kokyuusuru Piano')

Last month it was announced that Matsui Sakiko will be making her solo debut as a pianist with her piano album release on the 3rd of October. Sakiko is currently a senior majoring in piano in the Department of Instrumental Music at Tokyo College of Music, and the only AKB48 member enrolled in a music college. Before the announcement last month, Sakiko had already been performing her piano skills in several AKB48 concerts and I totally love it whenever she's playing the piano.

With her solo debut, Sakiko will be the 6th from AKB48 to become a soloist - since she will debut earlier than Yukirin - and the first to debut as a pianist.

Source: tokyohive/Sanspo

The cover of the CD+DVD version was illustrated by fellow AKB48 member, Sato Natsuki, which was chosen from amongst many other illustrations drawn by other AKB48 members. The cover of the CD-Only version was directed by another AKB48 member, Ishida Haruka.

Source: tokyohive/natalie

Definitely a must buy for me. Been waiting for her debut as a pianist for quite some time already!

CD + DVD version
1. [Disc 1] 心の譜面 [Kokoro no Fumen]
2. [Disc 1] 会いたかった [Aitakatta]
3. [Disc 1] フライングゲット [Flying Get]
4. [Disc 1] 歌う血液~宇津井健の加圧トレーニングのテーマ~ [Utau Ketsueki ~Utsui Ken no Kaatsu Training no Theme~]
5. [Disc 1] Everyday、カチューシャ [Everyday, Kachuusha]
6. [Disc 1] 魂の移動~ぐぐたす民のテーマ~ [Tamashii no Idou ~Gugutasu-min no Theme~]
7. [Disc 1] Beginner
8. [Disc 1] ポニーテールとシュシュ [Ponytail to Shushu]
9. [Disc 1] ヘビーローテーション [Heavy Rotation]
10. [Disc 1] 桜の木になろう [Sakura no Ki ni Narou]
11. [Disc 1] ピアノ・ソナタ 第18番,K.576,ニ長調より 第I楽章 (ボーナストラック) [W.A. Mozart Piano Sonata No. 18 in K. 576]
12. [Disc 2] 魂の移動~ぐぐたす民のテーマ~ (Music Video) [Tamashii no Idou ~Gugutasu-min no Theme~ (Music Video)]
13. [Disc 2] 歌う血液~宇津井健の加圧トレーニングのテーマ~ (特典映像) [Utau Ketsueki ~Utsui Ken no Kaatsu Training no Theme~ (Special Footage)]
14. [Disc 2] メイキング映像 [Making Footage]
CDJapan
HMV Online

CD Only version
1. 心の譜面 [Kokoro no Fumen]
2. 会いたかった [Aitakatta]
3. フライングゲット [Flying Get]
4. 歌う血液~宇津井健の加圧トレーニングのテーマ~ [Utau Ketsueki ~Utsui Ken no Kaatsu Training no Theme~]
5. Everyday、カチューシャ [Everyday, Kachuusha]
6. 魂の移動~ぐぐたす民のテーマ~ [Tamashii no Idou ~Gugutasu-min no Theme~]
7. Beginner
8. ポニーテールとシュシュ [Ponytail to Shushu]
9. ヘビーローテーション [Heavy Rotation]
10. 桜の木になろう [Sakura no Ki ni Narou]
11. ピアノ・ソナタ 第18番,K.576,ニ長調より 第I楽章 (ボーナストラック) [W.A. Mozart Piano Sonata No. 18 in K. 576]
CDJapan
HMV Online