Acchan's Graduation Concert Streaming Live and Goodbye Parade in Akihabara

On the 27th August, Maeda Atsuko will be performing for the last time in the AKB48 Theater and the number of applications for the tickets was totally overwhelming.

On 8th of December 2005 only 7 audience showed up for the first concert - which was also Acchan's first theater performance - when the theater can actually hold 250 people. Over time as AKB48's popularity grew with Acchan as the 'face of AKB48', demand of tickets for each concert grew till a state where applications have to go through lottery to see which lucky 250 applicants get to watch the concert in the theater.

The concert on 27th of August 6pm, which will be Acchan's graduation concert, received a whooping number of 229,096 applications - more than 30,000 times of Acchan's first performance in 2005. Acchan wanted to at least greet those fans who failed to be selected in the lottery and thus plans of her parade were made, to say goodbye to her fans. She will parade around the AKB48 stage in Akihabara around 3:30 PM on the 27th of August and the route will be from Tashiro Doori right outside the AKB48 theater to the overpass above Akihabara Station on the JR Yamonote line.
(Due to security concerns, the parade is cancelled.)

Source: Oricon/tokyohive

And also due to the high demand for the tickets to watch the theater performance on that day, it was decided that the concert will be streamed live via the group’s Google+, YouTube and Fuji TV’s ‘Hey! Hey! Hey!‘, starting at 6pm JST.

Additionally from today, fans are able to use their Google+ accounts to send a personal messages to Maeda by submitting a message via your Google+ account (registration required) with the hashtag '#maeda0827'. A flower petal-shaped confetti printed with the message and Google+ profile name will fall onto the stage during the show.

Source: Oricon/tokyohive

UPDATE (23rd August):
Acchan's parade in Akihabara cancelled due to security concerns

Source: tokyohive/natalie

UPDATE (26th August):
List of performing members revealed

岩佐美咲 (Iwasa Misaki)
多田愛佳 (Ota Aika)
大家志津香 (Oya Shizuka)
片山陽加 (Katayama Haruka)
倉持明日香 (Kuramochi Asuka)
小嶋陽菜 (Kojima Haruna)
篠田麻里子 (Shinoda Mariko)
高城亜樹 (Takajo Aki)
高橋みなみ (Takahashi Minami)
仲川遥香 (Nakagawa Haruka)
中田ちさと(Nakata Chisato)
仲谷明香 (Nakaya Sayaka)
前田亜美 (Maeda Ami)
松原夏海 (Matsubara Natsumi)
武藤十夢 (Muto Tomu)
板野友美 (Itano Tomomi)
峯岸みなみ(Minegishi Minami)
大島優子 (Oshima Yuko)
松井珠理奈 (Matsui Jurina)
宮澤佐江 (Miyazawa Sae)
横山由依 (Yokoyama Yui)
河西智美 (Kasai Tomomi)
柏木由紀 (Kashiwagi Yuki)
北原里英 (Kitahara Rie)
渡辺麻友 (Watanabe Mayu)
松井玲奈 (Matsui Rena)
指原莉乃 (Sashihara Rino)

Source: tokyohive/Sanspo

Maeda Atsuko 2nd Single - '君は僕だ' ('Kimi wa Boku da')

Last month, it was revealed that Maeda Atsuko will be releasing her second single on the 20th of June. The details of the single were revealed recently.

Act.1 (CD + DVD)
1. [CD] 君は僕だ [Kimi wa Boku da]
2. [CD] 右肩 [Migikata]
3. [CD] 遠回り [Toomawari]
4. [CD] 君は僕だ (off vocal ver.)
5. [CD] 右肩 (off vocal ver.)
6. [CD] 遠回り (off vocal ver.)
7. [DVD] 君は僕だ (Music Video) [Kimi wa Boku da music video]
8. [DVD] 君は僕だ (Music Video/ドラマバージョン) [Kimi wa Boku da music video drama ver.]
9. [DVD] Making the music video「君は僕だ」 [Kimi wa Boku da makingm of music video]
CDJapan
HMV Online

Act.2 (CD + DVD)
1. [CD] 君は僕だ [Kimi wa Boku da]
2. [CD] 右肩 [Migikata]
3. [CD] 愛しすぎると・・・ [Aishisugiru to…]
4. [CD] 君は僕だ (off vocal ver.)
5. [CD] 右肩 (off vocal ver.)
6. [CD] 愛しすぎると・・・ (off vocal ver.)
7. [DVD] 君は僕だ (Music Video) [Kimi wa Boku da music video]
8. [DVD] 君は僕だ (Music Video/ドラマバージョン) [Kimi wa Boku da music video drama ver.]
9. [DVD] 前田敦子 卒業ドキュメント・インタビュー「これからの、私」 [Maeda Atsuko Graduation Documentary Interview]
CDJapan
HMV Online

Act.3 (CD + DVD)
1. [CD] 君は僕だ [Kimi wa Boku da]
2. [CD] 右肩 [Migikata]
3. [CD] Sunday drive
4. [CD] 君は僕だ (off vocal ver.)
5. [CD] 右肩 (off vocal ver.)
6. [CD] Sunday drive (off vocal ver.)
7. [DVD] 君は僕だ (Music Video) [Kimi wa Boku da music video]
8. [DVD] 君は僕だ (Music Video/ドラマバージョン) [Kimi wa Boku da music video drama ver.]
9. [DVD] 僕たちのご主人さま〜愛犬たちと前田敦子の日常〜 [Bokutachi no Goshujinsama ~Aikentachi to Maeda Atsuko no Nichijou~]
CDJapan
HMV Online

Theater Ver.
1. [CD] 君は僕だ [Kimi wa Boku da]
2. [CD] 右肩 [Migikata]
3. [CD] 畳 (Tatami]
4. [CD] 君は僕だ (off vocal ver.)
5. [CD] 右肩 (off vocal ver.)
6. [CD] 畳 (off vocal ver.)

Maeda Atsuko to graduate from AKB48

A really shocking news was revealed during the last day of the AKB48's Saitama Super Arena concert (Day 3) earlier today. I wasn't at the location to hear it for myself and was unable to witness it but from the oncoming twitter feeds during the concert, I learned that Acchan announced her decision to graduate from AKB48.

Even though I support Yuko more than Acchan, I still felt at a lost at the fact that Acchan will be leaving AKB48. She's been the cover girl of AKB48 for so long and I think I might still need some time to get used this, even though I am not really a supporter of her.

No details of the graduation were revealed yet.

Anyways, if this truly is for the best for her, I shall support her decision and wish her all the best in her future careers and life. I really loved her solo single and hope that she continues as a solo singer after leaving AKB48.

Image from Nikkan Sports

UPDATE (27th March):
Translation of a post on Acchan's Official Blog

Good morning everyone

I’m in Hong Kong right now

These days sure are going by fast

I’ve been thinking about a lot of things and my report to all of you is coming a bit late

I, Maeda Atsuko, will be graduating from AKB48

I announced it at Saitama Super Arena the day before yesterday

Even though I came to that conclusion, I was full of anxiety up until that very moment

At the Saitama Super Arena everyone was having fun, singing and dancing and all of the members were really shining

The fans in the audience had nothing but smiles on their faces

I really thought it would be great to continue as it is.

But, during the encore when we were singing our songs, I saw the guest seating full of penlights and I really felt happy.

So, I have to go out on my own now and I wanted to properly announce it to everyone.

And
Then I said to Takamina (Takahashi Minami) who was right next to me, that “I am going to announce it.”

With those few words, it was the beginning for me to start running (towards my dreams)

I have been given so many chances, that I need to be the one to take the first step

Because if I don’t those behind me won’t be able to continue after me

Hearing everyone support me after my announcement at Saitama Super Arena, well that was the warmest moment of my life

It made me realize that I was not making a wrong decision.

Of course I can also hear people saying, “don’t quit!”

And that made me feel really happy

The members have been shedding tears for me and have genuinely been concerned for me

I am so so happy that I am able to feel all of this love

The members will always, always be my friends, no matter what happens

So, I want to be able to give the members proper and reliable advice in the future

I still can’t sort the thoughts out in my head

Regardless
“AKB” is the best

Akimoto-san
Thank you so so much for warmly watching over me despite my selfishness, my extreme selfishness

You’ve looked out for me ever since I was 14 years old

If Akimoto-san wasn’t there, I wouldn’t be where I am today

Please let me continue to have conversations about various things with you in the future

Fans

I’ve been reading a ton of your comments

Thank you guys for giving me your support

Please continue to look after me in the future

I love my fans and everyone around me.

Source: tokyohive

UPDATE (24th May):
With the release of the Tokyo Dome concert dates, and that Acchan would be graduating on the day after the concert, the date of her graduation is set to be on the 27th of August.

Acchan's First Solo Single: Flower

After much long waiting... Atusko Maeda's first solo single was finally released today! Some might already have got their hands on it two days ago already (Got mine yesterday) though, mostly pre-orders. Album arts and song lists are as follows,

ACT.1

1. [CD] Flower FLOWER
2. [CD] この胸のメロディー KONO MUNE NO MELODY
3. [CD] 頬杖とカフェ・マキアート HOOZUE TO CAFE MACCHIATO
4. [CD] Flower (off vocal ver.) FLOWER
5. [CD] この胸のメロディー (off vocal ver.) KONO MUNE NO MELODY
6. [CD] 頬杖とカフェ・マキアート (off vocal ver.) HOOZUE TO CAFE MACCHIATO
7. [DVD] Flower Music Video
8. [DVD] Flower Music Video (Dialog version)
9. [DVD] 前田敦子スペシャルインタビュー『今、考えていること』
10. [DVD] Making the music video「Flower」
<Audio Samples>

ACT.2

1. [CD] Flower FLOWER
2. [CD] この胸のメロディー KONO MUNE NO MELODY
3. [CD] 夜明けまで YOAKE MADE
4. [CD] Flower (off vocal ver.) FLOWER
5. [CD] この胸のメロディー (off vocal ver.) KONO MUNE NO MELODY
6. [CD] 夜明けまで (off vocal ver.) YOAKE MADE
7. [DVD] Flower Music Video
8. [DVD] Flower Music Video (Dialog version)
9. [DVD] Flowerが咲くまで 〜前田敦子の軌跡〜
<Audio Samples>

ACT.3

1. [CD] Flower FLOWER
2. [CD] この胸のメロディー KONO MUNE NO MELODY
3. [CD] La Brea Ave. LA BREA AVE.
4. [CD] Flower (off vocal ver.) FLOWER
5. [CD] この胸のメロディー (off vocal ver.) KONO MUNE NO MELODY
6. [CD] La Brea Ave. (off vocal ver.) LA BREA AVE.
7. [DVD] Flower Music Video
8. [DVD] Flower Music Video (Dialog version)
9. [DVD] 前田敦子ファッションブック『今、着てみたいお洋服』
<Audio Samples>

Theater Version

1. [CD] Flower FLOWER
2. [CD] この胸のメロディー KONO MUNE NO MELODY
3. [CD] Brunchはブルーベリー Brunch wa Blueberry
4. [CD] (妄想電話「もし、前田敦子が恋人だったら・・・」①)
           Mousou Denwa [Moshi, Maeda Atsuko ga Koibito wa dakara...] 1
5. [CD] (妄想電話「もし、前田敦子が恋人だったら・・・」②)
           Mousou Denwa [Moshi, Maeda Atsuko ga Koibito wa dakara...] 2
6. [CD] (妄想電話「もし、前田敦子が恋人だったら・・・」③)
           Mousou Denwa [Moshi, Maeda Atsuko ga Koibito wa dakara...] 3

There would be a photobook included for each of the first press editions of ACT.1, 2 and 3. A bonus photo would also be included when bought through CDJapan.
CDJapan links:
ACT.1
ACT.2
ACT.3

Acchan's vocals is really amazing. Great songs + Awesome vocals = Too good to say too much! XD
Love the title track, 'Flower', and the Type A exclusive b-side track, '頬杖とカフェ・マキアート' the most!