AKB48 Unit Matsuri & Request Hour Set List Best 100 2013

AKB48 Theater manager, Togasaki Tomonobu, announced on his Google+ that AKB48's 'Unit Matsuri' and 'Request Hour Set List Best 100 2013' will be streaming on AKB48’s official YouTube channel live.

Schedule:
AKB48 Unit Matsuri 2013
23rd of January starting at 6:30 PM (JST)

AKB48 Request Hour Set List Best 100 2013
24th - 27th of January starting at 6:00 PM (JST)

Source: tokyohive/G+

Damn... from Wednesday to Friday I will be in camp (National Service). Well, the streaming starts around during my dinner and after dinner there isn't anything up (hope so). Hope I am able to stream the Unit Matsuri and the first two days of Request Hour through my phone. (Can be done but it only depends on the 3G signal, which pretty much sucks most of the time in Kranji Camp.)
Will be posting the set list (results) here as soon as I can, along with any announcements made at the event.

UPDATE (23rd January):
Unit Matsuri

Kageana: Kashiwagi Yuki

00. Overture
01. 1994nen no Raimei

-MC : Takahashi M. | Shinoda M. | Itano T. | Kojima H.-

02. Shuumatsu Not Yet (Not Yet)
03. Naminori Kakigoori (Not Yet)
04. Hatsukoi Dash! (Watarirouka Hashiritai 7)
05. Zutto Mae Kara (French Kiss)
06. Lost The Way (DiVA)
07. Ikuji Nashi Masquerade (Sashihara | Murashige | Motomura | Nakanishi)

-MC : No Name-

08. Aruji Naki Sono Koe (No Name)
09. Kirigirisu Jin (No Sleeves/no3b)
10. Pedicure Day (No Sleeves/no3b)
11. Shoujotachi Yo! (All)

-MC-

12. Pajama Drive (AnRiRe)
13. Nage Kiss de Uchi Otose (Kizaki | Kimoto K. | Oshima R. | Kodama | Tomonaga)
14. Choco no Yukue (Matsui Rena | Shimazaki Haruka | Yogi | Miyawaki)
15. Kuroi Tenshi (Takahashi J. | Mukaida | Nagao)
16. Blue Rose (Fujie | Abe | Maeda A. Matsuoka)
17. Tsundere (Watanabe Mi. | Yamauchi S. | Tano)
18. Hatsukoi yo, Konnichiwa (Tashima | Yagura | Furuhata)
19. Kagami no Naka no Jeanne D'arc (Yamamoto S. | Iwata K. | Suga | Okada N. | Fujimoto M.)
20. Faint (Matsui J. | Moriyasu | Mutou)

-MC : Watanabe Mi. | Yamamoto S. | Matsui J. | Shimazaki H. | -

21. Otona no Jellybeans (Kashiwagi | Sashihara)
22. Kuchibiru Furezu (Watarirouka Hashiritai 7 | AnRiRe)
23. Suika! Baby (No Sleeves/no3b | DiVA)
24. Kanpeki Gu~ no ne (Not Yet | French Kiss)

-MC : Not Yet & French Kiss-

25. Fui Ni (Itano Tomomi)
26. 10nen go no Kimi e (Itano Tomomi)
27. Clone (Itano Tomomi)
28. Moshimo Watashi ga Sora ni Sundeitara (Iwasa Misaki)
29. Soredemo Suki da yo! (Sashihara Rino)
30. Masaka (Kasai Tomomi)
31. Hikaru Monotachi (Watanabe Mayu)
32. Shortcake (Kashiwagi Yuki)

-Encore-
EN1: UZA
EN2: Gingham Check (Center: Shimazaki Haruka)
EN3: First Rabbit
EN4: Manatsu no Sounds Good!

(Wasn't able to update as it goes so I took the list from Achuuru no Okouku)

UPDATE (24th January):
DAY 1

00. overture

100. (72) Gomen ne, Summer [SKE48 3rd]
Ishida, Kizaki, Takayanagi, Matsui Jurina, Matsui Rena, Mukaida, Yagami
99. (--) Boku no YELL [c/w Ponytail to Shushu]
Theater Girls

MC

98. (79) Sougen no Kiseki [K3rd]
97. (NEW) Bacchikoi K

MC

96. (--) Guuzen no Juujiro [c/w Sakura no Ki ni narou]
Under Girls

MC (Cow Cow)

95. (NEW) Tsugi no Season [c/w UZA]
Under Girls
94. (91) Kataomoi no Taikakusen [B4th]
Komori, Sato Sumire, Nito
93. (NEW) Yobisute Fantasy [c/w Ue kara Mariko]
Kashiwagi Team B
92. (NEW) Hoshizora no Caravan [c/w Kitagawa Kenji]
Shirogumi
91. (--) Manazashi Sayonara [KII 3rd]
Ogiso, Furukawa

MC

90. (16) Pareo wa Emerald [SKE 6th]
89. (27) Kimi to Boku no Kankei [Koko ni ita koto]
Itano, Shimazaki

MC

88. (35) Shoujotachi yo [Koko ni ita koto]
87. (--) Kesshou [c/w Oh my God!]
Shirogumi
86. (19) Oh my God! [NMB 2nd]
85. (--) Kokoro no hashi no Sofa [K6th]
Umeda, Oshima Yuko, Fujie

MC (Kato Rena, Takahashi Juri, Matsui Jurina, Matsui Rena)

84. (67) Sasae [K4th]

MC

83. (54) RIVER [AKB48 14th]
82. (37) Enjou Rosen [A6th]
Sashihara, Takajo

MC

81. (18) Beginner [AKB48 18th]
80. (25) Ponytail to Shushu [AKB48 16th]
79. (73) Tenshi no Shippo [B3rd]
Ota, Kato, Nakaya

MC

78. (47) Kuchiutsushi no Chocolate [B4th]
Iriyama, Kashiwagi, Yamauchi
77. (7) Kaze wa fuiteiru [AKB48 23rd]
76. (98) Dakishimeraretara [K5th]
Kasai, Kikuchi, Kuramochi

MC
Preview of "So long" PV

EN01. Kirigirisu-jin
No Sleeves
EN02. Yuuhi Marie
Team K
EN03. Moshimo Watashi ga Aozora ni sundeitara
Iwasa

MC

EN04. Everyday, Kachuusha
ALL

UPDATE (25th January):
DAY 2

75. (--) Wimbledon he tsurete itte [S2nd]
Kizaki, Suda, Yagami
74. (NEW) Seigi no Mikata janai Hero [c/w UZA]
Team B

MC

73. (NEW) Kiss datte Hidarikiki [SKE48 10th]
72. (62) Arashi no Yoru ni wa [B5th]
Kawaei, Komori, Suzuki, Miyazaki
71. (NEW) Aishite Raburu [SKE48 9th]

MC

70. (--) TWO ROSES [c/w 1!2!3!4! Yoroshiku!]
Matsui Jurina, Matsui Rena
69. (--) End roll [K5th]
Umeda, Oshima, Kuramochi, Matsubara
68. (62) Kanojo ni naremasu ka? [K6th]
Team K

MC ("SONE" - Secret Base)

67. (NEW) Nante Bohemian [c/w Gingham Check]
Under Girls

MC

66. (21) Omatase Set list [KII 3rd]

MC

65. (--) Cross [KII 3rd]
Iguchi, Takayanagi, Matsumoto
64. (--) Sakura no Hanabiratachi [A1st]
63. (56) Only today [A4th]
62. (32) Candy [B5th]
Ichikawa, Kasai, Sato Amina

MC

61. (40) Yuuhi wo miteiru ka? [AKB48 6th]
Itano, Oshima, Kashiwagi, Kojima Haruna, Shinoda, Takahashi Minami, Minegishi Minami, Watanabe Mayu
60. (76) Koi wo kataru Shijin ni narenakute [S3rd]
59. (--) Finland Miracle [KII 3rd]
Akaeda, Mukaida, Yakata
58. (48) Zannen Shoujo [B4th]
Uchida, Kikuchi, Watanabe
57. (NEW) Do Re Mi Fa Onchi [c/w Gingham Check]
Next Girls
56. (NEW) Kimi no c/w [Team Surprise]
Shimazaki, Takajo, Watanabe Mayu
55. (44) MARIA [K3rd]
Umeda, Kasai, Yokoyama
54. (4) Flying Get [AKB48 22nd]

MC

53. (31) Choose me! [c/w Sakura no Shiori]
Team YJ

MC

52. (46) Gyakuten Oujisama [A6th]
Uchida, Kikuchi, Minegishi
51. (NEW) Show fight! [c/w Gingham Check]
Future Girls

Announcement:
Manager shuffle/promotion

AKB48: Yuasa Hiroshi
SKE48: Shiba Tomoya
NMB48: Kaneko Tsuyoshi
HKT48: Ozaki Mitsuru
ALL 48 GROUPS: Togasaki Tomonobu

EN01. Ruby
Team A
EN02. Shortcake
Kashiwagi
EN03. Choco no Dorei
SKE48
EN04. Heavy Rotation

(Wasn't able to update as it goes on the first and second day so I took the list from stage48 forums)

UPDATE (26th January):
DAY 3

50 - Oogoe Diamond
49 - Junai no Crescendo

MC

48 - RESET
47 - Everyday, Kachuusha
46 - GIVE ME FIVE

MC

45 - Scandalous ni Ikou!
44 - Mitsubachi Girl
43 - Pioneer

MC

42 - Hazumisaki
41 - Omoide no Hotondo
40 - Jungle Gym (Sayanee solo!!!)
39 - Kuru kuru pa~
38 - HKT48
37 - Itoshisa no Accel

MC

36 - BIRD
35 - Kataomoi Finally

MC

34 - Manatsu no Sounds Good!

MC

33 - Nagiichi
32 - Oteage Lullaby
31 - Gugutasu no Sora (Google+ senbatsu members!!)
30 - Iiwake Maybe
29 - Warukii

MC

28 - Seishun no Lap Time
27 - Temodemo no Namida

MC

26 - Dakishimecha ikenai

Trailer of "Documentary of AKB48 - No Flower without Rain"

EN01 - After rain (Documentary of AKB48 OST)

MC

EN02 - Onegai Valentine (HKT48 debut single)
EN03 - Soko de Inu no Unchi Funjau ka ne? (Team B)
EN04 - Sore wo Seishun to Yobu Hi (Graduating SKE48 Members)

Announcement:
AKB48 Fair (4-day live concert - 6 stages)
Nippon Budokan
25th April 2013 (Thu) : SKE48
26th April 2013 (Fri) : NMB48
27th April 2013 (Sat) : HKT48 (day time)
27th April 2013 (Sat) : AKB48 (night time)
28th April 2013 (Sun) : AKB48 groups (2 stages - day and night)

EN05 - Flying Get (ALL)

UPDATE (27th January):
DAY 4

25 - Plastic no Kuchibiru
24 - Junjou Shugi

MC

23 - Shonichi
22 - Omoide ijou
21 - Kitagawa Kenji
20 - Avocado Jane~shi...
19 - Heart Gata Virus
18 - Kodoku na Runner!!!! (SDN48 ISH BACK!!!!! \o/ WOOOOOO!!!)

MC

Announcement:
SDN48 revival show @ AKB48 theater (31st of March 2013)

17 - Kimi no Koto ga Sukidakara (WOWOOOOOO!!! ♥ My all time fav!! Akicha!!!! ♥♥♥♥♥)
16 - UZA
15 - Kareha no Station (Rena!! ♥♥♥♥♥)
14 - Gingham Check
13 - Ookami to Pride

MC

12 - First Rabbit
11 - Juuryoku Sympathy

MC

10 - Nakinagara Hohoende

MC

09 - Yume no Kawa

MC

08 - Yokaze no Shiwaza

MC

07 - Team B Oshi
06 - Itoshiki Natasha
05 - Mushi no Ballad

MC (Hamakan)

04 - Heavy Rotation (Not No.1? =[)
03 - Ue kara Mariko
02 - Kiseki wa Maniawanai

MC

01 - Hashire Penguin (ぱるる!!!!!!♥♥♥)

MC:
Ozaki Atsushi - HKT48
Kaneko Takeshi - NMB48
Shiba Tomoya - SKE48
Yuasa Hiroshi - AKB48 assistant manager*
Togasaki Tomonobu - ALL 48 Groups + AKB48

EN01 - Waiting Room
EN02 - So Long!

Announcement:
AKB48 to hold an open-air live concert "AKB48 Super Festival" at Nissan Stadium (highest seating capacity in Japan)

EN03 - Manatsu no Sounds Good!

And that wraps up AKB48's Unit Matsuri and Request Hour 2013!

Hope that I am able to get the SDN48 revival show and go for the "AKB48 Super Festival" at Nissan Stadium o(>_<)o

SKE48 11th Single - 'チョコの奴隷' ('Choco no Dorei')

It was revealed that the title of SKE48's new single will be 'チョコの奴隷' ('Choco no Dorei') and is scheduled to be released on the 30th of January. It was announced during the research students' performance yesterday at the SKE48 Theater and the music video was also revealed.

Senbatsu members:
Oya Masana, Kizaki Yuria, Suga Nanako, Suda Akari, Matsui Jurina, Matsui Rena, Yagami Kumi, Ishida Anna, Ogiso Shiori, Takayanagi Akane, Hata Sawako, Furukawa Airi, Mukaida Manatsu, Yakata Miki, Kimoto Kanon, and Kitahara Rie.

More details are yet to be releaved.

Source: tokyohive/Oricon

Tye A (CD + DVD)
1. [Disc 1] チョコの奴隷 [Choco no Dorei]
2. [Disc 1] Darkness（セブンダンサーズ） [Darkness (Seven Dancers)]
3. [Disc 1] それを青春と呼ぶ日（旅立ち卒業組） [Sore wo Seishun to Yobu Hi]
4. [Disc 1] チョコの奴隷 off vocal
5. [Disc 1] Darkness off vocal
6. [Disc 1] それを青春と呼ぶ日（旅立ち卒業組） off vocal
7. [Disc 2] チョコの奴隷　Music Video [Choco no Dorei music video]
8. [Disc 2] Darkness（セブンダンサーズ）　Music Video [Darkness (Seven Dancers) music video]
9. [Disc 2] 特典映像 I「無礼講でお祭り騒ぎの大宴会！」前編 [Special Footage I “Bureikou de Omatsuri Sawagi no Daienkai!” Part 1]
CDJapan [LE/Regular]
HMV Online [LE/Regular]

Type B (CD + DVD)
1. [Disc 1] チョコの奴隷 [Choco no Dorei]
2. [Disc 1] バイクとサイドカー（14カラット） [Bike to Sidecar (14 Carat)]
3. [Disc 1] それを青春と呼ぶ日（旅立ち卒業組） [Sore wo Seishun to Yobu Hi]
4. [Disc 1] チョコの奴隷 off vocal
5. [Disc 1] バイクとサイドカー off vocal
6. [Disc 1] それを青春と呼ぶ日（旅立ち卒業組） off vocal
7. [Disc 2] チョコの奴隷　Music Video [Choco no Dorei music video]
8. [Disc 2] バイクとサイドカー（14カラット）Music Video [Bike to Sidecar (14 Carat) music video]
9. [Disc 2] 特典映像 II「無礼講でお祭り騒ぎの大宴会！」中編 [Special Footage II “Bureikou de Omatsuri Sawagi no Daienkai!” Part 2]
CDJapan [LE/Regular]
HMV Online [LE/Regular]

Type C (CD + DVD)
1. [Disc 1] チョコの奴隷 [Choco no Dorei]
2. [Disc 1] 冬のかもめ（白組） [Fuyu no Kamome (Shirogumi)]
3. [Disc 1] 追いかけShadow（紅組）[Oikake Shadow (Akagumi)]
4. [Disc 1] それを青春と呼ぶ日（旅立ち卒業組） [Sore wo Seishun to Yobu Hi]
5. [Disc 1] チョコの奴隷 off vocal
6. [Disc 1] 冬のかもめ off vocal
7. [Disc 1] 追いかけShadow off vocal
8. [Disc 1] それを青春と呼ぶ日（旅立ち卒業組） off vocal
9. [Disc 2] チョコの奴隷　Music Video [Choco no Dorei music video]
10. [Disc 2] それを青春と呼ぶ日（旅立ち卒業組） Music Video [Sore wo Seishun to Yobu Hi music video]
11. [Disc 2] 特典映像 III「無礼講でお祭り騒ぎの大宴会！」後編 [Special Footage III “Bureikou de Omatsuri Sawagi no Daienkai!” Part 3]
CDJapan [LE/Regular]
HMV Online [LE/Regular]

Theater Edition (CD Only)
1. [Disc 1] チョコの奴隷 [Choco no Dorei]
2. [Disc 1] Darkness（セブンダンサーズ） [Darkness (Seven Dancers)]
3. [Disc 1] バイクとサイドカー（14カラット） [Bike to Sidecar (14 Carat)]
4. [Disc 1] SKE48 11th single medley
5. [Disc 1] チョコの奴隷 off vocal
6. [Disc 1] Darkness（セブンダンサーズ） off vocal
7. [Disc 1] バイクとサイドカー（14カラット） off vocal

UPDATE (28th December):
Covers and most of the track list revealed

AKB48 29th Single - '永遠プレッシャー' ('Eien Pressure')

It was revealed that AKB48 29th Single, which is the 3rd Janken single, will be released on the 5th of December. The senbatsu members of the single is as the past two janken singles, are decided by the Janken Tournament results.

"Shimazaki explained, “The song is about a girl with no self confidence,” and appealed to fans, saying, “When I first saw (the lyrics of the) song, I thought ‘How does Akimoto-sensei know what I think?’ Because it is an up-tempo and cute song, I will be happy if many people sing the song.”"

It was revealed that the b-sides will feature songs by SKE48, NMB48 and HKT48.

More details are yet to be announced.
Source: tokyohive/Sanspo

Type A (CD + DVD)
1. [CD] 永遠プレッシャー [Eien Pressure]
2. [CD] とっておきクリスマス [Totteoki Christmas]
3. [CD] 強がり時計 (SKE48) [Tsuyogari Dokei/ SKE48]
4. [CD] 永遠プレッシャー off vocal ver.
5. [CD] とっておきクリスマス off vocal ver.
6. [CD] 強がり時計 off vocal ver.
7. [DVD] 永遠プレッシャー Music Video [Eien Pressure music video]
8. [DVD] とっておきクリスマス Music Video [Totteoki Christmas music video]
9. [DVD] 強がり時計 Music Video [Tsuyogari Dokei/ SKE48]
10. [DVD] チームB推し Music Video [Team B Oshi] (Voted by fans through Music Video Request)
11. [DVD] 29thシングル選抜じゃんけん大会ドキュメント (前編) [29TH SINGLE SENBATSU JANKEN TAIKAI DOCUMENT]
CDJapan
HMV Online

Type B (CD + DVD)
1. [CD] 永遠プレッシャー [Eien Pressure]
2. [CD] とっておきクリスマス [Totteoki Christmas]
3. [CD] HA ! (NMB48)
4. [CD] 永遠プレッシャー off vocal ver.
5. [CD] とっておきクリスマス off vocal ver.
6. [CD] HA ! Off vocal ver.
7. [DVD] 永遠プレッシャー Music Video [Eien Pressure music video]
8. [DVD] とっておきクリスマス Music Video [Totteoki Christmas music video]
9. [DVD] HA ! Music Video
10. [DVD] ファースト・ラビット Music Video [First Rabbit music video](Voted by fans through Music Video Request)
11. [DVD] .29thシングル選抜じゃんけん大会ドキュメント (中編) [29TH SINGLE SENBATSU JANKEN TAIKAI DOCUMENT]
CDJapan
HMV Online

Type C (CD + DVD)
1. [CD] 永遠プレッシャー [Eien Pressure]
2. [CD] とっておきクリスマス [Totteoki Christmas]
3. [CD] 初恋バタフライ (HKT48) [Hatsukoi Butterfly / HKT48]
4. [CD] 永遠プレッシャー off vocal ver.
5. [CD] とっておきクリスマス off vocal ver.
6. [CD] 初恋バタフライ off vocal ver.
7. [DVD] 永遠プレッシャー Music Video [Eien Pressure music video]
8. [DVD] とっておきクリスマス Music Video [Totteoki Christmas music video]
9. [DVD] 初恋バタフライ Music Video [Hatsukoi Butterfly music video]
10. [DVD] 桜の花びら 〜前田敦子 solo ver.〜 Music Video [Sakura no Hanabira ~Maeda Atsuko ver.~] (Voted by fans through Music Video Request)
11. [DVD] .29thシングル選抜じゃんけん大会ドキュメント (後編) [29TH SINGLE SENBATSU JANKEN TAIKAI DOCUMENT]
CDJapan
HMV Online

Type D (CD + DVD)
1. [CD] 永遠プレッシャー [Eien Pressure]
2. [CD] とっておきクリスマス [Totteoki Christmas]
3. [CD] 永遠より続くように (OKL48) [Eien Yori Tsuzuku Youni / OKL48]
4. [CD] 永遠プレッシャー off vocal ver.
5. [CD] とっておきクリスマス off vocal ver.
6. [CD] 永遠より続くように off vocal ver.
7. [DVD] 永遠プレッシャー Music Video [Eien Pressure music video]
8. [DVD] とっておきクリスマス Music Video [Totteoki Christmas music video]
9. [DVD] 永遠より続くように Music Video [Eien Yori Tsuzuku Youni / OKL48 music video]
CDJapan
HMV Online

Theater Edition (CD Only)
1. [CD] 永遠プレッシャー [Eien Pressure]
2. [CD] とっておきクリスマス [Totteoki Christmas]
3. [CD] 私たちのReason [Watashitachi no Reason]
4. [CD] 永遠プレッシャー off vocal ver.
5. [CD] とっておきクリスマス off vocal ver.
6. [CD] 私たちのReason off vocal ver.

AKB48's 2nd Big Reshuffle Effective Date

On the very first day of the AKB48's first ever Tokyo Dome concert, 'AKB48 in TOKYO DOME ~1830m no Yume~', AKB48's team big reshuffle was announced and that Team 4 will be discontinued. It was revealed yesterday at Iwate Sangyou Bunka Center during their handshake event that the reshuffle will be effective from 1st of November.

With the reshuffle, AKB48 will be back to three teams but with 22 members in Team A, 23 in Team K and 23 in Team B.
Team A will have their final concerts with their current members on the 29th, Team K on 24th, Team B on 22nd and Team 4 on 25th this month.

The set lists for each of the reshuffled teams are not announced yet at the moment and the teams will be taking turns to perform at the AKB48 Theater a performance called ‘Waiting Performance’, which features a set list chosen from AKB48 songs.
Even though each team consists of 22 or 23 members, only 16 will be participating.
I don't know how this is going to work and what will the remaining 6 or 7 girls do, but I shall wait and see what Aki-P have in mind next month.

The starting dates of SNH48 members Miyazawa Sae and Suzuki Mariya as well as JKT48 members Takajo Aki and Nakagawa Haruka are not announced yet.

Source: tokyohive/Sanspo

UPDATE (23rd December):
Takajo Aki and Nakagawa Haruka will debut as part of the newly formed Team J in JKT48 on the 26th of December. Team J will be performing "Renai Kinshi Jourei", that is a revival of AKB48 Team A's 5th stage (19th October 2008 - 27th May 2010).

Source: tokyohive/Oricon

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!!

AKB48's 2nd Big Reshuffle!

On the very first day of the AKB48's first ever Tokyo Dome concert, 'AKB48 in TOKYO DOME ~1830m no Yume~', TGSK (AKB48 Theater’s manager Togasaki Tomonobu) appeared with yet again a shocking news. (Every time he appears for a speech, the speech always got to be big issue huh.)

As title has said, AKB48 is going to have a big reshuffling of the members between the teams for the second time. (The first time was on August 2009)
Team 4 will be disbanded and the members will be added into Team A, K or B. Which means that Team 8, mentioned last time, will not be formed.

Leadership roles also changed where Takahashi Minami was appointed as the General Manager of the AKB48 groups, Shinoda Mariko takes over the Team A captain position, Oshima Yuko is now the captain of Team K and Umeda Ayaka - transferred to Team B - is now the captain of her new team.

All these are still just the icing by the way. What was more shocking is that with the 'Study Abroad Program' which was mentioned last month, Miyazawa Sae and Suzuki Mariya will be transferred to SNH48, while Takajo Aki and Nakagawa Haruka will be transferred to JKT48.

Akicha... JKT48... I couldn't take it any more yesterday and stayed away from the twitter feeds while suddenly the hash tag for Tokyo Dome was flooding with excited Indonesian tweets.
(No offence intended but seriously the twitter feeds just flows non stop regarding Akicha's and Harugon's transfer to JKT48 - where almost all of the tweets are in Indonesian. Wasn't upset about the the flood of Indonesian tweets but more of the transfer.) I would've felt much better if at least was transferred to SNH48 where she will learn Chinese and thus enable me to be able communicate with her with bits of Chinese if I get to meet her!

Anyways, here's the list of the whole reshuffling:

Takahashi Minami:　Team A captain→ AKB48 Groups’ General Manager

Shinoda Mariko: Team A→Team A Captain（Former Team A captain: Takahashi Minami）
Oshima Yuko: Team K→Team K Captain（Former Team K captain: Akimoto Sayaka）
Umeda Ayaka: Team K→Team B Captain（Former Team B captain: Kashiwagi Yuki）

Yokoyama Yui: Team K→Team A＆ NMB48
Kitahara Rie: Team B→Team K＆ SKE48
Ishida Anna: SKE Team KII→SKE48＆ Team B
Ota Aika: Team A→ HKT48
Miyazawa Sae:　Team K→SNH48
Suzuki Mariya: Team B→SNH48
Takajo Aki:　Team A→JKT48
Nakagawa Haruka: Team A→JKT48

Iwata Karen: Team 4→Team A
Abe Maria: Team 4→Team K
Watanabe Mayu: Team B→Team A
Kojima Haruna: Team A→Team B
Mutou Tomu: Kenkyuusei→Team K
Oba Mina: Team 4→Team B
Akimoto Sayaka: Team K（No transfer）
Nakamata Shiori: Team 4→Team A
Ichikawa Miori: Team 4→Team B
Kasai Tomomi: Team B→Team xA
Kato Rena: Team 4→Team B
Matsui Jurina: SKE48 Team S ＆ Team K（No transfer）
Nakamura Mariko: Team 4→Team B
Nakata Chisato: Team A→Team K
Nito Moeno: Team K→Team A
Oya Shizuka: Team A→Team B
Maeda Ami: Team A→Team K
Tano Yuuka: Team 4→Team A
Itano Tomomi: Team K（No transfer）
Iwasa Misaki: Team A→Team B
Kobayashi Mirina: Team A (promoted in June 2012)
Sato Amina: Team B→Team K
Shimazaki Haruka: Team 4→Team B
Sato Sumire: Team B→Team A
Ishida Haruka: Team B（No transfer）
Matsui Sakiko: Team K→Team A
Kuramochi Asuka: Team A→Team K
Katayama Haruka: Team A→Team B
Kotani Riho: NMB48→NMB48 ＆ Team A
Nakaya Sayaka: Team A→Team K
Yamauchi Suzuran: Team 4→Team B
Morikawa Ayaka: Team A (promoted in June 2012)
Uchida Mayumi: Team K（No transfer）
Fujie Reina: Team K→Team B
Kawaei Rina: Team 4→Team K
Izuta Rina: Team A (promoted in June 2012)
Mitsumune Kaoru: Kenkyuusei→Team K
Natori Wakana: Team B (promoted in June 2012)
Tanabe Miku: Team K→Team B
Sato Natsuki: Team B→Team A
Iriyama Anna: Team 4→Team A
Chikano Rina: Team B→Team K
Kashiwagi Yuki: Team B（No transfer）
Nagao Mariya: Team 4→Team K
Takeuchi Miyu: Team 4→Team B
Kikuchi Ayaka: Team K→Team A
Suzuki Shihori: Team B→Team K
Oshima Ryoka: Kenkyuusei→Team A
Fujita Nana: Team K (promoted in June 2012)
Kobayashi Kana: Team B→Team K
Minegishi Minami: Team K→Team B
Kojima Natsuki: Team B (promoted in June 2012)
Nakatsuka Tomomi: Team K→Team A
Shimada Haruka: Team 4→Team K
Watanabe Miyuki: NMB48 ＆ Team B (No transfer）
Masuda Yuka: Team B→Team K
Takahashi Juri: Team 4→Team A
Nonaka Misato: Team K→Team B
Miyazaki Miho: Team B→Team K
Matsubara Natsumi: Team A→Team K

Source: tokyohive/Oricon

Reshuffling might not sound to be a good thing just when AKB48 is peaking at it's popularity, but well, it's not that bad also. AKB48 still did very well after the first major reshuffle back in 2009. With Acchan graduating from the group and now the major reshuffle, it feels as if AKB48 is really 'reborned' and the new team compositions indeed do feel really fresh. Shall see how it goes as time past, just like last time!

Grabbed from somewhere in Facebook:

Credits to the person who created this for easier viewing.

UPDATE:

Akicha posted on her Google+ account yesterday after the concert that she was the one who chose to transfer to JKT48.

'皆さんこんばんは！

今日は東京ドームコンサート初日でした！
先輩たちがかかげてきた
東京ドームの舞台に立てたこと
嬉しくて感動したと同時に
いつも以上にすごく緊張しました。

これが目指してきた目標の重みなんだ。
と身をもって感じました。



そして今日はみなさんにお知らせがあります！

AKB48は組閣しました。
それに伴い
私、高城亜樹はJKT48に移籍します。


発表されたとき
舞台からはたくさんの表情が見えました。

移籍を知って泣くメンバー。
驚きを隠せないファンの方。
泣いている方もいました。

ビックリさせちゃってごめんなさい。

この移籍は自分の意思で決めた移籍です！

今私のAKB48での活動や、個人的な活動
すべてを考えてみると
私には、踏み出す勇気がなくて
まわりに流されるがまま
今この状況まで来た気がします。

でも、今のままでは
立ち止まってしまいます。
そしたら夢もそこで終わってしまいます。

自分で一歩踏み出して
何かに挑戦していかなければ
終わってしまう気がしたんです。


私は、将来の夢を叶えるために
AKB48に入りました。
たとえ夢にたどり着くまでに
長い時間かかっても私はいいと思っています。
今このAKB48という恵まれた環境で
夢にたどりつくまで
いろんな経験をしたいんです。

時間がかかってもいい。
私は私のペースで夢に近づいていきます。


だからファン皆さん！
私の夢が叶うまでどうか
見捨てないでください。


いつか夢がかなったとき
皆さんに恩返しがしたいです。'

From bits of translation by Bilingual48's tweets:

'I am sorry about the surprise. I requested for this transfer.
After thinking about where I am currently, I realized that I got here by going with the flow because I don't have the courage to make my own path. I am now at a standstill and my dreams won't come true if I am stuck.
I joined AKB48 because I want to make my dreams come true, even if it takes a long time.
I want to experience many different things in the gifted AKB48 environment until my dreams come true.
It's ok if it takes a long time. My dreams will come true at my own pace. Please do not abandon me at least until then.
When my dreams do come true, I will repay everyone.'

Well, if it's really her decision, I shall respect it and of course no matter what still continue to support her - like what a real loyal fan should do! All the best to her!

SKE48 1st Album - 'この日のチャイムを忘れない' ('Konohi no Chime wo Wasurenai')

Also announced at the SKE48's 9th Single, 'Aishiteraburu!', handshake event, SKE48 will be releasing their first album on the same date as their 10th single, on the 19th of September. It is titled 'この日のチャイムを忘れない' ('Konohi no Chime wo Wasurenai') and will include all title tracks from their previously released singles as well as covers of AKB48's songs. More details are yet to be announced.

Source: tokyohive/Oricon

Limited Edition (CD + DVD + Photobook [First Press])
1. [Disc 1] 強き者よ [Tsuyoki Mono yo]
2. [Disc 1] 青空片想い [Aozora Kataomoi]
3. [Disc 1] ごめんね、SUMMER [Gomenne, SUMMER]
4. [Disc 1] 1!2!3!4! ヨロシク! [1! 2! 3! 4! Yoroshiku!]
5. [Disc 1] バンザイVenus [Banzai Venus]
6. [Disc 1] パレオはエメラルド [Pareo wa Emerald]
7. [Disc 1] オキドキ [Okie Dokie]
8. [Disc 1] 片想いFinally [Kataomoi Finally]
9. [Disc 1] フラフープでGO!GO!GO!/ Team S [Hula Hoop de GO! GO! GO!/Team S]
10. [Disc 1] 叱ってよ、ダーリン!/ Team KII [Shikatte yo, Darling!/Team KII]
11. [Disc 1] みつばちガール/ Team E [Mitsubachi Girl/Team E]
12. [Disc 1] その先に君がいた/ 研究生 [Sono Saki ni Kimi ga Ita/Kenkyuusei]
13. [Disc 1] 拗ねながら、雨・・・/ セレクション8 [Sunenagara, Ame…/Selection 8]
14. [Disc 1] ヘビーローテーション/ Team KII [Heavy Rotation/TeamKII]
15. [Disc 2] 63人63曲 63Music Video
CDJapan
HMV Online

(Photobook)

Regular Edition (CD Only)
1. 強き者よ [Tsuyoki Mono yo]
2. 青空片想い [Aozora Kataomoi]
3. ごめんね、SUMMER [Gomenne, SUMMER]
4. 1!2!3!4! ヨロシク! [1! 2! 3! 4! Yoroshiku!]
5. バンザイVenus [Banzai Venus]
6. パレオはエメラルド [Pareo wa Emerald]
7. オキドキ [Okie Dokie]
8. 片想いFinally [Kataomoi Finally]
9. フラフープでGO!GO!GO!/ Team S [Hula Hoop de GO! GO! GO!/Team S]
10. 叱ってよ、ダーリン!/ Team KII [Shikatte yo, Darling!/Team KII]
11. みつばちガール/ Team E [Mitsubachi Girl/Team E]
12. その先に君がいた/ 研究生 [Sono Saki ni Kimi ga Ita/Kenkyuusei]
13. 拗ねながら、雨・・・/ セレクション8 [Sunenagara, Ame…/Selection 8]
14. ポニーテールとシュシュ/ Team E [Ponytail to Shushu/Team E]
15. Beginner/ Team S
CDJapan
HMV Online


UPDATE (29th August):
More details announced, covers and tracklists revealed

UPDATE (24th September):
'Konohi no Chime wo Wasurenai' sold 111,000 copies in the first week, ranking 2nd on the Oricon charts

Source: tokyohive/Oricon

SKE48 10th Single - 'キスだって左利き' ('Kiss Datte Hidarikiki')

Earlier today at SKE48's 9th Single, 'Aishiteraburu!', handshake event, SKE48 revealed that their 10th Single will be titled 'キスだって左利き' ('Kiss Datte Hidarikiki') and will be released on the 19th of September.

The Senbatsu members of this single are,
Oya Masana, Kizaki Yuria, Suda Akari, Ogiso Shiori, Nakanishi Yuka, Matsui Jurina, Matsui Rena, Yagami Kumi, Takayanagi Akane, Hata Sawako, Furukawa Airi, Mukaida Manatsu, Yakata Miki, Kimoto Kanon, Suga Nanako, and Matsumura Kaori.

Source: tokyohive/Oricon

More details are yet to be revealed.

Type A (CD + DVD)
1. [Disc 1] キスだって左利き/ SKE48 [Kiss datte Hidarikiki]
2. [Disc 1] 体育館で朝食を/ 白組 [Taiikukan de Choushoku wo/Shirogumi]
3. [Disc 1] 神々の領域/ SKE48 [Kamigami no Ryouiki]
4. [Disc 1] キスだって左利き　off vocal
5. [Disc 1] 体育館で朝食を　off vocal
6. [Disc 1] 神々の領域　off vocal
7. [Disc 2] キスだって左利き (Video Clip)/ SKE48 [Kiss datte Hidarikiki music video]
8. [Disc 2] 体育館で朝食を (Video Clip) [Taiikukan de Choushoku wo music video]
9. [Disc 2] 特典映像　「ガチ！対談-I-」 special movie [Bonus Footage: Gachi! Taidan -I- special movie]
CDJapan [LE/Regular]
HMV Online [LE/Regular]

Type B (CD + DVD)
1. [Disc 1] キスだって左利き/ SKE48 [Kiss datte Hidarikiki]
2. [Disc 1] 鳥は青い空の涯を知らない/ 紅組 [Tori wa Aoi Sora no Hate wo Shiranai (Akagumi)]
3. [Disc 1] 神々の領域/ SKE48 [Kamigami no Ryouiki]
4. [Disc 1] キスだって左利き (off vocal)
5. [Disc 1] 鳥は青い空の涯を知らない (off vocal)
6. [Disc 1] 神々の領域 (off vocal)
7. [Disc 2] キスだって左利き (music video)/ SKE48 [Kiss datte Hidarikiki music video]
8. [Disc 2] 鳥は青い空の涯を知らない (music video)/ 紅組 [Tori wa Aoi Sora no Hate wo Shiranai music video]
9. [Disc 2] 「ガチ!対談-II-」special movie (特典映像) [Bonus Footage: Gachi! Taidan -II- special movie]
CDJapan [LE/Regular]
HMV Online [LE/Regular]

Type C (CD + DVD)
1. [Disc 1] キスだって左利き/ SKE48 [Kiss datte Hidarikiki]
2. [Disc 1] あっという間の少女/ 公演頑張った組 [Atto Iu Ma no Shoujo/Kouen Ganbatta Gumi]
3. [Disc 1] 神々の領域/ SKE48 [Kamigami no Ryouiki]
4. [Disc 1] キスだって左利き (off vocal)
5. [Disc 1] あっという間の少女 (off vocal)
6. [Disc 1] 神々の領域 (off vocal)
7. [Disc 2] キスだって左利き (music video)/ SKE48 [Kiss datte Hidarikiki music video]
8. [Disc 2] 「ガチ!対談-III-」special movie (特典映像) [Bonus Footage: Gachi! Taidan -III- special movie]
CDJapan [LE/Regular]
HMV Online [LE/Regular]

Theater Edition (CD Only)
1. [Disc 1] キスだって左利き/ SKE48 [Kiss datte Hidarikiki]
2. [Disc 1] 体育館で朝食を/ 白組 [Taiikukan de Choushoku wo/Shirogumi]
3. [Disc 1] 鳥は青い空の涯を知らない/ 紅組 [Tori wa Aoi Sora no Hate wo Shiranai (Akagumi)]
4. [Disc 1] SKE48 10th single medley
5. [Disc 1] キスだって左利き (off vocal)
6. [Disc 1] 体育館で朝食を (off vocal)
7. [Disc 1] 鳥は青い空の涯を知らない (off vocal)

UPDATE (29 August):
Covers and tracklists revealed

Source: tokyohive/Sanspo/SKE48 Official

UPDATE (24th September):
'Kiss Datte Hidarikiki' sold 511,000 copies in the first week, topping the Oricon weekly chart for the 1st of October. This is the first single SKE48 released that sold over 500,000 copies. Good Job! おめでとう!!

Source: tokyohive/Oricon

AKB48's 3rd Janken Tournament - AKB48 29th Single Senbatsu Janken Taikai

At the handshake event of AKB48's latest single 'Manatsu no Sounds good!' in Saitama Super Arena earlier today, it was announced that AKB48 will be holding their 3rd Janken Tournament on September 18th at Nippon Budokan for their 29th Single.

This year, 68 67 official members from AKB48, including Matsui Jurina (SKE48 Team S/AKB48 Team K) and Watanabe Miyuki (NMB48 Team N/AKB48 Team B), 1 AKB48 Research Student, 8 SKE48 members, 6 NMB48 members and 3 HKT48 members will be joining the main tournament.
Since Sashihara Rino was transferred to HKT48, she will have to compete in HKT48's preliminary tournament and get into one of the three available spots for HKT48 in order to get to the main tournament.

Last year, Mariko won the center position but to my disappoinment, none of my top favourites made it into the Senbatsu positions. Can't be helped though, it all depended on luck. Guess they weren't lucky enough last year.

I hope that this year at least both Akicha (Takajo Aki) and Rena (Matsui Rena) can make it to Senbatsu positions!

I guess I won't be able to witness the tournament 'live' and can only rely on news released later on, that will be fed to my RSS feeds that I can read when I can while serving the nation... (•A• )

Source: tokyohive/Mantan Web

UPDATE (1st July):

Results of NMB48's preliminary tournament held yesterday at NMB48 Theater in Nanba, Osaka:
Shinohara Kanna (Team N)
Kotani Riho (Team N)
Yamagishi Natsumi (Team M)
Hikawa Ayame (Team M)
Kawakami Rena (Team M)
Takano Yui (Team M)

31 members of NMB48 Kenkyuusei competed first, where Kushiro Rina won and competed with 30 official members (Team N and Team M).

Watanabe Miyuki (Team N/Team B) will be participating in the main tournament directly thus was exempted from the preliminary tournament.

Source: tokyohive/Oricon

UPDATE (6th July):

Results of SKE48's preliminary tournament held yesterday at SKE48 Theater in Aichi:
Nakanishi Yuka (Team S)
Hiramatsu Kanako (Team S)
Sato Seira (Team KII)
Sato Mieko (Team KII)
Ueno Kasumi (Team E)
Kimoto Kanon (Team E)
Kobayashi Ami (Team E)
Takagi Yumana (Team E)

Similar to NMB48, one victor from SKE48 Kenkyuusei competed with the official members (Team S, KII and E). Matsui Jurina (Team S/Team K) will be participating in the main tournament directly thus was exempted from the preliminary tournament.

Source: tokyohive/natalie

Results of HKT48's preliminary tournament held earlier today at HKT48 Theater in Fukuoka:
Moriyasu Madoka (Team H)
Nakanishi Chiyori (Team H)
Eto Sayaka (Kenkyuusei)

Similarly, one victor from HKT48 Kenkyuusei competed with the HKT48 official members in Team H.

Sadly, this concludes that Sashihara Rino won't be able to participate in the main tournament.

Source: tokyohive/natalie

UPDATE (9th July):

Pairings for the main Janken tournament were announced yesterday at Tokyo Big Sight.
During the event, Masuda Yuka (Team B) announced that she will not be participating in the tournament as she recently passed the auditions for a musical (Wiz ~Oz no Mahoutsukai~) and will be having lessons from August.

Iwasa Misaki vs. Minegishi Minami
Iwasa or Minegishi vs. Uchida Mayumi

Nonaka Misato vs. Takahashi Juri
Nonaka or Takahashi vs. Shimada Haruka

Itano Tomomi vs. Komori Mika
Itano or Komori vs. Kobayashi Kana

Masuda Yuka (withdrawal) vs. Watanabe Mayu

Takano Yui (NMB48) vs. Kobayashi Ami (SKE48)
Takano or Kobayashi vs. Takagi Yumana (SKE48)

Kimoto Kanon (SKE48) vs. Ishida Haruka
Kimoto or Ishida vs. Kawakami Rena (NMB48)

Kitahara Rie vs. Chikano Rina
Kitahara or Chikano vs. Watanabe Miyuki (AKB48/NMB48)

Takeuchi Miyu vs. Kobayashi Marina

Oba Mina vs. Ota Aika
Oba or Ota vs. Nakagawa Haruka

Saeed Yokota Erena (HKT48) vs. Takajo Aki
Saeed or Takajo vs. Nito Moeno

Yamauchi Suzuran vs. Kojima Haruna
Yamauchi or Kojima vs. Kotani Riho (NMB48)

Umeda Ayaka vs. Eto Sayaka (HKT48)

Tano Yuka vs. Kato Rena
Tano or Kato vs. Nakanishi Yuka (SKE48)

Otsuka Shizuka vs. Shinoda Mariko

Kuramochi Asuka vs. Kawaei Rina
Kuramochi or Kawaei vs. Oshima Yuko

Maeda Ami vs. Morikawa Ayaka

Sato Natsuki vs. Sato Sumire
Sato or Sato vs. Nakatsuka Tomomi

Nakaya Sayaka vs. Yokoyama Yui
Nakaya or Yokoyama vs. Sato Amina

Nakata Chisato vs. Sato Seira (SKE48)
Nakata or Sato vs. Iwata Karen

Natori Wakana vs. Ichikawa Miori

Moriyasu Madoka (HKT48) vs. Sato Mieko (SKE48)
Moriyasu or Sato vs. Shinohara Kanna (NMB48)

Akimoto Sayaka vs. Ueno Kasumi (SKE48)
Akimoto or Ueno vs. Kikuchi Ayaka

Suzuki Shihori vs. Nakamata Shiori
Suzuki or Nakamata vs. Hiramatsu Kanako (SKE48)

Iriyama Anna vs. Abe Maria

Nakanishi Chiyori (HKT48) vs. Yamagishi Natsumi (NMB48)
Nakanishi or Yamagishi vs. Shimazaki Haruka

Miyazaki Miho vs. Matsui Sakiko
Miyazaki or Matsui vs. Nagao Mariya

Hikawa Ayame (NMB48) vs. Miyazawa Sae
Hikawa or Miyazawa vs. Kashiwagi Yuki

Fujita Nana vs. Suzuki Mariya

Tanabe Miku vs. Izuta Rina
Tanabe or Izuta vs. Takahashi Minami

Matsui Jurina (AKB48/SKE48) vs. Nakamura Mariko

Kasai Tomomi vs. Matsubara Natsumi
Kasai or Matsubara vs. Katayama Haruka

Fujie Reina vs. Kojima Natsuki

Source (image & table): tokyohive/natalie/Sanspo

Majisuka Gakuen 3

The airing date for the third instalment of AKB48's Yankee drama, マジすか学園3 (Majisuka Gakuen 3), was revealed. It will begin airing on 13th of July, weekly on Fridays 00:12, on TV Tokyo’s “Dorama 24” channel.

In the first season, Maeda (AKB48 Atsuko Maeda) and Daruma (SDN48 Nachu) transferred to Majisuka Gakuen, an all-girls yakee school. Maeda was frequently picked up for a fight or challenged due to her silent nature and mainly her strength in fights whenever her true nature is awakened (She is a pretty strong yankee in middle school). Slowly towards the end, she managed to climb up to the top and towards the end, Yuko (AKB48 Oshima Yuko), the president of Rappapa - MJ's strongest gang, passed on her role to Maeda before she passes away due to her illness. A peace treaty was also made between Majisuka and Yabakune, after much fights through the season.

In the second season, surprisingly Maeda didn't take the top seat herself and instead shared it with a new transfer student whom she know personally, Otabe (AKB48 Yokoyamo Yui). Maeda from the start was absent from school, trying to get the answer she have been searching for by beating up many street hooligans, leaving the president responsibility with Otabe. Most of the original Rappapa members have graduated and allies (or rather, friends) of Maeda took over the vacated positions - except for Gekikara who had to retain in school due to her detainment for her crime in the first season. The Rappapa in this season however is a lot weaker and lack the aura the original Rappapa top members have - which also caused some disapproval amongst the other gangs in the school. What's more, the peace treaty between Majisuka and Yabakune was broken. With Maeda's absence, the internal discontentment building up, the increasing threats by other rival yankee schools, predominantly Yabakune Gakuen, the betrayal of Shibuya (AKB48 Itano Tomomi) and all the plans and tricks by Nezumi (AKB48 Watanabe Mayu), Rappapa had a hard time keeping the school under control and fighting against Yabakune. At the last episode, there was an official big fight between Majisuka and Yabakune which ended rather abruptly when Maeda (who found the answer she have been finding) turned up and resolved with Shibuya - in a rather.. peaceful way. Surprisingly, the conflict gets resolved and members of both sides start helping each other up while Maeda gave in to the cops who came to the fight scene expecting for Maeda, for the crimes she committed while being absent from school.

Frankly speaking season one was really very nice from the start to the end but for season two, the starting episodes was kind of more into comedy and lack the action and thrill that the whole of season one had. Slowly into the season, MJ2 gets more and more interesting and the thrill is finally back. However, the thrill came to a very abrupt stop at the ending part of the last episode, making the season kind of like ending too soon.

No details of the third season is revealed yet, excepted that the setting would be in a prison. Could it be a continuation of Maeda's capture for her crimes? However, with Maeda graduating on 27th of August after the Tokyo Dome concert, could she be acting for only half the season or none at all? Shall anticipate for more details to be revealed! Hope the new season is as thrilling as the first season.

Come to think of it, I might only be able to watch at most 8 episodes before my enlistment. Damn.. after the 8th episode, it must be very exciting already... =[

Photo and source of news from: Mantan Web

UPDATE (7th July):

Casts:
AKB48
Shimazaki Haruka (Lead)
Oba Mina
Shimada Haruka
Kawaei Rina
Abe Maria

SKE48
Yagami Kumi
Kizaki Yuria
Kimoto Kanon

UPDATE (9th July):

'The upcoming drama will be set in the year 20×× in a privately run juvenile prison called “Prison HOPE” or better known as “Majisuka Prison”. The prison accommodates juvenile delinquents who have been abandoned by society, school, and even their families, and are put into different groups. Rather than trying to turn over a new leaf, the girls step into a battle ring everyday to compete for the top in a game of the survival of the fittest.

‘Majisuka Gakuen 3′ will air on TV Tokyo’s “Drama 24” time slot every Fridays starting on July 13th.'

Adapted from tokyohive

A totally new story plot huh... =o

Kind of lost the 'Gakuen' feel in my opinion. Might be a bit too early to comment on it but I feel that they might as well make a new series with a new title instead of making a season 3 that got nothing to do with the past couple of seasons.

AKB48 4th General Election 27th Single Senbatsu Sousenkyo Results

The release of results of the AKB48 4th General Elections just ended and it is as follows:

選抜メンバー (Senbatsu Member)
1位 AKB48 チームK 大島優子 (Oshima Yuko)108,837
2位 AKB48 チームB 渡辺麻友 (Watanabe Mayu) 72,574
3位 AKB48 チームB 柏木由紀 (Kashiwagi Yuki) 71,076
4位 AKB48 チームＡ 指原莉乃 (Sashihara Rino) 67,339
5位 AKB48 チームＡ 篠田麻里子 (Shinoda Mariko) 67,017
6位 AKB48 チームＡ 高橋みなみ (Takahashi Minami) 65,480
7位 AKB48 チームＡ 小嶋陽菜 (Kojima Haruna) 54,483
8位 AKB48 チームK 板野友美 (Itano Tomomi) 50,483
9位 SKE48 チームS/AKB48 チームK 松井珠理奈 (Matsui Jurina) 45,747
10位 SKE48 チームS 松井玲奈 (Matsui Rena) 42,030
11位 AKB48 チームK 宮澤佐江 (Miyazawa Sae) 40,261
12位 AKB48 チームB 河西智美 (Kasai Tomomi) 27,005
13位 AKB48 チームB 北原里英 (Kitahara Rie) 26,531
14位 AKB48 チームK 峯岸みなみ (Minegishi Minami) 26,038
15位 AKB48 チームK 横山由依 (Yokoyama Yui) 25,541
16位 AKB48 チームK 梅田彩佳 (Umeda Ayaka) 24,522

アンダーガールズ (Under Girls)
17位 AKB48 チームＡ 高城亜樹 (Takajo Aki) 23,083
18位 NMB48 チームN 山本彩 (Yamamoto Sayaka) 23,020
19位 NMB48 チームN/AKB48 チームB 渡辺美優紀 (Watanabe Miyuki) 19,159
20位 AKB48 チームK 秋元才加 (Akimoto Sayaka) 19,121
21位 AKB48 チームB 佐藤亜美菜 (Sato Amina) 17,009
22位 AKB48 チームＡ 倉持明日香 (Kuramochi Asuka) 14,852
23位 AKB48 チーム４ 島崎遥香 (Shimazaki Haruka) 14,633
24位 SKE48 チームKⅡ 高柳明音 (Takayanagi Akane) 14,111
25位 SKE48 チームKⅡ 秦佐和子 (Hata Sawako) 13,920
26位 AKB48 チームB 増田有華 (Masuda Yuka) 13,166
27位 SKE48 チームS 大矢真那 (Oya Masana) 12,142
28位 SKE48 チームS 矢神久美 (Yagami Kumi) 11,712
29位 SKE48 チームS 須田亜香里 (Suda Akari) 11,323
30位 SKE48 チームKⅡ 古川愛李 (Furukawa Airi) 11,179
31位 SKE48 チームS 木﨑ゆりあ (Kizaki Yuria) 10,554
32位 SKE48 チームKⅡ 小木曽汐莉 (Ogiso Shiori) 9,596

ネクストガールズ (Next Girls)
33位 AKB48 チームＡ 岩佐美咲 (Iwasa Misaki) 9,297
34位 SKE48 研究生 松村香織 (Matsumura Kaori) 9,030
35位 SKE48 チームKⅡ 向田茉夏 (Mukaida Manatsu) 8,552
36位 AKB48 チームＡ 仲谷明香 (Nakaya Sayaka) 8,505
37位 AKB48 チームＡ 中田ちさと (Nakata Chisato) 8,315
38位 AKB48 チームB 宮崎美穂 (Miyazaki Miho) 8,173
39位 AKB48 チーム４ 永尾まりや (Nagao Mariya) 7,809
40位 AKB48 チームK 藤江れいな (Fujie Reina) 7,782
41位 AKB48 チームB 小林香菜 (Kobayashi Kana) 7,195
42位 AKB48 チームＡ 前田亜美 (Maeda Ami) 7,168
43位 NMB48 チームN 福本愛菜 (Fukumoto Aina) 6,912
44位 AKB48 チームＡ 仲川遥香 (Nakagawa Haruka) 6,890
45位 AKB48 チーム４ 田野優花 (Tano Yuuka) 6,694
46位 NMB48 チームN 山田菜々 (Yamada Nana) 6,683
47位 HKT48 チームH 宮脇咲良 (Miyawaki Sakura) 6,635
48位 AKB48 チームＡ 片山陽加 (Katayama Haruka) 6,602

フューチャーガールズ (Future Girls)
49位 AKB48 研究生 武藤十夢 (Muto Tomu) 6,428
50位 AKB48 チームB 石田晴香 (Ishida Haruka) 6,333
51位 AKB48 チームK 菊地あやか (Kikuchi Ayaka) 6,185
52位 AKB48 チームＡ 多田愛佳 (Oota Aika) 6,140
53位 AKB48 チームK 松井咲子 (Matsui Sakiko) 6,058
54位 AKB48 チーム４ 山内鈴蘭 (Yamauchi Suzuran) 6,027
55位 AKB48 チームK 仁藤萌乃 (Nito Moeno) 6,025
56位 SKE48 チームE 木本花音 (Kimoto Kanon) 5,982
57位 AKB48 チーム４ 大場美奈 (Oba Mina) 5,969
58位 AKB48 チーム４ 市川美織 (Ichikawa Miori) 5,963
59位 AKB48 チームＡ 大家志津香 (Oya Shizuka) 5,933
60位 NMB48 チームN 小笠原茉由 (Ogasawara Mayu) 5,919
61位 AKB48 チームB 佐藤すみれ (Sato Sumire) 5,706
62位 SKE48 チームKⅡ 矢方美紀 (Yakata Miki) 5,606
63位 SKE48 チームS 中西優香 (Nakanishi Yuuka) 5,592
64位 AKB48 チームB 小森美果 (Komori Mika) 5,398

Not really in the mood or calmed down enough to comment much largely due to my disappointment with Akicha's drop in ranking. Even the number of votes she received is much lower than what she got last year!

Well, looking at the bright side she's still the centre of Undergirls.. (which is largely taken up by SKE48 members - a real big surprise to most fans!) and I hope for the next 君のことが好きだから (Kimi no Koto ga Suki Dakara).

Come to think of it, Sasshi jumped in rank so much, even above Mariko-sama! Totally shocking but after some thinking, makes sense with all the push she received recently.

Anyways, was really glad that Rena - SKE48 oshi - maintained her position and did not drop, that Sakura - HKT48 oshi - got into #47 (Next Girls), and that Sayanee - NMB48 oshi - risen from #28 last year all the way to #18 (Under Girls) this year.

Shall comment more tomorrow. Now, let's wait for the election speech by the Top Senbatsu member, Oshima Yuko, later at 23 00 JST. (http://www.akb48plus.com/senkyo)

AKB48 4th General Election Early Results

Early results of this year's AKB48 Senbatsu Elections were just revealed on AKB48's official blog! This is just after a day's voting and is definitely not conclusive yet. There will still be a lot of changes as 6th June steps nearer. I hope that my favourite members get a higher ranking this year. My AKB48 oshi, Takajo Aki, was ranked at #12 last year and I hope she can get into top 10 this year. My SKE48 oshi, Matsui Rena was #10 last year and I hope she can get higher, at least #9 - at #7 in this early results, I hope Rena maintains there or even better, rise higher. Will be voting for them soon with my voting tickets.
All the best to the other members too, especially my favourites - Kashiwagi Yuki, Yamamoto Sayaka (NMB48 oshi), Iwasa Misaki, Ogiso Shiori, Ogasawara Mayu and Miyawaki Sakura (HKT48 oshi) - even though I don't have enough budget to vote for all of them.. T_T

1位 大島優子 15,093票
2位 柏木由紀 12,654票
3位 渡辺麻友 11,329票
4位 指原莉乃 9,337票
5位 高橋みなみ 8,955票
6位 篠田麻里子 8,619票
7位 松井玲奈 8,460票
8位 松井珠理奈 7,795票
9位 板野友美 6,595票
10位 宮澤佐江 6,280票
11位 小嶋陽菜 5,334票
12位 横山由依 4,301票
13位 高城亜樹 3,661票
14位 梅田彩佳 3,484票
15位 峯岸みなみ 3,396票
16位 北原里英 3,302票

17位 河西智美 3,227票
18位 山本彩 3,218票
19位 渡辺美優紀 2,976票
20位 高柳明音 2,471票
21位 佐藤亜美菜 2,392票
22位 島崎遥香 2,340票
22位 古川愛李 2,340票
24位 秦佐和子 2,312票
25位 増田有華 2,182票
26位 須田亜香里 2,149票
27位 向田茉夏 1,948票
28位 大矢真那 1,919票
29位 小木曽汐莉 1,788票
30位 武藤十夢 1,757票
31位 小笠原茉由 1,746票
32位 秋元才加 1,743票

33位 矢神久美 1,671票
34位 倉持明日香 1,653票
35位 木﨑ゆりあ 1,624票
36位 仲谷明香 1,348票
37位 矢方美紀 1,345票
38位 仲川遥香 1,244票
39位 松村香織 1,194票
40位 中田ちさと 1,188票
41位 藤江れいな 1,166票
42位 山田菜々 1,136票
43位 小林香菜 1,110票
44位 木本花音 1,039票
45位 岩佐美咲 1,023票
46位 平松可奈子 998票
47位 山内鈴蘭 988票
48位 石田晴香 985票

49位 宮崎美穂 970票
50位 大家志津香 964票
51位 片山陽加 955票
52位 多田愛佳 912票
53位 永尾まりや 818票
54位 福本愛菜 816票
55位 前田亜美 810票
56位 大場美奈 786票
57位 松原夏海 750票
57位 木下有希子 750票
59位 市川美織 702票
60位 野中美郷 701票
61位 菊地あやか 653票
62位 江藤彩也香 641票
63位 中西優香 618票
64位 田名部生来 616票