AKB48 The 24th Single - Janken Tournament (第2回じゃんけん大会)

A lot of things happened in this Janken Tournament, with most of them very near to my prediction. In overall, I rather depressed with the results, but before I go into anymore moaning (which I did while coming out of the theater) here is the list of members who made it into the AKB48 24th Single Senbatsu

優勝 - 篠田麻里子 (Shinoda Mariko)

2位 - 藤江れいな (Fujie Reina)

3位 - 峯岸みなみ (Minami Minegishi)

4位 - 小林茉里奈 (Kobayashi Marina)

5位 - 秋元才加 (Akimoto Sayaka)

6位 - 大家志津香 (Oya Shizuka)

7位 - 前田亜美 (Maeda Ami)

8位 - 佐藤すみれ (Sato Sumire)

9位~16位:

肥川彩愛 (Hikawa Ayame - NMB48 Kenkyuusei)・梅田彩佳 (Umeda Ayaka)・河西智美 (Kasai Tomomi)・桑原みずき (Kuwabara Mizuki - SKE48 Team S)・小嶋陽菜 (Kojima Haruna)・山口夕輝 (Yamaguchi Yuuki - NMB48 Kenkyuusei)・山内鈴蘭 (Yamauchi Suzuran)・北原里英 (Kitahara Rie)

The tournament started out with some introductions and a performance of 'Chance no Junban' by last year's Janken tournament senbatsu, where 内田眞由美 (Uchida Mayumi) - champion of the Janken Tournament last year - started off the song, solo, in ballad.

There was the appearance of the special guest, pro wrestling legend Antonio Inoki, and what shocked me for a while was his slap on Matsui Rena's face. Realized it was '闘魂注入' (Toukon Chuunyu) or 'Instilling Fighting Spirit' which is well-known in Japan. Matsui Rena did not make it into the Janken Tournament as she lost the premliminary rounds. Was already very sad for that already. D= I could only hope that Takajo Aki (my oshimen), Iwasa Misaki (my next favourite AKB48 member) and Mtasui Jurina (one of my favourites in SKE48) or either of them gets into Senbatsu in for the 24th Single.

Sadly, Wasamin lost in the first round and left Akicha and Jurina who would be competing for the Top 16 positions with Kojiharu (Kojima Haruna) and Miichan (Minegishi Minami) respectively - which secures a place in the 24th Single Senbatsu. Was super depressed when both Akicha and Jurina lost that I simply slumped back on to the chair and did not really bother to pay much attention to the rest of the tournament. =X I guess my hopes of having my favourites in the Top 16 - Senbatsu - was a bit too high eh.

Looking on the bright side, at least at least two AKB48 members that I like is in Senbatsu, with one being the champion of the Janken Tournament - Shinoda Mariko. The other member is Umeda Ayaka, who managed to get into Top 16. I have a feeling that the 'scissors' earring Mariko-sama wore during the tournament did affected the decisions of most of her opponents on which move to make, sort of like a mind game. If it's really for that purpose, I really have to praise her for that!

There's also another AKB48 member whom I took note of during tournament - Kobayashi Marina from AKB48 Kenkyuusei. I don't know much about her but from all the calculations I did before the tournament with the statistics available in the AKB48 Janken Tournament Official Guidebook, I predicted that she had the most chance in getting the Center position (Champion) or at least near there, and indeed, she got into Top 4! Which is really close to my prediction! =D Firstly, congratulations to Marinchan!! ^^ Through this chance of being in Senbatsu for the AKB48 24th Single, I hope that Marinchan is able to shine, especially in the PV, and get the chance to be promoted to Team 4.

At the ending part of the Janken Tournament, the full PV of AKB48's upcoming single '風は吹いている' ('Kaze wa Fuiteiru') was aired. There were many varying comments from my friends with some liking the song but find the costumes, hair style and dance not really nice. As for me not only I find the song awesome, I actually do find the costume and hair style really fitting, along with the background and dance too. I am totally impressed with the whole PV and really made me want to place an order for it.
(Check out my previous post here for more information on AKB48's 23rd single, '風は吹いている')

When the whole live screening ended and as I was about to leave, I realized that one of my Akicha pins (which is a set of two) broke. I did remember it's still intact during the live screening of the janken tournament, even before Akicha was up against Kojiharu. I wonder if it broke due to my rage when Akicha lost? However, I don't remember hitting so hard that a pin can break just like that.

Luckily it's not the one with Akicha photo on!

That part of the pin is self-replaceable though (at least to me). Just need to find a replacement for the broken part.

Before the AKB48 24th Single 'LIVE' Screening, I got the Majisuka and Yabakune pins (from the AKB48 drama, Majisuka Gakeun) I ordered through a fellow forum user, samx, from Nihongogo.

Looks awesome eh? Looks exactly like the actual one in the drama!

More information on the AKB48 24th Single 'LIVE' Screening in my previous post here.

AKB48 Janken Tournament will be screened 'LIVE' in Singapore!

It was announce on the AKB48 Singapore Official Facebook page that the 'LIVE' screening of the AKB47 2nd Janken Tournament would be at Cathay Cineplex Cineleisure Orchard from 5pm on the 20th of September (Tuesday)! Tickets would be on sale from tomorrow online (More details on Cathay Cineplexes site here)

For the line-up and details of the tournament, check out my previous post here.

I am so going for this live screening! >w< Hope I can get enough cash in time =X
Wish Akicha (my oshi, a.k.a. favourite member) all the best in getting the center position (1st)! XO

Super SKE48 Festival

Took a short nap after reaching home from the airport and before heading down to *Scape. Reached *Scape at around past 11am to chat with friends. (More information on this weekend events in my previous post here)

Took some photos of some changes in *Scape, which was there for some time already actually, while waiting for the SKE48 Special Shop Visit and SKE48 & AKB48 Music Video Screenings to start. Wasn't able to go for the Cafe event as I wasn't able to get money to buy the tickets in time

The poster showing the member list for tomorrow's concert

Flowers from fans to congratulate Team KII on their first overseas stage

Changed to Japanese language a little while later

I entered the AKB48 Official Shop with some of my friends to take a look at the goods and started chatting with one of the staff for a while. As we were chatting, two SKE48 girls entered the shop and some of us were like 'eh? Isn't that... Shawako??'. It seems that the shop visit had started and the first two girls for the special shop visit were Hata Sawako and Goto Risako (can't really remember clearly but I think should be Risako). We were like so called the 'first customers' to be able to see Shawako and Risako in the store even though we were just talking with a staff inside. We were of course asked to get out by one of the managers shortly after since we are not intending to buy anything. XD

We were queued outside the shop awhile later to receive high-touch (or high-five) from the girls as they come out from the shop. Went into the theater for the screening soon after.

Not much PVs were screened actually. A few PVs were just looped again and again, both AKB48 and SKE48 PVs. When they played the 'Beginner' PV (Original version - supposedly uncensored) I was initially rather excited but well... those gore parts were censored out with pixel blur. Kind of spoiled the whole feel of the PV but since the screening is open to all, can't be helped though.

Through the period of the music video screening more SKE4 girls visited the store and my friends and I like were coming in and out of the theater rather frequently for the high-touch with the girls

The screening started to play the AKB48 2011 Request Hour Best 100 LIVE at SHIBUYA AX when I was about to set off for my grandparents house, and it was followed by a stage performance by the cafe girls from the Official Cafe, and from what I heard, commentary by the SKE48 girls of the performance.

Super SKE48 Festival This Weekend!

"Here's the consolidated update! There's really no reason not to head down to *SCAPE this weekend!

Super SKE48 Festival! 03.09.11 (SAT)

SKE48 fans, here’s what we have installed for you!

1. SKE48 & AKB48 Music Video Screenings
From 2pm onwards till 7pm, come by with your friends to enjoy a non-stop video marathon of all your favorite music videos from both SKE48 and AKB48! Taking place at the *SCAPE Warehouse, this is a free event for all to enjoy! ^^

2. SKE48 Special Café Visit!
There will be 2 Sessions for the day!

Session 1 ~ 12:00 Featuring SKE48 Members:

阿比留李帆 Riho Abiru
小木曽汐莉 Shiori Ogiso
古川愛季 Airi Furukawa

Session 2 ~ 15:00 Featuring SKE48 Members:

松本莉奈 Rina Matsumoto
赤枝里々奈 Ririna Akaeda
石田安奈 Anna Ishida
向田茉夏 Manatsu Mukaida

Each session ticket is S$35.00 and will include one food menu item, and includes many fun filled activities. Session tickets on sale from 6pm 01.09.11 (THU) at the AKB48 Official Café Singapore!

3. SKE48 Special Shop Visit!
Catch various SKE48 members throughout the day on Saturday at the AKB48 Official Shop! The members will be making many appearances throughout the day at the Shop! More details to be announced!

Don’t forget! There’s also Sunday’s performances by SKE48’s Team KII! Get your tickets here! http://www.akb48.com.sg/

Are you ready? See you all at *SCAPE for an incredible SKE48 weekend! 1!2!3!4! ヨロシク!

AKB48 Official Cafe Singapore Event Terms and Conditions apply:

1. Each customer may only purchase ticket(s) for one session. To ensure that everyone gets a fair chance to attend the cafe events, each customer is only allowed to purchase tickets for one session. You may, however, purchase multiple tickets per session.

2. Groups of more than five (5) will be allocated seats in designated areas of the café.

3. Recording devices, such as (but not limited to) DSLRs, Compact Cameras, Video Cameras are not allowed during the Cafe Event. However, customers may take photos using their mobile phones.

4. The AKB48 Official Cafe Singapore is not HALAL certified. All food served is not HALAL.

5. AKB48 Singapore’s decision(s) are final and will entertain no correspondence. It also reserves the right to amend any of the rules or implement additional rules without prior notification."

This weekend is really going to be so awesomely packed with SKE48 that I think I guess I would be stuck at *Scape for almost the whole of the weekend! Hope I can just get enough money before the cafe session 1 tickets and the 6pm concert tickets run out T_T I want to meet-and-greet Shiorin.... Shawako and Akane too!
Anyways, even if I can't get the money to buy the tickets in time I am so going down to *Scape for the two days! XD

More information of the SKE48 2nd Stage in my previous post here.

UPDATE (3rd September):

'SKE48 Special Shop Visit!
Throughout SAT 03.09 - Catch Team KII SKE48 members as they make their rounds at the AKB48 Official Shop Singapore! Simply purchase S$20 worth of products and above to have your point card stamped by SKE48 members! Terms and conditions apply.'

(From AKB48 Singapore)