Tojima Hana and Komatani Hitomi will be joining SDN48

Yesterday evening during the 'Minogashita Kimitachi e' concert at Tokyo Dome City Hall, it was announced that AKB48 graduates 戸島花 (Tojima Hana) and 駒谷仁美 (Komatani Hitomi) will be joining SDN48.

駒谷仁美 (Komatani Hitomi)

戸島花 (Tojima Hana)

Tojima Hana, aka はな (Hana), and Komatani Hitomi, aka ひぃちゃん (Hiichan), were both 1st generation AKB48 members and graduated on 23 November 2008, during the NHK Hall Shuffle Concert, also known as (AKB48 Masaka, Kono Concert no Ongen wa Ryuushutsushinai yo ne?). The two were in the Sakura no Hanabiratachi Single, and Tojima was also in Aitakatta and Romance, Irane.

Great news? Well, I wasn't really a fan of AKB48 yet at the time of their graduation so I do not know much of them. Shall check on the old PVs and maybe, '7ji 12pun no Hatsukoi' and 'Itoshisa no defense'. Shall wait for their appearance in SDN48 and see how good they are ^^

AKB48 Everyday、カチューシャ (Everyday, Kachuusha) - More than 1.1M copies sold in 3 days!

AKB48's popularity has been growing really fast over the years. They broke the record of 100 thousand Oricon sales in 2009, with their single '10年桜' ('10nen Zakura') selling 125,000 copies, and record of more than a 1 million in 2010, with their single 'Beginner' selling 1,028,000 copies. This year, their total Oricon sales for '桜の木になろう' ('Sakura no Ki ni Narou') hit 1,070,000, breaking the record of sales for 'Beginner'.
This time, on just the very day of release of their latest single 'Everyday、カチューシャ' ('Everyday, Kachuusha'), a whopping 942,475 copies of the single were sold. That's so close to a million, and just in a day!

Even though with the usual sales drop on the second day at 142233 copies sold, the total sales still added up to 1,084,708, breaking their highest sales record within just 2 days. Awesome eh? =D

On the third day,

sales dropped to 57,945 which is not uncommon too. Adding up, this gives a total of 1,142,653 Oricon sales. That's a real jump from their sales of '桜の木になろう' ('Sakura no Ki ni Narou'), and in just three days!

Now that they are not only performing regularly in Japan, I am sure that their regular stage performances in Singapore would definitely boost their popularity even more and I would not be surprised if their Oricon sales reach 1.5 million, or even 2 million.
Let's now wait and see if their Oricon sales can surpass 1.2 million ^^ I dare say it's highly possible!

Got your copy of 'Everyday, Kachuusha'?
You can still get it at cdjapan here:
Type A
Type B
and are selling fast... =X

UPDATE (28th May)
4th day of Oricon sales, still #1!

 with 57,371 sales, this adds up the total Oricon sales to 1,200,024! 24 more than 1.2M already! ^^

UPDATE (31st May)
5th & 6th day, #1 too!

 54,330 sales

46,246 sales on 6th day

This adds up to 1,300,600! =D

Already broke the 1st week Oricon sales record!

Original record:
#1： 1.208 mil: Namonaki Uta / Mr.Children
#2： 1.084 mil: Everyday, Kachuusha / AKB48
#3： 1.068 mil: Addicted To You / Hikaru
#4： 1.028 mil: Dango 3 Kyodai / Kentarō Hayami, Ayumi Shigemori, Himawari Kids, Dango Gasshōdan
#5： 0.958 mil: Winter, again / GLAY

Update (2nd June)

22,390 sales on 7th day

dropped to 3rd position with 21,178 sales on 8th day, which is not really unexpected

Adding up, total sales is 1,344,168 now! Shall see how much of total Oricon sales would there be in the end. ^^

AKB ga Ippai - The Best Music Video - DVD/BD

Searching for decent quality of AKB48's past PVs?
Love those PVs but did not buy the singles at the time they were released?
Wanted to get the PVs that were released before you started listening to their songs?
At the time I started listening to AKB48's songs they have already released many singles and when I started watching their PVs as they first uploaded them on to Youtube, I still don't know where I can get their singles. It was only until just some months ago than I realize I don't need to fly to Akihabara, just to get their singles as they can be bought from various online websites like cdjapan and HMV Online. I have already missed so many of the singles already as a result and it's hard to find them again online. Even if I want to search for high quality downloads of their PVs, it's still hard for those released before 2010 and even if I can find the downloads, the quality of the video tend to be real bad.

While searching and hunting for high quality sources of the PVs, I happen to come across an item on cdjapan, 'AKB ga Ippai'. My calls for help have finally been answered! =D
It would definitely be a deep bite on my wallet but for 325 minutes (36 tracks) of PVs with most of them being those PVs that I am still hunting for, I would say 'It's totally worth it!!'

Release date: 24th June 2011
DVD: 5,800 yen
Blu-ray: 6,800 yen
FIRST PRESS:
3 disc boxset (both for DVD and Blu-ray editions)
- Digipack packaging in a box
- Includes a 56 page photobook
- Includes 3 photos of members (Oshima, Maeda At, Takahashi, Shinoda, Kojima, Itano, Watanabe, Kashiwagi, Miyazawa)
- Includes a 20 page color lyrics booklet

REGULAR EDITION:
3 disc boxset (both for DVD and Blu-ray editions)
- Includes a 20 page color lyrics booklet

Bonus if you buy from certain CD shops:
1) a random shitajiki (solo shots of one of these 9 members: Oshima, Maeda At, Takahashi, Shinoda, Kojima, Itano, Watanabe, Kashiwagi, Miyazawa)
Affiliated shops: Tsutaya, Tower Records, HMV, Shinseido, Wondergoo, Yamano Gakki

2) a random clearfile (a group shot)
Affiliated shops: All shops BUT the ones listed above

Description from cdjapan:
Music video collection release from AKB48 including songs "Beginner," "Heavy Rotation," "Ponytail to Shushu," "Baby! Baby! Baby!," and more for 36 tracks total. Also contains bonus video footage featuring the members. 325 minutes. Includes a 20-page color lyrics booklet (subject to change).
Special Features: bonus video footage featuring AKB48 members
First Press Detail: digipak, a 56-page photo book, and three photos featuring AKB members randomly selected from Yuko Oshima, Atuko Maeda, Minami Takahashi, Mariko Shinoda, Haruna Kojima, Tomomi Itano, Mayu Watanabe, Yuki Kashiwagi, and Sae Miyazawa.
External Bonus: A4-size clear folder

(AKBがいっぱい 〜ザ・ベスト・ミュージックビデオ〜/ AKB48

AKB48のヒットソング満載、待望のザ・ベスト・ミュージックビデオを DVD & Blu-ray にてリリース!! 誰もが知っているAKB48のヒットソング満載! ザ・ベスト・ミュージックビデオ! AKB48初のミリオンヒット曲「Beginner」、17thシングル『AKB48リクエストアワーセットリストベスト100 2011』のファン投票にて堂々の第1位に輝いた「ヘビーローテーション」、「ポニーテールとシュシュ」はもちろん、配信限定シングル「Baby! Baby! Baby!」から「桜の木になろう」までのタイトル&カップリング曲、「あなたがいてくれたから」 (アルバム『SET LIST〜グレイテストソングス〜完全盤』収録)、「心の羽根」 (チームドラゴンfrom AKB48)のミュージックビデオを含む全36作品、トータル収録分数約325分、見どころ満載のミュージック・ビデオコレクション! さらにAKB48メンバーによるトーク対談にてミュージック・ビデオの撮影秘話やエピソード満載のボーナス映像を収録!! ※初回盤終了後は、3ディスクトールケース仕様 20Pカラー歌詞ブックレット (予定)のみの封入になります。)

Here is the tracklist...
1. Baby! Baby! Baby!
2. 大声ダイヤモンド (Ogoe Diamond)
3. 10年桜 (10Nen Zakura)
4. 涙サプライズ! (Namida Surprise!)
5. 言い訳Maybe (Iiwake Maybe)
6. 飛べないアゲハチョウ (Tobenai Agehacho)
7. RIVER
8. 君のことが好きだから (Kimi no Koto ga Suki dakara)
9. ひこうき雲 (シアターガールズver.) [Hikokigumo (Theater Girls ver.)]
10. 桜の栞 (Sakura no Shiori)
11. マジスカロックンロール (Majisuka Rock n Roll)
12. 遠距離ポスター (Enkyori Poster)
13. Choose me！
14. ポニーテールとシュシュ (Ponytail to Shushu)
15. 盗まれた唇 (Nusumareta Kuchibiru)
16. 僕のYELL (Boku no YELL)
17. マジジョテッペンブルース (Majijo Teppen Blues)
18. ヘビーローテーション (Heavy Rotation)
19. 涙のシーソーゲーム (Namida no Seesaw Game)
20. 野菜シスターズ (Yasai Sisters)
21. ラッキーセブン (Lucky Seven)
22. Beginner
23. 僕だけのvalue (Boku dake no value)
24. 君について (Kimi ni Tsuite)
25. 泣ける場所 (Nakeru Basho)
26. チャンスの順番 (Chance no Junban)
27. 予約したクリスマス (Yoyaku Christmas)
28. 胡桃とダイアローグ (Kurumi to Dialogue)
29. ALIVE
30. ラブ・ジャンプ (Love Jump)
31. 桜の木になろう <完全版> [Sakura no Ki ni Naro (Kanzen Ban)]
32. 偶然の十字路 (Guzen no Jujiro)
33. キスまで100マイル (Kiss made 100 Mile)
34. エリアK (Area K)
35. 心の羽根 (Kokoro no Hane)
36. あなたがいてくれたから (Anta ga Itekureta kara)

OMG!! Did I see Beginner (ORIGINAL VERSION)?! This is going THE most awesome release in my AKB48 fandom so far! Oogoe Diamond too! The very song that got me start listening to AKB48 songs ^^
I am so going to get this release no matter what! Hope the limited first press edition don't run out too fast.

Get from cdjapan:
AKB ga Ippai - The Best Music Video - DVD
AKB ga Ippai - The Best Music Video - [Blu-ray]

Early results of AKB48 3rd Senbatsu Election

----------Under girls-----------------
40 Fujie Reina (Team K) - 778
39 Yagami Kumi (Team S) - 779
38 Komori Mika (Team B) - 792
37 Oba Mina (AKB48 Team Kenkyuusei) - 811
36 Matsui Sakiko (Team K) - 814
35 Sato Sumire (Team B) - 852
34 Watanabe Miyuki (Team N) - 854
33 Oya Masana (Team S) - 885
32 Oya Shizuka (Team A) - 904
31 Kizaki Yuria (Team S) - 1053
30 Hata Sawako (Team KII) - 1118
29 Ota Aika (Team B) - 1129
28 Suda Akari (Team S) - 1139
27 Miyazaki Miho (Team B) - 1378
26 Umeda Ayaka (Team K) - 1441
25 Yamamoto Sayaka (Team N) - 1444
24 Hirajima Natsumi (Team B) - 1484
23 Akimoto Sayaka (Team K) - 1502
22 Nakagawa Haruka (Team A) - 1571

----------------second line senbetsu--------------
21 Takayanagi Akane (Team KII) - 1761
20 Kuramochi Asuka (Team A) - 1793
19 Masuda Yuka (Team B) - 2201
18 Sato Amina (Team B) - 2685
17 Yokoyama Yui (Team K) - 2753
16 Matsui Jurina (Team S) - 2843
15 Kasai Tomomi (Team B) - 3102
14 Kitahara Rie (Team B) - 3860
13 Minegeshi Minami (Team K) - 3931

--------------Media Senbetsu---------------
12 Takajo Aki (Team A) - 5096
11 Miyazawa Sae (Team K) - 5157
10 Kojima Haruna (Team A) - 9537
09 Matsui Rena (Team S) - 6559
08 Itano Tomomi (Team K) - 6596
07 Sashihara Rino (Team A) - 7357
06 Shinoda Mariko - 8016
05 Watanabe Mayu (Team B) - 8582
04 Takahashi Minami (Team A) - 8833
03 Kashiwagi Yuki (Team B) - 12056
02 Maeda Atsuko (Team A) - 16452
01 Oshima Yuko (Team K) - 17156

There would still be a lot of movements in the positioning as only a small portion of the total votes is cast.
I hope my oshi, Akicha maintains in Media Senbatsu! ^^

Refer to post here for AKB48 3rd Senbatsu Election and the election posters.

AKB48 3rd Senbatsu Election

The time have come again where we get to vote for our oshi and hope that she gets #1 or at least get into the Media Senbatsu (#01-#12)! The voting for the AKB48's 3rd Senbatsu Election started two days ago on the 24th and would end at 8th June. A voting ticket is included in every copy of AKB48's 21st Single 'Everyday, Kachuusha', except for the theater version, and a small 3R photo of one of the election posters is included in the theater version.

All of the participating girls have their own individual poster, thus in total 152 posters, and the design of their own posters are decided by themselves to individually appeal to their fans. (Poster designs at bottom of post)

A look at last year's results...

----------Under girls-----------------
40 Ishiguro Atsuki - 1603
39 Matsubara Natsumi - 1859
38 Yagami Kumi (S) - 1909
37 Katayama Haruka - 1935
36 Yamauchi Suzuran (RS) -
35 Takayanagi Akane(KII) - 2030
34 Yonezawa Rumi - 2171
33 Fujie Reina - 2460
32 Umeda Ayaka - 2499
31 Satou Sumire - 2591
30 Komori Mika - 2613
29 Nitou Moeno - 2693
28 Shimazaki Haruka (RS) -3076
27 Ishida Haruka - 3235
26 Hirajima Natsumi - 4106
25 Masuda Yuuka - 4137
24 Oya Masana (S) - 4634
23 Kuramochi Asuka - 5355
22 Oota Aika - 6145
----------------second line senbetsu--------------
21 Miyazaki Miho - 6371
20 Nakagawa Haruka - 6567
19 Sashihara Rino - 6704
18 Sato Amina - 6921
17 Akimoto Sayaka - 8049
16 Kitahara Rie - 8836
15 Ono Erena - 9468
14 Minegishi Minami - 9692
13 Takajyou Aki - 11062
--------------Media Senbetsu---------------
12 Kasai Tomomi - 11080
11 Matsui Rena - 12082
10 Matsui Jurina - 12168
09 Miyazawa Sae - 12560
08 Kashiwagi Yuki - 15466
07 Kojima Haruna - 16231
06 Takahashi Minami - 17787
05 Watanabe Mayu - 20088
04 Itano Tomomi - 20513
03 Shinoda Mariko - 23139
02 Maeda Atsuko - 30851
01 Oshima Yuko - 31448

(from H!O)

Would Yuko get #1 again or would Acchan get back her #1 seat? Or maybe Maririn would have more votes this time round and finally get to #1, or even #2? What I predict is that there would be quite a lot of movement in the positions and with NMB48 in the election now, it would be getting a bit more tougher especially for the last few positions. As for members like Yui, with the amount of push and exposure given, especially in AKBB48's drama Majisuka Gakuen 2 (sequel of Majisuka Gakuen), I am sure that her ranking would rise considerably.

Poster designs:

Trip to AKB48 Singapore Shop

Made a trip down to the AKB48 Singapore Shop at *SCAPE after school, to clarify some enquiries I have and to buy a couple of stuff.

First question I asked:
For the concert tees, would there be different tee designs for the different concerts? As for the first concert on 15th May, there is a '15/05 2011' printed on it. And when would the tees start to be on sale?
Answer:
They would be trying to print different tees for the different concerts and for the concert this coming Sunday, news on the tee would be released nearer to the date on the concert. Most probably around 28th. Not exactly clear of the details though as I only want to know if there would be different tees for different concerts. Which is yes.

Second question I asked:
Would AKB48 single and album releases be sold in the store?
Answer:
They are trying to get the stocks for the currently released single 'Everyday、カチューシャ' ('Everyday Kachuusha') in and would also do the same for releases in the future.
(For more information on 'Everyday、カチューシャ' ('Everyday Kachuusha') view post here)

Slightly browsed the store, taking note of stocks of the goods I am planning to buy in my next visit, and I did not really got all the stuff I planned to get today, sadly. =[

Anyways, from the shop I got back a...

A big bag!

No, don't me mistaken. I did not spend a lot this time round XD
I only spent...

SGD21.90 on a file and an emblem! (The gave a big carrier as the file cannot fit into the small one)

AKB48 'Heavy Rotation' Watanabe Mayu file (Hong Kong store exclusive), Team B emblem (blue) and the ticket for the 28th May Handshake session (More details on the handshake session here)

Mayuyu~! ♥

I got the Team B's emblem as I love the members, Yukirin, Mayuyu and Komorin, who are in the team. ^^

Wanted to get the Team A's emblem too as my most favourite member in AKB48 (my oshi) is Akicha and I also love Mocchi, Sasshi and Wasamin, who are in Team A. Shall wait for more stocks to come in for now =[
Maybe I should get Team K's emblem too next time! I also love Yuko ^^

AKB48 21st Single [Everyday、カチューシャ]

AKB48's 21st single, Everyday Kachuusha, is being released today and orders of the first press edition were already sold out in cdjapan (Type A, Type B). They do sell fast eh? ^^" Should have placed an order earlier >_< shall check where else is available!

Anyways, here is the list of members for the singles from Senbatsu:
Team A: Oota Aika, Kojima Haruna, Kuramochi Asuka, Sashihara Rino, Shinoda Mariko, Takajo Aki, Takahashi Minami, Maeda Atsuko
Team K: Itano Tomomi, Oshima Yuko, Kikuchi Ayaka, Minegishi Minami, Miyazawa Sae, Yokoyama Yui
Team B: Kasai Tomomi, Kashiwagi Yuki, Kitahara Rie, Komori Mika, Sato Sumire, Masuda Yuka, Miyazaki Miho, Watanabe Mayu
SKE Team S: Matsui Jurina, Matsui Rena
NMB Team N: Yamamoto Sayaka, Watanabe Miyuki

and here is the track list:
Type A

CD
1．Everyday、カチューシャ (Everyday, Kachuusha)
2．これからWonderland (Kore Kara Wonderland)
3．ヤンキーソウル (Yankee Soul)
4．Everyday、カチューシャ (off vocal ver.)
5．これからWonderland (off vocal ver.)
6．ヤンキーソウル (off vocal ver.)
DVD
1．Everyday、カチューシャ　Music Clip
2．これからWonderland　Music Clip
3．ヤンキーソウル　Music Clip
4．Everyday、カチューシャ　Music Clip＜Drama ver.＞
5．特典映像 Type-A


Type B

CD
1．Everyday、カチューシャ (Everyday, Kachuusha)
2．これからWonderland (Kore Kara Wonderland)
3．人の力 (Hito no Chikara)
4．Everyday、カチューシャ (off vocal ver.)
5．これからWonderland (off vocal ver.)
6．人の力 (off vocal ver.)

DVD
1．Everyday、カチューシャ　Music Clip
2．これからWonderland　Music Clip
3．人の力　Music Clip
4．Everyday、カチューシャ　Music Clip＜Dance ver.＞
5．特典映像 Type-B

Theater Version

CD
1．Everyday、カチューシャ (Everyday, Kachuusha)
2．これからWonderland (Kore Kara Wonderland)
3．アンチ (Anti)
4．Everyday、カチューシャ (off vocal ver.)
5．これからWonderland (off vocal ver.)
6．アンチ (off vocal ver.)

Not very surprising that Yokoyama Yui is included but Ayarin being included is really something interesting, considering her great popularity in the past died down over the days due to a scandal.
As some may already have known, 'Kore Kara Wonderland' is being used for the WONDA x AKB48 collaboration, and 'Yankee Soul' for the opening theme for Majisuka Gakuen 2, sequel to AKB48's successful first drama Majisuka Gakuen. Was really looking forward to Yankee Soul, as I find it really nice when I watch Majisuka Gakuen 2, especially the last part where Tomochin says 'Yankee Soul, yoroshiku'.
I wonder if the AKB48 Singapore Official Shop would be selling the single. Would be checking later in the afternoon. I hope I can get singles from the store as it would be real convenient for Singapore fans! ^^

Update (25/5):
Went to the AKB48 Singapore Official Shop today to check on whether they would selling the AKB48 single releases too. The staff said that they are trying to get the stocks in for this single and future singles too. Hope they would really be able to get them, as it would be really very convenient. I do expect super long queues though. =X

It's Nacchan's Birthday soon!

Hirajima Natsumi (平嶋夏海), aka Nacchan (なっちゃん) or Nattsu(なっつ), would be having her 19th birthday this coming Saturday! お誕生日おめでとう! (Happy birthday! - in advance ^^)
Her birthday would be celebrated during the Sunday concert at the 7pm time slot.
More information on the concert in this post: -link-

'AKB48 Singapore Theater 'Live' 平嶋夏海生誕祭Natsumi Hirajima Birthday Special!
平嶋夏海 Natsumi Hirajima will be celebrating her 19th birthday during the 7pm concert! Please show your support for the first ever overseas birthday celebration at the AKB48 Singapore Theater!

NOTE: Birthday celebration activities applies only for the 7pm concert.'

28th May Exclusive Handshake Event

Special Guests:
秋元才加 Sayaka Akimoto
梅田彩佳 Ayaka Umeda
仁藤萌乃 Moeno Nito

From Wednesday, 25.05.11 – Simply spend S$15 at the AKB48 Singapore Official Shop to receive a special handshake ticket*, which will entitle you to the handshake session on 28.05.11 (SAT) .

The exclusive handshake session* on 28.05.11(SAT) will start from 3pm at a designated venue in *SCAPE.

*Terms and conditions apply.

AKB48 21st Single [Everyday、カチューシャ] CD sleeves

Type A (Limited)

Type A

Type B (Limited)

Type B

Theater Edition