Kibouteki Refrain
1,017,160 copies sold on the first day

Also Tomochin's new single covers are out
http://aramajapan.com/news/music/tom...e-party/13602/

The PV and covers were shot before she got tits so they will cover them with anything

^ LOOOL
looking forward to the single!

Finally !!!!!!!!! I'm loving AKB48's new single, is so catchy and the PV is really entertaining!
Am I the only one ?

That's pretty crazy. Crazy enough to say "haters beware" once again...

This is one of those songs that I just like to play over and over again! :love

^Same here !!! Suki sugite Suki sugite or whatever, that part is so catchy

Good news: With Kibouteki Refrain AKB outsold Namie Amuro's record

AKB48 / 34,904,372
Namie Amuro / 34,274,300

Bad news: The group is having a deficit of 900,000 copies from last year and 2014 is currently their worst year after 2010

2010 / 4,489,539
2011 / 7,960,753
2012 / 8,085,094
2013 / 7,014,190
2014 / 6,129,712

Milky's single is awesome!!!!!!!!!!!!

:love I love it, old school style

They also sold one single less. They could have reached last year's sales with another one.

It's true, instead of an AKB48 single we have the debut of Milky

I say that instead of a single we got the album, it's fair

^That's true, in 2013 we didn't get an album, only 5 singles.

But we need to keep in mind that we released a single in November (when was the last time they did that!?), not two singles in October and December...so the averages are pretty much comparable to last year

In other words: One less single than last year.

Well, in 2012 we also got an album plus 5 singles. It's not like the albums are heavily promoted to take out time off their schedules, so... yeah lol

There's no denying that the AKB craze is over. But just like AkiP said, it's good for things to become normal.

lmao they're still selling at least a million copies with each single, the craze isn't exactly over yet.

Yes and no.

They keep selling millions thanks to the HS tickets that come in the theater sales, but the Soundscan numbers only count those sold in physical stores and there's a decline there.

No biggie. They're still awesome. :D

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_7sAjRltoWE i'm fangirling so much, I love tomochin as a solo artist.

They will be holding auditions in Taiwan

TPE48?

COME PARTY! PV

http://www.tokyohive.com/article/201...from-the-group

Goodbye Takamina U_U

It was about time! (oh, 1 year left)

Well, sometime this (Takamina graduating) had to happen...and that time has come. :cry

Well we all saw it coming. Very sad though. I wonder how much it will take for the other 3 to graduate. This year for sure.... I believe that mayuyu will be the last to graduate. So very sad, they are all gone

Don't be sad they all will come back to release something together on 10th anniversary (next year)

woot

AKB janken senbatsu single sold just 19k copies in the 1st day

and I really loved Milky's song :/

Can someone tell me the name of the girl in the Msute performance who got so much camera time together with sayanee and the other usual girls? She had a white hat and cute little braids!! Kind of reminded me of tomochin. Who is she?

That's Paruru.

she's cute! Thanks!

Tomochin is doing really well as a solo artist. I really like the direction she's taken. Very proud! COME PARTY is very nice, pity for that awful version of Le Freak, I just can't stand that song XD

She's not doing well she's going downhill so hard I don't think she can release more than 3 more singles

I absolutely loved COME PARTY songs but she's just selling half of her past release over and over

For me COME PARTY is her best single it deserved more love (but they don't really care about what's in the CD right)

Oh I was just talking about the quality of the music, I didn't even check the sales. It's a pity tho... I really really want her to continue her singing career. I don't think come party is her best single, I liked dear j more, but still it is a nice one... It's no swaggalicious or girls do tho...

Dear J is very good but the b-sides are really generic idol song and boring

I told you they are bringing the OG back this year

http://www.oricon.co.jp/news/2047522/

Expect a new single/unit with them

3rd album "Koko wa Rodhes da, Koko de Tobe" 1st days sales comparison
1st album: 321,108
2nd album: 848,058
3rd album: 693,074

This is their 4th album rite...?

Fourth studio album, sixth album overall.

First two before the studio album method:

1. Set List ~Greatest Songs 2006-2007/Kanzenban~ (2008 former, 2010 latter)
2. Kamikyokutachi (2010)

The studio album era:

1. Koko ni Ita Koto (2011)
2. 1830m (2012)
3. Tsugi no Ashiato (2014)
4. Koko ga Rhodes da, Koko de Tobe! (2015)

Totally forgot about that album (Koko ni Ita Koto)

So the youtube channel where they have people react to different things did an episode on J-Pop. They had some teens react to Perfume, EXILE, and AKB48.

Link
Extras

^Their fist thought is probably: "They are a lot".

Can I rant here for a bit?

Watching old AKBingo and performances. I do feel truly nostalgic for the "old" girls, and cannot seem to grasp why new girls like sakura, paruru or milky get so much love.
I miss this... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uZJV-tp0-iY

I like Milky but I can't stand Sakura, she's way too basic

From Arama:

The new 48 group formed in Niigata is called “NGT48.” The group is formed on the circumstanced that for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics there will be a “Japan 48″ group formed out of members selected from each group. The purpose of this group will be to introduce idol culture to the entire world.

lol, this is not gonna work and it's gonna put the entire 48 project into shame, I can figure the memes

I'm surprised NGT48 even formed up. This was NOT in our roadmap...

It's going to be interesting, only 5 years guys !!

Agreed. We've got a roller coaster ride over the next five (and a half) years!!! Anything can happen!!! (I don't think Mayuyu will make the next five years without graduating, though... :()

AkiP has denied the Japan48 thing.

But I'm sure he'll try and put AKB in the opening ceremony somehow lol

I'm so glad it's not true!

I'm not sure if I would be comfortable with an opening ceremony act though...

^Why ?
I don't think they are going to be on bikini dancing.

I see nothing wrong with them performing in the ceremony.

I mean, it's not like the ceremony is going to turn into an AKB concert. They would simply be one act among many, just like in every other opening ceremony.

Idols are part of Japanese entertainment culture, and right now, it's even the most powerful sector of the Japanese music industry, so...
I'd love it if they put B'z and AKB as the main acts, tbh. Rock VS Idols <3

But this is still 5 years away. Many things can happen in that time.

New singles preview on YT channel!

I like this!!


Last thing I liked from AKB was KFC :P

Kawaei Rina announced her graduation :no it was because of the stabbing incident, I read she was depressed because she couldn't attend handshakes anymore.. so sad I was waiting for her big breakthrough

^Poor girl :(

Senbatsu sousenkyo coming up June 6th, it'll be held at Fukuoka dome.

Tanabe Miku, Nakagawa Haruka, Matsui Rena, and Tsuzuki Rika will not participate.

And the center for the summer single is Paruru, yay!

Also massive shuffle again. As Takamina is about to graduate, Yokoyama Yui moves from Team K to Team A captain, and Miichan (Minegishi Minami) gets called up as Team K captain, while Takahashi Juri assumes Team 4 captain...

Also no more AKB-Nogizaka concurrency. Kitarie (Kitahara Rie) moving from AKB48 to NGT48, and Yukirin (Kashiwagi Yuki) switching kennins from NMB48 to NGT48 (while still staying at AKB48 Team B) to join Kitarie...

Plus many of the kennins are ended, and other non-captain shuffle moves. I knew a massive shuffle like this would be imminent in light of Takamina's graduation (much like Acchan's graduation), and this happened. Black Thursday?

SKE vs. NMB

Day 1
#1 SKE48 - 573,074
#2 NMB48 - 381,650

NMB song was good and SKE's was really bad and generic AKB song, I don't think people really bought SKE's single for the song but to support SKE

I need to check them!
But, the chart is 1 day earlier, right?

Apparently the release date was March 31st, and March 31st is a Tuesday, NOT a Wednesday (April 1st would, as well as April 8th, 15th, 22nd, 29th). But it may because of the Music Card thingy... Who knows...

Also, March 31st is the last day of the 2014 fiscal year. April 1st starts the 2015 fiscal year (and every fiscal year here in Japan). Maybe does that have something to do with why they're releasing it on March 31st? I mean, April 1st is NOT a holiday...

And I think SKE new single's theatre edition has a music card inside, so purchasing 1 cd = 2 sales. I think that is why SKE had incredible sales this time :P.

SKE has 2 more versions (9 and NMB has 7)

SKE48
573,074+25,990 = 599,064

NMB48
381,650+26,585 = 408,235

Oricon released a statement saying that they no longer count music card

Also it's important to note that NMB's covers are AWFUL

This may become SKE's best selling single

They stop counting them next monday.

^ yeah, so this week they still count the music cards. Otherwise SKE management would not use the cd + music card trick.

I feel bad for NMB it's like their own sister group is using cheap gimmicks against them

Days 1-3
NMB48 420,766
SKE48 618,305

I know this thread is dead here, but I was wondering is someone could help. Does AKB48 have any other songs in their discography like Beginner, UZA, and Bokutachi wa Tatakawanai? There usual style of music annoys me but I like these songs.

Yes! I know some:

Mammoth, 転がる石になれ, Stand up

Any clue on why NMB past single got #1 on Oricon Daily Chart today?

20 consecutive million-selling singles - no one other than AKB48 can reach that.
"Bokutachi wa Tatakawanai" sold over 1,673,000 copies in its first week alone, which is pretty ridiculously high.

http://www.oricon.co.jp/news/2053320/full/

No idea. I usually call Mondays "garbage time" because almost no one sells new releases on that day - usually it's the Tuesday before the advertised Wednesday that artists release singles.

And, on these days, it seems idols such as NMB48 - and even Nogizaka46 (recently as well!) - try to take advantage of this empty space. But apparently GLAY is releasing their new single a day early, only to be smacked by NMB48...

But again - I have no idea why. Seems like Mondays are popular for those AKB48-based groups to sell high well after their release... :D

Yeah it's pretty crazy to get daily #1 like 1 month after the release :P

Even though the last singles sales were fixed to 1 million it's a great achievement anyway!

I just wish AKB soloists could also enjoy great sales as well...

Tomochin is releasing a new single on July "Gimme Gimme Luv" and I want her to release 2 more albums at least, but her sales has been on constant decline :no

It's a dream but I'd love Tomochin to collaborate with Namie Amuro or Jessica (SNSD) someday!

Watanabe Mayu is releasing a new single soon too.

Oh it's true! I think she will flop, she hasn't released anything in like 2 years and her popularity isn't in the best condition

I wonder how her single will affect her votes for SSK, since the single is just a week after SSK. Fans wallet will be hurting badly

new tomochin's single?
ohh im so glad!
<3

edit: @ashentwilight try also Ruby, 10nen zakura!

I saw an image of Tomochin, and her lips looks so BIG !

^her lips only? :D

Ugh. Sasshi again.

Rino Sashihara - former AKB48-turned-HKT48 - takes crown from Mayuyu, #1 again. Mayuyu was #3, Yukirin #2.

(Mayuyu = Mayu Watanabe; Yukirin = Yuki Kashiwagi)

Really...Sasshi's now Japan's national nightmare again???

hmm... these elections are no longer entertaining, at least for me =_=

WTF Miyazawa Sae at #8

Yeah, I agree. But I heard the Chinese are skewing the results...

And, yeah - Sae...better than Paruru?

Takamina was so Ayu-ish yesterday!

Rino again, ughh.

Oh just another year of Slutshihara (needs)Rinoplasty. Oh well. Fuck ShitKB48 anyway.

GOOOD not sasshy again. PLEASE.
It's not that I can stand mayuyu, but ANYONE WILL DO as long as it's not sashihara. ugh

This so much :headache can't stand her

I love Sasshi tbh, I'm so happy she won especially since she knocked Mayu out of the top spot.

tomochin's last single SLAYS. Queen Bee is THE SONG

^really? I should give it a try then, I'm still horrified by Gimme Luv PV and covers

lol @ all the butthurt here because Sasshi won.
She didn't just only won, she killed it. People DO like her, so suck it. :P
Can't wait to see what new anthem AkiP makes for her.

On another note, I'm loving SKE's new single!

Idols you can fuck! Cum and get em! One for you, and one for you, and one for you!

Yeah, you wish you could get one. :D

Anyway, here's the song:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1dlwMIbvsSk

I guess they're trying to make it huge by the time Halloween actually comes. We'll have to wait and see if it works.

Yes! A halloween inspired song is perfect for Sasshi! It fits her image so well!

I don't like her, but you're so mean, lol.

SKE48's new single.
Rena's first and last center.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m9e1oHhZhRY

WTF so unexpected, she said after not taking part in the election that she was gonna be entirely focused on making her fans happy, this is certainly not making her fans happy...

Huh? How is Rena not making her fans happy?

Halloween Night will be released in 9 editions

http://www.oricon.co.jp/news/2056820/photo/27/

MV looks promising!

Whoa...NINE EDITIONS!? But that's expected.

Even the covers and the music video theme are expected to my standards. (I don't celebrate Halloween!)

The thing sold over 1 million copies in 1 day... ok, moving on

Next single must be Takamina's last right?

In other news SKE48's "Coquettish Juutai Chuu" sold over 700,000 copies making it the best-selling 48-family single (other than AKB)

Whoa...almost 1.2 million copies sold. In the first day alone! :O

That proves, for now, AKB48 as a group, and Sasshi of HKT48, are still among Japan's national nightmares...

Halloween Night achieved their best first day sales for a non-election ticket single. Their reign just won't end. 22nd consecutive million selling single and 23rd in total

Their reign isn't over but their peak is

The Hallooween's song is really good !