AKB48: Welcome to Japan's Most Sophisticated Show (2nd thread)

[Glamorous_Sky]

Did Harukyan ever get ahold of her parents? I saw that tweet where she couldn't contact them :/

[Amrai-chan]

I have no idea, I've been trying to see. I hope so.

[dreamland2.0]

The album is being postponed do to the earthquake and tsunami situation.

[Bigtop]

I think thy deserve that. Now how long will it be delayed...?

[Amrai-chan]

The concert they were going to have has been canceled.

The theater is also closed with no opening date set.

AKB has also set up a charity fund for earthquake victims all proceeds go to the Japanese Red Cross but it only seems to be for people in Japan to donate at the moment. Members, staff and Akimoto have donated.

The account details translated thanks to loveandcoffee at Stage48.

Spoiler:

It's a bank transfer, you can't send them money unless they give you a IBAN code, but they're only giving out coordinates for transferring within the country.

＜Charity account 1＞
Risona Bank (bank code 0010)
Shibuya branch (branch number 473)
Account number：2871105
Account name ：AKB48 Purojekuto Gienkin (AKB48 Project Charity Fund)

＜Charity account 2＞
Mitsubishi Tokyo UFJ Bank (bank code 0005)
Gotanda branch (branch number 537)
Account number：0167382
Account name ：AKB48 Purojekuto Gienkin (AKB48 Project Charity Fund)

＜Please note＞
※Please pay all transfer fees
※If you have enquiries about the Charity Fund, please address them to gienkin@aks48.com

There are a lot of updates to Togasaki's (AKB theater manger) blog.

Thanks to loveandcoffee at Stage48.

East Japan Giant Earthquake (2011-03-12 23:49:14)

Spoiler:

I have returned a while ago from Hong Kong and have finally been able to learn the details of the effects caused by the East Japan earthquake and of the situation of the hit regions.
The changes in the coast, the anxiety on the sheltered people's faces, the fact that the lifeline hasn't been restored yet (I don't know if it's Japanese-made English, lifeline = gas, water, electricity, transportation, phone, all these facilities)... I felt irritated at being so powerless and not being able to do anything in front of nature's immense power.
I received many messages from the fans, asking "Is there something we can do?"
I would like the hundreds of thousands fans throughout Japan to join forces to support as much as possible the areas struck by the quake.
Something we can immediately do is to conserve energy.
If people who really need electricity can be saved by our conserving energy, turning off the heating is no big deal.
Through AKB we discovered the power that each single human being has.
There are times when this can turn into a negative power, but I know that the hugeness of the positive power that's created when everyone joins forces is an unbelievable thing.
Moreover, I believe that the fans, too, know the amazingness of the power of an united mass.
Please, remember the concerts in big venues, the Saitama Super Arena event held the other day, the Theatre Version handshake events in Makuhari Messe.
And then, please remember what we always say: "Let's join all our forces".
If taken singularly, each person's strenght doesn't amount to much.
It's true that if a single person turns the heating off it might look useless.
But if the people who thought "Okay, let's turn off the heating" are thousands or millions, they'll be able to send to the areas struck by the quake an unbelievable power.
And I believe that AKB48 now can really do this.
So please think once again about the situation. I would like you to think that people are dying.
For example, what if now that I'm writing this blog entry a quake hit, and after that a tsunami came?
I would panic and wouldn't have time to do or think anything.
For the victims who are in this state, we, who have time to do and think several things, should do all that's in our power!
First, let's conserve energy.
As soon as other things we can cooperate in doing are announced, we AKB48 will join forces and collaborate!
And now, an announcement.
We will postpone the sale of Yokohama Arena concert tickets, which was supposed to start tomorrow.
The reason, of course, is because a big tragedy is going on.
At the moment it's all I can say.
I hope from the bottom of my heart that as many victims as possible are rescued, and that they can meet again their families as soon as possible.

Announcement about theatre shows (2011-03-13 22:30:00)

Spoiler:

We will announce on March 14th the schedule of theatre shows to take place after March 19th.
I humbly hope for your understanding.

You're not alone (2011-03-14 09:38:53)

Spoiler:

60 hours have passed from that moment.
When I think about the feelings of the people in the quake-struck area, my heart hurts.
"One of the biggest in the world"
"Radioactivity"
"Unprecedented"
"Scheduled blackouts"
Is it possible to make a calm judgement on these words we hear for the first time and are happening in our reality?
I don't understand it.
The only thing I can say is that we're all experiencing this for the first time in our lives.
Even the people who are on missions to rescue the victims are at their first experience.
Everyone is anxious.
But please, try to think about it.
The people in the struck areas are even more anxious.
There are people who have no lifeline and are in places where even rescuers can't enter.
There are people who are waiting for rescuers to appear.
And despite this, there are people here who complicate information or send out heartless chain mails...
As a human being, they make me sad.
I feel sad that there are people who despite this situation think it's funny to confuse people.
And there are many people who are angry, too.
Of course I understand that in such an uneasy situation one cannot keep their composure.
But the government, the companies, the rescue teams are doing their utmost best to face their first "emergency situation".
No one is going to be saved by what we are doing now.
In doing something no one else has done there are always risks accompanying it.
Let's understand that they actually didn't mean to confuse anyone.
And let's tell the people in the disaster area, too, the situation here.
Here, people from all the countries in the world are sending relief supplies, donations, rescue teams.
People from all over the world are worried for the tragedy that happened suddenly there.
Amazingly, I feel that not only Japan, but the whole world has united.
People from all over the world are stretching out their hands to our tragedy-struck Japan, without thinking about all that's happened in the past.
You're not alone.
I learned now how much courage this simple thought than give to people.
And then, we'll anything that's in our power to help the people in the quake areas!
Please, hold on just a little more.
You're not alone.

Announcement (2011-03-14 14:43:22)

Spoiler:

The cancellation of the concerts that should have taken place on March 25th to 27th has been decided, based on our judgement that we cannot perform the concert as we planned in a situation where planned blackouts are necessary.
We will inform you in a separate entry about the reimbursement of the ticket price.
We pray from the bottom of our heart that the people from the disaster areas can smile again as soon as possible.

Announcement of the setting up of a bank account for donations (2011-03-14 16:43:02)

Spoiler:

We send our heartfelt wishes to the people from the areas hit by the Tohoku Pacific earthquake.
In our AKB48 project, there are members who have been hit by the disaster. (he's most probably referring to indirect hit, maybe to family or acquaintances. He's saying members and not staff, so it's one of the girls... who else is from Tohoku beside Yuko?)
The project members have thought about what they can do, and as a result sending donations was proposed.
In that regard, we had a talk with the Japanese Red Cross and set up a bank account for donations. Immediately not only members, but also the staff and Akimoto general producers sent out their donations.
I have received quite a lot of enquiries from the fans too, so if you approve of our proposal, we will be glad to accept your donations to the account I will write below.
All the members of the AKB48 Project would like to send out your well wishes to the people in the areas hit by the quake.
In addition, we are thinking if there's something else we can do as AKB48 Project and we would like to turn this "thing only we can do" into shape.
On that occasion we will be happy to have the fans' cooperation.
Lastly, once again, all the members and staff pray from the bottom of our hearts that the people in the areas hit by the disaster will regain their peaceful lives again as soon as possible.
(details of bank accounts I've already translated)
March 14th, 23rd Heisei year
All the members of AKB48, SKE48, NMB48, SDN48
All the staff of AKB48 Project

About the cancellation of the Yokohama Arena concerts (2011-03-14 19:25:37)

Spoiler:

I have received a lot of opinions from many fans regarding the cancellation of the Yokohama Arena concerts we announced today.
This is the result of us thinking seriously about what we should give priority to in Japan's dangerous situation, and about what we could do as AKB48.
It took us extreme courage to cancel, not postpone, the concerts.
The donation account is another one of those results, too.
We are still pondering and planning what we could do from now on, our way, in order to give energy and courage to, obviously, people in the disaster-struck areas, but also to the whole Japan.
Personally, even now I listen to the news while my heart beats fast.
But especially because this is such a hard time, I feel more confident than ever that AKB have to be someone who can give energy and courage to everyone.
We have gotten over many dangerous times together with the fans, but we can't even start to compare those to the current serious situation.
But that's why we must get over it together, and start walking as soon as possible towards reconstruction.
In a natural disaster there are no enemies.
It's no one's fault.
In order to be able to see the people in the disaster-struck areas smile again as soon as possible let's all cooperate in support activities, and let's give courage to the victims!

Announcement of theatre closure (2011-03-14 23:00:00)

Spoiler:

For the time being we will keep the AKB48 Theatre closed.
We humbly hope for your understanding.

He is a really kind person. I think you should read them.

Apparently one of the newer Kenkyuseis is in a shelter some where? She's fine though. Who? People are still trying to figure that out. There was a Sanspo article and something on Yuko's blog that mentioned it apparently. You can check here about that.

I think what AKB is doing now is great. I think they can give people hope. I think it's good they set up na charity fund. Just when I thought I couldn't love them more.

[dreamland2.0]

That's good, it would be better if they opened it up Internationally because at this time we have more money to give to them.
I wonder why they decided to cancel the concerts and not just postpone them? That''s really sad, I bet a lot of hard work went into it and we'll never get to see it.
Such a horrible situation.

[Polyrhythm]

Members of the AKB48 idol franchise announced on Tuesday that they plan to donate 500 million yen towards the ongoing earthquake relief efforts. The group also announced yesterday that they are collecting donations from fans on behalf of the Japanese Red Cross.

The 500 million yen ($6.2 million) was gathered from the members of AKB48, SKE48, NMB48, and SDN48, as well as others who are managed by AKS and producer Akimoto Yasushi’s own agency.

AKB48 also announced on Tuesday that they are delaying the release of their album “Koko ni Ita Koto” (originally scheduled for April 6).

On Monday, idol group AKB48 updated their official blog to announce that they have opened a bank account for receiving donations for earthquake relief, which will be passed on to the Japanese Red Cross.

In the blog post, it was revealed that some of the members of the AKB48 family (which includes AKB48, SKE48, NMB48, and SDN48) were affected by the recent earthquake and tsunami. The groups felt that they wanted to do something to help all the victims of the disasters, so they decided to work with the Japanese Red Cross for accepting donations.

For those who can pay by bank transfer and would like to donate, details are available in the blog post.

http://community.livejournal.com/ara...t/1980229.html

So proud

[dreamland2.0]

That's really great! That's such a generous amount!

[Polyrhythm]

Its so much to give especially when the most popular of these girls is only making about $200,000 a year....

[Amrai-chan]

Proud of them, the others who work with them and Akimoto.

[Amrai-chan]

So some people got their copies of Request Hour Setlist 2011 and there's some videos floating around. Have any of you guys seen it yet?

[dreamland2.0]

I've seen the first day on Youtube! I enjoyed Blue Rose the most for obvious reasons xd

[Polyrhythm]

I cringed at First Love....Mayu is kind of annoying to me usually....but I really do feel bad for her...everyone wants Erepyon GAGAGA with the silver outfits...it was so ace. Akita and Mamitan looked perfect.

[Amrai-chan]

Originally Posted by dreamland2.0

I've seen the first day on Youtube! I enjoyed Blue Rose the most for obvious reasons xd

XD

and yeah I felt bad for Mayu too. Too bad Erena didn't come but she was probably busy. I'm sure she's working hard at her schooling.

I'm happy Mushi no Ballad and Blue Rose made it into the setlist. There were some songs i wanted that did not make it but I'd say this year was a good year. I think 2009 is still my favorite so far.

[dreamland2.0]

^I love your blog banner Amrai-chan! I'm going to bookmark it~

[Amrai-chan]

Thanks! A friend made it for me.

[Amrai-chan]

In the AX thread at Stage48 there's a link where some kind person has been streaming AX the past few days. All the extras too.

[Amrai-chan]

Sayaka, Sae! *_* Everyone looks good though.

AHHH! Those outfits I love them! Just

I'M EXCITED. Not sure if I like the song from the preview.

I NEED MORE. SXDCFVGBHJ.

[dreamland2.0]

yes yes the cm looks amazing!! Everything about this is amazing! Sad that it got delayed though I can't wait that long for all the Sae goodness!! They all look amazing but I think Yuka looks particularly gorgeous!

ehhh bad covers

[Polyrhythm]

WOW. AKB covers that look shittier than Chance no Junban's.....I never thought it could happen. How do they go from gorgeous art like the last single's covers and the other subunits' covers to this Song is so so....I find the slowness super annoying. Aren't they supposed to be a dance + vocal unit???? DIVA was the subunit I thought of as having a lot of potential before avex (of course...) screwed them over.