[AKB48] Japan's #1 Group Just Can't Stop Making History in the 5th Thread

[visionfactory]

^ I don't think so, it will only affect No Sleeves sales (If the unit is still alive after this)

[Bigtop]

Originally Posted by adantatu2

I wonder if the news are going to affect AKB48 sales, anyway, poor girl, she really loves AKB48, she prefers shave her head than leave.

How popular is Minami Minegishi? Any senbatsu recently?

[Amrai-chan]

She's first gen. Probably the least popular of first gen if you go off of election rankings but still really popular. She's pretty much always in senbatsu including for the newest single So Long!

[kendelle]

The whole "no dating" thing always seemed off to me =| Like, I can understand Ayu and Nagase not going ultra public because of conflicting agencies, but expecting these kids at age 10, 12, 14 to join a group and then live by those rules for years after? They can't comprehend the consequences at that age of being forbidden to date.

I get that she's really sorry for it, and it seems to blown out of proportion that she was just photographed leaving a house of a boy with no proof of a sexual relationship, I feel really badly for her and the other girls who have to live by this bizzare rule. What is it for, really? Just a few cashed up guys who make idols their waifus or something? It's the one aspect of idol culture I just don't get.

She really loves AKB though so if that's what she wants to be then I hope she's promoted again quickly, and can spend some time bonding with the other KKS girls, maybe helping them with her experiences or something.

[Glamorous_Sky]

Seeing Miichan cry was pretty heartbreaking, she is my oshimen and always will be, no matter what. Whatever she decides to do, I'll support her.

[YUKARI]

AKB48′s Minami Minegishi makes first appearance as ‘trainee’ with full head of hair

Whether you view it as a publicity stunt or a failed attempt at a cover-up, the scandal involving AKB48 member Minami Minegishi definitely got people talking and debating about Japanese celebrity culture again. And this time, her first appearance as a ‘trainee’ might spark another round of debate.



Minegishi was photographed doing a “walk of shame” after leaving the house of Alan Shirahama, a member of boy band Generations, last week. Her subsequent shaved head video apology and demotion to the lowest rank of “trainee” attracted international attention. People outside Japan mostly couldn’t fathom the world of Japanese idols where dating and having sex is strictly not allowed, even in this day and age. Now, the backlash from the incident and the apology is being felt by the group, so much that they changed the settings of the video apology to private, never mind that more than six million people have already seen it. Her appearance on stage as a trainee with a full head of hair (a wig, of course) has drawn the ire of netizens. Some feel like she’s not really sorry it happened and some are annoyed that they’re now acting as if the incident never really happened.

But in Japanese celebrity culture, this is not really a surprise. Everyone tries to forget quickly and move on as if nothing really happened. Disgraced celebrities either totally disappear from the entertainment world and becomes taboo almost immediately. Old clips featuring said celebrity will not be used anymore, or if they have to be used, they will either be edited or blurred out, as if they’re some crime victim. But even weirdly so, celebrities who leave the entertainment industry (even without a scandal) also get the edited/blurred out treatment, sometimes at their request. This Japanese attitude is evident not just in showbusiness but in society as well, which sometimes angers Japan’s neighbours (and former colonies) but also allows the country and its people to pick themselves up after a tragedy and just move on, without looking at the past.

source: The Japan Daily Press

[~StarCatcher~]

I think this reflects so badly on Japanese music idols=(

I mean look at Ayu and Kuu

they can have boyfriends without problems, why making such a scandal of it=(

[Amrai-chan]

They're not idols though. Maybe in a people can look up to them sense but not otherwise.

It wouldn't have made such a scandal if she hadn't shaved her head she would have just been demoted and that's it people would keep going. The whole thing is unfortunate.

I don't like the rule but when you think about it AKB in progressive in a lot of ways. Some people don't realize this but back in the day if you were an idol and caught dating you would be kicked out of a group.

On the bright side at least AKB is allowed to have unrequited love. There are groups like Morning Musume. where even unrequited love is not allowed (correct me if I'm wrong)

...Okay it's not really much of a bright side. The rule might change over time.

Some argue the way idols are would change.

There's more of a closeness where idols know fans on first name basis etc especially with indie idols like Fudanjuku for example.

If getting rid of that rule changes things we have to wait and see.

Miichan still has support. For So Longs dramas she was voted 8th place.

[visionfactory]

Graduated members can join AKB new election single!!

[adantatu2]

^Interestin', Acchan's comeback ?

[Bigtop]

Oh dear...

[YUKARI]

Yesterday I visited the Akihabara's theater. That was a very strange experience. When I came, there was kenkyuusei's stage inside. I even saw Miichan on tv. She sounded fine, but I hardly saw her face as they didn't any close-ups.

All the time after visiting it I was thinking about Atsuko. btw the building was full of old AKB's posters. Acchan was everywhere and I was pretty much surprised about that. She was even on the big billboard outside, you can see her face as if she's still in AKB. So I was thinking about her and I've just realized how I miss her... How I really want her to come back...

And then I read the announcement about new election's rules.. And that basically Acchan can be returned... And I'm so confused and excited now. Because if she applies, then the new May single will sell like crazy... And this is the business, they just want to make money... So may be my crazy dreams will come true?

Anyways, something's going to happen as I'm sure they changed the rules on purpose.

[visionfactory]

I don't think Acchan actually wants to be part of this new single, but maybe (and more probably) her management will force her to apply.

And I wonder how many people will vote for Sashihara, last year she got 62k people

[YUKARI]

So it's over. Acchan just wrote in twitter that she won't participate.

[bluegie]

Thank god she isn't. I dun really want Acchan to participate. It sorta defeats the purpose of graduating from AKB if she's participate. Also... if she's not getting no. 1, it will be quite awkward...

[Mirrorcle Monster]

It would be ridiculous if she participated. It would be such an epic election: huge venue, huge battle... But it would be so stupid. Acchan seems to really want to start a new life out from AKB, and she just shouldnt take a step back. I really hope Jurina and Paruru get top 5. I also would love Tomochin to have a good ranking her last year, and I wanna see Kato Rena ranking somewhere

[visionfactory]

^I wish a good rank for Jurina, Paruru and Tomochin as well They are the reason for why I still follow AKB after Acchan's graduation.

Originally Posted by YUKARI

So it's over. Acchan just wrote in twitter that she won't participate.

Nice! I'd love to see Acchan back on AKB but I don't want a boring election that I know she'd win

[Bigtop]

Well, at least things will go fair with Acchan not participating in this...

[visionfactory]

SDN48 members Cindy and Noro Kayo are participating ^_^

I wanted JKT48's queen to rank in this audition...

[Polyrhythm]

^Don't worry, Akicha will do fine.