@tony - was it me that told you? I remember posting this video up in earlier posts on this topic and also on SB.

@topic
I think I know most about AKB, and then NMB, and then HKT, and then SKE. When I think about it, I don't really know that many of the SKE members...probably only 10 of them haha.

Anyway, AKB's 31st single was announced, and it has a voting ticket for the 32nd single/ senbatsu. I hope they broadcast this one live on YouTube again. Especially because this will be my first time voting.

Also, the rules have changed. AKB graduates, who have been in AKB for more than 4 years, can be voted into senbatsu, that includes Acchan, Meetan, etc - but only if they want to participate. This senbatsu also includes the four AKB members that are in JKT and SNH. Plus all sister groups and KKS. This was announced by TGSK on Google+. There will be more details as the date approaches.

So far people who confirmed that they are applying/ not applying through twitter and other social media are:
Not Applying: Yonezawa Rumi, Masuda Yuka, Ono Erena, Maeda Atsuko
Sato Yukari, Ohori Megumi is thinking about it
Applying: Shinoda Mariko, Noro Kayo, Urano Kazumi, Watanabe Miyuki

the cool thing is that AKB's and SCANDAL's new singles are coming out on the same day, so you can save on shipping if you decide to buy them both at the same time.

@Yoshinator54

Yes I think it was you who told me about that video...hehe
I have already preordered SCANDAL's new single and AKB's from CDJapan.
But it is getting stupid, there are 6 different versions of AKB's new single, I shall only be buying one as I am not rich !

I have been getting into HKT48 recently as they are cute and I also have a friend in Fukuoka-shi who went to school with one of the members...hehe

All I want to know is will I be able to vote for my oshi Miichan ?
She was a member for 7 years and is now a research student of course [You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]

@tonymiller I'm sure you're able to vote for Miichan. Even as a research student they're also counted as AKB48.

And Acchan also mentioned on Twitter she is not participating, her reason stated was she might be filming overseas during June.

But AKB48 is forever full of surprises so we'll see.....

I can't believe all the limited edition singles have been sold out already .wtf. But I guess it doesn't matter too much, the only difference is probably the album cover and the handshake ticket.

@tony
Same here, I can only get one, unlike those harcore fans who buy tons of them just to vote.
It's cool that you have a friend that went to school with an HKT member
Yeah, Miichan is definitely eligible to be in the sousenkyo. She just has to apply for it by the deadline. I have no idea if she has confirmed that she will/ already did apply.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
UPDATE OF PARTICIPANTS: (remember, this is based off of their blogs, twitter, and other social media. Not all members have said whether or not they will apply. Some may have already applied without saying anything.)

AKB48: Mariko Shinoda, Kitahara Rie, Shimada Haruka, Suzuki Shihori, Fujita Nana, Izuta Rina, Nakamura Mariko, Abe Maria, Fujie Reina, Nishino Miki, Kobayashi Kana

SKE48: Takayanagi Akane, Shibata Aya,NUmemoto Madoka, Iwanaga Tsugumi, Matsumura Kaori, Furukawa Airi, Matsui Jurina, Matsui Rena, Kizaki Yuria.

NMB48: Yamamoto Sayaka, Watanabe Miyuki, Kotani Riho, Ijiri Anna, Ogasawara Mayu, Yamada Nana, Shiroma Miru, Jonishi Kei, Kadowaki Kanako, Kondo Rina, Shimada Rena, Kinoshita Haruna, Takayama Riko, Yamauchi Tsubasa, Tanigawa Airi

HKT48: Kodama Haruka, Miyawaki Sakura, Sashihara Rino, Tashima Meru, Tomonaga Mio.

Foreign: Takajo Aki, Suzuki Mariya

Graduated Members: Urano Kazumi, Noro Kayo, Sato Yukari

Still thinking: Ohori Megumi

Declined Application: Nito Moeno, Ono Erena, Yonezawa Rumi, Masuda Yuka, Nakaya Sayaka, Oba Mina, Maeda Atsuko.

April 7th is when registration ends for the 48 members/ graduates.

Do any of you guys have predictions for this year's senbatsu?

Before I used think that all 48 group members participated just by being members, had no idea they had to apply lol.

But I really don't get why ex-members can participate, aren't they graduated already? So if they enter in the senbatsu that means that they'll come back to the group? Be in the singles even though they aren't a part of 48 anymore? [You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]

Whatever, I'm extremely anxious for this year's election. So many emotions! Will Yuuko (she has to apply!) keep 1st or Mayuyu is going to surpass her? (As she's my oshi, I totally want her to keeps it. But I'm kind of worried. I wish I could vote!) I also want to know Sasshi's position, but I think she'll stay with a very good one. Paruru will obviosuly rise a lot compared to last year. Maybe in top 10

I also want Jurina to get a higher position this time, as well as Yui-han, they deserve a lot. Milky too. Very curious to know about Mii-chan, I hope the scandal doesn't affect her too much, as well as Sasshi. But I think that with Sasshi's safe, since her popularity keeps increasing, mainly after she going to HKT. I also guess that Kasai and Itano aren't participating, since they will graduate, what opens a huge gap on the ranking, since they always had high positions, mainly Tomochin. OMG I'm so excited.

(Having in mind that they'll all participate. I really hope so)

Do you guys know if they are going to broadcast it live or in many TV channels? Can we watch as soon as it finish? I'd rather know the results by watching then by reading somewhere else

Thanks for the updates, @yoshinator [You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]

@freefall - I don't think members had to apply before. They just changed it up a bit this year, so now they have to apply. Aki-P made it so that graduated members can participate if they wanted to. Most of the graduated members who are participating are SDN48 members probably because they were all forced to graduate and maybe some of them wanted to stay in longer. Other graduated members are either too busy, or don't want to "look back at the past and keep moving up" from where they are in their careers.The graduated members will not be coming back into the group, they're just there for the 32nd single whether they make it into senbatsu, undergirls, future girls, etc.

I don't know where they're going to broadcast it. Hopefully they'll have it on youtube again. I'll let you guys know when I get more information.

Spoiler:

[/spoiler]

Other News

Spoiler:

[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]
as of 4/5/13

I made it easier to see who registered and who hasn't. The captains are at the top of the list under their teams.
Pink boxes = officially registered
grey boxes = will not register
white boxes = undecided
let me know if you want the excel file if you want to see it better.

Damn, my oshi Miichan has still not registered !
I really hope she will so her fans can show they still care about her.

Thanks for posting it Yoshi.

Thanks yoshi for the very detailed chart.
Most of NMB and HKT have already registered.

Most importantly Kojima Haruna has registered too, just earlier today .balloon.

@yoshinator
I'm very sad Shawako graduated. She was one of my favorite of SKE. I hope she has success in here carreer!

Yesterday I got SO relieved when I read that Yuuko had applied. Well, today is the last day for appling and I really hope more members will do so.

URGENT NEWS:
Sayaka Akimoto announced her graduation from AKB48
She said “I, Akimoto Sayaka, am not running for election, I am graduating from AKB48.” on her blog.
[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]
I feel so sad. She was definitely one of my favorites in AKB, even though she didn't get a whole lot of attention. Now who's gonna sing Mushi no Ballad? Anyway, I wish her good luck in her career as she has gotten tons of good reviews for being in Rock Opera Mozart and stuff.

Also, Manatsu Mukaida (SKE48) announced that she will not be participating in elections.

On a much lighter note:
Takamina (my kami-oshi) has announced that she will be participating in the sousenkyo. I will be rooting for her!

I feel so happy yet sad at the same time right now....

OMG, I'm shocked! I didn't expected this at all. I loved Sayaka so much, she made me laugh a bunch of times with her unique personality. She's gonna be really missed. Oh, the older members are graduating one by one... Kasai Tomomi just announced yersterday the day of her graduation (May 3rd)、five days before 2nd single (yet untitled) is released, 8th.



Her debut will be in May 29th, and the song will be used as CM for JRA (A japanese horse racing association). And she's having a photobook releasead together too! (I confess I'm pretty anxious for it [You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]) In my opinion she's one of the most beautiful girls in the group.

I'm so happy for her, but at the same time it makes me think that her graduation may be near... If so, who's gonna lick the member's ears from now on?

Keiko wrote:Thanks yoshi for the very detailed chart.
Most of NMB and HKT have already registered.

Most importantly Kojima Haruna has registered too, just earlier today [You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]

Ah, that's good to know. My Oshi Haruna has applied. Splendid! Thanks for the heads up Keiko

[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]
updated: Takamina, Kojiharu, Kana Kobayashi, Amina Sato, Rina Chikano, Mariya Nagao, Nana Fujita, Jurina Matsui, and Tomu Mutou have been added, and Manatsu (SKE) is not applying, Sayaka Akimoto will not be applying either because she's graduating.

Also, Freefall said Asuka Kuramochi will have her solo debut and photobook.
Congratulations to her! Mocchi seems to be underrated, so she really deserves her solo debut

So yeah, I'll go ahead and admit that I follow AKB48. I've actually been following them for quite some time now, even though I'm far from being a hardcore wota. I'm not really a fan of their music (though there are some songs that I like), and the stereotypical "idol" image doesn't really appeal to me, but I do find the girls themselves very interesting. And there was one girl who stood out way above the others that lured me in to the world of AKB...

Yeah, I guess you already know who I'm talking about.

Instead of writing a ton-load of words about Sayaka (that'll come later), I'm just gonna say that I'm both happy and sad about her graduating. I'm happy that she'll be graduating on a high note (RH #5, great Jinbo High/Low segments on probably her last appearances on AKBingo, and took part in one of the best AKB live performances I've ever seen (Oogoe Diamond a cappella at Kouhaku)), yet sad that she announced it in such a low key manner (compared to the usual theater or concert announcement). I can think of a couple of reasons why she chose to do it that way, but I'm not in the mood get all analytical on her intricacies.

There's a lot more I want to say about Okaro, but I just can't put it into words right now. I've been expecting this for more than a year, but no matter how much you prepare for something, it still hits you like a brick wall when it finally happens.

@tony - MIICHAN REGISTERED FOR THE ELECTIONS!

also Nattsumi (Natsumi Matsubara) said she will not be applying.

@Yoshinator54

Yes I know, I was getting really worried that Miichan would not stand.
Now all her fans can show her they still care about her.

But three of my favourite members are leaving, Tomochin, Tomomi Kasai and now Sayaka Akimoto, noooooooooooooo !

Sayaka and Saechan were so good at playing men ( and vampires )

Alright guys, here's the FINAL LIST
[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]

pink = registered
grey = did not apply

In the end, almost all of them applied. That makes me happy, I was wondering if this year would be a lot of girls or not. I'm kind of surprised that Tomochin applied, since she's graduating soon.

This time is going to be a totally thrilling event, more two months! Please come faster!

Although Yuko is my oshi, I wish I could vote to every member to help them a little [You must be registered and logged in to see this image.] Oh, well...

I was shocked to see Hirajima Natsumi registering for it.
However I also hope to see that she'll rank in, there's still a lot of her fans out there.
Usually I only buy 1 copy to vote for my oshi Kojima Haruna, this year if the single is good enough, I might just consider buying another 1 just to vote for Miichan too.

.balloon.

Sensai Steve wrote:

Keiko wrote:Thanks yoshi for the very detailed chart.
Most of NMB and HKT have already registered.

Most importantly Kojima Haruna has registered too, just earlier today [You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]

Ah, that's good to know. My Oshi Haruna has applied. Splendid! Thanks for the heads up Keiko

This one made my day very HAPPY [You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]

Sayaka Akimoto and Tomomi Kasai graduating from the group OH NOOOO!!!


@Sensai Steve love your siggy man. lots of Harunyan [You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]

AKB 31st Single (Summer song) details:
The single will be titled Sayonara Crawl, and here are the tracklists

1. Sayonara Crawl
2. Bara no Kajitsu (Fruits of Rose) by Under Girls
3. Ikirukoto (To live) by team A – type A
3. How come? by team K – type K
3. Romance Kenju (Romance Pistol) by team B – type B

DVD
1. Sayonara Crawl Music VIdeo
2. Sayonara Crawl Music Video ~ Swim Suits ver. ~
3. Music Video of track 2
4. Music Video of track 3
5. Making footage of Sayonara Crawl MV (1/2)
6. Special Bonus footage for type A
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I wonder who should be my next SKE oshi since Kuumin graduated. Maybe Churi (Akane Takayanagi)....

Oh yes.Today is a very special day. It is Haruna Kojima's birthday.


お誕生日おめでとうこじいはる。



Happy 25th Birthday to my Oshi Kojiharu. Hope it is a day full of happiness and fun.


I will bake a cake for her.

Yes a very Happy Birthday to Haruna Kojima ( Kojipa )

I was thinking 'Sayonara crawl' is a strange title.
OMG...a swimsuit version !!!