MOAR News! Uddles and Yoodles!

I usually don't report the news.  Usually forums and other blogger tend to get there faster or do it anyways, so I assume you get it elsewhere.  However, when ever there are tons of releases and news being pumped out I like to spam it all at once.  I hope you learn something new!

There will be an OG Spring Tour!  Those who are attending are all graduates of Morning Musume: Nakazawa, Iida, Abe, Yasuda, Yaguchi, Ishikawa, Yoshizawa, Tsuji, Ogawa, Fujimoto, Kusumi.  That is quite a list.  The performances will be starting 4/23.  KonKon probably isn't attending because of her new position at TV Tokyo.  I really hope the whole issue with Kago Ai would get resolved so that we can see her perform with them again.  I understand that she and Goto Maki want to distance themselves from it, but was it really that bad.  They can't even do a reunion tour!  It might have to do with the fact that they are under different labels and agencies now.  The other sad thing is that Kamei Eri, LinLin, and JunJun won't be attending.  One tour wouldn't hurt Kamei that bad, and I bet the pandas would love to go.

Kamei Eri is releasing not one, but two photobooks because of her graduation.  One is solo and the other is with the rest of 6th gen, except Mikitty.  She did just release a solo pb.  So if you didn't think that the pandas were being shafted enough, there is one more thing.  Kamei Eri will be releasing nine cover songs on iTunes.  That is an album right there.  This is a part of the "Hello Cover" project where members of H!P release solo covers.  I'm guessing we won't see JunJun or LinLin do the same before they graduate.  You can start downloading these today! 
  
Memory Seishun no Hikari - Morning Musume
Furusato - Morning Musume,
Koi wo Shichaimashita - Tanpopo
Seinaru Kane ga Hibiku Yoru - Tanpopo
Egao ni Namida ~thank You! Dear My Friends~ - Matsuura Aya
Love Namidairo - Matsuura Aya
Koi no Hana - Abe Natsumi
Onegai Miwaku no Target - Melon Kinenbi
Kousui - Melon Kinenbi


Eri Kamei (Morning Musume) Graduation Photobook "THANKS" w/ DVD

Eri Kamei Sotsugyo Kinen Haroharo! - Memories -

Guess who else is getting a photobook?  Pretty much every member in either C-ute or Berryz Koubou who hasn't released one will, and then some.  Unfortunately this doesn't include Morning Musume because there are three members who really need to.

Okai Chisato (C-ute) will be releasing both a photobook and a DVD.  The release is set for December 24th.

Kumai Yurina (Berryz Koubou) will be releasing an Alo! Hello photobook.  This is her third release.  It is coming out December 17th.

Arihara Kanna, a graduate of C-ute, will be releasing her first photobook on December 18th.

Last but not least, Shimizu Saki, also known as Captain, (Berryz Koubou) will be releasing her first photobook and DVD.  It will be a new 2011 release on January 12th.   

Buono!'s 11th single will be released February 2nd.  Yep, they are not dead yet.  Not surprising because I think they are more popular than their perspective groups.  I will post more as covers and a PV is released.

S/mileage will release their 4th single, Shortcut.  The date is set for February 9th.  Maeda Yuuka has also cut off her long hair.  More information will be posted when it is leaked.

*:--☆--:*:--☆:*:--☆--:*:--☆--:

Hello Project isn't the only group spewing photobooks and DVDs these days.  The 48 Universe is taking advantage of AKB48's new found popularity to promote the both the Undergirls and Theatre Girls.  Here are the lucky ladies who are getting some much needed individual promotion:

Rumi Yonezawa (Team K) released her first photobook in NOVEMBER!  I would buy it, but it isn't even on CDJapan?  Rumi is pretty sexy so I expect it is pretty spectacular.  The fans are keeping the scans on the low down because she needs good sales.

On January 26th, Mika Komori (Team B) will be releasing a solo DVD.  Not much else has been leaked, but she is known to be an oddball.


Chisato Nakata (Team A) will be releasing her first photobook as well, DVD included.  It is going to be released on the 15th of this month.  Guess what!  The preorder is already sold out at CDJapan!  AKB48 is keeping up their tendency to release their PBs pretty cheap.  This is about $20!  Nice right!

"Chi-Chan - Chisato" w/ DVD

On the 22nd Nonaka Misato (Team K) and Matsubara Natsumi's (Team A) DVD "Natsumicha" will be unleashed to the masses.   


Guess who is releasing their second single.  FRENCH KISS.  Yep, they aren't a one single unit like many other idol units.  It is another anime song, but that is fine.  Here is a quote I copied:

"French Kiss' 2nd Single "If", will be used as the theme song for anime OVA "Kyo, Koi wo Hajimemasu". Continuing from the 1st single, there will be a special drama made which is set at the same school, as well as a new digital comic version, featuring the members voice acting parts of the manga."

I will post more info and such as it is released.  However, if it comes out in the next two weeks I won't because of final exams.  (cringe)  This single comes out on my birthday. . . and Rika Ishikawa's too!  Now you know when right.  Okay it is January 19th.  

Tomomi Itano (Team K) will be releasing her first solo single.  It could be considered her second because she did release a para para track.  She is one of the most popular members.  She recently modeled wedding dresses at a fashion show.  This one is also coming out January 26th. 


SKE48 will released their 5th single on February 9th, but that is not important right now.  The bigger news about SKE48 is the formation of Team E and the reshuffling of Team KII.  On top of that, four Team KII members were demoted!  Rough day for those girls.  There is no official statement as to why they were demoted, but there are rumors floating around as you'd expect.  Now each team has 16 members, unlike the flagship group. . .

Six of the eight being promoted.  The second to the left is Yui who replaced Erena on Team K.

Eight research students (also known as kenkyusei or what I like to call them trainees) are being promoted.  No news as to which teams they will get promoted to but this one is causing some stir.  Many people are guessing there are graduations on the way because this is taking them over the 50 mark.  The oldest member is Shinoda Mariko (Team A); she is 24, two years under the unofficial 26 limit.  Based on age the other possibilities are: Kojima (22), Akimoto (22), Umeda (21), Kuramochi (21), and Oshima (22).  Age is the most reliable predictor, but there tends to be many other reasons why members graduate.  Only recently, with the formation of SDN48, did members graduate from AKB because of their age.  Is there a big concert coming up because that is when they like to jump these things on you?  I am curious as to why you think such a large number were promoted (if not because of graduations), or who you believe are graduating soon (there are eight slots to fill).

Mine?  Don't take this personally because I am just going by age, outside potential, and who is not too dependent on the group:
1) Shinoda (Team A): even though popular she has plenty of outside jobs.
2) Sayaka (Team K): she does enjoy musicals and the recent scandal has demoted her from her captain position.  She loves AKB, but she did say on her blog that she was confused about her role because of K6.  She was also disappointed with her senbatsu ranking; the producers on the other hand have demoted her further down as she is no longer senbatsu.
3) Kojima (Team A): I could see her working either as a charisma model or something along those lines.  No3b would be one reason I would see her stay, but they are releasing their album.
4) Maeda (Team A): Acchan has so many options outside of AKB, but she can do it within too.  She is very popular so I am not sure.  She enjoys acting, but not as much as Erepyon did.  Unlike other members, she doesn't need AKB to stay relevant.
5) Katayama (Team A): she has been doing some musicals as well.  She has a strong voice and she is just and Undergirl.
6) Umeda (Team K): I could see her transferring to SDN48.  AKB transfer to SDN tend to be some of the most popular members because they are more well known and carry over a fan base.
7) Sato (Team B): Natsuki is attending a University right now.  She may need to focus on her studies.
8) Masuda (Team B): She is one of the best singers, she isn't that popular, and she has been doing some acting.  She was an original Team K member, so she has been around for some time.

NMB48, stationed in Osaka, will be debuting on New Years Day.  It will be a two hour show where they will be performing Team A's third stage.  They have 25 members, but only 16 are apart of Team N.  Those left over are trainees, so they may not make it to an official team.  There are some crowd favorites in A3; I think it is an excellent choice.

AKB48's 19th single, Chance no Junban, hit the number one spot today on the Oricon charts.  The grand total is 471,242, which is about the same area that I was expecting (500K).  That is even higher than Heavy Rotation's first day sales.  I am more excited to see the PVs for Team A and Team K tracks.  Three of the tracks, all of the them on Type A, are used for various promotions.  Congrats for another Top 10 first day sales of 2010!