Acchan is Graduating & Other AKB News (Oshima Yuko Scandal)

All AKB48 fans learn at some point that three day concerts mean big developments in their fandom.  What I have learned now is that I should really follow Akimoto's Google+ page.  I held out writing about some of them as they came to light because I suspected more to come.  I'll split them up into sections so they are easier to find in case you want to save time. 

   

Acchan Is Graduating:

On the final day of the Gyoumu Renraku. Tanomu zo, Katayama-buchou! concert at Saitama Super Arena, Maeda Atsuko, first generation member of AKB48, said she will be graduating.  The details, including the when it will take place, have yet to be decided.  This announcement has initiated a lot of discussions due to her position as the 'face' of the most popular Japanese Pop group.  Fans believe the ceremony will take place at Tokyo Dome.  Maeda, as of late, has been taking more acting jobs.  She along with other members have been overworked, with incidences of collapsing or other illnesses. The following is taken from Melos No Michi's post on her graduation:   

Maeda Atsuko said, "I am a first-generation member and have been here since I was 14. This was my life. It was a big decision. And I will make a second important decision. I am going to graduate.I have caused some troubles because of my mood swings, but thanks for everyone's help, I am here today. To perform in Tokyo Dome was a dream since I was 14.Now this dream has come true, at 20 years of age, I have to work hard towards my next dream.I have worked hard for the past 6-1/2 years. I have to move onto my next dream at the age of 20. I am anxious and worried because I don't know what will happen. But for the kouhai, I have to take the first step towards this. No details have been decided."

Akimoto Yasushi, on Google+, stated, "I am just at a loss for words. I didn't expect Acchan to graduate yet. She's only 20, and still has a lot of future for her in AKB48. I was expecting one of the older members like Mariko to graduate first because of her age, but definitely not Acchan. I guess it is inevitable, graduation is part and parcel of idol groups. But AKB48 will be very different without Acchan. She might not be my oshi, but she is among the people I respect the most in my life."

My reaction:
I'm not that surprised.  I've been considering how they will handle this situation for a while now.  However, I expected a lavish graduation ceremony where Acchan left with Shinoda Mariko, Oshima Yuko, and possibly Kojima Haruna.  I guess it is better to spread out the senbatsu members' graduations.  Keep in mind that a fair number of the popular members are 20-years-old or over.  My question is if she will continue her solo career or just stick to acting.  One problem is the recent accusation by Johnny's (JE) that she hurts their idols' ratings.   A significant number of popular dramas include JE idols, so if they do blacklist her she'll have difficulty getting major roles.  If that happens, I think she should hone her craft by doing edgier films.  It would also help her distance herself from her idol image.  I will make a graduation post with a playlist later.

AKB48 Will Perform At Tokyo Dome, For The First Time:
During the first concert at Saitama Super Arena, a video of Takahashi Minami was played with a countdown from 1,830M.  That number signifies the distance, in meters, from the Akihabara theatre to Tokyo Dome.  It was on of AKB48's original goals to perform at the famous Tokyo Dome.  While there is no official date, fans suspect it will be part of Maeda Atsuko's graduation.

Matsui Jurina(SKE) and Watanabe Miyuki(NMB) Will Join AKB48, Temporarily:
Matsui Jurina was surprised [clip includes previews for AKB's next single] when it was announced that on top of her current duties for SKE48, she will perform for a limited time with Team K.  Watanabe Miyuki, a front girl for NMB48, will be added to Team B as well.  Fans are concerned about Juritan's health because she seemed overwhelmed.  After a recent incident she received a three day break to recover.  Team K's Captain, Akimoto Sayaka, expressed on Google+ that they are excited to have her, but concerned about her well-being.  My guess is that, similar to CINDY joining WH7, they will be holding vacant spots left by the firing of two members after a scandal.  However, CINDY's work load is significantly less than the other two.  Now that I think about it, they could of temporarily filled the spots with SDN48 members, like Nonti or Meetan for Team K.  


Formation of Team 8 & Other Promotions Announced for Teams and Agencies:
Producer, Akimoto Yasushi, posted on Google+ that he will form Team 8, which will be the 5th Team.  Therefore, for those not keeping track, there is now a team for every character (A-K-B-4-8).  It seems he has yet to decide who will be promoted, but his reasoning was there were "many people concerned about the Research Students who didn't get promoted" (Tokyohive).  This was spurred by the announcement on the second night of the Saitama Super Arena Concert that five Research Students will be promoted to Team 4.  So now, Team 4 is full with 16 members.  Here are the following promotions:
    
New Team 4 Members:
Yuka Tano 
Karen Iwata
Rena Kato 
Juri Takahashi 
Rina Kawaei
　 　 
Agency Promotions:
Iriyama Anna & Yokoyama Yui - Ohta Pro
Yamauchi Suzuran - Hori Pro
Ichikawa Miori - Production Ogi
Nakamata Shiori & Yagami Kumi - Watanabe Pro
Oba Mina & Abe Marina - Japan Music Entertainment
Shimazaki Haruka - Big Apple
Shimada Haruka - office48
Nagao Mariya - Irving
Nakamura Mariko - Shinei Production
Takeuchi Miyu - Oh Enterprise
Matsui Rena - Grick
Takayanagi Akane - Avex Entertainment

AKB48's 26th Single & 27th Single Senbatsu Election Announcement: 
The upcoming single will be titled: Manatsu No Sound Good!.  It will be released on May 23rd and will have a 36 member senbatsu.  The previous single from this time last year was Everyday, Kachuusha, which had a large senbatsu of 26 members and followed the theme of hair accessories and swimsuits.  Members who participated in that single, who weren't frequent members of senbatsu, were passed over in favor of Team 4.  Voting ballots will be included with this single.  Here are the participating members for the A-side:
   
Team A: Maeda Atsuko, Sashihara Rino, Kojima Haruna, Kuramochi Asuka, Shinoda Mariko, Takajo Aki, & Takahashi Minami.
Team K: Oshima Yuko, Itano Tomomi, Miyazawa Sae, Yokoyama Yui, and Minegishi Minami.
Team B: Kashiwagi Yuki, Watanabe Mayu, Kitahara Rie, and Kasai Tomomi.
Team 4: Shimada Haruka, Ishikawa Miori, Iriyama Anna, Takeuchi Miyu, Abe Maria, Yamauchi Suzuran, Shimazaki Haruka, Iwata Karen, Kato Rena, Takahashi Juri, & Kawaei Rina.
SKE48: Matsui Rena, Matsui Jurina, Takayanagi Akane, Kimoto Kanon, and Kizaki Yuria.
NMB48: Yamamoto Sayaka, Watanabe Miyuki, & Jo Erika.
HKT48: Kodama Haruka
  
The 4th annual Senbatsu Election, for the 27th single, will take place at the Nippon Budokan on June 6th.  Due to the increasing number of idols who are in the running management has increased the number of spots available.  The top rank of senbatsu will go to those who rank from one to sixteen.  The following ranks are from 17 to 32, 33 to 48, and 49 t0 64.  Now that there are 64 spots available it will be even more emotionally taxing if a member of AKB48 doesn't rank.  This should also encourage fans, who voted for likely senbatsu members in the hope to increase or hold their rank, to vote for members of a lower or unknown rank.  It is unknown if Acchan will participate in the upcoming election.  Although, it will be even more difficult for members to get into senbatsu this year because there is only 16 spots.  

Another Oshima Yuko Scandal:
The media in Japan has been in a flutter since March 12th, due to the star-studded  marriage announcement of actor/ director Oguri Shun and actress/ model Yamada Yu.  They officially registered two days later, the anniversary when they started dating four years ago.  They were planning on getting married in July of last year, but it was postponed due to the earthquake and tsunami.  Oguri Shun has a history of cheating, but according to Yamada Yu's friends she is willing to look past it.  
   

Here is where Oshima Yuko comes into the equation.  A rumor has recently surfaced that Shun "was allegedly caught frantically hitting on [Oshima Yuko] in the waiting period for his marriage" (Source: omoxi).  Shun might of asked an actor friend (referred to as 'T'), who had previously worked with Oshima, to set up a get together.  Supposedly, the get together took place and that there was a "good atmosphere."  Shun has a reputation, but it won't help Oshima's if she is portrayed as a home-wrecker.  It will be funny if another scandal comes out about her dating someone else, maybe she will get a Nino-like reputation.  (Nino of Arashi has a reputation of being a "sexual powerhouse.")      

AKB48's Anime Preview Released:
The premise of the anime is that in the future idols are banned.  There is an illegal idol group called AKB0048, who take up the spirit of AKB48.  The girls are labeled as terrorists and are attacked.  They fight back and defend their stage and fans.  The 77th generation Research Students are played by idols, and the legendary AKB48 members are played by voice actresses: 
  Maeda Atsuko – Sawashiro Miyuki 
Oshima Yuko – Kanda Akemi 
Kashiwagi Yuki – Horie Yui 
Watanabe Mayu – Tamura Yukari 
Kojima Haruna – Noto Mamiko 
Takahashi Minami – Shiraishi Ryoko 
Itano Tomomi – Ueda Kana 
Miyazawa Sae – Nakahara Mai 
Akimoto Sayaka – Kawasumi Ayako