This Week's BAMFs

Shinoda Mariko and Takajo Aki

Again, I have too much of a life that I couldn't find anyone for this week.  (sad face)  So I picked out one not relevant for this week.  This is in honor of their work in the phrase museum segment of AKBingo!.  The evidence is after the jump.  Enjoy.

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Graduation Photobooks and Moar!

There are a lot of photobooks being release, especially from AKB48 members.  It seems H!P is following AKB48's lead by releasing cheaper photobooks that don't have a hardback.  They make a great gift for the holidays, or you can do what I did and put all the merch on her Birthday/ Holiday wish list.  Have fun shopping:

Oshima Yuko's 3rd PB - L.A. 
1429yen 
I rarely preorder photobooks unless I know I really want it and I think it will sell out fast on CDJapan.  One of the reasons why is that I need to see enough previews beforehand, because I can't just go into the store and preview it.  Yuko is a goofball but also is really sexy, which comes across in this photobook release.  She obviously shot this in LA.  The photos have a gritty raw look to them which fits my image of LA (yes I've been there). 

Takahashi Minami 1st PB - TAKAMINA 
1143yen 
ONLY 4 COPIES LEFT AT CDJAPAN!  Takahashi Minami is also a goofy character, but she is quite modest in comparison to most of the other members.  Therefore, you won't see as much skin.  I was surprised at how cute Minami was in the previews I saw.  Now I don't think there will be any swimsuit shots, but she hasn't been wearing any bikinis lately.

Momoko Tsugunaga 5th PB - Momochi Zukan

2800yen
This one comes with a making of DVD.  Momo is one of my favorite H!P idols.  Momo is one of the most spastic, possibly the most spastic, idol ever.  I can't believe she is going to college.  She still has like the same face she did when she debuted.  

Kamei Eri's Graduation PB - Eririn
2200yen
This is a little more expensive than the last two because it includes a making of DVD.  Eri always releases wonderful photobooks and the only reason why I've held back is because they are usually over $40.  This photobook focuses on what she is like or would of been like as a normal adult.  We have the expected, sexy swimsuit shots.  However, this time we see her doing daily things like her on the train, playing tennis, working out, working as both an OL and a waitress.  Very natural photobook, which isn't too odd for Eri considering she has a very charming personality.

Ono Erena's Graduation PB 
1600yen
I am surprised about how little I've heard about this photobook.  It is going to be released tomorrow!  Like Eri was for Morning Musume, Erena has been a long time popular member of AKB48.  This is the only one that has yet to be released, so there are less previews floating around.  However, Erena's past photobooks and photo shoots have all been really good.  What I really love about Erepyon is how she is able to naturally walk the line between a child, a teen, and an adult.  She is adorable and sexy.  She is the most full figured out of the three that I've talked about, which I like.  The extra somethin' somethin' provides a lot of OMG cleavage shots.  This is my iPhone wallpaper actually.

Shinoda Mariko's 3rd PB - Mariko
1400yen
Now this one has been out for QUITE a while now, but I had to recommend it at some point.  I'm low on cash so it has been sitting on my want list for some time now.  Now I never thought of myself as a big Mariko fan, but she has been growing on me and seeing all the previews for this definitely helped.  She is a professional model so I wasn't surprised by how photogenic she was, but I was surprised by how much personality shined through.  Even though she comes off as a cool character (and was known for her poker face?) she is still a little bit of a goof.  She says harsh things, especially to guys, and has made an idiot of herself on AKBingo!, but that is why I love her.

Is 26 AKB48's Unlucky Number?

I recalled recently that during a SDN48 appearance (Show Battle) that they mentioned the number 26.  Is there a specific graduate age of AKB48?  I looked into it.  Cindy, Yukari, and Haruka were transferred before they reached the age of 26.  Noro Kayo and Megumi Ohori were both about the age of 26 when they were transferred, and they were the oldest members of AKB48.  So why do I bring this up?  It is not to discuss the whole issue of idol groups trying to stay young, but a certain someone is approaching the dreaded number.  The oldest member of AKB48 is currently: Shinoda Mariko.

Shinoda Mariko is 24, two years to go.  But, what about those who were transferred before they hit 26?  Could it be that they were moved to help SDN48's debut?  Shinoda is one of the most popular members of AKB48, so it would be hard to transfer her (even if you don't consider if she would be even willing to transfer).  Then if you think about it, both Yukari and Cindy were also senbatsu members.  If you are not concerned enough about Shinoda, Yukari and Haruka were born in the same year as Sayaka, Yuko, and other members of AKB48.  Akimoto has already stated that Yuko has years until she would need to graduate, but she is the most popular member right now.  Sayaka, on the other hand, has dropped in senbatsu and general position.  The producers have moved Sayaka to an Undergirls spot.  The teams were shuffled recently, so it is unlikely that there will be anymore transfers or graduates right now.  Just something to be concerned about for the future.

Goo Rankings - Who in AKB48 is Your Ideal Girlfriend?

46. Chikano Rina
46. Nakatsuka Tomomi
40. Sato Sumire
40. Yonezawa Rumi
40. Umeda Ayaka
40. Uchida Mayumi
40. Kikuchi Ayaka
40. Nakata Chisato
35. Kobayashi Kana
35. Suzuki Mariya
35. Oku Manami
35. Fujie Reina
35. Katayama Haruka
25. Kasai Tomomi <- WTF
25. Masuda Yuka
25. Hirajima Natsumi
25. Komori Mika
25. Ishida Haruka
25. Nonaka Misato
25. Nito Moeno
25. Tanabe Miku
25. Matsubara Natsumi
25. Oya Shizuka
19. Kitahara Rie
19. Sato Natsuki
19. Sato Amina
19. Nakagawa Haruka
19. Kuramochi Asuka
19. Nakaya Sayaka
16. Matsui Sakiko
16. Maeda Ami
16. Takajyo Aki
14. Miyazaki Miho
14. Iwasa Misaki
12. Ota Aika
12. Sashihara Rino
11. Minegishi Minami
9. Miyazawa Sae
9. Akimoto Sayaka
8. Watanabe Mayu
7. Kashiwagi Yuki
6. Kojima Haruna
5. Takahashi Minami
4. Itano Tomomi
3. Oshima Yuko
2. Maeda Atsuko
1. Shinoda Mariko

To be honest it is hard to picture Mariko as the ideal girlfriend.  I'm not familiar with goo readers so I don't know the demographic.  On the other hand, who wouldn't want to date a model?  I mean look at those legs!  I wonder if they were familiar with her character.  I guess Japanese guys are masochists.  I could generalize the top three as Model girlfriend, beautiful girlfriend, and girlfriend with big boobs.  They all have good personalities, and the top choices similarly reflect senbatsu.  Then there are some rankings that did not.  I know some wota are going to be excited that Iwasa got ranked 14th.  I boldfaced the members who ranked higher than I expected.  Then there is Kasai Tomomi.  I thought guys liked cute girls!  Michishige Sayumi and Ishikawa Rika get good feedback from guys and they have a similar character.  Hmm, maybe the guys see what I see too: that Tomo~mi is such a lesbo!  (I'm kidding, kind of.)  I mean did you notice how off the wall she was during the DANSO episodes.  Not to mention when Sae cosplayed as a Takarazuka actress.  I've seen plenty of pics of her flirting with Sae.  (I'm having too much fun messing with Tomo~mi.)  Congrats ladies!