Shimazaki Haruka gets backlash for Ghibli ambitions then retracts her statement

Shimazaki Haruka who announced her dreams of being a seiyuu for Ghibli Studios during her graduation announcement has provoked criticisms from anime fans and antis.

This was due to her talking about not having the abilities to become an actress yet, then following it up with her dreams of being a seiyuu for Ghibli. This made it seem she could easily become a seiyuu even if acting doesn’t work out.

“Paruru please don’t become a seiyuu for Ghibli.”
“Is she dumb? Looking down on the seiyuus?”
“I liked her but i hope she didn’t speak of it so casually…this isn’t what anyone can do.”

On the 4th October, Shimazaki tweeted “I don’t remember talking about wanting to become a seiyuu. Also, it isn’t easy to become one if i say i will.”

She later deleted these tweets.

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AKB48 Shimazaki Haruka announces graduation through CM

Shimazaki Haruka announced her graduation from AKB48 through a new advertisement for “Baitoru”, a job seeking website.

“I will be ending my activities with AKB within the year,” she reported. Her last handshake will be Christmas Eve, and last stage performance will be 2 days after.

Regarding her future she said “I can’t say i’m going to be an actress with my abilities now, but there’s the meaning of being positive about it. It has always been my dream to become a seiyuu for Ghibli.”

Source

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Even tho i could see it coming, i expected some news about Kojiharu to come around first. Anyway this tie-in with Baitoru is such a untrendy way of graduating.

Excerpts from 29th Feb episode of Momm!

In this week’s Momm!, the new generation of AKB48 makes a guest appearance to promote “Kimi wa Melody”. Below are interesting excepts from the show.

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Paruru and her surprisingly warm attitude towards Nakai

Translated this segment as Paruru used to shy away from her interviews with Nakai. I remember in last year’s UTAGE, she actually told Nakai to refrain from talking to her.

Paruru: Nakai san, how are you?
Nakai: Yes, how are you? Did you lose weight?
Paruru: Yes! You noticed!
Nakai: What did you do?
Paruru: It was stress. *very bright smile*
Nakai falls over and says: But everyone has stress!
Nakai then notices Mayu/Sasshi/Minegishi serving drinks.
Nakai: What..so the seniors are doing work while the juniors sit?
He points at Mayu and says: Just now you put on a scary face!
Mayu:No! It was just a good face.
Nakai to Paruru: This is stressful too? The stress from the higher ups being enthusiastic.
Paruru: No….but today i came because i was curious if Nakai is fine.
Nakai: You came because of that? Isn’t it because of the new single?

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Payuyu relationship during New Generation Introduction corner

*Skip Yuria,Kojimako,Juri*
Nakai to Sakura: I haven’t met you?
Sakura: Yes, i came here before. With HKT48…
Nakai: Oh i have a deep impression from that time.
Sakura: What do you remember?
Nakai: Um…i don’t know…(*everyone laughs) Sashihara, who are you closest with?
Sasshi: Sakura
Nakai to Mayu: What about you?
Mayu: Eh…..everyone! (*laughs sheepishly)
Sasshi: She’s really bad at this! (*referring to interacting with members)
Mayu: But we’re all friendly!
Nakai: Tell us the charm of the members.
Mayu: Eh……(*tries hard to say something)
Nakai: Do you know who is who? Have you girls talked to her before?
Minegishi: Do you have someone whom you promised to have a meal with?
Nakai: Ah…Shimazaki and you definitely don’t have a relationship?
Mayu: Not really. Our hometowns are the same, Saitama. We’re also the same age.
Nakai: But don’t you go out for meals?
Paruru: She’s my senior, so no.
Sasshi: Paruru entered AKB because she looked up to Mayuyu.
Paruru: Yes. I can’t call her ‘Mayuyu’. It’s ‘Mayuyu san’.
Nakai: But you’re the same age. You’re scary, Watanabe!
Mayu: It’s not because i’m scary.
Nakai to Paruru: Ah, you fell sick because of Watanabe!
Mayu: That’s not true right? Please let me off!
Nakai to Mayu: If you don’t get closer to them, you won’t have any friends!
Mayu: I do have friends!

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Members and their cleanliness habits

Minegishi: I placed a bottle of vegetable juice on the side table. It expired after a short while and it was difficult to find a timing to throw it out. I thought i’d do it later, but one day when i was in the bedroom, there was a sound of something exploding. I was so scared thinking there was someone in the house that i creeped out only to see my sofa turning green. It was troublesome to clean it so i just draped a cloth over it.

Minegishi: There was a time when i wanted to cook nabe,so i took the pot out but it dropped. Then the leftovers from a previous nabe spilled out.

Nakai: No wonder, i always thought that you smell!
Minegishi: But i do clean myself properly.
Nakai: What about Sashihara’s house?
Minegishi: She has a room which she told me not to enter. When i opened the door to it, it was so dirty inside!
Sasshi: I put everything inside.
Nakai: Do you live alone? What about the rest?
Paruru: It’s a secret. (*Nakai is shocked.)
Nakai: Please ask me the same question! (*He mimics Paruru’s expression when she answered his question.)

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Watanabe Mayu and her love for cosplay

Minegishi: Mayuyu just said that she doesn’t play with the members, but i got attracted to danso cafes previously. It’s a place often seen in Akihabara where girls will dress as guys and serve customers.When i told her, for the first time Mayuyu said she wanted to come along.

Mayu: I love things about the neutral gender.
Minegishi: She also does it herself. I think she loves cosplay.
Nakai looks at a photo of Mayu cosplaying as Anna from movie “Frozen”
Mayu: During this Halloween event in Disneyland, customers can cosplay to enter, so that’s what i did in my private time. I stayed in a hotel close to Disneyland the night before, woke up early to do my makeup. That’s all my personal clothes.
Nakai: If your boyfriend knows about it, he’d be so shocked.

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Paruru talks about getting recognized in the streets

Nakai: Shimazaki don’t you get recognised when you go shopping?
Paruru: At this time, i’d pretend not to hear anything. When they touch me and ask if I’m Paruru, i’d say no.
Nakai: But they’d insist you’re Paruru?
Paruru: When i say no, they’d just clear off.

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Performance below

Shimazaki Haruka will release 1st photo book “ParU”

AKB48’s Shimazaki Haruka will release her fashion photo book “Paruru no Subete” on 20th November.

The 20-pager will include snaps of her private fashion, advice about makeup and beauty tips. It will also include scenes of her in a bathtub and bareback shots.

A females-only event will be organised for fans who buy the photo book.

Source

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Purchase her photobook below:

Shimazaki Haruka Photobook

 

Akimoto Yasushi touches on AKB48 Kashiwagi Yuki’s recent scandal

On the 13th June 2015, Akimoto Yasushi appeared on a radio show and talked about AKB48 Kashiwagi Yuki’s scandal with NEWS Tegoshi Yuya.

The MC first showed some care by commenting “It has been tough for you.”

Akimoto then opens up,”Yes, various things have happened. What should be done about it…everytime it happens, the members of AKB are of course living things, so somehow when I create a format for everyone to follow, not all can accept it. You can’t predict it can you?”

When asked what will happen to Kashiwagi, Akimoto said “What will happen? I also don’t know. I am asking the same to my staff.”

With several scandals having happened to the other members so far, Akimoto san has always managed to twist the situation around and turned it into a plus. “It was interesting,but the days when i can do this and that is over. Up till now, there has been smart(or stylish?) ways to extend the careers of underground idols when negative things occur. But increasingly, whatever you do it doesn’t seem that way anymore. It’s difficult to make it interesting now,” he said.

On the string of scandals that have occurred – “It is tough but when people get together and work towards the same goal, different things will happen. Some(fans) will cheer you on whilst some will fault you, “said Akimoto, indicating that he has no choice but to let fans decide how they want to receive the scandal.

Source

Edited the last sentence becos apparently some are taking the word “judgement” too literally. 

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In the radio show, Akimoto san also talked a little about Sashihara and Shimazaki Haruka. I could not catch everything but he said Sashihara’s successful stint in HKT may or may not be a good thing. Several years ago, he thought Shimazaki Haruka was promising but one day a magazine described Paruru as “salty” on their cover and he learnt from the theater managers that she had no enthusiasm so she went through a pitiful period.

AKB48 General Elections 2015: Final look at China fans’ campaigns

Final Edit – Final votes reported for all except Jurina. (Don’t read if you think it’s gonna be spoilers.)

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I thought i’d give the international fans a deeper understanding on how the Chinese campaigns work, since last year it was widely reported that the Chinese fans had a hand in pushing Watanabe Mayu to the throne. This suggests that the elections are no longer a domestic affair, but how much support will the Chinese fans give this time?

Below is a list of Group48 members who have got significant campaigning going on in the Baidu Tieba threads(fyi that is where the activities are concentrated). I have ranked them based on how much funds their fans have contributed so far. *Note that these funds is not all-inclusive since there may be other campaigns who don’t report their earnings, and there will be fans who choose to vote directly instead of participating in crowd-funding. Fan clubs will announce the number of votes they’ve contributed before final results.

7. Yamamoto Sayaka

Amassed funds: 125,000RMB
Reported Votes: 2500  4647
Sayanee entered Kami7 last year and is now the handshake queen of 48G. However, her explosion of popularity in Japan is in stark contrast to the growth in her chinese fanbase. Much like the fans from her hometown of Osaka, her chinese fans seem apathetic and not at all interested in pushing her to the top.

6. Takahashi Minami

Amassed funds: 228,817 283,476 RMB
Reported Votes: 4576  5957
Takamina wants to aim for No.1 this year before she resigns in December. Her fans are reportedly quite happy now that they have amassed funds equivalent to last year, but they are equally aware that this amount will at best keep her in 9th place, not any higher. Lets just say that the Japanese fans will have much work to do if they want Takamina to see her wish being granted.

5. Shimazaki Haruka

Amassed funds: 462,601 RMB
Reported Votes: 9252 12,675
Paruru’s fans are the most creative when it comes to running campaigns. One of them is so fun that i’d find it hard not to participate. Basically they’ve created this imaginary restaurant called “Paruru Cafe” and the menu only has 2 items – the Salty combo or Sweet combo. The Salty combo consists of Shio Ramen,French Onion Soup, Croissant, Salty Popcorn and Salt Soda Drink while the Sweet combo consists of Borscht,Sukiyaki,Melon Buns,Almond Sweets and Juice. Each combo costs 111 RMB, and whilst you don’t really get to eat anything, you can see eventually which combo is more popular amongst fans – guesses anyone?

4. Miyawaki Sakura

Amassed funds: 400,000 RMB
Reported Votes: 8000 12,591
I previously posted that Sakura had only 10,000RMB worth of amassed funds. It turns out that she had more than that. The entire Sakura camp(including Japanese fans) are working hard to land her at Kami5 this year. It is said that her vote count will reach 80,000.

3. Sashihara Rino

Amassed funds: 661,345 674,898 RMB
Reported Votes: 13,226 14,046
Sashihara has the smallest fanbase amongst all the other Kami level members in 48 Group. According to her site, the 35,000 number of followers is only about 1/7 of Takamina’s followers. However, it seems like they are the ones proving that action(and perhaps wealth) is what matters, since they’ve easily surpassed Takamina’s funds more than 3 times.

Sashihara has promised to do a swimsuit concert this year if she wins the elections.

2. Matsui Jurina 

Amassed funds: 760,000 RMB
Vote Equivalent: 15,200 (*No final report.)
Much of the lobbying this year is centered around talk of Jurina turning 18, how they don’t want to make her cry, and how after this year she’ll have no more excuse to use her age as the reason for aiming No.1. There is not much fanfare about her campaigns, simply pleas asking fans to help fulfill the target.

Meanwhile, Jurina herself has promised to take on the “punishment” of riding on what may be the world’s scariest roller coaster – ACROBAT, if she does not take the crown this year.

1. Kashiwagi Yuki

Amassed funds: 1,200,000 RMB
Reported Votes: 24,000  38,000
If we were to talk about the fanbase who will go all out for their idol this year, it would probably be Yukirin’s. Ahead of the sousenkyo preliminary results announcement, her chinese fanbase have already surpassed last year’s standards and are even making Mayu fans panic.

According to Yukirin’s interview in the Sousenkyo Guidebook, it was mentioned that she has never specifically asked for a position as she wanted to “leave an exit route for herself”, in case she fell. Now that she’s one of the older members and probably wouldn’t have much chances to participate in Sousenkyo anymore, she wants to “push herself to the edge” and aim for the top. Yukirin has promised to challenge an event worthy of Sashihara’s swimsuit concert if she wins the elections.

0. Watanabe Mayu

Amassed funds: ~930,000 RMB in May 2015
Vote Equivalent:18,600 (*No final report.) 34,000 (Updated as of June 2016)

I didn’t give Watanabe Mayu a ranking because her campaign results is quite a mystery! What i listed here is the funds accumulated in May 2015. How much they’ve accumulated in the dark is unknown.

If you ask me how Mayuyu’s campaign is faring so far, i’d say that the enthusiasm is still there, judging by the variety of campaigns which started in the New Year. My favorite campaign is one where fans donate private items(cosmetics,anime collectibles etc) to those who participated in the crowdfunding.

However, there are lots of complaints about sabotaging going on, or journalists harassing the big voters, fans withdrawing their votes etc. Their team has decided to keep the results private this year.

AKB48 40th single revealed to be a dance number headed by Shimazaki Haruka

Updated with live performance from their concert..

AKB48’s 40th single has been performed during today’s concert in Saitama Super Arena and it seems to be the dance number that all fans have been waiting for since “UZA”.

Titled “Bokutachi wa Tatakawanai” (“We won’t fight”), it will be released on the 20th May 2015.

The all-important center position goes to AKB48’s Shimazaki Haruka(20). Shimazaki was once the center for 29th single in 2012, after winning that year’s Janken tournament(an event where the senbatsu members are chosen based on the game of scissors-paper-stone). This will be her 2nd time fronting the group.

Commenting on her role in what seems like the toughest dance song in AKB’s history, Shimazaki said “It was hard..to the extent that my shoes were almost torn off my feet. Maybe it was fate that i should be chosen for dance senbatsus.”

32 Senbatsu Members below:

Shimazaki Haruka(Center)
Kato Rena
Matsui Jurina
Miyawaki Sakura
Takahashi Minami
Yokoyama Yui
Watanabe Mayu
Sashihara Rino
Kojima Haruna
Kashiwagi Yuki
Matsui Rena
Yamamoto Sayaka
Kizaki Yuria
Owada Nana
Tano Yuka
Kawamoto Saya
Kawaei Rina
Ikoma Rina
Mukaichi Mion
Suda Akari
Miyazawa Sae
Minegishi Minami
Kojima Mako
Watanabe Miyuki
Muto Tomu
Kitagawa Ryoha
Takahashi Juri
Oshima Ryoka
Sakaguchi Nagisa
Kodama Haruka
Nakano Ikumi
Okada Nana

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“I might be the dance representative?” says Paruru

The upcoming song “Bokutachi wa Tatakawanai” is said to have the most difficult dance in the history of AKB releases. But the center went to Shimazaki Haruka, who together with Kojima Haruna ditched the dance songs during last year’s Tokyo Dome concert for the less demanding float rides. She seemed to sigh a relief when the performance of this song was over.

Takahashi Minami commented “It’s so tough i’m going to die…Paruru is the center of a dance number. You’ve practised hard right?”

Fellow member Yokoyama Yui added “I know that Paruru can’t dance, when i see her trying her hardest..” She couldn’t finish as Shimazaki Haruka cut her off with a “Thank You” ,sensing a long-winded talk ahead.

Shimazaki displayed her usual unique brand of humor, saying “Actually I might be the dance representative of this group!”

Takahashi Minami suggested that she do a backturn in that case, and Shimazaki declared “I can do it!”

Source

I cannot wait for this performance! A Paruru who can dance?!

AKB48 Shimazaki Haruka flares up during theater performance

AKB48 member Shimazaki Haruka (19) flared up for real during one of their theater performances in Akihabara theater on 19th December.

It was the birthday of Nakamura Mariko(20), and the letter which Shimazaki Haruka wrote to Nakamura was read out. However, the contents of the letter seems to have been switched without her knowledge, causing her to flare up, 180-degree change from her usual warm demeanor.

The edited contents were about how Shimazaki finds Nakamura great as she always uses opportunities to move forward, and how she shines at doing MC-ing etc.

When Shimazaki heard it, her expression changed and said “That’s not right! Who did this? I’m so pissed! This is somewhat unbelievable!”

Kashiwagi Yuki(22) who was standing behind her calmed her down somewhat, but later when everyone’s letters to Nakamura had been read, Shimazaki explained herself.

“I had written content that was more proper, but this is stupid and it feels like i’m being bullied. I’m angry now, which is rare.”

On the internet, this incident is being discussed fervently amongst the fans.

“What’s wrong with the staff? Why are they editing the member’s letters?”
“Paruru had wanted to express her well wishes in her own way…it would be weird if she doesn’t get angry”

Did this incident really happen in the theater that day? In case it was true, we asked the staff at AKB theater why Paruru’s letter was edited and this reply came back.

“We have no reason to answer this question.”

Source

Shimazaki Haruka’s first photobook sells 28,000 copies, rank 1st on Oricon

Shimazaki Haruka’s photobook, “Paruru Komaru”, has sold 28 thousand copies in its first week, capturing first place in the Oricon photobook ranking. It is also #2 in the overall book ranking for Oricon.

The photobook which features Shimazaki Haruka travelling around the 5 cities where AKB48 will be performing their dome tours, has done quite well considering sales tend to suffer after the general elections.

Here’s a look at the estimated first week sales for other members’ photobooks and where Paruru stands:

Sashihara Rino 『さしこ』 初週 5.7万部
Kashiwagi Yuki 『ゆ、ゆ、ゆきりん・・・』 初週 4.7万部
Watanabe Mayu 『まゆゆ』 初週 4.5万部
Oshima Yuko 『優子』初週 4.1万部
Maeda Atsuko 『不器用』 初週3.8万部
Watanabe Miyuki 『みる神』 初週 2.9万部
Shimazaki Haruka 『ぱるる、困る。』 初週 2.8万部
Yamamoto Sayaka 『さや神』 初週 2.7万部
Matsui Rena 『きんぎょ』 初週 2.6万部

More previews to her photobook below:

Credits to PJ48Channel@Facebook

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Link to purchase Paruru’s first photobook!

Shimazaki Haruka First Shashinshu (Photo Book) “Paruru, Komaru.”

Risa Yoshiki

Itano Tomomi, Shimazaki Haruka show off their sisterly bond

AKB48’s Itano Tomomi and Shimazaki Haruka attended an event for Samantha Thavasa group’s fashion talk show, held at the Tokyo Sky Tree on 28th June 2013. Itano was there as the model for Samantha Vega, while Paruru was there as the model for Will Selection.

The two who are close in private started off by talking about Itano’s latest CM for Samantha Vega, which was filmed in New York. When Paruru was asked about Itano’s CM, she said “I watched it on TV at home. As my family are all fans of her, we were in awe.”

Itano also talked about the first time when she met Paruru. “I thought she looked cute. I’m not someone who starts a conversation, but later she sat next to me on a music show, so i talked to her again, and the conversation was interesting so i warmed up to her. Later, i got a dog who looks like her so there’s a sort of familiarity when i see her.” Upon hearing this, Paruru responded “So we’re not sisters, i’m like her pet.”

When asked if they borrow clothes from each other, Itano said Paruru would never borrow since their tastes are different. “When i give her advice during our shopping trips, she’ll say ‘I’ll think about it..’ and end it there,” said Itano. Paruru explained “That’s because her sense is so good that i can’t keep up.”

They also recalled an episode when they went out together while filming the 32nd single music video in Fukuoka. Even though there was only a break of 45 mins, they risked an oncoming storm and went out to a park to play.

At the end of the event, Itano said “I don’t go out to eat with other juniors, only Paruru seems to click with me.” For Paruru, she was happy to have Tomochin who takes care of her like an elder sister and brings her out to eat.

Moving on to Itano’s upcoming graduation, Paruru said she’s already feeling lonely. Tomochin promised to look after her even after her graduation but she’s worried if Paruru will be OK alone, to which Paruru replied “I’m worried!”

Source