The concert features Takamina’s last performances in Yokohama Stadium, starting with Maeda Atsuko’s appearance for a duet of “Omoi de no Hotondo”. Fellow ex-AKB48 graduates Oshima Yuko, Itano Tomomi, Shinoda Mariko also make their appearances, making it the grandest send-off for Takamina. A total of 31 songs featuring Takamina as center were performed.
The DVD titled Shuku Takahashi Minami Sotsugyo “148.5cm no Mita Yume” in Yokohama Stadium will be released on 20th July 2016.
Tokyo Sports claims to have gotten insider info that AKB48 1st generation member Kojima Haruna is planning her graduation to coincide with Takahashi Minami’s concert in March 2016. Tokyo Sports has time and again speculated on her graduation date, and whilst Kojima has always avoided realising Tokyo Sports’ speculations, it seems like she’s finally come to a decision.
Insider says “They are from the same generation and it might be due to Takamina’s influence. Kojima is saying she’ll have pressure doing her own graduation concert so she wants to graduate with Takamina. Her family is also troubled. Last year, she invited her family to watch Kouhaku since it would be her last performance with AKB48. However she did not graduate. She also thought about the tough times ahead if she decided to go solo, so she thought it’d be fine to not graduate too.”
However, with the recent “passing of baton” going on with the younger generations, she changed her mind and seems ready now.
Insider predicts that she will make the announcement to graduate with Takamina during AKB48’s annual Request Hour event in January 2016, and she’ll use the first day of Takamina’s concert (26th March 2016) for her own graduation concert.
It seems like management is also reviewing the possibilities of AKB48 43rd single(which features former members Maeda Atsuko, Oshima Yuko, Shinoda Mariko and Itano Tomomi)as Kojima’s graduation single.
In another article where Takamina was interviewed by Tokyo Sports about this, Takamina actually pleaded with Tokyo Sports not to write anymore about Kojiharu’s graduation as it’d just force her to postpone her plans.
AKB48’s 42nd single will feature exiting member Takahashi Minami as center. Takahashi announced her graduation last year and this is her last single. This appointment comes 10 years after after the group released their indies debut “Sakura no Hanabiratachi” in 2006.
Takahashi was moved to tears by fans’ cheers and said “The song is a orthodox idol song! I’m really happy to be handed a idol song at the end. It is not a message from me to fans. I want this song to be something that fans can love and other members can sing even after my graduation.
The senbatsu members are Iriyama Anna, Kashiwagi Yuki, Kato Rena, Kizaki Yuria, Kitahara Rie, Kojima Haruna, Sashihara Rino, Shimazaki Haruka, Matsui Jurina, Minegishi Minami, Miyazawa Sae, Miyawaki Sakura, Yamamoto Sayaka, Yokoyama Yui and Watanabe Mayu.
Coupling song will be the theme song for NHK’s morning drama “Asa ga Kita” titled “365nichi no Kami Hikouki”.
Decided to dedicate more “airtime” for my favourite SKE48 member Matsui Rena since she’s graduating soon. I hope Music Station gives her a special graduation stage next week just like all the former top members. Rena certainly deserves it!
Full MVs for “Mae no Meri” and “2588 days”
I was expecting alot of tear jerking footage of Matsui Rena since this is her last single but this music video was very bright just like the song itself. What i liked are the natural scenes of members surprising Rena with a party as she arrived in Okinawa. No script, no directing. The members each pass a sunflower to Rena and relay their personal messages. From there you can see what a motherly figure Rena has been for the group. One scene which struck me was the backview shot of Jurina crying. I’ve never been much of a Jurina fan but she must be feeling really lonely now that her co-pillar is leaving.
This is Matsui Rena’s last solo song “2588 days”, a documentary style music video showing footage from auditions, concerts, sousenkyos.
Matsui Rena x Takahashi Minami talk on Mujack
Matsui Rena appeared on Mujack hosted by Takahashi Minami and chatted about private topics.
Takamina: Who are the members you’ve dined out with so far(just the 2 of you)? Rena: Takayanagi Akane only.
(Takamina is shocked.) Only her? So i’m the 2nd member you’re dining together with? Rena: Yes
Takamina: Your graduation is a big thing for SKE48. Are you worried? Rena: How do i say it? When i decided to graduate, i believed i had done what i can, so naturally i had to take the next step. Surely, when i pull out, something new will takeover. More than being worried, i’m looking forward to seeing how everyone creates a new SKE48.
Takamina: I’m most worried about Jurina. What are your feelings about Jurina? I thought that you were quite troubled in the past since Jurina is childish. She has to lead SKE and when she doesn’t know how to go about doing it you’d have to guide her. What is her presence like to you? Rena: She’s like a sister to me, so i didn’t spoil her. (Takamina: Surprisingly you were rather strict?) Well she’s young and i can just praise her by saying she’s cute. But as we’re also colleagues,during times like @#$@#$ i’d say No, and when i see her feeling weak i’d encourage her. I think i was a rather strict sister.
Takamina: Did your relationship change after you announced graduation? Rena: I didn’t change but Jurina will keep cuddling up to me, saying she’s lonely for example.
Takamina reads a letter to Rena: What i want to say is – Thank You.Even though Rena is straightforward,principled and concentrates well, i think you’re unable to multi-task. Your body seems weak too, so i was often worried.Also, you’re more of a loner and not accustomed to group activities but for the sake of SKE48, you didn’t choose to graduate immediately. As part of WMatsui, you led SKE48 together with Jurina. Jurina was quite the child in the past, and the person who supported her was Rena.You were like her sister, but now that both of you have grown up, seeing how you discuss the future of SKE48 and sometimes disagree, i think you’re both no longer sisters but friends. Honestly, i’m not able to imagine SKE48 without Rena, but since you’ve decided to graduate now, you must have seen the new SKE48. I’m also graduating myself. There must be lots of things that can’t be started without graduating first. This applies not only to the group, but also yourself. So please move ahead to realise your dreams as an actress.
Rena reads a letter to Takamina:To me, AKB48 was my idol. When i first saw your performance “Skirt Hirari” on TV, i never stopped being a fan. Entering SKE48, being selected for AKB48 Senbatsu, standing on the same stage as the people i admired, i never thought this day would come.When i first entered senbatsu “Juunen Sakura”, i couldn’t remember the dance moves but Takamina encouraged me and gave me courage. We were the same age, but you were so mature. In such circumstances, you didn’t complain.I learnt alot, and i think alot of members gained courage the same way. When i talked about graduation the day after sousenkyo this year, you supported me just like the first day you talked to me. We will go on different paths from now on, but you’ll always be my star. I want to go to Takamina san’s live and cheer in a loud voice. This was my dream as a fan in middle school. From now on, please continue to show a cool side to everyone.
WMatsui talk on Nikkan Sports
SKE48 Matsui Rena(24) will be graduating on the 31st August after her last theater show. She has been active as part of WMatsui together with Matsui Jurina(18) since 2008. Even though Nikkan Sports got the scoop on her graduation first, Rena had already called Jurina to tell her the news 1 day before she announced graduation.
Q: Rena announced her graduation in June.
Rena: I wanted to tell the first generation members first. But, Jurina was sad after the sousenkyo, so it was bad timing to tell her. While i was worrying about it, Nikkan Sports had reported it.
Jurina: Laughs
Rena: But i had contacted her 1 day before the report came out.
Jurina: It was good that you told me, otherwise i’d be mad.
Rena: She cried hard over the phone.
Jurina: I was practically hyperventilating.
Rena: She was more emotional than me.
Rena: Oya Masana had asked me when I was planning to graduate. I thought everyone had an inkling about it.Although the day was decided, Masana told everyone my graduation hasn’t been approved yet.
Jurina: Masana was happily telling me that you won’t be graduating. *laughs*
Q: Your relationship?
Jurina: Soulmate will be good.
Rena: Eh? Friends? It’s more like family. Very often, people will ask me “Jurina is very special to you?” but personally, she’s like a sister.
Jurina: To me, Rena chan is special.
Q: You 2 look very balanced together.
Rena: We don’t share the same perspectives. Although we’re facing different directions, we try to be move towards the ideal goal. There are always 2 choices, so that’s good.
Jurina: During the early period, i didn’t think that people would call us “JuriRena” or “WMatsui” for long. The fans see us as rivals, so I also thought that we had to become rivals.
Q: What would have happened if one of you wasn’t around?
Jurina:…..I would have quit immediately.
Rena: Eh??Immediately?
Interviewer: That’s if you didn’t have a compatible partner.
Jurina: Yes..
Rena: I also think that if it wasn’t Jurina, we wouldn’t be compatible. But as a rival its different. Because it’s impossible to topple her presence, i had to think about how to approach so I can move foward.
Q: You will be holding a graduation concert on the 29th and 30th in Aichi Prefecture Toyota Stadium?
Rena: What do i want to do? I want to sing Kareha no Station, if the fans and members are happy with it.
Jurina: I want to do all the songs with pair dances. Shall we?
As expected it is so difficult to find their live performances since they are not famous. The ones i found are all TV-recorded. Anyway, these are the guys who sang the insert song for Mayu’s drama “Tatakau!Shoten Girl”.
These guys filmed their own performance so the camera angle is somewhat amateur.
Starts from 5:14~
Takamina appears at the end and her height is being compared with the SOLIDEMO members who are all above 180cm.
On a 17th June radio show “Appare yattema~su”, they were talking about the Sousenkyo rankings and when they were reaching the Top 5 members, comedian Kendo Kobayashi asked “How far can we go with the AKB talk today?” Takamina seemed to have an idea of what was to come on, got flustered and said “…wait a minute KenKoba san, that’s abit..”
Kendo Kobayashi continued by saying there’s a letter from listeners, prompting Takamina to panic and ask “Eh!? Is that mail alright? Did you guys really check it?” As if enjoying her reaction, Kendo Kobayashi spent extra time reading out the letter, which in the end had nothing to do with Kashiwagi Yuki.
Finally, when asked what she was getting flustered for, Takamina answered “Eh? I thought it was THAT.” She heaved a sigh of relief.
AKB48 Senbatsu Sousenkyo Museum opened to the public on the 2nd June and members Takahashi Minami, Kashiwagi Yuki, Yokoyama Yui, Sashihara Rino and Miyawaki Sakura were present for the ceremony.
It is tradition for the museum to be open to public before the elections every year and this year the opening period is from 3 June to 21 June. Inside, you can see election posters, costumes and the portraits of winners from yester years. On this day, the portrait of Watanabe Mayu, who won the 2014 General Elections, was unveiled for the first time.
The members were unable to hide their excitement when they saw Mayu’s portrait, exclaiming that it looks exactly the same as her photo. “So cute! As expected, if you’re a beauty it turns out beautiful,” said Takamina. Sashihara retorted with “Who are you calling ugly?” (This is in reference to her portrait beside which supposedly comes from the same painter.)
During the opening ceremony, the members also wrote down their feelings about the upcoming elections.
Yukirin: I want to cry.
“I’m don’t get emotional whether it’s a happy or sad situation.This year i want to cry from the happiness of seeing good results.”
Yokoyama: I want to make a speech in the best condition.
“I’m aiming for Kami7, but during the preliminaries i was ranked 20. If i can improve my results, it’d be overwhelming so i hope to maintain my physical condition first.”
Sakura: Crush the Kami walls.
“I’m aiming for Kami7 this year, so it’d be good if i can get in.”
Sasshi: I won’t lose to Yukirin.
“Because this year she was ranked No.2 in the prelims. Actually we are so friendly recently that there’s no sense of rivalry at all.”
Takamina: I don’t know if I should say the words “Hard work will definitely be rewarded”
“I don’t know if i should say it during my graduation live or at the sousenkyo. Afterall the speech u leave during sousenkyo is important.”
This year’s Sousenkyo Guide Book features General Manager Takahashi Minami(24) as the center.
The positioning of members on this cover reflects predictions from the editiorial team and Watanabe Mayu(21) is expected to rank 2nd, followed by Sashihara Rino(22) in 3rd. The editiorial staff talked about how they came to this conclusion.
“She is challenging No.1 for the first time and her graduation this December has fans voicing their regret and support. This will be the most beautiful ending for her.”
Well if you’re planning to purchase the 2015 Sousenkyo Guide Book then remember to act fast, because i remember this was sold out everywhere last year!
Idol group AKB48 Yokoyama Yui(22) updated her Google+ on the 9th, one day after it was announced that she would be succeeding Takahashi Minami as the new Group General Manager of AKB48.
She revealed her thoughts about Takahashi Minami’s graduation announcement during the group’s 9th debut anniversary.
“Initially, I was confused when I thought about Takamina san not being with us forever.Takamina san loves AKB. It shows on her face when she’s thinking about the members. At this time we should face Takamina san’s dreams and give her a push from the back.
Takamina san has give us 1 year. The Soukantoku position is something that Takamina san built up. AKB48 is also what the seniors spent 9 years to create for us. We have to work hard for the next 10 years so we can see a beautiful scenery together. We have to carry these kind of feelings,” Yokoyama said.
Finally, she said “During this 1 year, I will learn what i can while the seniors are still around, and do what i can to find my own General Manager style with the support of my juniors. I am still lacking in many areas, but the support from fans will become my strength of overcome difficulties. Hoping that everyone’s dreams can be fulfilled. From now, please look after AKB48 group too.”
AKB48 Group General Manager Takahashi Minami(23) has announced her graduation from the group on 8th December.
This announcement came while the group was holding their 9th anniversary live show at the theater.
“I, Takahashi Minami, will graduate on 8th December 2015. This notice comes one year in advance. I announced it at this time as i wanted make time for the member whom i will handover to.
The next Group General Manager will be Yokoyama Yui(21), ex-captain of Team A and currently captain of Team K.
“I just want to say 1 thing. This is not a sad thing. Next year’s our 10th anniversary. It’s an important year.I’m very happy that this group can last this long. This group is not something that ends after 10 years. I hope that it can continue to its 11th year. It’ll be alright. I will work hard with Yokoyama to bond the remaining members together.”
Takahashi Minami made her debut with the group on 8th December 2005 as a first generation member. She was appointed the Group General Manager to be in charge of the flagship branch and its sister groups in 2012. This year, she appeared on Fuji TV’s “Mecha Mecha Iketeru Dokkiri Special” to prank her team members into thinking she’d graduate due to a scandal. This time, her graduation announcement comes for real.
Takahashi, unlike previous centers Maeda Atsuko and Oshima Yuko, is the one and only member with a leadership presence in the group. Fans and members will certainly be shocked by this.
An excerpt of the speech where she passes the baton to Yokoyama Yui.
After I am gone, I would like to name Yokoyama Yui as the person who would lead AKB48 Group as next Soukantoku.
Frankly, Soukantoku is a bothersome position. It is hard.
I think members close to me might have felt it too.
That is why I really hate that I have to pass the name of Soukantoku to my good friend, Yokoyama Yui.
I had wanted (this post) to end with me.
But, with a big group of girls like this, being distracted with lively conversations, not able to concentrate, unable to stay collected, there are many times like that.
At those times, I think there is still a need for someone in the group to speak out words like, “Let’s go, let’s do this”.
Can Yokoyama come here? (Yui stands beside Takamina)
To me, she is a wonderful junior.
She is really someone who is earnest but awkward at times, she works really hard with utmost effort.
Her dream is the same as mine too, solo debut.
By handing her this soukantoku post, it may keep this dream of hers at a further distance than it is now so I felt really troubled over it, but I think she needs an impetus.
Sounkantoku is agonizing.
But at the same time, there will be an increase in the amount of exposure to society’s eyes and simultaneously chances will increase.
With this, I want Yokoyama to think of it as a chance and do her best.
Kojima Haruna: For AKB48’s 9th anniversary, there were only 3 of us from the first generation left. It was good that I could be next to Takamina during her graduation announcement. I will do my best so everyone can welcome our 10th anniversary. Please look after us from now on.
Mineshi Minami: With Takamina’s announcement, we must work even harder than before. So that AKB48G can continue to exist..
Miyazawa Sae: These are the first generation who love AKB48. The first generation who created AKB48. The Takamina of decided to graduate on the 10th anniversary. From now, we’ll also be the 48group that exists because of Takamina. I love the members from my generation but i also like the first generation. Thanks from the heart.
Oshima Yuko: Takahashi Minami graduation announcement at the theater.
Sashihara Rino: The news came in the middle of my tweeting. I don’t know what to say about this. Some people think I was aiming for the Soukantoku position but i don’t have much time left in the first place. #5thGenerationAge22 #NoResponsibility #NotAKB48member
Kashiwagi Yuki: Not feeling the reality of this.It seems like there’s 1 year left. Anyway, I want to support Yuihan.We still have to pay back to the fans.
Kitahara Rie: I also think there’s none other than Yokoyama. I’m worried about her physical/mental health but there’s no one else but her!
Yamamoto Sayaka: It’s a big shock. But there’s 1 year left, and lots to learn.I’ll work hard to support Yuihan too.
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