AllThingsJpop Top 10 headlines of the year

Since 2015 is coming to an end, i might as well conclude with the Top 10 headlines of the year. These articles are ranked according to their viewership. Articles from 2014 and earlier have been left out.

1. Bunshun leaks pictures of AKB48 Kashiwagi Yuki and NEWS Tegoshi Yuya..a Hakone date?
This scandal was published in June 2015 and i guess the huge picture of Yukirin and Tegoshi, arms wrapped around each other, was a huge shock. No proper news sources would report it (for Yahoo it took a few days before article was posted) but the story was already all over the Internet. Though both parties remained largely silent, to this date, we’re still getting epilogues on the mysterious relationship between Yukirin and Tegoshi.

2. AKB48 2015 Senbatsu Sousenkyo ~Unpredictable Rankings, The Tumultuous Night~: Final Results

3. Back Number sings OST theme for drama “5-ji kara 9-ji made”
This comes in as a surprise because i had no idea “5-ji kara 9-ji made” would be so successful internationally. I’ve had readers asking me for titles of tracks which i had no idea of. But no worries, CDJapan now has the OST for sale!

4.  Kisumai Fujigaya Taisuke revealed to be dating Miori Takimoto for years
I seldom post about Kisumai let alone Fujigaya so the spike in numbers for this was quite surprising. I guess Kisumai is really huge, or there could be much more shippers of the couple from “Ikemen Desu Ne” that i’m aware of.

5. AKB48 General Elections 2015: Final look at China fans’ campaigns
This article ended up being published in a Japanese matome kinda site for 48 fans, and for some reason they’d misquoted the facts. So if you read the matome sites, please be aware that not all info passed around there is TRUE.

6. Horikita Maki gets married to Koji Yamamoto after 3 months of dating!
Title is enough to let everyone’s jaws drop in shock. Their love story is even juicier.

7. Tanaki Koki sends Taguchi message of support and talks about life after KAT-TUN
I would actually rank this way higher because it was just published. Surprised that people are still interested in Koki.

8.  Akimoto Yasushi touches on AKB48 Kashiwagi Yuki’s recent scandal

9. Oh no! Arashi’s Ohno snapped living with ex-actress 10 years his junior

10. Netizens discover signs of Shimazaki Haruka interacting with Johnny’s Junior, Sashihara dating Kisumai Senga?

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Thanks to everyone for supporting my site this year! There are busier days ahead and i won’t be posting regularly but i’ll be here when there’s important news! Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

 

 

 

 

AKB48 Kashiwagi Yuki sheds tears in theater show and more

A scene of AKB48 Kashiwagi Yuki shedding tears during a Team B theater performance on the 22nd June 2015 has gotten mixed reactions from the fans. This happens after photos of her with NEWS Tegoshi Yuya was published in Bunshun recently.

In the performance she’s seen hiding her face and seemingly weeping whilst in the middle of a song. The YouTube video has garnered over 400,000 views with most logging snide comments.

Some unconvinced fans posted “can’t see her tears” and “isn’t that fake”.

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On the hand, some fans were shocked to see this side of Kashiwagi, as she is not the type to show her emotions in public.

Perhaps this is due to the song “Shonichi” being performed at that time, which is a meaningful song especially for the 3rd generation and original members of Team B.

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Speculations that 12th July is X-Day for clarifications

Idol magazine writer predicts that AKB48 Kashiwagi Yuki’s camp might continue to remain quiet about her scandal, or respond to it, and if there’s a X-Day to it, that would be around 12th July 2015.

“Kashiwagi Yuki was appointed tourism ambasssador for her birthplace Kagoshima back in 12th July 2012. Her appointment attracted alot of media reports at that time. Since her contract is for a period of 3 years, she cannot do anything that is akin to betraying her hometown in the meantime.”

Being a CM character is an important job in itself, but Kashiwagi is someone who is known to have a great love for her hometown, so there are expectations from the Kagoshima community, and the ‘debt’ of receiving a considerable amount of taxes. If it ends up that the image of the tourism ambassador is tarnished, it might also affect the prospects of her juniors.

“In the 48Group, if there is another member from Kagoshima to bring up, that would be HKT48 Miyawaki Sakura. She was appointed as a center alongside Watanabe Mayu in single “Kibouteki Refrain” and ranked 7th in this year’s Sousenkyo so her chances of being appointed the next Kagoshima ambassador is high. However, if Kashiwagi’s scandal gets big, there will be no chances for 48Group members to be appointed.”

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AKB48 not appearing for Music Station 2hr SP on 26th June 2015

Speculations are that this is a move to avoid drawing more attention to the scandal since NEWS Tegoshi Yuya will be attending.Furthermore, members like Takahashi Minami, Kojima Haruna, Kawaei Rina and Shimazaki Haruka were recently slotted for a theater performance that night, making fans wonder why their schedules were cleared suddenly.

A reporter thinks this could be due to member Matsui Sakiko’s graduation performance, but it could also be linked to the scandal. Especially when Kyary Pamyu Pamyu, who was caught on a late night date with Tegoshi Yuya last year, will also be attending with her boyfriend, vocalist of Sekai no Owari, this could very well turn out to be a “love square” broadcast.

NEWS and AKB48 are also scheduled to appear on TV Tokyo’s Music Festival on the 24th June 2015. However, AKB48’s parts will be recorded whilst NEWS will appear live, so there is no chance for both groups to meet.

Source

 

Kashiwagi Yuki makes first public appearance after scandal, continues to be shielded from media

 

48 Group members Kashiwagi Yuki and Sashihara Rino appeared for a Baitoru press event today.  Reporters were initially allowed to a on-the-spot interview with the members but the format was suddenly changed to one where only the commercial director was allowed to post questions. The event ended without any followup to the scandal.

Usually, for commercial press events, even though organizers would request for reporters to ask more questions related to the event, reporters have freedom to ask a variety of questions. For this event, reporters were informed that only the commercial director will be allowed to question so queries from reporters were not acknowledged. The organizer also mentioned that if any reporters try to pose questions outside the scope of this event, they could be stopped.

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“I want to work hard for 1 year”

When asked if she about next year’s Sousenkyo, Kashiwagi Yuki said with a smile “I want to work hard for 1 year.However, i have seen how thick Sasshi’s wall is.”

Sashihara Rino also expressed interested in aiming for a 3rd win. “I want to get a straight win but what happens next year is a question mark.”

Source

 

 

AKB48 Takahashi Minami gets flustered by talk about Kashiwagi Yuki on radio show

 

Talk starts 11:10~

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.

Source

London Boots Atsushi wants AKB48 Kashiwagi Yuki to guest on his radio show: “

Comedian act London Boots Tamura Atsushi revealed his wish for AKB48’s Kashiwagi Yuki to appear on their radio show next week, following reports of her alleged relationship with NEWS Tegoshi Yuya.

When a listener sent in a question asking him which female talent he’d like to invite on the show, Atsushi said “AKB is good. Kashiwagi will do. There’s lots of things i want to ask.”

His partner Tamura Ryo then commented “You can’t!” to which Atsushi asked “Why can’t I! Are you a speech dictator?”

With regards to the scandal, Atsushi said “I have nothing to do with his, so i’m going to ask alot. Please book Kashiwagi san! Kashiwagi san if you hear this please come next week!”

Source

Kashiwagi has resumed posting work-related updates on Twitter but maintains her silence on the scandal.

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.

Bunshun leaks pictures of AKB48 Kashiwagi Yuki and NEWS Tegoshi Yuya..a Hakone date?

I’m in shock today. 

 

According to Bunshun, photos were taken late 2013 to early 2014 when they went snowboarding with friends.

They stayed at a luxury inn Hakone. “The place is in a luxury hotel in Hakone, a place visited by celebrities. Actually the 2 are still friendly and talk over LINE.” acquaintance of Kashiwagi.

No reply from agencies.

Source

Another article says that the 1st photo was taken in Hakone while the 2nd was taken at Naeba ski resort in Niigata.

Source

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Cyzo reports that an update from the AKB48 official blog today refers to Kashiwagi Yuki’s upcoming participation for a Miyagi handshake event (14 June) as a “typo error”. She will not be participating afterall.

Source

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Internet buzz site Girls Channel discusses the beginnings of this relationship. Back in 2013, a local television in Hokkaido reported on Tegoshi Yuya dating top idol K. This news was something that could not be mentioned in Tokyo.

Netizens spotted the similarities of the silhouette and Yukirin and started heated discussions. However, the TV show made an apology on their homepage 2 days later,denying any connection between their news and the silhouette.

Source, Source

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Yahoo has picked up on this, but it seems like TV/other news sites are still keeping mum about it. It didn’t take them long to report on Kisumai Fujigaya’s relationship though.

Tegomass 4th Album ‘Tegomass no Seishun’

Tegomass is back with an album after 2 years! This album is a collection of nostalgic and refreshing music. It includes two single songs “Sayonara ni Sayonara” and “Neko Chudoku” as well as songs provided by popular artists such as The Gospellers and DEPAPEPE.

The limited edition comes with 28-page booklet and a DVD including a Music Clip + Making + Interview of “Hikari” (Light). The regular edition comes with a 16-page booklet and 2 bonus tracks. One of those two bonus songs “Tsuki no Tomodachi” (Friend of the Moon) is written by Tegomass. Lyrics written by Masuda Takahisa, music composed by Tegoshi Yuya and arrangement by Chino Yoshihiko (Tegomass band master).

Catch the MV preview of their new song “Hikari”!

Source

As usual, light and healing ballads from Tegomass..

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Tegomass no Seishun [Regular Edition]

Tegomass (Tegomasu)

Tegomass no Seishun [w/ DVD, Limited Edition]

Tegomass (Tegomasu)

Tegomass no Seishun [w/ DVD, Limited Edition] [Bundled Set of All 2 Editions]

Tegomass (Tegomasu)

NewS Tegoshi Yuya caught in scandal with SKE48 Kito Momona

Today brought a revelation on the mysterious lady that Tegoshi Yuya (25) was caught embracing a few weeks ago. With much regret, tabloids across Japan reported that Tegoshi’s lovely mistress of the night was not NEWS’ manager, dowager empress Julie Keiko Fujishima, but rather SKE48’s darling 19-year-old Kito Momona. Fangirls hoping to hook up with Tego in the future should note it looks like he has a definite type, [very young and in the AKB family]. Good luck, Girls!

Awkward pawing and necking aside, the big news here is that Kito Momona is only 19, and the legal drinking age in Japan is 20. While Momo is no stranger to scandal, neither is NEWS. And the combination of alcohol and minors is a big deal, as NEWS fans should already know. To quickly summarize, in 2005, NEWS’ very own Uchi Hiroki was exiled from the group for underage drinking at the delicate age of 18. FujiTV announcer Yukino Kikuma (33 at the time) was caught with him and even arrested. Infuriated fans, political pressure, and threats from Johnny & Associates forced Fuji to remove Yukino from the air for months.

Surely some backlash must come from these newly revealed details. Wota won’t take kindly to their devoted Momona ditching them for an all-nighter with some D-list Johnny.

Meanwhile, after having already set their own harsh precedent for dealing with underage drinking, will Johnny & Associates really be allowed to ignore Tegoshi’s presence at a boozy party with underage girls?

No doubt more can be expected from this story in the future.

Source

Tegomass doll up in cat suits for new song!

This is abit late, but here is the full PV for Tegomass’ new song “Neko Chudoku”!

The song portrays the characteristics of a cat – its greediness, temper and my pace attitude. It’s a one of a kind choice(how many songs in the industry are about cats?!), but perfect for the style of Tegomass. For the PV, the boys dressed up in cat suits and delivered a cute choreography utilising their costumes. Hoping they perform their lives in these cat suits too!

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If you’re interested in getting Tegomass’ new single, Neko Chudoku, click on the pictures below to purchase!

 CD+DVD, Limited Edition

 CD Only, Regular Edition