Takahashi Minami to graduate from AKB48

Takahashi Minami announced her graduation from AKB48.

Takahashi Minami will leave the idol group on the 10th anniversary of AKB48 on December 8, 2015.
Yokoyama Yui has been appointed to be her successor as general manager.

These announcements were made during an event held to celebrate the 9th anniversary of AKB48 at their theater in Tokyo. More than 100 members participated in the live performance.

• Source :  jpop-idols

Kojima Haruna in a new commercial for Peach John

Kojima Haruna (AKB48) appeared in a new commercial for Peach John lingerie.

In the 2nd episode of a series titled #PJ_Girl Movie, Kojima Haruna and models Maggie and Oya Kana have a party. They enjoy taking pictures of themselves wearing sexy underwears and share the selfies on the internet.

Check out the videos.

The 3 girls are regular models for Peach John.

- Source : jpop-idols

Ono Erena – Hatachi wo Nozokimi

Ono Erena‘s new DVD Hatachi wo Nozokimi (ハタチヲノゾキミ) will be released on June 20.

As she is 20 years old now, former AKB48 member Ono Erena shows an adult and sexy image on this DVD.

Check out some photos of Erepyon.

The item includes making-of footage. It has a total duration of 70 minutes.

• DVD

- Source :  Jpop-idols

AKB48 Theater reopened

One week after the AKB48 handshake incident, AKB48 Theater reopened on June 2.

Several changes were made to the security system to protect the members of the idol group.

• Installation of metal detectors at the entrance
• Number of security staff increased
• A fence was established at the 1st rank between the stage and the audience
• It is not possible to watch the show on the monitor in the lobby without ticket

Moreover, high fives between AKB48 members and fans at the end of the live performance are suspended for an indefinite period of time.

• Source : Melos no Michi , Jpop-idols

Maeda Atsuko – Moratorium Tamako

The movie Moratorium Tamako (もらとりあむタマ子, Tamako in Moratorium) starring Maeda Atsuko will be released on DVD and Blu-ray on June 25.

Former AKB48 member Atsuko Maeda plays the role of Tamako, a girl who has just graduated from a university in Tokyo and who is back to her hometown of Kofu. Without a job, she spends her time eating, sleeping, reading manga, and playing video games instead of helping her father living alone with her…

Check out the trailer.

The film was directed by Yamashita Nobuhiro.

Moratorium Tamako was premiered at the Busan International Film Festival in October 2013.

The movie was released in theaters in Japan on November 23, 2013.

The DVD and the Blu-ray include making-of footage, comments by Maeda Atsuko.

• DVD / Blu-ray

- Source : Jpop-idols

AKB48 Sousenkyo Official Guide Book 2014

AKB48 Sousenkyo Official Guide Book 2014 (AKB48総選挙公式ガイドブック2014) will be released on

May 14.

This guide book contains the profiles of the 296 members of AKB48, SKE48, NMB48 and HKT48 members participating in the annual event. It also includes interviews, articles, several photos, election poster visuals…

NMB48′s Yamamoto Sayaka is on the center of the cover.

AKB48 Sousenkyo Official Guide Book 2014 features interviews with Oshima Yuko, who is talking about her graduation, and with AKB48 Group general manager Kayano Shinobu.

It also includes some articles written on various controversial topics by 7 personalities.

The 6th AKB48 Senbatsu General Election 2014 (AKB48 選抜総選挙 2014) will be held on June 7 at Ajinomoto Stadium in Tokyo. The winner will be the center on the 37th single of the idol group from Akihabara.

The book has 144 pages. It is published by Kodansha.

• Official Guide Book

- Source : Jpop-idols

AKB48 – Labrador Retriever

AKB48‘s 36th single Labrador Retriever (ラブラドール・レトリバー)will be released on May 21.

The list of the 36 Senbatsu members for Labrador Retriever has been revealed. The center is Watanabe Mayu.

The covers and the tracklist of each edition have been unveiled.

The coupling track is Oshima Yuko’s graduation song Kyou Made no Melody (今日までのメロディー).

This single includes a voting ticket for the 6th AKB48 Senbatsu General Election 2014.

Senbatsu members :

• AKB48 : Iriyama Anna, Okada Nana, Owada Nana, Kashiwagi Yuki, Kato Rena, Kawaei Rina, Kizaki Yuria, Kitahara Rie, Kojima Haruna, Kojima Mako, Shimazaki Haruka, Takahashi Juri, Takahashi Minami, Nishino Miki, Minegishi Minami, Yokoyama Yui, Watanabe Mayu
• SKE48 : Oba Mina, Kitagawa Ryoha, Kimoto Kanon, Suda Akari, Furuhata Nao, Matsui Jurina, Matsui Rena
• NMB48 : Ichikawa Miori, Shibuya Nagisa, Yagura Fuuko, Yabushita Shu, Yamamoto Sayaka, Watanabe Miyuki
• HKT48 : Ota Aika, Kodama Haruka, Sashihara Rino, Tashima Meru, Tomonaga Mio, Miyawaki Sakura

The first announcements were made on March 29 during AKB48 Haru Con.

4 versions are available. The CD contains 3 songs. The 3rd track is different depending on the edition. They come with a DVD featuring the music video and bonus footage.

The limited editions include a ticket for a handshaking event with the members of the idol group.

Tracklist

• Type A
  • CD
    1. Labrador Retriever (ラブラドール・レトリバー)
    2. Kyou Made no Melody (今日までのメロディー) (Oshima Yuko Graduation Song)
    3. Kimi wa Kimagure (君は気まぐれ)
    4. Labrador Retriever (ラブラドール・レトリバー) (Instrumental)
    5. Kyou Made no Melody (今日までのメロディー) (Instrumental)
    6. Kimi wa Kimagure (君は気まぐれ) (Instrumental)
  • DVD
    1. Labrador Retriever (ラブラドール・レトリバー) (Music Video)
    2. Kyou Made no Melody (今日までのメロディー) (Music Video)
    3. Kimi wa Kimagure (君は気まぐれ) (Music Video)
    4. Nakamura “Kengai” Mariko no Hosare Men Kouza (中村”圏外”麻里子の干されメン講座)

• Type K
  • CD
    1. Labrador Retriever (ラブラドール・レトリバー)
    2. Kyou Made no Melody (今日までのメロディー) (Oshima Yuko Graduation Song)
    3. Itoshiki Rival (愛しきライバル)
    4. Labrador Retriever (ラブラドール・レトリバー) (Instrumental)
    5. Kyou Made no Melody (今日までのメロディー) (Instrumental)
    6. Itoshiki Rival (愛しきライバル) (Instrumental)
  • DVD
    1. Labrador Retriever (ラブラドール・レトリバー) (Music Video)
    2. Kyou Made no Melody (今日までのメロディー) (Music Video)
    3. Itoshiki Rival (愛しきライバル) (Music Video)
    4. Making of Labrador Retriever Part 1 (Making of ラブラドール・レトリバー 前編)

• Type B
  • CD
    1. Labrador Retriever (ラブラドール・レトリバー)
    2. Kyou Made no Melody (今日までのメロディー) (Oshima Yuko Graduation Song)
    3. B Garden (Bガーデン)
    4. Labrador Retriever (ラブラドール・レトリバー) (Instrumental)
    5. Kyou Made no Melody (今日までのメロディー) (Instrumental)
    6. B Garden (Bガーデン) (Instrumental)
  • DVD
    1. Labrador Retriever (ラブラドール・レトリバー) (Music Video)
    2. Kyou Made no Melody (今日までのメロディー) (Music Video)
    3. B Garden (Bガーデン) (Music Video)
    4. Making of Labrador Retriever Part 2 (Making of ラブラドール・レトリバー 後編)

• Type 4
  • CD
    1. Labrador Retriever (ラブラドール・レトリバー)
    2. Kyou Made no Melody (今日までのメロディー) (Oshima Yuko Graduation Song)
    3. Heart no Gasshutsu Game (ハートの脱出ゲーム)
    4. Labrador Retriever (ラブラドール・レトリバー) (Instrumental)
    5. Kyou Made no Melody (今日までのメロディー) (Instrumental)
    6. Heart no Gasshutsu Game (ハートの脱出ゲーム) (Instrumental)
  • DVD
    1. Labrador Retriever (ラブラドール・レトリバー) (Music Video)
    2. Kyou Made no Melody (今日までのメロディー) (Music Video)
    3. Heart no Gasshutsu Game (ハートの脱出ゲーム)  (Music Video)
    4. Kizaki Yuria no Team 4 (木﨑ゆりあのTeam 4) (Music Video

• Theater Edition
  • CD
    1. Labrador Retriever (ラブラドール・レトリバー)
    2. Kyou Made no Melody (今日までのメロディー) (Oshima Yuko Graduation Song)
    3. Futari wa Dekiteru (2人はデキテル)
    4. Labrador Retriever (ラブラドール・レトリバー) (Instrumental)
    5. Kyou Made no Melody (今日までのメロディー) (Instrumental)
    6. Futari wa Dekiteru (2人はデキテル) (Instrumental)

• Regular editions : Type A / K / B / 4
• Limited editions : Type A / K / B / 4

- Source : Jpop-idols