In July, popular idol group AKB48 staged a series of concerts, titled サプライズはありません. Contrary to the name, there were many surprises indeed. A few things were announced, rocking the local (as well as international) fanbase:
Erena Ono is going to graduate in September
NMB48 is going to be set up by Yoshimoto Kogyo
AKB48 will be visiting South-East Asia & Europe
The senbatsu for the 19th single will be decided by a jankenpyon tournament
Many people were caught off-guard by the short timeline of Ono’s graduation, and most thought it was much too early for another 48 incarnation. The SEA tour was not so much a controversy as it was a pleasant surprise, especially to those living in the much-ignored region. No doubt, the announcement of the 19th single senbatsu event was expected. But it’s safe to say no one expected it to be like this.
Perhaps an explanation is in order. The Senbatsu Sousenkyo is an event where fans can support their favourite girls by sending in tickets from various sources (for example, CDs), which would then affect their standing in the group. The top girl would be tasked with fronting the next AKB48 single, and together with the other top girls, would appear on almost every AKB-related media appearance.
This meant that whoever’s fans had the most money could, quite literally, bring her straight to the top of the pile. It also means, in essence, that no one new would ever be able to break into the senbatsu, especially when pit against the whole lineup of AKB48 girls, many of whom have established (and fiercely loyal) fan-bases.
There have been many opponents of this way of picking single lineups. One common complaint is the fact that single lineups should be given to girls according to ability, be it dancing or singing. This is of special concern to fans of girls that do excel in this but have not been given the chance to get into the A-side lineup because, ostensibly, they’re not popular enough.
Of course, this brings up an interesting Catch-22; How does one become popular if one never gets showcased? Another is that it turns AKB48 into a tiered group, with the senbatsu girls on one level, and the theatre girls on another. This splits not just the girls, but the fan-base as well; Many see supporting just the frontgirls akin to being a fair-weather fan.
Of course, many of these fans have since been resigned to the fate of their favourite girls, and are thankful that they can see them performing in the theater. Needless to say, however, this new Rock-Paper-Scissors (RPS) tournament is a light at the end of the tunnel. This format allows for luck to be the decider, with even the lowest on the totem pole can rise up to grab center spot. Even the single lineup is a mere two (for some, just 1) victories away. By picking scissors instead of paper, a girl could rocket herself to stardom, it’s the stuff of dreams.
What does this all mean? Has Akimoto Yasushi decided that he can make anyone sound good in any single, with no regard for the skillset of a girl? Have they extended a chance to all the girls that weren’t popular enough with the fans? Or is this just another gimmick to keep the sales going? Or is this a way for them to experiment with the single lineup, and if it ever fails, to just go back and say “well, it’s not like we picked them”?
We might never find out. As with everything else, calls of match fixing are already out, as seen by the bye system. Maeda Atsuko gets a bye, yet Oshima Yuko does not? There’s also the fact that some of the popular girls are slated to go out, with Watanabe Mayu and Maeda Atsuko (possibly) going head-to-head for a spot in the senbatsu. In other words, there’s a very good possibility that the 19th single would be filled with girls who have never had a spot in single, a-side or otherwise.
Some fans are quite excited about the prospects. Some see it as a way for the girls who’ve never had the experience of being in a single to get in. Others see it as a slight to the girls who put in so much effort to showcase themselves, only for it to be undone by a simple tournament that doesn’t allow skill or talent to come into play. And some see it in an even more negative light, seeing the possibility of a Kenkyuusei (who are technically not even part of AKB48) being given a chance to be center.
Most would just say ‘Well, it’s just for one single, I’m sure it’d be fun’, and it would be fun. But one cannot shake off the feeling that the gimmicks are coming in one after another just to keep sales up, despite the music not really being anything to write home about. The fact that there’s nothing a member can do to enhance her position (other than reading RPS infographics and watching すイエんサー) is quite disheartening.
In the end, this will be a sound success. It’s Akimoto Yasushi, after all. Here’s to hoping the next senbatsu selection is decided by MMA tournament.
Of Idols and Singles
Many people were caught off-guard by the short timeline of Ono’s graduation, and most thought it was much too early for another 48 incarnation. The SEA tour was not so much a controversy as it was a pleasant surprise, especially to those living in the much-ignored region. No doubt, the announcement of the 19th single senbatsu event was expected. But it’s safe to say no one expected it to be like this.
Perhaps an explanation is in order. The Senbatsu Sousenkyo is an event where fans can support their favourite girls by sending in tickets from various sources (for example, CDs), which would then affect their standing in the group. The top girl would be tasked with fronting the next AKB48 single, and together with the other top girls, would appear on almost every AKB-related media appearance.
This meant that whoever’s fans had the most money could, quite literally, bring her straight to the top of the pile. It also means, in essence, that no one new would ever be able to break into the senbatsu, especially when pit against the whole lineup of AKB48 girls, many of whom have established (and fiercely loyal) fan-bases.
There have been many opponents of this way of picking single lineups. One common complaint is the fact that single lineups should be given to girls according to ability, be it dancing or singing. This is of special concern to fans of girls that do excel in this but have not been given the chance to get into the A-side lineup because, ostensibly, they’re not popular enough.
Of course, this brings up an interesting Catch-22; How does one become popular if one never gets showcased? Another is that it turns AKB48 into a tiered group, with the senbatsu girls on one level, and the theatre girls on another. This splits not just the girls, but the fan-base as well; Many see supporting just the frontgirls akin to being a fair-weather fan.
Of course, many of these fans have since been resigned to the fate of their favourite girls, and are thankful that they can see them performing in the theater. Needless to say, however, this new Rock-Paper-Scissors (RPS) tournament is a light at the end of the tunnel. This format allows for luck to be the decider, with even the lowest on the totem pole can rise up to grab center spot. Even the single lineup is a mere two (for some, just 1) victories away. By picking scissors instead of paper, a girl could rocket herself to stardom, it’s the stuff of dreams.
What does this all mean? Has Akimoto Yasushi decided that he can make anyone sound good in any single, with no regard for the skillset of a girl? Have they extended a chance to all the girls that weren’t popular enough with the fans? Or is this just another gimmick to keep the sales going? Or is this a way for them to experiment with the single lineup, and if it ever fails, to just go back and say “well, it’s not like we picked them”?
We might never find out. As with everything else, calls of match fixing are already out, as seen by the bye system. Maeda Atsuko gets a bye, yet Oshima Yuko does not? There’s also the fact that some of the popular girls are slated to go out, with Watanabe Mayu and Maeda Atsuko (possibly) going head-to-head for a spot in the senbatsu. In other words, there’s a very good possibility that the 19th single would be filled with girls who have never had a spot in single, a-side or otherwise.
Some fans are quite excited about the prospects. Some see it as a way for the girls who’ve never had the experience of being in a single to get in. Others see it as a slight to the girls who put in so much effort to showcase themselves, only for it to be undone by a simple tournament that doesn’t allow skill or talent to come into play. And some see it in an even more negative light, seeing the possibility of a Kenkyuusei (who are technically not even part of AKB48) being given a chance to be center.
Most would just say ‘Well, it’s just for one single, I’m sure it’d be fun’, and it would be fun. But one cannot shake off the feeling that the gimmicks are coming in one after another just to keep sales up, despite the music not really being anything to write home about. The fact that there’s nothing a member can do to enhance her position (other than reading RPS infographics and watching すイエんサー) is quite disheartening.
In the end, this will be a sound success. It’s Akimoto Yasushi, after all. Here’s to hoping the next senbatsu selection is decided by MMA tournament.
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