2012 Year in Review - Part One: Million

This is the first in a four-part series in my 2012 Year in Review series of posts. An introduction can be found here. 

11/12/2012: Article updated with Eien Pressure figures.

The numbers tell it all: 8 million weekly releases. All four AKB48 singles included, with this year's Manatsu no Sounds good breaking yet another AKB48 record at 1.6 million weekly. Two Guinness World Records were added to the trophy cabinet. Last year the group snagged the much-coveted Japan Record Award as well, a milestone in itself.

Yes, the juggernaut cash-cow that is AKB48 is at the height of its popularity peak. Whilst 2011 was ascent after ascent, in 2012, they appeared to have reached the summit.

Best of 2012: The 48 Edition - Nominations

Paruru might have won this, but can she fend herself
against the big guns this year? 

Everyone has their favorites for the year. Of course, even within the span of one year, there's so much to choose from. Songs and MVs being released by the dozen, members coming in and going out of the system. What has been the "cream of the crop" for 2012, from my perspective, you may ask?

This is what my Best of 2012 series will attempt to answer. Over the course of the coming few posts, the Best of 2012 series will take you through my take on 2012, with regards to all that has been released and the members that have made their mark throughout the year.

2012 Year in Review - Introduction

2012 has been one of the most pivotal years in AKB48's entire history. To simply suggest the year can be summarised as members going in and out, debuts galore, new releases making big bucks and garnering widespread popularity, is merely understating it all. Instead, 2012 is the point in which AKB48 looks back at its decorated, but rocky, pathway to stardom, and also where AKB48 looks forward to exploiting new opportunities and scaling new heights.

Over the coming few articles from now until the new year, I will attempt to recap and review some of the key "themes" that defined 2012 for AKB48 and its sister groups. I don't intend to dissect every little detail and event, big or small, that happened in AKB48-dom during 2012, but it's more of a summative look at the year from specific perspectives. It may still be early days yet (as of writing), but it's time to get the ball rolling.

Best of 2012: The 48 Edition - Shortlists

This is the second stage of the Best of 2012 series, where I narrow down the categories to only a few entries for further consideration.

Update 7/11/2012

= Me. Tomorrow morning. 

Unfortunately, it's during these times that my real life commitments dominate my online/fandom life and there are things called exams which I have to complete (and pass). I do apologise for the lack of blog posts recently, but I expect to be fully functional after my exams are complete.