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.

Categories

Song of 2012
Criterion: all AKB48, SKE48, NMB48, HKT48 and Nogizaka46 single A-sides and album songs released in 2012. Winners from the below two categories are also eligible.

C/W ("coupling with") Song of 2012
Criterion: all AKB48, SKE48, NMB48, HKT48 and Nogizaka46 single B-sides released in 2012.

Soloist and Subunits Song of 2012
Criterion: all commercially specified soloist and subunit songs released in 2012.

Music Video of 2012
Criterion: all single A-side and album song music videos released in 2012.

C/W Music Video of 2012
Criterion: all single B-side music videos released in 2012.

Cover Art of 2012
Criterion: all single and albums released in 2012. Either an entire single series, or specific covers, are acceptable as one entry.

Member of the Year
"The member who has made the most significant contribution in advancing the interests of the group as whole, as well as her own individual aspirations, excelling in talent, character, responsibility and image, from the perspective of the public at large, fans, the media and management." 
Criterion: all current members (as of 1/12/2012). Graduated members ineligible.

Breakthrough Member of the Year
"The member, being a member for no more than 12 months, who has made the most significant breakthrough in 2012 and having the most impact from the perspective of the public at large, fans, the media and management."
Criterion: all current Kenkyuusei; members who have been promoted to full team member status during 2012

Special Award
Criterion: no specific criterion.

Wildcard Entries Nominations List

Process

Stage 1: Initial nominations (max. 15 per category).

Stage 2: Shortlists (max. 5 per category).

Stage 3: Winners.

Special Award to be decided at Stage 3, with no nominations or shortlists stage. 

Certain wildcard entries have been prepared for late (December) releases. The allotments of these will be determined between Stages 1 and 2. 

Nominations

Song of 2012

AKB48: GIVE ME FIVE, Manatsu no Sounds Good, Gingham Check, UZA, First Rabbit, Omoide no Hotondo, No Count, Daiji na Jikan, Itterasshai, Sakura no Hanabiratachi ~Maeda Atsuko ver.~, Juuryoku Sympathy, Suiyoubi no Alice

SKE48: Kataomoi Finally, Aishiteraburu!

NMB48: Virginity

C/W Song of 2012
AKB48: Choudai, Darling!, Yume no Kawa, Nante Bohemian, Show fight, Kodoku no Hoshizora
NMB48: Migi e Magare, Boku ga Mou Sukoshi Daitan nara, Warukii, Hoshizora no Caravan, Renai Higai Todoke, HA!

Soloist and Subunits Song of 2012
Misaki Iwasa: Mujineki
Mayu Watanabe: Saba no Kanzume, Otona Jellybeans, Sayonara no Hashi
Mayuzaka46: Twintail wa Mou Shinai
Yuki Kashiwagi (French Kiss): Kazanbai
Atsuko Maeda: Kimi wa Boku da, Migikata
Not yet: Suika BABY
Yui Yokoyama (Not yet): May
Rino Sashihara: Hatsukoi Hills, Ikujinashi Masquerade
NO NAME: Kibou ni Tsuite

Music Video of 2012
AKB48: Manatsu no Sounds good, Gingham Check (original ver., dir.: Joseph Kahn), UZA
SKE48: Kataomoi Finally
NMB48: Junjou U-19, Kitagawa Kenji
Nogizaka46: Guru Guru Curtain, Hashire! Bicycle
Mayu Watanabe: Hikaru Monotachi
Not yet: Suika BABY

C/W Music Video of 2012
AKB48: Hitsujikai no Tabi, Choudai, Darling!, Show fight, Kodoku na Hoshizora
SKE48: Hanikami Lollipop, Tori wa Aoi Sora no Hate wo Shiranai, Taiikukan de Choushoku wo
NMB48: Boku ga Mou Sukoshi Daitan nara, Sonzai shite nai Mono, Renai Higai Todoke, Hoshizora no Caravan, HA!
Mayuzaka46: Twintail wa Mou Shinai

Cover Art of 2012
AKB48: GIVE ME FIVE (all), Gingham Check (all), UZA (all)
SKE48: Kataomoi Finally (A)
NMB48: Kitagawa Kenji (C)
Nogizaka46: Oide Shampoo (all), Hashire! Bicycle (all)
Atsuko Maeda: Kimi wa Boku da (all)
Mayu Watanabe: Otona Jellybeans (all)
Not yet: Suika BABY (all)
Watarirouka Hashiritai 7: Shonen yo, Uso wo Tsuke! (all)

Member of the Year
AKB48: Misaki Iwasa, Sayaka Nakaya, Minami Takahashi, Yui Yokoyama, Yuko Oshima, Yuki Kashiwagi, Yuka Masuda, Mayu Watanabe, Haruka Shimada, Haruka Shimazaki
SKE48: Jurina Matsui, Rena Matsui, Akane Takayanagi
NMB48: Miyuki Watanabe, Mayu Ogasawara

Breakthrough Member of the Year
AKB48: Rina Kawaei, Karen Iwata, Yuuka Tano, Rina Hirata
NMB48: Fuuko Yagura, Momoka Kinoshita
HKT48: Haruka Kodama, Sakura Miyawaki, Chihiro Anai, Chiyori Nakanishi, Anna Murashige
Nogizaka46: Mai Shiraishi, Rina Ikoma, Sayuri Matusmura

Wildcard Entries Nominations List
AKB48: Eien Pressure "OKL48" C/W
SKE48: Eien Pressure C/W
HKT48: Hatsukoi Butterfly
Nogizaka46: Seifuku no Mannequin
Tomomi Kasai: single TBA