About SKE48

Having watched the events unfurl during the final night of the AKB48 Budokan concert series, and having read the various opinions of it online across a wide range of perspectives, it is difficult for me personally to somehow reconcile them all. However, I do want to express my feelings towards the issues at hand, although I held off from doing so until I could settle my thoughts down and think them through.



I'd like to focus on two major points arising from the events of the Sunday evening concert that have generated quite a bit of a stir online: Rie Kitahara's ("Kitarie") concurrent membership in SKE48 being cancelled, and AKB48's national dome tour. (And I might briefly touch on the non-issue of Nao (Furuhata)'s concurrency at the end). However, I want to personally reflect on this from the broader aspect of SKE48 as a whole.

Putting in simply, there are those that want SKE48 to do their own thing, not so much as a desire to splinter away from AKB48 completely but rather to leave them alone - they don't want anything to do with transfers, shuffles and what not, for example. They are encouraged by member's statements (especially Rena's) and their aim of surpassing AKB48, as rivals, firm to their opinion that "SKE48 only got to where they are now because of their own self-drive and efforts in boosting their popularity". Some feel like the AKB48 dome concerts announcement suddenly robbed, or at the very least diluted, the long-term dream that many SKE48 members had: to perform at Nagoya Dome as a standalone group. Others were more critical of the treatment management had concerning Kitarie.

On the other side of the spectrum, the realists argue that SKE48 is, ultimately, a part of AKB48. A sister group to the flagship original, just like how NMB48 and HKT48 are now. Any notion of self-determination is rooted in fallacy, whether the "purist" fans or the members like it or not, and that whatever grievances these fans have about the Budokan announcements are ultimately minor; the fans only "making a mountain out of a molehill", so to speak. That the fact of the matter is, "SKE48 only got to where they are now because of AKB48".

Reading them, it is personally difficult to reconcile these two perspectives. Nowadays, I am SKE48-biased and, like many others, want to see their dreams realised. Yet I simply cannot ignore the reality of the situation. AKB48, being the first and the greatest, simply has more market power over the other sister groups and thus they can do whatever they like. Should I then criticise AKB48 and its management for stealing the spotlight over SKE48 because they also get to hold their own concert at Nagoya Dome? And that, because AKB48 would more likely than not be holding their concert on the second of the two announced dates at Nagoya Dome, any special feeling that the SKE48 girls would have when they get their own (likely) chance to perform during the first night* would be made to play second fiddle to the bigger spectacle of AKB48 the following night?

To be frank, even as someone who is admittedly more into SKE48 than AKB48 (or even the rest of the groups), relatively speaking, I cannot give an answer to these questions. In fact, I am struggling to find a middle ground. Let me explain why as I continue further with the Kitarie "debacle" (if it should even be labelled as one).

Regarding what happened with Kitarie, I do think that it was an ugly sight. I do think management could have handled this better. You could argue and nitpick that Togasaki actually got his facts right on the night with regards to Kitarie's current team (that is, S not KII), despite Rena's public cry for correction^, given that the the Gaishi Hall concert team shuffle is technically not yet in effect - indeed, the current SKE48 member's profile page still lists the current lineup (and only offers the option to view the "new" team structure after clicking a separate link). Whatever your view of that is, she is no longer part of SKE48 as of now. Which led me to think: should that have not been announced at Gaishi Hall instead? From a purely PR and communications perspective, it only appeared to make the announcement look haphazardly done, without any sort of consultation or managerial communication whatsoever, as if Shiba and Togasaki were living on different planets. How can management appear to shuffle a member to a different team, having to go through the ropes learning all the choreography for KII and starting to form bonds with their new team members (never mind new friendships since the start of her SKE48 concurrency), only to suddenly rescind her SKE48 member status altogether only two weeks later, without having even performed a proper KII stage yet? (Never mind that Kitarie only got to perform with KII members as a KII member during the SKE48 night of the Budokan concerts anyway).

Note my use of the terms "appear" and "PR". I am not suggesting management had no reasonable explanation in doing so - I am not management, so who am I to judge. There could be a myriad of reasons surrounding her sudden resumption anyway (along with Yui Yokoyama, Riho Kotani and Anna Ishida might I add). Going back to the question, "could they not have done it during the SKE48 general team shuffles instead"? One might immediately judge that to be more reasonable, but on the flipside, it would make Kitarie look like the odd one out on the night with her SKE48 membership suddenly thrown out (during an SKE48-only concert series, even). If there were some major strategic decisions made between the timing of the team shuffle and the Budokan concert series, I do not know. I, like many others, can only speculate in vain. Perhaps this Budokan option, along with bundling the announcement with the other "resumptors", was the lesser of two evils. Whatever the paths management could have taken, the end result looked uncomfortable to watch either way.

It was made especially uncomfortable because of the member's reactions to the announcements. No one likes to see their oshimen get all emotional and burst into tears at their buddies' plight. (Seeing the usually lively and happy Akarin (Akari Suda) suddenly in tears because of the Kitarie announcement nearly broke my heart). After all, they all have had fun times together working and performing with each other - it is inevitable that strong bonds would have formed along the way. In fact, I would go so far as to suggest it is the very strength of these bonds of camaraderie and friendship, regardless of whether they are still in the group or not (graduated, etc.), that define SKE48 as a whole. (Now you start to realise the significance of the Gaishi Hall concert series title as such). To suddenly see this broken up because of some management-instigated member shifting would have some emotional impact on the affected members. Rena tried to correct Togasaki (some might even see that as "the leader model standing up for her comrades"), but that failed^. Akane Takayanagi ("Churi"), in particular, was arguably the hardest hit by the announcement, not posting anything on her blog nor on Google+ until a least a day afterwards - and even then, her updates the following day did not paint a pretty picture of her emotional state. (Interestingly enough, neither of them posted anything related to the announcements shortly after the concert had finished; a stark contrast to their quick open-mindedness on Google+ following the manager voting hullabaloo of Request Hour 2013. Perhaps they decided to settle down their feelings first?).

It is hard not to empathise with the members and their grievances. Any reasonable person would feel at least a bit of pity for them considering what they have gone through (especially for Churi given she, as the continuing KII leader, looked determined to move forward with the new KII team in the first place). But at the same time, they are all professionals. It is perfectly okay and human to let out your feelings, yet they cannot let it stick for too long. They have learnt to deal with challenges like these over their history - look no further than the team shuffles a few weeks ago. It is a part of their learning and growth process as not only an idol, and not just even a professional, but as a mature individual in life.

It is the same with their Nagoya Dome aspirations. It may be their long-held dream to perform there, but even if AKB48 may have "stolen their thunder", are they going to sit still, be frustrated and complain? If they truly desire to surpass their Tokyo counterparts, why stop at this obsession with "the dome/s"? They have Kouhaku Utagassen already, so aim higher. I am speaking not only of the members, but also of fans and management alike. One may even view this supposed "strength and character of bonds" as an insularity, holding them back from their full potential, of which this comfortable insularity was what the team shuffles aimed to rightly break down. If they have a determination to succeed, then everyone involved needs to move more aggressively. I hate to make comparisons, but just because they are a sister group of the AKB48 mothership should not be an impediment to success on their own terms. Look at how far NMB48 has come in such a short period of time, having multiple member-based media endorsements under their belt and several concert tours already wrapped up. It is not only because of managerial aggressiveness (Yoshimoto is a powerful entity in the Japanese entertainment world anyhow), but also because of member willpower - their battle cry, "Teppen Tottande" and their aim, "12月31日", being a key driving force uniting all three stakeholders. And what of HKT48, the new golden child of AKS? I cite you Meru and Mio, two Kenkyuusei who are already senbatsu for Sayonara Crawl (the forthcoming AKB48 single). It is only a matter of time before HKT48, too, becomes another tour de force in the idol industry.

You may well argue in return, "well, both NMB48 and HKT48 have regional specialties to base their character upon; Nagoya is not exactly known to be a well-known regional sub-hub of Japanese culture compared to the other two cities" and therefore, what chance does SKE48 even have, when NMB48 and (soon) HKT48 look on the cusp of overtaking them? Again, only a concerted effort by fans, members and management alike can tell where the group will head.

But more importantly, what is SKE48's role in the AKB48 world? What is its identity? If AKB48 is the original, NMB48 the Kansai-flavoured fun sister and HKT48 the new kid on the block on a rapid rise to stardom, where does SKE48 lie? From management's point of view? From members? For fans? What happens beyond Nagoya Dome, now that AKB48 has perhaps taken some luster off the dream? Questions everyone needs to seriously consider. You may not have the answers to these questions; I certainly do not. Management may have the answers already, but if they do, then the next step is communication - not necessarily with fans directly (I do not expect outright managerial statements in public, and they certainly will not make one except under special circumstances), but definitely a crucial element across both upper and lower levels of staff and management. And of course, the girls themselves, all of which have put their whole lives into.

After reading all this, you may accuse me of "not supporting the SKE48 cause" by putting them on the spot and challenging their status quo. You may think I am just dismembering the girls' own dreams to actually perform at Nagoya Dome, to be recognised for their achievements as a group by their own merits (and not because of AKB48's or any other entity). You may even come to question my validity as a "true SKE48 wota", whatever that means. This is why I said I honestly struggle to find any conciliatory ground between the two perspectives I mentioned earlier in the article. There is optimism and ideals, but there is also reality. I am not willing to take any sides; in fact, I will refrain from doing so. I want SKE48 to achieve their dreams (in case you did not realise, my oshi and several other highly favoured members are in SKE48 - of which the former has been through a bit of an emotional ride thanks to the shuffles and now this. Do I not wish for my oshi to be happy and successful?). Yet I also know the reality of the 48 group world as it stands today. These issues are not new; it is because this incident has the opportunity again to shed light on these long-standing issues. Which is why I hope that every one involved, fans included, can reflect upon those questions I posed above.

To conclude my reflection, I would like to step back a little from all this seemingly analytical talk about SKE48 and redirect my focus to what the idol fandom is all about. My Japan trip has not only been rewarding in the "I got to really enjoy and make full use of my holiday trip" sense, but it has also been educational. When I went into the AKB48 and SKE48 theaters, to watch both the Kenkyuusei and full team members perform (respectively), I am firmly reminded that this fandom is not about deep analysis of management issues, nor about strategy or marketing. Nor is it complaining online on Twitter, or blogs or Tumblr about members, or of rumours or whatnot. None of it matters in the end. What really matters is about being entertained, and seeing the girls just being happy to be on stage to entertain us fans. One look at their smiling faces as they dance and sing, and you know it is not just about them being merely entertaining idols, but of determination to succeed and grow. Whatever stage they are at in the 48 world, be it mere Kenkyuusei or fully-fledged senbatsu members. And to be with a strong community of like-minded fans, wanting to see them grow on stage (and elsewhere) and to support them through every challenge they face, however structural or emotional they may be, is a special experience indeed. It is both your journey and theirs that you both share alike.

And all they want to see is you being happy after all is said and done. After every performance and with every handshake they get. You are their source of strength. So get out of your armchair and go support them. 

*This is just a likely assumption of mine, not confirmed fact (so do not take it as such). As of writing, no further details concerning the concert dates, and who is performing what, have been made. 

^In fact, Rena herself publicly admitted to her error two days later, on her blog (post here - t/l credits mahoushoujoari). 

Postscript: About Nao's transfer. Personally, I do not even see how this is even an issue. Rather than decried, it should be celebrated - celebrated because of the fact management recognises Nao as someone with a lot of future potential in not only SKE48, but for the entire 48 group, that they see fit to give her greater opportunities to learn and grow by "sending" her to AKB48. Just go look at a sample of the other concurrent members: Haruka Kodama, Miyuki Watanabe ("Milky"), Jurina Matsui, Fuuko Yagura. All aces, or up-and-coming ones. And in fact, both Jurina and Milky have developed new bonds with their AKB48 counterparts but not at the expense of their SKE48/NMB48 ones (which, incidentally, have also grown stronger).