Preliminary Thoughts on Numbers

Some preliminary thoughts about the pennant points system (source post here, a useful translation here), and its wider implications:

• From a high level, it seems to have encompassed the three major types of "processes" that form the crux of the 48 Group's popularity: theater performances, handshakes and elections. From a completeness point of view, it looks reasonable.
• One point that I stress that has been emphasised in the following detailed discussion, is that if you look beyond the maths involved, there are no new practical implications arising for fans. The objective is once again, as is always in the idol fandom, to maximise your spending on these members across all three areas. However, what this has done is to slightly shift the focus away from the individual to the team, and incentivised the shift accordingly. 
• Some of my understanding, and the comments/implications arising from it, may change depending on what further information (if any) AKS decides to release - as well as the obvious language barrier. 

Challenges Facing the Next-Gen

To use a oft-quoted statement from the boss, Yasushi Akimoto ("Aki-P"), himself, "2012 will be the year of reform". Atsuko Maeda ("Acchan") is going. The Tokyo Dome concert goal is fast approaching and about to be realised. Where to from here? Eyes are slowly starting to turn towards the next generation of AKB48, one that is not led by the Atsuko Maeda-Yuko Oshima-Minami Takahashi triumvirate. If one pays regular attention to AKB48's activities, we can surely put the pieces together. But just because we might be able to piece a picture puzzle together doesn't mean it's a good-looking picture in the first place. I will attempt to dissect a few important factors that need to be considered at this critical point in AKB48's history.