Yeah! Meccha Holiday

Unlike Churi, I'm not going to Indo, nor high-rolla enough to book business class.
With these perks, I wish I was an idol...

So that I can actually make use of my overly long 6-7 month break (since last November) before I start full-time employment proper, I'll be leaving this week to go overseas over the next 1.5 months. Part of this trip involves some time in Japan, mostly around April.

When I arrive in Japan for a bit more than 3 weeks, I'll keep this blog updated with my adventures.

A Selection of Songs from Stages

I was having a brief browse through the Top 100 of Stage48's 2012 48-group Song Ranking. Needless to say, the results were a fairly predictable affair, especially when one drills down to the Top 30 and below, which was, to describe it aptly, a single-fest. Notably few and far between were songs from their vast stage collection. That got me thinking: how many of the majority who have voted have listened to studio recordings of the stages, let alone watching any? I suspect less than half, and those would comprise of the more "experienced" and regular fans within the fandom. (Not trying to stroke any so-called "elitist" tendencies here, I might add, but the results show for themselves).

Shaved Head-gate

Many seasoned AKB48, and general Japanese entertainment, fans and observers alike would already have been familiar with the recent Minami Minegishi ("Miichan") scandal and the accompanying video message posted on YouTube. Many within the fandom have witnessed, and dealt with, similar scandals in the past, and Miichan's one is nothing out of the ordinary as far as scandals are concerned, even taking into account her head-shaving actions.

2012 Year in Review - Part Four: Succession

Looking forward is much more difficult than looking back. What happened in the past is easier to reflect upon in hindsight, than trying to predict the future. My previous article in this four-part series discussed on the exits. Graduations will be inevitable. But AKB48 needs to keep moving forward; they cannot stand still after Acchan has left. So in this final part of my four-part series examining AKB48 during the course of 2012, I will aim to personally reflect on the various aspects of AKB48, especially throughout 2012, that help to set the entire group up for the future years to come.

Seven Lessons from Request Hour 2013

Since I'm not revealing what position this song came in, therefore I'm not spoiling anything.

Warning: spoiler alert. I'm assuming you've watched the entire four day concert series. If not, proceed at your own risk. Unless you've been spoiled already, of course. 

The epic four night long series (five, if you include Unit Matsuri) of annual concerts, known as Request Hour, has just concluded with a bang. This year, AKS decided to one-up their previous efforts and streamed every single night on YouTube. If you were a good boy, you would have watched all five nights by now, but in case you have not, the results are here.

2012 Year in Review - Part Three: Departures

Not quite the 卒業 I had in mind, but this will do. 

卒業 (sotsugyou) - lit.: graduation. 

In the entire -48 world, any mention of "graduations" spark a wide range of emotions. To some, sadness and grief. To another, annoyance and anger. But to the girls who are actually leaving, it can be of different motivations. 2012 has certainly seen graduations of all sorts, from the spectacle to the scandal. But the question is: what do we, as fans, ultimately think of them in hindsight? And, more importantly, what does it all mean for the girls who have left?

Best of 2012: The 48 Edition - Winners

I am now back from my extended leave, ready to go for 2013!

After hours of self-reflection and internal decision-making, I've made my decision.
Without further ado, here are the winners of each category for 2012.