.
It’s Sousenkyo that has made AKB48 far bigger
.
-Are there any next generation members that you two are paying attentions?
Togasaki: “They are all neck and neck right now. They will naturally come up whether or not we put our expectation on them.”
Nishiyama: “By Next Generation, you mean AKB’s face who can replace Maeda?”
Togasaki: “In that sense, we don’t have anyone right now. But, just like Maeda, it’s not something that we have a right to choose. Akimoto-sensei has all right to select the next face of AKB48. AKB48’s history is all about positive and negative reactions to Akimoto-sensei’s decisions and everything revolves from it.
When Maeda was selected for Center, honestly I couldn’t understand why. I have an image that Center should be someone who stands out from the rest, so I couldn’t imagine how it will be like with Maeda as Center. But she has grown up to be a girl who deserves to be Center.
And Senbatsu Sousenkyo has played a tremendous role in the expansion of AKB48. Because Sousenkyo is a serious event. There’s no guarantee that Maeda can win the 1st spot. But we took a risk. That why I feel AKB after Sousenkyo has showed a whole different pace of expansion.”
Nishiyama: “Certainly.”
Togasaki: “And countless of serious election speeches made by members. There’s no other event that you can feel members are doing everything seriously.
The first election… I can still cry if I watch the video of it again.
And this year, many people had started crying when Nakanishi Yuuka’s name was called at the 63th spot.
If you can understand the reason why people were moved by it, you will be able to enjoy AKB48 more.”
Nishiyama: “I agree. AKB48 has a lot of STORIES that everyone can enjoy.
If you liken AKB48 to a Jigsaw puzzle, now we’ve lost the piece called Maeda Atsuko.”
Togasaki: “If Yuko just slides to Maeda’s position and replace her, it’s not interesting at all. I myself actually am looking forward to what Akimoto-sensei will do with this missing piece.
And we resume the Selection Shinsa for Kenkyusei. So I actually want to shout to the members, ‘Everyone! Stand up!’ Now it’s time for Fruit Basket Turnover!! lol”
Nishiyama: “I think the story called AKB48 may need that kind of Radical Shuffle”
-Last of all, can you describe what AKB48 is for you?
Togasaki: “It’s what I love so much and a very important thing. I mean it’s such a big part of me.”
Nishiyama: “AKB48 is like a child that I was asked by AKB’s father Akimoto-sensei to look after them, like ‘I’m counting on you!!’ haha So I would like to give everything about AKB48 a lots of love from now on, too.”
From AKB48 Tokyo Dome ~Dream 1830m away from us~ Mook
- « Previous post NMB48 Fukumoto Aina, interview on her first full marathon as a charity runner at Osaka Marathon
- Next post » Actually めちゃいけ (MechaIke) was interesting to watch, Stocking Hunt and Pedigree by Komori
Related Posts
-
Akimoto Yasushi: “General Manager is a higher position than managers like Togasaki”
-
Matsui Jurina Solo interview: Next Center of AKB48
-
HKT48 manager interview, why he chose Kodama for Center, and Miyazawa Sae on Transfer to SNH48
-
Interview: Mayuyu ‘Listening To 初日 Reminds Me Of My Early Days In AKB48’
-
Maeda Atsuko’s Graduation Performance at Akihabara AKB48 Theater
-
Togasaki Tomonobu answered fans’ inquiries during the Handshake Event today.
Remember that there are more pages!!
Awesome work here, really nice article.
Yeah, really nice. To admin, please write more article like this, 😀
“Still at this later date, it’s only (Oshima) Yuko who dares to pounce on me” LOL. Yuko xD
Thanks
for translating this Tommy. Just thought I would like to express my thanks to
you and all the other authors for always translating all of these articles and
delivering these news updates to us all everyday without fail.
My thoughts about the current AKB: I’m
a Yuko Oshi and I do like how’s she is playing the Center role much more now
that Acchan’s gone but lately, I have been thinking that I don’t want her to
become the replacement for Acchan. Using the jigsaw puzzle analogy that TGSK
mentioned, Yuko is part of this huge jigsaw puzzle piece called AKB and if she
has to be moved to replace Acchan’s place then that would just create another
gap where she is. That’s the situation which AKB is at now: Yuko playing center
while others try to fill up the gap Yuko left behind at her place. But everyone
plays a unique role and that just can’t work in the long run. I do hope that
AKB, both the younger generation and perhaps the older generation too may be
able to rise up as a whole and challenge Yuko’s placing. They always called the
Senbatsu’s tops, Kami 7 but imo, it had always been just Kami 2.
Yuko too has voiced out how she feels
frustrations about not having a rival. Rise up AKB members, challenge her
position. Yuko can’t stay in AKB forever and it’s up to the next generation to
be able to pull AKB forward in the long run. There has to be a good challenge
in order for her to put up a good fight. That’s just how I feel.
Thank you.
It’s really nice to see kind reactions from readers.
Currently I’m the only writer, translator for this website.
If you know someone who wants to join this website as a partner plz let me know^^
(Please note that: We’re not looking for translators but someone who can search and edit news by themselves.)
This is very rare and valuable interview, because it is conducted from management’s point of view. It is good for anyone who has interests on AKB48 and business in general.
thank you so much for translating this, tommy. where was this article originally published?