General manager Togasaki Tomonobu makes comment on Minegishi Minami’s apology video

  February 1, 2013
Togasaki Tomonobu 2/1/2013 3:21 PM

We have received many opinions and questions from the fans regarding the video of Minegishi’s apology. I would like to add further explanations since the we failed to fully express an explanation to you.

・Why did you have to upload a video like this?

When we were in a hurry preparing for the streaming and we have received a report that Minegishi really wants to apologize personally with her hair shaved. We felt how strong her will and feeling towards AKB48 was, so we decided to stream the video as we planned.

・Was it necessary for her to shave her hair?

Was it necessary? or not? If you ask me, the answer will probably be “No, it wasn’t. However, what I can tell you for sure is that Minegishi surely wanted to convey how strong her feeling was.

・Couldn’t anybody stop her from shaving her hair?

I heard that when she came out from the make up room, she had already shaved her hair. It seems that the staff beside her did stop her. However, I heard that she said that people might think of her as a fool, but she really wanted to put her reflection into action, so she cut her bangs using scissors without losing control over herself.

・Isn’t it unfair that the punishment for each of the members who had scandals were different?

It would be better if we can establish the common rule. However, we are experiencing a dilemma because it is difficult to conceive a common rule since each member is under a different situation.
For example, there was a member who had been warned many times, but did not listen to anyone and caused  a scandal.
There was also a member who wanted to pursue her dreams and was about to plan on graduating when a scandal about her was exposed.
There was also a member whose past incident was reported as a scandal.
There was also a member whose scandal was not exposed, but had a huge rule violation behind the scenes.
Please do understand that we have to make decisions with consideration to many circumstances.

・There was a photo of Minegishi, which has been uploaded on the internet, where she looked like she was having fun with the first generation members. Did she really reflect on her actions?

Before the rehearsals of the theater performance of Team B, I saw Minegishi who came to apologize with an exhausted expression on her face, so I can say that she has reflected on her actions. At the same time, it seemed like she was trying her best not to make people around her feel worried. I think that is the reason why the members of the same generation as her were encouraging Minegishi who was feeling depressed.

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We, the managing team, would like to support the members who are trying their best to pursue their dreams by having continuous discussion with them.

Tomonobu Togasaki
AKB Group Theater General Manager


SOURCE

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Takahashi Minami at movie premiere on February 1st:

“Minegishi is demoted to Kenkyusei (Trainee) and she decided to start over her career in AKB48.

The video of her apology was uploaded because of her own request that she wanted to make an apology to her fans directly.

Honestly…. seeing her shaved head was so shocking that we were lost for words.

But I think it was manifestation of her will that she wants to start over as a member of AKB48.”

Members bowing deeply to apologize for the Minegishi Minami’s incident at Movie Premiere of “DOCUMENTARY OF AKB48 NO FLOWER WITHOUT RAIN, what girls will see after tears”