SASHI WINS!

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My Funny Caption: “The homeless people living in this Tokyo parking garage have their own AKB election every year. Oddly, they have correctly predicted the #1 for the real election six out of the last seven years!”  

Ha Ha. I know what you are thinking … Denny you should write for The Onion.

Rino Sashihara (指原 莉乃 Sashihara Rino) has won this year’s AKB48 7th Sousenkyo Election 2015. Sashi re-claims the throne she had won in 2013.

Here is a list of those who ranked, the group/sister group team, and how many votes each received. Note that this year there were many non-AKB members dominating the list. Best wishes to all — they are all winners to me.

I (HEART) all of you.

SENBATSU

1. Sashihara Rino [Team H] 194,042
   02. Kahiwagi Yuki [Team B/NGT48] 167,183
   03. Watanabe Mayu [Team B] 165,789
   04. Takahashi Minami [Team A] 137,252
   05. Matsui Jurina [Team S/Team K] 105,289
   06. Yamamoto Sayaka [Team N/Team K] 97,866
   07. Miyawaki Sakura [Team KIV/Team A] 81,422
   08. Miyazawa Sae [Team S/Team SII] 75,495
   09. Shimazaki Haruka [Team A] 73,803
   10. Yokoyama Yui [Team A] 63,414
   11. Kitahara Rie [NGT48] 61,566
   12. Watanabe Miyuki [Team BII/Team B] 55,715
   13. Matsumura Kaori [Team KII] 53,667
   14. Takayanagi Akane [Team KII] 52,609
   15. Shibata Aya [Team E] 49,199
   16. Muto Tomu [Team K] 44,637

UNDERGIRLS

17. Kodama Haruka [Team H/Team K] 43,985
    18. Suda Akari [Team E] 43,665
    19. Minegishi Minami [Team K] 35,506
    20. Oya Masana [Team S] 30,021
    21. Tomonaga Mio [Team KIV/Team 4] 28,197
    22. Kizaki Yuria [Team B] 26,994
    23. Tani Marika [Team E] 26,051
    24. Furuhata Nao [Team KII] 25,650
    25. Takahashi Juri [Team 4] 25,421
    26. Kojima Mako [Team 4] 25,117
    27. Oba Mina [Team KII] 24,708
    28. Kato Rena [Team B] 24,569
    29. Okada Nana [Team 4] 23,237
    30. Takajo Aki [Team K] 22,502
    31. Fuchigami Mai [Team KIV] 22,487
    32. Tashima Meru [Team H] 22,191

NEXT GIRLS

33. Anai Chihiro [Team H] 22,146
    34. Shiroma Miru [Team M/Team A] 21,577
    35. Fujie Reina [Team M] 21,388
    36. Jonishi Kei [Team N] 21,135
    37. Sakaguchi Riko [Team H] 20,936
    38. Futamura Haruka [Team S] 20,590
    39. Uchiyama Natsuki [Team B] 20,437
    40. Yagura Fuuko [Team M] 20,354
    41. Ota Aika [Team KIV] 19,921
    42. Okada Kanna [Team KIV] 19,739
    43. Moriyasu Madoka [Team KIV] 19,401
    44. Mukaichi Mion [Team K] 18,392
    45. Miyamae Ami [Team S] 18,245
    46. Kojina Yui [Team H] 18,085
    47. Tano Yuka [Team K] 18,048
    48. Kimoto Kanon [Team E] 18,021

FUTURE GIRLS

49. Sato Sumire [Team E] 17,579
    50. Sasaki Yukari [Team A] 17,466
    51. Matsuoka Natsumi [Team H] 17,387
    52. Goto Risako [Team S] 17,330
    53. Isohara Kyoka [Team E] 17,278
    54. Kotani Riho [Team N] 17,132
    55. Souda Sarina [Team KII] 17,071
    56. Umeda Ayaka [Team BII] 17,019
    57. Mogi Shinobu [Team K] 16,867
    58. Shibuya Nagisa [Team BII/Team 4] 16,386
    59. Kato Yuka [Team N] 15,729
    60. Yabushita Shu [Team BII] 15,666
    61. Azuma Rion [Team S] 15,539
    62. Kato Rumi [Team E] 15,474
    63. Yamauchi Suzuran [Team S] 15, 157
    64. Yoshida Akari [Team N] 14,933

UPCOMING GIRLS

65. Saito Makiko [Team E] 14,916
    66. Kitagawa Ryoha [Team S/Team 4] 14,674
    67. Omori Miyu [Team 4] 14,669
    68. Umemoto Madoka [Team E] 14,605
    69. Nagao Mariya [Team K] 14,585
    70. Kamata Natsuki [Team E] 14,545
    71. Ishida Haruka [Team K] 14,319
    72. Ueki Nao [Team KIV] 13,961
    73. Kumazaki Haruka [Team E] 13,777
    74. Tanigawa Airi [Team M] 13,744
    75. Owada Nana [Team A] 13,685
    76. Takeuchi Mai [Team S] 13,569
    77. Ishida Anna [Team KII] 13,289
    78. Shinozaki Ayana [Team K] 13,170
    79. Ichikawa Miori [Team BII] 13,165
    80. Motomura Aoi [Team KIV] 13,116

For more discussion about the election, please see the great  “All Things Jpop” blog by WordPress friend Yuna linked here.

I will try to have a full tribute to Sasihara-san later next week. Now go get some sleep.

Stalight: Not sure what time zone I am in now : (

Reminder to Vote 4 Iwasa Misaki

Wasamin gives her appeal speech here. She says it all.

When you buy your multiple copies of the 41st single, please save one vote for the great Iwasa Misaki. Yeah, I know, I know.

Do I think that she will win? No.

Do I think that she will finish in the top 10? No.

Is it all just a popularity contest?  Well, yes indeed it is. However it is not a SINGING contest. A lot of factors come together to make an Idol a favorite. Sometimes it is a combination of cuteness, sexiness, roles they play, etc.

Are YOU going to vote based on singing talent? Hmmm?

My gut feeling is if she finishes very low this year she will announce her graduation.

Now the young lady is NOT washed up at age 20! She should have a pretty good singing career after AKB. I am hoping that she will finish high enough that she will continue with the group, however — and I also hope that the group will give her a larger singing role within the group.

My other gut feeling (and I have a lot of gut I have been told), is that her Enka-singles have actually hurt her rank in AKB. Since she releases solo material on a regular basis, she is not often a focus for the AKB singles. Perhaps some fans do not see her as part of a team.

If she could win the Janken-tournament, then she would get another shot at a larger, but non-Enka singing role.

If she graduates I hope that she continues to pursue an Enka-singing career.

Want is my fantasy? Come ‘er… (Denny whispers in your ear:)  I would like to see a collaboration between Iwasa Misaki and Hanako Oku. Wait, it is not all that far-fetched. Wasamin has said in interviews that she is a fan of Hanako Oku. They are both from Chiba, Japan. True, Oku-san is nearly twice Wasamin’s age, but I think they would be a good team. Oku could write the songs and Wasamin could sing them. Think Simon and Garfunkel (only with songs you might actually want to listen to). Sometimes Hanako Oku is criticized for her singing strength. I do not agree, but no doubt the young Misaki has a stronger voice, and would probably be a pretty good interpreter of Oku songs.

I know what you are going to ask: Denny aren’t you just imagining your top two fantasy women together?

Well no … and I would not do that.

Starlight: AKB48 41st single selection General Election preliminary results will be announced at Takahashi Team A LIVE performance on AKB48 theatre at 20 May 2015.

PS: We have to have some music. I found an English traslation of “Abayo” here.

Vote early … vote often … VOTE MISAKI !

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Part I for non-fans: There is an important election going on now! The AKB48 41st Single Senbatsu Sousenkyo (41stシングル 選抜総選挙) will be held on June 6, 2015 at the Fukuoka Dome. The votes will be tallied beforehand, but the winner will be announced at the event. Fans have to buy the new single in order to get a voting ticket then vote online. Fans can buy as many CD’s /voting tickets that they want. Some fans buy dozens of copies in order to vote for their favorite idol. The reigning #1 member of AKB48 is Mayu Watanabe — but who knows what might happen in this election!

Part II for AKB fans: Brothers! …  (and sisters)  – I am going to ask for your support for Iwasa Misaki in the AKB electoral voting this year. I know that many of you buy more than one ticket, so I am not asking you to vote against your favorite idol. This will be Minami Takahashi’s last election before she graduates. I know that Takahashi-san is among the favorites to finally win this year. I would certainly be happy if Takamina wins. She is a great woman and deserves the honor. Also, Mayu Watanabe could very well repeat as #1. I also love Mayuyu and would be happy if she wins again. It may be Yuki Kashiwagi’s turn to be #1 this year. She is expected to rank highly, and if it were not for Wasamin I would probably vote for Yukirin. Will Sashi surprise us all and return to the #1 spot? Several of the “up and coming girls” also deserve to move up in rank. Paruru, Sakura-tan, Sayanee, Mako all may move up significantly.

But … Iwasa Misaki is my oshi. Make that my kami oshi. Not only is she a beauty, but she has the vocal talents deserving of a higher ranking than how she came in last year (49th). Please, let us not argue right now my brothers …

Wasamin was one of the original members. Here she is as a talented 13-year old! Even back then she was  “kicking-ass-and-taking-names”! (There is probably no direct translation for that American expression, sorry). She has always been a strong singer.

Misaki-san was my favorite in the great AKB48 subunit the Watarirouka Hashiritai 7. Wasamin had the most powerful voice. Why didn’t they use her more often? Why is she not used more often in AKB?

Remember young Wasamin in the first AKB dating game? Have a look in HD. WARNING: Your heart may explode. Alternatively, your heart may jump out of your chest, THEN explode.  Full  disclose: I never saw the end because when they went to the “kiss” scene and Iwasa leaned in, I fainted and fell off my perch.*

I loved it when AKB let her sing some songs in the Enka-style. Here is an early 2011 performance (and wearing a beautiful dark kimono). Notice the enka-style inflection in the 16-year old idol’s singing.

Wasamin is more than just a pretty face. Check out she has developed her amazing enka-style in this more recent performance! … and did you see that lovely kimono in 1080 HD?

Oh, you want “Idol singing”? … well Miss Iwasa is good at that. Look at the 20-year old Idol’s great outfit here in 1080 HD.

Oh man, oh man, oh man.

(Edit 05/06/2015: Denny’s brain freeze here — see comments.)

She can do the job. I know that she will not place anywhere near the top, but she needs to place better than last year!

So PLEASE save one vote for Iwasa! She is very important to Mii …

Warning: Wasa-Mii might kick your a@@ in Smash Brothers!

Starlight: Come back to Earth and vote for Iwasa Misaki!!!