AKB48 Team BS has been formed to promote NHK BS1 and NHK BS Premium TV channels.
The campaign will last from March 20 to May 31. The slogan is “Who do you support? I support BS!” (「あなたは誰推し？ 私はBS押し！」).
AKB48 Team BS members are :
AKB48’s Watanabe Mayu’s 2nd photobook Seifuku Zukan Saigo no Seifuku (制服図鑑 最後の制服) will be released on April 19.
The shooting was made across Japan, from Hokkaido to Okinawa.
The theme of the photobook is the school life. It includes photos of Watanabe Mayu wearing school uniform, swimsuit, and gym uniform.
The book has 256 pages.
Takahashi Minami’s solo debut single Jane Doe will be released on April 3.
Each CD contains 3 songs. The 3rd track is different for each edition.
All editions come with a bonus DVD featuring music videos, making-of, and special footage.
The title song is the opening theme for the drama Saki (サキ) airing on Fuji TV.
Takahashi Minami is the general manager of AKB48 and its sister groups.
AKB48 Request Hour Setlist Best 100 2013 (AKB48 リクエストアワーセットリストベスト100 2013) will be released on DVD on April 24 and Blu-ray on June 12.
The DVD and the Blu-ray box sets contain 100 songs selected and performed live from 536 songs from AKB48, SKE48, NMB48, and HKT48.
The regular edition includes a bonus disc with making-of footage.
The limited editions come with a bonus disc featuring making-of, 5 photos, a 148-page Countdown Book, and a desktop stand panel.
The blu-ray versions include an extra disc featuring a music video for Hashire! Penguin (走れ！ペンギン) and its making-of.
AKB48 Request Hour Setlist Best 100 2013 was held from January 24 to 27 at Tokyo Dome City Hall.
AKB48’s charity song Tenohira ga Kataru Koto (掌が語ること) will be released on March 8.
The song will be distributed for free. You can make a donation on the website.
It is part of Dareka no Tame ni (誰かのために) project. This project has been created after the 2011 Tohoku earthquake and tsunami. AKB48 participated in various charity activities to bring their support to people in disaster areas.
Documentary of AKB48 No Flower without Rain ~Shoujotachi wa Namida no Nochi ni Nani wo Miru?~ (少女たちは涙の後に何を見る？) will be released on DVD and Blu-ray on April 26.
The special edition includes interviews and a bonus disc.
The complete box contains 3 extra discs including a long version of Documentary of AKB48 AKB48+1+10 aired on NHK on February 1. It also comes with a 76-page photo booklet and 5 photos.
This is the 3rd episode of the Documentary of AKB48 series. It was directed by Takahashi Eiki who was also the director of the previous episode. It has been released on February 1 in Japanese theaters.
The film is following the major events experienced by AKB48 during the year 2012, including Maeda Atsuko’s graduation and the concert in Tokyo Dome.
Nakaya Sayaka announced her graduation from AKB48. She will leave the group on March 6.
She explained that she took this decision because she wants to become a seiyuu (voice actress). She has already experience in voice acting as she played the character of Aida Orine in the anime series AKB0048.
Nakaya Sayaka joined AKB48 in 2006 as a 3rd generation member. She is currently part of Team K. She is also a member of No Name.
Sashihara Rino will make an appearance in the movie Ore wa Mada Honki Dashitenai Dake (僕はまだ本気出してないだけ).
The movie is an adaptation of Aono Shunju’s manga. It is directed by Fukuda Yuichi.
Sashihara Rino will play the role of Unami Aya, an editor who turns down the main character’s mangas.
The movie will be released in theaters on June 15 in Japan.
Ono Erena (ex AKB48) will be starring in the drama Tank Top Fighter (タンクトップファイター).
Tank Top Fighter is a action/suspense drama. Ono Erena will play the role of college student named Kai. Kai and her sister, Riku (played by Kawashima Umika), become bounty hunters chasing after 4 criminals in order to free their father.
Ono Erena will also perform the theme song for the drama.
Tank Top Fighter will start airing in April on TBS and MBS.
Ono Erena’s 4th single Kimi ga Ano Hi Waratteita Imi wo will be released on March 6.
Maeda Atsuko is going to appear in the drama Kasuka na Kanojo (幽かな彼女).
Former AKB48 member Maeda Atsuko will play the role of Kawai Chiho, an assistant teacher.
Kasuka na Kanojo will start airing on Fuji TV in April. SMAP’s Katori Shingo and Anne will be starring in the drama.