Sato Natsuki Graduates from AKB48

From the official AKB48 blog - Sato Natsuki announced her graduation.
http://ameblo.jp/akihabara48/entry-11416598442.html

We are letting you know that on November 30th, Sato Natsuki graduated from AKB48.

We are sorry about the sudden announcement.

However she reached this conclusion after thinking about this thoroughly, so we have accepted it.

We have reproduced her message to fans below:

Sorry about the sudden news.

I, Sato Natsuki, will graduate from AKB48.

As a second generation member, I have really accumulated a lot of experiences during my time in AKB.  I have met and said goodbye to a lot of people during my exciting times here.

After 6.5 years here, the Tokyo Dome concert this summer was an eye-opening experience for me.

Being able to perform on the stage of Tokyo Dome, even though I was definitely not the focus of the concert, was definitely proof that I have accomplished my dream.  I will treasure this experience for the rest of my life.

I joined AKB I was 15, and when I realized it, I am 22...and because I am already 22...

I've been thinking about that, but realized I have been looking at the world as if I have seen a lot, and thought "wait, I am just 22."

Maybe there are things I have overlooked.

I realized there are still a lot of challenges, and a lot of things that need to be done diligently.

That's why now I want to go to an University, study hard, and graduate.

I want to be recognized as an able individual and I have to work hard for that.

I am going to focus on my studies and put the entertainment industry behind me.

I am sorry that I have come to this conclusion selfishly and caused trouble.

To fans that have supported me...

Thank you for all the smiles and all the love.

All my fans have great smiles that cheered me up and gave me courage all the time, but I've always been on the receiving end.

I have shown you my weaknesses as well, but you guys have become my support, which made me stronger.

Thank you for supporting someone like me.

I am grateful.

To my family...

Thank you for always being on my side.

I am sorry about all the trouble and tears I caused.

I will return the love you gave me many times more.

Thank you so much.

To staff and members - 

To all the staff, who have always been serious to me when I asked for advice.

To all the members that have laughed, cried and went through everything with me.

Because you were here all along with me

I was able to enjoy everything from the bottom of my heart.

The ability to laugh from the bottom of my heart until I start crying, I think that doesn't happen all the time.

The times I was able to spend with everyone during our extremely busy days, when we have to give everything every single day, is my life-long treasure, and it will serve me well for the rest of my life.

Thank you for the extremely happy times.

Sato Natsuki

AkiP's G+ Post About Sashihara

https://plus.google.com/113474433041552257864/posts/MMk84e6DgUW

Let's talk about Sashihara Rino's move to HKT48.

We talked to her about the magazine article.
Her response was "Not everything in there is true, but there's nothing I can do about it if people want to believe everything."
This happened 3-4 years ago, when she was still a kenkyuusei.  As an AKB48 member, she is ashamed and deeply regrets these irresponsible actions.
She has been given a "yellow card" and disciplined accordingly.

Her mental strength and "never give up" attitude are exemplary among AKB members.
I would like for her to pass this strength to junior members, so she is moved to the recently formed HKT48.
Those who say that she was "demoted" is insulting HKT48 members, as well as the fans and staff who support them.
We reached the conclusions after a long meeting that we want to present Sashihara with a new challenge, as well as motivate the young HKT48 members.

How clumsy can she be, despite having reached 4th place as voted by fans?
This is an important time...
But this is Sashihara.
Maybe she will come back as the leader HKT48, the strongest group among this franchise.
Or she will blend in as part of HKT48, the strongest group among this franchise.

Please keep supporting the AKB member that is "most likely to not perform according to expectations".

Maeda Atsuko's Video Message To Fans

Maeda Atsuko's Message to Fans

She gave a speech during "AKB48's All Night Nippon" radio program, here is the full translation.
(Wingom from ProjectSUB48 helped me with parts that I couldn't figure out - Thanks!)

AkiP On Maeda Atsuko Graduation Announcement

https://plus.google.com/113474433041552257864/posts/9jSYghm9jms

Maeda Atsuko announced her graduation.
We discussed this quite a few times, and of course I tried to stop her, but I told her "please decide for yourself".
I also said that if she decides to announce it, then do it on the last day of SSA concert.
Probably during the MC of "Dareka no Tameni".
When her hand was on her chest and she was calming down, I thought, "she's going to do it."

She is a stoic person.
She doesn't like to have casual/meaningless relationships with people so she corners herself.
She is a loner.
She is hard on herself and sometimes people think she's cross.
But it's also difficult for her when she thinks everyone coddles her.
Maybe she is afraid that if she stays in this easy environment longer, she might become an unreasonable, selfish person.
So, she is going to challenge herself by jumping into the cruel real world.

I have asked the ever-so-clumsy Maeda to be the center for 6-1/2 years, so it's time to let her do what she wants.

We haven't decided anything yet, but we would like everyone to send warm wishes to her graduation.

You worked very, very hard.
You did great.

Takahashi Minami's Mother Arrested?!

I came across these scans this afternoon by way of Twitter.  These are from the newest issue of Shukan Bunshun (週刊文春), which is a weekly magazine in Japan that reports "scoops you cannot see on the news."  Japanese Wikipedia article lists quite a few "controversial" articles this magazine has published in the past.  While Bunshun is not as low as the tabloids in US, it is probably not the most reliable source of news.  

But people (and AKB48 fans, for sure) are curious and want to know what happened.  So here is my translated version, originally posted on Everyday48.

Edit on February 8th, 2012 - unfortunately, this did happen.  Jiji Press confirmed this yesterday afternoon.