Follow-Up Entry from Masuda Yuka

Masuda Yuka posted a follow-up entry today, found here
http://ameblo.jp/massuuu-yuttan/entry-11415891071.html

After reading the article and all the related reports, as well as messages from everyone, I feel that my blog post yesterday was written poorly and did not say everything I wanted to say, which made more people worry about me.

The article used words like "passionate love" and "adultery", which really shocked me because these are really not true.

I was able to build many relationships with other performers, which includes ISSA-san.
We talked about our dreams, futures, acting and singing.
Every day we talked about various things.  ISSA-san, as one of the performers, is like a brother to me and there are no romantic feelings whatsoever.

However, it was true that I acted inconsiderately, so it is not surprising this incident was written up that way. I am very very sorry.

Stage performance will start soon.
I am going to do my best.

Masuda Yuka

Masuda Yuka Resigns from AKB48

Masuda Yuka announced her resignation from AKB48 earlier this evening.

Here is the full translation of the related blog post, found here
http://ameblo.jp/massuuu-yuttan/entry-11415396132.html

"To Everyone"
Sorry about not updating this for a while.

This is quite sudden, but there will be an article about me tomorrow in one of the weekly magazines.

The article is about me staying over at the house of ISSA-san, who is from DA PUMP.

There are many untruths in the article, but the part about me staying over was true.

This inconsiderate action of mine has led to a lot of misunderstandings, as well as shocked many fans, team members, staff and family members that have supported me.

I have been thinking a lot about "Where to go from here?" In order to really draw a line, I have decided to withdraw from AKB48, as sudden as it is.

I am truly sorry to my fans, who have supported me since the beginning, that my withdrawal ended up like this.

To the people that are worrying about me because of the article, I wrote this blog post because I wanted to apologize to them first with my own words.

Masuda Yuka

Mitsumune Kaoru Graduates from AKB48

The official blog announced today that Mitsumune Kaoru has submitted her resignation from AKB:

With regards to Mitsumune Kaoru, who has been resting since August due to poor health - we are writing to let the fans know that she has submitted her resignation.

Here are her comments.

I know this is quite sudden, but I would like to quit from AKB48.
I joined last year as a 13th-generation Kenkyuusei, and was promoted to the new Team K during this summer's cabinet shuffle, I think there are surprised people asking why I am quitting. 

I have always been a bit weak, and that made it difficult for me to stand in front of you in perfect health.  I feel that if I just leave it like this, it will definitely cause trouble to those around me, and will put more pressure on myself, so I have asked to be let go.
All the staff member cheered me up and told me that it's ok to "slowly nurse myself back to full health", but I feel that maybe it's better if I quit AKB activities altogether.
As of now, all I've been doing is causing trouble to members and the staff because of my poor health, and it makes me really dislike myself.
I came to this conclusion after long discussions with staff members, and in the end they respect my decision to leave.
Now that I have announced this, I would like to apologize to everyone - not limited to fans and those who have supported me, because I have caused trouble equally to other members and staff. Even though I am no longer an AKB member, I would still like to appear before you in one way or another after resting and returning to my best condition.  I would be happy if you would wait patiently. 

I've only been here for 10 months, which is not a very long time, but I've experienced many things that can't be taught.
It was very enjoyable to spend time in the company of so many people.
Thank you so much for having me.  We will definitely meet somewhere sometime later. 

Mitsumune Kaoru

Just like all the fans, we hope we can meet her again soon.

More Afterthoughts from AkiP and Togasaki about Jurina and Miyuki

https://plus.google.com/113474433041552257864/posts/hbTiZtd5gCg

Oops, I meant to post yesterday, but this post didn't go through.
It's difficult to decide whether or not to go ahead with something new,
because of course some people will disagree.
I am the producer of the entire AKB48 group.
I don't think it's a good idea to only focus on making AKB48 better.
SKE48, NMB48, HKT48, JKT48 are also important groups.
I don't know what the time frame is for Jurina and Miyuki's rental transfer,
because we haven't decided the schedule for original performance for Team N of NMB48, new performance for Team S of SKE48, Team K and B of AKB48.
Also because we want to give them more experience.
Of course it will be slow and we will not overwork the members.
We also want Jurina to do well in school.
It's possible that AKB48 members will be "studying abroad" and sent to SKE48, NMB48, HKT48, JKT48.
Let's try some new ideas.

https://plus.google.com/113474433041552257864/posts/Wuew2kD7CRH

Thanks for everyone's passionate comments.
"Please explain this in detail"
It's important to explain everything,
but I am not at liberty to tell you everything.
With regards to Jurina, her health condition is our priority.  She works harder than her body allows because she feels responsible as one of the two centers of SKE48.  In a good way her rivalry with Rena is keeping her up.
To be concurrently in SKE and AKB, I feel that she's not resting if she doesn't perform when she is asked to go on stage.  It's also no good to let Jurina rest when SKE is working very hard out there.  I talked to Yuko and Itano from AKB, and they think that Jurina can grow by learning the group stage songs, and SKE will grow by having to cover Jurina's absence.
With regards to Miyuki - she is always between being confident and being worried.  She always double-checks with the manager about her position for new songs or gravure shoots.  She is the type that cries and comes asking "Why was I not chosen" when we announced that Yamamoto Sayaka was picked for senbatsu for AKB's new song.  As one of the two current centers of NMB, and as future center material, we want her to have more charisma like Kashiwagi or Mayu.
We want Team K to benefit from Jurina's high potential, and Team B to benefit from Miyuki's "magic" - this should give them a good jolt.
I am doing this for SKE and NMB.
If this decision turns out wrong,
I will resign as SKE and NMB's producer.
Of course, if this is also a wrong decision for AKB,
then I will resign as AKB's producer as well.
I will push the entire AKB group forward, even if this means putting myself on the line.

https://plus.google.com/113474433041552257864/posts/KaEHywLF43K

Here's one more thing.
A lot of people are asking, "Why them?"  So here's the answer.
These are "signs".  Like when a flower about to bloom, I feel these girls are on the brink of stardom.
Even if it's just now.
Maybe there will be other "signs" in 6 months, from members that I didn't choose.
The cruel part,
is that blooming has nothing to do with seniority or hard work.
It's not that hard work doesn't pay off, but rather "hard work" is one of the minimum requirements.
But still they won't bloom equally.
I want to make as many members bloom, so I change how I shine the light on them, I choose different fertilizers, I change the amount of water.
Like Iwasa Misaki, the first Enka singer in AKB, and Matsui Sakiko, who is about to release her first solo album.
But what will happen to ones that haven't bloomed?
They get worried, and they become dissatisfied with how they are being brought up.
What kind of advice am I suppose to give them?
It's hard to console them.
"Wait until you bloom"
"Wait until the it's your chance"
Do I focus on a few, or open up the field to everyone and end up not having a lot of flowers blooming?
Maybe one can get into AKB.
But it isn't guaranteed that everyone will become a star.
It's "Can you accept this cruel reality?"
As a producer I always try my hardest to make as many people stars as possible.
But I want them to understand that the road to stardom requires more than this.
"But Akimoto-san decided that I pass the audition"
Exactly.
So even the ones that haven't bloomed will have a chance to bloom.
What if you're still not blooming?
Then that means I have bad eyes.
So please go see someone else who has more talent than me.
I will write referrals.
Until then, please let me know of "seeds" that I haven't noticed.

https://plus.google.com/113474433041552257864/posts/baBdEDm7XdV

Last week, I stayed up all night writing a new NMB song.  Now I'm writing a new SKE song.
I think about these groups more than anyone else, but am I making the wrong decisions?
I've stopped writing.
Hmmmm.
What to do.
It's a shame that SKE and NMB fans don't understand where I'm coming from.

From Togasaki:
https://plus.google.com/103388469578205010447/posts/PnnJvptUpS3

I have received a lot of questions from everyone, regarding the "Concurrent" roles.  We will let you know as soon as we work out the details and adjustments, so please bears with us.
As expected, we acknowledge that there are pros and cons.
Looks like there are a lot of people that want to talk to me in person - please come see me at the Theater CD handshake event on April 7th in the Manager Room.
I would also like to meet SKE and NMB fans to talk about this.
I have talked to the respective managers and will be going to their respective event venues, so please wait patiently.
Anyway - these sudden announcements might be shocking, but the theme for AKB48 group, known for its increasing sister units and sub-units, is "change".
The two members will bring DNA from their time in AKB48 and spread them in SKE/NMB.  By the same token, SKE/NMB DNA will be brought to AKB48.
We would like to think of this as a chemical reaction.
What kind of reaction, though?  I would be glad to wait with everyone and find out.

Full Togasaki G+ Post on Promotions/Transfers

https://plus.google.com/u/0/103388469578205010447/posts/Rxqc4MShNgD

We had some "surprise announcements" at the end of the SSA concert just now, and I'd like to report them here.

There were two announcements today.

First announcement was promotions to Team 4.  Those promoted were:

Kato Rena
Kawaei Rina
Iwata Karen
Tano Yuuka
Takahashi Juri

The other announcement is about filling Team K and Team B's roster, one spot each:

To join Team K:
Matsui Jurina from SKE48 Team S

To join Team B:
Watanabe Miyuki from NMB48 Team N

These two new members will still perform with their respective teams, which are Team S of SKE48 and Team N of NMB48.

As AKB48 members, there is a limited time for the "rental transfer, and we would like to see them develop while working with sister groups, as we think there is a lot they can learn from one another.  So please send them your warm thoughts and keep cheering for them.

Thank you for your continuous supportive to AKB48 and its affiliated groups.