Infinity: Promo poster, characters, songs...

OMG, it's coming, INFINITY is coming... And I'm so nervous...

(SEE THE NEW BANNER HEIWA MADE *____*)

Anyways, two days ago appeared the Infinity official page (inside AKB48's official site) (and I should have told you this before but guess what... I didn't have time!). The page includes a picture of the promo poster in really good quality, and also, the so expected list of the AKB songs to be performed in the musical. Also, it has a diagram explaining the characters relation and describing their personalities, names and stories. It was pretty interesting.

So, since this blog is so amazing (and since we love SaeYaka so), we will try to keep you informed with great translations of the info we find.

High quality promo poster


Let's see the characters diagram. This one explains several things, for example, since the cast is double, the main characters personalities change depending on the actress. That's to say, the Maria that Takamina plays is different than Yuki's. Same with the Ruka Sayaka plays. It's different than Sae's.

Characters diagram

Thanks to HANA, SaeYaka Paradise brings to you the translated diagram! Yahoi!

____________________________


Harusame Ruka (Akimoto Sayaka/Miyazawa Sae)

He's a vampire that loved and was loved by Maria long ago. However, the two of them were forcibly separated by a vampire hunter and villagers. After that, 250 years later, he continues to desire Maria, and even now still believes in the love they shared.

The role of Ruka has been double cast, and something to look for is a slight personality change in the character, depending on the performer. The Ruka portrayed by Akimoto Sayaka is an extremely understanding man. Even if Maria rejects him, he waits with open arms. On the other hand, Miyazawa Sae's Ruka is a young boy who remains childish. If Maria doesn't act as he wishes, he becomes worried.


Maids (Tanabe Miku and Nakaya Sayaka)

A pair of twin maids who are faithful to Ruka. They're calm and don't wear their hearts on their sleeves, but they're always concerned for Ruka.



Takajima Maria (Takahashi Minami/Kashiwagi Yuki)

A senior at a Catholic Girl's School. She's the captain of the dance team, and is practicing daily in anticipation of winning her first dance competition. She's an only child, and her favorite foods are strawberries and sushi.*

The role of Maria has also been double cast. Takahashi Minami's Maria is an honor student that is popular among the girls and the boys. She takes a bit of a strong stand against boys. Kashiwagi Yuki's Maria is a reliable honor student. She's popular, but she's a late-bloomer in regard to boys, and becomes a little frightened when they come near.

*Note: Literally it says revolving sushi, referring to sushi bars where individual servings of sushi are put on plates, usually color-coded according to price, and sent on a moving track where customers can serve themselves freely.



Friends

- Ai (Iwasa Misaki)

She's a 3rd year at the Catholic Girl's School, and is the sub-captain of the dance team. She involves Maria in everything, and never leaves her side.

- Isako (Yonezawa Rumi)

A 3rd year on the dance team at the Catholic Girl's School. She's Maria's best friend, and is a reliable presence when it counts most. She's a bit spunky.

- Utako (Sato Natsuki)

A 3rd year on the dance team at the Catholic Girl's School. She gives her all in her club activities, but also wants to enjoy the time after school. Due to her family's economic situation, she's attempting to raise the money necessary to participate in the dance competition by herself. She's energetic and shrewd, but she also has a dark side.

　　→ The shop assistant at the beach hut (Murai Akira)

A relative of Utako's. He's supporting Utako by taking a part time job at the beach hut so that she can get the money to participate in the dance competition.

- Eri (Nakatsuka Tomomi)

A 2nd year on the dance team at the Catholic Girl's School. She's got a (text is too small to make out) personality, and sets the mood for the team. She's always walks right next to the older girls. She's the key person of the story.



Underclassmen
(Nakata Chisato, Katayama Haruka, Nonaka Misato, Uchida Mayumi)

They're the 1st year students on the Catholic Girl's School dance team. They're training super hard in preparation for their first competition!



Vampire Hunter (Nakanishi Katsuyuki)

His family has been in the business of vampire hunting for generations, and he has a "warrant" for Ruka. Humans can't see vampires, but he has a special looking glass through which he spotted Ruka, and is now chasing him.



Vampire Hunter's henchmen (Takahashi Hikaru, Adachi Yuji)

They're not entirely sold on the idea that vampires, invisible to humans, exist in this world. They chase vampires for fun.


____________________________


Sayaka's Ruka is understanding... *______* That's exactly like the person I've been looking for... ;)



Now, these are the songs in the musical (some are really weird choices), we include the performers (character name):

• Aitakatta → All
• Ame no Doubutsuen → Utako, Eri and dance team members
• Kimi wa Pegasus　→ Ruka
• Saishuu beru ga Naru → dance team members
• Tomo yo → dance team members
• Nakinagara Hohoende → Maria
• Virgin Love → Ai, Isako and dance team members
• Hizukehenkousen → Maria and Ruka
• Fushidarana Natsu → Utako, Eri and dance team members
• Blue rose → Ruka
• Hone Hone Waltz → Maids and Hone Hone Dancers
• Maria → Ruka
• 109 → Maria and passers
• Mori he Yukou → dance team members
• Yakusoku yo → all
• Rio no Kakumei → Maria
• Renai Kinshi Jourei → Maids

Yea, I know, WTF is Hone Hone doing there? LOL.

We will see Sayaka and Sae singing three solo songs: Kimi wa Pegasus, Blue rose, and Maria. Wow. That's a big WOW. It's like (another) dream come true *___*

I seriously can't wait anymore.



Stay tuned. More info and pix are coming soon, very soon...

RIVER! RIVER! RIVER! -Weekly 1!-

Although RIVER sales fell during the last days, it reached the WEEKLY 1 position in Oricon! The total sales for the week were 178,579.

This is an incredible number for the girls and idols in general. Congratulations again! Actually, it's the first time the girls get a weekly 1 :o

Many people say AKB sales are not "real" because wotas buy multiple copies to be able to attend to handshake events once and again. It's true, wotas do that. But, have you stopped to think that Johnnys fangirls do exactly the same? They also buy multiple copies... And they don't even get a miserable handshake.

So if you're one of those who complain about the "multiple copies issue", think twice before bashing your favorite group ;) And, if you don't agree with this practice, then u're not suited to be fan of an idol group. Oh-oh.



Oh, Heiwa, see who got home today!

SaeYaka in RIVER DVD bonus: What they could tell us on a date!

The RIVER DVD included a bonus clip with the girls wearing everyday clothes and saying something to the camera as if it were one of us. So basically they are saying to us, personally =D

This began to be done in Oogoe Diamond, remember? They were yelling "daisuki!"

Well, SaeYaka Paradise proudly presents the Sayaka and Sae clips!

Remember we moved to Dailymotion coz YouTube deleted our account, LOL. To watch the clips in good quality, don't forget choosing HQ.



Sae clip:

Miyazawa Sae - AKB48 RIVER bonus clip
by SaeYaka

SAE: So... What were you gonna say?


I'd tell you many things, Sae ;)



Sayaka clip:

Akimoto Sayaka - AKB48 RIVER bonus clip
by SaeYaka

SAYAKA: Ok, I swear I won't lose. To the station, right? Go!


I'd run with you to the end of the world if necessary... ♥

Sayaka's video is SO Sayaka XD




Enjoy!

RIVER! RIVER! RIVER! # -Day 5-

On its fifth day, RIVER sold 7,085 copies and kept its 1 position in the Oricon chart. The fifth day marks a slight increase from the fourth day, but it's still a big fall from the previous days. The total sales in five days are now 167,895.

Will RIVER surpass the 200k before Thursday?

Now matter what, this is the best selling Idol single from the last years.


Images from today's handshake event in Yomiuri Land:


So pretty *__*

RIVER! RIVER! RIVER! #1 -Day 4-

RIVER kept its 1st position in Oricon on its 4th day (October 23), but the sales drop was kind of steep. Only 4,707. That totals 160,810 in four days.

Infinity: I ran out of ideas to express what these pictures made me feel... (includes updated plot)

So I woke up this morning and since I didn't have to go to the office, I checked the AKB48 Official Blog early.

And I died... I died 58975 times.

These are sample pictures of the ones that are gonna be sold during the musical:

Saya-Taka

Sae-Yuki

Man, did you see that? Did you see them? Did you see Sayaka?

Let's begin with Sae. I notice her messy and gel hair. THAT's what I was waiting for. And her serious look that kills me. Sae is really marvelous.

And Sayaka. I don't know really what to say. Doesn't she look like a perfume campaign model? She's just too awesome and hot. I must confess I got nose bleed when I saw the pic. I'm a sinner.



Anyways, there are so many goods for this musical that I still don't understand very well. What I do understand very well is that I'll need at least 500 bucks next month to buy all that. AT LEAST 13 pictures per member, a pamphlet, and much more.

The pamphlet includes:

- Story
- Interview with Akimoto Yasushi
- Interview with Hiroi Oji
- Characters diagram
- Musical group original gravure (Ruka (Sayaka)/Maria (Takamina)
- Off-shot

You can find all this info in this entry of the Official Blog.


The entry included a new plot of the story that confirms the MALE role of Sayaka and Sae. Here a translation (it's hot, be careful):

Takajima Maria (Takamina/Yukirin), third year student of a catholic female school, is a honor student and head of the dance club.
She's cheerful and energetic, but she's worried about the dreams of an unknown man who whispers to her about love every night. His voice saying "I'll surely meet you..." resounds in her ears.

One day, Maria was being assaulted by delinquents and a man who was passing by saved her. "Finally, I met you," he said and kissed her suddenly. Maria, surprised by the sudden action, ran away from the place but then realized that man was the guy who always appeared in her dreams. His name: Murasame Ruka (Sayaka/Sae).

Ah! What's going on?! Moreover, this man is the vampire that loved her and was loved by her 250 years ago, but whose love had to be forcibly over! Again, both feel strongly attracted.

Maria loves Ruka strongly, but she's puzzled about whether or not to leave her human world.

So what will be the fate of their love..?

Romantic... Sayakaaaaaaaa!!!

RIVER! RIVER! RIVER! #1 -Day 3-

RIVER has sold 14,259 copies on its 3rd day and keeps number 1! The total copies sold until now are 156,103.

RIVER! RIVER! RIVER! #1 -Day 2-

RIVER sold 54,049 copies on its second day. That totals 141,844 copies... o_o Holy God, that's a lot! RIVER has already outsold Namida Surprise's sells (NamiSapu was, until today, the best seller AKB single) in only two days!

Yay! AKB is the best, I'm telling ya. I want my copy to arrive soon... Me and Heiwa decided to use a slower shipping but I regret now XD


The Oricon site has special pictures of the girls:





You can check the rest of the pictures here.


I hope I have some time to make a PV review soon. I actually know I still have to make an Iiwake Maybe PV review, though XD

RIVER! RIVER! RIVER! (#1)

AKB48'S 14th single, RIVER, has been released and sold 87,795 copies on its first day reaching the #1 rank in Oricon charts! FUCK YES!

Now we just have to wait and see if they will be able to keep the #1 to get the weekly first position, too.

CONGRATULATIONS GIRLS!

Remember, if you still haven't bought your copy, you can do it in the following stores:

The following shops are included in Oricon count
CD Japan
HMV Japan
Amazon Japan

You can buy here, too, but the Oricon counting is not guaranteed. We recommend using one of the three above.
YesAsia Global
YesAsia North America


The single contains:

CD
1 - RIVER (senbtasu)
2 - Kimi no Koto ga Suki dakara (under girls)
3 - Hikoukigumo (theater girls)
4 - RIVER (off vocal ver.)
5 - Kimi no Koto ga Suki dakara (off vocal ver.)

DVD
1 - RIVER PV
2 - Kimi no Koto ga Suki dakara PV
3 - Hikoukigumo PV
4 - Bonus video (16 senbatsus in daily clothes saying what they would like to be told on a date; you can find previews in YouTube)



CD COVERS:

Normal version

Theater version

Sayaka and Sae appear in the back cover :)



While normal version included random group shots and stuff like alternative covers (and a ticket to vote for AX 2010), theater version included random girls pictures.

Sae theater picture

Sayaka theater picture

Something else to add? Probably not.


Just...


AKB48 is the best ;)

One more reason to love Sayaka

Acchan and Meetan (among others) posted Sayaka pictures yesterday in their personal blogs. This is not uncommon but something special called our attention.

I've marked three things here: a cap, a t-shirt, and a cell phone charm.



You can find the original pictures in the Acchan and Meetan's blogs
(links given at the beginning of the entry)


Yup. Sayaka is wearing/using presents given to her in NY =)

I only recognized the cap (given by S48's makistar), but the owners of the other items recognized their presents, too. The t-shirt was given by S48's Kika (from Mexico) and cell phone charm was given by S48's lamenth.


I don't know what you think of this, but I think it's simple amazing.

Yet another reason to love Sayaka.

Infinity promo poster and... OMG

Hiroi Oji (Infinity's director and creator) has posted again in his personal blog Infinity and AKB48 related pictures.

The girls participating in the musical:




And... A picture of the promo poster. Sayaka-Takamina (top) and Sae-Yukirin (bottom).



I want one of these posters... NOW.

Visit Hiroi Oji's personal blog: http://blog.hudson.co.jp/hiroi-ohji


____________________


ALSO, rehearsal images from AKBINGO:

Not a romantic scene, but still... SAE *^___^*



This shot needs no words... *___*

Acchan is surpassing the decency limits... LOL

SOMEONE

STOPS HER

PLEASE!

Well, we cannot blame Acchan... She's doing what we all want to do anyways... :P

More Infinity shots and doubts

Shuukan AKB showed us more Infinity rehearsals shots last week, and we found a nice promo picture, too. Plus a picture of Sae and Yukirin taken from the director's blog.

Promo picture (Sayaka looks ill... :o)

Before showing the following pictures, I want to say what I've been pondering the last days. When I translated the musical plot, I thought Sayaka and Sae's character was a tomboy. But, reading the musical director's blog, he says Sae's plays the otoko yaku (male role).

So now I don't know the truth. Playing a male role is ok, but wouldn't it be stupid a female school receiving a male as a transfer student? In that case, the tomboy thing would have more sense.

Well, wait and see.

Girls listening instructions

Sayaka embracing some lucky girl we still cannot identify

Sae singing

Sae and Yukirin (from Hiroi Oji's personal blog)

AKB48 Request Hour Set List Best 2010 [Shibuya AX] VOTING

The voting for the Shibuya AX 2010 concert has begun. The Shibuya AX concerts have been done since 2008, they last 3 days, and in there, AKB48 (or SKE48, sub units, whatever) performs 100 songs chosen by the fans. The song number 1 (the last day) is the one that gets more votes.

Last year we were able to vote in a very simple way that was open for everyone: through e-mail. This year, though, we will have to vote using the same system used to choose the senbatsu members for the Iiwake Maybe single.

There is a special web site promoting this year voting: www.request-hour.jp. This site IS NOT to vote, just for you to know all the songs competing this year (250 in total).

Ways to vote:

Voting ticket from RIVER single
AKB48 Fan Club
AKB48 Mobile Fan Club
DMM monthly access member


The voting period has already begun and ends in November 30 at 11pm (Japan Time).

If you bought a RIVER copy, you will get a voting ticket with a code you'll have to enter through a mobile phone (ask a Japanese friend for help).

If you're a FC member we will show you how to vote:


Step 1:

Enter the FC page and click on the 1st link in the "what''s new" section.


Step 2:

You'll be redirected to a page with the list of all the AKB48, SKE48, SDN48, soloists, and units songs. Notice that the song with gray background are repeated songs. For example: overture, all the K1 (same as A1), etc.


Step 3:

All the songs have a number. Write the number of your chosen song in the box (pink border) at the bottom of the page. Then press the pink button bellow the box.

Step 4:

You will be redirected to a page pointing the song you've chosen and asking to confirm. If you made a mistake you can go back and fix.


Step 5:

After confirming you vote, you'll be thanked and then you can close the page or go to top.



And that's it, you've voted.


Now we will tell you the songs and their numbers. No matter where you vote, the song number is always the same. HOWEVER and AS USUAL, we will only let you know the songs involving major SaeYaka appearances or flagship Team K songs.

71. Blue rose (K2, SaeYaka)
80. Korogaru Ishi ni Nare (K2)
81. Cinderella wa Damasarenai (K2)
87. Kimi wa Pegasus (K3, SaeYaka)
93. Hana to Chire! (K3)
99. Return Match (K4, Sayaka)
101. Gomen ne Jewel (K4, Sae)
110. Sasae (K4)
117. Ai no Iro (K5, Sae)
119. Mushi no Ballad (K5, Sayaka)
123. Fan letter (K5)
166. Itoshisa no Defense (H1, Sae)
167. Himawari (H1, Sayaka)
172. Lay Down (H1)
179. Hajimete no Jelly Beans (H2, Sae)
182. Confession (H2, Sayaka)
242. Ashita wa Ashita no Kimi ga Umareru (Chocolove)
243. Mail no Namida (Chocolove)
244. Chocolate (Chocolove)
245. Kare no Kitchen (Chocolove)
246. Waves (Chocolove)



We already chose our song. Choose yours soon. ;)

High Kick Girl purchase links

Do you remember High Kick Girl movie? (that one when Sayaka kicks butts with her Aikido skills...)

We will finally have a chance to watch it because the DVD will be released this December 23!

Although we know Sayaka doesn't have a big role, this movie should still rule because the trailer looked great =D Plus, Sayaka kicking other asses is always good. Watch out.


The movie release has two versions:


REGULAR EDITION



Consists of one disc that includes the movie and the original preview shown in theaters. 81 minutes.

Buy in:
Amazon Japan
CD Japan
HMV Japan
YesAsia Global
YesAsia North America



DELUXE EDITION



Consists of 2 discs including the movie and: action making of, karate and action techniques, movie making of, talk. 81 minutes.

Buy in:
Amazon Japan
CD Japan
HMV Japan
YesAsia
YesAsia Global

General features of both editions:

NTSC Format
Region Code: 2 (Japan, Europe, Middle East, and South Africa only)
Color
Encoding: MPEG-2
Subtitles: None
Audio Track : Japanese: Dolby Digital 5.1ch

The AKB48 sports day result

The AKB48 sports day was done this weekend!

Now, guess which team was the winner... TEAM K!!!!!!!

I mean, who else could win? Team K got the first place (344 points, Team B (332 points) was close in second place and Team A (219 points) failed miserably at third spot =D

Team K triumph song was, of course, Korogaru Ishi ni Nare (Become a rolling stone). The MVP was (this is bad for us, but still good for Team K) Yuko. I had hopes it were Sayaka... sniff.

The event was full of surprises, as many graduated members reappeared to support their old teams. remember this was the last big activity of the original teams, so it was full of emotions.

Nonti got hurt during the practices before the event, the area where Team K fans were located was full of banners reading thinks like: "2006.4.1 - ∞" or "This is the team we are proud of: We are the Team K." Banners like these made the girls give their 500% to win the event and moved them to tears.

Sayaka wrote about this in her latest FC blog entry and she added something very interesting about her: she said before joining AKB48 she was a person who used to leave everything incomplete. There were many things she never finished. Dreams, activities.. That's why she thought she was a person who couldn't really win. She even gave up auditions before AKB in the final stage.

But after joining AKB and Team K she become a persistent person, who chases victory in all the aspects of life.

She felt life winning during the sports day ans she feels like winning in life. *^___^* That's our Sayaka, I'm so proud of her ;)


So, what was I talking about? Oh, yes, the sports day. Hehe. Old members (now removed from their teams) read letter to the new captains. Kasai read a letter to Sayaka. I hope we can have access to those letters, I want to know what they said.

Anyways there is not much left to say, just add that Sayaka can run 50 meters in 7 seconds (the second faster AKB member behind Yuko).


Nothing else to say except: WE ARE THE TEAM K!


Blurry picture taken from Meetan's public blog

TV shows Infinity shots

Sorry for not updating in... OMG... 10 days. I was waiting for Sayaka or Sae to write for first time in their public blog but guess what: It's a fiasco T__T I mean, they are real, but looks like they are really gonna be a Pigg diary only. Boo.

Stupid Pigg, it forced me to make an account and SaeYaka hasn't even appeared! Since I'm so lucky, they will be online in my work hours.


Right, let's see some of the interesting things that happened last week:


Thanks to AKBINGO and Shuukan AKB we were able to see flash shots of the upcoming musical "Infinity". And you know already why we are so interested on them...

AKBINGO showed the girls promoting the musical:



It's interesting they are not wearing the lame dark vampiresque clothes this kind of stories usually has. So makes me wonder how the actual costumes will be (besides the school uniform, of course ad just in case they actually change some clothes).



Notice Sae holding Yukirin's hand. This couple is weird for me, really. It will take a while to get used to it... Sayaka and Takamina on the other hand... *romantic sigh*

And wow, did you notice something strange? (besides Takamina's hair)

Yes, Takamina grew like 10 centimeters! LOL. She was prolly over a box. Cute.


Did you think that was nice? Nah, you've seen nothing...


Shuukan AKB shots from the promo poster making and the girls studying the libretto...

SaeYaka is so sexy when serious...


Sae and Yukirin in the box... Is it me or Sae looks confused?


Now prepare the defibrillator....

Sayaka is holding Taka's hand while the last sleeps... Just look at Sayaka's expression. Is that look normal? No, it is not.... And it has made me faint at least five thousand times :o Actually, I think I'm gonna faint right nowwww.... *beeeeep* *____*

If you want I confess something... I want Sayaka to look at me like that... =D