Fans of AKB48, here is an important update for you, the group has made several announcements at the recent ‘handshake event’ where they promoted their latest single “Manatsu no Sounds good!” in Saitama Super Arena. First up is the announcement of the AKB48 29th Single Senbatsu Janken Tournament that will be held on September 18th at Nippon Budokan. AKB48 also announced that the release of their 4th album would be on August 15th, and their 28th single would be out in October.
If you recollect, in 2010 it was Uchida Mayumi who snapped the spotlight with the 19th single “Chance no Junban” and last year Shinoda Mariko was the lead singer for the 24th single “Ue Kara Mariko” as the winner of the second tournament. The upcoming event will be the third tournament to take place.
The main tournament will see the sixty-six official members of AKB48, SKE48 (AKB48)’s Matsui Jurina and NMB48 (AKB48)’s Watanabe Miyuki getting a direct headstart at the event. After their internal draws are finalized, one research student from AKB48, eight from SKE48, six from NMB48 and three from HKT48 will join the main tournament. Since Sashihara Rino has moved to HKT48, it is quite possible to see her get into the three-member bracket from her team.
For the moment the glory shone on six of AKB48’s research students: Izuta Rina, Kobayashi Marina, Fujita Nana from the 10th generation, Kojima Natsuki, Natori Wakana, Morikawa Ayaka from 11th generation. All of them got promoted to official membership of AKB48. Congratulations girls!
[Via Tokyohive]