stu48

The Selective Hearing staff gather to analyze the rankings in AKB48’s 49th Single Sousenkyo. The opinions expressed in this broadcast do not necessarily reflect those of the other Selective Hearing staff/contributors, our partners and/or affiliates.

UPCOMING GIRLS

• Matsuoka Hana takes the title of Ms. Irrelevant. Guess we were wrong on that one.
• Who are you more sad about? Mogi diving hard or Tani Marika dropping again?

FUTURE GIRLS

• Yamaguchi Maho, toothy but pretty girl. Those who know more about her, tell us her story.
• Oguri Yui ranks and she doesn’t like her nickname. So cute yes?
• After opting out last year Tanigawa returns to the land of the ranked members. Were you crying tears of joy?
• Tanaka Natsumi makes significant gains. Are you happier for her or for the other 2 members who made similar moves up the ladder?
• Kitagawa makes absolutely no movement this year. She looked pretty disappointed in her lack of anything. What are your thoughts?

NEXT GIRLS

UNDERGIRLS

• Oba Mina takes the coveted scandal ranking of #26. What will her second scandal be? Or will she just repeat what she did before?
• Mukaichi becomes the only senbatsu member from last year to rank down. Is it because she turned heel in Tofu Pro Wrestling or is there a more plausible reason for this downswing of momentum?
• Two members had large jumps in ranking from last year. Which one do you think deserved the mega push?
• The big event coming out of this ranking group was Sutou Ririka announcing her engagement to an unknown person. What was your reaction to this? Is she trolling or is it the real deal? How bad did you feel for Minegishi having to follow up that?
• SKE48’s resident senior citizen returns to the Undergirls. Is she fated to be Undergirls forever?

SENBATSU

• Honma Hinata (NGT48 TEAM N3)
• Who? The only Honma known to most casuals is the one who does the Kokeshi in New Japan Pro Wrestling.

• Another 2 large leaps in ranks from Yoshida Akari and Ogino Yuka with the latter failing to make enough gains to take #1. Are you disappointed that Ogino’s fans were unable to keep her on top or is this more than respectable showing moving 90 places up in rank?

• Okay, admit it. Ogino Yuka made you cry with her speech about never giving up and living your dreams. Is she John Cena’s catch phrase in idol form?
• Shiroma Miru becomes the new Watanabe Miyuki. Do you see her moving up past #12 in the years to come (assuming she doesn’t graduate)?
• Did you celebrate for Yoshida Akari?
• Miyawaki Sakura does not generate enough votes to get past #4. Are you happy that she is stuck in limbo or sad she didn’t get higher?
• The top 3 remain the same this year as expected. Matsui Jurina seems to be entrenched in the forever third spot. Is she destined to stay here until she finally gives up and stops entering the election?

• Watanabe Mayu announces her graduation. How many fans do you think are done with AKB once she leaves? What do you think her future career will be? Actress? JAV? Both?
• Sashihara Rino breaks vote count records again. There is the assumption that she is throwing shade at Mayu after complimenting Jurina on her willingness to do battle again next year. Do you believe that is the case or are people reading way into things?
• What did you think of the awkward hug between Mayu & Sasshi. Did you secretly wish they just kissed?
• Should they just retire Sasshi’s senbatsu election jersey next year? She seems pretty unstoppable until she decides to not take part anymore.

FINAL THOUGHTS

• What do you think was the biggest story coming out of this event?
• Outdoor portion gets rained out and AKS is forced to scramble to Plan B.
• Suto Ririka drops a bomb and announces she’s getting married
• Watanabe Mayu announces her graduation
• Sashihara Rino breaks vote count again

Election Observations

This year’s outdoor event was cancelled due to weather. According to pictures posted from the venue there was going to be a big waterslide used during the concert. Reports from members also indicated the return of disgusting bikinis.

When the official cancellation announcement was made fan rage came quick and fast.

Who do you believe had the most right to be upset?

People who bought tickets/JTB travel packs?
Fans who invested heavily financially in votes?
Overseas fans.
None of the above.

Did you think all of the rage was was warranted?

How much do you think this cancellation & its fallout will hurt the 48 brand?

Sashihara Rino did not hold back on her opinion that this year’s event was poorly planned. Do you agree with her assessment?

Despite the weather stoppage of the outdoor concert the election itself was held in a community center. Fans in Okinawa were able to watch the voting results via CCTV in the tent area that was to serve as the dressing room for outdoor event. Was this an okay consolation prize for fans who attended?

What did you think of this smaller scale sousenkyo? Was the lack of fans inside the building apparent?

Actually hearing the other members cheer and applaud rather than old men was rather refreshing wasn’t it? Them NGT and HKT girls sure got hype.

Team 8 gets more member ranks this year. Did they make you (and Toyota) proud of their accomplishments? Do you think any of them will get some free cars out of this?

Your thoughts on this year’s ugly chair? FUGLY or just over the top enough for this event?

Topic 1: General Election Talk

- What are your thoughts on this year’s crop of quitters and dropouts?
- Who is the most surprising non-participant? Of those who entered into this year’s election, who do you think should have thought twice since they have no chance of ranking?
- Are you going to stay up and watch this thing or just do the sensible thing and sleep and watch the Internet explode in the morning?

Topic 2: Observations

The prelim rankings have been released. So much for a boring and pedestrian election this year.

- The senbatsu has a very different look based on opening numbers. Did you expect this to happen so quickly with all the openings made available? Or were you expecting the same old same old with little to no competition at the top?
- Just who is Ogino Yuka and which shadow organization is pushing her to the top?
- What are your thoughts on possible voter fraud? A 90 place jump seems for a relatively unknown (in the grand scheme of all that is AKB and its sister groups) member seems rather fishy doesn’t it? 
- Is Jurina destined to never make #1? Always the bridesmaid, never the bride? Will her fans push her to the top when all is said and done?
- Is this the end of the Sashihara/Watanabe reign at the top? Or will their respective fan bases somehow find ways to get them gains in the end?
- Sutou Ririka seems to have swindled her way into top of Undergirls through strategic Mahjong. Will she have enough of the votes from chronically addicted gamblers and the elderly who like to play the game to stay there?
- NGT appears to be the group who will get the mega push from their fans this year. Agree or disagree?
- The number of votes to just place into the election appears to rise every year. It is possible it could be between 14k - 15k just to place at 80. Do you think that might be too high or will it say closer to the mid 13k mark like last year?

Topic 3: Pick a Winner

- Who is going to be 2017’s Ms. Irrelevant? (#80)
- Who takes the “Scandal Ranking” (#26) and what do you think this person’s scandal will be?
- Pick your center for each of the non-senbatsu group rankings
- Out of the top 5 in the preliminary rankings who takes the top prize? Or do you believe it will be someone unexpected?
- Last question, if you were to base the election on who will get an ugly ass painting who do you believe should win?