The DVD and Blu-ray version of “The 3rd AKB48 Kohaku Uta Gassen" (annual singing contest between red and white) will be released on April 9 -- and newly signed Yankees pitcher Masahiro Tanaka will be getting a copy in New York.
The event itself was held on Dec 17 in Tokyo Dome City Hall. All 127 AKB members were divided into two groups, red and white, for the singing contest.
Tanaka, who is said to be a big AKB48 fan, was a special guest at the contest and posed for photos with members of the popular group, Sankei Shimbun reported. He told the girls that he would like to bring their DVD with him to the U.S.
Tanaka, who left for New York on Feb 9, will be getting a box packed with AKB48 DVDs.
AKB member Minami Takahashi, 22, said of the DVD: "We joke around, have fun, and it feels like a festival.”
The DVD contains 33 songs with “behind the scenes” segments.
© Japan Today
21 Comments
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paulinusa
Please no distractions. Give them to his wife.
nath
I want one of these. down to my local Tsutaya to get my copy.....
shinhiyata
Surely he can afford to buy one if he wants one. I want one more than he does. Please send me one, too. I don't want to pay. I like free things.
sighclops
"AKB" and "singing" used in the same sentence. How's that for a joke!
sensei258
If the Yankees' catcher tapes the AKB48 disk to his chest, Tanaka can use it as a pitching target.
yuudair
Thought he was a big Momoiro Clover Z fan, not AKB48. Or maybe he's a fan of both, & the media is just highlighting the MomoClo one.
nath
Sighclops, you are right. the joke is that they didn't also include the word "dancing" in the sentence.
Wakarimasen
hopefully the dvd will not tire out his pitching arm.....
jojo_in_japan
Tanaka's wife will surely be impressed!
sighclops
@yuudair
Probably not something a full-grown male would want to admit in public...
lostrune2
Play it in the locker room - it'll sink the Yanks.
djv124
Awesome to see Tanaka supporting AKB! I wish him all the best in NY with the Yankees and I hope AKB continues to inspire everyone, from athlete to office worker, and especially all the Japan Today trolls who insist on bashing AKB every chance they get in comments.
JoiceRojo
This is news? .. come on JT, please level up!!! This clearly it is a publicity stunt for AKB48 to sell this DVD, might as well record some footage of Tanaka-san saying "buy this DVD, it is very good" but maybe AKB would get sued if they do that...
Maybe is effective to pull an artist to do this kind of publicity, but it is kinda annoying that you put under the entertainment section as "news"
titaniumdioxide
Aitakatta,Aitakatta, Aitakatta ,yes,yes...... Dee...Veee..Deeeeee
I am hearing Mr. Tanaka singing the above lyrics. Poor wife, I bet she's jealous of AKB.
jojotoday
I love AKB. I was in Akihabara today and went to their cafe.
RomeoRII
Do they know the Japanese DVDs they send to Tanaka in the U.S. cannot be played on machines here?
RR
titaniumdioxide
RomeoRII, unless he got a japanese machine or computer.
Michael Reed
Nice gift. :)
JTDanMan
Americans scout Japanese baseball because America wants Japanese talent.
AKB48's managers don't get this...
JoiceRojo
so. i notice that they would send the DVD why not the bluray???
ribstick
Sooooo, he got a gift. Why is that news? If one of the actual AKBers was given to him to take to New York, then that's news.