entertainment

Second AKB48 documentary to hit cinemas on Jan 27

52 Comments

The second AKB48 documentary, featuring the mega-popular all-girl singing group, will be released in cinemas on Jan 27.

Titled "DOCUMENTARY of AKB48 Show must go on," it shows the lifestyles of the girls over the past year, including back stage scenes which haven't been shown by media.

Interviews with each girl are included, as well as tracks of the group's most popular hits.

Meanwhile, Oricon announced Monday that the group's latest single, "Uekara Mariko," which was released on Dec 7, has already sold more than 1 million copies. It is the group's sixth consecutive million-selling single, Oricon said.

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52 Comments
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Let me guess--scenes of girls crying after being mercilessly scolded for mistakes, or because they didn't get picked to be most popular. The only difference between AKB48 and Kim Jong Il's Joy Brigade is that the Japanese actually choose to get involved in this madness.

0 ( +8 / -10 )

Yeah! Let's hear it for a third installment!

They all have such perfect legs...

-4 ( +5 / -9 )

It's good that the girl in centre is bending over the most.

Titled DOCUMENTARY of AKB48...it shows the lifestyles of the girls over the past year, including back stage scenes which havent been shown by media.

Yeah! I've been wating for this. I wonder if they will be all pixelled out...

-3 ( +5 / -8 )

Another article and another photo for certain gentlemen with a dubious taste in very young women.

-4 ( +5 / -9 )

The obsession with these young girls is sad. If it was all abouth teens loving these teenage girls, then no problem. But it is the legions of creepy 30+yr old guys who obsess over these girls that is profoundly disturbing.

-9 ( +4 / -13 )

So, if 'each girl is interviewed', even if only for one minute each, won't the film be several hours?

Quite frankly this is a little sick -- particularly the cover/poster for this movie. Postcards? fine. Stamps, sigh... fine. But there's NO WAY this cover shot is NOT directed at perverts. If they say it's for young women or little girls, that's even worse! what's the message it's sending??

-9 ( +3 / -12 )

Sitting on a park bench

eyeing little girls with bad intent.

Drying in the cold sun

Watching as the frilly panties run.

Aqualung

-Jethro Tull

-6 ( +2 / -8 )

It should be like "Spinal Tap" -- drugs, sex, rock 'n roll -- then it's worth watching, ha!

-8 ( +0 / -8 )

Legs look a bit hefty for teenage girls. Too many burgers back stage, or just muscle from all of the dancing.

0 ( +4 / -4 )

Should be a great night out at the cinema for middle aged men intimidated by real women!

-2 ( +3 / -5 )

They are in a good move. The trend is too strong in Japanese young culture, isn't it. Some of them pay millions of money to buy AKB's goods and CDs. Do you feel something strange atmosphere?

-6 ( +0 / -5 )

every time I heard another AKB marketing news (that's about everyday), I always think what a genius their producer(s?) is/are. This guy should be elected prime minister, the Japanese economy will skyrocket

0 ( +3 / -3 )

They must be working these girls around the clock. Or every second of their lives are video tapped and sold in some form or fashion.

0 ( +3 / -3 )

....im still curious as to why japanase girl bands have a habit.. tiny mini skirts, bounceing around... creeps must love them.. but the music they do is good, i just wish i dont have to feel all weird when im watching they're music videos... reaosn why i stick to 2NE1 cute..adorable and covered up =3 >> (yes i know they're korean still love them <3 )

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

For a mega group that is 44 members too big and racks in millions of yen in sales every year, you'd figure they could have paid someone get the English grammar in the title of their stupid documentary right.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

While everyone complains their producer is laughing all the way to the bank. I do believe that I hear a ton of jealousy in many peoples comments. Just sad that it's not them raking in the money. Oh I wish I was their producer too, not for their looks or how crappy they sing, but because it's made him stooopid rich.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

a bend-over photo for the cover? Yech.

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

A guy who is struggling to make the ends meet with R&B singing career told me one day: "There is something seriously wrong with the society when bunch of talentless bimbos in revealing outfits are even allowed to record a CD, let alone be on top of the chart"

Look at Adelle... She makes a video sitting on a chair and singing hear heart out with most amazing voice coming from deep inside. That's talent. That's real music. The only documentary about AKB should be a hard core porn flick, cuz all they do is screw with internment industry...

3 ( +4 / -1 )

Their management and production gotta make the money while they are hot.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

If they say it's for young women or little girls, that's even worse! what's the message it's sending??

@smithinjapan: That they can be sexy and still loved and respected? I wonder what message you think you are sending, and I wonder if you think its actually the message you get across to everbody? The message I feel you are sending is decidedly negative and spiritually draining toward young women.

Quite frankly this is a little sick -

How? I assume you are talking about age here, so I did a quick averaging by years born: Team A: average age 20. Team K: 19.8 Team: B 19 Team 4, started in June this year: 17.2 Total average age for all teams: 19. And I assume Team 4, being brand new, is not getting that much attention.

Half of these girls could legally do pornography in the prudest of western nations, and skirts and dancing are not even close to that! If you want to cling to the belief that this is sick, that is your perogative. But I respectfully suggest that you rethink or at least tone down the insulting high and mighty language. If there is anything sick about it, its generally not between AKB48 and their fans.

At worst, this would be a proxy for what normal human males would do if they could, something I think you object to. Looks to me like even if some fans are pervs by your definition, they got no reality but only the fantasy of AKB48. Now imagine their lives with no AKB48. What do you think would happen? Be careful what you wish for. I think the situation is about the best you are going see in this world of how you want your moral will to be done.

1 ( +4 / -3 )

I'll take Nakama Yukie any day over these under developed super-averages. /pass.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

cuz all they do is screw with internment industry...

Dead straight!

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

@BarelyAlive

they can be sexy and still loved and respected

What nonsense. The combination of sexiness and schoolgirl innocence is clearly designed to cater to unhealthy appetites. Unless you think there is no problem sexualizing minors (or the image of minors) for the satisfaction of adult men who cannot achieve relationships with real women their age--which you seem to imply. This has nothing to do with 'love' or 'respect'. It's pure manipulation, selling young girls as objects to be drooled over by, yes, pervs.

imagine their lives with no AKB48

I see. AKB48 are keeping deviants off the streets. How insightful.

0 ( +6 / -5 )

i love AKB48 >.< gotta see this!!! (〝▼皿▼)

-1 ( +3 / -4 )

"Legs look a bit hefty"

They're perfect.

-1 ( +3 / -4 )

Is this the one where they help Tomomi Itano communicate with her home planet?

1 ( +2 / -1 )

Pass......unless there is a topless scene.

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

Not to be mean, but seriously? A documentary on AKB48? The second? There are better artists out there with more of a story to tell than AKB48. Buutt..whatever. It's not like I'm gonna go and get it. It's gonna be a waste of my time. I'm sorry if I offended any fans out there.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

Not to be mean, but seriously? A documentary on AKB48?

If Hannah Montana and Justin Bieber can... why not AKB48!?

-3 ( +1 / -4 )

The combination of sexiness and schoolgirl innocence is clearly designed to cater to unhealthy appetites.

Like Britney Spears all dress up like a schoolgirl in Baby One More Time?

-3 ( +1 / -4 )

It should be like "Spinal Tap" -- drugs, sex, rock 'n roll -- then it's worth watching, ha!

Talking about a good example for the young...

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

If they say it's for young women or little girls, that's even worse! what's the message it's sending??

It's a matter of perpective. From my point of view, the group sends two strong messages to the children: "hard work can get you to the top" and, more important, "team work pays".

-4 ( +1 / -5 )

K-pop and J-pop girls are actually about the same age ranges. The difference is in how they portray themselves. K-pop like to portray themselves as young up-coming women. J-pop like to portray themselves as underage girls.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

What does 'Flying Get' mean?

and why do they need 48 members when really, the mass media only focuses on like...12?

0 ( +1 / -1 )

What does 'Flying Get' mean?

Richard Branson on one of his planes?

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

BarelyAlive: "That they can be sexy and still loved and respected? I wonder what message you think you are sending, and I wonder if you think its actually the message you get across to everbody?"

So you have no qualms about a 14 year old bending over on an albumb cover or doing a video in lingerie to a song called 'heavy rotation'? The average age may well be 19 or so, but the oldest is 24, and that means the majority are considered children in Japan. So again, you are technically talking about CHILDREN showing off their bodies -- and yes, I have a problem with 14 year olds getting the message that they can be sexy and still loved and respected. Do you ever wonder why this band has NO popularity overseas? It was stated in another article quite clearly that other nations do not have the same propensity as Japan to make little girls look sexy and jump up and down in lingerie because it's perverse. Over 20? fine. Under? no.

What's the message I'm sending? That children -- yes, CHILDREN -- should not be made into sex objects for the satisfaction of sick, middle-aged men, nor should said sex objects be glorified so that girls that age and even younger get the message that not only is it okay, but in Japan you can be an 'idol'.

"Now imagine their lives with no AKB48. What do you think would happen?"

In Japan? Johnny's would create some other band in the same fashion. What do I think would happen if ALL of such sickness were eliminated from society? I think society would stop glorifying it for profit, and stop exploiting 14 year old girls. Maybe the soaplands and health salons where you can choose a girl in a junior highschool outfit would also cease (or at least the option).

If you had a 14 year old daughter would you want her on the poster like this? There's probably an inside cover inside the DVD (when it comes out) showing them from the FRONT bending over, where you can see down their tops. It'll be a big bonus for the sick oyaji here, and as such a massive seller.

-2 ( +4 / -6 )

I'm holding out for the casting couch blooper reel, with the sound off.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Pass......unless there is a topless scene.

I can not understand how a normal, healthy, male, would want to see children for the most part topless or in any other supposed "sexy" pose.

Unless of course they were a pedophile which would mean that they were sick.

-2 ( +1 / -3 )

Smithinjapan, you kept mentioning a 14 year old, so I did some research. The youngest member of the group is 16.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

Show must go on

The first three words are enough.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Haha nice one Ben. I wonder if they'll show footage of the girls without make-up on?..

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

If you had a 14 year old daughter would you want her on the poster like this?

I rather prefer seeing teens in a pop group... than kids modeling swimsuits for a child beauty pageant.

-1 ( +1 / -3 )

I rather prefer seeing teens in a pop group... than kids modeling swimsuits for a child beauty pageant.

Frankly, I'd rather see neither, if you're talking about a pop group whose trademark is prancing around in skimpy outfits. Yes, there are plenty of other atrocious examples of teens being presented as sex symbols. That doesn't diminish the sexual perversion that is at the heart of the AKB48 marketing scheme.

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

That doesn't diminish the sexual perversion that is at the heart of the AKB48 marketing scheme.

Nor would it diminish anything of the girl beauty pageants overseas, etc. Seen some of those and how the kids are prostituted by their parents for a price.

Not saying either one is better but adults do use their kids for their own ends and needs.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

I rather prefer seeing teens in a pop group... than kids modeling swimsuits for a child beauty pageant.

Interesting question. I imagine you might be able to give more supervision to pegeant entrants.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

I can not understand how a normal, healthy, male, would want to see children for the most part topless or in any other supposed "sexy" pose.

Are you a normal, healthy male Yubaru? I recommend watching Romeo and Juliet (1978), The Blue Lagoon, and Return to the Blue Lagoon, where you can see Mila Jovovich, Brooke Shields and Olivia Hussey doing nude scenes at younger ages that any AKB48 member. None of the above can be called children. All of the above can be called attractive to any normal healthy male. Anyone saying otherwise is highly suspect of trying to sell the world a great big cuppa denial.

And if all these girls are over 16 as one poster claimed, that is legal marrying age here in Japan and most anywhere in the world!

And one more thing: Anyone looking at AKB48 and seeing nothing but sexual messages is a worry. Hardly matters if they are fans or anti-fans. I suspect most fans are innocent and most anti-fans are actually the guilty parties looking at the and seeing nothing but sex.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

what an enticing poster. maybe I should take a back seat in the cinema but alas I expect it is already booked and awash in tissues

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Anyone looking at AKB48 and seeing nothing but sexual messages is a worry.

Quite right, well done for pointing it out. I imagine it keeps their management up all hours wondering where they went wrong and how much more leg and posterior to show next time.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

I can't decide which girl here has the most perfect legs...

1 ( +1 / -0 )

That doesn't diminish the sexual perversion that is at the heart of the AKB48 marketing scheme.

You're exaggerating on purpose....

-3 ( +0 / -3 )

There are things about akb that are worth getting upset about - this poster is not one of them. It's not dirty, suggestive, or nasty in any way so I don't get the negative comments about it.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

my girls avid fan of this AKB 48. hope this AKB 48, stay in awesome news and do such more awesome musics.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

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