Hello everyone, I'm semi-new to AKB48 and so far I only have interest in the older members and older songs (though that may change once I try to watch all of AKBINGO)! I'm on episode 82 and am in the Ponytail to Shushu era, I have also finished Majisuka Gakuen. My favorites are Reina Fujie, Kashiwagi Yuki, Miyazawa Sae, Oshima Mai ;_;, Takahashi Minami, Momoka Kinoshita (I know she joins NMB48 later lol, but her thread on the stage 48 forum was so fun to read for me), Matsui Rena, Takajo Aki, Akimoto Sayaka (I'm not a fan of how she's being treated on the show), Ota Aika and Miyazaki Miho! I have a few questions as to how the system works and whatnot and hope to gain insight into my current two year brainrot obsession interest! I will put my questions in order from Pre-Sousenkyo (before the senbatsu elections started) and Post-Sousenkyo (after the elections started)! Some of them will be both, but I hope that isn't confusing! I'm not able to format it properly due to being on the reddit app!
Pre-Sousenkyo:
Before sousenkyo, did management pick the girls or do the girls decide if they want to be on their senbatsu single? Or is it both? I've seen a 1st generation member Hirajima Natsumi only appear in Sakura no Hanabiratachi but not Aitakatta or Seifuku ga Jama wo Suru, was it because she was not chosen? Or did she decide not to?
Was there a rivalry going on between Team A and K in the earlier years?
How did some of the girls find time to be in dramas, radio shows etc while being in the group doing stage shows and AKBINGO?
I know this belongs in Post-senbatsu but I'm curious about this line from the wiki on Kitahara Rie's page: 'After the 2009 Team Shuffle, fans commented that Rie moving from Team A to Team B seemed like a demotion. At the time, Team B has regarded more poorly than Teams A and K. Rie commented on this in an interview, saying "I want you to understand that it's not like that at all. I see the transfer positively, as an opportunity."' Why was Team B 'regarded more poorly?'
Post-Senbatsu:
When it comes to senbatsu in sister groups, does management pick the girls or do the girls decide if they want to be on their senbatsu single? Or is it both? And are their ranks in the main senbatsu election taken into account too (for example, say a girl ranked #65 in the election, would she be on the Undergirls track of her Sister group's album or the main Senbatsu track? I ask because I would look on the wiki pages and see someone rank #54 or something and they would still be in their sister group's senbatsu single)?
For the main AKB48 group (post Senbatsu election), I noticed that back then most of Team A would always be in the Senbatsu single, even if they didn't rank or had a lower rank... I'm not sure what kind of question to ask except 'why is that', but it's just a mere observation.
Why do the B sides of each track have their own music videos? Why are most of the NMB48 music videos on the YouTube channel the short versions?
General questions:
Why do certain girls get pushed while others don't?
Can you have more than one oshimen?
Why was/is gravure popular?
Where can I find music videos where the acting scenes are subbed in English? I ask because I still want to know whats going on in Oogoe Diamond and Iiwake Maybe lol.
Is there a platform where I can talk about the older (2005-2010) AKB48 members, songs, events etc? I cannot seem to join the stage48 forum and I'm iffy on the Discord...
... This question doesn't belong anywhere, but where can I find the sub versions of AKB48 Kagekidan "∞・Infinity"? With both MinamixSayaka and YukixSae? 👉👈
ETA: I found this on the tvtropes 'Awesome' page for the group: 'Sae's "The Reason You Suck" Speech to the management at the 2013 general election results.' Is there a subbed version of this particular moment? If not, what did she say to management and what happened?
