Because Yuko was around today and we perform in pairs, I was not so lonely (laughs). To everyone born in the month of January, Happy Birthday♥ Mama was also born in the month of January ◊◊
All posts for the month January, 2012
Team K Theatre Message 31st Jan
Posted by almonde on January 31, 2012
https://tomoland.wordpress.com/2012/01/31/team-k-theatre-message-31st-jan/
Member Ai
I am not too sure if this is a term that is unique to the Johnny’s, but those who have followed any of the boys should be familiar with this term well. It literally means ‘Member Love’, commonly used to express actions/words of affection among the members of the same idol group.
Probably due to the cool, diva image that tomochin often exudes, I love it when she does or reacts differently from the image, the Japanese will call it the ‘gap’. Tomochin gives the impression that she likes to stay in her comfort zone with people that she knows best like Acchan & the rest of first gen since they are the people that she mentions most often on her twitter and blog. As the fandom days grow, I start to realise that when other members get to go on a lunch date with tomochin and interact more with her, they will always describe the encounter as ‘tomochin is surprisingly a very warm and gentle person’ etc.
Now with Google+, the girls are interacting publicly more often than ever and I find their interactions to be so cute and natural and probably the closest thing we can ever get to, to hearing these girls talk like that privately. Here is a “conversation” that tomochin had with Kikuchi Ayaka (another member of Team K, nickname Ayarin).
(Do click on the images for a bigger view with translation. Top down in chronological order.)
*the screencap in chinese interface is taken & edited from http://www.weibo.com/tomojcoco73
Posted by almonde on January 30, 2012
https://tomoland.wordpress.com/2012/01/30/member-ai/
Look forward to new Samantha Thavasa CM!
According to reliable source, aka tomochin’s own Google+ and twitter accounts, it seems that we can expect new Samantha Thavasa CMs featuring our queen tomo! She posted what she ate yesterday and as always, tomochin is excited over all sorts of food, this time being sushi and rice powder crepe (?). Not only can we expect her as a Samantha muse in the TV commercial, she will most probably appear in a few pages posing for Samantha’s new collection in ViVi magazine.
For those who have yet to add tomochin to your Google+ account, please do so as she does not have that many people who added her in circles compared to many other senbatsu girls. And for those who have already added, remember to comment! Tomochin doesn’t get the full 500 comments as the picture shows all the time. Most of the time, it’s just 300ish after a full 24 hrs.
It’s interesting because the girls interact a lot on Google+ and recently for some unknown reasons, other girls in AKB has been expressing their oshi-love towards tomochin (I’ll have a post on that soon) and they are really cute. Aki-P interacts with the girls too and because it is such a convenient tool now to reach out to fans out of Japan, important announcements have been made on Google+ (including Sasshi’s debut.. discovery of a new song for tomochin’s 3rd single etc).
Tomochin’s Google+ posts translated to English (add both!)
- Tomochin & her rice powder crepe
Posted by almonde on January 28, 2012
https://tomoland.wordpress.com/2012/01/28/look-forward-to-new-samantha-thavasa-cm/
Saga Shinbun: Interview with Oshima & Itano!
An interview featuring my two oshis, tomochin & yuko~~~ Originally translated to Chinese by Yuko’s Baidu Bar, taken from repost in Tomochin’s Baidu Bar, before being retranslated to English. Nothing really new in terms of content but I finally understood why Togasaki mentioned that tomochin was scolded in dance class when she danced well since young.
AKB48 EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW by SAGA SHINBUN （佐賀新聞）!
—Believing that dreams will be fulfilled one day.
The core members of top idol group AKB48, Oshima Yuko and Itano Tomomi, were interviewed after their performance in AKB48’s theatre situated in Tokyo, Akihabara. They talked about how they chanced upon their debut, to the hardships they are going through now, the dreams they still harbour and the importance to work towards their dreams.
—What are the areas of difference between the girls of current times and AKB48’s success?
Yuko: I don’t think there is any difference. Shouldn’t everyone be the same to working towards their dreams? I think it’s only a matter of lacking courage. AKB also started with no popularity. To be able to evolve to our current stage is something that no one thought of. We gathered everyone, from the attraction of a flyer with ambiguous content.
—Flyer with ambiguous content?
Yuko: It was a monochromatic one-sided flyer with information related to Akimoto-san’s production plans. It was also published on magazine and distributed on the streets.
—The chance to become an idol started with that flyer.
Tomomi: I have always aspired to be like SPEED-san. So I started learning dance when I was really young, and wanted to become a singer. When I was in junior high, I kind of gave up, but I guess I still wanted to fulfill my dreams ne, just when I was thinking so, I chanced upon the information relating to the audition.
Yuko: I started out as a child actress. While I was considering if I should leave the entertainment industry, news about AKB’s auditions appeared. I treated it as a last chance and joined the auditions.
Tomomi: I went for the auditions when I was in junior high. My mum and younger sister accompanied me there. I never had any similar experiences; I have gone for dance auditions before but not an idol one before. Things like taking photos made me really nervous.
Yuko: During the auditions, everyone were gathered in a waiting room. Although everyone have already gone through some singing and dance practice, those who passed the auditions were already quite striking. “Ah, sure enough, that girl passed the auditions ne”, there were such memories. Even the aura while in the waiting room was different.
—Before stage debut, you must have gone through a lot of practices, please tell us more about it.
Tomomi: Although I had dance experience, but I have never dance a idol-type of dance so it was really tough. Our dance teacher reprimanded that if I danced too HipHop-ish, it will not be an idol dance. “How exactly should I dance ne”, I troubled a lot over this. The way to handle tempo is different, and you have to vary your dance with the lyrics, I was really confused about giving the cute vibes through dance.
—It’s tough enough to remember the dance, yet members’ spots in formation change too. Is it tough to handle that?
Tomomi: If it’s music programmes, sometimes we change the formation position right before it starts. But we forget it immediately.
Yuko: Because the formation change is most probably an one-off thing, so it’s like instantly remembering it and forgetting it right after.
—What are the changes before and after entering AKB?
Yuko: There is a change in our lives. Personally I think we think differently with other girls of our same generation. That will probably be due to the experiences we had after joining AKB that cannot be done outside. The fact that our actions and words give many people courage and energy only became more realistic after meeting a lot more people.
Tomomi: I just had my Coming-of-Age ceremony yesterday and I also went to my junior high school gathering. While I was toasting, I reminded myself that I was there alone so it will be unwise to get drunk. I also felt that I had the responsibility to raise everyone’s spirits. At that moment, I felt that I had changed ne.
—What is a must to be an idol?
Yuko: I think there is a need to work hard to become cute.
Tomomi: To keep pushing yourself to be better.
Yuko: To care about how yourself is portrayed when standing on the stage everyday, performing for people who have come to see you. I think it is crucial to always go into details about yourself. Through AKB’s activities, it will be great if we can transmit the message to people of our generation, of the importance of keep going for your dreams, and that if you try hard enough, they will be fulfilled.
—Let’s have a change of topic, what’s your impression of Saga (佐贺)?
Yuko: Hanawa-san (comedian)! I have also seen a lot of boxes with [Saga Seaweed] written on it; it’s a popular product.
Tomomi: Because I have never been there yet, I will really love to take a look at the place!
Yuko: If only we could go during concert tour……
—Finally, please give a message to the young readers of Saga Shinbun.
Yuko+Tomomi: We are still actively working a step closer to our dreams. Everyone must have their own dreams, it will be great to continue having those dreams regardless of the age you become. We will also like to strive forward together with everyone. As long as you can feel and receive the courage to keep believing that ‘dreams can be fulfilled’, I think it will be possible to keep striving for it!
Posted by almonde on January 27, 2012
https://tomoland.wordpress.com/2012/01/27/saga-shinbun-interview-with-oshima-itano/
Valentine’s Day Chocolates from Seven & i
Tomochin attended the press conference for their endorsement of latest product from Seven&i Holdings together with Acchan, Takamina and Sasshi in their new Selection 6 performance outfit. Not liking the outfit but the hair accessory looked really cute on tomochin.
This new chocolate CM will feature the four girls which you will see in the video below.
Itano revealed, “Back during 6th grade in primary school, I bought chocolate worth $10 and brought it all the way to the boy’s house.” The other members were surprised, “That’s scary!!” —quoted from Stage48
I am glad that tomochin still had such interesting memories considering that her later part of school life was pretty much consumed in AKB activities. Jealous of the guy anyone?
Posted by almonde on January 24, 2012
https://tomoland.wordpress.com/2012/01/24/valentines-day-chocolates-from-seven-i/
AKB48 Request Hour Set List Best 100
From the 19th to the 22nd January, AKB48 held their annual ‘AKB48 Request Hour Set List Best 100’ at Tokyo Dome City Hall. Over the four days, the girls performed the top 100 songs voted by fans and on the last day (Top 25), the event was even live streamed on their official Youtube and Google+.
And yesterday, 23rd January, AKB48 held the first Subunit Matsuri (festival) and all the AKB48 subunits including the soloists such as tomochin and Acchan (Maeda Atsuko) performed their released songs too. Tomochin performed ‘Dear J’ twice and ‘Fui Ni’ once. The soon-to-debut soloists Mayuyu, Wasamin and Sasshi also performed their upcoming singles.
A ‘new’ subunit [Selection 6] was also announced and they performed their song from the new single and it consisted of Itano, Maeda, Oshima, Sashihara, Shinoda and Takahashi. Well, I am not even sure if it is going to be really an official unit because it really seems like a simple formation of a few senbatsu members though I am not complaining since tomochin is in it, and anything with her in it is awesome. *winks*
There are a total of 8 members who performed 20 times and above in the 4 days:
27 songs – Miyazawa
26 songs – Oshima
25 songs – Kasai
24 songs – Itano
23 songs – Shinoda, Maeda
22 songs – Kojima, Takajo, Akimoto, Minegishi, Kashiwagi, Kitahara, Watanabe
21 songs – Takahashi
20 songs – Sashihara
Awesome that tomochin got to perform in so many songs but I am still a little upset because the rankings of her stage unit songs dropped rather drastically this time to ranks 70 & 90. The other point that cheered me up considerably was the number of Team K songs present in the rankings and I am really proud of Team K’s fans in this aspect, considering that it is widely regarded as the team with the least fans compared to the other 2 teams.
4 of my fav members featured prominently here (Tomochin, Sae, Sayaka & Yuko)
The full list of Top 100 songs is below, quoted from Tokyohive.
<Day 1 : 100 ~ 76> January 19th
100: Theater no Magami
099: Pajama Drive
098: Dakishimeraretara
097: Dear my teacher
096: Anata ga ite kureta kara
095: AKB Sanjou!
094: Higurashi no Koi
093: Wasshoi E!
092: High school days
091: Kataomoi no Taikakusen
090: Seifuku Resistance
089: To be continued.
088: 16-nin Shimai no Uta
087: Seventeen
086: Nakeru Basho
085: Ice no Kuchizuke
084: Hikkoshimashita
083: FIRST LOVE
082: Iikagen no Susume
081: Kimi ni Tsuite
080: Blue rose
079: Sougen no Kiseki
078: Nagisa no CHERRY
077: Overtake
076: Koi wo Kataru Shijin ni narenakute
–
<Day 2 : 75 ~ 50> January 20th
075: 1! 2! 3! 4! Yoroshiku!
074: Wagamama Collection
073: Tenshi no Shippo
072: Gomenne, SUMMER
071: Himawari
070: Tsundere!
069: Saishuu Bell ga Naru
068: Locker Room Boy
067: Sasae
066: Kimi no Senaka
065: Arashi no Yoru niwa
064: Yankee Soul
063: Banzai Venus
062: Kanojo ni naremasuka?
061: Honest man
060: Uhho Uhhoho
059: RESET
058: Namida Surprise!
057: Seishun to Kizukanai mama
056: Only today
055: Korogaru Ishi ni Nare
054: RIVER
053: Kurumi to Dialogue
052: Chance no Junban
051: End Roll
–
<Day 3 : 49 ~ 26> January 21st
050: Mammoth
049: Omoide Ijou
048: Zannen Shoujo
047: Kuchi Utsushi no Chocolate
046: Gyakuten Ouji-sama
045: Ookami to Pride
044: MARIA
043: 10-nen Zakura
042: Dareka no Tame ni ~What can I do for someone?~
041: Kuroi Tenshi
040: Yuuhi wo Mite iruka?
039: Pioneer
038: Temo Demo no Namida
037: Enjou Rosen
036: Enkyori Poster
035: Shoujo tachi yo
034: Itoshisa no Accel
033: Oogoe Diamond
032: Candy
031: Choose me!
030: Sakura no Ki ni Narou
029: Okie Dokie
028: Junai no Crescendo
027: Kimi to Boku no Kankei
026: Shonichi
–
<Day 4 : 25 ~ 1> January 22nd
025: Ponytail to Shushu
024: Kiseki wa Maniawanai
023: Seishun no Lap time
022: Zetsumetsu Kurokami Shoujo
021: Omatase Set list
020: Mushi no Ballad
019: Oh My God!
018: Beginner
017: Kareha no Station
016: Pareo wa Emerald
015: Heart-gata Virus
014: Kurukurupa-
013: Bird
012: Kimi no koto ga Suki dakara
011: Iiwake Maybe
010: Yokaze no Shiwaza
009: Nakinagara Hohoende
008: Dakishimecha Ikenai
007: Kaze wa Fuiteiru
006: Itoshiki Natasha
005: Team B Oshi
004: Flying Get
003: Kodoku na Runner
002: Everyday, Kachuusha
001: Heavy Rotation
Posted by almonde on January 24, 2012
https://tomoland.wordpress.com/2012/01/24/akb48-request-hour-set-list-best-100/
Coming-Of-Age Ceremony
As you all probably know (or not), Coming-Of-Age Day (成人の日) is an important day for Japanese youths as it marks the turning of age to 20, which is significant as it literally means the day that you turn into an adult. So on the 9th of Jan, along with a 18 girls of the 48 family, including AKB48’s prominent members such as Acchan, Takamina, Yukirin and Tomo~mi, tomochin appeared in a purple kimono at the shrine. The girls were absolutely stunning in their traditional wear.
After that, the 15 AKB48 members (the remaining 4 were from SKE48) appeared in the theatre performance in their kimonos (lucky fans), the chinese subbed video is below. A quick translation, when asked what are their resolutions for the new year, tomochin replied that as she has become an adult she will like to start saving to honor her parents, and she will like to buy them a big house some day. A very serious resolution from our dear girl here and that seemed to have caught everyone by surprised (mainly Takamina’s reaction). Tomochin’s so sweet~~~
http://player.youku.com/player.php/sid/XMzQyMjc2MjQw/v.swf
Posted by almonde on January 21, 2012
https://tomoland.wordpress.com/2012/01/21/coming-of-ag/
Tomochin X Kimura on SMAP X SMAP
Yes, I am talking about Kimura Takuya, the legendary SMAP idol and drama record holder. AKB48 recently went on SMAP X SMAP and participated in a mini play and the limelight was all on tomochin. Personally, I believe that this is a must-watch video of tomochin as there was so much screentime and all those interactions with KimuTaku were absolutely cute.
Kimutaku acted as the pink poodle called P-chan (I don’t know about you girls out there who knows Johnny, but Yamapi kind of came to my mind almost immediately) who singled out tomochin and kept her in a room with him. He confessed that tomochin was his oshimen and although she ranked 8th in AKB election, she was number 1 in AKP (P for P-chan) election. And yeah he attempts to do something to tomochin after that, which was not all that awesome for wotas & SMAP fans out there, but for someone who likes both (aka me), I totally loved it. I must have replayed that video for about 10 times.
For those who only wants to get straight to tomochin moments, you can start watching at 5:20 till the end. Note, it is important to watch till the end. *winks*
Posted by almonde on January 21, 2012
https://tomoland.wordpress.com/2012/01/21/tomochin-x-kimura-on-smap-x-smap/
Tomochin Gets New Solo CM by Goo
I was a little troubled wondering where to start since AKB48 seems to have some new news every other day and tomochin is usually involved, so I have decided to go for a little more tomochin-centred news.
For a start, some tomochin solo news. Tomochin was recently selected for a new CM, solo. This new endorsement is by Goo ( グー), an automobile magazine that has quite a wide readership. It even has different editions that cater to Kansai and Kanto region readers, which is really awesome by the way, because our girl gets to appear in different styles and poses for the different issues and editions. One of the key highlights that I might add is that, they filmed a realllyyyy adorable tomochin in various scenarios in their CM below. I think my favourite is the car washer.
Some recent covers of the magazine:
Posted by almonde on January 21, 2012
https://tomoland.wordpress.com/2012/01/21/tomochin-gets-new-solo-cm-by-goo/
2012 – New beginning
Hi fellow tomochin fans!
A bit late but better than none at all; Happy New Year! This wordpress site began as an idea to post tomochin related news which eventually I will bring tomoland.weebly.com completely to this wordpress site as the flash editor over there has not been on working terms with my computer. I have never thought of having a fanblog or site which will include tomochin related news since her news are always so tied in with AKB48 news, being one of the top members and all. But I do realise that tomochin has been involved in quite a few solo acts lately, and I will love to share her recent news with fans that are not anchored in any AKB forums.
The following entries will be a quick update of what Tomochin has been up to recently. Stay tuned and I will love to see comments coz I’ll love to know what fellow tomochin fans think (both on weebly and here yah?)~
taken from tomochin's blog
Posted by almonde on January 20, 2012
https://tomoland.wordpress.com/2012/01/20/2012-new-beginning/
Tomoland 