Posted 24 February 2014 - 07:18 PM
So, while I initially said I am against this shuffle, something I still am, there's a few thoughts I've made about this shuffle. Of course all of this is subject to change over time, and I wouldn't be surprised if it changes. It all depends on the management, on the teams, and on the girls themselves.
"The Good":
- Promotions of Kenkyuusei. Several kenkyuusei girls promoted in all the groups and I am very happy about that. One of my favorites, Miion, was promoted to Team 4, a team that seems to have kept the core of its original roster. Team 4 is also the current most popular team, although of course it's affected by the shuffle as most teams are. Still, I think for Miion, Riorin, Komiharu, and Kiichan, that this is very good. For Team 4 in particular, it's very good to have Miion there, as her and Naanya are the two most popular 15th gen girls.
- Aanya in Team N as concurrent member. To me if Aanya were to be moved anywhere, it'd have to be to AKB48 or NMB48 and of course as a concurrent member. In these places she would get a new playground to unfold her talents in. I think Aanya is one of the girls who has a huge potential, but she's young, and she needs lots of help. She often resorts to stupid one-liner gags, which are more awkward than hilarious. Where she shines however, is in variety shows when she gets to use her sense of comedy and smarts to do things physically or utter various funny lines. But to successfully do this, you need a good environment. HKT48 of course is this - it's the group with the most funny variety shows in all of 48G - but perhaps she can get more comedy training under Yoshimoto.
- Komari as vice captain. Unfortunately she was not made full captain. But Komari deserves to be a leader. She's got all the qualities for this.
- All draftees in their original teams. Though to me that was to be expected. For those who crave new blood or are interested in new girls, almost all the draftees are very interesting. So definitely look out for those.
- Team A gets Paruru, Kojiharu, but also gets Chori, Nao (concurrent), Sakura (concurrent), Fuuchan (concurrent).
- Yuihan as captain in Team K. If she had been demoted from captainship that would've been very stupid.
- Tanochan and Moechan in Team K. This was something I had expected to happen beforehand. Both are very good dancers and this is a definite improvement for Team K and for what that team is supposed to be. Also the promotion of Yuami to Team K is very fitting.
- Team K in general. This was the team that needed the most repair, and obviously they've shuffled a little internally in AKB48 but also added Haruppi, and the big one in Sayanee. Jurina still there. Yuihan returns, and as mentioned above Moechan and Tanochan as well. Kojimako leaves Team 4 for Team K. I think right now Team K is looking very solid.
- Team B now has the old members of Yukirin/Mayuyu/Tanamin, but also gets Mio (concurrent), which is a fantastic addition. And of course Maachun. The interesting thing however is the Mayuyu/Ikoma (concurrent) pair-up because Mayuyu has the hots for Nogizaka46 and especially Ikoma, and now the two of them gets to be together. This is crazy.
- Team 4 got Yuria as permanent member, Ripopo and Shibuya as concurrent member. For Team 4 having both Yuria and Ripopo is big. And they are still keeping their image as a "young and fresh" team.
- Ikoma Rina to Team B (concurrent). In one smooth move, AKS ensured that Nogizaka46 fans have now a reason to purchase AKB48 material (if they didn't have a reason before), and may now also vote for her in election. And that may be a good thing or a bad thing, because she's the only Nogizaka46 girl in 48G, so perhaps we'll see some massive power voting for her.
- For Team S, getting Boss (concurrent), Milky (concurrent), Sae (concurrent), Ranran, and Karen is pretty good.
- Team KII gets Minarun, Yuurin, Nana (concurrent).
- Team E gets Suuchan and Marika (Rena finally gets to be close to her oshimen).
- Team N gets Yukirin (concurrent), Yuuri, Uuka, Ayarin, Aanya (concurrent), Keira.
- Team M has Jo returning, gets Riichan, Mirurun, Reinyan, and also Anchuu.
- Team BII gets Milky, Miorin, Umechan, Kanakichi, Chihhii, Haru, Shibuya, and Churi (concurrent).
- HKT48 gets to remain relatively unchanged.
- Chikarina moved to JKT48. What's good about this, is that I hope she gets a chance to shine in JKT48. While JKT48 isn't in Japan, and I have no idea what ideas for the future she has, at least I hope the Indonesian fans will give her a good welcome, and show her their appreciation more than what the Japanese fans have done. Because in Japan she has pretty much been at the bottom of the barrel in terms of popularity. It's a pity, because she's full of positivity, is a good singer, good dancer, entertaining, and a good team player. So she deserves so much more.
"The Bad":
- Yuria moved. I really wonder how this will unfold. It is quite clear that she's a very popular SKE48 member and I wonder how she will take this and how SKE48 fans are reacting to it.
- Maachun moved. This is also a tough one. I could understand a concurrency, but moved? Oh well.
- Sae captain, Neesan vice captain. Now here what's bad is not Sae as a leader or Neesan as a leader, but how it should be the exact opposite. Neesan is the oldest 48G member and I hope she continues into her early 30's for that matter. She looks young, she's pretty, and she's awesome. But she's been in SKE48 far longer than Sae (...), and she should be the captain here. Because while Sae was a core member of old Team K which is a legendary team, why be a captain of a team if it's in a concurrent position? I would at least think that a captainship means you're there in the team permanently. After Sae's speech in 2013 election, I would've thought her a lost cause, not to return to Japan again. But here she is, in SKE48 as a captain and concurrent member.
- Chori and Marika moved. HKT48 losing these two is not good. It's good for the teams getting them, but I really feel sorry for them. Chori was crying tears of joy when she was announced as part of the HKT48 single senbatsu recently in their concert, as she was "finally back". But now, now she's off to Team A. And I really just don't see her as part of AKB48 senbatsu ever. No way. So she has lost out on HKT48 senbatsu and gets to enjoy playing second fiddle in the stage shows... As for Marika going to SKE48, this to me is possibly even worse. Maybe, just maybe she has a shot at SKE48 senbatsu, but she loses out on HKT48 variety shows, where she was outrageously funny. And while SKE48 just had a very funny show in Ebinai, that to me was a rarity rather than the norm. SKE48 really doesn't have a lot of awesome shows, and I feel Marika is losing out on that.
- Rena to Nogizaka46 as concurrent member. For Nogizaka46 this is probably good, but I wonder what Rena thinks about it. Personally I think it's a waste of time.
- No promotion of Yamarina. God damn it.
- Takamina as both general manager and captain. Here I think they should've let Komari get the full captainship, really.
- Team BII is spread all over now.
- Assuming the new stages still follow the 16-member principle, we will still get members that are left behind in the shadows. For AKB48 with 22 members per teams, this will be especially apparent. So setting aside the entire AKB48 senbatsu challenge, there's the challenge of making the theater team itself, and of course be able to get on TV shows. Impossibly hard now with all the imports.
No!
omg why???
