Atsuko Maeda Reveals Covers and Tracklist for "Kimi Wa Boku Da"

Prior to Atsuko Maeda's graduation from AKB48, the "Ace" has released tracklist and covers for her second single, "Kimi wa Boku Da".
The said single, which will be released on June 20th, will be available in three versions. Each versions will have a CD+DVD. "Kimi was Boku da" will be used as the theme song for the movie "Love Masao-kun ga Iku!", while "Migikata" is being used for the TV drama "Shiritsu Bakaleya Koukou".
The covers are the first three pictures above, Act 1,2, and 3 respectively. Moreover, here are the tracklist:
[Act 1] CD+DVD
[CD]
01. Kimi wa Boku da
02. Mikigata
03. Toomawari
04. Kimi wa Boku da [Original Karaoke]
05. Migikata [Original Karaoke]
06. Toomawari [Original Karaoke]
[DVD]
01. Kimi wa Boku da [Music Video]
02. Kimi wa Boku da [Drama Version]
03. Kimi wa Boku da [PV Making]
[Act 2] CD+DVD
[CD]
01. Kimi wa Boku da
02. Mikigata
03. Aishi sugiru to...
04. Kimi wa Boku da [Original Karaoke]
05. Migikata [Original Karaoke]
06. Aishi sugiru to... [Original Karaoke]
[DVD]
01. Kimi wa Boku da [Music Video]
02. Kimi wa Boku da [Drama Version]
03. Graduation Interview [Korekara, Watashi]
[Act 3] CD+DVD
[CD]
01. Kimi wa Boku da
02. Mikigata
03. Sunday drive
04. Kimi wa Boku da [Original Karaoke]
05. Migikata [Original Karaoke]
06. Sunday drive [Original Karaoke]
[DVD]
01. Kimi wa Boku da [Music Video]
02. Kimi wa Boku da [Drama Version]
03. Bokutachi no Goshujinsama ~Aikentachi to Maeda Atsuko no Nichijou~

AKB48's Atsuko Maeda To Graduate After Tokyo Dome Concert

AKB48 member Atsuko Maeda shocked fans when she announced she had decided to graduate from the group. For months, the date of her graduation had not been decided on.
Today, the man behind the group, Akimoto Yasushi, revealed through his Google + account that he and Atsuko have discussed when she will be leaving.
"Though she is not good with words, she shared her sincere thoughts with me. I was touched to see that the shy 14 year old girl that always hid in a shell had matured into a 20 year old woman who cared for others and shared those feelings with me...Anyway, Atsuko Maeda will be graduating after the Tokyo Dome concert and the AKB theater performance on the following day," he wrote.
The dates for the group's Tokyo Dome concerts have not been set yet. However, it is clear that whenever this occurs, it will mark the singer's last day with the group.

AKB48 Members Make Personal Appeal for Senbatsu Election 2012

Just like in every elections, even idols have the chance to make an appeal to charm their voters. AKB48's members, from Team A to Team 4, have now started their campaign for the general election. Each "elections appeal" have been posted on AKB48's official Youtube channel.
The 4th Senbatsu Election will not only determined the new "center" but will also determined the chosen-one's for AKB48's 27th single. This year's election have attracted more attention after Atsuko Maeda's decision to graduate. Oshima Yuko, who ranked no.2 last year and no.1 backed in 2010, is rumored to be this year's front-runner, and said to be her last chance to be AKB48's center. However, other members like Takahashi Minami, Mayu Watanabe, and Kashiwagi Yuki are not far behind.
The 4th Senbatsu Election will be held at Nippon Budokan on June 6th.
To watch AKB48's personal election's appeal, as well as individual videos from their sister groups and sub-unit, click HERE.
If you have the chance to vote for this year's Senbatsu Election, who will you vote for?

New Naruto x GREE Social Game Planned

Gree, one of Japan's largest mobile phone game platforms and social networking service, has announced that it will be offering the first Naruto-based social card game. The game will be made under the supervision of Namco Bandai Games and an English version and overseas release of the game are planned.
Tentatively titled Naruto x GREE, users will collect ninja info cards and can take on missions and regularly held challenges to raise their skills and levels. PLayers can also join forces and form ninja teams and defeat enemies.
The game will be released onto feature phones at the end of June with a smartphone (like Android and iOS) release later this summer.

AKB48's Tokyo Dome Schedule Determined, Atsuko Maeda to Graduate One Day Later

As with the title of AKB48's official blog "~Road to TOKYO DOME~", it has been their dream to be invited to perform at Tokyo Dome since the formation of the then unpopular idol group back in Dec 8, 2005.
Today, at the last day of Minogashita Kimitachie 2 concert, it's announced that AKB48 has been determined to perform at Tokyo Dome from 24th to 26th August for 3 days.
This is during the encore performance, when a video footage of Minami Takahashi visiting the HQ of Yomiuri Newspaper is suddenly played on the screen to about 2100 fans at the scene. Yomiuri Newspaper is the largest newspaper agency in Japan, and also the owner of the famous professional baseball team Yomiuri Giants, whose home is the Tokyo Dome. She met and spoke to the chairman of the company Tsuneo Watanabe, where he unveiled the performance dates to her.
Mr. Watanabe added that each day shall be filled with about 40,000 fans at the stadium, accumulating to over 100,000 fans over 3 days. It'll be the largest concert ever in Japan*.
*The context here may not necessary be referring to number of audience
Despite achieving their biggest dream, it'll be the most heartbreaking moment for AKB48 and the fans when Atsuko Maeda is set to graduate on August 27th, 1 day after the concert back at the AKB48 Theater in Akihabara, where everything first begins. On that day, it'll be her last stage performance, ending her 6 years as an undisputed ace of AKB48.
According to Minami Takahashi, Captain of AKB48 Team A, it shall be a new starting point for AKB48 from here on and she hopes that the group will keep growing with the fans.
Note: It's still unknown at the moment whether Atsuko Maeda will be participating in AKB48's 27th single, which is to be released in August.
Gallery: Minami Takahashi's conversation with Tsuneo Watanabe

高橋みなみより東京ドームコンサート日程について / AKB48【公式】

高橋みなみよりAKB48東京ドームコンサートの日程について発表させていただきます。

Hey!Say!JUMP on Their First-Ever Overseas Live Performance

18,000 fans screamed and cheered for Hey!Say!JUMP as they rocked their first-ever overseas performance in Star Hall KITEC, Hong Kong, which lasted for two days (May 26th and 27th).
As curtains fall, the nine-member Johnny's group was welcomed with a deafening roar from the audience. They opened the night with "Ultra Music Power!" followed by their trademark "flying" routine as they start singing "Dreams Come True". They also performed songs from their 2nd album- "JUMP World"- like "Super Delicate" and "Boku wa Vampire" where Yamada Ryosuke came out from a coffin. The Johnny's talents performed 29 songs in total including a cover of Masahiko Kondo's "Andalucia ni Akogarete". Masahiko is one of Johnny's seniors/senpai who also performed in Hong Kong backed in the 80's.
More than Hey!Say!JUMP's awe-inspiring group performances, the concert also showcased each members' individual talents, like: Yamada Ryosuke on saxophone, Nakajima Yuto on drums, Yaotome Hikaru on bass, and Keito Okamoto on guitar.
During MCs, fans got the chance for some interaction with their idols. One fan even asked about their room assignments and the members were just too happy to share. Apparently, Hikaru was the only one who didn't get a room partner. Moreover, a lot of hugs were requested from the audience, prompting the members to go down from the stage to hug and shake hands of their fans.
Aside from Hey!Say!JUMP, fellow Johnny's talents like A.B.C.-Z and Noon Boyz from Johnny's Junior also performed for the crowd.
Lastly, the group sang "Arigatou boku kara kimi e" as a way of thanking their fans not just for attending their concert but also for helping Japan during last year's earthquake. They even sang the latter part in Cantonese, which was received with loud applause.

the LEM Releasing First Mini Album

Visual Kei band the LEM will release their first mini album titled “∞-infinity-“ in June!
From December 2011 to April 2012 the band had a five-month consecutive release campaign where each month one of the members released a song available for download. These songs and a brand new song titled “∞-infinity” can also be heard on the LEM’s new mini album “∞-infinity-“ that will come out on June 27th!
Tracklist:
1. COSMIC JOURNEY
2. under the beautiful
3. over and again
4. LoveDistance ni hanabata wo
5. kimi wo utaeba
6. ∞-infinity
To commemorate the release the band will hold some instore events in Tokyo, Osaka and Nagoya.