AKB0048 Ep 4

In this episode, we'll learn about the kenkyuuseis (understudies/research students), and what it takes to become a successor. 

The episode starts out with showing the exterior of AKB0048's theater at Akibastar.

We see the 77th generation enter AKB0048's exclusive concert hall with mixed emotions. Of course, since AKB0048 is so popular, the theater is packed.

Two understudies come on stage to perform the opening act before the main show starts.

This is true for AKB48 as well. Here's a link to an actual stage performance of the same song ("The Lemon Season" / "Lemon no Toshigoro"), and of course in the same outfits by AKB48's current understudies. This gives the understudies a chance to perform, and increase their fanbase, which is especially important for the yearly AKB48 elections (Senbatsu Sousenkyou).

The two understudies are part of the 75th generation, which is known as the "cursed generation" due to the amount of candidates who failed or quit, leaving only these two left. Tsubasa explains to the 77th generation that even though these two entered AKB0048 two years ago, they have still not been able to become a successor. The 77th generation is surprised, since the 75th generation performs so well. Makoto notices that the crowd is not excited for the 75th generation's performance as they are not paying attention to them.

Sonata decides to yell out to one of the girls. Surprisingly, she knows this girl's name.

Kanata is surprised and touched by this.

Once the 75th generation finish their performance, the Overture immediately starts, signaling that the main show is about to start.

While this is going on, the 77th generation is closely paying attention with serious looks on their faces.

Based on these positions, AKB0048 will be starting out with "Heavy Rotation".

See the resemblance?

Look at all those fans with their glowsticks! Orine and Nagisa are sweating from the intensity of the members' performance, and excitement from the fans filling the room.

You may notice that there are two gigantic pillars elevated above the middle of the stage. This is a tribute to the pillars that exist in AKB48's actual theatre, but actually block the view more than these ones here. When Togasaki found the location for the AKB48 theater on the top floor of the Don Quixote building, there were these 2 pillars in the middle of the room that would block where they wanted to put the stage. They could not remove the pillars because it was vital to the structural integrity of the building. AKB48's fanclub is named "Hashira no Kai" after the two pillars in the theater. There are now mirrors on the inner sides of the pillars, so you can see the members that would be blocked if you looked dead on at the pillar. Also, every year on AKB48's anniversary, a member puts a pink ribbon on the pillar, each ribbon representing each year that the theater has been opened, and essentially counting the years that AKB48 has been in existence.

You can see the 2 pillars, the mirrors, on the side, and the pink ribbons. 

After watching the entire stage performance, the 77th generation talk about how amazing the performance was. Yuka says that Takamina looked right at her. (Really, she looked all the way back there?) Suzuko is writing a journal entry about her experience watching a live performance in AKB0048's exclusive theater, while Makoto is excited that one day she'll be performing on that stage, but then she gets all negative as she says that it'll probably take her a million years to do so. (Oh Makoto. ^_^")

Tsubasa shows the girls the entrance to the backstage. Everyone is excited, especially Sonata.

(This is just an amazing picture of Sonata. She is so excited that she's blushing!)

Sonata runs in, and tackles Kanata, all the while saying "Sis". I'm guessing Sonata and Kanata are sisters.

The 77th generation is surprised, as well as the other 75th generation member that the two are related. Sonata says, with tears in her eyes, that Kanata's performance was awesome. Kanata is touched, but then pushes Sonata off of her, saying that she's heavy. Kanata asks Tsubasa why Sonata is here, since she should have been too young to be accepted. (Ah, that would explain why Sonata failed initially.) Tsubasa says that while that is true, she appreciated Sonata's determination for coming to the auditions anyway.

Despite Sonata's excitement to see her sister and be part of AKB0048 together, Kanata tells Sonata to go home.

Sonata is shocked to hear that kind of response from her sister. Tsubasa steps up for Sonata, saying that only Sonata can decide what she wants to do. Tsubasa snaps everyone back to reality that despite the difference in generation, they are all understudies, and so they will be practicing together.

(I wonder why these sisters are just not on the same page with one another.)

Tsubasa then introduces the two 75th generation members to the 77th generation. Sonata's sister's full name is Shinonome Kanata. The other 75th generation member is Kishida Mimori.

Mimori seems very nice, but is also clueless as she greets the 77th generation with a bow, but her top slides off (since her and Kanata were in the middle of changing). The 77th generation blush in embarrassment, but quickly bow as well.

Mimori tells the girls to relax, and that she hopes that they all get along. Of course in the background, all you feel is tension between Kanata and Sonata.

Mimori gives the 77th generation a tour of the AKB0048 dormitory. They are all impressed, while Suzuko takes tons of pictures. They see the dining hall, where Chef Papa tells them that he's prepared a special dinner for them. Mimori shows them the many practice rooms, baths, and lounge area.

Kanata tells Makoto, Yuka, Orine, and Sonata that they are rooming together. Since practices start tomorrow, they should go to sleep early after they finish their dinner. Sonata tries to explain to Kanata that she just wants to be with her, but Kanata says nothing and closes the door on her. Mimori tells Chieri, Nagisa, and Suzuko that they are rooming together. She then tells them that their belongings have been brought up, so they should check that everything is accounted for. Nagisa has a moment that now that she's in a new room and is a new person, everything will start from here.

Everything about this scene is breathtakingly dramatic. 

Mimori reminisces about the other girls in her generation that have quit. She hopes that this doesn't happen to the 77th generation, so she tells the girls to do their best, and to "hustle". 

While walking around, Yuka, Orine, and Nagisa chat about their rooms. Nagisa notices Suzuko looking at something. Suzuko quickly tells Nagisa to call her "Linda". (I guess she really likes the nickname Sonata gave her.) Nagisa does so, and Linda explains that she's looking at the pictures of the past centers.

Linda explains that AKB0048 currently has a different center for each song, but before, there was one person who was always center. The last one to hold that position was Acchan the 13th, but after she graduated, they did away with the center position.

I talked about Maeda Atusko (nickname: Acchan) as being the center in AKB48 in a previous blog post. The "13" stands for AKB48's 13th single, "Iiwake Maybe", which is the single that featured the top members from the 1st elections, in which Acchan took first place. This moment defined that not only Aki-P thinks Acchan is AKB48's center, but the fans think so as well. 

Here's a picture from 2010 showing the hairstyle and placement of hair piece as her anime self. 

Nagisa, Orine, and Yuka remember Acchan the 13th from the AKB0048 concert they saw when they were young. They all remember her as being amazing.

Linda continues to explain that:

In AKB48, Minegishi Minami (nickname: Mii-chan) is considered the "Queen of Variety Shows" as she is always doing her best to get screen time like in AKBINGO! for example. The "5" stands for 2005 when she was accepted into AKB48 as a first generation member. 

AKB48's Mii-chan currently has straight hair, but here's a picture from 2010 showing the curly hair that is represented in the anime version of her. 

In AKB48, Yokoyama Yui is thought to have the potential to become the next center after Acchan because of her talent in singing and dancing. She has replaced Acchan's center position in "Flying Get" and "Sakura no Ki ni Narou" for performances in AKBINGO! (since Acchan rarely appeared on the show in recent years). The "6" stands for Yuihan's first stage performance, which was during Team K's 6th stage, where she replaced Ono Erena, since she graduated, in the song "Seifuku Resistance". 

In AKB48, Yuihan currently has straight, shoulder-length hair. Here's a picture from 2010 showing the side ponytail hairstyle that her anime self has. 

There is a mistake in the subtitles as it should say "Yuuko the 7th" as the current Yuuko that we know is 9th. Anyway, Oshima Yuko was also considered center when she took first place in the 2nd elections for the 17th single, "Heavy Rotation" (this is most likely where the "7" comes from). 

Here's a picture from 2010 showing the curly hair her anime self has. 

I should mention that at the AKB48 theater, the pictures on the walls are of current AKB48 members. 

Orine is amazed that there is such a long history concerning the center position. Nagisa asks why the center position doesn't exist anymore. Yuuko comes up behind them and wonders the same thing because she wants to be center so badly, and she's determined to get that position with her own hands.

Yuuko then slaps the 4 girls on the back, and says "Yossha Ikuzo", which is what is said at the start of the "Mix" (chant said by the fans during instrumental breaks, which are usually at the beginning of AKB48 songs).

Nagisa is so impressed that there is always another level to surpass no matter if you're an understudy or a successor. Orine and Yuka agrees. We then see Kanata mad at Sonata for lying to get into AKB0048. Sonata says the same thing to Kanata (about being a liar), since Kanata is still not a successor yet. Sonata then runs away, upset.

We then see Kanata and Mimori in their room. Mimori thinks that Kanata is a being bit insensitive to Sonata, especially since they haven't seen each other for many years. Kanata explains to Mimori that doesn't want Sonata to endure the hard practices, and how little their efforts are being rewarded. She doesn't want her to feel pathetic or frustration because of this. Mimori tries to be positive and says that Sonata could possibly become a successor very quickly, but Kanata doesn't think so and gets upset since they've been understudies for 2 years, learning all they can about the original members, and dances, but none of it got them to become a successor, and it doesn't help that the rest of their generation quit. Mimori and Kanata both know that to be a successor, you need the soul of an idol. Kanata feels that at this rate, she'll never be able to avenge her father, who was part of the pro-entertainment force, and died in battle while fighting DES. Since Kanata feels that this is the reason why she is in AKB0048, she doesn't want Sonata to go down this path with her. Mimori asks Kanata if she likes singing, but Kanata is getting angry that Mimori is not listening to her. Mimori continues her trail of thought and says that she likes Kanata's singing. Kanata says that she doesn't care whether someone likes her singing or not, she just wants to become a successor to fight against DES on the front lines. Kanata leaves, and Mimori is left worried about her. 

Now is a good time to mention an AKB48 member that is known to have been a kenkyuusei for the longest period of time, Oya Shizuka (nickname: Shiichan). She was accepted as a 4th generation member, but it took 501 days for her to be promoted to Team A. 

The shortest period of time as a kenkyuusei, 71 days, belongs to Takajo Aki (nickname: Akicha), a 6th generation member, who became part of Team A before Shiichan did, despite Shiichan being part of an earlier generation. 

It's the 77th generation's first day of dance lessons. Makoto and Yuka are looking forward to idol lessons and not lessons that will leave them in bruises like the combat training ones. However, Sonata and Kanata are still not talking, and Mimori is in between the two and doesn't know what to do.

The girls learn the dance to "Shonichi". I mentioned the importance of this song in my post for the first episode of AKB0048. You see the girls struggling to follow the routine, and are already out of breath. 

Makoto says she's dying, and Yuka says that these lessons are much worse than the combat training ones.

Of course, when the teacher asks them if they said anything, they quickly say "no". The teacher asks Sonata if she memorized the song, and Kanata mumbles to herself that she warned Sonata, since Sonata is about to be scolded. You then see them practice again, but the teacher says that they are all over the place.

The teacher scolds Kanata for not having any spark in her dancing despite having been in AKB0048 for 2 years. The teacher then picks Chieri to switch places with Kanata, as Kanata doesn't seem to be motivated. Chieri denies the switch as she is still new and wants to learn more from the senior members, who should be setting a good example. Kanata is so upset that she runs away. Mimori quickly runs after her. 

Yuka says that Chieri was going way too far with her comment. Sonata is in tears because she knows how well Kanata can sing and dance, and decides to give Chieri "Meany face" as her nickname. The teacher ends the lessons, as the two most senior members have left. The teacher then whispers into Tsubasa's ear that they might have found a catalyst. Tsubasa, who has been watching the entire practice, agrees. (Catalyst for what?)

Nagisa tells Chieri, who is washing her face, that what she did was wrong, and that Kanata has been working very hard. Chieri says she understands that, and can see that Kanata is so skilled that she may even be better than the successors, and that it must have taken a lot of effort to get to that point. But Chieri mentions that you need to be born with the radiance of an idol, and no amount of effort can get you that. You see that Chieri is really worried about that aspect, since she can't make Kirara glow despite it always being with her.

We then see Kanata walking along the river bank, frustrated that she feels she is only in AKB0048 to avenge her father, but is hurt when comments are made concerning her motivation and performance. Kanata then notices an AKB0048 commercial being played on a big monitor about them advertising a new flavour of cookies.

AKB48 has been in a lot of commercials, especially ones about foods and drinks.

(Does that railing say "FREEDOM LOVE FOR ALL HUMANITY"?)

You see Kanata mumbling the words to "Shonichi" by herself, and Mimori continues the words with her.

Kanata tells Mimori to stop singing or else she'll start to like singing.

Mimori says that it's a good thing to love singing, since AKB0048 are the idols that come and see you, while singing their love to their fans. Mimori then continues to sing Shonichi, then Kanata continues with her with tears in her eyes.

They then continue singing the song together. In the middle of the chorus, they hear Sonata screaming Kanata's name. Mimori says how it's amazing that Kanata has a diehard fan, but isn't even a successor yet. Kanata then calls Sonata and the rest to come over and they all sing the rest of Shonichi together.

Finally, the two sisters are happily reunited!

However, Chieri is at the train station by herself. 

Until the next episode.