AKB0048 Ep 5

Sorry for the delay. >.< Let's move onwards to episode 5!

The episode starts out with Nagisa waking up, and realizing that she's late. When she gets to the washrooms, she notices everyone trying to get some space in front of the bathroom mirror.

This part is actually similar to when many of the AKB48 members have to share one mirror in order to do their makeup. While they have someone to do their hair, they have to apply their own makeup.

After that, they are all happily eating breakfast. The food is so good that they ask Chef Papa for seconds. 

Mmm... Looks good. 

During breakfast, Mayuyu asks Chef Papa for seconds, but he has run out of rice. Mayuyu is not satisfied with only have 5 helpings for breakfast, so Chef Papa makes more right away. (It seems that every time we see Mayuyu with food, she eats a lot of it. But AKB48's Watanabe Mayu actually eats very little, according to her conversation with the other members in AKB48's "To Be Continued" documentary.)

Nagisa explains how it's been a month since she's been in Akibastar as an understudy, and she's more or less used to it, and has developed more or less a routine with the other understudies. After breakfast, they usually go to the practice room at the dorms, where everyone tries to get a spot diagonally behind Ushiyama-sensei (the dance instructor), as it's the best position to see his movements for the dances.

AKB0048's Dance Instructor 

vs

AKB48's Dance Instructor 

(Picture taken from AKB48's "To Be Continued" documentary)

They look pretty similar. Big hoop earrings and long-ish hair. 

When they enter the practice room, they notice that no one is there. Tsubasa appears behind them, and tells them that they have no lessons today because today is AKB0048's monthly day off, which applies to the understudies as well. Yuka says that they should practice, and everyone seems to agree, but Tsubasa says that AKB0048 members have their lives scheduled to the very minute, so they should spend their time wisely, especially during a recreational day. (Basically, just enjoy your day off.)

Chieri decides to go shopping alone. Of course, Yuka makes a comment about this, since she still doesn't get along with Chieri. Nagisa is worried about Chieri, and follows her (as usual). Yuka makes a comment about not understanding why Nagisa cares so much about Chieri (as usual). Kanata takes Makoto away for something fun, and Mimori joins them.

Sonata convinces Linda to come with her to the baths, so she can play without Kanata telling her that she can't. Sonata asks Linda what she wants to do, and Linda says how they've met all the staff, but there must be someone at the top directing AKB0048. Mayuyu quietly says "Sensei-sensei", and just as Linda is asking who that person is, Mayuyu changes the subject by pinching Sonata's stomach, saying how her helpings of rice from breakfast are in there.

You then find out that the "fun" thing Kanata had in mind for Makoto is to build up Makoto's stamina by having her do training.

Oh, boot camp style. 

Kojiharu walks in and crashes their training party by saying how luscious Kanata's legs are. Kojiharu thinks that Makoto and Kanata need more pheromones. Just as Mimori was about to go with them, Sayaka stops her and says that Mimori is already full of pheromones, and that she needs to forget about that, since idols are more about purity than sex appeal.

Do you think Mimori is overflowing with pheromones? Judging from this pic, I would say "yes". 

What's interesting is that Sayaka says to Mimori: "Who do you think you are, Tomo~mi?" 

In AKB48, Kasai Tomomi (nickname: Tomo~mi / Chiyuu) always ends up doing songs that are very suggestive. If her sweet, yet subtly sexy voice hasn't been heard by your ears yet, here are a few of her stage performances: Kinjirareta Futari, Oshibe to Meshibe to Yoru no Chouchou, Dakishimeraretara, Candy. Check here for the English translation to any of these songs. 

Inside, Yuka and Orine are helping with the dishes. Chef Papa tells them they don't have to be doing this on their day off, but they insist since it's the least they can do, and they think Chef Papa deserves a break as well. Chef Papa says that he'll go out shopping to buy a new rice cooker. (Hmm... I wonder why? Did Mayuyu break it? Or is he buying a rice cooker just for Mayuyu? Hmm...) Yuka then comments on why Nagisa is so concerned about Chieri. Orine asks if Yuka is jealous, and Yuka says that it's not like that. Tomochin walks in, asking if breakfast is over. Yuka and Orine says that Chef Papa is out, and Tomochin asks if they could get her something to eat. Yuka goes on to say that she could make fried rice.

Yuka and Orine notice that Tomochin is putting a lot of spicy sauces and oils on top of her fried rice. They both find Tomochin very mysterious because of this. (I guess because her looks and her sense of taste don't seem to match up?) Tomochin then asks the two of them if they're free later. (Hmm? I wonder what's in store for these two.)

Speaking of her sense of taste, AKB48's Itano Tomomi (nickname: Tomochin) actually orders "old man" food. You can check it out here: Part 1, Part 2

We then see various screenshots of Akibastar, and see Chieri coming out of a clothing store. Nagisa follows her, and wonders if Chieri is having family problems (since she ran away from home).

It is clearly not creepy for someone to be stalking you around town. 

Chieri turns around and asks if Nagisa is going to follow her all day. Nagisa doesn't know what to say (or more like she didn't expect to be found out). A man runs towards Chieri, and Nagisa thinks that this person might be after Chieri, so Nagisa pushes Chieri away and tells her to run for it, but Nagisa just ends up pushing Chieri to the ground, along with herself. Chieri tells Nagisa that she can't run away if someone is on top of her. Nagisa gets up and asks the man what he wants from Chieri, but the man just wanted to say that the price tag is still attached to Chieri's skirt. (Well, that wasn't embarrassing at all. ^_^") Nagisa tells Chieri that if she has any worries, then Nagisa would like to hear about them. Chieri asks why bring this up, and Nagisa says that she was hoping Chieri would be more open with her. Nagisa then hears footsteps, and just as she was trying to protect Cheiri, they end up getting their photo taken by Yuuko.

Look how proud Yuuko is for taking a paparazzi picture. However, Nagisa and Chieri are both very surprised.

AKB48's Oshima Yuko has a similar hat. 

We're back at the dorms, and Linda is looking through the CD booklets of all the AKB0048 singles, and has noticed the following:

This is very true for AKB48 where the producer, Akimoto Yasushi (nickname: Aki-P), writes all of the lyrics, and arranges the music for all AKB48 songs, whether it be stage performances or singles.

The name that Linda finds everywhere is S-Quadruple, which most likely means Sensei-sensei, which Mayuyu said earlier. Yukirin takes away the CD booklet from Linda, and tells her that it is forbidden to investigate Sensei-sensei, and not even successors are allowed to do so. Linda asks what happens if one does investigate, and Yukirin, sarcastically (I think ^_^"), says that your belly button will be stolen. 

Hmm... The cover of that CD booklet looks very familiar...

Oh, it's the CD booklet for AKB48's 25th single "Give Me Five". This is the only single where selected (senbatsu) members had to be trained intensively for 6 months to play instruments for this single. Check out one of their lives here. Also, there is a full-length story PV for this song that lasts 35 mins. 

Linda continues to think about S-Quadruple, but Sonata is concerned about her belly button being stolen. They then notice Tsubasa in the hallway, and she mentions Sensei-sensei. Linda decides to follow her and brings Sonata along, since Linda went along with Sonata to the baths. As a hardcore fan of AKB0048, Linda needs to unravel this mystery of who exactly is Sensei-sensei.

It switches over to Yuka and Orine, who are helping bring some things to Tomochin's house. They walk into the courtyard and see the following:

Wow, just wow.

Yuka and Orine are greeted by Tomochin's mother, grandmother, and older sister. They all look like Tomochin. Tomochin's family giggle when Yuka and Orine realize that they all look very similar to one another.

(The diamond highlight in their hair shows that they were former AKB0048 members.)

Yuka and Orine notice the plaques of the Tomochin's of each generation, and how they all look the same. Tomochin's mother explains how their family has been succeeding Tomochin's name for many generations. You don't need to look like the original member to become a successor, but Tomochin's blood runs very strong in their family, and they've taken special training to become Tomochin. Tomochin's father welcomes her home (but we only see half his face). The mother takes this chance to admit that they even marry men that look like Tomochin, so that their children will look like Tomochin. Yuka finds it amazing. Tomochin reveals that the suitcases that Yuka and Orine were helping carry contained 48 volumes of scrolls, instructing how to become Tomochin such as unfaltering beauty, and never having a proper sense of taste. 

It switches over to Makoto and Kanata's pheromone training, where they have to walk with their legs inward while balancing 3 books on their head. Mimori then pops in, trying to talk all boyish in a track suit, but just can't do it. Sayaka tells Mimori to do 10 laps around the dorm to discipline herself. Makoto and Kanata are surprised, and comment that it might be harder to lose pheromones than to gain them, but Kojiharu says that Mimori is a special case. 

It switches over to Nagisa and Chieri looking at photos taken by Yuuko on her camera.

Nagisa didn't expect photography to be Yuuko's hobby, since Yuuko seems like the sporty type. Yuuko laughs, saying that she reads and does puzzles during her day off, which she thinks sounds pretty boring. They then stumble upon a picture of Acchan the 13th. Yuuko explains how amazing Acchan was, and despite being shy, Kiraras would flock to her when she went on stage, and make her glow.

Because of Acchan, Yuuko swore that she would become center one day, just like Acchan. But when Yuuko finally got promoted from being an understudy, Acchan left. Nagisa asked why Acchan left, but Yuuko explains that all centers graduate in mysterious ways. Chieri says that she heard that Acchan disappeared during a concert. Yuuko says that some people thought that Acchan ran away or was kidnapped. Nagisa is shocked, but Yuuko continues saying that all past centers have disappeared like that: Miichan, Yuihan, Tomo~mi, etc. Some members wanted to keep the reasons for their graduation private, but to keep rumours from spreading that centers disappear out of thin air, they did away with the position after Acchan the 13th's graduation. Yuuko is still determined to surpass Acchan the 13th, who was her inspiration, and become center.

It switches back to Tomochin, who is explaining that she's worked all her life to become Tomochin, but she wonders how life would be like if she wasn't Tomochin. Maybe becoming someone like Kojiharu. But in the end, Tomochin really loves being Tomochin.

It switches to Kojiharu, who is explaining to Makoto and Kanata that it wasn't easy becoming Kojiharu the 8th, especially when Yuuko in her generation had been promoted before her, and she started to panic. (Most likely a mix of pressure, excitement, and anxiety about how soon she would become successor.)

It switches to Sayaka, who is giving Mimori advice saying that everyone has their unique traits, but you just have to try a bit of everything. Sayaka says how they are all working hard to become someone else, but it's the friends around them that keep them going.

It switches to Tomochin, who says that because they have people by their side chasing the same dreams, they can keep going (Kojiharu), and keeps them inspired (Yuuko). Yuuko tells Nagisa and Chieri that she's going to take a few more pictures, and then head back to the dorms. Nagisa decides that she wants to succeed Yuuko. Chieri asks if Nagisa really wants Yuuko to graduate, since two members can't both have the same name at the same time. Nagisa says she doesn't want that since she really likes Yuuko, and she has the feeling that Chieri feels the same way too. Chieri admits that Yuuko's dancing skills are very dynamic, and that she would like to dance like that someday.

It then cuts to Linda spying on Tsubasa from the bushes, and notices that she's sitting next to Ushiyama-sensei, who Linda thinks might be S-Quadruple, but dismisses the idea quite quickly. Tsubasa and Ushiyama-sensei make conversation, but nothing notable. Sonata brings over a cat she found to Linda, and Linda tells the two to be quiet.

It cuts to Nagisa and Chieri trying to imitate Yuuko's dance moves. However, they keep trying so much that everyone on the street notices. Nagisa tries to explain the situation, but ends up saying "sorry" and being really embarrassed, while all the spectators clap for them.

It then cuts to Yuka and Orine trying to open their mouth like Tomochin. Yuka says that it's hard, and Orine feels like her lips all crooked. Of course, current and previous Tomochins don't feel that it's difficult to do at all.

It then cuts to Makoto and Kanata doing a routine with Kojiharu and feeling the sexy pheromones coursing through them. While at the same time, Mimori is trying her best to keep up with Sayaka and Sae in doing physical exercises.

After a few more cuts here and there, the episode ends with Tsubasa telling Ushiyama-sensei that she'll be seeing Sensei-sensei after, but she first has to bring Sonata and Linda home, as they've fallen asleep in the bushes that they've been spying from. The final line is said by Ushiyama-sensei to Tsubasa: "It seems you have your hands full, Mariko-sama". 

(This makes sense as you notice she has a diamond highlight on her hair, which the past Tomochin successors had.)

Despite this being the end of the episode, there is still some things to talk about. In the first episode, Takamina called Tsubasa "Mariko-sama", although we didn't even know Tsubasa's name before episode 3. But finding out that Tsubasa is Mariko-sama is a pretty big deal, and explains quite a bit.

First of all, Mariko-sama refers to AKB48's Shinoda Mariko. What I find even more interesting is that Mariko-sama in AKB0048 changed her name to (or possibly her original name was) Katagiri Tsubasa. In Japanese, Tsubasa means "wings", and if you look at the song "Bird", Shinoda Mariko is Takahashi Minami's right wing.

Second of all, do you know the reason why Tsubasa let Sonata into the auditions, even though she failed the first round? It was because of Sonata's determination, right? AKB48's Shinoda Mariko had to show a lot of determination to get into the group, especially with Aki-P's condition of learning 12 songs in 4 days. Tsubasa sees the determination that Mariko-sama is known for, which leads me to think that if Sonata had a much more mature personality, she would be succeeding Mariko-sama.