AKB0048 Ep 6

This episode starts out with a promotional video of the 77th generation playing on the beach, while AKB48's latest single, at the time this anime was released, "Manatsu no Sounds Good" plays in the background.

Footage of idols playing around on the beach in swimsuits is not uncommon, and you will most often see idol photobooks that primarily consists of them in bikinis, no matter what their age.

Also, you see their dance practices, and vocal warm-ups. 

Makoto, Sonata, and Orine are asked whose name they would like to succeed. They say "anyone", "Love-tan", and "Sashiko", respectively. 

Love-tan is Oota Aika's nickname. She was originally a 3rd generation member (debuted as part of Team B), was shuffled to Team A in 2009. She has now been transferred to Team H of HKT48 in 2012 as announced during the Tokyo Dome shuffle (of course, this didn't happen yet when AKB0048 was released). The picture above was taken of her earlier this year.  

Sashiko is referring to Sashihara Rino. Her real nickname is "Sasshi." "Sashiko" most likely comes from the title of her first solo photobook. She was a 5th generation member, was promoted to Team B, shuffled to Team A in 2009, and due to a certain scandal, she was transferred to HKT48 in June of this year. The picture above was taken in 2011, and shows the hairstyle which her anime version has. 

Last scene of the promotional movie. (Is that Saturn on the right?)

Tsubasa tells the 77th generation that the video has been broadcast throughout the galaxy, and they will debut at a handshake event. Handshake events are extremely important as you get to meet your fans in person, and can also get valuable feedback. Takamina, Sayaka, and Yukirin walk in, and explain that your behaviour at this event will affect your popularity. You need to have a firm handshake, make eye contact, and acknowledge each and every fan by remembering their name, faces, and what they have said to you. Also, the outfit you wear to this event can also change how a fan feels about you, so you need to wear something that will bring out the best in yourself.

Why do these 3 AKB0048 members show up at this point in time? Actually, their real-life versions were the captains of Team B (Kashiwagi Yuki), A (Takahashi Minami), and K (Akimoto Sayaka) from left to right at the time the anime was released. I've explained more about them in a previous blog post. 

The girls freak out about what they should wear. Takamina and Yukirin gladly offer some of their clothes, but Sayaka tells them that Takamina and Yukirin are the Twin Towers of bad fashion.

In AKBINGO!, there is actually a fashion show segment where selected members put on their best clothes for a certain season, here is Takamina's summer fashion, and Yukirin's spring fashion. You decide if they've got good fashion sense or not. 

In all seriousness, handshakes are very important to idols. Supposedly, Hayami Akari from Momoiro Clover might have graduated due to not having a single person come see her at a handshake event. Some say that she felt that she did not fit the idol image, and hence decided to graduate from Momoiro Clover in 2011. Of course, Momoiro Clover at the time was the most balanced 6-member idol group out there, and there was at least one rap part in many of the songs, which would solely belong to Akari. Because of her importance in the group (she was the group's sub-leader), management decided to change the name of the group to "Momoiro Clover Z" in order to distinctly separate the 6-member group of Momoiro Clover from the new 5-member group. 

Momoiro Clover 

(Akari is first from the left with her signature blue colour.)

Momoiro Clover Z

Back to the anime, Yuka, Nagisa, and Orine decide to go out shopping for clothes, since their lessons do not start until the afternoon. We see the girls trying on all sorts of clothes, but nothing looks right nor do they even have the money to afford the clothes.

Everyday wear

Sexy clothes

Special occasion? 

Nagisa's clothes look very similar to the outfit worn by Momoiro Clover in their song "Pinky Jones"

They get back to the dorms, and although they have not found anything, Yuka tells Nagisa to not wear her school uniform, even if it is the only nice clothes Nagisa thinks she has. Sonata walks in, and says that they received mail, and even more amazing, Orine got a fan letter. Everyone is amazed, but Orine does not understand since they have not made their debut yet. It must be because of their promotional video.

Orine opens it, and sees a memory card. Yuka says that they can watch it on her cell phone.

Look at Orine: all excited to receive a fan mail. 

You see a masked kid who is crushing an Orine doll, and says that in order to be like Sashiko you need "to maximize your uselessness and turn that negative energy into positive energy." He goes on to say that Orine is "wishy-washy," and that her dancing is lifeless. She does not have what it takes to become a pro and she will regret saying anything about becoming Sashiko. Orine is freaking out at this point, and Yuka tries to stop the video, but to no avail. The masked kid continues to say that Orine is a stain upon the AKB0048 that he loves, and that she should quit before the handshake event or else he will set off a bomb at the event location.

As he says this, he is about to cut off the head of the Orine doll with scissors, until Tsubasa grabs the video from Yuka and closes it. Tsubasa says that they cannot read fan mail until it has been screened.

Orine is literally shaking, but Tsubasa says that they should not be surprised because these sorts of letters do come in. 

Tsubasa explains that the last Sashiko graduated 2 years prior and was very popular.

Popular and noticeable members attract more haters. Even those who aspire to succeed that name will also be in a similar situation. Tsubasa continues to say that if Orine loses faith in yourself because of this, then she will not stand a chance in the future. Yuka says that the kid made a bomb threat. Tsubasa continues to explain that AKB0048 members must be able to defend themselves, and face DES forces in combat. (That is what their training was all about.) They cannot back out from every threat they receive. The girls just need to stand their ground. They cannot let down all the fans out there because of one hater. Tsubasa tells the girls to head to the practice room. Orine is still shaking from all of this.

Orine is still having trouble forgetting what the masked kid said, affecting her dancing during practice. She freaks out when she sees her reflection in the mirror, and ends up tripping herself while walking backwards. Ushiyama-sensei asks where Orine's mind is wandering off to. Orine quickly apologizes, and Chieri is just as quick to tell Orine to get a grip, and cannot believe that Orine is letting that fan mail get to her. Orine will not be able to become a successor that way. Yuka tries to defend Orine, but Orine is in tears, and she runs away. Yuka follows her. Nagisa confronts Chieri about what she said, and Chieri says that she does not want Orine to give up because of that or else Chieri's dream will not come true. Nagisa thinks for a bit, and she is hoping that Chieri is referring to the dream they all shared when they were kids. Just as Nagisa was about to ask, Ushiyama-sensei tells them to continue practicing, while he goes to get Orine and Yuka.

You then see Takamina running to the washroom, and she hears someone crying, and sees that it is Orine in one of the bathroom stalls. Orine washes her face, and Takamina says that everyone has their haters.

Takamina tells Orine that she received mail saying that she was "unreliable" and "lacks aura." Orine asks why would people say such awful things, but Takamina turns it around and asks Orine why she thinks it is awful. But just as Takamina was about to say the most important words Orine needs to hear, Takamina had to use the washroom.

It is nighttime, and Orine is on the balcony, looking out on Akibastar. Nagisa joins her, and Orine tells Nagisa how she has been alone since she lost her parents, but she has great friends like Yuka and Nagisa, and the ladies at the factory where she worked were also nice to her. But Orine could not shake the feeling that nobody was watching her. So, she really wanted some to see her, but...

Nagisa is worried, but Orine says that she is ok, and she will attend the handshake event. Takamina told her that everybody has their haters. It is just part of being in AKB0048.

Linda explains about handshake events, and how AKB0048 combines the two types of events together. 

Yuka is amazed to see all the people there. 

As you can see above, a fan gets to shake hands with the AKB0048/AKB48 member of their choice (or who they lined up for), and get to exchange a few words during the handshake. On the right, you see the staff checking how long the handshake is to make sure that everyone gets an equal amount of time during the handshake. 

You can even see staff struggling to get this particular fan away from Sae

Tsubasa tells the 77th generation to get changed, and wait until it is their turn for the handshake (they will take the place of the successors while they are on break). You see the girls with various normal-looking outfits. Nagisa ends up wearing her school uniform, and Chieri is wearing the tomboy clothes we saw in episode 2. Nagisa thinks that it is because Chieri does not want to be recognized, and brought back home. Yuka lends Chieri one of her sets of clothes, even though she has the look of not wanting to help her, but cannot help but do so.

Nagisa tries to relieve the tension between Yuka and Chieri. Chieri says "thank you," leaving Yuka and Nagisa surprised. Orine knocks down her cup by accident, and is doing her best to wipe it up, but she is still shaking. Tsubasa tells them that it is almost time to go, and asks Orine if she can manage. Orine says yes, and everyone does their best to cheer her up and that they got her back.

The girls head to their spaces, split into a group of 4 and 3. 

The girls notice that there is nobody in line for them. Makoto says that they should have expected this, but it still sucks. Then someone comes up and asks for Orine. It happens to be a mother explaining how her daughter Yayoi thought Orine was very cute on TV. Yayoi asks Orine to shake her hand, and everyone is rooting Orine on. Orine grabs Yayoi's hand, and shakes it.

The mother tells Yayoi to say "thank you," but it is Orine who says "thank you" first with tears in her eyes.

Nagisa, Yuka and Makoto all cry with her. 

Then you see the rest of them shaking hands with fans.

As they wave goodbye to some fans, Orine turns around and sees the masked kid approaching. She freaks out, and he walks up saying "I told you to quit." Chieri comes between the masked kid and Orine, and introduces herself. This surprises Yuka, Nagisa and Orine.

Just as Chieri tells the kid "thank you for coming to the event," explosives have detonated throughout the handshake location. Yuka is sure that it was him who set off the bombs, but he denies it and runs away. Orine could see the fear in his eyes. 

Everyone is saying to catch him, but Orine gets in the way and tells them to let him go. Yuka says to Orine if she cares what happens to this event, and that what the kid did to her was awful. Another explosion goes off, and the girls receive a transmission from Tsubasa on their headsets saying that they are being attacked by DES.

Tsubasa gives orders that the successors should lead the fans to safety, while the understudies intercept the enemy. Nagisa is surprised that they have to fight alone, but Orine sees Yayoi crying, and runs over to help her. Kanata and Mimori come in, and hand them their mic sabers.

Lots of aerial fighting happens, and many of the DES forces have landed in the handshake area. 

Orine notices that the masked kid fell, and is asking if he is alright. The masked kid slaps Orine away from him, and says that he will not be fooled by her nice act. Sashiko meant everything to him, and he will not let anyone defile her name. Orine realizes how much he loves Sashiko.

From left to right: 

1st outfit is from Sasshi's most well-known stage song "Itoshiki Natasha"

The flag says "Hetare" (Useless), which is how Sasshi's personality is described

2nd outfit is from Sasshi's first solo single "Soredemo Suki Da Yo"

I have no idea where the 3rd outfit is from. The 4th outift looks familiar, but no idea as well >.<

Sashihara Rino the 7th (the "7" probably comes from when she ranked 27th place in the first AKB48 elections)

Tsubasa calls in that an enemy craft is going to crash. It is heading in Orine's direction, so Orine grabs the masked kid, and jumps away.

Orine gets up, and asks the kid if he is alright. She asks him to let her protect him, since he is her very first hater. 

Orine tells him that she too loves Sashiko, and if she is missing something, then she would like him to tell her. She wants to know what she needs to become Sashiko. The DES craft is getting up, and she gives him her hand, he reluctantly takes it, and they run away from DES' fire.

Orine does her best to protect him, but she has no weapons so she cannot fight back. At that moment, a bunch of men appear in long black coats, chanting the mix.

"Yossha Ikuzo!"

"Jya jya!"

Glowstick power!

Supposedly, these deadly glowsticks are called "missilumes"

Kanata explains that these people are Wotas. They fight alongside the AKB0048 members when push comes to shove. Wotas are basically hardcore fans of Japanese idols/idol groups, and get really into performances. They usually have tons of glowsticks in their favourite member's colour, and know all the chants and when to sing them. 

That's intense. They have cars with their oshi on it, and it transforms into fighters. 

Wota calling out Sae-chan's name. As you can tell, his fighter is decoated with Sae on it. Sae recognizes the fan's voice and calls out his name. (Remember what Yukirin said earlier about acknowledging and remembering each and every fan?)

Takamina swoops in and hands Orine a mic saber. Orine asks Takamina to protect the kid. Orine runs off to battle, and Takamina reassures the kid that Orine will be fine. Takamina says in her head how the haters show you what you are missing, and what you do not notice because it is out of sight.

Orine says that the haters scare her, but they are kind in their own way. During the entirety of the battle, the song "Anchi" ("Haters") was playing in the background.

The fight is over, for now. The AKB0048 members were able to safely evacuate the fans, and with the help of the Wotas, defeat the DES troops. 

There is a look of pain on Chieri's face as she defeats the last of the DES units. 

Everyone is safe, but exhausted. The little girl Yayoi comes up to Orine and tells her that Orine was super cool, and that she will buy her card if they make one. Orine smiles, and notices the masked kid next to Takamina. They make eye contact, and he runs away. However, Chieri realizes something about the machine she just defeated...

Back at the dorms, Tsubasa hands Orine a fan mail from the masked kid. Everyone is in shock, but Tsubasa reassures them that it was checked beforehand. The kid says that Orine is still not fit to be Sashiko, and that Orine fights like a wimp. But, he felt that Orine's sincerity was similar to Sashiko's, and that there is some potential in her if she polishes herself. Everyone is happy to hear that the kid gave Orine a compliment. Orine holds the message dear to her heart.