Fuji TV broadcasts documentary that focuses on AKB48’s unranked members, Shimada Haruka and Nakamura Mariko. Here are some quotes and reactions to the show.

The show, called, “The Non-Fiction”, aired on June 21st, and focuses on two prominently unranked AKB members, Shimada Haruka and Nakamura Mariko, and it seems to have garnered rather favorable reactions online.

Looking over it, it’s quite…. sad.  It covers a few aspects of each person’s daily lives, and also follows some of their fans and families reactions, and even footage from the most recent election was included.  Here’s a collection of some of the highlights.

When asked: “Do you feel the need to compete, in order to stay alive?” Shimada’s response: “If you don’t compete, you’ll just be left behind.  There would be no meaning to be in AKB.”.

The documentary then shifts to one of Shimada’s fans, a divorced  toy maker, named Tanaka Hiromasa (age 47), as shown here:

Another interesting tidbit is that, for each election, he rents a room from Shimada’s parents, who own and operate a ryokan, or Japanese-style inn.  This is also one of the fans who Kojima Haruna notes is a “nice person”:

島田ヲタ良い人#10;#ザノンフィクション

— 小嶋 陽菜 (@kojiharunyan) June 21, 2015

“That Shimada wota is a nice person”

The next segment follows Haruka at a photo event, where she unfortunately is stationed right next to the much more popular Watanabe Mayu.

“Sometimes they accidentally step to this side.”

“It makes your head spin a little. ”

“You’re next to last year’s #1, and last year’s unranked.”

The documentary then switches sides to Nakamura Mariko, who is first in dance practice, and then seen taking the train. Unlike more popular members who’s appearance on public transit would cause mass hysteria, Nakamura explains: “Taking a taxi would cost too much money”. It’s also revealed that Nakamura, in addition to her idol activities, is also attending a local college.

When asked about why she was attending college, she had this to say: “At first, people say, ‘Huh?! Is that like your fallback, going to college?’ From other’s perspective, that might be a means to run away (and survive). But I didn’t choose this to run away.”

The documentary continues onward through the election prelims, to which both Shimada and Nakamura were not called. Then onward to the ending of the election itself, and we see Nagao Mariya (in the same generation) consoling Shimada, who was again not ranked: With regards to reactions about the show, Shimada posts this on her twitter feed:

ザ・ノンフィクション リアルタイムで観てました。 自分のとこより ファンの方のコメントが 胸にささりましたね。 少しでも私を知ってくれて 私以外にも頑張ってるメンバーもいるってことが沢山の方に知っていただけたら嬉しいな。 #ザノンフィクション

— 島田晴香 (@shimada_hrk1216) June 21, 2015

“I was watching The Non Fiction. More than my portions, I was very touched by my fans comments. I hope you’ll know a little more about me, and I’d be very happy if you know more about other members, besides me, who are trying their best”.

Similarly, Nakamura Mariko’s reaction:

家でザ・ノンフィクション観ていました。 本当にファンの皆さん、周りにの人々に支えられています。 そして、AKB48メンバー全員、一人一人の魅力をたくさんの人に知って頂きたいと思いました。 例え圏外でも、落第ではないから。 みんなで輝いていきたいです。 #ザノンフィクション

— 中村麻里子 (@marikorima1216) June 21, 2015

“I was watching the non-fiction at my house. Really, my fans, and people around me are supporting me. I really hope that you’ll come to know each individual AKB48 member. Even if we’re unranked, we’re not failures. Everyone wants to shine.”