Recently, Fuji TV aired an episode of their popular documentary series, The Nonfiction, which focused on AKB48’s unranked members. Fan reactions were positive, but what did non-AKB fans think?

The Nonfiction series is a Fuji TV documentary that does a different theme for each show (not necessarily unique to AKB48). It’s in fact won a lot of awards, and is generally a very well done series. The series therefore has a lot of viewers who are not necessarily AKB48 fans. Here is a selection of reactions from Twitter, which are generally very positive.

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“Even though I didn’t plan to watch the AKB Nonfiction, I watched the whole thing, haha.  Shimada Haruka is so cute.  These kind of people work so hard, it’s amazing.  I honestly want them to get ranked.”

AKBのノンフィクション見る予定なかったのに全部見ちゃった(´･_･`)笑島田晴香ちゃん可愛い〜こーゆー人たちってほんとに努力しててすごいなー圏内入って欲しいって純粋に思った(´･_･`)

— 安田 夏鈴 (@Karin701so2) June 21, 2015

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“The love of that Shimada kami-oshi fan, Tanaka-san was really incredible. I’m not an AKB fan, but I hope that Shimada Haruka will keep trying.”

フジテレビのノンフィクションで島田推しの田中さんの愛情がすごかった。 AKBファンではないけど、島田晴香に頑張ってほしいな。
— えざ (@ezatomo) June 21, 2015

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“I saw the unranked AKB members nonfiction, and the one things I thought was, being able to try that hard, with all your strength is such a good thing. It know it’s difficult, but having a dream is great, isn’t it. For myself, I don’t have any goals, and just wander through life aimlessly.”

AKBの圏外の子のノンフィクション見てて思ったけど何か１つのことにあんだけ一生懸命になれるっていいなーと思った。 大変だと思うけど夢があるっていいよねー。 私は特に何もなくふらふら生きてきたからな。笑 — MOE (@mocci_9423) June 21, 2015

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“I have no interest in AKB, but I was watching the Nonfiction. It must be painful for Shimada Haruka… I guess that’s how it is for girls who are unranked every year…

AKB興味ないけどノンフィクション 見てる(´・ω・｀) 島田晴香きついな… 毎回圏外の子ってあんななのかな — Reina♡ぷにっと静岡参加 (@reinon0609m_s) June 21, 2015

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“Today, I was watching the Nonfiction’s episode of AKB, and I really cried. When I think of those unranked girls that they followed around, and seeing how the fans also shared their feelings, it was really very bittersweet. The worry and anxiety about not being called again was just too real. When that fan said, ‘I want to show her that scenery’, I felt the same way started crying.”

今になってザ、ノンフィクションのAKBと日本人見たんだけどえらい泣けた。密着されていた圏外の子たちと同じ事を自担が思ってたらと思うと重ね合わせてなんかしみじみ切なくて。次は呼ばれないかもって不安とかリアル過ぎて。ファンの人の本人にあの景色を、の言葉にも共感して泣けた。

— しろくま (@kaapamaro) June 23, 2015

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“I saw the Nonfiction yesterday. That guy, with the gold hair, Shimada’s kami oshi fan. It really hit me how genuine he was.”

先日のノンフィクション。 AKBのファンの方で島田神推しの金髪の職人男性。 自分には、とても純粋に見えて グッときた。— 松原 (@lloy_IMMIGRANT) June 22, 2015

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“In yesterday’s Nonfiction show, they showed the AKB Election and the fans that support it. When the fan of that girl who didn’t rank said, ‘Rank doesn’t matter, we just want to show her that scenery’, it really pierced my heart.”

ノンフィクションって番組みてたらAKBの総選挙で応援するファンの話をやってた。ランクインしなかったファンの人が「順位なんてどうでもいい、ただあの景色を（みせてあげたい）」って言っててめっちゃ心に刺さった。 — みのり (@mino1017) June 21, 2015

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“I really don’t like AKB at all, but when I watched Nonfiction, I started crying.”

AKB全然好きじゃないのにノンフィクション見て泣いてる

— かーる (@kaa_ru) June 21, 2015

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“I was watching Nonfiction, and I couldn’t believe it was about AKB. But, my heart was stolen by Shimada Haruka.”

ノンフィクション見ててまさかのAKBだったんだけど、島田晴香に心奪われてしまった。
— レミタロー (@lqhc) June 21, 2015

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“In the Nonfiction, listening to the unranked members talking, it made me feel that I need to try harder too.”

ノンフィクションで、AKBの圏外の子達の話をやってて、自分も頑張らなきゃなと思いましたまる — 都月-Tuki-@就活のためツイ減 (@loveakira15) June 21, 2015

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“The Nonfiction focused on the election’s unranked members. When Nakamura Mariko talked about her reasons for being an idol and being a college student, it really left a strong impression. It’s really good that she’s going to college. Being an idol is really hard, isn’t it. In any case, I’m a Nakamura fan now.”

総選挙圏外メンバーを追ったザ・ノンフィクション。AKBの中村麻里子さんが語ってた、彼女が大学生とアイドルを両立する理由がとても印象的だった。 大学に通うことにも理由が求められる。アイドルって大変なんだな。 とりあえず、中村さんのファンになった。
— usamirenzo (@usamirenzo) June 21, 2015