Ketchup rhymes with “catch up.” It’s a slow time in news these days, but ketchup is also my 2nd favorite dressing.  That’s useless knowledge, but this isn’t useless news! Enjoy an AKB news summary of the past few days.

It’s a slow time on the news front, useless or otherwise!

1. French Kiss Live ~LAST KISS~ now on Blu-ray / DVD

Sub group French kiss had their last concert at Siatama Super Arena late last year. If you missed it, fear not! Courtesy of Avex Music site, The concert is now available for viewing on Blu-ray and DVD, to be released on April 20, 2016.

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2. AKB48 & Sanrio collaboration

Sometime last year, Sanrio’s character creator launched. It made the rounds in AKB circles, with Takamina being a notable contributor.

Well, the collaboration becomes more official, “AKB48 Chanrio”:

Also, members sporting Chanrio shirts:

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3. Magnets included in NGT48 Kabu Nomi drinks

NGT48 and sugary drink collaboration doesn’t seem to end! They were including member photos with drinks, and even selling entire cases for photo bonuses.

Now, they come with collectible magnets:

とりあえず入手 pic.twitter.com/RdnISvRFU7

— ぱんだ (@1220Shuya) March 12, 2016

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4. M-on top Karaoke ranking shows AKB in top 10

According on M-On! (Music ON! TV) weekly Karaoke ranking for March 14th:

365 Nichi no Kami Hikouki makes an appearance at #3, every since the previous week (March 7th). It spent the previous two weeks at #6, so it looks like it is coming up, despite not being the most recent song.

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5. CDTV Survey votes Koi Suru Fortune Cookie as favorite AKB48 single

A recent episode of CDTV shows the results of of a survey, asking: your favorite AKB single? The results are….

1. Koi Suru Fortune Cookie
2. Heavy Rotation
3. Oogee Daimond
4. Bokutachi wa tatakawanai
5. Iiwake Maybe

6. Former NMB48 Murakami Ayaka debuts as news announcer

Murakami Ayaka graduated last year, and now she has finally made her debut as an announcer for NHK:

She looks so mature now!  Here’s a picture from her idol days:

It’s a really different career change, for post-idol life!

7. Takeuchi Miyu graduates. Just Kidding!

Someone opens a thread on 2ch saying that Takeuchi Miyu has graduated. I almost fell off my chair!

… and then it turns out to be fake, according to Miyu (though others caught on pretty quick):

私が卒業発表したというガセの情報を流されたようだけど、正直目立ったことなにもできてないのにこんな私をわざわざ引っ張り出してきて話題にしてくれるなんてなかなかないわ…ありがとう(T_T)でもややこしい

— たけうちみゆ (@take_miyu112) March 15, 2016

Miyu: “It looks like fake information about my graduation has been floating around. I’m really not able to stand out at all, but with this fake rumor, it really pulled me into the spotlight. So thanks. But this is a funny feeling.”

And now I breathe sigh of release. But I wonder who started this?!

8. Iwata Karen graduates and is now part of Hori Promotions Agency

Iwata Karen recently had her graduation performance, and it looks like that will be continuation in show business:

華怜「卒業後はホリプロさんにお世話になることが決まりました！」 pic.twitter.com/er1dx2KdRF

— ミカン (@31mm48) March 15, 2016

Karen: “After my graduation, it’s been decided that I will be part of Horipro agency.”  This is a pretty big announcement, as Horipro is considered to be one of the more popular (presumably better?) talent agencies.

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Good night!