Here’s another complete collection of AKB48 U-17 photographs scanned and uploaded for your viewing pleasure. Once again, they feature the AKB48 kenkyuusei, research students (some of whom have already been promoted to teams) in a variety of candid outdoor scenes.

Do give us a “like” to support the continual efforts of assembling and scanning these sets. Just like previous scans, the photos have also been uploaded them to the new Tumblr account here. Feel free to share them elsewhere, though a link back (to this page) would be nice.

Takahashi Juri.

Takahashi Juri.

Kato Rena.

Kato Rena.

Takahashi Juri and Kato Rena.

Kojima Natsuki.

Kojima Natsuki.

Natori Wakana.

Natori Wakana.

Kojima Natsuki and Natori Wakana.

Sasaki Yukari.

Sasaki Yukari.

Omori Miyuu.

Omori Miyuu.

Sasaki Yukari and Omori Miyuu.

Group shot.

Banana and chocolate is one of those timelessly good combinations, whether it be conventional ice cream sundaes or Japanese only snacks like the Tokyo Banana. Meiji’s Choco Banana (バナナチョコ) bring the two together in cute bite sized form, perfect for little children’s hands.

Chocolate coated bananas have long been a staple festival food in Japan. You’ll see them at their equivalent of the pasar malam everywhere. But when craving for the taste, you can always find the Banana Choco readily available in stores.

These used to be commonly found in mini-marts in Singapore too but they seem to be rarer these days. Thankfully, Liang Court’s Mediya has them just the same for about $1.60 a pack. Which is really cheap considering how pricey even non-imported sweets are.

Cover tears open for a secret message.

Amusingly, the chocolate and banana parts have been flipped around. There are other companies that make banana chocolates but few package their stuff as well as Meiji and each piece of Banana Choco takes the shape of a tiny banana.

Banana coated chocolates.

Just like M&Ms, munching on the tiny sugar coated chocolates are addictive. The unconventional shape and recognizable banana taste make them much more enjoyable. Those fearing an overpowering artificial taste will be glad to know that the banana flavoring and sweetness of the shell are kept in moderation, so despite being a popular children’s snack, it is loved by adults as well. Many who have tried the Banana Choco end up wanting more.

One packet's contents.

As the AKB48 4th Senbatsu Election looms near, the single picked to carry the voting tickets is Manatsu no Sounds Good. The group’s 26th major single, it is a summer-themed single; this means a cheery song, the beach, and of course, bikinis. While many did not expect much from Manatsu no Sounds Good, it brings a few surprises.

Type A: Limited and Regular versions respectively.

The first is the ridiculously inflated number of girls in the lineup. While past singles have generally hovered around the magical number of sixteen girls, Manatsu no Sounds Good has a whopping thirty-six girls in its lineup. With a majority of the girls from the new Team 4, it’s clear who the management wants to showcase this time.

It does however, seem a little counter-intuitive. At least one girl represents Namba, Sakae and Hakata. With this move, much of the magic and recognition that comes from being in the single senbatsu is lost. While the sheer number is impressive to say the least, it does nothing to help distinguish each girl from the rest. With no time to devote to every girl, the aural and visual focus ends up falling on the usual suspects, with the addition of one or two special ones.

Type B: Limited and Regular version covers.

In what is becoming a disturbing trend, Manatsu no Sounds Good is mediocre. A commenter on the Internet said the ‘only good parts of Manatsu … are the intro and the hook’. And for the most part, I would have to agree. With a guitar lead into a synth brass intro, the song has a grand entrance, only to falter with a less-than-stellar verse. The song has no tension, and only when the chorus hits does the listener remember what they were listening to.

At this point, much of AKB48′s releases seem to follow this formula of stringing hooks together and hoping no one notices that the rest of the song isn’t very good. What does result however, are very good insert songs. And this single is no different, Manatsu is used to good effect in the AKB48 x Haruyama Cool Biz campaign. The calm verses make for easy listening and ensure viewers don’t tune out, the hook makes sure the song never leaves your head.

Also included in Type B of the single is Gugutasu no Sora. The song itself is nothing of note, other than the fact that it is sung by the Google+ senbatsu, a crop of girls picked from the members who were most active in AKB48′s venture into social networking.

Of note in the Google+ senbatsu is Matsumura Kaori. The SKE48 research student is quite certainly self-made, getting into the spotlight by doing her own web-show on Google+.

While many were surprised by lineup changes, the promotional video garnered even more discussion amongst fans. The video is directed by Higuchi Shinji, who is most known for Nihon Chinbotsu (Japan Sinks) and his skill in utilizing special effects. Despite what many expected (it is a summer theme, after all) his propensity for apocalyptic themes was not diminished with Manatsu.

In the video, viewers are taken on a surreal journey involving extra-terrestrials, death and the necessary, dancing on the beach in bikinis. Shinji accomplishes this through extensive use of CGI and clever manipulation of filters. What he ends up with is a 5-minute long mini-film chock full of (apparent) foreshadowing; much of this is never shown in any of the other promotional materials for the singles.

The PV begins with Watanabe Mayu attempting to resuscitate Maeda Atsuko. It is soon discovered that the old guard, comprised of the earlier generations of AKB48 are extra-terrestrial, coming down to Earth for reasons unknown.

The schoolgirls (made up of the newer generations of AKB48) that attempt to save them all die of mysterious, tuberculosis-like symptoms. As Mayuyu pedals down the road with Acchan, she gets transported into what looks like another world, one with dancing and singing girls.

Whether or not this is diegetic is up to the viewer; the video shifts between these two ‘worlds’, with a curious shot of Iwata Karen standing in the midst of corpses. As Watanabe assists the weakened Maeda at the end of the sequence, one cannot help but wonder the point of such a confusing video. Intentional or not, the video carries many messages and assures one thing: many will talk about it.

The cover for the Theater version.

Personally, the A-side of Manatsu no Sounds Good is too weak to justify a purchase on its own merit. However, the fact that it could be the last single that ever features Maeda Atsuko, and the inclusion of a voting ticket is something else. And of course, this is something that management is banking on themselves.

Aside from the sparse updates from me recently, I’ve finally gotten around scanning thorough most of my U-17 collection for the sake of backup purposes and to share it with the rest of the world. As most of these pictures have come from the tedious process of procuring the photos physically over the course of several months, I sincerely hope that readers will make an effort to link back to us when putting them up elsewhere. Please enjoy the good quality scans of the 2011 U-17 Spring series.

Kawaei Rina.

Kawaei Rina.

Ichikawa Miori.

Ichikawa Miori.

Kwaei Rina and Ichikawa Miori.

Kojima Natsuki.

Kojima Natsuki.

Suzuki Shihori.

Suzuki Shihori.

Kojima Natsuki and Suzuki Shihori.

Kobayashi Marina.

Kobayashi Marina.

Morikawa Ayaka.

Morikawa Ayaka.

Kobayashi Marina and Morikawa Ayaka.

Group Shot.

Those looking to see a more diverse Japan would be happy to know that there are a variety of attractions nearby. Be it for a relaxing nature stroll or experiencing the exhilarating rides at Fuji-Q Highland and Tokyo Disney Resort, there are a great many options for day trips that can be accessed within a couple hours travel from central Tokyo. Knowing the popularity of such sites for both tourist and Tokyoites, many companies offer special discount travel options to get there on the cheap.

Tokyo Disney Resort

Despite the name, the Tokyo Disney Resort is located at the adjacent prefecture of Chiba. It’s not too far out from Tokyo and can be accessed in about half an hour. The fastest way to Disney Resort is through the JR Keiyo Line. The train starts from Tokyo Station and takes just 15 minutes and 210 yen to get to Maihama Station where Disney Resort is located.

Disneyland is just a short walk to the right of the station. DisneySea is further away in the opposite direction. If you are visiting DisneySea and are traveling with kids you will want to take the Disney Resort Line monorail to get there. Though it is a slightly pricey 250 yen, it will give you a nice view of the parks’ grounds. You need not queue to get tickets from the monorail ticketing machine here if you have a IC Card such as the Suica.

Disney Resort is just a short distance away.

Odaiba

The large manmade island of Odaiba is located just off the south east coast of Tokyo. It’s connected to the city through the iconic Rainbow Bridge, a beautiful sight when fully lighted up at night time. This makes Odaiba a popular date spot but the island has enough of a different ambiance from Tokyo to warrant a visit by anyone. It’s also a great spot for families, with its expansive children and pet friendly malls.

Unfortunately, neither JR nor Metro travel to Odaiba. To get there, one has to take either the New Transit Yurikamome or TWR’s Rinkai Line.

I would advise taking the Yurikamome which is a light transit vehicle similar to the Singapore LRT. The Yurikamome can be accessed from Shimbashi Station. It passes straight through the Rainbow Bridge and stops at the shopping areas at Odaibakaihinkoen Station. An enjoyable and convenient experience. The journey takes 15 minutes and costs 310 yen.

The Rinkai Line is a underground subway so you forego the sights along the way. Worst yet, it also stops in the center of Odaiba, quite a walk away from the relevant areas.

Dining at Odaiba.

Yokohama

The neighboring city of Yokohama is one of the easiest to access places for those looking for a change of pace. As a classical port town, Yokohama differs from Tokyo through the heavy western influences in its culture and architecture. Popular landmarks include the historically rich port area, Cosmo Clock 21 Ferris wheel and Yokohama Chinatown.

A number of local lines run to Yokohama. The cheapest and most direct of which is the Tokyu Toyoko Line which leaves from Shibuya Station. It goes to Yokohama in 25 minutes and costs 260 yen. It is convenient since it links with the Minato Mirai Line.

The Yokohama port area uses its own train system called the Minato Mirai Line. The Minato Mirai is very pricey considering the distance traveled and single stops start at 180 yen. Yokohama Station itself is far away (about 2 kilometers) from where you’d be visiting, so unless you’re willing to brave the distance on foot you’ll just have to pay up the 180 yen to get to Minato Mirai Station.

Traveling to Yokohama by JR is a lot pricier. A direct JR train to Yokohama costs 450 yen. Note that if you’re one of those looking to visit the Yokohama Ramen Museum, it is located at the Shin-Yokohama.

Despite being closer to Tokyo than Yokohama, there is no cheap means of travel between Tokyo and Shin-Yokohama (it’s a Shinkansen station). The cheapest and simplest way would be to get there from Yokohama Station, taking the JR Yokohama Line (160 yen). It’s cheaper than you return to Yokohama Station after to catch a Tokyu train back to Shibuya again.

There are more parts of Yokohama to explore if you have the time. If you foresee yourself taking the Minato Mirai Line any more than just between Yokohama and Minato Mirai you may want to consider purchasing a Minato Mirai Pass. For 500 yen, it gives you unlimited travel on the Minato Mirai and JR Negishi Line (unfortunately it doesn’t cover the areas between Tokyo or Shin-Yokohama). You can purchase the pass at Yokohama Station or at any of the covered stations within the Yokohama area.

Yokohama, famous for its ports, is a popular daytime destination.

Saitama

While many think of Saitama as mostly a suburb of Tokyo, and it is true that many residents do travel to Tokyo for work, Saitama has its fare share of cultural sights. Whether it be for the nearly 2,500 year old Hikawa Jinja Shrine, its many museums and parks or the Saitama Arena for a concert, getting to Saitama is easy.

The JR Shonan-Shinjuku Line piggybacks through other train lines to stop at popular stations in Tokyo, leading all the way to Omiya, Saitama’s central station. You can get onboard from Ikebukuro, Shinjuku, Shibuya, Ebisu or Osaki Station on the JR Yamanote Line. Ticket cost starts at 380 yen from Ikebukuro and the journey to Saitama takes about half an hour.

Saitama Railway Museum.

Kamakura

Just an hour south of Tokyo is Enoshima island and the coastal city of Kamakura. Popular among locals for its beaches, Kamakura is better known to tourists for its giant sitting buddha statue.

The Odakyu Electric Railway company services quite a few popular tourist destinations such as Kamakura. To help eleviate costs, a number of discount day passes which includes to and fro travel to popular sightseeing spots plus unlimited travel within the area. One such pass is the Enoshima-Kamakura Freepass, which costs 1430 yen and can be purchased from the Odakyu Sightseeing Service Center in Shinjuku. It gives you a round trip to Enoshima via the Limited Express train, as well as unlimited use of the local trains within the area.

Usually a single way ticket there already cost 600 yen and local travel within the Enoshima area starts at 210 yen a stop so you actually end up saving quite a bit.

In addition to the Limited Express, Odakyu operate special “Romancecars”, luxury express trains between the touristy areas that they cover. You will need to pay an extra fee to use these (600 or more yen depending on destination). I wouldn’t recommend using one, since the Enoshima Romancecar actually takes a slower route that the Limited Express.

Fuji & Hakone

I’ve already previous written a more detailed guide about Hakone and how to get there. To breeze over the key points: Odakyu offers a similar Freepass to the Kamakura one mentioned above.

Since it is a slightly further 1.5 to 2 hours away from Tokyo, many choose to stay there overnight at the various hot spring equipped ryokans. The Hakone Freepass comes only in a 2 or 3 day variety (5,000 and 5,5000 yen respectively). Like the Kamakura Freepass, it covers a round trip to Hakone from Shinjuku and all transport at Hakone. The Hakone Freepass is exclusive to foreigners visiting Japan, so you’ll need to flash a foreign passport when purchasing it from the Odakyu Sightseeing Center.

It is especially important when visiting Hakone to get the pass even if you are only planning a one day trip, and if you are staying overnight at Hakone, the value of the pass greatly increases. Odakyu owns most of the transport there and they fully expect you to purchase the pass. Ticket prices for the many individual trams, cable cars and ropeways rides are ridiculous without it.

Getting to Hakone is not expensive. But moving about there is.

Due to the approximate closeness of Fuji to Mount Fuji. Odakyu also has the Fuji-Hakone Freepass for tourists hoping to cover both places at once. It costs 7,200 yen and lasts for 3 days, giving you unlimited travel within and between the Hakone and Fuji areas. However, unlike the Hakone Freepass which provides a two way train ride between Hakone and Shinjuku, the Fuji-Hakone pass involves a circular trip where you go to Hakone by train, travel to Fuji by bus, and then back to Shinjuku by highway bus.

This pass only makes sense if you’re planning to stay a few days in Hakone and only if you’re traveling light. Getting to Fuji from Hakone is almost as long as if you were to go to Fuji directly from Tokyo. It involves having to take a bus to Gotemba first which takes 30 minutes, and the bus ride from there to the Fuji area takes another 90 or more minutes. It requires quite carefully planning to make a Fuji and Hakone round circular trip work. Needless to say, it is impossible to cover both areas in a day.

There is actually one possible work around to visiting both Hakone and Fuji, without having to stay there, so as long as you visit both within a 3 day period. That is, to purchase the Fuji-Hakone pass and visit Hakone first with the pass, and return to Tokyo with a standard ticket. Then travel to Fuji via a standard bus or train ticket, and return to Tokyo through the pass again. You’ll still end up saving quite a bit of money if you manage to pull this off carefully.

Without the Odakyu passes, traveling between Tokyo and Hakone (Hakome Yumoto Station) costs 1150 yen each way. You can get to Kawaguchiko the main station at Fuji via bus or train, but both will set you back about 2,600 yen and 2.5 hours. Since taking the train would involve a lot of transfers, bus is the better choice here. You can take one from the Keio Building at Shinjuku.

Both Hakone and Fuji can be reached in 2-3 hours.

Nikko

Nikko to the north of Tokyo is another mountainous region for those looking to get away from the city. Like Hakone, it has its fare share of nature, ryokans, hot springs, that sort of thing. It is not as extensive as Hakone though and the main sights there are concentrated within a couple of areas, making Nikko a more feasible day trip.

Travel between Tokyo and Nikko is by Tobu Railway. The train there leaves from Asakusa Station and takes about an hour and half to get to the Tobu Nikko Station. A one way trip usually costs 1,320 yen but Tobu also offer their own discount passes for Nikko.

The two main passes are the World Heritage Pass (3,600 yen) and the All Nikko Pass (4,400 yen). Both are similar in that they include the two way trip between Asakusa and Nikko, as well as free use of the local buses within Nikko but are quite different otherwise.

Local buses around Nikko aren’t a big deal if you are only visiting the shrines here. In fact they can be reached on foot from Tobu Nikko Station. So to sweeten the deal, the World Heritage Pass adds free admission to a few popular shrines in the area. It is worth it only if you intend to visit all the shrines, but even then savings are minimal. I wouldn’t recommend it.

The All Nikko Pass on the other hand, forgoes the free temple admissions to include unlimited use of mountain buses. With this, you’ll be able to visit Chuzenji and Kegon Falls, the other key attractions at Nikko, or go as far as the adjacent hot springs town of Yumoto Osen. Without a pass, a single bus ride up the mountain would cost between 1,100 to 1,650 yen. It’s a no brainer to get this pass if you’re visiting Nikko from Tokyo. To sweeten the deal, it is even valid for 4 days.

Nikko in the north is a more feasible day trip.

On the 17th of May, Indonesia-based 48 sister group JKT48 makes their long awaited theater debut. Staging a total of 7 shows spanning 4 days, the girls will finally be able to showcase themselves properly to the local audiences in a setting that’s closer to what the fans in Japan get. With a theater of course also comes registration for tickets. Supermerlion presents a short translated guide on how to do so (mouseover the images to see translations).

Details on how to apply and a sample e-mail.

The shows will be staged at Nyi Ageng Serang, a venue in South Jakarta. Aside from the first show on the 17th, each of the subsequent days has 2 shows, with a capacity of 300 for each. Registration of tickets will be done through e-mail; should you be interested, send an e-mail to jkt48theater@gmail.com with the details required. Some might notice the low price of the performance, at only the equivalent of USD5.50.

Despite the relative newness and inexperience of JKT48, this is most certainly a steal, and shows that the JKT48 management realizes the importance of pricing to suit the demographic, instead of the other way around. Both residential and KTP addresses will be required. I don’t think this is a measure to exclude foreigners, but is rather because many do not live in the residences on their identification cards, instead living in dormitories in schools and the like.

Tables detailing the application times and windows.

Of course, as is common with e-mail (even non idol-related), subject headings are very important. They will most likely have a filter going to catch anything not related to the performances, so be sure to follow the syntax provided in the sample e-mails. It is imperative that applicants follow the e-mail registration times stipulated. And given the state of internet at times, it is best to send your application in early.

List of members performing.

Given that there are more than 20 members in JKT48 currently, the lineup is shuffled to fit the 16-member choreography and still showcase all of the girls. Many will no doubt be interested in days 1 and 4, where they will get a glimpse of the more well-known girls such as Melody, Rena and both of the Jessicas. As a side note, both days’ lineups contain the girls that came over to Singapore for a cafe visit not too long ago.

FAQ to clear any doubts.

The FAQ clears up some doubts that some fans may have, but not all of them. For example, there are no details on how seating will be done, and whether it will be assigned seating or free-seating; the latter is what is used in Japan, although there is a ballot to determine who gets to go in first. What exactly the girls will be performing is also still unclear; we’ll just have to wait for the actual performance for that.

View Gedung Nyi Ageng Serang in a larger map

The management have clarified that this ‘theater’ is a temporary arrangement, while a more permanent location for the theater is set. Nevertheless, this should be exciting times for JKT48 fans, both local and abroad. More up-to-date information can be found on their Facebook page. If you attend, do drop us a comment to let us know what it’s like!

It’s been a while since Ono Erena has reappeared under the entertainment news radar, however it was only last month that the former AKB48 member finally announced that she would be making her solo debut soon. Her first single, titled “Erepyon” (えれぴょん) after her nickname, has been confirmed for release on 13th June 2012.

Formerly part of OhtaPro, Erepyon has since switched over to the LesPro agency and the single will be published by Warner Music Japan. It should be noted that Ono is credited for writing the song herself. Sound-wise, it’s a typical J-Pop song backed by heavy guitar riffs stereotypical of solo idols and wouldn’t be out of place as an ani-song. It is being used as the theme song for the ongoing drama Legal High which stars Aragaki Yui.

The video for Erepyon is mostly Japanese idol affair, with kirakira glittery dance scenes juxtaposed against whimsical story scenes of Erepyon being a boxer. There is little to fault as fans of Erena will be no doubt pleased simply to see her return but there is not much new ground to praise either.

Ono Erena.

Ono Erena graduated from AKB48 back in September 2010, stating overseas studies as her reason. She had been one of the founding members of Team K, joining the group as one of its youngest members at the age of 12. And while her popularity was already starting to recline when she graduated, she remained one of the group’s more popular members and a staple senbatsu, one of the group’s chosen faces.

aka Erepyon.

However, despite being supposedly away, Ono was subsequently spotted at concerts and around Japan in the company of a young man, much to the delight of tabloids.

Ono eventually returned to the media spotlight last year when she opened a new blog in July. Strangely, it was shut down soon after. But reopened again in October 2011. She explained that it was her initial plan to study in London but had changed her mind, stating her desire to remain in the entertainment industry as the reason, with the dream of becoming an actress.

Ono Erena had previous appeared in a small number of movies, including a starring role in the controversial film Sankaku during the time of her graduation.

Promotional images for her solo debut.

Now 19, Ono is now ripe for a serious solo venture into the entertainment scene. And while she brings with her a certain following from her previous involvement in AKB48, only time will tell if she will succeed.

While Ono Erena is no longer directly involved with the massive idol conglomerate, the release of Erepyon will follow a similar pattern of having too many versions. Covers below.

Limited A Cover.

Limited B Cover.

Limited C Cover.

Regular Cover.

Lawson Exclusive Cover.

After the somewhat disappointing Kibou Sanmyaku, Watarirouka Hashiritai finally returns again this month with another addictive single. The first of the year, Shounen yo Uso wo Tsuke! (少年よ 嘘をつけ！) is the group’s 4th single since taking on the Watarirouka Hashiritai 7 name and 10th overall.

Like their previous single, Shounen yo Uso wo Tsuke! is a tie in with Crayon Shin-chan, replacing Kibou Sanmyaku as the theme song for the cartoon. It is most notable however for being the first Watarirouka release without its leader, Hirajima Natsuki left the group in January when both her and AKB48 fellow member Yonezawa Rumi’s private Twitter account photographs lead to a scandal.

While Hirajima continues to be part of the OgiPro agency that manages Watarirouka Hashiritai, she has left both AKB48 and Watarirouka, suspending all activities with the groups. Instead, fellow OgiPro artist Urano Kazumi, who is also a former AKB48 and SDN48 member takes her place in the single. Urano, who more often goes by the nickname Cindy, joins the youthful group despite being 27 this year. She makes for an amusing addition to the Watarirouka Hashiritai team, even if it is only temporary.

It’s been a while since this song first debut with the new lineup at AKB48′s Super Saitama Arena concert in March but the single will finally arrive on 30th May 2012. In anticipation of its release, the music video for Shounen yo Uso wo Tsuke! began airing last week. You can see a preview at the official Warota YouTube Channel.

Like their other singles, Shounen yo Uso wo Tsuke! is a catchy tune, mostly due to a strong memorable chorus. But while the stye remains the same, Watarirouka’s sound seems to have changed a bit with this new single.

This is likely the result of member Nakagawa Haruka having to undergo surgery for her vocal cord nodules in February (altering her voice) and the new dynamic introduced by the substitution of Hirajima with Urano. Without Nakagawa and Hirajima’s low voices to act as a contrast, and with Iwasa Misaki being self conscious of her usual voice, Watarirouka has never sounded preppier.

Type A Cover.

Currently, Ota Aika would appear to be the only one inside attempting a deeper voice but her role in the single is minor. Instead, the majority of the lyrics are being fielded by Watanabe Mayu, even more so than the usual Warota norm.

Visually as well, there is an uncanny amount of Mayu even by Watarirouka standards. All of the video’s story scenes, or half of the total video features Watanabe interacting with a little boy who rescues her in the premise. This is an especially strong push for Watanabe, who has bearly come off from the success of her recent single Synchro Tokimeki.

Type B Cover.

Overall, Watarirouka loses a bit of familiarity in its sound but Shounen yo Uso wo Tsuke! is still a great single that will revive some of the Watarirouka flair. Being a fan myself, me and many others are no doubt are looking forward to it hitting stores later in the month. I’ll keep my hopes up for the B-sides as well since Watarirouka singles tend to have a good track record with coupling songs.

Type C Cover.

Following NMB48′s release of Nagiichi is Aishiteraburu, SKE48′s summer single for 2012. The second in a 3-week stretch of releases by the mainstays of the AKB48 family, SKE48 goes in a different direction from her sisters. Coming off the controversy from the release of Kataomoi, Finally, how does this single set itself apart, and how does it fare in comparison?

The cover for type A features the JR combo.

Aishiteraburu is a portmanteau of sorts ― it combines the English ‘I love you’ with its Japanese equivalent, aishiteru. Initially, the single was slated to be called Airabushiteru, but was changed to Aishiteraburu on the suggestion of the members to Akimoto Yasushi. The final title rolls off the tongue better, so props are due for the girls.

The cover for Type B.

The new single sees a change in the lineup, with Yakata Miki and Ishida Anna coming in to replace Kuwabara Mizuki and Hiramatsu Kanako from the previous single. This brings the number of girls from Team KII in the single to half of the total 16. This change in single lineup could see KII being pushed a little more in subsequent singles as well, being in a good middle ground between the stalwarts in Team S and newbies of Team E.

The cover for Type C.

Aishiteraburu keeps the standard of decent releases up for SKE48. While it is not as catchy as Kataomoi, Finally, or nearly as polished as Pareo wa Emerald, it strikes a good balance between the fun and liveliness of SKE48, without managing to sound too generic. The chorus is catchy, yet doesn’t detract from the rest of the song, unlike many other recent releases from the 48 groups.

The theater version of the single jacket.

The biggest draw of the single is definitely the promotional video. The first to be shot in Saipan, it begins with the camera following the girls as they prepare to head overseas for the recording. It leads into shots of the girls dancing on a platform on the sea. These itself are interspersed with medium close-up shots of the girls singing their lines. Definitely something different, considering the more dramatic approach usually seen in promotional videos.

These shots give the video a more personal feel, and serve to showcase the members as they are, without any sort of gimmicky costumes or makeup. This message is made even clearer when one considers that the girls are dressed in summery costumes that aren’t bikinis for the dance parts, a development that surprised many who were expecting otherwise. Fans will also be delighted to hear that screentime is divided nicely between the girls.

The B-sides of the single are great as well. Shirogumi sings Nante Ginga wa Akarui no Darou, a slow-ish number with Victorian inspired dress and choreography adapted from formal dancing styles. Akagumi (missing Matsui Jurina due to health issues) sings Aun no Kiss, an upbeat song with the girls in traditionally-inspired costumes and the video being set in a matsuri setting. Halation from Selection 8 also features members many wouldn’t know, although a preview of the video has yet to surface.

SKE48 attempts to set itself apart from its sisters, and this clearly shows in Aishiteraburu. A summer single with an A-side that doesn’t have a gimmicky video is hard enough to find, much less one that’s actually good. The B-sides all complement the A-sides well, and give each edition its own flavor.

Releasing on 16th May, Aishiteraburu is probably the best out of the 3 from the 48 family this May, and in my opinion, worth the purchase.

Few people would disagree that Japan has the most sophisticated transport network in the world and no where is it more complicated than in Tokyo. With 30 different operators, 882 stations and 102 different rail lines just in the city alone, it’s no surprise that many first time visitors are overwhelmed by the train system in Tokyo. Even the locals get confused. But with a little bit of homework, traveling on Tokyo’s trains can be every bit as convenient and enjoyable as they were made to be.

Traveling by train in Tokyo is convenient, but can also be complicated, even to locals.

While it dabs upon some of the other companies, this guide focuses mostly on the two main players in Tokyo’s train network; the privately run JR East and the government owned subways.

For tourists, it is often possible to reach 90% of popular sights around Tokyo through just JR alone (if there is a nearby station) it is also the cheaper of the two. However, this is only true if you’re staying somewhere central. Otherwise, the Tokyo Metro can sometimes provide a more direct route toward your destination that can save you some time. Do take note of that when choosing an accommodation that it would be best to have at least a JR, Metro or both companies’ stations nearby.

JR, Metro & Toei

At the most basic level, you’ll need to be able to at least identify the 3 different carriers. It’ll help save a lot of trouble later on.

Tokyo's JR East Network. For reference only. Expand for larger.

JR East

Japan Railways is the simplest, since it can be easily identified by its JR logo. For JR East, the company color is green and so is its most used train line, the Yamanote Loop (and stations along the loop) but it has different colors to represent each of its different lines.

JR trains run on land and thus almost all of their stations are outdoors. Personally, it’s a lot more enjoyable to travel by JR since you’d be able to see the sights along the way. The disadvantage is that you tend to require more transfers if you want to get anywhere efficiently with JR. But again, it is a lot easier to make transfers when traveling with JR East as many lines run parallel or meet at many points.

JR Station signage.

Tokyo Metro
Apart from being the front image of Tokyo’s subways, Tokyo Metro is better known for its active PR campaigns and silly public service messages. Since a public image change in 2004, it is now easily identified by a blue and white M logo. Individual lines are marked by a colored ring, with the first letter of the line name inside. For example, the Tokyo Metro Ginza line is marked by an orange ring with the letter G within.

As a subway, the Tokyo Metro runs underground, sometimes as far as 10 stories down. This comes with the benefit of lines being laid out sometimes more efficiently allowing you to get from far ends of Tokyo quicker. There is also at least one touristy destination, Asakusa, that has a Metro station but no JR equivalent.

Metro stations can be identified from the blue M logo or colored rings for individual lines.

The main disadvantage of traveling by Tokyo Metro (and Toei) is the higher ticket prices. Expect to pay 30-40 yen more per trip when buying individual tickets. This can be gotten around with some special passes (see below).

Otherwise the only other disadvantage is that transferring trains on the Metro is a more complicated affair, there is less redundancy so lines meet only at specific stations.

Tokyo Metro and Toei Subway Map. Again for reference only. Expand for larger.

Toei Subway
While the Tokyo Metropolitan Bureau of Transportation is not as major a player in public transport, it is mentioned here primarily due to its affiliation with Tokyo Metro and to avoid some possible frustration.

Both the Tokyo Metro and Toei are government run subways. Take note that while the two companies do collaborate in part and share some common train stations, it is important to note that the two are very much separate entities. Further confusion arises from the fact that Toei labels its lines in an identical way and worst yet, both Toei and Metro show train maps with both companies’ lines together.

However, know that should you ever transfer between Tokyo Metro and Toei lines you will be charged for both. You will be alerted to a Toei transfer by another ticketing gate inside the subway. The price is slightly subsidized if you had come from a Metro line, but still a lot more than if you were to take a single carrier. Transport by Toei, in general is also more expensive than even Tokyo Metro.

Toei Subway can be identified by its fan icon (usually green). Both Toei and Metro also use a blue and white train logo to denote subways. Toei runs just 4 lines: Asakusa (Rose, A), Mito (Blue, I), Shinjuku (Leaf Green, S) and Oedo (Ruby, E). Avoid whenever possible.

Toei Stations have a fan sign.

IC Cards

IC Cards are prepaid smart cards that can be used to pay for your fare. If you’re from Singapore, you should be pretty familiar with using one already. Up until 2009, Singapore’s EZ-Link cards were identical to those used in Japan.

While it is theoretically possible to purchased paper tickets to travel, having to do so is infinitely more complicated and troublesome. Without one you’d need to calculate the exact fares for each trip and purchase extra tickets every time you transfer. As such, it is pretty much necessary that you get one as soon as you step down into Japan. In the previous transport guide, I mentioned an amazing Narita Express and Smart Card bundle that foreign tourists are able to purchase at Narita Airport.

Both JR and Metro have their own different IC Cards. JR East using “Suica” which is a Japanese pun on so many levels while the Tokyo subways have the “PASMO”.

The cost for Suica is 2,000 yen and contains a 1,500 yen value and 500 yen deposit. PASMO has a 500 yen deposit too but a minimum value of 1,000 yen. You can refund any remaining value and your deposit at the ticketing machines at any of the respective companies’ stations.

Suica. An indispensable tool while in Tokyo.

These days, both cards can be used interchangeably within Tokyo. Still, I’d recommend getting the Suica over the PASMO if you are traveling outside of Tokyo as well as it can be used on JR lines nationwide. Chances are if you’re traveling to say Osaka in Kansai, you’d still need to get their local equivalent (the ICOCA) to travel on non-JR networks but it’s always good to have a backup. Further good news is that starting next year, you will be able to use the Suica outside of Tokyo on non-JR lines too.

Other than on transport, the card is also accepted as a form of payment at all convenience stores and some departmental stores around the region, being interchangeable with 7-Eleven’s nanaco for example. So you don’t have to be too worried about having too much money in your card. In fact, I would recommend paying for stuff through an IC Card as much as possible, since dealing with Japanese coins is especially irritating.

Tickets and IC cards can be purchased at these machines.

For both Suica and PASMO, there is the option of purchasing a special registered version instead. They can be purchased in the same way through normal ticketing machines but you will be prompted to enter some personal identification information (your Name/Birthdate/Gender). Enter your name here as it appears on your Passport.

Should you lose a registered Suica or PASMO, you can get them replaced (for 500 yen or 210 yen respectively) and still get back your original card’s balance. Pretty neat.

Special Passes

Almost all railway companies around Japan offer a variety of different discount tickets for commuters, the most basic of which are 1-day unlimited travel passes (often called Free Tickets or Free Passes) that allow you to take as many trains from any particular network as many times as you wish in a single day. These are especially useful especially for tourists who tend to hit up a whole bunch of different destinations each day.

For JR, this is called the Tokunai Pass and costs 730 yen. It covers all JR buses and trains in the 23 wards of central Tokyo. Due to the already low price of JR tickets, a Tokunai Pass isn’t always a must get. As a rule of thumb, you’ll need to make at least 4 trips in a day to make it worthwhile. Though this isn’t that difficult if you’re touring.

If you had preplanned the day’s activities or foresee yourself doing a lot of shopping or station hopping, then it might be a good idea to purchase one in the morning before you make your first trip.

Both Metro and JR companies offer one day unlimited travel passes.

For Metro, there are 1-day and 2-day Open Tickets which cost 600 yen and 980 yen respectively. Considering how much Tokyo Metro tickets usually cost, these are a godsend. If your hotel happens to be located on a convenient Metro Station, get one. Just 3 rides is all it takes to make a 1-day ticket worthwhile. You might end up spending even less than if you traveled by JR if you keep to just Metro lines with a 1-day pass. And with a 2-day pass, you will just need to take a 2-way trip each day to cover the cost.

Both of these tickets will allow you to save quite a bit of money in the long run, and with proper use Tokyo’s transport which is thought of as being expensive ends up being cheaper even than if you were to make the same number of trips in Singapore.

Tokyo Metro also offers a combination pass with Toei Subway, that allows for unlimited travel on both companies’ trains. But given the high price of 1,000 yen, I wouldn’t recommend getting one. If you find yourself spending enough on transport to make the pass worthwhile, you are most probably doing something wrong.

In the end, don’t feel compelled that you have to stick to either carrier just to save few yen. You’ll lose much of the convenience and bring about unnecessary worry. But if you happen to know that you’ll be doing a lot of bouncing between stations or just want the luxury of not having to walk even for nearby destinations, both the JR and Metro day passes will suit you well.

Traveling By Train

Planning Your Journey

There is no stressing the importance of planning a train ride before you get on board. You can generally figure out what trains to take if you have an idea of where it is located geographically, but for new visitors it is best to plan ahead to save any future hassle.

Unfortunately, not even Google Maps does a good job of understanding Tokyo’s transport system. It is still useful to find out where places are located but the most recommended transport tool is instead Hyperdia. Key in any two stations and it will churn out the routes and trains to take.

Routes are organized by total cost and time taken, so it doesn’t necessarily always give you the smartest means of transport but it will make sure you get to your destination and on time, since it factors in train timings accurately even. It is up to you to make the best decision. Hyperdia is available in English and Japanese, since not even Tokyoites can claim to be familiar with all of the transport in Tokyo.

If you happen to have data connection in Japan, keep in bookmarked.

Some important things to pay attention to when taking down your itinerary is to not only take note of the stations but also the train lines that you will be using since there is often more than one line at each station. With that, it’s as easy as just finding the correct track for your route.

Just one of the many train networks in Tokyo.

Chances are though, you might not have an 3G connection in Japan. And it wouldn’t be very fun if you had a static plan for each day of your trip. In such cases, my advise is to have your route planned out at the station before passing through the gantry. You can’t rely on stations having a route map inside the station and many trains only show the stops for the route they are traveling on.

Still, not all stations have maps of other operators, so you won’t be able to plan out transfers between different companies easily.

Track numbers are labeled by number at each station and identified by color throughout.

It is only expected that each line runs in two directions, so make sure the train is headed in the right direction. You’d think that they’d just be at opposite sides, but because of the interconnected nature, trains on the same line traveling in opposite directions can sometimes be a few tracks away. The same can be said when transferring between trains, every station is different so keep a look out for signs.

Signs show the adjacent stops at each station.

Thankfully, signage at each track clearly show all the essential information. At JR Stations, these small little diagrams that can be found on the track’s pillars are precious. They show the stops that the trains on that track run through, as well as how long it takes.

Train maps on each platform show the exact time taken for the journey.

Train stations in Tokyo usually have an LED sign board that show you the direction the train is headed as well as the exact timing for the train. If you’re supposed to take the 7:30 train, be sure to take the 7:30 train and not the 7:29 or 7:31 train. At peak hours, the interval between trains can be as short as 90 seconds but if a train in Japan is said to come at a certain time, you can be sure it will be there on the dot, aligned perfectly to the tracks (else someone will be in trouble).

The reason why this is a concern, is because it is not uncommon for different trains to use the same platform in Japan.

Some platforms have different trains running on the same tracks.

When traveling on local lines, the most encountered alternate train on the same platform are “Rapid” (Kaisoku) trains.

These are identical to normal local trains (Futsu) but skip alternate stops to save time. If your destination is one of the missed stations, be sure not to board a Rapid train. Often, Rapid trains use a different color than normal trains. There is also usually a small sign on the train and the LED signboards along the boarding platform will also indicate if a train is Rapid. In the previous photographs, trains on the same track of the Chuo-Sobu (one of the most frequented) lines are colored Yellow and Orange for local and rapid trains respectively.

On certain tracks, there may also be “Express”, or “Limited Express” trains. These are trains that skip even more stations. As covered in the previous article, Limited Express trains are actually the faster of the two as they stop at a more “limited” number of stations.

Getting To The Destination

When transferring between trains or leaving the station for your destination, simply heading to the nearest exit is a great way to get lost.

This is especially true for expansive stations like Shinjuku where your track is just one of many dozen, or better yet the 200 different exits to choose from. As such getting out the correct exit is top priority. The wrong one could be quite a distance away and completely throw off your bearing.

Exiting through the correct exit is of top importance.

Thankfully, signs throughout the station will point you in the right direction.

Boarding platforms can have multiple exits too and it is especially important to pay attention to them when making transfers. Signs located along, beside or above an exit show the correct exit to take for transfers. There is often no way around this except to take the correct one. The sign above points passengers to the exit for those transferring to the Tokyo Metro’s Marunouchi Line.

Exits are either labeled by direction or numbered when there are simply too many.

Usually, exits are labeled by direction (e.g. North Exit, South Exit) but when they are simply too many, they will be numbered instead. Every train station in central Tokyo should have a map of the station, as well as of the surrounding area beside the control station. JR Stations may also have boards on the platforms itself that show the correct exit to take for a list of nearby landmarks.

Note that maps in Japan are almost always oriented by facing so it can be confusing sometimes, even when you know where you’re going. It’s handy to have a compass on hand just in case. Thankfully, Smartphones should have one built in. Though I have had trouble with the accuracy of the iPhone’s.

When meeting someone at a station in Japan, be sure to determine not only the time and station, but also which of the many exits you’d be waiting at.

There will be a detailed map at each station of the surrounding area.

End

If all else fails, do not be shy about asking for help. Popular stations have counters dedicated just for this with staff that are happy to help. You can also ask the ticketing conductors at every other station, and though they might not be as friendly about it, are obliged to help too.

The Japanese are usually rather forgiving if you make it clear that you are a tourist and can refund wrongly purchased tickets, or Smart Card credit should you enter the wrong terminal. In the end, do not be afraid to get lost or to make mistakes. It is surely part of the fun when traveling for the first time.

Share with us your tips and experiences for traveling in Tokyo!

Kokura Station isn’t the only place getting a brand new landmark. Back in Tokyo, quite a number of new buildings have been popping up this past week thanks to a certain company. Following the public opening of Tokyu Plaza Omotesando Harajuku on the 18th April, Tokyu Corporation has just launched a new commercial tower right beside Shibuya Station.

The new Shibuya Hikarie is notable for being 182.5 meters tall, towering over all of the other shopping buildings in Shibuya and being far more suited for Shinjuku. Connected to Shibuya Station through an overpass from its east exit, the Hikarie takes the site of the former Tokyo Bunka Kaikan (Tokyo Culture Hall). In addition to a mall and offices, Hikarie’s houses a gallery space as well as the new Hikarie Hall and Tokyu Orb Theater that replace the Bunka Kaikan.

Shibuya Hikarie Concept.

Construction of the new building had been going on since 2010. Tokyu already own and run many of the buildings around Shibuya Station. With the Hikarie, they are hoping to in their own words “take over” the streets of Shibuya and transform it to reach out to a broader audience. Typically the place for younger crowds, the Shibuya Hikarie will specialize in high-end shopping, dining, culture and entertainment that caters to a more sophisticated audience or more specifically, older career women.

The Hikarie also touts itself as a futuristic beacon of new concepts with its name literally translating as “To Light”. The building makes use of environmentally friendly lighting and cooling systems. Tokyu’s new department store which occupies the first 5 floors of the building is called ShinQs. The mall is split up into abstractly themed areas rather than specific purposes and every floor has an open concept feel similar to what you’d find only in the desserts section in the basement.

Restrooms have being branded “Switch Rooms” and come equipped with surprises. A special members only women’s Switch Room on the 5th floor provides luxuries such as an oxygen bar, message chairs and cellphone charging docks. Refrigerated lockers allow you to keep your groceries fresh, while continuing shopping. Digital signage that run throughout the mall (including these Switch Rooms) are equipped to broadcast information like weather information.

Needless to say, there were great crowds waited outside the Hikarie’s doorstep when it opened on the 26th of April. For more information, check out the official web page (Japanese only).

Photo by Yanazawa-san.

Ramen and Miyamoto Musashi. While the collaboration of ramen and famous samurai might look like a fancy gimmick on the surface, I can assure you that Menya Musashi is indeed, very, very famous. It was a huge hit with the Tokyoties when it first started out during the 1990s and now, more than 10 odd shops are located within Tokyo, with the newest Menya Musashi being an overseas outlet in Singapore.

Even before the Singapore outlet was opened, Menya Musashi has always been heavily recommended, as one of the top ramen places to eat while visiting Tokyo. But alas I had never grasped the chance to try it out, so this time I had to make the extra effort to visit the Singapore outlet.

Menya Musashi Singapore.

With heavy references to the famed samurai, the whole shop is decorated with Musashi art, even right down to the bowls and spoons we were using. The decor of dark walls and dynamic lighting does make for a posh and relaxing place to have a bowl of samurai noodles.

Menya Musashi serves both the usual ramen and tsukemen, which of course features the ever popular pork bone broth which is a hit with Singaporean palettes. But one look at the menu and tsukemen was swiftly decided by the Supermerlion noodle sampling team for the challenge.

The word "FREE" caught our attention.

More than half a kilograms of noodles if you decide to challenge the 5x.

For a fixed price, one can choose the amount of noodles to chomp on. 120g being the regular portion with a max amount of 5x the regular amount. Orders were quickly placed and a few 5x was noted. The manager looks unwavered by our orders, probably a sign that the 5x amount of noodles had been a regular order.

The ramen cook in the open kitchen didn’t look as much as excited as he dumped balls after balls of noodles into the boiling pot.

Looks perfectly normal on the surface, but that bowl hid 360g of noodles.

Woah.

For comparison's sake, that's a 600g bowl vs a 360g bowl.

Staggering amount of noodles aside, every order of tsukemen came with a good amount of pork and menma (bamboo shoots), with an additional noting of the half a half-boiled egg. There’s also 3 options of dip to choose from, the chili-red spicy version, the garlic-black extra fragrant version and the default milky-white soup version.

Frankly, 600g of noodles is too much for most people. It took us 10 minutes to make a dent in the half kilo bowl of noodles. Secondly, if one doesn’t finish their noodles fast enough, both the noodles and the soup turn cold and that will not be the most ideal tsukemen experience.

Good enough for a return trip? Yes. I probably have to make another return trip to try out their ramen.

Just try not to order the 5x noodles of tsukemen if you are not confident of your stomach space.

Samurai vs samurai.

Do take note, queue lines might go crazy during lunch and dinner times with disregard to either weekdays or weekends. I had to make a revisit twice since it’s pretty silly to queue 1.5 hours for noodles. The best way to go around the problem is to visit the shop during non peak afternoon hours as Menya Musashi is open all day from 10am onwards.

Last Friday, Aru Aru City (あるあるCity) Fukuoka’s very own otaku-themed mall opened its doors to the public. Located just beside Kokura Station, the main railway station in Kitakyushu, Aru Aru City has declared itself Japan’s largest sub-culture building. It exclusively hosts a great many shops dedicated to anime, manga, games, idol, comedy and other sub-culture entertainment.

Developed as part of a renovation of Kokura Station, Aru Aru City was scheduled to open in March last year but completion of the project had been delayed. Some of the key tenants of the building have yet to move in but the 7 floor building is already home to many new and existing otaku names, including well known Akihabara and  Nakano Broadway franchises like Mandarake, Gamers and Animate.

Aru Aru City opens!

After shopping, there is the new Animax Musix Cafe where patrons can enjoy the viewing of anime and ani-song broadcasts between meals as well as Media Cafe Popeye, touted as Kitakyushu’s largest internet cafe.

When completed in August, the hallmark attraction at Aru Aru City seems to be the Kitakyushu Manga Museum which will take up the 6th floor of the building. The 7th floor feature the Aru Aru YY Theater for live performances by idols and comedians. Notably, the theater will be used to broadcast a new television show title Aru Aru YY Terebi, that will feature members of AKB48 Fukuoka based sister group HKT48.

Kitakyushu Manga Museum.

Aru Aru City aims to distinguish itself and help promote otaku culture by holding at least 100 related events a year. It has also provided the business infrastructure to help grow such niche ventures within the city of Fukuoka.

This is just a guess, but had Aru Aru City opened on time last year, it does seem like Hakata48 would had been Kokura48 or AruAru48 instead. For more information, check out the official Aru Aru City website.

View Larger Map

As the normal rotation goes, it is of course time for the summer releases of the groups in the AKB48 family. Nagiichi is NMB48′s first try at a summer themed single, this being their fourth release since debuting nearly a year ago. With Nagiichi, the girls will have finally released a single for every season of the year. How do the girls from Osaka handle their first bikini single, and does it live up to expectations, as the girls have just come off a solid release in Junjou U-19?

Type A jacket.

Nagiichi is short for ‘Nagisa de Ichiban Kawaii Girl’, or translated as the cutest girl on the beach. It is also one of the insert songs used in the commercial collaboration with entertainment chain Round 1. Showing the girls as employees of the chain, the commercials present the girls as they work at Round 1 and show off the attractions there, which include bowling and karaoke. These commercials can be seen at a special site created for the campaign here.

Type B jacket.

The single sees a re-shuffling of the senbatsu, with returning Team N member Yoshida Akari as well as Team M’s Tanigawa Airi and Murakami Ayaka getting spots ahead of Yogi Keira, Kishino Rika, and Kinoshita Haruna. As the number of members in NMB48 increases (the number is up to around 60 with the 3rd generation), we should be seeing more and more shuffling of the senbatsu as additional singles get released.

It remains to be seen if there is any real way for junior members to get their time in the limelight through singles, but some are definitely getting pushed.

The White and Red team system of previous singles stays in Nagiichi, with some shuffling done to the lineups.  However, it does not seem apparent that either of the teams have a particularly catchy song, unlike previous b-sides like Hoshokusha Tachi Yo.

Fans however, might be interested in Watanabe Miyuki’s solo song in the theater version. Titled Warukii, it’s a hilarious number about how she loves men with big muscles and needs someone to help her carry her bag. Some might also see the thinly veiled references to her being involved in the scandal that got her dropped from senbatsu of Oh My God!

Type C jacket.

The song itself is a guitar-driven melody, not unlike the previous singles. One problem that seems to be evident is that the guitar melodies are split down the middle between ‘very catchy’ and ‘totally forgettable’. Nagiichi’s guitar leads fall in the former, but unfortunately this also means that it is the only thing many listeners bring away from the song.

With the group singing format of NMB48, there are no memorable lines, and even the chorus is not a particularly engaging hook. The sound of the song is too generic to the point that it’s rather easy to tune it out if you’re multi-tasking in any way.

Theater version jacket.

Which brings up the other point about the Promotional Video. As is usual for summer themed singles, Nagiichi’s has the girls in bikini. Some question the propriety of having teen girls in bikinis. While that is a point of contention, it’s clear that they’re trying to cash in on the sex factor, with frontgirl Yamamoto Sayaka being put into a bikini a size too small whilst dancing at the front.

Disregarding that however, the PV features the girls doing watersports and cruising the roads of Guam in an open-top convertible. In the opinion of this writer, it’s a great PV that showcases the summer feel of the song.

The single drops on the 9th of May, 2012.

Tokyo city is notorious among foreigners for having one of the most complex transport systems in the world. But even before we step into Tokyo proper and begin worrying about railways, subways and shinkansen, just getting from Narita Airport in the adjacent prefecture of Chiba to Tokyo can be a confusing venture for first time travelers, especially with the plethora of options available.

Before the nearer Haneda Airport was opened up for international travel late in 2010, Narita Airport would had been the only gateway for those coming to Tokyo. These days, it still remains the busiest airport in Japan thanks to its existing infrastructure, despite being 60 kilometers away.

This is just the first part of a duo of guides hoping to introduce some basic aspects of Tokyo’s transport systems. I’ve decided to split it up into more manageable bites to make it easier on both readers and myself alike.

This first part is particularly meant as an overview for first time visitors, or those looking for an alternate way to get from Narita Airport to Tokyo. We present an overview of the some of the smart transport options used by tourists and locals alike based on personal experiences.

Outside Narita Airport.

I Want Convenience

Limousine Bus
Cost: 3,000 yen
Time: 120+ minutes
+ Comfort
+ Stops directly at Hotels
- Possibly Most Expensive
- Slowest

Not quite a train, but I’ll write a bit about it anyways. The first option that is presented to you when stepping out of arrival are the various bus services in Narita, the biggest of which is the Airport Limousine Bus. Located at a counter immediately across the entrance and with actual buses stopping just outside, booking a Limousine Bus couldn’t be more convenient.

But the convenience doesn’t stop there. The Limousine Bus’s biggest plus is that it operates a great number of services to take you directly to major hotels all around Tokyo. And with so many hotels all around, even if you’re hotel is not on the list, chances are there might be one located a street or two from where you are staying.

Limousine Buses are large coach buses with comfortable heated seats and on board toilets. Add this to the fact that your luggage is taken care off by the staff and you have perhaps the most convenient transport option available.

Unfortunately, there is really no single perfect means of transport from Narita to Tokyo. Each featured in this guide have their own plus and minuses (though we’ve already filtered through those too ridiculous to consider). Limousine Buses come with some flaws, as they are the slowest and possibly most expensive option on this list.

Single trips on a Limousine Bus cost 3,000 yen. The most expensive choice here, though if it takes you directly to your hotel, may end up slightly cheaper than somewhere with multiple transfers.

Limousine Bus.

As a special discount to foreigners, you can get a Limousine and Metro Pass combination for 3,100 yen which includes a 1-day Metro Pass when purchasing your ticket at the airport. There is also a two way pass for 6,000 yen, with a 2-day Metro Pass.

Metro Passes a.k.a. Tokyo Metro 1-Day Open Tickets usually cost 710 yen when purchased on their own. So if you really do have a use for them, then this essentially cuts bus prices to about 2,390 yen. Still, expensive. Try not to factor this too much into your decision. As depending on hotel location and with the exception of one or two places, it may be completely possible to travel around Tokyo without ever using the Tokyo Metro Subway.

Note that even if you haven’t purchased a Limousine Bus ticket at the airport, you can get a return ticket at the hotel lobby of any serviced destination (otherwise, you’d need to visit the main center in Shinjuku).

The biggest issue with taking a Limousine Bus though is how long it takes. Even before factoring in traffic conditions, it will take approximately 2 hours to get to anywhere in Tokyo by the buses. Throw in a traffic jam somewhere and this can drag longer.

This is not to say that the journey isn’t pleasant, with Limousine Buses having some of the most comfortable heated seats ever (I almost always fall asleep immediately when taking the Limousine Buses) and also many more interesting sights along the way than if you were to take the train.

Overall, if you’re staying at a hotel serviced by Limousine Buses the convenience may outweigh the costs. This is particularly true for those traveling with heavy luggage and children. Just be sure that you can afford the long traveling times.

A nice tour through Tokyo streets.

I Want Speed

Keisei Skyliner
Cost: 2,400 yen
Time: 40 minutes
+ Possibly Fastest
- Expensive
- Stops at Nippori / Ueno Stations
- 20-40 Minute Interval

Perhaps through extensive marketing or because its name just clicks, the Keisei Skyliner remains the default option for most tourists arriving in Japan. That is not to say that it isn’t a bad choice as the Skyliner is perhaps the fastest means of traveling from Narita Airport to Tokyo in general.

The Keisei Stations are located right in the basement of Narita Airport. Getting there is simple. However, due to the variety of transport options available, purchasing the right tickets and getting on board the correct train can be confusing for local travelers, much less first time visitors. There is no good solution to this, except to pay attention to signs and muster up the courage to ask for assistance if genuinely lost. The alternative, getting onboard the wrong train can be disastrous.

Keisei has always operated the most used train routes from Narita to Tokyo. And since 2010, the Keisei Skyliner had undergone a facelift to ensure that it stays in the lead. The new Skyliner boasts that it takes commuters from Narita Airport to Tokyo in just 36 minutes.

Keisei Skyliner.

While this is true, the data is slightly twisted for stats. The 36 minute timing is from Airport Terminal 2, up to Nippori in northern Tokyo, which is kind of like boasting that the MRT can take you from Singapore Airport to Tanah Merah in just 10 minutes.

2,400 yen is a fair price to pay considering that you get reserved seats on a train zipping to Tokyo in such little time. You’ll want to add 5 minutes to the time though, since in truth, appart from China Airlines and JAL, Terminal 2 mostly operates domestic flights.

The biggest issue you will want to consider here when taking the Skyliner or any Keisei train for that matter, is that the Skyliner terminus is in Ueno. The two main stops that you’ll be dropping off at are either Nippori or Keisei Ueno, both are in the north of Tokyo.

As the name suggests, the Keisei Ueno station is a separate Keisei-only station that is a short distance on foot from the JR Ueno Station. So if you’re staying anywhere other than Ueno, I’d recommend getting off first at Nippori Station which is shared with train lines from other companies, such as the convenient JR Yamanote Line. Thanks to this, you’d be able to take a train to most central areas in Tokyo from Nippori. Note, that you will need to pay the separate ticket cost of this, usually 130 yen or more.

Another thing to consider is that Skyliner trains operate at a 20 or 40 minute interval (depending on the time of the day). So unless your flight happens to coincide nicely, chances are you’re going to spend a lot of time waiting for that train to arrive anyways.

Personally, unless you are in a great hurry where a few minutes would affect an important business meeting (or are desperately trying to catch a plane), high speed transportation like the Skyliner is hardly necessary. If you are in a hurry though, I would recommend making sure that the next train is scheduled to arrive soon before purchasing your Skyliner ticket, if not, you may want to consider the Narita Express as a better option.

Note, do not mistake Keisei City Liner trains for the Skyliner. I’ve seen bloggers humorously mix up the two. They run from the same stations but at the opposite track. It doesn’t help that the City Liner uses phased out Skyliner trains. Basically, City Liners are older luxury trains that now run on the normal local train tracks. They cost 1,920 yen and have reserved seats, but since they’re running on the same tracks as the Keisei Limited Express so the journey takes much longer.

Spacious Skyliner seats.

JR Narita Express (NEX)
Cost: 2,940 +/- yen
Time: 50 minutes
+ Stops at Many Central Stations
+ Fast
+ Free with JR Rail Pass
+ 1,500 yen for Foreigners!
- Expensive (But, See Above)

The newest travel option from Narita to Tokyo, the Narita Express has been operating for a while now but had more recently been upgraded to match the level of comfort and speed of the Skyliner. It is a special Limited Express train operated by the Japan Railway (JR) Company.

Unlike the Skyliner, the Narita Express stops directly at Tokyo Station as well as a number of other ideal stations like Shibuya, Shinjuku, all the way until Yokohama. It takes 53 minutes to get from Narita Airport to Tokyo Station by NEX and Narita Express trains operate at a 30 minute interval. This means that it is not only more convenient, but also possibly faster than the Skyliner in some cases.

The Narita Express excels at comfort. Seats in the Narita Express tend to be more luxurious than the Skyliner. Like in JR Shinkasen, there are even special “Green Car” seats for those with deep pockets (1,500 yen more). Since it is operated by the JR Company, the Narita Express offers easy transfer between the NEX trains and Shinkansen at Tokyo Station.

The Narita Express.

To Tokyo Station, the NEX costs 2,940 yen. Ticket to Shibuya, Shinjuku, Ikebukuro and Shinagawa cost 3,110 yen. The prices actually fluctuate slightly based on the time of the year.

While the basic tickets for NEX might seem kind of pricey when compared to the other choices on this list, there are actually some secrets that make the Narita Express the best option on this list for the majority readers. Pay attention here.

Being a JR Train, the Narita Express is fully covered by the Japan Rail Pass. So if you’re carrying one and intend to activate it on day one, the decision is already made for you.

For everyone else, take note, that there is actually a special discount offered to foreigners only available at Narita Airport. This special promotion lets you purchase a Narita Express-Suica Package for only 1,500 yen more than what a Suica would usually cost.

To get this discount, you will need to visit the JR East Travel Service Center at Narita Airport and present your passport. For 3,500 yen, you will get a 1,500 yen Suica IC Card with another 500 yen refundable deposit, as well as a NEX ticket for only 1,500 yen. If you’re visiting Tokyo, a Suica is something that you will need to get anyways and this offer will let you get a NEX ticket for half the price!

Except for a few fringe cases, the Narita Express is a very good fit for those who want the best balance of speed, affordability and convenience.

Lush interior.

I Want Affordability

Keisei Limited Express
Cost: 1000 yen
Time: 80 minutes
+ Cheapest Option
- Slow
- Stops at Nippori Station / Ueno Station
- Free Seating

At just 1,000 yen, the Keisei Limited Express is the cheapest option on this list. It is the most popular choice among locals and those running on a tight budget.

In addition to the Skyliner, the Keisei Electric Railway company also own the normal railway lines between Narita and Tokyo. The Limited Express trains are express trains that run on these local lines. It may be slightly confusing at first, but word “Limited” from Limited Express trains in Japan comes from the fact that they skip certain stops and are thus faster than regular “Express” trains.

If you’re living in any of the residential areas between Narita and Tokyo, then the Keisei Limited Express would be the default means of travel there. Like the Skyliner, the Limited Express stop at Nippori and eventually terminate at Keisei Ueno, giving it all the same benefits or rather disadvantages of the Skyliner.

Keisei Cityliner.

However, if you’re staying near Ueno (as we did in our past two trips), the fact that it stops here becomes a rare plus point for the Limited Express. For example, in our past two trips, we stayed at a hotel in Uguisudani (one stop away from Ueno). It wouldn’t had made sense to take the NEX down to Tokyo and backtrack, since it would had taken the same amount of time (and a few hundred yen more).

One thing to take note about the Keisei Limited Express, is that like all local trains, seats are not reserved and during rush hours, you may have difficulty finding a seat. This can be a hassle if your carrying heavy luggage. However, in practice, I’ve never had trouble getting a seat on the train, except in one case but there would had been seats then too if not for a family of discourteous tourists taking up an entire row to themselves.

Typical train interior.

With AKB48′s next election looming around the corner, the fandom has been abuzz with many having their own take on what is going to happen this time. Supermerlion weigh in with our opinions on the concept of election, the new format, Maeda Atsuko’s graduation and of course, our own predictions for the rankings.

The guidebook for the election last year.

Election

Sho

Each year since the first, the AKB48 General Elections has been the most major event for Akimoto Yasushi’s pop empire. The “election single” is sold in mass quantities for 1000-1600 yen each, often at more than one copy per person. I personally know people who have bought as many as 500 copies all this in hopes of “pushing” their favorite member.

Unfortunately, experience has taught me that this election process is a little more than just another way to inflate their CD sales as any changes to the management and agency discussed lineup is immediately dismissed after the next single. With the AKB48 elections, AKB48 has manged to get people to actually pay for the opportunity to do a survey. It feels like the results are more a pat in the back to the companies involved and an affirmation that their investments are paying off.

Yan

In my opinion, the senbatsu system has always been a double-edged sword, both for the girls and the fans. There’s always the case of a girl that ‘hits it big’ with the senbatsu by seeing a rise in her popularity after being voted in, or getting picked to star in a new single. But it comes at a price, namely that of fan interaction. Having more time allotted to media exposure means that some of the members spend little to no time in the theater, or fans getting less time with her at handshake sessions.

It’s a good way for the girls to get more exposure, but that leaves you with the usual suspects, the time tested faces that have already had a lot of exposure as it is.

Mus

I’ve always felt like the senbatsu system was just a way for the company to get more money from the fans, under the pretext of giving them a chance to affect the group. Sure, this was true in the first staging of the elections, but the subsequent ones have always just been a populist matter, and it’s a never-ending cycle. The ones that get voted in are already popular, and thus already in the regular, non-vote senbatsu.

While this may be just the rant of someone who will probably never see his favorite member step anywhere close to the senbatsu of a single, it does feel like there is no reason to vote, when it’s clear that the more popular members will dominate, as usual.

The first AKB48 single lineup decided by election.

Revised Format

Sho

Some would argue (and AKB48 whitewashes it with this reason) that increasing the number of positions would increase the opportunities for members. But this isn’t the case as the unranked members would always appear in the other coupling songs anyways. Instead, the competition is much fiercer this year with teams dropping from 21, to just 16 members. The members will now be spread out over multiple different “versions” of the next single, with sales being the main motivation.

Fans like to think that placing well in these other teams would be of some significance. It does, in the sense that it gives them exactly one PV where they get to see their favorite member more. In the greater scheme of things, there is little benefit to the girl. AKB48′s Ota Aika debunked this misconception last year; many believed that being the Undergirls center was better than being a bottom ranking Senbatsu. From her own words, we learned otherwise. The ranking itself counts more than anything else when it comes to determining how valuable a particular girls is to the company. This is further proven in previous years when Sashihara Rino started her ascension, after placing in the low Senbatsu.

Yan

I don’t think this will really result in many changes, other than the fact that the usual senbatsu team is reduced to a 16-girl team. The remaining teams that are not part of the top 16 will probably be broadly categorized as three different teams of Undergirls, which to me sort of defeats the purpose. However, this is good news in that it is much easier to perform songs in a 16-girl team. This is the usual number that make up a fully functional team to perform on stage; the lower number means there is less of a logistical problem for them to perform the next senbatsu song.

Mus

The revised format sounds good. While of course most people would say that it doesn’t really help anything, especially considering that many would still appear in the other promotional videos. However I think it’s pretty great nevertheless that additional girls get called up. Personally I’m a big fan of taking exposure whenever you can get it.

I doubt that it will matter much in the grand scheme of things. However with the dropping of the Media Senbatsu concept, it’s entirely possible that this brings about more balanced treatment of the lower ranking girls. It’ll be interesting to see if any unexpected faces appear on the bottom rungs; fans might get even more motivated by the extension of senbatsu to pool their votes together.

Graduation

Sho

With Maeda Atsuko out of the picture from this year’s elections. Many are expecting much from this year’s elections indeed. While I would like to see some new faces, I see most simply shifting up one spot in her absence. A safe prediction for the number one spot would be Oshima Yuko, generally regarded and proven to be the group’s other fave. The hype from well timed releases might affect votes positively for Sashihara Rino, Watanabe Mayu and to a lesser extent the rest of Watarirouka.

Yan

It’s definitely an interesting prospect. With the departure of AKB48′s ace this could signal the start of real change in the group dynamics. It’s the biggest thing to happen in AKB history, and will definitely have some effect on the election. Her decision might influence the rest of the founding members to think about graduation, and possibly announce it themselves.

While immediate changes are unlikely, I think fans will have to adjust to understand that AKB48 isn’t just made up of the regular senbatsu that they always see on TV or in music videos.

Mus

This was a shocker for me. While I dread the day that it happens, this is an important step forward for the group as a whole. Losing the ‘face’ that they have depended on so much might have both positive and negative consequences, but it definitely nudges the group in the right direction. AKB48 is sufficiently big enough that they no longer need a figurehead like Maeda Atsuko to carry the group.

Just like she said in her graduation announcement, the juniors will have to pick up the slack, and this might definitely show when the girls receive their votes.

Predictions

Sho

The past year has been particular eventful for Watarirouka Hashiritai’s center with her recent solo music and drama debut. Historically, Watanabe has found popularity as the group’s “cute” type character, an archetype that often takes center stage in other Japanese idol groups. This differs for AKB48 though. It may be a good thing then that Watanabe has since shed this stereotype for a more mature image. With Kashiwagi Yuki losing in power this year, it is probable that Watanabe Mayu might finally take the second spot this year.

I would point out that Watanabe’s recent solo single, Synchro Tokimeki which shows off her more mature side, was probably the best selling recent 48 side project apart from Oshima Yuko’s and Not Yet’s Perapera Perao, at least until Sashihara’s Soredemo Sukidayo hits shelves next month. Interestingly, Synchro Tokimeki outsells even Mayu’s Watarirouka singles.

Yan

My Kami7, in descending order: Kashiwagi, Oshima, Watanabe, Shinoda, Sashihara, Takamina and Kojima. The first place is a toss-up between Kashiwagi and Oshima. There’s very little chance that Kashiwagi will capture that top spot if she doesn’t get it this time. Sashihara has the highest exposure amongst the front girls this year, so a huge jump into the Kami7 is not that unexpected really. I don’t see any huge jumps happening besides that and while there may be some swapping of places, I think the senbatsu would mostly stay the same.

Mus

With the ridiculous amount of publicity she has had so far this year, I think Sashihara will have enough voting power behind her to take at least a top 5 spot. While I don’t think that there will be any chances of any other girls besides the few already mentioned above to get into the Kami7, I think that Shinoda and Itano stand the risk of dropping out of the Kami7. Shinoda partly because of her lack of well, anything, and Itano just because it’s a continuation of the downward trend she’s exhibited since last year’s.

If I were to bet on one person jumping into the Kami7, it’d be Yokoyama Yui. She’s had her moments, and is definitely a nice fit. With AKB48′s adoption of Google+, it’s entirely possible for an unknown to come up the ranks, but it’s a long shot, and probably won’t breach the top 16.

The new single

Sho

Personally, I used to look forward most to the subsequent release after the elections, which often is a highlight of the year since it brought us great hits like Iiwake Maybe and Heavy Rotation. Unfortunately, last year’s Flying Get killed that enthusiasm. More so than who ranks at what place, hopefully this year’s post election release will be a good listenable one.

Yan

I’m not particularly hopeful for the upcoming single. While it may be good, it will be hard to match the catchiness and hook of Heavy Rotation. The good news however, is that the B-sides are usually good listening material, so that is something I am looking forward to.

Mus

I must be the only one that actually liked Flying Get. Nonetheless, the recent AKB48 releases have been lackluster at best, and hopefully this election single will get them out of their slump. I’m not holding my breath or anything, but it’s entirely possible that Aki-P will pull a rabbit out of his songwriting hat and give us a really great single to celebrate the new beginning of AKB48.

End

Well that about rounds up things on our end. Do you have any thoughts on the upcoming election? Share them in the comments below!

As the year comes to the mid-point, many AKB48 fans save money to spend on the highlight of the year: the single senbatsu election. Of course, 2012 is no different. The members featured in AKB48′s 27th single will be determined by fan votes. However, the election this year is different from the ones before, with changes being made to the system that will no doubt change how some cast their votes.

On the third day of AKB48′s concert in Saitama Super Arena, it was announced that the election tickets will be distributed with the 26th AKB48 single, Manatsu no Sounds Good. Aside from that, members of the official fanclubs and other related sites will have a vote as well. Voting will start from Manatsu no Sounds Good’s release date of 23rd May and votes will be tallied on the 6th of June.

All the groups in the AKB48 family based in Japan (this means not JKT48) will be eligible for votes. Fans will also be glad to hear that the ranking has been extended to 64 places, with the girls being split into four 16-man groups. Media Senbatsu, what AKB terms as a selection of girls that will appear in media, has now been scrapped. What will be done in its place has not been made clear.

The election announcement was not the only news from Saitama Super Arena. In a move that shocked much of Japan, Maeda Atsuko made public her imminent graduation from AKB48. A few days after this announcement, she also appeared on a video published on the AKB48 official YouTube channel, announcing her decision to not participate in the coming elections, starting talk on the internet about who could possibly take her place at the top.

With so many things happening for the election this time, how will it affect the votes? Only time will tell.

While it only covers the Kanto Region and northern Japan, this is a significant discount since a single Shinkansen ride would cost you upwards of 16,000 yen. For more information, check out the JR East Pass Special page.

The invent of the internet has changed the way we live our lives considerably. It has also affected the way we travel. And while travel related websites have been around since the dawn of the World Wide Web, statistically the biggest changes have been in the past couple of years. Internet travel sites have finally overtaken traditional travel agents, with more people planning and booking their holidays online than anywhere else.

Japanese search company Goo recently presented the results of a survey they conducted, compiling the thoughts of what people felt were their most visited types of sites for holiday planning. The results are a good indication of what are the top online innovations to have made planning a holiday a less daunting task.

1. Map Sites
At least in Japan, the biggest number of people survey have voted Map Sites, particularly Google Maps as the most indispensable online tool for planning a holiday. I wouldn’t disagree. The ability to look up any place on earth at a whim or even step through in first person on Google Street View is truly invaluable.

2. Search Engines
For most, Search Engines, or rather Google has become the gateway to the rest of the internet. Making sense of the internet, the search engine helps us sort through a treasure trove of resources on the internet. Be it the means to book your holiday or a site like Supermerlion, through which people can discover travel ideas and new things to love.

3. News Sites
Online News Sites provide readers with up to date information on the region allowing travelers to better plan the timing of their trip. This is especially true when looking at disaster prone areas. In some cases, those curious in a particular country might follow its news, further propagating their interest in the destination.

4. Weather Report Sites
Savvy travelers will know that considering the weather of your destination ahead of time is one of the most important things to do. At the most basic level, knowing the weather forecast will let you prepare the right clothes but also it’ll help you plan an itinerary better and minimize any possible hiccups. Yahoo! Weather still remains the most used source for weather information.

5. Travel Review Portals
Most holiday planners turn to travel review sites for introduction to their destination these days. Many incorporate hotel and flight bookings, as well as charting applications to provide a one stop place to plan your itinerary. While rarely the cheapest option, it provides a convenience that makes them the most profitable source. Popular examples include the Lonely Planet forums and TripAdvisor, possibly Asia’s most popular travel review site.

6. Credit Card Sites
When it comes to genuine offers, it takes major entities like Credit Card companies to offer the best promotions. Many credit cards have tie in with airline companies to provide either a miles program or some other sort of conversion of loyalty points. There’s always the occasional discount offers that might net you tickets for slightly less than their usual price.

7. Airline Company Sites
More often than not, the best Airplane deals can be found from the source. With Airline companies providing their own booking systems, you’ll get the most updated prices direct from their official web pages and the added benefit of being able to check-in online or change your seats at any time.

8. Social Networks
The popularity of Social Networks has changed the way people travel and seek travel more so than any other online presence in the shortest period of time. It is only second nature for most to shove travel photos down their timeline these days in an attempt to make others jealous. In fact, more than 59% of travelers have been found to post status updates about their holiday on Facebook. While not easily quantifiable, this envy is definitely something benefiting the travel industry.

9. Hotel Search Sites
Dedicated hotel pages rank low on the list, which is not unexpected. While all of the tools to plan one’s holiday is widely available, many still do not have the time to sort through all the best options manually. Instead, as statistics show most prefer to opt for the convenience of all in one tools like Expedia or Orbitz (the two market leaders), even if it means paying slightly more.

10. Travel Agents Sites
Enforcing the idea that holiday planning is now an independent task, the online presence for Travel Agents such as JTB or HIS rank at the bottom of this list.

Survey results by Goo. Statistics courtesy of Mashable and Lab42.

This is a month late, but on the 14th of last month, Tokyo Girls’ Style released an album, titled Limited addiction. This is their second album following Kodou no Himitsu (鼓動の秘密) which was released last May. Like their first, Limited addiction is a compilation of singles up to date, including new tunes. Although she have since recovered, Konishi Ayano had to give some promotions for the album a miss and wasn’t present in the above shot, due to a bone fracture in the right leg.

Limited addiction features the songs from Tokyo Girls’ Style’s past three singles including Liar, Rock You! and of course Limited addiction. It also adds six brand new ones, like Sparkle, Regret and Memai (眩暈) which features retro pop duo Vanilla Beans. The album comes in 2 CD+DVD versions. Type A includes concert footage, for 4,200 yen, Type B comes with promotional videos, for 3,800 yen and a CD only Type C version for 2,800 yen.

Type C front.

Sparkle -Royal Mirrorball Mix- only on this version.

Aachan CD cover.

Tower Records free bonus poster.

Since it has more previously unreleased songs than their previous album, Limited addiction is still a really good buy even if you’ve already gotten all of their singles. It’s a must get if you’ve haven’t. Packed with the same kind of R&B inspired pop tunes, Tokyo Girls’ Style listeners will be hooked to this for quite awhile.

Tokyo Girls’ Style will also be releasing their 10th Single, which will be a single arranged version of album song Tsuioku (追憶) with a new coupling song Taisetsu na Kotoba (大切な言葉), on the 23rd next month.