Tomomi Itano: Breaking Records on Her Solo Debut!

Asides from Tomomi Itano making her solo debut with the single, Dear J, asides that she is the first member of AKB48 that made a solo debut, it seems that she has other achievements under her sleeve!

According to Oricon’s Weekly Single Ranking, Dear J has sold approximately 163,000 units since its release last January 26th, placing her debut single solidly in second place behind Yamashita Tomohisa’s fourth solo single, Hadakanbo.

Aside from that, Itano is the first female artist to break 150,000 units since Utada Hikaru’s single, Flavor Of Life, nearly four years ago. Also, it makes Tomochin the first singer debuting from a girl group to sell this many units since ex-Morning Musume member Goto Maki debuted with Ai no Bakayarou almost ten years ago. Utada Hikaru and Goto Maki sold 270,000 units and 268,000 units in the first week of sales, respectively.

From all of us here, congratulations Tomochin on your achievement!

Source: Mainichi via Tokyohive

Tomomi Itano: Breaking Records on Her Solo Debut!

Asides from Tomomi Itano making her solo debut with the single, Dear J, asides that she is the first member of AKB48 that made a solo debut, it seems that she has other achievements under her sleeve!

According to Oricon’s Weekly Single Ranking, Dear J has sold approximately 163,000 units since its release last January 26th, placing her debut single solidly in second place behind Yamashita Tomohisa’s fourth solo single, Hadakanbo.

Aside from that, Itano is the first female artist to break 150,000 units since Utada Hikaru’s single, Flavor Of Life, nearly four years ago. Also, it makes Tomochin the first singer debuting from a girl group to sell this many units since ex-Morning Musume member Goto Maki debuted with Ai no Bakayarou almost ten years ago. Utada Hikaru and Goto Maki sold 270,000 units and 268,000 units in the first week of sales, respectively.

From all of us here, congratulations Tomochin on your achievement!

Source: Mainichi via Tokyohive

AKB48's Tomomi Itano meets Avril Lavigne!

Poplar pop-punk singer, Avril Lavigne has been staying in Japan since January 23 to promote her latest single, What the Hell and meets one of Japan's top idols, AKB48's Tomomi Itano according to the latest headline from Tokyohive!

Ms. Itano arrived at Tokyo’s Tower Records to meet the famous star. With a translator, Itano confessed that she’s been listening to Avril Lavigne’s music since her Middle School days, and that she feels nervous about being the only solo artist to debut from AKB48. The two then traded copies of their latest singles! As a fan of Avril and Tomomin, this news made my day!

AKB48's Itano Tomomi Performs Dear J

As we all know, Itano Tomomi (aka Kamen Rider W's Queen) of AKB48 will be releasing her own solo album entitled, Dear J which will be released this January 26. Just recently, she performed her single on TV! Special thanks to Tokyohive for the video!

AKB48 Bags a Guiness Record!

It's official! AKB48 now holds the Guiness Book of World Records title as, "The Pop Group with the Most Amount of Members" according to the 2011 volume of the said book, which will be released this November 18.

On the said book, a special interview with AKB48 producer, Akimoto Yasushi, as well as the profiles of the members.

He commented, “I’m very honored to be certified on the Guinness World Record. This will be one of the records which we will see with fans, how far AKB48 can go.”

Source: Oricon via Tokyohive

Congratulations to AKB48 for bagging this record! Hope they will continue to break records in the future!

Koukou Debut Cast, Unveiled!

The complete cast of the upcoming film, Koukou Debut (Trans. High School Debut) has been revealed. The said film is said to be based on manga by Kazune Kawahara of the same name.

Aside from Junpei Mizobata and fashion model Ito Ono, adding to the films cast are the following: Masaki Suda (Kamen Rider W) will play as Fumiya, the friend of the lead male, Yoh. Playing as his sister will be Rina Aizawa (Engine Sentai Go-onger).

AKB48's Sae Miyazawa plays Haruna's friend Mami, and fellow member, Yuka Masuda takes on the role of Haruna's softball rival Leona. Rei Okamoto has been cast as Yoh's ex-girlfriend Makoto and Yoh's friend, Yui is being played by Yuki Furukawa.

To those who wondering about the plot, it is about of a young girl named Haruna (played by Ito Ono) who devoted all of her time to softball during junior high, but decides to change her image and finally have a love life upon entering high school.

Yoh (Played by Junpei Mizobata) her senior, one of the most popular boys at the school, and a chance encounter leads to him becoming Haruna's "coach" on becoming attractive. His one condition is that she can't fall in love with him, but she ultimately fails to keep that promise.

Koukou Debut will premiere in Japanese theaters on Spring 2011.

Source: Oricon via Tokyograph