Maeda Atsuko to graduate from AKB48 ... or is she?!

A few minutes ago, I've read the news of AKB48's topstar Maeda Atsuko's gradution! Just imagine my surprise.

I've never been a die-hard fan of the ~48 enterprise but I have to admit, that they're being immensly popular to an extend, that no other Japanese artist has reached. They're obviously doing something right.

A lot of people "blame" this success on front girl Maeda Atsuko, who's been with the group from the very beginning.

And although I'm always going to be one of the people, who thinks that a group consists of more than just one person, there's been some examples of groups, whose success was faiding rapidly after the graduation of the most popular member.

Best example would probably be Morning Musume's Goto Maki. She was the top member for 3 years - during that time Morning Musume reached #1 with almost every single! After her graduation, sales fell so fast it's unbelievable!

Well I don't think that one girl is the reason for AKB's success ... I mean, there are like 47 others ... or how many they currently are.

I'm just wondering ... Is this real? Here's her announcement from Hello!Online:

"Since 14 years old, I've been here as an original member; this has been my life. It's a big decision for me, the 2nd biggest decision I've made. I'm going to graduate.
My moods are swinging easily and perhaps that has caused a lot of troubles for members. To stand in Tokyo Dome is my dream since I was 14 years old. But now, being 20, I remember that there's things that must be done to make dreams come true. I don't know what will come after this but I will work hard. The details haven't been decided yet., when it's been decided, I will tell everyone. Thank you very much"

After this speech Takamina responds with "AKB48 is not the end goal, this is the same for all members. Please support Atsuko's graduation!"

This is weird, don't you think? Right now I'm thinking, that maybe this is another promotion trick. You never know. AKB never had the BEST or most creative songs, but damn they know how to sell themselves and keep in the public interest.

And what does Takamina mean? Sounds to me, like she's trying to prepare the fans for more graduations to come. Every girl is building another career apart vom AKB48 ... just look at Itano Tomomi.

Well I'm really curious about the things to come.

And I'm not too shy to say, that I hope that now Morning Musume has the chance to gain some new fans!

Some purchases

Sooo, lately I've got me some great new stuff to cheer me up from my little downslide. I know, I should find another way but shopping to get over sadness, but it works really well. Maybe I should write, when I'm sad ... or go for a walk ... or sing as loudly as possible.
Well, at least I don't eat to get happy, right?

Still, I want to show you some of the cute things I got!

First, I got a book, that I wanted for long from my beloved Lucy Maud Montgomery (Anne of Green Gables) ... it got here on the same day as my Only You single and my AKB48 album.

Actually, I'm not a very big fan of AKB48 (just TOO many) themselves, but their songs are good! So all I wanted was the regular album, but it was sold out and I got the limited edition with DVD... I haven't watched it yet, but I'm going to! I mean I bought, right? It even got with a photo and several exchangeable covers. I stay with the usual one, but on the inside I now have that girl with the long hair, purple pailette outfit and pink eyeshadow. I have no idea, who she is, but I find her very cute!! I actually like the girls on the back of the CD a lot cuter than the girls on the front...
Morning Musume's Only You ... I preordered it, so it would be counted into the Oricon charts. I love Morning Musume for like 6 years now and I'm buying their singles and albums for maybe 2 1/2 years ... I could have started earlier ... but to make up my delay, I'm buying all the CDs in Japan Version and during the first week or earlier so it'll count at Oricon and support my girls.
I already preordered the next single and it will be released mid September... but it'll be Ai-chan's graduation single an people are already preordering it LIKE CRAZY! So if you want the special edition with Ai-chan's solo song you should preorder it right now! I've ordered the Regular Edition and the Graduation Edition. I've never bought two editions before (money...), but this time I had to. Gotta support Ai-chan and Morning Musume!

Next thing I got was this package from Taiwan.

It's a lot of letter sets

and other cute stuff like wagashi erasers, Rilakkuma Baran or cellphone straps.

And today I got my very first fake eye lashes! It's so cool! I think, I'm a natural talent when it comes to applying them! Or maybe I'm just completly ruining it and don't realizing? Who knows? It's still fun.

Still gotta buy some  glue, but I've read that Douglas and Rossmann offer it.

Okay, I don't know why, but blogspot is flipping some of my pics ... weird. I had to get the upper pics into landscape format so that they'd be displayed right up.