The Minami Takahashi Era of AKB48 Ends in Spring of 2016! Graduation Live Dates Announced!

| 48 / 46 Group | Posted by Kai Okudara on Nov.24.2015

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At Minami Takahashi‘s final AKB48 handshake event at Fukuoka Marine Messe on November 23, 2015, the dates for her final concert and AKB48 Theater performance were announced. Takahashi’s final concert (location TBA) will take place on March 26th and 27th and her final AKB48 Theater performance will be held on March 28, 2016.

Takahashi apologized for making the fans wait so long for the announcement of her final performances, especially because she had announced her graduation almost a year prior at AKB48’s 9th anniversary live on December 8, 2014. The fact that an arena had not yet been secured for her graduation concert was another point which Takahashi apologized for.

The completion of the MV for “Kuchibiru ni Be My Baby” was announced as well. Directed by Eiki Takahashi who worked on the AKB48 documentaries and many of AKB48’s past MVs, there are scenes filmed at Sunosaki Lighthouse in Chiba which became famous from the MV for “Aitakatta”.

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Comment from Minami Takahashi about the MV for “Kuchibiru ni Be My Baby”:

Even taking away the fact that it’s the MV for my last single, it became something that I really love. Because it was made by Eiki Takahashi who has been a part of AKB48 since its early days, I feel that with someone that knowledgeable working on it, the MV’s theme of a “passing of the torch” (baton pass) was conveyed. Being able to revisit the place where “Aitakatta” was filmed, it was great to film while having the feelings of that time all over again. Even though it’s a bright and cheerful idol-y love song, it makes the separation that much more painful but, at the same time, I think you can see how it ties into the hope for the future. By all means, I want a lot of people to watch it!

Comment from Eiki Takahashi, director of “Kuchibiru ni Be My Baby”:

Because this is Takamina’s last MV, I think I was able to show a lot of her different expressions. Also, I didn’t just paint a picture of the AKB48 of the past 10 years but, hopefully also set up a cornerstone for the future. I don’t want to brag but, I think the editing during the opening dance and lip-syncing parts will end up being something that will resonate throughout idol history, especially because it took a long time to complete.

Finally, details for the stages produced by Takahashi were also announced, including the senbatsu and themes for the lives.

1st – STAFF Stage February 16, 2016
Members : Tomonobu Togasaki, Shinobu Kayano, Hiroyuki Aoki, Takumi Matsumura, Team Ikigire, Eiki Takahashi, Nobuo Matsumoto, Kyoko Nishiyama, Junji Yuasa, Sayaka Matsumoto, Yoshitaka Gunji, Kenji Kitagawa, Yuhi Makino, Daisuke Konda, Akihiro Makino, Makoto Sasaki, Tsuyoshi Okada, and Minami Takahashi

2nd – The・Idol Stage February 22, 2016
Members: Mayu Watanabe, Saya Kawamoto, Mako Kojima, Kayoko Takita, Rio Ookawa, Rena Kato, Sara Miyawaki, Moe Goto, Nana Owada, Mion Mukaichi, Haruka Komiyama, Saho Iwatate, Miyuu Oomori, Saki Kitazawa, Yuiri Murayama, and Minami Takahashi

3rd – Okurairi Stage February 17, 2016
Members : Yui Yokoyama, Tomu Muto, Anna Iriyama, Juri Takahashi, Hinana Shimoguchi, Yuki Kashiwagi, Minami Minegishi, Ami Maeda, Rino Sashihara, Miyu Takeuchi, Shinobu Mogi, Ayaka Okada, Nana Okada, Aeri Yokoshima, Rie Kitahara, and Minami Takahashi

4th – Dance Senbatsu Stage February 20, 2016
Members: Yuria Kizaki, Yuuka Tano, Manami Ichikawa, Nana Fujita, Karen Iwata, Miho Miyazaki, Sae Miyazawa, Aoi Motomura, Jurina Matsui, Makiko Saitoh, Ami Yumoto, Rina Hirata, Ryouka Oshima, Moe Aigasa, Ayano Umeta, and Minami Takahashi

5th – Chaos Stage February 25, 2016
Members: Momoka Kinoshita, Miku Tanabe, Kaori Matsumura, Karen Iwata, Rina Izuta, Miki Nishino, Miori Ichikawa, Mayu Ogasawara, Marika Tani, Chiyori Nakanishi, Haruka Ishida, Miho Miyazaki, Shiduka Ooya, Rena Nozawa, Yukari Sasaki, Haruka Shimada, Rena Nishiyama, and Minami Takahashi

6th – Ichigo chan’s Stage February 18, 2016
Members: Megu Taniguchi, Miyabi Iino, Kiara Sato, Seina Fukuoka, Makiho Tatsuya, Rio Okawa, Manami Ichikawa, Nana Owada, Mion Mukaichi, Ami Yumoto, and Minami Takahashi *15th generation members’ and Minami Takahashi. The set list is created by 15th generation members

7th – Itoshi no Nyan Nyan Otanjobi Omedetou Stage / February 28, 2016
Members: Haruna Kojima, Minami Takahashi, and Minami Takahashi (＋α?)

8th (Additional Kouen) – Saturday Night Stage / February 27, 2016
Members: Miyuki Watanabe, Natsuki Kojima, Kana Kobayashi, Maria Abe, Mariya Suzuki, Mariya Nagao, Chisato Nakata, Aki Takajo, Mariko Nakamura, Haruka Shimazaki, Yui Yokoyama, Yuki Kashiwagi, Misaki Iwasaki, Ayana Shinozaki, and Minami Takahashi

“Kuchibiru ni Be My Baby” will be released in 4 limited edition versions and 4 regular versions with DVDs. All types contain voting codes for AKB48 Request Hour Setlist Best 100 2016/AKB48 Solo Request Hour.

Here are the track listings for the different versions.

Type-A

CD
1. Kuchibiru ni Be My Baby
2. 365 Nichi no Kamihikouki
3. Kimi wo Kimi wo Kimi wo… (“next generation” senbatsu)
4. Yasashii Place (Team A)

DVD
1. Kuchibiru ni Be My Baby MV
2. 365 Nichi no Kamihikouki MV
3. Kimi wo Kimi wo Kimi wo… MV
4. Yasashii Place MV
5. WORDS ~minami takahashi speaks words of wisdom~

Type-B

CD
1. Kuchibiru ni Be My Baby
2. 365 Nichi no Kamihikouki
3. Madonna no Senbatsu (“Renacchi Sousenkyo” senbatsu)
4. Onee-san no Hitorigoto (Team K)

DVD
1. Kuchibiru ni Be My Baby MV
2. 365 Nichi no Kamihikouki MV
3. Madonna no Senbatsu MV
4. Onee-san no Hitorigoto MV
5. PARTY no sono Saki he – Pre-graduation Interview with Minami Takahashi

Type-C

CD
1. Kuchibiru ni Be My Baby
2. 365 Nichi no Kamihikouki
3. Amanojaku Batta (Team 8)
4. Kin no Hane wo Motsu Hito yo (Team B

DVD
1. Kuchibiru ni Be My Baby MV
2. 365 Nichi no Kamihikouki MV
3. Amanojaku Batta MV
4. Kin no Hane wo Motsu Hito yo MV
5. Tera-mina – Selections from 812 terabytes of Minami Takahashi bloopers

Type-D

CD
1. Kuchibiru ni Be My Baby
2. 365 Nichi no Kamihikouki
3. Senaka Kotoba (graduation song for Minami Takahashi)
4. Nanka, Chotto, Kyuu ni… (Team 4)

DVD
1. Kuchibiru ni Be My Baby MV
2. 365 Nichi no Kamihikouki MV
3. Senaka Kotoba MV
4. Nanka, Chotto, Kyuu ni… MV
5. Tabidatsu Kimi he – Farewell comments to Takahashi from members

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