AKB48, in all their years of performing, has produced an amazing discography. Ranging from tunes that will make you dance, to tunes with the vibes of nostalgia, and to tunes that will make you feel like you’re an idol yourself!
On the 16th of June 2018, the 53rd Single Senbatsu Sousenkyo titled: “AKB48 53rd Single Sekai Senbatsu Sousenkyo ?Sekai no Center wa Dare da??” was held in Nagoya Dome. This year marks the 10th anniversary of the anniversary of the AKB48 Senbatsu Sousenkyo; the group’s international sister groups (who debuted before the end of the application period) were included in the election. SKE48’s Matsui Jurina emerged as the Queen of this year’s elections with 194,453 votes.
The Senbatsu Sousenkyo is an annual event where fans AKB48, SKE48, NMB48, HKT48, NGT48, STU48 and Team Kaigai can vote for their oshis to be a part of the single. The members who received the most votes are ranked and announced on the day of the Senbatsu Sousenkyo but the votes are submitted beforehand.
As of writing, the system that AKB48 follows is: the 80 members who received the most votes are then grouped into: Senbatsu (#1 – #16), Undergirls (#17 – #32), Next Girls (#33 – 48), Future Girls (#49 – #64) and Upcoming Girls (#65 – #80).
To celebrate AKB48’s 10th Senbatsu Sousenkyo, let’s take a look at some of the AKB48 songs that featured the winners of the general elections from the past years.
Heavy Rotation (Center: Oshima Yuko)
One of AKB48’s most iconic songs was the result of the 2nd Senbatsu Sousenkyo. The single, as of writing, is one of the most promoted singles of AKB48 with all the songs in the single having some kind of tie-in – three of them being huge campaigns that was used all over Japan.
Senbatsu: Kojima Haruna, Sashihara Rino, Shinoda Mariko, Takajo Aki, Takahashi Minami, Nakagawa Haruka, Maeda Atsuko, Akimoto Sayaka, Itano Tomomi, Oshima Yuko, Ono Erena, Minegishi Minami, Miyazawa Sae, Kasai Tomomi, Kashiwagi Yuki, Kitahara Rie, Sato Amina, Miyazaki Miho, Watanabe Mayu, Matsui Jurina and Matsui Rena.
Flying Get (Center: Maeda Atsuko)
Flying Get was a product of the 3rd Senbatsu Sousenkyo. The song was used as the theme of the drama Hanazakari no Kimitachi e ~Ikemen?Paradise~ 2011 which featured: Maeda Atsuko, Kashiwagi Yuki, Ichikawa Miori, Oba Mina and Nagao Mariya. The song won the 2011 Japan Record Award.
Senbatsu: Kuramochi Asuka, Kojima Haruna, Sashihara Rino, Shinoda Mariko, Takajo Aki, Takahashi Minami, Maeda Atsuko, Akimoto Sayaka, Itano Tomomi, Oshima Yuko, Minegishi Minami, Miyazawa Sae, Yokoyama Yui, Kasai Tomomi, Kashiwagi Yuki, Kitahara Rie, Sato Amina, Masuda Yuka, Watanabe Mayu, Matsui Jurina and Matsui Rena.
Halloween Night (Center: Sashihara Rino)
The Senbatsu for Halloween Night was elected during the 7th Senbatsu Sousenkyo. Halloween Night is the first AKB48 song to have a total of 6 versions in a span of five months: the original version, JKT48’s version, Dangdut Version (also by JKT48), English version (also by JKT48), SNH48’s version and the enka version by Iwasa Misaki. This single is also the single after the AKB48 Spring Shuffle 2015.
Senbatsu: Shimazaki Haruka, Takahashi Minami, Yokoyama Yui, Muto Tomu, Kashiwagi Yuki, Watanabe Mayu, Matsui Jurina, Takayanagi Akane, Matsumura Kaori, Shibata Aya, Yamamoto Sayaka, Watanabe Miyuki, Sashihara Rino, Miyawaki Sakura, Kitahara Rie and Miyazawa Sae.
Kokoro No Placard (Center: Watanabe Mayu)
The 6th Senbatsu Sousenkyo produced the Senbatsu members of Kokoro No Placard. This single marks the first appearance of a Nogizaki46 member in an AKB48 single, this is also the first time that Team 8 was included. Kokoro no Placard is the first single since the graduation of Oshima Yuko.
Senbatsu: Kawaei Rina, Kojima Haruna, Shimazaki Haruka, Takahashi Minami, Yokoyama Yui, Kashiwagi Yuki, Watanabe Mayu, Matsui Jurina, Shibata Aya, Suda Akari, Matsui Rena, Yamamoto Sayaka, Sashihara Rino, Miyawaki Sakura, Miyazawa Sae and Nogizaki46’s Ikoma Rina.
Gingham Check (Center: Oshima Yuko)
The single was the result of the 4th Senbatsu Election. Gingham Check is the seventh AKB48 song to have an English title. This is also the first single and election to include members of HKT48 with Sashihara Rino being included in the senbatsu. This is also the last senbatsu of Team K’s Kasai Tomomi and the last single of Maeda Atsuko.
Senbatsu: Kojima Haruna, Shinoda Mariko, Takahashi Minami, Itano Tomomi, Oshima Yuko, Minegishi Minami, Miyazawa Sae, Umeda Ayaka, Yokoyama Yui, Kasai Tomomi, Kashiwagi Yuki, Kitahara Rie, Watanabe Mayu, Matsui Jurina, Matsui Rena and Sashihara Rino
Iiwake Maybe (Center: Maeda Atsuko)
The very first Senbatsu Sousenkyo resulted in the senbatsu for the Iiwake Maybe. The single also has one of the most iconic costumes used by AKB48. This was the first single where the Undergirls (Ranked 22th to 30th in the election) made an appearance. Iiwake Maybe is indeed one of the songs that made AKB48 who they are now.
Senbatsu: Itano Tomomi, Kitahara Rie, Kojima Haruna, Sato Amina, Sato Yukari, Shinoda Mariko, Takahashi Minami, Maeda Atsuko, Minegishi Minami, Miyazaki Miho, Akimoto Sayaka, Oshima Yuko, Ono Erena, Kasai Tomomi, Kuramochi Asuka, Miyazawa Sae, Ota Aika, Urano Kazumi, Kashiwagi Yuki, Watanabe Mayu and Matsui Jurina.
AKB48’s Senbatsu Sousenkyo was also adopted by their international sister groups. JKT48 has their own election called “Pemilihan Member”. MNL48 and their former Chinese-sister group SNH48 have the “Senbatsu Election”.
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