Furuhata Nao official blog 2013/06/11 [General Elections]

Good morning,
Team E Furuhata Nao speaking.

Today, if you allow it,
I’ll write about

AKB48
32nd single senbatsu elections
～Yume ha hitori ja mirarenai～
who took place in Nissan Stadium.

I apologize for taking so long
before writing this entry.

I’d like hereafter to put into words my determination
to remain strong and keep fighting in my own way.


This time again, I was unable to rank.

Honestly, I did feel a lot of regrets.

But what first came to mind then was
the dejected expressions of my fans…
I didn’t run in the elections to sadden fans
or to have them tell me “I’m sorry”.

At this thought, my chest ached. 

If possible, I wanted to preserve my smile.

But as measure as members were called
while I remained seated,
I didn’t know what to do anymore.

I felt like crying,
but crying meant renouncing,
so if possible I wanted to try not to let
go of any tear until the very end. 

But Rena-san who was sitting right next to me
firmly grabbed my hand…
Moved by Rena-san’s kindness
I spontaneously burst into tears (laugh)


But seeing how so many members ranked in,
I also felt really happy.

There are also plenty of Team E members
from before the shuffle.

I was truly happy for them.

To those who rank,
to fans of members who ranked,
my sincere congratulations.


What I received from those elections,
is the realization that I need to give the utmost of what I’m capable of.
 
I have regret saying I wanted to one day join senbatsu,
I’m not ashamed of having set such high goal.

To always remain my straight self ,
I need to have a grand goal, believing in my dreams…
And then to fail, to experience frustration,
time and time again.
To become strong.

I wish to go forward untiringly.

It’s alright to realize your dream by
steadily taking care of things you have to do one by one.
 

Sometimes the outcome may not meet my expectations,
I may feel abandoned and lost,
but I know who I am, as long as my soul will shine brightly,
I’m sure I’ll get closer from my dream.

Do you remember how I wrote
“I believe in my fans”?
Maybe there are people who think now
“She doesn’t believe in us anymore..”, no?


Even now, I believe in my fans.
“Believe” can turn into a form of pressure,
but even though…

As long as there will be fans believing in me,
I will believe too.

From now on I’m sure I’ll encounter many obstacles
but I’m set on overcoming them so
I hope you’ll look after me.
 

I’ll be in your care.
 

I’m truly thankful to all
the people who voted for me.


Votes fans cast for me didn’t go to waste.

Even if I don’t know where I actually ranked,
even if I wasn’t called on stage,
they are the force supporting me now.

Please take care of me today too.
Make sure to exchange beautiful smiles
in lot of places, ok?

Nao ♪908

—-

note : darn you goat!
(o#°x°o) Better translated twice than none I guess…

Matsui Rena keitai mail 09/06/2013

[From : Matsui Rena] Thank you + I love you×∞

Yaー（・ω・）ノ

Good morning

Will you forgive me for not sending this mail yesterday?
I so wanted to tell you about the elections but it was already too late.

First of all, thank you everyone for your support.
Those elections were the most scary ones I ever went through, but this fear only compares with the joy that followed.

As numbers passed, fear and joy swirled inside me and tears threatened to cover my face, but a more composed part of me dictated me not to cry. This voice in my head telling me I couldn’t cry when I had not been called yet had to get angry and scold me many times this evening (laugh).
But when Miyazawa-san was called, when I heard the S of “SNH”, I experienced the greatest pain of my whole life, so much I thought my breath was going to stop. It felt like the longest split of second ever.

And you know, about Miyazawa-san, when the ceremony was over she told me 「It’s really incredible how Rena could make her dream reality. Today I remembered your first speech.」. During the first elections I had said 「Next time I will enter senbatsu, after entering media senbatsu, my ultimate goal will be to become n°1」.

Now when I look back at how I delivered those words full of regrets while crying when I was the second name called in the very first elections, I think I finally understand what people meant when they told me it was a eerie scene (laugh).
Though I think that the me of this time had guts and an unwavering will, and that she was quite likeable.

Today I received (this position) as a present.
Next time I’ll grab victory with my own hands.
I’ll go all out so that everyone say how they deem me worthy of reaching higher.
Let’s break free from this complex hindering me.
Big dreams call for big changes, don’t they? (laugh)

I’m still not satisfied with myself and blaming it on me, so please keep watching over me, ok?

I love you-!

Matsui Rena ameblo 2013/06/09 00:10:27

Rena (Thank ・ω・you!)

Rena speaking

Concert at Nissan stadium, elections, everything ended up without incident.
I have a lot of feelings I want to share with everyone so I’ll probably end up writing a lot today.

Elections are probably in the minds of everyone.
This year I was granted this 7th position I’m so grateful for.
Really, thank you very much.

Until now when my name was called, what I saw were flashbacks of apologizing people caring for me, telling me 「I’m sorry」.
So this time when the early results announced me at such a high position, 6th, not knowing how things would unfold I wasn’t simply nervous or tense. I got scared. Helplessly scared.

Because of the tension I don’t have actual recollection of the instant my name was called as 7th, but what came to mind at once this year were all the smiles of everyone I met.

However, I told everyone I wanted to be the top.
I’m struggling inside, wondering if I should or not be simply content with this result.
If I let my joy explode here, I have the feeling I would be letting down those who are aiming higher with me.
Of course ranking 7 is extraordinary  and I am truly happy.
But this lingering sensation of regret in my chest, those feelings that never left me until now, I’ll turn this joy and those regrets into a spring to reach higher.

I’m truly blessed to be loved and proven to be loved by so many people.


I’m also extremely happy that many SKE members ranked in.
I’ll have to work even harder, as part of SKE and as part of Team E!


I’ll probably elaborate on the subject Monday in Mu~Comi!


Today I could actually feel how one vote after another, something of great scale could be shaped, just like a bouquet of Baby’s breath.


Thank you!

(Re・ω・na)

06/08

I voted for NanNan, once.

I voted for Yukko, once.

I voted for Kin-chan, once.

I voted for Churi, once.

I voted for Rena, twenty-seven times.

…

I said before I didn’t like how the event was organized, how sister group members were at disadvantage given how ballots were only in AKB singles. Plus seeing how last year SKE excellent results didn’t change anything for members nor the group, part of me wonders why fans keep voting for this masquerade…

And yet another part of me wants to take part in the adventure and help more SKE members names to be called tomorrow. That’s the motivation behind the four first mentioned votes.

…

The other 27 votes for Rena?

I just want to see her smile.

May many, many, SKE members rank today and more than anything, may it change how things are run. One real concert (haru con.) a year for such an important group is ridiculous. May it help them getting sponsors. May it give them more TV opportunities…

Oh! And may surprises spare us during the live before the elections. Somehow, with everyone focusing on the elections I’ve the feeling we’re forgetting what could happen besides…

——

Note : From Makiko’s blog : 「メンバーの入場、今回の総選挙は新チーム体制になってますので、チームS縛りになっています。」

Members will be sitting with their new teams today.

No WMatsui holding hands and crying side by side during those elections… ( ._.) my itp…

Matsui Rena mobile mail 06/07/2013 (morning)

Yaー（・ω・）ノ

Good morning

I was exhausted yesterday and even though I went to bed I kept waking up, again and again.
It rarely happens.
Because tomorrow is such an important day?

Yesterday during an interview I was asked “What result do you expect for the elections?”, to which I answered with my honest feelings.
But now, looking back, I wonder if it wouldn’t have been better to keep it for myself.

We will have to live to tomorrow to know the outcome.
Nobody knows what will happen, but what is certain is that I have to be ready to accept any result.
Judging from my past experiences, my pulse is going so fast it’s almost scary.

What I can do, is to give my best during the live.
This and to properly brace myself.

Everybody share the same anxiety, right?
Me, just as everyone else.
That’s why tomorrow I have to turn this uncertainty into the most extraordinary of all smiles.
Because so many people supported me in this occasion.

More than anything, I draw my self-confidence from all the persons who come to meet me.
Why I can believe in myself.

That’s why I’ll always stretch my hand to reach out for my goal.

All right, smile!

Let the SKE wind blow! Matsui Rena & Takayanagi Akane, vanguard members’ PRs (fromSponichi 2013/06/04)

AKB48’s General Elections will take place on the 8th of this month in Nissan Stadium. It looks like SKE48 members will be the ones in the eye of the typhoon. The 22nd of last month in early results, the accounted for 21 names among 64 (kennins included), and 5 members ranked in the top 16, the so called senbatsu.  Announced at the 6th position in the early results, Matsui Rena (21) and 28th Takayanagi Akane (21) will today act as those vanguard members’ PRs telling us about their charms and about the highlights of those elections.

— Little people know about Shibata Aya who ranked 8 in the early results, could you introduce her to us?

Rena - What should we tell you about Aya…

Akane -Her eyes send beams!

Rena - Ah, her eyes do send beams! She has wide and beautiful eyes.

Akane - She has a powerful look.

Rena - There is this rumor going around that during stage performances fans will often fall senseless when meeting her gaze.

— The glow in her eyes made her rank 8th?!

Akane - Many people wanted to answer those feelings they could read in her eyes, probably.

— What about n°11 in early results, Suda Akari-san?

Rena - Akarin has always said 「I want to go higher!」, so fans have been responding to her wish, she is also actively contributes to SKE thanks to her soft body skills. “Soft body skills’ contribution” sounds amazing doesn’t it?! (laugh)

Akane - She is on spare with champions of of this world really (laugh).

Rena - It would also seem that her ballet during Kouhaku Utagassen had a positive impact.

— Ranking 16th in the early results, Kizaki Yuria-san?

Akane - She played in last year 「Majisuka Gakuen」, is part of 「Sayonara Crawl」senbatsu, a lot is expected from her as a new generation prime member. Ranking exactly in 16th position (limit of senbatsu) in the early results, I wonder if it’s not going to fire up both Yuria and her fans.

Rena - In a recent stage, Akarin wa in my position and Yuria took over (Matsui) Jurina’s position for the first time. They both said how 「It was a very enriching experience」, I thought it was good that she had such desire to improve herself.

— How do you feel, waiting during the announcement.

Akane - Wanting to be called fast, wanting to be called as late as possible, but then going too high you start to worry 「Could it be I didn’t rank in at all?」, it really is a curious feeling. In my case after I have been call I nervously lookout for when Jurina-san and Rena-san are going to be called.

Rena - Fans can look at us while we’re sitting, it makes me all the more nervous.

— And when you’re going in stage when your name is called?

Akane - Last year part of me was disappointed (to rank 24th), but telling myself this was where I indeed stand then, I kept on walking with a smile.

— Isn’t it fascinating how people who watch the elections can read past those smiles and understand what they hide?!

Akane - Some fans told me 「I could see your pain.」 and my mother you watched it at home also  noticed 「That was totally a fake smile!」(laugh). But I wasn’t too surprised in her case, she is my mother after all.

Rena - When I was called it was as if my fans had been slapped. The 3 previous times I had fans apologizing to me 「I thought you’d rank higher, I’m sorry for failing to support you more」 . Those words made happy of course, but it was also painful. So last year (ranking 10th) I thought I would definitely hear those words 「I’m sorry.」again. So I decided I would walk without crying, no matter what, and convey how glad I was about this result.

— Any drama coming to mind?!

Rena - Last year as Jurina and myself were lining up waiting to called, the moment 「Team S」was announced I jump on my feet. I was asked later by fans 「Why did you stand so fast?」. Somehow I expected 「Team K」 to be called for Jurina. So when I heard 「Team S」 I thought it could only be me (laugh).

— One of the highlight of the elections are the speeches members give once they stand on stage, do you think about what you’re going to say before the event?

Rena - Not at all.

Akane - Me neither.

— Improvisation?!

Rena - I will say what I feel, what is on my mind at this exact instant, yes.

— How did you left last year?

Rena - More than anything I wanted to convey 「I’m happy.」 to my fans.

Akane - It was relatively hard for me. A lot of SKE members ranked in and among them I was the only one to drop. SKE fans were celebrating so in order not to spoil this atmosphere I spoke with a smile but truth is I couldn’t see the face of fans in the audience (bitter smile)/

— AKB group members have a thing to read the atmosphere, right?

Rena - I think it’s thanks to our stages. In the theater during MCs, when we talked all together, we learn how to exchange with the audience.

— Do you think your speeches will improve this year?

Rena - The most important is that there are fans who have been supporting us, so more than anything I want to properly convey my gratitude toward them. 「Thank you very much」 comes before whatever else I would want to express.

Akane - Last year my mother could see the regrets through my mask, but this year I wish that my joy will show when I appear on stage, without even the need to make it into words. 

——

Extra : a few words about 12th single released on July 17th

— About the (12th single) composition, Rena simply disclosed 「It makes one think “Eh? This kind of song in summer?!”」, to which Akane added  「It is set to surprise.We’re also looking forward to it 」.

NMB48 Yamamoto Sayaka x SKE48 Matsui Rena

Sister groups’ tops discuss - Changing AKB48 from the provinces -

(from AKB48 General Elections 2013 Official Guide Book out 2013/05/15)

Where Rena is socially awkward. Saya-nee too.

But they’re also cool.

And passionate.

And they have plans.

Plans I’m 200% supporting.

Hell yeah girls!

Enjoy!

——

Both fighting their own nervousness, the “shy” ’s conversation starts!

Matsui - *rubbing her knees while slightly fidgeting on her chair* …. Where do I start…?

Yamamoto - Are you cold?

Matsui - When I’m nervous I’ve this habit of rubbing my knees to calm me down…

Yamamoto - So you were nervous too. I know the feeling, I also have a hard time approaching others.

Matsui - It’s the first time we have the opportunity to have this kind of discussion just the two of us, right?

Yamamoto - We have been brought together thanks to senbatsu but regarding properly talking together…

Matsui - We met during 「Everyday, Katyusha 」 shooting, no? I thought that those two girls from NMB must have been nervous, so I decided I should gather my courage and  come to talk to you but… With my zero social skills…

Yamamoto - Ahahah. Even though we were already on the set, you did come talk to us.

Matsui - But it was hella awkward.

Yamamoto - No, no, it wasn’t that bad (laugh).

Matsui - For 「Manatsu no Sounds good」 MV shooting in Guam, I shared Saya-nee’s room too.

Yamamoto - We were together all the time for almost 4 days.

Matsui - At the time, I was constantly nervous, trying to make sure I wasn’t encroaching on your everyday life.

Yamamoto - Was it really how you felt?

Matsui - Hmm. I remember we barely talked to each other…

Yamamoto - There was not a noise in our room and the atmosphere was gloom so with our keitais in hand we would tell each other 「I’m going to look for Wi-Fi.」 (laugh).

Matsui - Ahahah. But it’s the same when I’m paired with SKE members too. Like, I could never go visit someone else’s room to play there.

Yamamoto - Ehh~? I’m also not really comfortable with sharing my room but if it’s with NMB members then I’ll go have fun with them with pleasure.

Matsui - I’m hopeless, really… There is no way I could connect to people as frankly as someone  like (Matsui) Jurina

Yamamoto - Milky (Watanabe Miyuki) too is the kind who easily goes to contact with others.

Matsui - They are quite similar in this aspect no? They’re free and act as they please, managing to drag in everyone around. Them who constantly have such an “happy aura”, it’s like they just need to be somewhere to give it a glamorous sparkle.

Yamamoto - Jurina-san and Milky both have this something that fascinates and who can make them win anyone over, right?

Matsui - When I for one, and Saya-nee too I think, are the type who carefully pick people, and only then start to open ouselves. Am I wrong?

Yamamoto - That’s right. Milky is the sociable type when I am…

Matsui - You think about your own position, consider both parties involved balance and only then you decide if you want to make  one step forward?

Yamamoto - I’ve never been one to forcibly go after others anyway.

Matsui - Don’t you envy them, though.

Yamamoto - I do. It would immediately enlarge the field of my surrounding.

Matsui - It makes you think life must be a lot more fun when you can easily go toward others.

Yamamoto - I think it’s important to remember that both Jurina-san and Milky are single child.

Matsui - I see. Like how they are good at being pampered.

Yamamoto - Jurina-san and Rena-san, Milky and myself, our relations are quite similar, right?

Matsui - Waoo. Just now, I felt an incredible sympathy toward Saya-nee (laugh).

Yamamoto - What else do we have in common…

Matsui - We both like manga and anime!

Yamamoto - Myself, I’m a fujoshi. (tln : Saya-nee doesn’t use the complete term of “fujoshi”, but only the first syllable, which kanji “腐” reads as rotten. So you could read her sentence as “I’m myself (thoroughly) rotten. )

Matsui - Two seconds, let’s be clear, I’m not a fujoshi (laugh). It’s not like I had something against boys love but I won’t go out of my way to get my hand on it.

Yamamoto - While I’d move heaven and earth to get hold of it (laugh).

Matsui - You’re also into otome game no?

Yamamoto - I did play at 「Hakuoki」based on the Shinsengumi…

Matsui - I’m playing it too! I like Heisuke Todo.

Yamamoto - You do like shota characters, don’t you?

Matsui - Ahhh~ Drat, you’ve seen right through me (laugh).

Yamamoto - He is cute with his mischievous look, isn’t he? I myself quite like Hijikata Toshizo, but my favorite is  the antagonist, Kazama Chikage. 

Matsui - Chii-sama?! That’s the forcible type.

Yamamoto - It has nothing to do with my own type of course.

Matsui - Hold on, is it really alright for us to have this kind of conversation in the elections guide book?!

Yamamoto - Don’t you think we could gain some votes? Shota votes  and heavy handed votes (laugh)

Their nature of “passionate women” reveals itself. The exchange heats up!

Matsui - I’ve knows Saya-nee since her debut but your image hasn’t change one bit since then.

Yamamoto - What image do you have of me exactly?

Matsui - Someone focused, with a strong sense of responsibility, diligent, a passionate girl.

Yamamoto - Speaking of “passionate”, then Rena-san too…

Matsui - Eh?! Is that so?

Yamamoto - You ARE passionate! In your blog you let out your real self, or how to put it? You write down your own feelings and thoughts without concealing them. I think that in this aspect, we are quite close you and me.

Matsui - Saya-nee too in her blog speaks on behalf of members and fans by voicing their feelings, right?

Yamamoto - It wasn’t like this at first but my entries kept hitting up (laugh).

Matsui - In this year elections too you’re going to flare things up?

Yamamoto - I’m set on doing it. Last year, even though I was part of AKB-san senbatsu I didn’t rank in media senbatsu in the elections. I felt, miserable…

Matsui - I also have a lot of regrets regarding last year elections. Being part of AKB-san senbatsu and through my personal works I should have been able to convey my burning desire to rank higher, but since I didn’t… That’s why this year I’m being honest!

Yamamoto - Me too, I can’t fail ranking among top 16 members. The speech of Shinoda (Mariko) -san also triggered something in me last year.

Matsui - You talked about it in your blog right? Something like 「The fire has been lit」.

Yamamoto - In all the changes that are currently operating, I want to become someone capable to stir up AKB-san!

Matsui - Saya-nee so fierce! But since a seat is finally empty, there is no other choice but to go for it, right? Me too, I don’t want to have any regrets this year so I’m going all out!

Yamamoto - Rena-san too is blazing!

Matsui - That’s because SKE’s athletic spirit runs deeply through me (laugh).

Yamamoto - You even became Team E leader right?

Matsui - Hmm. Strangely enough (laugh).

Yamamoto - I think you fit perfectly.

Matsui - Eh?! When I was never given to lead anyone before?

Yamamoto - Are you for real?

Matsui - What should a leader do? Please tell me, Saya-nee!.

Yamamoto - For me to…. I mean….

Matsui - As captain, what does Saya-nee focuses on?

Yamamoto - If there something I can’t properly do myself, I shouldn’t point the same thing out at others. That’s why I believe that when actions come along with words, you really gain authority.

Matsui - I wonder if I’m built for the role considering how SKE abides by the doctrine of dance’s supremacy (laugh).

Yamamoto - I have no doubt Rena-san’s approach and stand will properly be conveyed. Speaking of which, I heard by a staff member that during a concert Rena-san spent the whole time attending a kenkyusei who didn’t feel well.

Matsui - I must have been about our recent Gaishi Hall concert. There was a girl who didn’t get promoted, she cried backstage a lot.

Yamamoto - If you ask me, someone capable of doing this is cut to be a leader.

Matsui - I’m glad to hear that~ I’ve been praised! How does Saya-nee acts around her juniors?

Yamamoto - When we are together, I mostly speak with them. If I’m asked 「Please let me take a picture with you.」 , I say 「Ok」, but I keep a certain distance by answering bluntly (laugh).

Matsui - I’m also the kind of person who creates her own territory so if I’m not dealing with a girl who will break my defenses without minding…

Yamamoto - That why you should start with something like calling out all the girls present that day 「Ok, everyone who is free now let’s go eat something together!」.

Matsui - Waoo, that’s so cool! You really do sound like an elder sister. But, I can’t go have lunch with members, even when I’m invited somehow…

Yamamoto - You don’t like the idea?

Matsui - That’s not, hmm, well… It would be nice to take things slower and to get to know each other better first… You see?

Yamamoto - But is it not precisely one step toward getting to know each other better?

Matsui - Oh, I - I see (laugh).



When two blazing souls meet. The morning of the revolution is drawing near…

Matsui - How does Saya-nee feels when she is part of AKB-san’s senbatsu?

Yamamoto - Hmm…. If you ask me if it’s similar to when I’m with NMB where I have my own part to play, the answer is probably no. That’s why, among other things, I follow Takamina’s example so closely…

Matsui - Like a vice captain, right?

Yamamoto - Exactly. During 「UZA」is was told by AKB-san’s sempais 「Your dance style is really cool.」. It opened my eyes on the necessity to properly polish those areas where I was already strong to make them my own selling points.

Matsui - But you must have experienced it too no while with AKB-san, things like 「Where should I sit?」. Personally, I’m still searching for it…

Yamamoto - I perfectly know what you mean.

Matsui - That’s why I think what we need the most right now is to clearly establish our characters among AKB-san. Just like we manage to define who we were in SKE and NMB.

Yamamoto - In our respective groups we are either captain or leader, but it would be great to be able to show other aspects of our personality when with AKB-san, right?

Matsui - Hmm. But I ponder if that’s really what we’re ought to do. I feel like we’ve been pushed toward a crossroad we’ve now reached. Do you think it has to change, Saya-nee? The current 48 group.

Yamamoto - The real question is how do we change the 48 group …. How do we change it from our own provinces?

Matsui - I’ve this feeling that the more vigorous the provincial groups are, the more fun and interesting the whole group will turn out to be.

Yamamoto - I couldn’t agree more.

Matsui - I can clearly feel expectations from SKE fans and that’s also that I want to answer them. But if I only think about my own interest and make my move, it could irremediably affect SKE’s image. But then, in order to have a lot more people to get to know SKE, I need to enter senbatsu no matter what. That’s why, honestly, I’ve often been lost, wondering about what approach I should opt for, sometimes seriously worrying.

Yamamoto - It’s not an easy situation…. But you know, I think that if we can’t change things from the outside, we should do it from the inside.

Matsui - … In other words?

Yamamoto - I think it can’t be helped that we are seen as AKB-san’s sister groups. But fans properly make each group apart and understand our differences. That’s why for now I think we have no other choice but to, at least, thoroughly burnish own own skills so that people will someday say 「When did NMB turn into such an awesome group?!」.   

                                                                                   
Matsui - I see. SKE also went through the same kind of crisis. Though we appeared by ourselves in Kouhaku Utagassen, that we got to get known by people all over the country, truthfully, I don’t think it changed in anything how we are seen, as a sister branch of AKB-san. SKE members’ level of recognition is far from being satisfying yet and we don’t have a hit song like 「Heavy Rotation」 that everybody knows. That’s exactly why, I think, we need to be assertive and aim higher. I hope to be able to convey this posture in this year elections.

Yamamoto -　That makes sense. If we’re going to compete anyway, it’s important to have at heart to “aim for the top!” (tln : “Teppen tottande!” in the text), right?

Matsui - It is. Hence why I think this year elections’ results for Saya-nee and myself will be, in the purest sense of the term, the touchstone which will allow to know “how far provincial groups have gone so far”.

Yamamoto - I’m also often told by fans 「Don’t lose to Miyuki!」, but… Since she became a kennin member, Miruki has been very favourably welcomed by AKB-san’s fans…. And it’s not like if I were fixated about being center either…

Matsui - It’s ok. Carry on.

Yamamoto - But, after all, I want to take number one in our group! If during the elections, when my envelope is opened, reactions were to be something like 「Eh? That’s all?」… I’d die in shame.

Matsui - I’m also giving all I have in this battle. This year, finally, I want my dream of a single digit ranking to be granted!

Yamamoto - No matter what I want to be in the top 16, to repay my fans for their support!

Matsui - It would seem…. We both truly are “passionate girls”, no?

Yamamoto - Seems like it indeed (laugh).

Matsui - I’m really glad I was able to talk with Saya-nee today, that we could exchange our points of view and feelings. Thank you.

Yamamoto - All the pleasure is mine. I was also really happy when I heard I could talk with Rena-san.

Matsui - Even though we barely exchanged a word during 「Manatsu no Sounds good」MV shooting, right? (laugh)

Yamamoto - Ahahahah.

Matsui - What about exchanging our yells to wrap things up?

Yamamoto - For the elections, let’s aim at being number one of our respective groups!

Matsui - Hmm! Let’s do our best so after the elections we can give another interview together, a 「We did it!」 interview!

——

That totally started playing in my mind at some point (o°^°o)=3

Edit : fixed Rena talking about how she isn’t a fujoshi even though she has nothing against BL, but that’s just not her cup of tea.

That’s one argument fans saying votes from PC count brought up. I’m also inclined to believe it is the case but there is no actual way to prove it.

Why going out of your way to write “votes via keitai and smartphones ONLY” on ballots this year when it wasn’t the case before? 

The fact that serial numbers that are entered reach the system and are therefore impossible to use again after makes no doubt. Even if you use a PC, even if you vote from abroad. The problem is to know if they are actually counted.

See, a few days ago when loopholes appeared, some people could voted unlimitedly with the same code. Every time the terminal screen told them their votes had been accepted. But management said they would cancel / erase those votes. Proof that there is a  way after you submitted your vote, whatever the terminal says, to validate or invalidate it.

Now also please take a look at last year votes diagram : there is a list of regions from where voters are from. 

No mention of oversea whatsoever…

( ._.)

魔法少女48: [About AKB48's Senbatsu Sousenkyo votes from overseas]

mahoushoujoari:

Everyone, please pay attention if you’re intending to vote for AKB’s Senbatsu Sousenkyo.

Unfortunately, the chances overseas votes might not be counted, are very high, since in the official FAQ, at the question: “Is it possible to vote from overseas?” the answer is that yes, it is but only…

Since I pulled the red flag on twitter about that one I’m going to add my two cents.

This year it would seem that voting is limited to keitai and smartphone or at the very least it’s what is written on ballots. After some fans noticed it they started debating on 2ch to know if votes enter via PC would be counted (matome here).

It appears however that so many early results votes could only be achieved (probably) by using PC and when you indeed try to enter a code in a keitai you already enter on a PC, the screen warns you it has already been used. i.e : voting via PC should be ok.

Now given how it is expressly written you should use a keitai or smartphone only, there is also a chance and it would now be totally legal, to NOT COUNT votes cast via PC or to filter them.

Since their is such a huge grey zone fans are advised not to vote via PC (at least until management gives a clear answer). But it’s left at the discretion of all…

—-

For overseas fans now… lol.

It is again expressly written in the FAQ that in the case we were to obtain codes for the elections that we should use  Japanese keitai or smartphone. Ari and myself were discussing about knowing if it meant Japanese keitai and Japanese smartphones or Japanese keitai and any smartphones but I’m quite sure it means indeed Japanese keitai and Japanese smartphones only.

And SPIRAL website isn’t giving much hope either… 

「シリアルナンバー投票システム」は、パイプドビッツが提供する、日本で唯一の模擬ネット選挙プラットフォームです。スマートフォンの普及に伴い、PC、スマートフォン、フィーチャーフォンからの投票を可能とし、さらに、海外からの標的型攻撃に備え、より強固なセキュリティ体制で臨み、万が一のシステムダウン時に速やかに復旧できるよう、システムを改良いたしました。

The spiral system is designed to ensure votes are correctly registered, counted and to prevent any form of attack from the outside. It says nothing about voting from outside Japan but it specifically state the system is designer to block any attack from overseas.

May engineers have been a bit zealous and there is little hope left our votes to be accounted for…

It doesn’t seem that for now anyone could say, except maybe a few management members and Spiral technicians themselves, if foreign votes are counted or not but as it is expressly written on ballots and FAQ that you should vote from Japanese keitai or smartphone, if they were not to be counted, you would have no right to complain or ask for any compensation. 

- Matsui Rena interview - General Elections Guide Book 2013 (out May 15th 2013)

Matsui Rena

I’ve stopped being passive! This year, I’ll be upfront about my feelings.

Rena - Somehow, the closer from the central position I get, the happier I am. The farther I stand from the 0 position, the stronger the bitterness that assaults me.

Commentator - Such were the unexpected words that escaped from Rena’s lips during the interview, expression of the unwavering power of attraction the 0 mark exercised on her. Lot of people probably didn’t expect her, SKE48’s figure and AKB48 regular senbatsu, to have preserved such strong feelings and to want, today, stand in the center position.

Rena - I think it has a lot to do with being next to someone like (Matsui) Jurina who doesn’t hide her feelings in this regards. When I was a child I was very similar to her. I wanted to be at the center of everything, so much that when I first met Jurina she reminded me of my old self. When exactly did I turn into such a reserved girl…? (laugh)
Although while we were performing 「Party ga Hajimaruyo」stage, during「Classmate」I would sometime dance on the 0 position and think “I was so far behind and yet here I stand!”. Then I would feel sooooo happy that I still remember it vividly. I imagine it would be somehow lonely at times if everyone was standing behind me, but if I could make it reality, it would also probably give me the confidence necessary to carry such a responsibility.
But rather than being the center of attention, I seek to be praised.

Commentator - It felt like the “assertive Rena”, who during the 2nd elections had delivered this ghastly speech 「I want to grow into wonderful person, worth being told “You shall become number 1!” 」but who seemed to had fade this past few years, was suddenly back, standing in front of me.

Rena - The results I obtained so far in the elections have been a bless I’m deeply grateful for. But if I never expressed after the 1st elections how I wasn’t satisfied by my position it’s probably because I had prepared myself, setting up a mental barrier to protect me in case I would have drop considerably. What was I thinking? When I had not reach a position worth being protected yet…
All those years I couldn’t help but being passive in my approach of the elections. But as an SKE member, part of AKB-san’s senbatsu and even when I worked as “Matsui Rena”, I longed for reaching higher. Maybe I could have convey my feelings better? The worst was after last year elections, it was all too frustrating.

Commentator - Reading between the lines, you could perceive her internal struggling. As SKE48 representative, being given the most visibility thanks to her multiple works, how would have others reacted if she had said 「I want to rank higher.」? Maybe she would have had to deal with such reactions as「When you’re already so lucky to be where you are?!」. For the sake of SKE48 in its entirety, maybe the best choice was to hold herself back?
Such was the dilemma tormenting her.

Rena - In the end it all boils down to me lacking confidence. I’m neither a good dancer nor an outstanding singer so if I was faced up with 「Why does it have to be you?」I thought I wouldn’t have it in me to reply while looking straight at them…
But something happened. Something changed that. During Gaishi Hall concert the performance didn’t go as smoothly as I would have hope for and I let go tears of frustration on stage. Hearing about this episode a certain staff member came to me 「Of course nobody will tell you you should neglect the quality of the performance, but fans came to see Rena enjoying herself on stage, so as long as you have a good time and share it with the audience, it will be alright! 」.
Those words had a big impact on me and changed my state of mind entirely.
So now if I was asked the same question I would firmly answer 「Because I’m the one having the greatest time when I stand on stage.」.

Commentator - Last year SKE48 knew a neat progression, even appearing under its own name in Kouhaku. But you also had to deal with many graduations…

Rena - To be quite honest I think society hasn’t changed opinion about us, we are still regarded as “AKB’s branch, that idol group operating in Nagoya”. The degree of popularity of our member among the large public is far from satisfying and we don’t have a signature song which compares to 「Heavy Rotation」for AKB-san. Hence this sense of impending crisis presents in our minds. This year, imperatively, we must work hard together and show our unbreakable resolve to bask into brighter lights. I think we don’t have any other choice but to. I understand that having myself and Jurina in AKB-san’s senbatsu leads to more people getting to know SKE, in the same way when members’ solo works increase it’s the base of the whole group that solidifies.
Although, we are lucky in that that SKE has many hako oshis (fans supporting the whole group), who embrace and care for the group as a whole. More reason for us, more than ever, to make a point of facing the same direction as our fans and to put our feelings at unison.

Commentator - Recently there was a shuffle during which you were sent to Team E and nominated as its leader, adding to your responsibilities.

Rena - During those elections I want SKE members to be as dreadful as me (laugh), I want them to be serious about their ambitions and their will to rank, because I’ll myself approach the competition the head high and defying.
I want my juniors to witness me bearing those feelings proudly and determined to reach higher. So for them, and for me, I’ll run toward those elections with every bit of strength I have in me. Because I decided to be honest with myself! This year, as my dream to enter the single digits column comes true, with a smile, I want to exchange countless “Congratulations” “Thank you” with my fans.

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