Honestly, I think the Japanese trainees just make for better TV because their story is inherently more interesting. We've already seen expertly trained Korean trainees battling it out on these shows. Just in the last couple of years - Sixteen, Finding Momoland, Idol School, two seasons of Produce 101, The Unit, MixNine... it's been done to death. Japanese idols, with no formal training or real foundation doing this kind of thing? That's new and exciting.
#31
Posted 12 July 2018 - 04:16 AM
#32
Posted 21 July 2018 - 05:29 PM
Just watched some of the performances from the position evaluations, and they were all kind of meh. I'm very disappointed with the dance performances, but that could also be because of Mnet's crappy editing... (like why do they have to do slowmo's on hairflips I don't understand). Also interesting to note, all of the Korean trainees from the current top 12 were shown this week. Looks like the performances from the Japanese trainees in top 12 will be shown next week. I'm not sure if that is intentional or not, but you never know with Mnet... In any case I'm hoping there will be better performances next week.
#33
Posted 21 July 2018 - 06:46 PM
#36
Posted 09 August 2018 - 04:22 PM
Pretty much all of my favorites are gone now.
#37
Posted 10 August 2018 - 02:14 PM
This, imo, shaped up to be the most bland and underwhelming season of this series so far. The concept is novel but in the end we barely have 10 Japanese girls left, and much of the dance/performance talent has been eliminated (when this season was already short on talent anyway).
My interest in the show honestly kind of puttered out after Jurina left but I have been lazily following the eliminations and watching the performances even without her, but nothing has really impressed me or caught my eye. I only hope that at least one or two of the good vocalists makes it into the final group, because most of these Korean trainees are pretty boring anyway. At least let the group be boring and talented lol.
Just a very bland batch of trainees in the end... I really wish Korea would give these shows a break for a year or two so that the companies can stockpile some actually impressive trainees again. Sending trainees all over these shows for two or three years has clearly stretched their reserves thin.
#38
Posted 31 August 2018 - 07:18 PM
Final lineup:
Jang Wonyoung (Starship)
Miyawaki Sakura (HKT48)
Jo Yuri (Stone Music)
Choi Yena (Yuehua)
Ahn Yoojin (Starship)
Yabuki Nako (HKT48)
Kwon Eunbi (Woolim)
Kang Hyewon (8D)
Honda Hitomi (AKB48)
Kim Chae-won (Woolim)
Minjung Kim (Urban Works)
Lee Chaeyeon (WM)
#39
Posted 01 September 2018 - 01:13 AM
Only three Japanese girls? That's pretty disappointing... Twice has more by ratio lol
#40
Posted 01 September 2018 - 02:14 AM
Only three Japanese girls? That's pretty disappointing... Twice has more by ratio lol
Wonyoung is officially an honorary Japanese idol since she’s the center despite turning 14 like today or something like that.
#41
Posted 06 September 2018 - 02:48 PM
Only three Japanese girls? That's pretty disappointing... Twice has more by ratio lol
Finally watched this last night. Only three AKB girls made me happy, tbh. This season kinda sucked overall from a strict talent perspective.
#42
Posted 06 September 2018 - 09:33 PM
#43
Posted 06 September 2018 - 10:26 PM
2.5 year contract is insane for this group.
#44
Posted 07 September 2018 - 12:33 AM
2.5 year contract is insane for this group.
Rumor is that it’s only exclusive for the first year and a half, which sounds like an excuse to ship the Japanese girls back in case it’s not working out.
#45
Posted 07 September 2018 - 06:01 AM
I mean that's only like 2-3 singles by UpFront's standards...2.5 year contract is insane for this group.
#46
Posted 07 September 2018 - 06:21 AM
I mean that's only like 2-3 singles by UpFront's standards...2.5 year contract is insane for this group.
#47
Posted 26 September 2018 - 04:13 AM
#48
Posted 26 September 2018 - 04:41 AM
There has to be a mutually-agreed upon opt-out clause in the event that this groups bombs.
#49
Posted 26 September 2018 - 02:38 PM
There has to be a mutually-agreed upon opt-out clause in the event that this groups bombs.
Or if they can’t hack it in Korea, they’ll just go scrape some money out of Japan.
#50
Posted 08 March 2019 - 06:58 PM
Takahashi Juri is graduating AKB to join Woolim entertainment and join a girl group.
Takeuchi Miyu is joining Mystic Entertainment.
I wonder if any other AKB members are going to jump ship to Korea.
#51
Posted 08 March 2019 - 10:29 PM
I have a hard time imaging those two being successful in Korea. Miyu in particular if she’s going to be a soloist.
#52
Posted 09 March 2019 - 03:29 AM
They're both kinda old to pull this off. If they could've jumped over closer to when the show aired, that would've helped, but I doubt most Koreans even remembers who they are now.
#53
Posted 09 March 2019 - 03:40 AM
Actually in that sense going to Korea is a pretty smart move. Their time in the spotlight could potentially last longer than in the J-idol system if they are successful.
I support it.