Akicha in AKB48 Sousenkyo Official Guidebook 2013
This translation came from the AKB48 Sousenkyo Official Guidebook 2013 which contains a corner called “The Girls who Cross the Ocean” (contain Aki Takajo, Sae Miyazawa, Mariya Suzuki)
Since Haruka opted not to join the Sousenkyo and all of local JKT48 girls didn’t meet the requirements, Akicha is the sole candidate from JKT48.
Aki Takajo – “Across the border that made me stronger than before!!”
Akicha who transferred over to JKT48 is looking back at the last Sousenkyo as the “Defining moment that changed myself”.
To be honest, I have no good memory of the last Sousenkyo (Laugh). I was really vexed and in pain due to being ranked 17th and not becoming one of the Senbatsu members, I couldn’t see any future… But being 17th made me center of the under girls, which also gave me jobs and during the MV my new face is drawn out. I made friends with under girls members who I hadn’t gotten a chance to talk to before. That gave me more chances to communicate with other members and more. People can do everything!! (Laugh) Though I finished in 17th place; my activity doesn’t end there, it gave me many experiences and I could change myself. Become stronger I guess? (Laugh) That’s the reason why I can do it now!!
Akicha gaining strength through new experiences, now being popular as the JKT48 ace!! Through activity in a foreign country, she has changed more and keeps continuing to grow.
I live together with Gon (Haruka Nakagawa) in Jakarta. We share our stories and “Hold on” together. The climate in Jakarta is really awesome!! JKT48 has the energy!! But it’s really hard to learn the language (Smiles wryly) I mainly skipped my (English) studies in Junior-high school thinking “It’s okay, because I won’t use English when I become an adult”. Never crossed my mind that I would be an international person who can speak the Indonesian language!! (Laugh)
There are differences between Japan and Indonesia. Such as the national character or how they deal with time. While recording TV programs, there is no script, no rehearsal. Traffic jams are awful, what takes only 15 minutes by car normally can sometimes take more than 1 hour. But I pile up these experiences as specific to being abroad, now I can deal with whatever happens.
Though she continues to grow, she has kept her character of “Akicha is Akicha”.
Though almost all of members are my junior, I have no ability to unify them (Laugh) I want a power like Takamina-san (Minami Takahashi)!! But my character of going at my own pace hasn’t changed. Though I have crossed the border I still have “my pace” (Laugh)
Though Akicha’s pace hasn’t changed, Sousenkyo (which she will join for the first time as a JKT48 member) is coming soon.
That day will come by like a flash. Now that I experience all these new things every day, I have no memory of this week (Laugh) I’m the only candidate from JKT48. Not only for myself, but I’ll join Senbatsu as the representative of JKT48. I want to inform JKT48 to many and many people. If people know about JKT48, I have confidence that they will become a fans of us!!
Though rank is important, my experiences have taught me that there are other important things besides it. If I get a rank; whatever it is, then my effort is not wasted. So I don’t care which rank I get, I have nothing to be afraid of!! That’s exactly why I’ve become stronger than before!!
AKB48 Official Sousenkyo Book
Japanese to English Translation by Anon
Thanks for the translation, and thank to Akicha Senbatsu sousenkyo 2012 rank that she moved to JKT
I am glad she became stronger. I always worried about her, since she was very depressed about her rank in last sousenkyo. And to be honest, I used to think that her first intention to go to Jakarta solely to get his rank higher. But it seems it evolved. She had experienced how to work simultaneously in 2 countries, understanding different characters and culture, and at the same time focus to her goal to be the top member of AKB48. It changed her so much so that she recently appeared more confidence, mature (she is mature before, but in individualistic way) and happy, knowing that being 17th brought her so many new experiences and opportunities she never had expect before, even if she had been elected as senbatsu last year.
The confidence that I see in Akicha right now is a good thing for her. She seems realized that the rank in Sousenkyo not everything, AKB48 is small compared to the world, but to maintain herself good enough to be true entertainer in Japan entertainment industry is the proper mindset she got. It’s not the rank, it’s experience decides.
So, good luck Akicha! I hope you a great success! ^^
Can I copy this translation and spread?
Sure! as long as you give credits to this website and Anon who translate the article
Thanx
“Such as the national character or how they deal with time.” —> OUCHHH!! xP
that’s deep..
very deep..
help..
i can’t swim. it’s too deep. i’m drowning here. 
me just glad that she actually have intentions to promote JKT to the next level (considering her act that seems not too enthusiast in this transfer.. unlike Haruka
)
whether it is true or not, still have to appreciate it tho..
even tho me personally think most of fans here didn’t to care about this sosenkyo-or whatever the name is-as long she can still perform with JKT girls..
Should she go to Granpa Fertile (Eyang Subur) for this Sousenkyo? In case she needs a “wangsit”, amulet or something “Holy”. I think it’s worth a try. Who knows…..
“Though rank is important, My experiences teaches me that there are other important things besides that”. I’m so glad you understand it Akicha.:) I know “AKB48” name is very famous but i don’t think that name can guarantee Akicha will working as an actress after she graduate later. Many former AKB48 and other sister group member become ordinary person after they graduated. For example Nakaya Sayaka couldn’t pass the audition to be voice actress even though she is former famous “AKB48” member and now she work as part time employee in restaurant. The real challenge will start after Akicha graduate from AKB48. AKB senbatsu sousenkyo is very small competition compare entertainment world competition in japan,
Akicha should start prepare herself if she want to be actress in the future and by becoming JKT48 member Akicha not only get many new fans but also can learn many thing and get new experience that she won’t get if she keep staying in AKB48. A person who afraid of change can’t improve herself and will lose when compete with other people.:-o So if you really Akicha fans then you should keep supporting and encourage her, even if that mean you cannot always see her in the theater and TV every day. 
“Many former AKB48 and other sister group member become ordinary person after they graduated. For example Nakaya Sayaka couldn’t pass the audition to be voice actress even though she is former famous “AKB48″ member and now she work as part time employee in restaurant.”
You should’ve given other examples like Acchan or Erepyon too instead of just giving a not-so-success story like Nakayan’s. There’s always two sides of a coin, you know. Giving Nakayan’s failure in a SEIYUU audition as an example where AKB48 major activity is in music industry (in general) is just not right, you know.
Anyway, people can have their own definition of “famous”, but I just didn’t know that a former famous AKB48 member means someone who was ranked #36 in the last Sousenkyo and wasn’t even ranked in the first three Sousenkyo in a row. Believe me, Akicha will end up better than Nakayan in her future career in the showbiz industry.
“You should’ve given other examples like Acchan or Erepyon too instead of just giving a not-so-success story like Nakayan’s. There’s always two sides of a coin, you know. Giving Nakayan’s failure in a SEIYUU audition as an example where AKB48 major activity is in music industry (in general) is just not right, you know.”
what i want to explain is akicha should prepare and thinking about her dream to be whatever her dream later so after graduate from AKB48 she won’t be like Sayaka Nakaya. that’s why i don’t write Aachan and erepyon name. i hope she can be like Aachan and Erepyon or maybe more famous that Aachan and Erepyon.
“Anyway, people can have their own definition of “famous”, but I just didn’t know that a former famous AKB48 member means someone who was ranked #36 in the last Sousenkyo and wasn’t even ranked in the first three Sousenkyo in a row”.
i’m talking about AKB48 as a group they really famous because many people supporting them for example like mayuyu fans, oshima fans, kojiharu fans and many more. they all support AKB48 as a group even thought they have their own favorite oshi. but after Akicha graduate the only people who will support Akicha is her own fans. off course there will be more and more people that want to become her fans in the future if she have a great carrier in the future.
“Believe me, Akicha will end up better than Nakayan in her future career in the showbiz industry”.
i also believe that too. but if she want to be one of the best in japan showbiz industy she must learning and never stop to learning because the competition in japan showbiz industry is hard.
btw i’m also supporting akicha here because she and haruka really work hard to make JKT48 more famous especially in Japan. i think this just misunderstanding maybe i should explain it more clearly next time if i write comment.
I just watched No Flower Without Rain, and seeing behind the scene when Akichan didn’t get the senbatsu. She tried to hold her tears on stage, but finally escape crying behind the stage. She looks devastated back then. Hopefully transferring to Jakarta really meant something for her, that rank is really not about everything.
One thing I would like to add is, some J fan were sure that She runs for the Soenkyo, even it’s very a risky bisness for her in terms of her career-she hardly had media appearance in Japan for months, her rank might drop like 30th or so…If the result turn into that way, it will effects on her career after AKB.
The reason why they were sure is she promised fans that she runs for this Sosenkyo right after the last year Sosenkyo, of course it’s before the announcement of the transfer to JKT48.
She’s the type of girl who keeps the words she said.
Akicha gambatte! I’ll back you up! I like JKT48 and want they will be more popular in Japan. So I’m pleased she decided to join it as a representative of JKT48.
Akicha ganbatteee!! I more like you than other akb48 member cause i see in urself whos cant see it <3