JKT48’s Budokan performance and Akicha’s return to AKB48
To wrap up a wonderful Budokan weekend for many 48 fans, Togasaki-san, im his usual forthcoming, announced a series of member changes to all of the 48 groups. Of particular interest to JKT48 fans, Takajo Aki, has now been assigned to a position in AKB48 (and a double role with JKT48)- although, not at her former team A position, but now, in team B.
Nonetheless, let us not get distracted by this new series of event, and let us look back at how Akicha spoke on behalf of all JKT48 members at Budokan today…
For JKT48, today is the first and last day. But I could learn a lot from other Senpai groups, AKB, SKE, NMB, HKT, and S..H….N…..N… (She was confused with the spell of SNH) Shang Hai…Yes. SNH. We are still a new group. I hope some day JKT can perform our own show at Budokan, as well as at a big venue in Indonesia, we will try hard to make it happen.
…
In a super-high 3 hour concert today featuring all the 48 groups (with the exception of SNH48), Akicha and Haruka helped lead JKT48 brilliantly through the entire Japanese concert. Also, for the first time in history, JKT48 becomes the first Indonesian girl idol group to ever perform at Budokan, astounding both Japanese and Indonesian fans with their cover of the highly rated song, River. (See it for yourself below, complete with subtitles!) They also performed Karena Ku Suka Dirimu and did their best alongside their seniors, especially during the Tohoku charity song, Tenohira ga Katarukoto.
JKT48 didn’t really had a lot of songs to perform, but personally, I can’t help but feel a sense of triumphant arise from Captain Kinal and the members as they stood their ground and shocked the fans with their daring Indonesian version of River. While the antis in my twitter feeds were cringing and trying their best to mute the volume, I felt particularly encouraged to hear the whole stadium join in with “Got it!” and also “River, River, River!” during the song. And despite the unsteady headmic positions, just them, being there and doing River, the song that escalated AKB48 to domestic and international recognition; I’m sure, is a proud moment for many fans and staff who have stood throughout all the hardship together with them.
Togasaki-san announced the changes at the end of the concert, to the (usual) shock of many members. But, really, what will this all mean for Akicha? Time would flesh out the details, but as of now, she will hold a position both in team J and team B.
Does this mean she will be transferred permanently back to Japan soon? We don’t know, but it’s highly imaginable. A shock even, because we are suddenly reminded that both Haruka and her are now halfway though the initial one year exchange program that was planned for overseas members.
But, what we do know is that she will have to more tirelessly, travel to and fro between Indonesia and Japan in order to participate with both team B and team J performances and events. It might mean seeing lesser of her in Jakarta, but it might also mean a welcome return for her Japanese fans back home. Well, dear reader, what do you think of this dual role for Akicha? Do you welcome this transfer? What do you think it will mean for her fans back in Japan and in Indonesia? Come and share with us in the comments section below.
PS: Enjoy the vids before it’s taken down by YT, and full video credits to the uploaders 
Akicha’s speech translation by Anon-san in Twitter and AkichaFIJ from S48. Thanks guys 
Akicha’s double role..
Well, truth to be told…heartbroken
Knowing that she will have a more hectic schedule and somehow could hinder her dream for leaving a legacy here. Hope she could concentrate her activities more in Jakarta for the next few months although I doubt it somehow.
But perhaps this double role is needed due to the decreasing number of senior pillar girls in the HQ so…there we have a motive in this
*mimicking doraemon*
DOKO DEMO DOA!!
what do you mean about the pillar girls decreasing?
Y’know, graduation and all that
isn’t there also another AKB member that took double role as other sister group member (forgot the name..)
well at least her wish to go back to where she belong (senbatsu line up, the real one) will finally came true..
as a fans, nothing me can do except hoping for the best for her (and me hope she won’t forget the memories here in jkt)
and for the performance vid; ROCKZ!!! didn’t know the captain could be so beautiful and cool at the same time, even the non sennbatsu (cindy and ghaida) perform it with excellency.. still, me vote rica as the best eye catcher..
seeing that kind of performance, it would be a great insult if they still loose at sctv music award
So…she is gotta do what she has to do. There’s nothing we can do to stop it now. I’d never watch any of her teater show again, nor would I see her on Dahsyat again. Man, thinking such things made me want to cry, really. You know, it’s not right for a gentleman to express his feeling like this way, but this time i won’t give it a damn.
Man, I wish I could see her a little longer and watch her grow up with others JKT48 member. But hell, another adventure is calling her and it’s almost like a sin if she didn’t response to it. Farewell Akicha, you’ve make us proud. JKT48’d never been the same without you.
It’ll be nice to see her again because whichever schedule she’s on, she’s still working hard and promoting JKT48 either to the local fans in Indo, or the local fans in Japan. They’ll have lots to talk about JKT during the MC sessions in team B, or handshake events
Sure brother. They will be……..they will be….
I just wish the best for her wherever she is in the team B or J. i just worry she will be tired from travel between Indonesia and Japan
. i hope she do a lot activity with AKB in japan especially during this senbatsu election time. keep supporting akicha to become senbatsu member. 
you are right, the recent translated article at http://www.jkt48stuff.com/2013/04/akicha-interview-on-her-transfer/ describes that she really wanna do her best and do something different to shine. lets pray that all her efforts will be rewarded one way or another
Well i’m not really care about Akicha since she stay team J ^^ even now double with team B but it’s ok to me because maybe AKB need her right now because so many of AKB member that graduate. But i’m totally impressed with JKT performance specially RIVER. well tbh i never like river songs before, but after i saw JKT48 performance today, ok i like it ^^. and i’m crazy about it
now i’m waiting for they performing at theater 
hehe i think it will be even 2x harder to win a ticket for team J in the next month because of this…
That is quite an impressive performance of “River”. What makes this superior to SNH48’s “River” is probably the omission of bad English in the first few verses. By presenting uniformity in the lyrics, the song keeps its integrity. This will probably be a welcome change of image from the youthful JKT48 that many Indonesians have come to know.
totally agreed. its a very powerful transformation, especially when the impact is led by kinal. her choice as front is top-notch
“JKT48 becomes the first Indonesian group to ever perform at Budokan”
is totally wrong dude, the first Indonesian group is Emerald Band
Understandable, Wasshoi is not Indonesian. If there are something wrong with the music history then that would be my responsibility wholly as the one who edit this article. And that’s why, my deepest apologies for the mistake as I’m not following the late Ricky Jo’s band back then in the 90’s
My take on JKT’s RIVER.
The lyric was messed up. I don’t get the message of the song. It might grew on me later on, like how I dislike JKT’s Gomen ne summer but yet I fond it lately due to some circumstances. I’m not saying that the translator’s was the one to be blamed, since it’s hard to translate a song, it’s just my personal preference.
But the dance was pretty good. DARN PRETTY GOOD. Most of them did well. I kinda worried on Frieska because she used to forget some dance moves, but damn, she’s really good yesterday.
And that expression Kinal showed at the end of the song. It’s like she was going to devour all the people who stared at her. Great !
==============================================================
That was my preeliminary take on this. But I think I should take a look at the video again..
Well, for me the lyric was still messed up, But I started to get what they’re trying to convey. Well, Like I said, the song grew on me.
I take another look at Rica and Delima, they’re good. I see some post a few days ago on Twitterverse, doubting about them getting into senbatsu… Nope, they deserved it ~! \
Team J always surprises me, at some time they perform poorly, but then they smashed us up when they’re on top condition. great job J!
Team J always like that’ that’s why i critize them to always give 100% performance. because they good, and i’ve been seen them perform greatly …. but sometimes they got lazy … i hope after river they always give 100% ^^
well.. I was kinda missed it the first time ’cause of my sloppy internet connection -__-
Luckily someone uploadedthe RIVER part and when I watched it was breathtaking tbh, not sure for the lyrics since it’s the first time i’m hearing their version
So I watched it again and again… and for me the lyrics are quite good, at least the translation
Those subs from the video really helpful to learn about the lyrics
Sooner is better for Akicha, AKB is only place for her
As the person working in Japanese market, this positioning revision of Akicha is the shame for me. She is now in the heavy confusion. Sure, so many surprises are happened in 48 events. But for me, this is not “surprise”. This is the result of the tug of war between AKS and Watanabe Entertament. She is the “talent” belongs the agaent company. So she must obey the agent direction. And for the agent, Akicha is the tree that grows money for the agent. The agent wants to increase her jobs in Japan, not in Jakarta. But please look back to the announcement of the transfer at Tokyo Dome. She said she wanted to change herself overseas. This statement was purely her heart. I know we can’t avoid the business aspects. Because it’s show business. But it is too bad for one girl’s intense dream. I hope Akicha focus onto Jakarta with Harugon. I, the one of 48 groups fans, don’t want to see such cases any more. Sae is also like this. Again I have to ask the management gentlemen of 48, where does go far the objective of “transfer overseas”?
What is Watanabe Entertainment? talent agency company or shark loan mob company?
More, can you work for two diffrent companies at the same time? Study at the two different shool at the same time? This is the simple point that I cannot comprehend.
Of course i cant do that, her agency want Akicha work on AKB but Akicha want do her best at JKT? sound like chasing two rabbit at same time.
I can’t see Akicha’s real intention. But, from her statemnt which was also shown in this site, Akicha wants to grade up her career in Jakrta as the one of the members of JKT48. But even though, I try to think over and over again about the revision, I can’t reach any clear conclusion. So I just worry the break of one earnest girl’s dream by many adults conspiracy. Again I hope Akich to focus onto JKT48, not AKB right now. Because she has just started to learn from JKT.
Akicha will be participating in 2013 Senbatsu Sousenkyo. Therefore, she needs more exposure to Japanese fans in order to gain lots of votes. Having more AKB and less JKT activity is considered the effective way to achieve her goal making it back to Senbatsu. She may have realized that the chance of Japanese fans giving her a lot of votes is way bigger than the chance of Indonesian fans importing the CDs just to vote a Team Kaigai JKT48 member like her.
…but what about Sae ‘n Mariyannu …??? …they have concurrent position too …is it because their agency too …??? …or their visa’s …??? …or perhap because the three of them is gonna entering The General Election …??? …
Business wise, transfer of Akicha and Haruka is a part of the partner contract between JKT owners and AKB management, as a provision of format/know-how, just like other 48 element, uniform, songs…
Sae&Yannu must be in the same conditions, I think.
Now, I don’t know who made the decision, but AKB management wants Akicha back, may be because many pillar members are leaving AKB, the sales of Akushukai and othe goods is decreasing…, or as Tomo says business negotiation between Watanabe office and JKT management just didn’t go well- which I personally think less likely.
What I am trying to say is, all these surprises are basically business issues, will and intention of girls are not key factors.
FYI
Sae and Yannu also belong to the same agency, but it is more like in-house management agency of 48 group, and the agency also is one of major investor of SNH project.
SNH, as business project is now totally a mess. Sae&Yannu are not allowed perform in China, Theater is still “under construction”in reality, untouched for months…..
rbtakumi san. A smart and cool explanation. Thanks. I think you are right.
Akicha should not have been transferred to Indonesia from the first place. I don’t mean to disrespect her. But it seems she’s one of those people that get homesick easily. And this is understandable since Jakarta can be a tough city to live in (if you used to live in a city like Tokyo). If you don’t have an adventurous attitude, then you’re just going to waste your time in Jakarta.
I think Sae have a better attitude with this kind of stuff just like Haruka.It’s too bad she’s “already transferred” to Shanghai.
But then again, i can’t imagine if Sae wearing that Gomenne Summer costume…..She’s too masculine for that costume
How do you know Akicha has got home sick?
Yes. shes to go back and forth between Indonesia and Japan, may be facing some cultural gaps, but as far as I can see through her blogs, twitter, G+, reports, KISS RAJI radio show…etc
I don’t see any of that. Actually it seems like she is having fun in Jakarta.
Like i said….”it seems”. So it’s just my observation. And i don’t mean that she hates being in Jakarta. What i meant was that I think errr….she left her heart in Japan?? (i hope someone understand what i’m trying to say here lol). Harugon is here because she’s not a senbatsu member in Japan for a long time, and she’s already 20 IIRC. So she has this attitude like “This is my only chance! I have to make it”. But Akicha is a senbatsu member. Her path is still wide open compared to Harugon.
I think my comment doesn’t sound rude right?? Compared to those foreigner fans who keep saying “she hates being in Jakarta” etc. Some low life even makes fun of Indonesia. I know Jakarta sux, but only me and Jakarta citizens who can make fun of this city
As you can see, for the agent company, Watanabe that Akicha belongs, 48 path is just only the “path” in order to make Akicha’s popularity increase and work more and more in Japan. So the agent has to take back Akicha to Japanese market and work actively. But Akicha had already be dicided to transfer to Jakarta. The middle and vague result between AKS and Watanabe is that Akicha belongs team J and team B at the same time, As rbtakumi says, this conclusion does not exists on the girls intention and will. But for the fan like me, these failed results can make me touch disorder of the beginning of 48 overseas project. Akicha’s transfer which is the brilliand idea ( sure, Harugon too ) to Jakarta. But its final conclusion is amgigous one. Watanabe is the powerful player in Japanese entertainment arena. For me, Watanabe won this game right now. Sure, there are many fanfs are happy to see Akicha’s performance frequenrly as live. But please remember, at the same time, there are many fans also who really support Akicha’s energetic activity as the member of JKT48. For me, Akicha and Harugon are the dream girls who performing so well overseas.
I think the RIVER translate is great. Much better than some of the initial version that got “leaked” to the internet.
They realize that Akicha will go back and forth for various events anyway. And the Japanese fans really want to see her. So might as well do double team.
But Haruka is 100% fully ours hahaha
i don’t know the reason behind akicha 2 team concurrently and i also don’t know what is she feeling and thinking.
but one thing for sure akicha and haruka really work hard to contribute in JKT48. maybe they both have different way but their goal still same which is to make JKT48 more famous. i’m really grateful to akicha and haruka because they want to become JKT48 member. so akicha no matter where you are i will keep supporting you, because akicha dan haruka has become part of JKT48. 
i only refer to akicha…since she arrived from AKB as a member of JKT..she just can get a peace with her past…something tellin me that she still have a kinda feeling “can’t let go” of AKB…i dunno…