Flashback of The First General Election

When the ‘senbatsu sousenkyo JKT48’ is being announced on February 16th, 2014, the day itself became a milestone for JKT48 and their fans. It’s not because it was the first ‘senbatsu sousenkyo’ that is held outside Japan, but on that day, the fans finally realized on one thing:

‘They were able to determine their oshi’s life in their very own hands, no longer became the management’s decision,’

Although it is only for a single.

So, what are the things that we can see from that historical moment? Here is a little brief about the member election result for the 6th single of JKT48.

That Thread of Destiny is Ceaseless

Won by advantage over 1200 votes to her closest competitor, Melody once again proved that the thread of destiny as a JKT48 eternal center is still ceaseless for her. Melody was standing tall on the first position since the temporary announcement until the final result. Her position was unshaken by her competitors; even Veranda couldn’t take Melody’s position at that time.

Melody shows that she deserves to be the ‘center’ of attention of JKT48. Something that her competitors are unable to do in last year’s sousenkyo. The destiny that was happening to be a curse for Melody, is slowly began to be a blessing of abundance in her life.

Can Melody retain the thread of destiny this year or will there be any member who could tear it all up?

The Seven

The Rise of JKT48’s Trikaya

In their mature age, Melody (22 y.o. *at that time), Ve (21 y.o.*), and Haruka (22 y.o.*) occupied the top three positions in the member election for the 6th single last year, ahead of dozens of other JKT48 members.

This success makes them as the trikaya of JKT48. Consequently, they become the front fore in almost every event that is followed by JKT48, for there is hope that they are ‘vibrant’ enough to be able to plug in the ‘love spear’ in their fans’ or non-fans’ hearts that attend the events and turn their hearts to love JKT48 for more and more.

Become the spearhead does make a member showered by people’s attention and popularity, but doesn’t mean that it will make JKT48 to bloom more than the member itself. Throughout this year, a new question arises, “Is this spearhead still ‘vibrant’ enough to be JKT48 Trikaya or we need a stronger spearhead to replace them?” Until then, we can let the fans to answer in Member Election for the 10th Single.

The Vajras

In the 4th, 5th, and 6th positions in the member election for the 6th single of JKT48, the results itself was pretty interesting. The three members that were chosen are equally young and very popular. They are the candidates for future ace of JKT48 that are trained really well by the management from the very beginning.

They are Shanju (16 y.o. *at that time), Beby (16 y.o.), and Nabilah (15 y.o.*)

The three of them are equally pushed by the management (in different level of intensity), have equally strong fan base, and have a vision in JKT48. It is interesting to see their development in the future until they are able to replace Melody, Ve, and Haruka’s position as they are here to establish a sound experiential key upon the continuum of the path to enlightenment.

The Void That Shattered The Status Quo in JKT48

No one predicted that the member with the lowest number of followers in twitter in JKT48 and with a so-so popularity (back then) with local fans like Rica Leyona was able to make the top 16 in senbatsu sousenkyo, moreover she made the 7th position.

Rica’s story in last year sousenkyo was like a fairytale. Therefore Rica turns out to be a symbol that can encourage any member to reach her dream in sousenkyo by both her and her fans’ hard work.

Will this year sousenkyo bear the next Rica Leyona? Because there is a proverb ‘Whatever broken will grow back, whatever lost will be replaced’. A Sunnayata, the void, meditative state.

Special Mention

A Thousand Ramparts

Becoming the members with strong fan bases didn’t make them as the management’s favorite options in the senbatsu single determination. All three members have a similarity: a strong and solid fan base, but their oshi only has one chance to be senbatsu within 2 years working in JKT48.

Then what is happening now? Last year sousenkyo becomes the opportunity for their fans to show the management that their oshi deserves to be senbatsu in JKT48’s singles. Is the message delivered? At least, their oshi is selected to be the senbatsu in a single after the sousenkyo single. It’s not that bad, after all.

Just like last year, there are some fan bases with the strength that everyone should be wary in team T. It is possible for them to make some surprises like these three members in this year election.

The Turning of The Wheel of Fate

Who is Thalia before last year senbatsu sousenkyo? She’s not the front girls in team K3, not even being chosen as a senbatsu. Thalia was no one before last year senbatsu sousenkyo, she was just a ‘girl in waiting’ from the theater.

But the fate wheel rotated. Thalia turned from no one into the member that management likely to choose for JKT48’s singles after the 6th single.

From ‘Zero point one’ to ‘One point zero’. Thalia is a proof that senbatsu sousenkyo can change someone’s destiny.

The Sleeping Giantess

Yupi, Naomi, and Rona were the giantess who always chosen to sing in almost, if not, every singles previously. But, inversely to her popularity, Yupi almost got beaten in last year senbatsu sousenkyo, although still survive in the 12th position.

Shinta Naomi experienced something worse that her name didn’t show up in three sousenkyo announcement, as if she has lost from the very beginning.

Rona’s failure to enter the top 16 of Member Election for the 6th single also seemed to reinforce the management’s decision to leave her out from the favorite list of senbatsu, despite the fact that previously was always being elected as a senbatsu in 2013.

Year 2014 was a bad year after all for these three members. They seemed fall from the very top, though Yupi was still able to fly with wounded wings and Naomi was caught by the tree branches, Rona was unfortunately fully plunged to the ground. Will these three sleeping giantess shattered The Seven hegemony this season? It’s up to the fans to wake them up.

The Closing

The final results of Member Election for the 6th Single showed the superiority of J team in dominating JKT48. From the 1st until the 9th were dominated by the J team, while K3 team was simply ‘given’ for 5 slots and the other 16 slots are dominated by J team.

Yona and Viny also showed that they are the 2 members with strong fan bases in K3 team, but will they make it, to break the hegemony of J team? Or will the hegemony be broken by the T team? The new team with a fresh appearance and fan base that is hungry for their achievement?