Rad’s AKB48 Top 10, with H!P counterparts

Atsuko Maeda, the grace and power of AKB48.

This one was a long time in coming but I must admit being swept off my feet with AKB48 from the moment I opened their first concert DVD and flipped it into one of my three region-free DVD players. The second concert is now history and they are on a meteoric move up. Way up.

Yes, AKB48 is an all-girl singing company, as is Hello Project and Morning Musume. But that, my friends, is where the comparison bluntly ends. AKB48 is doing their own thing, and doing it brilliantly. Tsunku and Up-Front Artists might have an inside track on marketing and venues but, believe me, AKB48 is crowded with hellcats, and woe to the feint of heart.

Songs? AKB48 is loaded and more are on the way. “Aitakatta” is their signature hit, so much so that they sang it twice in their huge debut concert (it was great both times). 

“Seifuku ga Jama wo Suru” is by far their most controversial song (and, of course, at No. 7, their highest-ranked Oricon opus). “Seifuku” is usually performed in classic schoolgirl outfits – sometimes purposefully roughed up to look like they were assaulted. It’s a squeamish song, but one that has propelled them forward into stardom’s limelight.

Mariko Shinoda, a fan favorite and elder stateswoman for AKB48.

Right now as this is being prepared, AKB48 has three groups: The “A” Team, “K” Team and “B” Team. Two of the teams, “A” and “K,” have recently merged to make up what is now being called “Himawari-gumi.” Four members of what is known as “AKB48 Seed” (comparable to Hello Project’s Eggs) are mixed in. It was “Himawari” that really rocked in AKB48’s most recent DVD concert in July 2007.

Yes, they tend to be more openly provocative, but then some of their songs get so overly tear-jerky it’s hard to see what type of persona they want to exude musically. AKB48 is very, very entertaining and worth every cent (the concert DVDs are pricey, averaging more than 50 bucks a pop, but they are fabulous investments, far better than stocks and bonds).

Manami Oku, Team K, mid-2007.

Founder Akimoto Yasushi gives me the creeps. He stages concerts daily at the AKB48 Theater in the Akihabara District of Tokyo, and the BBC has reported that he hires out the girls to talk to men via cell phone’s video transmissions. I’m not sure what’s worse – this cell phone talk, or H!P’s insufferable photobooks.

Sadly, as cool as these girls are to watch and listen to, they are no match for Momusu, C-ute, Berryz and the quickly rising Eggs of Hello Project. The songs lack orchestration, and the choreography is heavily schoolgirl-oriented and needs some kind of variety. AKB48 has no answer for the likes of Yossie, Suzuki or Aichan.

But now, including my own contrived nicknames (just for fun) and Hello Project counterpart (in my esteemed but nevertheless flawed judgment), my top 10:

Sayaka Akimoto

10. Sayaka Akimoto, 19, “K Team, aka “The Vulcan.” Very striking, angular, nice voice, nice dance. H!P comparison: LinLin.

Rina Nakanishi

9. Rina Nakanishi, 19, “A” Team, aka “Calm Beauty,” does a very nice duet with Minami Takahasi in the debut concert. Better singer than dancer, with solo capabilities. H!P comparison: Miyabi.

Yuko Oshima

8. Yuko Oshima, 19, “K” Team, aka “Big Voice,” is considered the top singer in AKB48, but she tries too hard to be cute. She just needs to let it go and stop worrying about what her dimples look like. H!P comparison: Maimi with a better voice, but worse dancing technique.

7. Mariko Shinoda (above right), 21, “A” Team, aka “Bird Lady.” She is definitely the media darling of AKB48, and she is a load – tall, ungodly beautiful and stately. Average voice and dance, but who cares? H!P comparison: Combo of Umeda and JunJun.

Haruna Kojima

6. Haruna Kojima, 19, “A” Team, aka “The Listener” because of her well-endowed but incredibly beautiful ears. Knockout, more of a head-banger singer, likes to wear black. H!P comparison: Konno, especially because of the ears.

5. Atsuko Maeda (at top of post) 16, “A” Team, aka “Tone Ace.” It gets harder from here. No doubt the top overall talent in AKB48, but with the personality of a goldfish. Too bad, she’s beautiful and can carry a tune. H!P comparison: Risako.

Erena Ono

4. Erena Ono, 14, “K” Team, aka “Bright One.” Best presence and energy. Great solo with fellow hottie Manami Oku back-dancing in the debut concert’s “shuffle version.” Crazy squeaky voice, reminiscent of Nono. H!P comparison: Combo of Chinami and Momoko.

3. Manami Oku (above left), 12, “K” Team, aka “Baby Face.” Striking to be such a kid, and is quite different than her older colleagues. In any event, clumsy at dance, average at voice, but will improve with age and will be a stunning looker ultimately. H!P comparison: Both Sakis, C-ute and Berryz.

Kayano Matsuyama

2. Kayano Matsuyama, 13, “A” Team, aka “Antenna Girl,” youngest member thereof in the awesome “A” group. Has trademark hair-spears pointing down on either side of her face which looks really cool and sets her apart. Beautiful voice, tremendous poise, great overall look. However, she graduated from AKB48 on Nov. 30 and has been cast in several films of late. H!P comparison: Hagiwara.

Minami Takahashi, electrifying front girl for surging AKB48.

1. Minami Takahashi, 16, “A” Team, aka “Front Girl,” and she most certainly is. A little rough and loud when she emcees, but a dominant, mature-looking and mesmerizing lede dancer and better-than-average singer and soloist. H!P comparison: Combo of Abe and Miki.

(Note that none of the "B" Team made the Top 10 cut; this is not to disparage those singers and dancers, who all perform quite well. It's just they haven't really reached even the Eggs' level, though they are making great strides. It takes longer than two years to get where Hello Project is at present.)