AKB48 Elections 2012 Come In

The official Youtube channel for AKB48 (Japanese music & idol mega-group) uploaded today the election results for this year’s top idols among the AKB48, SKE48, NMB48 and other ’48′ member families (Senbatsu).    For those of you who are unfamiliar with this competition — each year, fans of AKB48, SKE48 and so on — vote in for their favorite ‘idol’ from any one of the groups online.

Last year, Maeda Atsuko was the darling ‘ace’ of AKB48, who beat out long time rival, Oshima Yuko to reclaim her position at #1.   With Maeda’s recent graduation, it was no surprise that Oshima went on to take the new #1 position.   Additionally, top idols like Kashiwagi Yuki, Takahashi Minami, and Shinoda Mariko continued to hold onto their previous year’s rank for this year.

The show’s biggest surprise was Watanabe Mayu at #2, (who was #5 last year).  From watching the videos up to her announcement, you could tell Mayu-san was shocked and almost in disbelief (as she later told the audience on stage) that she had jumped up so high.   She told the audience she was very thankful and looked to earn ‘#1′ for next year.   Do you think she will make it?  In the words of Miyazawa Sae (#11), who re-used a quote from Oshima last year, “We think of the votes we receive from fans as an expression of how much they love us…for that I am extremely grateful.”  (The number of votes you give your favorite idol determines how much she will appear in promotion and videos for the next year).  Who will you share your love with? 

2012 Winners (1-20) — Full list and videos at AKB48 Youtube Channel:

• #20   Akimoto Sayaka         秋元才加          -
• #19   Watanabe Miyuki       渡辺美優紀       -
• #18   Yamamoto Aya           山本彩               -
• #17    Takajou Aki                高城亜樹           -
• #16    Umeda Ayaka             梅田彩佳           24,522 votes
• #15    Yokoyama Yui            横山由比           25,541 votes
• #14    Minegishi Minami　峯岸みなみ        26,038 votes
• #13    Kitahara Rie　           北原里英           26,530 votes
• #12    Kasai Tomomi            河西智美           27,005  votes
• #11    Miyazawa Sae　         宮澤佐江           40,261 votes
• #10    Matsui Rena　          松井玲奈            42,030 votes
• #9      Matsui Jurina　        松井珠理奈       45,747 votes
• #8      Itano Tomomi　       板野智美            50,780 votes
• #7      Kojima Haruna          小島陽菜            54,483 votes
• #6      Takahashi Minami    高橋みなみ        65,480 votes
• #5      Shinoda Mariko　     篠田 麻里子       67,017 votes
• #4      Sashihara Rino          指原莉乃            67,339 votes
• #3      Kashiwagi Yuki         柏木優紀             72,076 votes
• #2      Watanabe Mayu        渡辺麻友            72,574 votes
• #1       Oshima Yuko            大島優子          108,837 votes