AKB48 - Ue kara Mariko (上からマリコ）

  

J-Canuck recently wrote about 365 Nichi no Kami Hikouki (365日の紙飛行機) and that inspired me to write this article.

Speaking of AKB48, I first came to know them through a classmate in my Beginning Japanese class in Foothill College California back in 2010.  He was watching some YouTube video and I asked him what it was.  He replied that it's AKB48.  I was surprised at the thought that there's an Aidoru group with 48 girls and wanted to ask him further.  He didn't care to explain and I ended up Googling myself.  Turned out that I was not entirely wrong about the 48 people part, but this "AKB48 Corp." is much more complicated than any Aidoru group I've ever known!

First, a big disclaimer: I'm not an AKB48 fan.  Fans out there, please keep me honest if I say something stupid.

Some background info for people who may not know much about AKB48.  Since there're so many people in the group, not every one gets the chance to participate in every single album.  They have to go through a selection process (選抜会).  This process also decides who gets to play center, or the prominent dancer for the single album.  

I haven't done enough research about this selection process.  I think fans' ballot counts.  I definitely think Akimoto Yasushi (秋元康) has so much power that he can overrule anything.  There's also something called Janken Taikai (じゃんけん大会), or Scissor Paper Rock Tournament, where members play scissor paper rock against each other.  The last 16 people remaining are eligible to participate in the single album, whereas the final winner plays center.

I think whoever coined the idea is a genius! 

Ue kara Mariko was the result of such Janken Taikai, with Shinoda Mariko (篠田麻里子) being the scissor paper rock champion, Fujie Reina (藤江れいな) as the 1st runner-up, and Minegishi Minami (峯岸みなみ) and Kobayashi Marina (小林茉里奈) losing to Shinoda and Fujie respectively in the round of final four.  That's why both Fujie, Minegishi, and Kobayashi got quite a lot of air time in the official MV above.  Since anything can happen in scissor paper rock, this selection process is purely based on luck (unless the whole thing is a fake).  Consequently, big fan favorites like Maeda Atsuko (前田敦子), Ooshima Yuuko (大島優子), and Itano Tomomi (板野友美) were not in the song.  In fact, Maeda was out as soon as the 2nd round (she lost to Akimoto Sayaka 秋元才加).

Music-wise, Ue kara Mariko has a light and cheerful tone and rhythm.  Like any pop song, it has some easy-to-remember melodies throughout the song.  It's quite a typical AKB48 song in my opinion.  The lyrics is what I think is interesting.  It's telling a story from a male perspective.  A boy was going out with a girl older than him.  In Japanese terms, he's dating his senpai.  Moreover, this senpai he's dating was unpredictable and regularly "tested" him.  For instance, she would suddenly close her eyes, expecting our boy to kiss her.  If he showed the slightest hesitation, she'd call him a wimp!  The boy called her sadistic (サディスティックな奴め), but clearly he found this kind of flirting cute and exciting!

Akimoto Yasushi seemed to have written the lyrics tailored for Shinoda Mariko.  Even her name was there in the song title.  Furthermore, Shinoda Mariko was the oldest in the group and it fit the song's story (i.e. a boy was dating someone older).  Apparently, she’s also the tallest.

Finally, I want to talk about the story in the MV, especially for AKB48 fans who don't know Japanese.  Besides enjoying the music, the dance, and the cute little girls, I think it's a bonus if you also understand what the story was about.

The story took place in what seems to be an all-girl high school.  Shinoda Mariko (篠田麻里子) played the biology teacher.  Akimoto Sayaka (秋元才加) played the physical education teacher.  The rest of the cast were students.

In the first scene, Minegishi Minami (峯岸みなみ), Fujie Reina (藤江れいな) & Kobayashi Marina (小林茉里奈) were meeting on campus.  The school's Student Body president was up for grabs, but nobody wanted it and there's no candidate.  As a result, each class would hold a lottery, and the 8 people who "won" would be forced to become candidates.  Furthermore, the presidency would subsequently be decided by scissor paper rock.

Minegishi was complaining why she "won" the lottery, even though there're more than 30 people in her class.  She didn't want to become president because it's a job that only attracts criticism but no appreciation.  She turned to Kobayashi and asked her to come forward as a candidate.  After Kobayashi refused, she turned to her "best friend", Fujie, and begged her to become a candidate.  Before Fujie had a chance to respond, Kobayashi said no for her.  She whispered to Fujie that she didn't need to be so mellow even though Minegishi was her senior (senpai).

Minegishi spotted Shinoda Mariko (篠田麻里子), their biology teacher.  She's talking to a foreigner in fluent English.  Minegishi commented that Shinoda looked so cool (apparently, fluent English is a cool factor in Japan😁).

In the second scene, Fujie was in Shinoda's biology class.  It had already ended but they remained in the classroom.  Fujie commented that Shinoda was the chosen one.  Shinoda paused, and told Fujie that she thought they're alike.  Fujie didn't think so.  Shinoda then suggested that Fujie should try to dress up a bit, and a hair ornament might be the perfect item for her.  Shinoda then took a faraway look, and said she had chosen instead of being chosen.

Back on campus, Fujie, Minegishi and Kobayashi were together again.  They're looking at a web site featuring some photos of Shinoda.  Kobayashi made a comment that Shinoda felt like a celebrity.  Fujie said Shinoda sang rock when she's young.  Even now, some of her photos could be found on auction sites.  Minegishi then made a comment that Shinoda didn't look like a typical biology teacher at all.  Fujie followed by saying that Shinoda had to be born under a lucky star.  Minegishi, highly frustrated, complained why the presidency would be decided by scissor paper rock.

The 4th scene happened inside a library with Ooya Shizuka (大家志津香), Maeda Ami (前田亜美), and Satou Sumire (佐藤すみれ).  Ooya said the Student Body presidency appeared to be decided by scissor paper rock once in the past.  Maeda said she also heard about it.  Satou found out that indeed it happened 8 years ago.  They then found the photo of the first ever paper scissor rock president, but they didn't recognize that it's Shinoda, their current biology teacher.  Satou commented that just by looking at the face of that person in the photo, there's an unlucky aura all around her.

Finally, it's time for the scissor paper rock tournament.  Shinoda came in and sat behind the crowd.  Akimoto Sayaka (秋元才加), the physical education teacher, noticed her and told the students that Shinoda was the first ever scissor paper rock president.  Everybody was shocked.  Ooya made a comment that it's unbelievable that Shinoda was the loser that became president.  Akimoto corrected her and pointed out that 8 years ago, because there're too many candidates, they decided to play scissor paper rock to settle the presidency (why not hold a simple election is beyond my grasp 😂).  In other words, Akimoto explained, Shinoda won the presidency and was no loser.  She further commented that ever since that time Shinoda really started to shine.  "This is a SUPER upgrade!" Minegishi bursted out, to which Shinoda replied, "Responsibilities make women grow! I’m telling you."

In the last scene, Shinoda and Fujie met in the corridor.  Fujie wanted to return the hair ornament, which Shinoda lent her as a lucky charm.  Shinoda said she could keep it, and walked away.  Fujie called her and made a peace sign (=scissor).  Shinoda, continued walking and without turning back, returned with a fist (=rock), showing that Shinoda would always be the queen of scissor paper rock.

Hope you guys enjoy it.  See you next time.