Minami Minegishi


Minami Minegishi is a Japanese idol singer and actress, represented by :ja:プロダクション尾木|Production Ogi. She is the last remaining original member of the girl group AKB48 and is also a member of no3b.

Career

Minegishi is the last remaining original group member of AKB48; she debuted with Team A in 2005. She is a well known member, as she ranked 14th in the AKB48 2012 general election with 25,638 votes. She is one of the three members of AKB48 sub-group no3b, with whom she played in the drama Mendol, Ikemen Idol in 2008 and sang its theme song as the fictional band "Persona". She has also been a frequent guest on television variety shows. Beyond appearing in commercials as a member of AKB48, she has also appeared in some by herself.

Demotion

On January 31, 2013, the weekly tabloid Shukan Bunshun reported that she had spent a night at the apartment of Alan Shirahama, a member of the boy band Generations from Exile Tribe. A few hours later, it was announced through the AKB48 official blog that she would be demoted from one of the official members of Umeda Team B to kenkyūsei status as of February 1. She thus became the first AKB48 member to be demoted to kenkyūsei in four years since Miki Saotome in late January 2009. On the same day, the AKB48 official channel published a video of Minegishi with her head shaved, apologizing to her fans for her "thoughtless behavior" and hoping that the management would let her stay in the group, with other members that she loved. In the YouTube statement, Minegishi explained that she cut her hair in a state of shock induced by reading the Shukan Bunshun scoop, when she could not calm down. However, in Japan, cutting one's hair is a way of showing contrition.
In an article for The Japan Times, titled: "AKB48 member’s ‘penance’ shows flaws in idol culture", Ian Martin noted: "What is happening here is that the protection of fans’ fragile fantasies automatically trumps the basic human right to a life outside that fantasy framework. Though as lawyer Hifumi Okunuki pointed out in a Japan Times article on Jan. 22, such an arrangement is probably illegal under Japanese labor laws."
Numerous international media reported this incident, including Agence France-Presse, BBC, CNN, Daily News, The Guardian, ABC, The Huffington Post, Radio Programas del Perú, Global Times, Aftonbladet, Spiegel Online, Al Jazeera English and the Manila Bulletin.

Return

On August 24, 2013, AKB48 announced the reinstatement of Team 4, with Minegishi reinstated as a full member as well as the captain; the rest of the members were promoted from the 13th and 14th generation trainees. On December 8, 2019, Minegishi announced her graduation and her graduation concert was initially scheduled to occur on April 2, 2020 at Yokohama Arena. The graduation concert was postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Discography

Singles with AKB48

YearNo.TitleRoleNotes
2006Ind-1"Sakura no Hanabiratachi"A-sideDebut with Team A.
2006Ind-2"Skirt, Hirari"SupportingBackup dancer role in title track.
20061"Aitakatta"A-side
20072"Seifuku ga Jama o Suru"A-side
20073"Keibetsu Shiteita Aijō"A-side
20074"Bingo!"A-side
20075"Boku no Taiyō"A-side
20076"Yūhi o Miteiru ka?"A-side
20087"Romance, Irane"A-side
20088"Sakura no Hanabiratachi 2008"A-side
20089"Baby! Baby! Baby!"A-side
200810"Ōgoe Diamond"A-side
200911"10nen Sakura"A-side
200912"Namida Surprise!"A-side
200913"Iiwake Maybe"A-sideRanked 16th in 2009 General Election.
200914"River"A-side
201015"Sakura no Shiori"A-sideFirst single as Team K. Also sang on "Majisuka Rock 'n' Roll".
201016"Ponytail to Shushu"A-side
201017"Heavy Rotation"A-sideRanked 14th in 2010 General Election. Also sang on "Yasai Sisters" and "Lucky Seven".
201018"Beginner"A-side
201019"Chance no Junban"B-sideDid not sing on title track; lineup was determined by rock-paper-scissors tournament. Sang on "Yoyakushita Christmas"; and "Alive" with Team K.
201120"Sakura no Ki ni Narō"A-side
2011--"Dareka no Tame ni - What can I do for someone?"--charity single
201121"Everyday, Katyusha"A-sideAlso sang on "Korekara Wonderland" and "Yankee Soul".
201122"Flying Get"A-sideRanked 15th in 2011 General Election.
201123"Kaze wa Fuiteiru"A-side
201124"Ue kara Mariko"A-sidePlaced third in rock-paper-scissors tournament; She also sang on "Noël no Yoru"; and on "Zero-sum Taiyō" as Team K.
201225"Give Me Five!"A-side, Special Girls BPlayed trombone in Baby Blossom; She also sang "Hitsujikai no Tabi" as part of Special Girls B.
201226"Manatsu no Sounds Good!"A-side
201227"Gingham Check"A-sideRanked 14th in 2012 General Election. Also sang on "Yume no Kawa".
201228"Uza"A-side, New Team BAlso sang on "Seigi no Mikata ja Nai Hero" as New Team B.
201229"Eien Pressure"B-side, OKL48Did not sing on title track; lineup was determined by rock-paper-scissors tournament.
First single as member of Team B. She sang on "Totteoki Christmas"; and "Eien Yori Tsuzuku Yō ni" as part of OKL48.
201330"So Long!"A-sideShe also sang on "Sokode inu no unchi fun jau ka ne?" as Team B.
201331"Sayonara Crawl"B-sideFirst single after being demoted to Kenkyusei. Did not sing on title track. She sang on "Haste to Waste" and "Love Shugyou".
201332"Koi Suru Fortune Cookie"Under GirlsRanked 18th in 2013 General Election.
Did not sing on title track. Sang on "Ai no Imi wo Kangaete Mita" as part of the Under Girls. Sang on "Namida no Sei Janai" and "Saigo no Door".
201333"Heart Electric"A-sideIn main lineup as "Barbara". Also sang on "Seijun Philosophy" as Team 4.
201334"Suzukake no Ki no Michi de "Kimi no Hohoemi o Yume ni Miru" to Itte Shimattara Bokutachi no Kankei wa Dō Kawatte Shimau no ka, Bokunari ni Nannichi ka Kangaeta Ue de no Yaya Kihazukashii Ketsuron no Yō na Mono"B-sideLost in rock-scissors-paper tournament. Sang "Mosh&Dive" and "Party is over" as AKB48.
201435"Mae Shika Mukanee"A-side
201436"Labrador Retriever"A-sideAlso sang on "Heart no Dasshutsu Game" as Team 4.
201437"Kokoro no Placard"Under GirlsRanked 22nd in 2014 General Election. Sang on "Dareka ga Nageta Ball"
201438"Kibōteki Refrain"A-SideAlso sang "Me wo Akete Mama no First Kiss" as Team 4.
201539"Green Flash"B-SideSang on "Haru no Hikari Chikadzuita Natsu" as AKB48.
201540"Bokutachi wa Tatakawanai"A-SideSang on "Bokutachi wa Tatakawanai" without participating in the music video. Also sang on "Summer Side" as Selection 16.
201541"Halloween Night"Under GirlsRanked 19th in 2015 General Election. Sang on "Sayonara Surfboard"
201542"Kuchibiru ni Be My Baby"A-SideSang on "Kuchibiru ni Be My Baby" but only appeared briefly in the music video due to work commitment. Also sang on "Senaka Kotoba" and "Oneesan no Hitorigoto" as Team K.
201643"Kimi wa Melody"A-sideMarked as the 10th Anniversary Single.
201644"Tsubasa wa Iranai"A-sideSang on "Aishū no Trumpeter" as Team K.
201645"Love Trip / Shiawase wo Wakenasai"B-sideSang on "Densetsu no Sakana" as Under Girls.
201646"High Tension"B-side

Albums with AKB48

; Kamikyokutachi
; Koko ni Ita Koto
; 1830m
; Tsugi no Ashiato
; Koko ga Rhodes da, Koko de Tobe!
; 0 to 1 no Aida

Filmography

Films