AKB48 Team Surprise – Itoshisa wo Marumete (Pachinko Hall Version M5) (a J!-ENT World Groove CD Single Review)

1. 愛しさを丸めて

2. 愛しさを丸めて (off-vocal ver.)

DVD INFO: 16:9 LB, Region 2, Duration: 3:40

1. 愛しさを丸めて Music Clip

To commemorate the release of the latest Pachinko AKB48 game machine for 2014 and a tie-in with Pachinko company Kyoraku, 16 senbatsu members of AKB48 would form a special team known as “Team Surprise” and songs featured in the pachinko game will be released each week via a CD+DVD single beginning in September 2014.

Fort this second stage release, the members chosen to participate in this special project are (note: the songs were recorded prior to Oshima Yuko, Shinoda Mariko and Itano Tomomi’s graduation from AKB48):

Team A: Takahashi Minami, Kojima Haruna, Shimazaki Haruka; Team K: Kitahara Rie, Yokoyama Yui; Team B: Watanabe Mayu, Kashiwagi Yuki, Takajo Aki; Team 4: Minegishi Minami; SKE48 Team E: Matsui Rena; NMB48 Team N: Yamamoto Sayaka; NMB48 Team BII: Watanabe Miyuki and HKT48 Team H: Sashihara Rino

Each week from September through mid-November, a single plus its music video will be released via a pachinko hall version (which can be won or sold at pachinko halls) and a web version, each featuring two different covers and will come with exclusive collectors cards for the pachinko hall and another for the web version.

It’s important to note that because these releases are not sold in regular stores, the best way for those living outside of Japan to purchase these singles is through eBay.

The fifth AKB48 Team Surprise CD single for the second stage is titled “Itoshisa wo Marumete” (which translates to “Round Love”) and is sung by Kojima “KojiHaru” Haruna, Kashiwagi “Yukirin” Yuki and Yokoyama “Yuihan” Yui.

The single that I am reviewing is the pachinko hall version and features Yukirin, Kojiharu and Yuihan on the front cover with a heart background. The 8-page booklet featuring lyrics, production credits and liner notes from Ishigami and pictures of the group on stage. The back cover of the CD features Kitahara Rie in a red dress.

Also, by visiting the official website for “Itoshisa wo Marumete”, you can get access to liner notes, gallery (a few photos are what is featured in the CD insert), wallpaper and poster.

“Itoshisa wo Marumete” is a sexy rock and roll track about worrying about the person you love.  And once again, a unique track featuring the sexy KojiHaru, Yukirin and Yuihan together in a rock-driven track.  Love the guitar arrangements for this song but it happens to be one of the shorter AKB48 Team Surprise tracks as well.  But still, very enjoyable!

The second stage singles also come with a second vocal-less track of the primary single.

As for the DVD, the music video actually had an original plan to bring back the rock and roll theme of “GIVE ME FIVE” and in some sense, they did with featuring Yukirin on drums, but for the most part, it’s a sexy video featuring KojiHaru, Yukirin and Yuihan jamming with their instruments but then dancing sexy while cameras are fixated on them and many televisions featuring them in the background.  A very cool music video overall!

It’s important to note that this is a region 2 DVD and will not play on a region 1 player (unless you have a non-region DVD player) but can be played on a MAC or PC using free video playing software such as VLC or Daum PotPlayer.

Overall, the AKB48 Team Surprise CD singles may not be for everyone, primarily because there is only one vocal track and one music video and they cost the same price of a regular single. But yet, if you are an AKB48 collector and you gotta collect them all!

For the most part, “Itoshisa wo Marumete” is a wonderful rock and roll track and featuring three of AKB48’s sexy performers rocking it out with instruments and Yukirin fans getting to watch her playing the drums like she did in “GIVE ME FIVE”.  But for the most part, it’s a rock and roll track and different when compared to the previous four singles.

Looking for a rock and roll AKB48 Team Surprise track or just a KojiHaru, Yukirin or Yuihan fan?  Then “Itoshisa wo Marumete” is worth checking out!