AKB48 Team Surprise – Mirai ga Me ni Shimiru (Pachinko Hall Version M1) (a J!-ENT World Groove CD Single Review)

1. 未来が目にしみる
2. 未来が目にしみる (Off-Vocal Ver.)

DVD INFO: 16:9 LB, Region 2, Duration: 4:31

1. 未来が目にしみる 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 first AKB48 Team Surprise CD single for the second stage is titled “Mirai ga Me ni Shimiru”, a song that translates into “Future gets in your eyes” and is sung by all 16 members of AKB48 Team Surprise.  According to the liner notes, the song’s title is a play on the popular American song, “Smoke Gets in Your Eyes” (sung by The Platters).

The single that I am reviewing is the pachinko hall version and features images of the group members standing on two platforms. 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 “Mirai ga Me ni Shimiru”, you can get access to liner notes, gallery (a few photos are what is featured in the CD insert), wallpaper and poster.

“Mirai ga Me ni Shimiru” is an upbeat pop track. According to Ishigami in the liner notes, he mentioned that the song separates the members into five groups and the goal was to create an upbeat, positive song.

The song is pretty much about persistence, to not be afraid of failing or when in paid because you can keep trying and to keep trying amidst the pain and darkness, to have the future in your eyes because the world is waiting.

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

As for the DVD, the music video features the group in their black and white checker outfits with a colorful shirt.  And you watch the group performing on a high platform and the group moves onto the main stage.

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 song 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, “Mirai ga Me ni Shimiru” may not have the magic of the last AKB48 Team Surprise first single “Juuryoku no Sympathy” but this is a pretty cool, upbeat, positive CD single.  And perhaps the new AKB48 Teams Surprise will entice people to checking these singles out this time around.

“Mirai ga Me ni Shimiru”, the first AKB48 Team Surprise CD+DVD release for the second stage is recommended for those who don’t mind that there is only one single vocal track on the CD and DVD!