AKB48 Team Surprise – Youchien no Sensei (Pachinko Hall Version M6) (a J!-ENT World Groove CD Single Review)

1. 幼稚園の先生

2. 幼稚園の先生 (off-vocal ver.)

DVD INFO: 16:9 LB, Region 2, Duration: 4:40

1. 幼稚園の先生 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 sixth AKB48 Team Surprise CD single for the second stage is titled “Youchien no Sensei” (which translates to “kindergarten teacher”) and is sung by Watanabe “Mayuyu” Mayu, Sashihara Rino and Watanabe “Milky” Miyuki.

The single that I am reviewing is the pachinko hall version and features Mayuyu, Sashihara and Milky on the front cover inside hearts shape images. 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 Oshima Yuko in a red dress.

Also, by visiting the official website for “Youchien no Sensei”, you can get access to liner notes, gallery (a few photos are what is featured in the CD insert), wallpaper and poster.

“Youchien no Sensei” features our top two AKB48 senbatsu members, Mayuyu and Sashihara and also another Watanabe…Milky as part of the trio.  The song about thinking about what they want to be when they grow up.  As expected with these three, you are going to get a cute, sugary and fun upbeat track!  According to the liner notes, the song evokes a ’70s style of melody similar to the ’70s pop trio, the Candies but utilizing more brass.

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

As for the DVD, the music video for “Youchien no Sensei” is cute as one would expect from Mayuyu, Sashihara and Milky.  And while the choreography is fun, the single also plays with a little sexiness as the three are wearing garter belts.

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, “Youchien no Sensei” is a fun, upbeat track that leans more towards the sweet idol pop songs thanks to Mayuyu, Sashihara and Milky’s vocals.  The music video is equally sweet but also a bit sexy as well.

For those looking for a sweet AKB48 Team Surprise pop track will enjoy “Youchien no Sensei”!