10 AKB48 popular member 2011 - 2012

The results for the AKB48 General Election 2011 - 2012 are in! Here in photos are AKB48′s most popular members this year, as voted by the general public.

#1. Maeda Atsuko

#1. Maeda Atsuko.

After losing last year’s battle, Maeda Atsuko is back as the 2011-12′s face of AKB48. With Maeda appearing extensively in mainstream television this year and the release of her first solo single. It is no surprise that the girl that has been described as the personification of AKB48 reclaims her spot. Will we see a “Comeback” themed 23rd single for AKB48′s K-pop loving center?

#2. Oshima Yuko

#2. Oshima Yuko.

Despite the impressive number of total votes this year, Oshima Yuko loses her place to Maeda Atsuko by a less than 10% margin. While not quite as visible, Oshima Yuko continues to win fans over with her vigor and silly charms.

#3. Kashiwagi Yuki

#3. Kashiwagi Yuki.

It’s no secret that Kashiwagi Yuki has been going place as of late. Between her exposure as a weather girl and the debut of her sub-group French Kiss, the past year has seen her popularity rise far more so than any other AKB48 member. Which is why she takes the number three spot this year. The question remains if she will be able to bridge the sizable gap between her and second place in time to come.

#4. Shinoda Mariko

#4. Shinoda Mariko.

Regardless of her rare participation in theater performances and decreasing appearance on AKB48 related shows, Shinoda Mariko drops only a single spot this year, no doubt thanks to her exposure through other popular mediums.

#5. Watanabe Mayu

#5. Watanabe Mayu.

Watanabe Mayu continues to increase her fanbase at a steady level. Allowing her to retain her position at #5. Arguably, her timely photobook release may have helped too.

#6. Kojima Haruna

#6. Kojima Haruna.

AKB48′s lazy queen has not been standing out any more particularly than last year, with her drama career temporarily coming to a standstill. Instead Kojima opts to continue her strong presence in AKB48, variety shows and her sub-unit No Sleeves. It also helps that she appears far more frequently than any other member in publications, with it being impossible to not find at least one magazine featuring a bikini-clad Kojima on shelves on any given day. Kojima Haruna takes the sixth spot by a narrow edge of just 130 votes.

#7. Takahashi Minami

#7. Takahashi Minami.

Team A’s captain and now official leader of the entire AKB48. With no distractions with the exception of being part No Sleeves (as well), Takahashi’s hard work and dedication toward the idol group continues to garner the respect of fans all over.

#8. Itano Tomomi

#8. Itano Tomomi.

Despite her solo debut this year and her role as the face of the popular Samantha Vega, Itano Tomomi drops 4 spots this year. She doesn’t lag far behind the previous two though.

#9. Sashihara Rino

#9. Sashihara Rino.

While she had been promoted extensively for years, the past year has been especially good to Sashihara Rino. Her post Heavy Rotation feature as the video’s least prominent member and subsequent popularity stunts have struck gold with the public who find it rather difficult not to like AKB48′s most notorious wota.

#10. Matsui Rena

#10. Matsui Rena.

Long regarded as one of SKE48′s most popular members. SKE48′s hidden ace Matsui Rena had missed making last year’s top 10 by just 84 votes. This year she overtakes fellow SKE48′s Matsui Jurina (and most of the 48 groups) to become SKE48′s highest ranking representative.

2011 Results 

1. Maeda Atsuko (139,892) (#2)(↑)
2. Oshima Yuko (122,843) (#1)(↓)
3. Kashiwagi Yuki (74,252) (#8)(↑)
4. Shinoda Mariko (60,539) (#3)(↓)
5. Watanabe Mayu (59,118) (#5)(=)
6. Kojima Haruna (52,920) (#7)(↑)
7. Takahashi Minami (52,790) (#6)(↓)
8. Itano Tomomi (50,403) (#4)(↓)
9. Sashihara Rino (45,227) (#19)(↑)
10. Matsui Rena (36,929) (#11)(↑)
11. Miyazawa Sae (33,500) (#9)(↓)
12. Takajo Aki (31,009) (#13)(↑)
13. Kitahara Rie (27,957) (#16)(↑)
14. Matsui Jurina (27,804) (#10)(↓)
15. Minegishi Minami (26,070) (#14)(↓)
16. Kasai Tomomi (22,857) (#12)(↓)
17. Akimoto Sayaka (17,154) (#17)(=)
18. Sato Amina (16,574) (#18)(=)
19. Yokoyama Yui (16,455) (-)(↑)
20. Masuda Yuka (14,137) (#25)(↑)
21. Kuramochi Asuka (12,387) (#23)(↑)
22. Umeda Ayaka (11,860) (#32)(↑)
23. Takayanagi Akane (11,674) (#35)(↑)
24. Nakagawa Haruka (10,854) (#20)(↓)
25. Ota Aika (9,910) (#22)(↓)
26. Hirajima Natsumi (9,742) (#26)(=;)
27. Miyazaki Miho (9,271) (#21)(↓)
28. Yamamoto Sayaka (8,697) (-)(↑)
29. Oya Shizuka (7,264) (-)(↑)
30. Oya Masana (6,660) (#24)(↓)
31. Nito Moeno (6,288) (#29)(↓)
32. Komori Mika (6,120) (#30)(↓)
33. Hata Sawako (6,117) (-)(↑)
34. Sato Sumire (5,438) (#31)(↓)
35. Oba Mina (5,411) (-)(↑)
36. Suda Akari (5,343) (-)(↑)
37. Maeda Ami (5,220) (-)(↑)
38. Matsui Sakiko (5,020) (-)(↑)
39. Ichikawa Miori (4,928) (-)(↑)
40. Fujie Reina (4,698) (#33)(↓)

2010 Results 

1. Oshima Yuko (31,448)
2. Maeda Atsuko (30,851)
3. Shinoda Mariko (23,139)
4. Itano Tomomi (20,513)
5. Watanabe Mayu (20,088)
6. Takahashi Minami (17,787)
7. Kojima Haruna (16,231)
8. Kashiwagi Yuki (15,466)
9. Miyazwa Sae (12,560)
10. Matsui Jurina (12,168)
11. Matsui Rena (12,082)
12. Kasai Tomomi (11,080)
13. Takajo Aki (11,062)
14. Minegishi Minami (9,692)
15. Ono Erena (9,468)
16. Kitahara Rie (8,836)
17. Akimoto Sayaka (8,049)
18. Sato Amina (6,921)
19. Sashihara Rino (6,704)
20. Nakagawa Haruka (6,567)
21. Miyazaki Miho (6,371)
22. Oota Aika (6,145)
23. Kuramochi Asuka (5,355)
24. Ooya Masana (4,634)
25. Masuda Yuka (4,137)
26. Hirajima Natsumi (4,106)
27. Ishida Haruka (3,235)
28. Shimazaki Haruka (3,076)
29. Nitou Moeno (2,693)
30. Komori Mika (2,613)
31. Satou Sumire (2,591)
32. Umeda Ayaka (2,499)
33. Fujie Reina (2,460)
34. Yonezawa Rumi (2,171)
35. Takayanagi Akane (2,030)
36. Yamauchi Suzuran (1,945)
37. Katayama Haruka (1,935)
38. Yagami Kumi (1,909) (-)
39. Matsubara Natsumi (1,854)
40. Ishiguro Atsuki (1,603)

As with last year. Those ranked 1-21 will form the group’s “Senbatsu” lineup to feature in the next AKB48 single, which has been scheduled for 22nd August 2011. The top 12 members will also be part of the “Media Senbatsu”, members who will represent the 48 group’s image in the mass media. The remaining girls will create the “Undergirls” team for the single’s B-side, with Umeda Ayaka leading as this group’s center.

A thing to take note is that thanks to the sheer number of votes cast this time round, even girls who have fallen in rank may have in fact gained a sizable number of news fans. And with the combined number of 48 group girls counting at 152, even the undergirls here have much to be glad for. As such, the ranking only shows their popularity in comparison to other members.

Videos of the elections should be up soon. But the girls themselves have shown a more humble thanks this year regardless of position, many of whom were touched by the increased number of fans supporting them.

How did your favorite member do?