AKB49 - Renai Kinshi Jourei - Vol. 27 Ch. 242 - Confessions without Makeup

[MangaDex]

 

[Misticsan]

I don't like this arc. First, there was the "How could Okabe bow down to the company, hide her AKB past and go by a stage name?" outcry by Minori (despite the fact he's also hiding his identity to succeed in the company), to the point he lambasts Okabe for being fake and lacking sincerity. Of course, no mention or criticism is given to the far more draconian measures AKB48 imposes on their idols to construct an equally fake and insincere public image.

And now this "Yuuko-san never forgave you for graduating" or "You've betrayed this many people"... Seriously, more than praise for AKB48, it makes them look like a cult. I understand that this manga is there to promote AKB48, so it's not as if they're going to bite the hand that feeds them. But their insistence in accusing Okabe of things AKB48 does all the time to make her play the villain of the story reeks of hypocrisy.

It's even more jarring when I remember Okabe's appearance in ch. 202. While everyone else was incensed, Minori was understanding. And Okabe was given the chance to explain herself with the hermit crab metaphor: AKB48 is not the center of the world, and if you want to grow on your own, sooner or later you'll have to leave it (all of them will graduate, after all). That subtle and open-minded self-awareness seems to be forgotten in favor of painting Okabe as a traitor for selling her soul to the American Devils.

 

[ChristineGuinn]

@Misticsan - DAMN dude! Lighten up. Yes, AKB48 is real, and you can disagree with the way they do things, but THIS is JUST a freaking manga.

 

[ShaiHH]

And he uses the Manga to criticise it. Can't fault him.
And Minori has no ground to stand on in anything he says.
This arc is total filler after the author ran out of other ideas, should have just ended it imo.

 

[Misticsan]

@ChristineGuinn
Sorry, I was a fan of Okabe back in the day when she, Minori and Yoshinaga were the main trio (I miss those arcs). I was looking forward to seeing her again, but this was definitely not what I expected.

ShaiHH is right, even without knowing AKB48, we have the manga. And the manga gives us a protagonist that is achieving success with a fake identity and is at the beck and call of a rather bossy company who has things such as the "no love" rule (which was, ironically enough, a plot point in one of the Okabe-centric arcs), so his criticism against Okabe rings hollow and lacks self-awareness. Now add the aforementioned chapter 202, where he was far more level-headed and understanding (and Okabe's decision was painted in a more positive light), and I can't help but feel that the whole conflict seems forced. I wouldn't mind so much if Minori complained about the nasty things Okabe has done in this weird audition, or appealed to their past camaraderie to criticize her instead.

 

[ChristineGuinn]

@Misticsan - I like the arc where Minori, Yoshinaga, and Okabe were a trio as well. I think the thing going on in THIS ark is that Okabe is SO desperate to prove herself, (probably because of who her mother is, and the fact that Minori is getting attention and help from Okabe's mother), that she is doing things for the wrong reason. Okabe is doing everything to be famous, not to entertain and please the fans. While Minoru IS lying about who he is, (I even pointed that out on a previous chapter), he's actually doing this for the right reasons. Remember, he didn't even WANT to be in AKB48. He did it for Yoshinaga. He's been continuing for 4 years for the fans, and to make Yoshinaga the "center", not because he WANTS to be a star. That's the "sincerity" that he's showing. (At least that's the point that the author is trying to get across, I think.)

 

[Keansor]

Does he just... Keep those balls in his pockets at all times. Why was he able to just pull out all five of them immediately. And why are neither of them questioning the fact that he suddenly stopped acting like a shitty kid. So many questions.