On September 18th, AKB48 held a press conference after the �Janken Tournament�, which determined the senbatsu members for their 29th single. All senbatsu members who weren�t minors were present, including the overall champion Shimazaki Haruka. Shimazaki commented about becoming the center stating, �I�ll work hard so that people don�t call me a ' ponkotsu'.�

Shimazaki battled it out to take home the trophy, �I wasn�t nervous surprisingly during the tournament. I won because I continued using scissors. As a �ponkotsu�, I will try my personal best and I hope that I can grow to have a conversation properly.�

Shimazaki was asked about what she thinks the new song�s title should be and she responded, �Maybe �Shita kara Paruru� (Paruru from the Bottom)? But it�s common for Akimoto Yasushi-sensei to call me 'Ponkotsu', so I want it to be called �Ponkotsu�, causing those around her to call back, �No way!�

Shinoda Mariko also commented on Shimazaki�s first time as center with the comment, �What she just said made me anxious, but I guess that�s part of her cuteness? This is also Paruru (Shimazaki)�s luck, so I�m sure she will grow more from this.�

During the tournament Shinoda could really feel how her juniors have grown, �I got goosebumps feeling the power from my juniors. I want to see Paruru become a good center and I want all of you to see it too.� Shinoda was the previous Janken queen and she continued advancing throughout this year�s tournament more so than she expected. Shinoda revealed, �As soon as I began to worry, �Wouldn�t it be annoying if I won again?�, I lost.�

[TL Note: �ponkotsu� is an endearing term for Shimazaki in the AKB fandom. It is similar to Sashihara Rino being called �hetare� (failure). �Ponkotsu� can technically mean �clumsy/useless�, but it is not seen as a negative term. It is part of Shimazaki�s �character�. ]

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Source: Cinema Today