Team AX: AKB48 Anime Expo contingent announced, and also, Mayu Watanabe is a vampire

Here they come again!!

Here it is, folks: the “best of the best,” the 16 members of AKB48 who will be performing at Anime Expo 2010 IN AMERICA. In a remarkable feat of clairvoyance (or maybe just educated guessing), I name-dropped 14 of the 16 in my previous post, although I also threw out a lot of names that didn’t make it, due to (a) wishful thinking on my part, and (b) Team B Getting Shafted. Seriously, is Mayu Watanabe some kind of vampire that she cannot cross large distances of moving water? This is the only reason I can think of that they would not send her overseas, or Yukirin for that matter. Not making sense = AKS. (Although, yes, I know they’re trying to keep Team B home so they can hold the fort AGAIN.)

The only two that I missed entirely were Moeno Nitou and Reina Fujie, because I don’t think Nitou is that hot and what has Fujie ever done? Why does she keep getting to go on the overseas trips anyway? Does she have a semi-decent command of English or something? What is surprising, too, is that I picked out a lot of the “Best of the Rest” members correctly.

The list does make the disclaimer, however, that the roster of attending members is subject to change at any time. So you never know.

Who are AKB48′s “Best of the Best”?

Who, us?

We already know this much is true: Anime Expo has announced the POP GROUP OF THE FOREVER as a Guest of Honor at AX2010. But now a new question arises: which members of AKB48 are coming to L.A.? They surely aren’t bringing all of them, considering that Samuel L. Jackson has had it with these Idols on a Plane, but they need to bring enough of them for it to be a Big Frickin’ Deal. All we know, according to the AX Live broadcasts, is that AKB is sending over “the best of the best.” Which tells us … maybe something.

Based on past overseas tours, recent senbatsu lineups, and general fan popularity, we can probably make an educated guess as to which members will be selected for Team AX. We could even make educated guesses as to which songs will be performed at AX. And if you’re feeling really crazy we could make educated guesses as to what will happen during the autograph sessions, focus panels and at the girls’ hotel during their off hours. But let’s take this one at a time, shall we?