2nd Senbatsu Election Results Night Speeches' English Translations of the Top Rankers

Translations from Nihongogo's Ready2:

#1 Yuko Oshima

"It feels unreal. *crying*
Akimoto-san's been telling me that since expectations are really high for me so I won't be able to go any higher. *crying* So I've been thinking how should I become better to become the MVP. I have always been second so I thought that this year would be no exception. But this is such an honor. Last year I asked the fans who voted for me to support me. Even Tokumitsu-san supported me. But this year being able to get the first place, I'm not asking for more support for myself. I'm asking everyone, please follow me. 

We are working hard so that AKB48 can shine as the number one idol group in Japan so please support us! I think everyone has feelings of regret and everyone from ABK48, SKE48 and SDN48 wants to go even further. Please keep cheering us on!"

Narrator1: How did you feel when you heard Maeda Atsuko being called for second place?

"I am not sure if I'll be able to do it. *in a crying voice* 
I've been watching Acchan from the side all the time. I have always felt that she has such a huge pressure on her. I always had the role to support her. I'm really grateful for this place getting 1st place I'll have to really get my act together and work hard. I'll do me best."

Narrator1: What would you say to your friends as the winner of the election? (the other members) 

"Let's have a fun time together... *laughing at her own comment* I dunno..."

Narrator1: It was really good. That's how it's supposed to be!
Narrator2: Right? It's a simple but a really important thing! Last year you had a high fever and was little shaky and it was pretty hard. But this year you are here in great shape, aren't you?

"Yes, last year I was really a wreck. I'm really happy that this year I can show my healthy and energetic side to everyone."

Narrator1: Now thanks to the support of all the fans you could get 1st place. Could you talk a little about how you feel, being able to be part of AKB48 and about your satisfaction today?

"Yes AKB48 is different from other groups in that we have this severe selection. We have live performances everyday which we show to fans everyday. And we are trying to be a group of idols who the fans can meet... Uhm what was the question again? 
Ah how I feel being able to be part of AKB... We have surprises everyday and thus we have a lot of fun and I'm very happy as long as I can spend my youth being part of it since AKB can change even the hard times to fun times."

#2 Atsuko Maeda

"Everyone thank you very much!
Uhmm I really hate losing so honestly it's disappointing. Also I'm a little bit relieved. I think that in the end I wasn't cut out for being the first place. Last year after getting first place I thought that being in that position I must try the hardest to push AKB...

But... *crying* seems like I couldn't do a good job at it.
*fans shouting stuff like "you're the number one for me"* 
Thank you so much.

This year... So it's like this. I couldn't meet your expectations last year. But being here for the 5th year and being a 1st generation member I still feel like I have to push the members. *crying*

I'm sorry. I want to do my best this year also in this place. I feel like I'll have to work even harder to get the recognition of even more fans so that maybe I'll be able to get back first place. (note: she uses the word "revenge" but in japanese it's not such a strong word and they use it in sports a lot when a defending champion loses first place and wants to get it back next time.)

And if I do get back to first place I'm confident that I'll be able to push AKB48 a lot more. Everyone, thank you very much!"


#3 Mariko Shinoda


"I'm really happy. *crying*
I'm rarely nervous but yesterday I was so nervous that I couldn't sleep and I got late from the morning PON... *crying*
Having AKB48 be in the center of attention like this... Even having Tokumitsu-san as presenter... I'm really... *crying*
*fans going ganbare!*
Thank you very much.
I'm really glad that I get to be part for 5 years now... *crying and some unintelligible parts*
I'm truly grateful to everyone who has supported me. Thank you so much. *crying*
I'll keep doing my very best so please keep on supporting me."


#4 Tomomi Itano


"Eversince the election has started up until today I was full of doubts. But at handshake events the fans always supported me by saying things like "we believe in you" or "Tomochin, you're doing you best so everything will be fine". Believing in this I've come through to this day.
I will do my very best so that I can repay the kindness I got from the fans. So please keep on supporting me in the future too.
Being able to get a better ranking than last year will provide a springboard for me to work even harder! Everyone thank you very much!"


#5 Mayu Watanabe


"Everyone, good evening! I'm Watanabe Mayu from Team B!
First of all I want to say that I'm really happy that after the interim report's 12,000 votes I got almost 10,000 more making it over 20,000 in the end! I thought that I couldn't be any happier. But unlike what the poster says "I'll make the CG revolution happen!", for me the "CG revolution" didn't come this time. If there's another election next year, I want to make a genuine CG revolution, my own revolution!
I'm really happy for this 5th place and really thankful but still I'm disappointed. Last year I was 4th and now 5th. It's a pleasant rank but I want to aim even higher! I'm not satisfied with it.
Next time I really want to aim higher. I'll do my best for that and have lots of fans recognize me and aim for a higher place. So everyone please support me from now on also."


#6 Minami Takahashi


"At last year's election I was crying a lot, felt my helplessness and did nothing but complain. But this year thanks to everyone's support I stand here .
In the official guidebook the staff predicted that my rank would drop. And Akimoto-san wrote stuff like "pay attention to Takahashi" and I was like "no don't!" So I was looking forward to this day like that and now I'm proud to have this rank. Whatever rank I get, I won't change. Takashi Minami is going to be Takahashi Minami. I don't stand out in anyway but in the future I'll surely become a solo singer. This I promise.
I will try my best to make this team better so that we can live up to everyone's expectation who support AKB48, SKE48 and SDN48! And I'll keep on loving AKB48!"


#7 Haruna Kojima


"When the preliminary results were out for this election I was at 10th place and I didn't think that I could be 7th so I kinda only prepared with a speech aimed at being 10th.

When I got 10th in the preliminary results, a lot of fans became worried about me on places like twitter. So I thought it was not just about me and I had to do my best. Getting 7th place is like if we take "sukahira" (skirt hirari) for example I could be in "sukahira seven" so that made me really happy.

I'm truly happy but I just can't find the words...
*fan saying "lucky seven!"

Ah! That's it! Lucky seven!
But I just can't end it like that can I? So I will do my best, thank you very much!"


(Source: http://forum.nihongogo.com/index.php?showtopic=5005&st=141. Reposted with Ready2's permission.)