Sakura no Shiori

"Sakura no Shiori" (桜の栞) is the 15th single by Japanese idol girl group AKB48; it was released on February 17, 2010. The title track is a school graduation song. The song was used as the theme song to the AKB48-related drama Majisuka Gakuen, which stars Atsuko Maeda and many members from AKB48 and its sister groups.

In its first week, the song sold 318,000 copies - the biggest opening sales for a female group single since Morning Musume's "Mr. Moonlight (Ai no Big Band)" in July 2001. The song has been certified platinum for physical sales by the RIAJ.

Composition
The song is composed by Hiroshi Uesugi and written by Yasushi Akimoto. It is sung with AKB48 members singing together in a school choir. The song is a graduation song, with a theme of cherry blossoms.

Tie-in
"Sakura no Shiori" was used not only as the theme song for the drama Majisuka Gakuen, but also in commercials for Aoki and Recochoku. The B-side "Majisuka Rock 'n Roll" was used as the opening theme song for the same drama.

Sakura no Shiori
"Sakura no Shiori" was performed by the following members:


 * Team A: Haruna Kojima, Mariko Shinoda, Minami Takahashi, Atsuko Maeda, Miho Miyazaki
 * Team K: Tomomi Itano, Yuko Oshima, Sae Miyazawa
 * Team B: Mayu Watanabe, Rie Kitahara, Yuki Kashiwagi
 * SKE48: Jurina Matsui

The center for the track was Atsuko Maeda.

Majisuka Rock 'n Roll
The song centred on Atsuko Maeda.


 * Team A: Haruna Kojima, Mariko Shinoda, Minami Takahashi, Atsuko Maeda.
 * Team K: Tomomi Itano, Sayaka Akimoto, Erena Ono, Yuko Oshima
 * Team B: Yuki Kashiwagi, Mayu Watanabe

Enkyori Poster
The unit of girls who sung this song performed under the name "Team Play-Boy." The song centred on Yuki Kashiwagi.


 * Team A: Aki Takajō, Aika Ōta, Ami Maeda
 * Team K: Sae Miyazawa, Moeno Nito
 * Team B: Yuki Kashiwagi, Miho Miyazaki

Choose Me!
The unit of girls who sung this song performed under the name "Team Young Jump." The song centred on Rie Kitahara.


 * Team A: Haruka Nakagawa, Rino Sashihara, Asuka Kuramochi
 * Team K: Minami Minegishi, Ayaka Kikuchi
 * Team B: Tomomi Kasai, Rie Kitahara