Entertainment

AKB48 J-POP sensation hits Global

Tokyo, Japan - AKB48 is girl group composed of more than 60 girl members split into four teams who achieved enormous popularity in Japan is now global.

Producer Yasushi Akimoto created the idol group "AKB 48" in December 2005 with the concept "Idols you can meet everyday". AKB48 performs at the exclusive AKB48 Theater in Akihabara almost daily. They performed at "the 62th Kouhaku uta gassen" in 2011, and even have their own TV show "AKBINGO!", "Weekly AKB", "Naruhodo Highschool" among others. According to the official site of AKB48, as of May 2011 there were 18 members on team A, 18 members on team K and 18 members on team B, 23 members on team Trainee with a total of 61.

Philstar's article noted that their singing and dancing aren't always perfect, and the group's ever-changing members are hard to keep track of. But fans are very forgiving to their flaws and view them as their friends or little sisters, not out-of-reach superstars.

AKB48 is also much more accessible: Fans can visit their daily shows in downtown Tokyo, attend handshaking events or exchange messages via social media. After each show, all the girls line up outside the theater to see off the fans with high fives and exchange a few words.

Akimoto's concept is now being brought abroad. In fact, AKB48 clones are already present in Jakarta (JKT48), Taipei (TPE48) and Shanghai (SNH48). 

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