Japanese Girl Band AKB48 Spices it Up

AKB48 is a 92-member girl band from Japan whose one song has garnered some 56 million hits on YouTube. The WSJ's Deborah Kan talks to Tokyo News Editor, Kenneth Maxwell about what's causing the cult following.

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• AKB48
• Band
• Japan
• music
• tokyo
• wall
• street
• journal
• pop
• 92-members
• teams
• sixteen
• Pop Music
• radio
• fashion
• spice
• girls
• manga
• anime
• school
• uniform

[DogooChan]

...Japan's version of the Spice Girls? Seriously? Idols have been popular in Japan long before the Spice Girls existed.

Pink Lady, who even had a short lived variety show and charting single in the US, are examples of hugely popular Japanese Idols from the 70's.

And larger Idol Groups similar to AKB (Though not nearly as big) have been popular since at least the 1980's.

AKB is more of an updated version of Akimoto Yasushi's earlier group Onyanko Club than any equivalent of the Spice Girls.

[sheix0]

cont.

Japan is different culture, just cuz you don't understand doesn't mean Heavy Rotation was soft porn, in fact i rarely hear any protest about the video and in fact, AKB popular boosted among females because of that video, search "the truth about heavy rotation" on google the director explained it.

4. HOW CAN YOU NOT MENTION RIVER, BEGINNER, KAZE WA FUITEIRU? Beginner is the 1st one million seller~ it show AKB can be cute but sing meaningful songs & hardcore arm ripping shizz

[TaufikWidyanto]

AKB48 is not GIRLBAND, ,But IDOL GRUP

[katsuhito13takimoto]

AKB48 still be the one and only in my life

[younomehomie]

they got 62 million hits

[LeoCurrently]

KIS REACT TO AKB48!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[TheAlcanboy]

Why AKB48 is so popular in Asia? Very simple. They deliver *positive* messages and promote *positive* feelings in people! That's why their fan basis consists of men and women of all age groups. I'm just surprised see that these prestigious WSJ reporters don't seem to even know about that...

[MrPanduhhh]

looks like softcore porn? so US music videos must look like hardcore porn then? LOL

[arkroyalhms]

I think, this report is missing the essence of AKB!! Heavy Rotation has NOTHING OF SOFT PORN, Its true that lots of man likes AKB but also many women do!! Also you could have look for Kaze wa Fuiteiru, best selling single album in day in Oricon history, if they wanted referals about AKB. Though they-WSJ-did an interview with Aki-P, which kinda redemes this BAD analysis of AKB!!!!

[SaintStreetFightHS]

@teknus2000 Well, there are only 59 official members right now. But if you count the 33 kenkyuusei (trainees), then there would be 92 members.

Even though they aren't actual members yet, I feel the kenkyuusei deserve to be acknowledged, because they work hard performing in the Theater while the more popular members are busy with their own projects. For example, in 2011 Izuta Rina, 10th Generation Kenkyuusei, performed 179 times in the Theater, while Acchan performed only 9 times.

[teknus2000]

(sorry for my bad english) May be someone say it first but, AKB48 are 48 girls, not 92, or they are really 92?

[Fan1deZakuAbumi]

@Dorima Totally AGREE.