entertainment

AKB48 to hold competition to choose which member will sing 24th single CD

27 Comments

Popular all-girl group AKB48 will hold a competition in September to choose which member will sing their 24th Single CD, scheduled to go on sale in December. The group is so popular that anytime a new single is released, sales surpass 1 million. This will be the second time the group has held such a contest. It will be held Sept 20 at the Nippon Budokan in Tokyo. The lucky singer will be chosen by "janken" (rock-scissors-paper).

Last year, 47 members of AKB48 and four students took part in the competition. This year, a total of 71 will compete, including five members of SKE48, five from NMB48 and three student members of AKB48.

© Compiled from news reports

©2024 GPlusMedia Inc.

27 Comments
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is the fake one (computer generated)) able to join the rock scissors paper contest?

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Japanese mediocre J Pop democracy "janken". Ooooooh, isn't it soooooe exciting??? How anyone over the age of twelve could be interested in this manufactured trash is beyond me. At least there is no photo for the sexists who have a weird interest in very young girls to drool over.

-7 ( +2 / -9 )

Can you get cheaper than this ?

-2 ( +1 / -3 )

Oh the drama of it all, I doubt I'll be able to sleep tonight.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

I bet there's a load of them going "oh please God, NOT me! I can't sing for s**t!"

1 ( +3 / -2 )

Karaoke was invented in Japan and has become one of the most popular entertainment mean in Asian societies. From Western culture or Music industry, critics may have different viewpoints about Japan's music industry. But AKB48 has been born as a new music performance platform in Japan. Everyone can recognize a term of graduation - that means each member will come to a mature age and leave her post for a new comer. Exactly, the producer needs new faces and talents so that the producer has held so-called competition of singing the 24th CD single. Everyone can feel happy and exciting - that is one of successful sides AKB48 has brought to their fans.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

ihavegreatlegs; And yet again you are wrong.

-5 ( +1 / -6 )

I saw the headline and I was going to suggest janken as a joke - until I read that IS actually what they are doing!!! Too funny!

Everyone can feel happy and exciting

It`s janken!

At least there is no photo for the sexists who have a weird interest in very young girls to drool over.

I think "sexist" is way too polite a word for the "men" who drool over girls young enough to be their daughters friends.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

It's good to see they are not really taking themselves seriously as "musicians", unlike many other groups who can't sing that pretend they actually have talent.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

I bet there's a load of them going "oh please God, NOT me! I can't sing for s**t!"

Hah! You are probably right!

0 ( +1 / -1 )

I think "sexist" is way too polite a word for the "men" who drool over girls young enough to be their daughters friends.

Sorry, but there is nothing wrong with older men liking to look at 20 year old women. It's biology.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

Smorkian; When some are still teens and dress as younger girls, yes there is. If i was twenty to mid twenties fine, but why would i be interested in a kid?

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

Why doesn't the AKB48 member who wrote the song sing lead? Oh, right.

3 ( +5 / -2 )

Steve - on this occasion I`m right with you buddy!

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

When some are still teens and dress as younger girls, yes there is.

What does 'dress as younger girls' mean? Lots of women dress as younger women by western standards here.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

the producer needs new faces and talents so that the producer has held so-called competition of singing the 24th CD single. Everyone can feel happy and exciting - that is one of successful sides AKB48 has brought to their fans.

So then it's basically about quantity and raw talent just gets tossed out the window. I understand from a marketing point of view. But I do think for the geeks out there that like this...stuff....are probably people that never get out or have the slightest knowledge of what music is.

It's good to see they are not really taking themselves seriously as "musicians", unlike many other groups who can't sing that pretend they actually have talent.

Maybe they don't, but their listeners do. I hear it all the time.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

The whole idea of doing the janken tournament is something that only AKB48 have done - along with the annual elections to select the members that will get the best opportunities and presumably, the best income. It generates interest in the group and makes money. Hey, this is a business!

Talent is subjective and should be evaluated within the particular "art" in question. J-pop is what it is and doesn't aspire to be anything more than airy feel good music for the masses. If you don't like it then don't listen to it - although it is true that AKB48 is now so ubiquitous in Japan that they are nearly impossible to avoid altogether. A few commercials should be tolerable to most people.

Sorry, but there is nothing wrong with older men liking to look at 20 year old women. It's biology.

Smorkian is absolutely correct - men of just about any age will automatically want to look at a young attractive woman. That's human nature and instinctual. Anyone who is a prude about this fact is just going to have to get over it. The problem with AKB48 is the mixing of under-aged girls and older (ie. of legal age) young women. They are trying to be a pop group that do cutesy songs to appeal to young people but they also do very adult material and at times parade around in bikini's and lingerie. To my way of thinking, the fact that this is okay in Japanese society is culturally and socially problematic. There are some nice attractive 20-something's in the group but anyone who develops an interest in them should beware of thinking that it is somehow normal to see all of the members in the same light.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

They dress like that because that is ok here in Japan.

You could have stopped right there. Comparisons to London or Canada or Zimbabwe are simply irrelevant.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

What, no pic?

What a let-down. I was hoping to drool over some of those cutie-pies.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

so using your logic,steve@,kate perry shows us exactly what is wrong with the U.S.??

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Still amazed at how many comments "AKB" articles generate. Whatever they (the management) is doing must be working.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

As goofy as it all sounds and as much as I can not stand AKB48 I am rather jealous at the guy who came up with the idea, put it into action, and is now laughing all the way to the bank.

If people like this would just find a way to get the economy and politicians in line this country would be roaring back in not time flat.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

sorry "no time flat"......lol!

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Proves musical talent isn't necessarily to sell music, just popularity and looks.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

calm down; sorry i have no idea who Katy perry is and have never compared Japan to America.

-4 ( +0 / -3 )

calm down - I would personally say Pink does, but each to their own ;)

0 ( +1 / -1 )

My daughter is 3 years old, and she LOVES AKB48, so if you do not have children, daughters here in Japan, you will never understand the mystique behind AKB48, maybe if you are back in the USA I guess, Barbie dolls would be the closest thing to trying to understand how little girls in Japan are just crazy about this all girls J Pop band. I used to be an old fart like some of the other regulars here who only spew negative comments, until my daughter started singing and dancing TO ALL the AKB48 songs, so I love my little girl and if she wants to become an AKB48 member, not a doctor, lawyer etc..cool with me.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

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