AKB48 have taken over one train on the JR Yamanote line in Tokyo. Photos of the popular all-girl group adorn the outside and inside of all the cars of one train on the famous loop.
Not only that, singer Minami Takahashi, 20, has recorded announcements for each of the 29 stations. She announces in a dignified voice that “The next station is Osaki. Change here for the Saikyo Line, Shonan-Shinjuku Line and Tokyo-Rinkai Line."
“I tried to speak mechanically without showing any emotions. I was very nervous when I imagined that everyone was listening," Takahashi commented to Sports Nippon.
The AKB48 train started running on March 17 and will continue until April 15.
© Japan Today
42 Comments
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plasticmonkey
Looks like I'm going to have to start walking to work.
Okinawamike
And this site has the nerve to ask why people are fed-up with all the in-your-face AKB48.
The good thing is it has an expiration date.
whiskeysour
OMG I heard their music on the train too. I recorded it from my iphone
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0VCpOjR93xw&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i1EG-MKy4so
Gurukun
Another AKB story?
gyouza
How do you get emotional about "The next stop is Meguro"??
ExportExpert
Does this AKBoring48 madness never stop!
tsukki
Ooh, an AKB48 story. So many pissed off JT readers. It's gonna be a great day for the comments section.
YuriOtani
Live it and enjoy residents of Tokyo! Giggle and more giggle! It you are lucky they will play their music. It is so Kawaii!
Bartholomew Harte
I wish they were making the train announcements in the N.Y.C. Subway-at least i'd get a laugh on my way about!
lostrune2
Is this be the infamous chikan train?
DARBYTAN
So Japan only has one "singing" group! How sad. By the way, why didn't "JapanToday " not report that on March 13th, Tokyo Tower was lighted with the group colors from a group called ARASHI. I also read that this is the first time this was ever done.
Seavey
I wonder who made the AKB48 haters click on the link and leave a comment?
It seems to me that JT has plenty of other things to comment on if AKB48 annoys you.
Or do you actually like to be annoyed? I am good with masochism, but I could seriously do without the denial of it.
Anyway, its only one train. If you don't get on it, another will be along in just a couple of minutes.
gogogo
Nerds, AKB48 and trains....
Serrano
Is Minami Takahashi's announcements only on that one train car? They should be on every train car!
Serrano
Let me rephrase - Ms. Takahashi's announcements should be on every train on every line.
ReformedBasher
@YuriOtani
I wasn't an AKB48 fan until I read your comment but I might change my mind...
If they played AKB48 music on the trains constantly, I imagine everybody will be in such a good mood by the time they get off the train. Some people might enjoy it so much that they miss their station. Some people might refuse to get off until the conductor calls the police.
Go AKB48! :-)
mrkobayashi
Plasticmonkey, please do so. More space for us!
NinjaDave
And the AKB48 managements gravy train rolls on, this time in Tokyo.
Wilke
According to Wikipedia, there are 51 trains on the Yamanote line that are not decorated with AKB48 photographs
Foxie
The next step will be airlines. AKB48 painted all over the plane, AKB48 working as flight attendants and singing during the flight - now that would attract customers for sure and save JAL.
gaijinfo
Maybe they're trying to deflect the attention from all the chikans so REAL high school girls can ride the train in peace.
Ranger_Miffy2
Would be a nice change of pace from that British gal who mispronounces so many places..........!
GDemmons
AKB is the epitome of Japanese civilization! I mean, what other country could come up with an idea to take a unch of young, scantily clad girls and make them into a sensation? Well, yeah, of course Larry Flint, but who else? I clicked on this link to see the comments. I do not come to JT for news. This site has the worst journalism I have ever seen, well, I suppose it is to be expected in a country that thinks harmony exists only in a group where a bunch of fearful slaves mindlessly obey a master. And when she says that she tried to remove emotion from her voice, what she meant was that she subverted her instinctive "Sugiwa, mecha kawaii stoppo desu".
Serrano
"Tsugi wa mecha kawaii stoppu desu"
Hee hee!
oberst
Is this be the infamous chikan train?
Watch out for the up tick in gropping incidents........................................
nath
Pictures inside are already gone. Otaku took them, and house wives.
almostshat
So this train chugs along with a high-piched whine, jumps around a lot and ends with a long screech..??
Chaz Ed
Still haven't heard anything from the girl group! Guess I need to do a search to see for myself! Surely they can't be worse than the Justin Bieber toothbrush etc here! Stop hating on em! Any young girl would jump at the chance to be stars! Send them here to the states, we need a change! I have to agree with GDemmons comments on control and JT's journalism! It does seem that if the 20 year old singing starlet was going to record the announcements for the train, she would be herself! Maybe she had it in her mind to emulate a robotic voice! God only knows how a 20 year old thinks!
salaryman
Anything that AKB48 has taken over is alright with me!! Although I prefer SKE48.( ・ω・)
YuriOtani
Oh come on people, that sweet kawaii voice first thing in the morning. Perhaps next they will record her voice for alarm clocks, answering machines etc.
gelendestrasse
Alarm clocks! Patent that idea quick! You could be rich enough to buy the Marine base!
Seriously, I'm not sure I'm going to wait for the next train just to avoid the AKB but I can crank up the earbuds and drown it out.
zaiban
No more AKB48 reports please.
delitachan
Generally speaking, lots of JT posters are just negative overall - always complaining about Nihon and always a pessemistic outlook. This AK group is harmless. Are they overexposed? Yes, but how are they causing any real trouble?
KariHaruka
Oh god I'm laughing at the thought of people who hate AKB48 having to endure this. My personally I love this story!! Only thing I dislike is the fact its only temporally. Lighten up a little people, you might have more fun in life if you did.
Liberty Joe Lowe
Well said Yuriotani about the swet kawaii voice
All you other JT readers are a grumpy, whingin, miserable lot.
Sweet voice in the morning, nice Pictures of the girls are pleasent to look at first thing in the morning. Makes me happy!
Cary Layton
Why isn't there a picture?
lostrune2
Some guys would like to ride the AKB48 train too!
Wolfpack
I love reading the comments from all of the readers that could very easily avoid reading the Entertainment section but choose to anyway just so they can find an AKB48 story to complain about.
Keep 'em coming JT!
Ayler
I saw a poster on the train today advertising Ueno musuem exhibition of Tutankahmun's treasures on loan from Cairo this summer. Yaaaawn, I thought. Who would want to pay money to see a bunch of old trinkets from a 3300 year old civilisation? What a bore. Then I noticed a familiar face in the corner of the poster. What's this? "Special Supporter" is AKB's very own top employee Itano? I had no idea she was so interested in the relics of ancient history. I was all turned around on the subject. Maybe I'll give this culture stuff a try, who knows?
Kemal Turkoğlu
Hi to japanese. İ know in 2017 i see it now if akb give concert here turkey i will be happy