AKB48 to form a new "Team 8", to kick off in March and make their theater debut in August

1: ベジータφ ★ 2014/01/23(木) 21:11:46.19 ID:???0

AKB48 announced that they will be forming their 5th team called "Team 8" at the presscon prior to the AKB Request Hour Setlist Best 100, held on the 23rd of January. The new team will not consist of trainees and existing members. Instead, Fuji TV and the various TV stations from the 47 prefectures in Japan will hold a nationwide audition, as 1 representative from each prefecture will form the group (A total of 47 people).

AKB has always had the concept of "idols you can meet", but this new team will be "idols who will come to meet you" as they will be travelling around the nation to meet their fans.

They will be kicking off their activities at Akihabara's AKB48 Theater, and will be making their rounds to perform all around the nation, and increase the amount of provincial tours. This "come to meet you" concept is supported by Toyota, a first time for AKB where a team will be fully supported by a corporation.

General Manager Minami Takahashi comments: "AKB48 definitely needs to inject some fresh, new blood. I want girls to try and make that step forward and grab this opportunity. Together, let's all deliver smiles to the people". Team K captain Yuko Oshima comments: "As we will literally be gathering the best from all over the nation, I hope this will help rouse up Japan as a country".

Source: http://headlines.yahoo.co.jp/hl?a=20140123-00000310-oric-ent



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