Aki-P recently visited Kojiharu's recently opened House of Herme https://twitter.com/kojiharunyan/status/1553725337485606914
Aki-P's 'Gekidan $4.50' theater company celebrated its 5th anniversary today with a press conference: if the video does not show watch the video here if the video does not show watch the video here
https://news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/00336bd440dcc1dfc72c64656aa6211c64b7303f TLDR: He is working with Avex to create a new idol group to be an "official rival" of Nogizaka46, itself is the "official rival" of AKB48. ----- Yasushi Akimoto (64), the creator of AKB, will once again produce a national idol group! Why Avex for Planning, Proposal, and Coordination? “Recently, Sensei has been writing drama scripts all the time, but I think he still likes to create idols. It is becoming solidified.” (office official) [Image] [Image] Regarding Nogizaka, it was revealed that he was a model for personal photography through SNS, and it is also fresh in memory that Arno Nakanishi, a 5th generation student, temporarily refrained from activities. "Bunshun Online" found out that lyricist Yasushi Akimoto (64) will produce a new idol group that will be the "official rival" of the popular idol group "Nogizaka46". The project is expected to start in earnest next year. Announcement of "Holding a super large audition" on the screen of the general meeting of employees Nogizaka's music label is Sony Music, but Avex will team up with the new group. It is said that a large-scale announcement was made at the general meeting of employees held at the Avex building at the end of June. "At the venue, AKB48's 'Aitakatta' was playing, and the words 'Produced by Yasushi Akimoto' and 'Holding a huge audition' were dancing on the screen. A 'national idol group' that is unprecedentedly global and loved from all over Japan. It seems that the goal is to Avex has been in charge of SKE's label and has built a relationship with Mr. Akimoto. Thirty-one people were selected from about 5,000 people in the audition when the company was launched, including former AKB48 trainees, but its activities have not gotten off to a good start. “With the establishment of the theater company, a joint company called “Avex AY Factory” was born, and Mr. Akimoto’s relatives became directors. It was difficult to come to an agreement, and it was a burden on the set.In addition, the performance of the theater company did not go well due to the corona crisis, and it has not been a success. In fact, last month the project team was set up and asked questions such as, ``What should we do with the name of the group that is suitable for Saka's rivals?'' Is it possible to study abroad as an exchange student?” Nogizaka was in its heyday when they launched the third pole, and they thought about the next 10 years.” On the other hand, "Nogizaka46" celebrates its 10th anniversary this year. The "Sakamichi Group" has the momentum to drop a flying bird, but the appearance of a rival has spread turmoil from within. A spokesperson for Sony Music said: “The tag team with Avex was a bolt from the blue. Up until now, we had been refusing requests from Mr. Akimoto’s side, so maybe he got in a bad mood and switched. He has been an official rival of AKB.Therefore, it is reasonable to keep AKB as the rival, but the idol boom will end in 10 years.As Akimoto, who likes new things, Nogizaka will be the third pole during its heyday. They must have thought about 10 years from the time they launched.The appearance of the new group will surely be covered by the media and become a hot topic, and there will be a large number of fans who like new things.Nogizaka will join the 5th generation in February this year. has just joined, but I hope they don't think I'm a jerk..." Former AKB ``In the end, idols are consumables'' Idols are a popular business, but one member who was active in AKB's heyday about 10 years ago lamented: “When Nogizaka came out, no one thought it would become this popular.In the end, idols are a consumable commodity.As the popularity declined, the number of adults who cheered me on decreased. The grades of cars and lunch boxes have also declined. When I sent a letter of inquiry to Avex, I received the following response. "Currently, we are planning, drafting, and coordinating for the realization of a new project." "What is the fate of the girls..." -----
Update from Nikkan Sports: https://www.nikkansports.com/entertainment/news/202209130001770.html DeepL translation: New enthusiastic offer to Mr. Akimoto Yasushi New era idol group concept includes crypto assets, NFT, and global expansion Akimoto Yasushi, 64, who comprehensively produces AKB48 and Nogizaka 46, was asked by Overse Inc. to produce a new idol group to be funded with crypto assets. The company's direct offer to Mr. Akimoto was broadcast on TV Tokyo's "Nikkei Special Cambria Palace" (Thursday at 11:06 p.m.) on September 8, and on September 13, Sato Yoshihito, representative director of the company, and Sawa Akito, CEO, were interviewed and explained the background of the offer and their vision. When Mr. Sato revealed, "We both love idols to begin with," Mr. Sawa nodded with a smile and said, "Yes. Mr. Sato is a fan of Momoiro Clover Z, Shiritsu Ebisu Chugaku, Negicco, and Machida Girls Choir, while Mr. Sawa is a fan of Nogizaka46. Mr. Sato works for a major securities firm and until recently was an executive at a crypto asset vendor. Mr. Sawa is a CPA and has also been involved in crypto assets after serving as an officer of a major securities firm. Mr. Sato recalls, "We talked about the possibility of raising funds through crypto assets and launching an idol group with the funds we raised," adding, "If we actually create an idol group, we want it to be comparable to AKB48 and Nogizaka 46. Based on their track record, name recognition, and impact, I thought only Akimoto-sensei could come up with such a group," he enthused. He envisions a new era of idols that utilize cryptographic assets, NFTs (non-fungible tokens), and the Metaverse (virtual space), and operate both in real life and online. Mr. Sato revealed, "We appealed quite strongly to Akimoto-sensei that fundraising is just a means to an end, and that after the group is actually launched, idol activities can be developed through support methods such as utilizing crypto assets and NFTs. Mr. Sato added, "Of course, our main focus is on Japan, but we are also looking to expand our activities overseas as well, as there are groups in the AKB48 group that are active in overseas locations, and AKB48 and Nogizaka46 have experience performing overseas. I thought there was no one better than Mr. Akimoto in terms of knowledge and know-how," emphasized Mr. Sawa. Mr. Sawa added, "Mr. Akimoto is also well-known in Asian countries, and I felt that he was the most suitable person in terms of global expansion. The funds from the issuance and sale of new crypto assets will be used to launch an idol group, and tokens such as NFTs will be used to support the idols. They are also considering giving back to the fans' activities or giving them some kind of benefit or advantage depending on their holdings of crypto assets and tokens. Sato also confided, "We are also thinking of pooling some of the crypto assets and tokens in our own company and giving them away as severance pay when the idol graduates from the group. We want to take good care of these people because they are the ones who make the group what it is," he explained. Mr. Sawa added, "It also means that we can support them after they graduate, and as the group grows, the value of the crypto assets usually increases, so I think it will be a win-win situation for both the members and the fans. Mr. Sato put power into his words, saying, "I think we can solve the problems that Japanese idols are facing now, not all of them, but we can solve them by using crypto assets. Currently, we are in the process of making an offer to Mr. Akimoto. Once a producer is selected, auditions will be held, and eventually the group will make its debut. Mr. Sawa said, "What kind of group we will become depends on what kind of people come through the auditions," adding, "Our concept is to bring Japanese idols to the world. I hope that we can become such a group.
Overse Inc. has published a press release today. DeepL translation: September 16, 2022 Overse Inc. Akimoto Yasushi Appointed as General Producer of New Idol Group Creation Project Overse Inc. (headquartered in Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; Yoshihito Sato, President; hereinafter "the Company") announced today that Mr. Akimoto Yasushi has been appointed as the overall producer of the new idol group creation project (hereinafter "the Project") that the Company is preparing. (headquartered in Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; Yoshihito Sato, President; hereinafter referred to as "the Company") has appointed Akimoto Yasushi as the general producer of the new idol group creation project (hereinafter referred to as "the Project"). The Project will be conducted through the IEO. The Project will raise funds through the IEO to create and nurture new idol groups. The project aims to raise funds for the target business through IEO and use the raised funds to form and nurture a new idol group, which will be based on the concept of "expanding the scope of activities using blockchain technology and the Metaverse". The project aims to provide dreams, hopes, joys, and empathy to fans around the world through the activities of the new idol group based on the concept of "expanding the scope of activities using blockchain technology and the Metaverse". The project is based on the concept of "expanding the sphere of activity through blockchain technology and metaverse". The general producer, who is the core of this project, plays a very important role in overseeing the basic direction and concept of the new idol group's activities. The general producer, who is the cornerstone of this project, plays an extremely important role in overseeing the basic direction and concept of the new idol group's activities. We recognize that the general producer is the key to the success of this project. We have been diligently considering the selection of an overall producer for this project, and have come to the conclusion that it would be no other than Akimoto Yasushi. We have come to the conclusion that there is no other choice but Mr. Akimoto Yasushi. After persistently explaining the purpose of this project to Mr. Akimoto, he agreed to take on the role. We are very pleased that Mr. Akimoto agreed to take on this project. We believe that this will create a solid structure for the success of this project. Under the supervision of producer Akimoto Yasushi, we will plan and manage the specific activities of the new idol group. Mr. Akimoto Yasushi is a representative of Japan. Mr. Akimoto Yasushi is one of Japan's leading songwriters and has been involved in the production of many songs, and is also a member of the AKB48 group, one of Japan's leading female idol groups. He is also the producer of Japan's leading female idol groups, such as the AKB48 group and the SAKAMICHI group, including Nogizaka46. He has a wealth of experience and achievements in the idol industry. We will continue to focus on preparations for IEO and the target business. ◎Future Schedule (tentative) Early 2023 IEO implementation Spring 2023 Member recruitment and selection Summer 2023 Final selection, selection, and training of members Formation of new idol group Fall 2023: Unveiling of new idol group Winter 2023 Debut of new idol group, launch of Metaverse About Overse Overse Inc. is an entertainment planning, production and development company established to create a new idol group. Overse Inc. is the issuer of new crypto assets for this project, and plans and operates the target business. Overse Inc. will be the issuer of new crypto assets for this project, and will plan and operate the target business. Company name Overse Co. Representative Sato Yoshihito Date of Establishment March 2022 Business Description Planning, production, and development of entertainment content Location Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo Capital 70 million yen (including capital reserve) ◎Contact for inquiries Overse Corporation Sato, Sawa info@overse.co.jp
English language article (with an old photo of an AKB48 senbatsu) from Cryptonews: https://cryptonews.com/news/j-pop-to-go-crypto-with-ieo-funded-idol-group-to-debut-in-2023.htm J-pop to Go Crypto with IEO-funded Idol Group to Debut in 2023 J-pop is ready to take the crypto plunge, with Japan’s biggest pop producer set to debut a new “idol group” (a boy band or girlgroup) in the metaverse – a project that will be funded through an initial exchange offering (IEO). In a press release, a Japanese crypto-pop crossover project named Overse announced that it would be working with Yasushi Akimoto, the nation’s top pop record producer and lyricist, on a project that is scheduled to launch next year. Akimoto is the mastermind behind some of the biggest names in J-pop, such as Onyanko Club, Nogizaka46, and the AKB48 franchise. Akimoto has sold well over 100 million singles, and is the best-selling lyricist in Japan. His success in creating all-female, chart-topping pop acts has been unparalleled in his native country – and has even seen him contribute to the formation of South Korean girl group such as Iz*One. J-pop/crypto crossovers have been on the rise in recent years, and Overse will hope that Akimoto’s Midas touch will not fail him when the group debuts next year. Overse wrote that Akimoto would serve as the as-yet-unnamed group’s “general producer.” It also wrote that the project would be funded through an IEO, and that the group would be active in “blockchain technology” and “the metaverse.” The firm says that it hopes to go ahead with its IEO in “early 2023” – and will begin selecting members of group in Spring next year. It hopes to finalize the group’s membership by Summer – with a debut to follow in Fall. In a previous press release, the same firm stated that it had sealed an agreement with the domestic crypto exchange DMM Bitcoin and the crypto startup Coinbook. These two firms will carry out the IEO, with the sale likely to take place on DMM’s platform. IEOs are still largely uncharted territory for Japanese exchanges, but multiple companies are hoping to move into the space in the next few months – following regulators’ moves last year to formulate guidelines for the sector. In Japan, “idol” groups refer to boy bands and girlgroups that are recruited and managed by powerful domestic talent agencies. “Idol”-style pop groups have gone on to dominate the music scene in much of East Asia – culminating in international chart success for the likes of South Korea’s BTS.
New CMs from Yakult with AkiP (30 & 15 seconds): if the video does not show watch the video here if the video does not show watch the video here There's also a 'Web CM' released today but I think it's the same as the one previously released with AkiP talking over clips from the latest single MV: if the video does not show watch the video here
News from the US of AkiP's latest horror movie project: https://cinemadailyus.com/news/japa...th-47-meters-down-director-for-the-not-polly/
Theatrical company's 4 dollars and 50 cents stage play "Moderately Stylish Chocolate" has started. This is the first time in about four years that Yasushi Akimoto has produced this performance. Crowdfunding was carried out to procure production costs, and in the end, more than 3 million yen was collected. if the video does not show watch the video here
Aki-P has opened an Instagram account! https://www.instagram.com/yasushi6057/ His first post is a 2-shot with Sasshi teaching him how to use it:
Old man posting food pics https://www.instagram.com/p/CpsZNaWy5Qa/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y= I had a similar dish inspired by shimizu maria at the AKB48 cafe. I would love to go back but cafe is CLOSED Aki-P!!
tbh, if they would have to pick a time to close down the AKB48 cafe, the end of 2019 would be the prefect date to do it in hindsight. The gundam cafe expanded into the space previously taken by the AKB cafe ...... it re-opened in July 2020 and it closed down in Januari 2022. I'm guessing they took a huge loss on that, probably banking on cashing in on the Olympics. (And i would not entirely be surprised if the closure of the AKB cafe had something to do with the Olympics as well, as Japan was trying pretty hard to 'clean up' it's image AKB management claimed back then it was due to the station area being re-developed, something a lot of people called an outright lie)
Some news about his metaverse idol project: DeepL https://www.nikkansports.com/entertainment/news/202303050000655.html https://www.sponichi.co.jp/entertainment/news/2023/03/24/kiji/20230324s00041000178000c.html Metaverses, Crypto currencies, NFT, these things that were highly looked but felt flat in the west seems to slowly becoming a thing in Japan.
News of a 3rd season of 'The Day I Became an Actress': https://article.auone.jp/detail/1/5/9/202_9_r_20230326_1679814062019802 Aki-P with the 9 girls taking part:
This can be a problem with Aki-P Overse project since it was a promise of paying the member with token. It is now an NFT controversy within BNK48 community. In the last election, iAM ruled that fans must vote with BNK token and each member would share a big portion of tokens fans spent on her. A VIP fan tweeted that the tokens potentially would turn into deficit. iAM declared the given tokens as operation cost right away and, at the initial price set by iAM itself (80 THB/ a token). So, members must pay tax for gained token right in the next year at 80 THB/ 1 token. But, in practice, iAM placed restriction that each member must trade her token in installment over 50 months. Each member had sold only 2/50 of her tokens and, the price of each token had dropped to 6x THB. The top voted member had paid 600k THB of tax for the gained tokens but had made roughly 150k from the sold tokens. Would the token system or even BNK itself last long enough for the members to sell all of their tokens? How much will the price of the token be in next 4 years?
[Model Press = 2023/04/04] A new idol group creation project " IDOL3.0 PROJECT " (read: Idol Santen Zero Project) produced by Yasushi Akimoto will start recruiting members on the official website from the 4th. Yasushi Akimoto's New Idol Project Begins Member Recruitment "IDOL3.0 PROJECT" aims to create an "updated" idol group that meets the changing needs of the times without being bound by conventional idol images, activity areas, or group management. . Applications are for women between the ages of 12 and 25 as of April 1, 2023. The new idol group born in "IDOL3.0 PROJECT" will be active in "real" places such as concerts and handshake events, as well as in the Metaverse space and online. Developed on both axes of “virtual” activities. They do not have the concept of real space and virtual space, domestic and overseas, expanding their activity area more than conventional idols, always transmitting information to everyone in the world and enabling mutual communication with fans. Also, this time the idol group is scheduled to be “all selected”. Everyone who passed the final audition will debut as a group, and all will participate in the title song. https://mdpr.jp/music/detail/3682242
