A real estate agent in Sapporo explained, “AKB48 staff members have recently been coming to look for real estate.” The staff expressed interest in looking for some space to build an exclusive theater. If they find what they need, it seems they could be looking for members by next year.
AKB48 currently has regional sister groups: SKE48 and NMB48. SKE48 was created in 2008 and performs at their theater, “SUNSHINE STUDIO”, in Sakae, Nagoya. NMB48 was created in 2010 and performs in Namba, Osaka at “base yoshimoto”. Both groups have acquired a passionate fan base in their select regions.
Just last month, auditions for Hakata, Fukuoka based sister group “HKT48” began, and this fall the group is planning to start up activities. AKB48 producer Akimoto Yasushi is in charge of all the 48-groups and is certainly making “local-48s” everywhere.
For this new Sapporo based group, team names like “HKD48” (Hokkaido) and “DSK48” (Dosanko) seem very probable. The theatre location name is also likely “SSK48” (Susukino).
This will truly become a “National Idol Project”, with groups from Hokkaido all the way down to Kyushu. Look forward to the “4th Senbatsu General Election” next year, with a whirlwind blowing in from the north.
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