AKB48 members to appear on stamps

What an original idea, it couldn't get more Japanese. I think my friends would be laughing their heads off. If JP would sell them individually, I would put them on all my Xmas cards. Maybe this business strategy isn't that good, JP is losing out big time here. Only real fans will buy those stamps at that price now.

Great. Now we can lick them.

Actually, I thought it would have been good if they did a Koda Kumi stamp campaign last year when she released the single "Lick Me". In the United States, you have to die before you can get on a postage stamp...

Takahashi from Team A said: “It amazes me because there are so many historiocally famous people who will not be on stamps and there we are.

Well Takahashi, this is what your country has come to. I can see Christmas cards and New Years Cards but they should not be on a stamp.

AKB48 is a detriment to your countries growth. They are a distraction. Some boys know everything they can possibly learn about AKB48 members but have no idea who Shusaku Endo was.

On the other hand, Japan decided to privatize it's postal system so it doesn't really matter who they put on the stamp now. Japan's government will sit back and watch.

And Watanabe from Team B gushed, “I’m thrilled. This is so unexpected.”

Unexpected? No, this is Japan..remember?

Disgraceful? yes.. Wada Akiko or the Kimono Onion-head lady would be more acceptable than this trashy band.

I had myself put on custom stamps here last year and used them. That was weird. My friends laughed.

Better than a CD as on the stamps they are silent at least. I guess it was AKB48 I heard them in a convenience store. They sent the thrill down my back when they started crooning with their gently simmering voices of a carrion crow.

“It amazes me because there are so many historiocally famous people who will not be on stamps and there we are.”

If you are TRULY amazed then you are in with the rest of the entire world, and likely a few Japanese. Oh wait, you wouldn't be among the rest of the world at all, only those who know nothing about Japan -- and they would just be baffled.

How apropos! Girls are like stamps anyways:

You lick 'em! You stick 'em! You send 'em on their way!

Well said Lost, well said. Only thing is, I don't like to pay for it. Not even 50 yen for these girls.

how bloody embarassing! This is pathetic & oh so wrong. My mother just left for home yesterday after spending a month with us here & she was totally baffled the way Japan dumbs everything down, the cutesy stuff drove her nuts.

So I say ya Japan is an infantile place & the way everyone acts, commercials etc makes General McArthur's old quote ring truer today than back in the 1940s, Japan is a nation of 12yr olds! But that number is likley lower now. And now these twits on stamps, WTF!

who knew JP was run buy lolita-files. i'm gonna protest by never sending mail again!

That's like Obama getting a Nobel Peace Prize, neither deserve the honor.

Another cultural low for Japan. This place is increasingly poppy, cute and shallow.

@lostrune2

How apropos! Girls are like stamps anyways:

You lick 'em! You stick 'em! You send 'em on their way!

I really hope you are referring to AKB48 specifically. Otherwise I must be the most overused stamp in all Japan as my husband refuses to "send me away" lol

Most likely people won't be licking these stamps since they won't be using them. Who wants a cancellation postmark on their cute faces?

Mmmmmm tastes like Yakuza

well ,you can't blame japan post , those(AKB48) are the creme of the crop of japan of today. Really pathetic!

i'd much rather have some rick james stamps.

Some of you have confused entertainment with the entire culture. These people are serious enough at work. (Did not say effective, but serious). Lighten up. Half of them can't drink any more because they can't drive home and can't afford the cab fair so much. Late night TV for adults has been canned. The economy is not booming, etc. Isn't much left but to engage in some escapeism via all things kawaii.

...how much money can the Japanese possibly squeeze our of these teenage pieces of meat...what's next ? A Nobel Prize nomination for a bunch of talent-less bimbettes?

Isn't it about time they were made 'ningen kokuho' - Living National Treasures?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Living_National_Treasures_of_Japan

More SAD, SAD, SAD news from the AKB group. Whats next make a baby with an AKB star and get it on a stamp, send it to all your other SAD friends and relatives for New Years.

Sorry I am still fuming over that AKBaby trash

Gotta love Japanese culture. A large percentage of their fan base is men in their 30's and 40's. Is the attraction the music? I think not!

Watanabe from Team B gushed . . . "This is so unexpected."

Yeah. Whodathunk something so idiotic would become a national obsession...

Er, on second thought...

That is just so WRONG

A postage stamp... really.?.

GW and tkoind2 -- great posts. Japan is plunging deeper and deeper into cultural irrelevance except for gamers and folks who are into anime/idolizing teensage girls. And it wonders why no one visits here.

Is this legal?

OoOoo...how creative. Sadly, I don't think anyone in their right minds would really want these unless they're creeping up on these girls. I mean, seriously? No matter how much of a japanese music fan I am, I'd never buy stamps with my favorite singer's face on it! It's just overly embarrassing and ridiculous!

Hope the adhesive is tuna flavored.

No matter how much of a japanese music fan I am, I'd never buy stamps with my favorite singer's face on it! It's just overly embarrassing and ridiculous!

Welcome to Japan

@speed technically you are licking their backsides :p

@cactusJack -- there are only two things that taste like tuna, and adhesive is not one of them

@Dennis Bauer -- technically you are licking a stamp you will never see again.

I think some of you are taking this a wee bit too seriously. Japan Post is a private company trying to make money - AKB is popular, like them or not. Seems like a good idea to make money.

Licking those tiny babygirls is a waste of DNA, but can you imagine how many teeny boppers would buy stamps? (not knowing what to dowith a stamp, lol) Foe the postal system in Japan, good business move. For the postal system in the US, take note. In the US, they are toying with a "live tribute" on stamps, too.

Three cheers to the promoters of that group who know how to make lots of yen from this society. Personally, I can't stand seeing them on every channel or commercial and whatever. Sure they're cute but so are most Japanese girls that age. But that's life in this country. So may young people go nuts over things like this. It's amazing ihat they even has a following abroad and there are clones in the making. They are really milking this cow.

@rickyvee

who knew JP was run buy lolita-files.

Apparently you are the last person with any interest at all in Japan to figure that out.

But as to the substance of this particular AKB48 promotion, it seems fairly innocuous to me. Well that is assuming the image is just their face and not a picture of them in lingerie or something - which at this point wouldn't be a total surprise to anyone.