AKB48 wins top Japan record industry award

Congratulations AKB48. And congratulations to Japan for reaching an all time low in terms of music appreciation.

Enough of these half wits, JT seem obsessed with them. How about showing us some articles about real talent, hopefully those that can write songs and have their own opinions.

AKB48 wins top Japan record industry award

The headline tells you everything to know about the height of the bar. I reckon even the world's most flexible limbo dancer would have trouble getting under it.

I say "take a Flying Get".

"Flying get"??

Talk about ZERO TALENT.. just finished watching the video and hearing the song for the first time.. HORRIBLE!... the group is basically a bunch of cute young Japanese girls dancing around in short skirts... and Japan thinks this is talent?... i love so many things about Japan .... but not J-POP... ..Hideous!

JHC. Flying git. It's just appalling. Japan has some great musicians and great music but this is the crap that gets the nod.

Disclaimer: I haven't heard one note of an AKB48 song, nor could I identify a member out of a line-up. In short, I don't have any bias on the subject one way or the other.

For all of you complaining about the "bar being set too low" or how there are numerous acts better than AKB48, my reply is if the awards show is based on SALES (and most of the music awards are), then the numbers given in the article make a strong case for AKB48 winning the award. Unless you can come up with another act that had better sales in Japan, it sounds to me like the right act won.

Are there any other bands in Japan?

I watched the show. They finally won it this year because Exile wasn't in the competition after winning it for the last three years in the row. That's why they were crying so much.

Well I am not a big AKB48 fan myself but this really isn't that big a surprise. I do however feel sorry for the other nominees. There are far more talented artists in Japan and this is a real slap in the face if you ask me. In private many of my friends feel almost ashamed when AKB48 is even mentioned. To believe such a low talent group can achieve such a high honor is embarrassing, they said. It really makes me wonder though why more Japanese artists haven't taken their talents elsewhere. There are at least a half dozen I know of which would do quite well outside Japan and already have considerable fan bases as well. Just as a couple examples. X-Japan just recently signed a 3 year contract with E.M.I.

Namie Amuro performing at the WMA"s & being only the second Japanese artist ever to do so. Oh she won btw as well haha. I also believe Lecca performed with Shaggy & CL recently performed with Black Eyed Peas which was amazing. So it is not like there aren't talented Japanese/Asian artists out there as there most certainly are. If Japan doesn't start promoting it's artists more equally. There aren't going to be any ones left to promote. While AKB48 might be popular now. By no means do they have what it takes to keep the entire Japanese music industry afloat. That title is reserved for one Ayumi Hamaski which AKB48 is clearly not lol. Let's just hope that girl never retires!!

In the Japanese (and the SE Asian?) music industry, it seems "cuteness" is more important than any real talent. After all, the two most popular words in modern Japanese conversation are "sugoi" and "kawaii" (cute). There is also some kind of deal with the TV stations here where the talent agencies are able to get certain designated groups almost blanket coverage on "talento" variety programs and TV commercials. It plays on an old trick that if you are on TV often enough, people will assume you must be good. However, if you search around, there is some good Japanese music out there.

Thanks for the link. Now I know what AKB48 is. They are just a bunch of kids with "hello Kitty" looks. . AKB48 is an interesting study material for sociology why they are so appealing to Japanese adults. Hmmmm....

Pwease don't say horrid and beastly things about AKB48. They make the world fluffy and happy, that is why they won. So many haters, it brings me to tears. They are the most talented band of the 21st century.

When are they going to start a world tour like Michael Jackson?

I had to laugh at their performance last night. I could sense the sound engineer going bananas in the back control room as he tried to cover up their blunders. It was the first time I ever saw them perform with a live band (they usually sing to pre-recorded songs & music). They sounded really bad ... and because of all the dancing they were doing, I could hear them gasping for air. I think they'd better stick to their recorded stuff ... sounds much better.

Wonder what they will do on NHK tonight? Try singing with a live band or go back to their pre-recorded routine?

So far it appears NHK is playing safe with AKB. No live music ... only pre-recorded stuff ... or canned ...

I think there was a mistake. Maybe they meant it to be called the Japan Most Popular Group Award. Then again, by 'top Japan record industry award' they meant the group or act that sold the most number of records (and made the labels happy), without reference to actual creativity or originality from the members themselves in terms of self-produced music. If that's the case, then the award is spot on.

Historically, AKB48 is just a modern incarnation of J-Idol groups that started earlier such as Onyanko club (also by Akimoto P) and Morning Musume (by Tsunku); wouldn't be surprised if those also won awards decades before. Don't know if YUI or Ikimono Gakari were in the running but if they were would rather either one won instead. I prefer AKB for their TV shows than their music where they get to show their individual sides and quirkiness more, especially in the wacky challenges and batsu games. Their reactions such as when forced to eat getemono or receive oshioki are just hilarious.

I dont give a flying...................you know what about this crap, my god how anyone has the nerve to call this music is beyond me, its such utter crap!

genjuro,

seriously you need to re-evaluate your priorities!

fadamor

what it shows is how easily brain washed people can be, once the herd starts many join, its painful to see this, makes me wonder how on earth Japan has a chance to recover from its many problems, and meanwhile artists with much more talent get little recognition. I realize this happens everywhere but in Japan its a very long lasting plague!

P.S. please note I use "act" rather than "band" when referring to AKB48. "Bands" use instruments besides just their voices. The Jackson 5 may have started as an actual band, but in their heyday they had morphed into an act with a back-up band.

Ha ha! What a poke in the eye to all the stick in the mud gaijin who hate AKB48 for no rational reason and try to blame AKB48 for all the ills in the world that only they can perceive.

As the haters cannot even get the ages of the members correct, I love the fact that AKB48 got this award, just to fob off the haters, even if I seriously doubt they deserve any sort of award for artistry.

Flying get is a slang for getting CD before it's on sale and they used it to compare to getting a girl (yes song is from a guy perspective) heart before everyone else. If you don't know the slang then maybe you shouldn't complain?

Also the reason japan like AKB isn't because they're kawaii since Beginner, Give me Five, Keibetsu, River, Kaze wa fuiteiru, Sakura no ki ni narou, Sakura no shiori, etc etc weren't kawaii and you guys need to get over your prejudice and look up more videos than just watching 1 video of there for couple min. Just so you know not only because they do diverse songs about cute love to suicide, they also donated more than 20 million USD to Japan relief, donated 30 vehicles for transportation, visited tsunami areas 10 times including Fukushima on Christmas, asked their fans to dedicate letters to victims at the concert, and dedicated the lyric of Kaze wa fuiteiru to help empower tsunami victims. They helped more lives than you pressed haters.....but w/e :P

AKB is obviously not just "music." It is an overkill of kawaii-ness. Love it.

I'm seriously thinking about leaving Japan because AKB48. They are killing this country.

What's a 'flying get', by the way? Is it when you receive a drop-kick for making up stupid song names?

Anyway, do all 100 + members climb up on stage to get the reward?

Well done to AKB48.For their millions of fans and record sales.And for the money they donated in 2011 to the Tohoku region.I think Japan Today likes these girls as much as it likes winding up the Ojisan's here who don't like them.

Yes I am a fan,but can't we all be happy and for today wish them,you and the staff at JT a Happy New Year,and may 2012 treat us better than 2011.

Here is a nice video and a happy song from AKB48.. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=blKzSXeYb28&feature=related

I love how people give the "thumbs down" on people who post a "positive" comment about AKB48. I like them for their entertainment value even if the group is somewhat over-exposed and commercialized.

Don't click on an akb48 articles all the time just to complain, you know what its going to be about yet you still click on the link.... AND now let the negative backlash begin!

Best. Song title. Ever.

Flying Get wasn't one of my favorite songs, but I really liked "Dakishimecha Ikenai" the Under Girls' coupling track for that release. After watching a live streamed concert on Google+ I'm interested to see what Yasushi Akimoto is going to do in 2012, to make AKB more accessible to international fans.

I hope everyone has/is having a wonderful and happy new year. Please be safe/Kiyotsu kete kudasai!!

AKB48 was great on Kohaku!