Former AKB48 leader Atsuko Maeda, 22, who graduated from the group last summer, made a special appearance at the group's concert at Sapporo Dome on Wednesday night.
The mega-popular group is currently on a five-dome concert tour of Japan.
Maeda sang three songs and chatted with current members Minami Takahashi, 22, Tomomi Itano, 22, Haruna Kojima, 25, and Minami Minegishi, 20, Sports Nippon reported, adding that the 30,000 fans were thrilled to see Maeda's first comeback since her graduation.
Also, AKB sub-group HKT 48, which was formed on July 20 at Fukuoka YafuOku Dome, was officially introduced at the concert. The seven members of the unit performed for the first time after 10 days of intense training.
"Like a rainbow, each of us wants to express a unique color," said HKT member Meru Tajima, 13.
© Japan Today
18 Comments
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nath
I was bored by AKB about 5 years ago.
Gekikara Black
Ok. Sorry to desapoint al of you "she's there to just get AKB to keep their fans" but...... the reason she was there was to promote her new single comming up next month :)
RomeoRII
Always funny to see what stories are deemed "headline news" there in Japan.
RR
badsey3
http://img1.gtimg.com/ent/pics/hv1/237/114/1384/90023907.jpg
If you were a member of AKB48 you would need to dress like that also. = Maeda is a ex-Member.
kidojapan
He he he, nice one!
djv124
I'm extremely happy to see Maeda gave up some of her time to come support AKB. I'm so proud of them all and I hope they continue to do as good as they have been. Whoever thinks they aren't doing good must work a minimum wage job and feels the need to take it out on this hard-working idol group. Speaking of which, man...nobody ever seems to say anything good about AKB on these forums! While I agree that the songs aren't my favorite, their personalities are hysterical on AKBINGO and I think that they are humans just like me and you, trying to figure out who they each are given the crazy larger than life roles they play in Japan. Give em a break man! GO AKB!!! GO MAEDA! GO MIYAZAWA SAE!!
rickyvee
how fitting she wants the group to be like a rainbow since rainbows usually quickly disappear after an event.
AlexCook
My response to this article...AKB48 are in desperate need of keeping their fans by bringing back their former members. I think the fans, especially the men, are starting to realize that they have no shot at being in a relationship with those girls in the future. JS
pizzatime
Newsworthy... we know it!
CrisGerSan
The group is doing just fine thanks for the doom and gloom attempt but it wont fly. They are still among the most popular groups in japan, and are doing very well.
plasticmonkey
which is why they wear uniforms and sing in unison.
mikihouse
the last 5 dome concert was a failed event, 13oku (13,000,000,000) according to livedoor news http://news.livedoor.com/article/detail/7893366/
nath
AKB 48 in the red? you must be joking. i love all the Minamis in AKB. Remind me of the Austin Powers movie.
The Chronic
AKB69 forever man!!!!
mikihouse
the truth is AKB48 is now in red, tickets are no longer selling and its no longer fresh that's why they have to ask former AKB's in the hope to invigorate sales...NAH
Meguroman
Awesome news, I really feel I can move on with my day, inspired by this story.
sillygirl
Guess she had nothing better to do.
JoiceRojo
what amazes me is that Maeda, who's only 22 dressed like a pretty young woman as she is and the girls who are also 22 and 25 years old dressed like dolls making them look like puffy little girls with shorter legs....