AKB marches on

What they do is hardly what you can call "music"

I think most of the girls are happy with the arrangement. For those with ambition and talent (or even no talent), AKB is just the stepping stone to bigger things. They all know they are expendable and will be "graduated" within a few years.

I see where you are coming from on that. AKB can be a stepping stone for a select few. For those that do not go to to bigger and better, at least they had fun for a few years.

Time for Akimoto to find his next cash cow!

AKB48 IS his cash cow. Why do you think there are so many girls in the program? This way he can keep his product "fresh". I do not mind AKB48 at all. What I do not like is how Akimoto and his ilk treat the girls like property, and not people.

What I do not like is how Akimoto and his ilk treat the girls like property, and not people.

I think most of the girls are happy with the arrangement. For those with ambition and talent (or even no talent), AKB is just the stepping stone to bigger things. They all know they are expendable and will be "graduated" within a few years.

They are a nice sight for the eyes but not a good sound for the ears.

Average looking Japanese girls are hot?? Hmm...

I am so sick of the Japanese obsession with this talentless group. An adult in just about any other country who was obsessed with this group would be considered sick and in need of intervention. But here even the government obsesses over AKB48.

Where is the Japan that shocked the world twice in 100 years with revolutionary restructuring and power? All tha t is left is a society obsessed with the childlike fluff that infests nearly every corner of culture here. Really very sad.

Their days are numbered. Time for Akimoto to find his next cash cow! (Thank heavens!)

papasmurfinjapanMay. 23, 2013 - 08:12AM JST

I think most of the girls are happy with the arrangement.

In the kingdom of the blind, the one-eyed man is king. Doesn't make what he does right.

For those with ambition and talent (or even no talent), AKB is just the stepping stone to bigger things.

Going by past history, the next stepping stone is the porn industry.

What is more disturbing is grown men like SMAP who have been slaves to Johnny for 20 years, and still don't have the balls to stand up to him.

The member of SMAP don't have any talent to step to another stone. It was a life of being Johney's muppets or a salary slave existence.

What I do not like is how Akimoto and his ilk treat the girls like property, and not people.

That's a very strong statement to make.

When someone is legally the property of someone else, then they are considered a slave(s). There is one key word that has to be used here to see if this is true or not, voluntarism. Is the relationship between the master and his property voluntary? well yes. Both parties do not have to associate with one another and no means of coercion is involved but mutual interest.

They are hardly property at all.

On the other hand, some of them are kawaii and talented.

OMG, kawaii and talented used in the same sentence to describe, AKB?

@ Dog

Doesn't make what he does right.

Why exactly is it wrong? Is he illegally exploiting them in any way? I suppose looking at some of the stuff they sell you could say they are soft-core porn and he is their pimp, but that view is subjective. The reality is, it is just business as usual as has been done in Japan for decades, and will continue to be done for decades to come.

And just for the record, I can't stand AKB. But business is business, and that is his business.

Yeap! AKB69 has always been my favorite group!!!

Hate them, but with $200 million+ in sales in 2012 as likely the top entertainment act on Earth, they aren't going anywhere soon.

He and some of his "proteges" look like gimps. On the other hand, some of them are kawaii and talented.

from left to right: Kojima Haruna, Iriyama Anna, Watanabe Mayu, Shimazaki Haruka (Paruru), Akimoto Yasushi, Kawaei RIna, Takahashi Minami, Kashiwagi Yuki.

Also vote for Paruru this year! <3

Look at him and you have your answer as to the appeal of the girls. Nevertheless they are a breath of fresh air in my life.