Singalong

Idol business is a cancer of Japanese music industry. Many fans spoil their money to buy huge amount of same CD, Oricon chart is filled with rubbish, many girls become unhappy and only the few are on to a good thing. Terrible.

Definitely sexual exploitation....it's getting worse since they spread their wings to other countries. No face, no voice, no song....they can't even dance....arghhhhh !

Wait till they start twerking wearing skin-tight clothing. ;)

It's time to stop the sexual exploitation of these teenage children. It's obnoxious.

Its not sick. its our way.

Here is the main point of concern; these groups are not some niche fetish by a small group of weirdos, rather they represent the what is considered sexually attractive by the mainstream in this country. The majority of men in Japan are sexually aroused by women dressed to look absolutely like children. If it was the other way round, with the majority of men attracted to borderline young girls who look like women; curvaceous, long legs, larger breasts, adult body ratios, etc, this would be slightly dodgy but understandable. But it is not. The majority are sexually aroused by children, or the image of children. Intensely disturbing and basically legitimised paedophilia on a mass scale, with an industry sat behind it giving it further validation through sponsorship. Sick.

AKB48 are a bit boring now, after Aachan left .. but I never watch them anyway so dont know much about it. NMB48 are not bad though, from Osaka I believe ...

Gzrel is spot on. Basic economics of supply and demand.

These bands are so boring to watch. Don't know why they're so popular, even AKB48. I'd rather listen to a simple girls' choir.

BKA 48. Akimoto is laughing all the way to the bank.

I just don't get these group bands, what the hell is so great about these bands? I just don't get it. They are great because they are cute? That's it? Yes, I also don't think the J-music industry cares if they are sexualizing these girls. They have Zero talent, so the only thing they can get by with is their looks, but forget the record companies, how about the parents for allowing their girls to be exploited like this?! In most countries this would be unthinkable.

It's all about the money, If they see it work's why not do it. I doubt they even care that there sexualizing children.

These girls look younger than AKB48...Next they'll come out with a group called BKL48 and they'll be 10 - 13 years old.

Another crime in Saitama!

"Can anyone honestly stomach these AKB bands?"

Yes, absolutely!

I see young girls dancing. Not band or music instrument. .

They are not new. They've been around, at least the group name, since 2011. They have lots of fans that are female, particularly young girls. Personally, I do not think they represent sexy. They are attempting to represent 'cute'.

These are children. Stop sexualizing CHILDREN. It's akin to grooming on an industrialized scale, 'Look girls, THIS is how you should BE'.

Can anyone honestly stomach these AKB bands?

Jesus