AKB48 in New York?

[Tokyograph News]

This weekend, members of idol group AKB48 made their European debut at the Japan Expo in Paris, France. On Sunday, multiple news outlets in Japan reported on the performance, saying that this is just the start of AKB48 making a push overseas.

According to the news, AKB48 is planning to perform in New York in September, followed by a concert in Cannes, France, in October. If the information is true, AKB48 will likely be a guest at the New York Anime Festival, which takes place September 25-27. However, no official statement has been made yet by NYAF or AKB48's management.

Link to article

[Akinaka]

Considering that there is no real market for them overseas...

They popped up at an expo with a dedicated Japanese theme in France. They're going to do the same at a similar event in the US. That's not enough to really push overseas. Honestly, what market? There is no market. Those people who want to see them overseas (not that many, face it) will get their stuff from Japan anyway. I mean, take the big names in J-pop/J-rock and then look at how they fare overseas. Hyde is virtually unknown in Europe, same for Hamasaki, same for Koda, same for Utada, same for GACKT (if they're not, why do they never pop up on the radio? All you get there is American pop stuff, and then local pop stuff, that's it.) Outside of a rather small group of people (compared to the overall population -and the big market- we J-philes are a small minority, you can't deny that; it's the same with actors, even those who appear in big Hollywood stuff; a Tom Cruise everybody knows, a Watanabe Ken hardly anyone remembers -outside of our group of J-philes you have to say "He was the samurai in Last Samurai", then -if you're lucky- people go "Oh, him") nobody knows them. And I don't think the situation in the US is any different. Some people know them, sure. But the big market where the real money lies? Nope.

Should they try, the success overseas will never be the same as back home. An idol group singing while usually dressed up as school girls... I really don't see that market in, let's say, Europe. The only thing I see is some people screaming murder at the whole concept overseas on the long run, if they even pay attention to it. It'll never be big. How could it? How many people in Europe and North America understand what they sing? A handful (compared to the overall population.)

I know, everybody goes bonkers these days with "pushing overseas!" Honestly? Nuts!

I rather see AKB48 on stage in Akihabara. You can't really escape them. I hate such groups, but you can't escape AKB48. They're everywhere. And honestly... I take them over MoMus any day.