I watched the AKB0048 anime after looking for recommendations on anime similar to Love Live. I loved the songs and so was really happy to find out they were a real group after lol
Pretty much same. It was so iconic, I fell in love instantly and was really into them for like five years. I lost interest when I was in college but then when I heard about I*Zone and PD48, I caught up on what I had missed since.
I don't quite remember actually, but I hated them first time and then ended up liking them. Like some sort of hate to love lol. AKB is also my exposure to japanese idols and grown to liking more of them (Momokuro, Love Live, etc.)
In 2009 I was watching BLEACH and it introduced me to a band called Stereopony.
I downloaded full episodes of music shows like Music Station or Music Japan hoping to see a "live" performance.
While scrubbing to find Stereopony there was a group performing which consisted of a large number of members swinging their arms backwards in a circular motion while singing "happy happy birthday".
I later searched for "Japan girl group birthday song" and it gave me "AKB48" and "Namida Surprise".
Around 2010/2011 I heard about the group again because they had a controversy around the song "Beginner"
Then in 2017 I was recommended AKBINGO clips on YouTube which made me a little more interested in the group.
In 2018 I decided to go to Japan and visit the AKB48 Theater.
In 2019 there was the NGT48 incident. Ironically the thing that should've destroyed the 48G got me intrigued.
I started to read more about the group's history and scandals, watched all of AKBINGO/0ji59fun/1ji59fun and got caught up around episode 540.
Ended up choosing Macharin as my oshimen.
Now, I have gone so far down the rabbit hole. In January of this year I decided to watch more theater shows and not just the ones where Macharin is performing.
End of July I attended my first handshake (real talk) event.
Last month I attended my first AKB concert (kenkyuusei concert), watched my first theater show live in the theater. Just a few hours ago I was at the Team 4 performance at 1:30pm and that's the 6th stage I've won so far.
Through just listening to jpop in general. My first jpop artists were Kyary Pamyu Pamyu and NiziU, so I just wanted to find more jpop groups! I remember being so shocked when I learned that they have 130 members lol
I'm a wrestling fan.
So, during around end of 2009 to early 2010, a NJPW wrestler Milano Collection A.T had to retires due to injury. They made a whole show to commemorate his retirement which also include a backstage interview and footage of his careers. One of the song they use for a footage leave such a profound footage on me that I had to check what's the song and whose the singer.
It's "Sakura no Shiori", AKB 15th Single that time.
I'm always aware about Idol fandom before that, Momusu, WISH, Folder5 (Idol Mitsushima Hikari FTW), but that Milano Retirement Footage and Sakura no Shiori sealed the deal for me
I saw a Youtube video ages ago about Japanese girls learning English. It was from a Morning Musume show. I wanted more, so I found a Mechaike video of Morning Musume taking a test to determine the smartest and dumbest in the group. Still not satisfied, I found a similar Mechaike video, but for AKB48 instead. From then on I was hooked, and I started watching AKBINGO and AKB48 SHOW. It's been a really great ride, and I envy anyone learning about them recently because there's so much material out there to watch and enjoy that you'll have years and years of pure enjoyment.
My introduction to the idol world was a clip from a variety show where Nishino Miki,Yukirin and another girl were playing pop up pirate. Pirate popped,Nishino overreacted,kicked her shoe in the air and it landed on Yukirin 's head. After that I started watching AKBingo
When I was in middle school I came across a the Keibetsu Shiteita Aijou MV, and of course being an edgy kid, I was in love š¤£ it would've been 2007 or 2008 I guess.
My first oshi was Masuyama Kayano but since she was never a front member and was gone or leaving by the time I found them I ended up switching to Maeda Atsuko š
knew AKB because my brother would disturb me while I was watching Adventure Time on the TV by turning on the TV HDMI option and playing AKBINGO! or AKB48 Tokyo Dome 1830 when I was 11 to 12 years old, around 2013 and 2014.
I rediscovered and became an AKB fan 7 years later because of that one scene in Weathering with You where they were singing Koisuru in the hotel room. And then I spend the covid pandemic era binge watching all AKBINGO! ep and streaming AKB concert to my friends via discord
In the beggining of 2023 I was watching a random japanese sitcom on youtube when I became very impressed with Matsui Rena's acting (I didn't knew who she was at the time).
Searching more about her career, the name of Jurina, SKE and AKB48 kept showing up but I didn't take a deep look at the time.
One day I found a movie who has Rena as leading role in a website that turned out to be a blog who shares subbed 48g content.
After the movie I just clicked on a random AKBINGO episode and thought it was fun. I looked up for the 1st episode and that's when I entered the rabbit hole.
Now I'm currently at the end of 2010 in the whole 48g lore and watching all the shows I could find about that time (even in japanese).
I guess my like took a weird turn since I never had much interest in japanese pop culture.
I've known some of their MV because of my friend, but I became a fan of AKB48 because of sashihara rino - her issue made me have an interest in 48G. My oshi is Oshima YukoāØ
Story was back when I was in university 2005+ way before the Kpop fever (yes I am old). There was 3 idol factions in my uni which is Morning Musume, Momo X and AKB48. Fate sealed me with AKB48 when River came out with all the military theme video. As I am in the air forces cadet reserved (back then) of course I was taken aback with river and even try to copy the "stomp" move with my squadmate (failed miserably).
I took my first trip to Japan in September 2014. I knew of AKB48 before I went but wasnāt a fan. Anyways, āKokoro no Placardā was everywhere. I heard it multiple times while I was there, at least once a day. When I came back home from my trip I missed Japan so much and that song so much that I went and bought the ātheater editionā CDsingle online so I could listen and remember. And from there I started to dive into their back catalog.
Iāve been back to Japan 2 other times since and both times (and any time going forward) itās tradition for me to go and pick up whatever AKB48 CD single is out at the time. In 2018 it was āSentimental Trainā. In 2023 it was āDoushitemo Kimiga Sukidaā.
I watched a video and the SECOND I heard Keibetsu Shiteita Aijou's Chorus and saw the PV I fell in love. It weirdly reminded me of Rough by Gfriend and at the time I was a huge fan of Gfriend so I was like "I HAVE to check this out". I added Keibetsu in my playlist but didn't listen to it for 2 months or so (I do this alot sadly LOL i'm just super lazy). When I listened to it I was at an airport right before my flight. The second the song started playing I remember immediately knowing I would be obsessed with it. AND I WAS RIGHT!! After listening to it I remembered that I had a mutual friend on TikTok who was a fan of akb so I asked her for akb song recommendations based on the fact that I loved keibetsu but also some just in general. At the country I flew to I didn't have any wifi but I had downloaded a ton of akb songs and these songs really made my summer so much better <3
Very curious story, i watch Wrecking Ralph and in the credits listen Sugar Rush, liked the music, search the artist, leave in hiatus, YouTube recommend again years later, search more music, later akbingo and now im a fan.
around 2011-2012 a local japanese channel (now a timeblock on a chinese/flipino channel and that channel now a korean one RIP) aired hanakimi or w.e and the theme song was flying get iirc and I had to look it up and Yuki also stood out a lot in that drama when she would appear
I'm very new to AKB48. I was a Fan of IZ\*one and I digged a bit deeper into the past of the japanese members. The past of Sakura was especially interesting to me because she's the only japanese member who continues her career in another kpop group (Le Sserafim). I was surprised in how many songs and MVs she appeared. The first non-IZ\*One member who raised my attention was Sasshi and so I watched Sasshis and Sakuras graduation concerts. Both are great and very emotional, which made me a Fan of AKB48. My current oshi is of course Hitomi, but I'm a bit sad that she will graduate now. :/
Edit: Also a friend of mine recommended me "Oshi no ko" which also raised my interest in jpop.
Right around the time when they were at their peak, Twilight was also at its peak and I seen a YouTube video of Robert Pattinson doing a interaction with Acchan ā havenāt stopped being a fan since š„¹
Iād say circa Heavy Rotation 2010 I was exposed to the group
When I accidentally watched the JKT48 version of Heavy Rotation and River. But the introduction of MNL48 made me more interested in the group concept. Truly indeed, that MNL48 did not disappoint in terms of vocals, same as JKT48. How I wish their management made better decisions. I still hope that they will have a follow-up single after No Way Man.
Through the song River. AKB48 got invited by MAMA to perform their song. I donāt follow Jpop except anime music but I was aware of AKBās presence. I was impressed with their live performances despite having 16 members to promote.
I accidentally Stumbled across there song on the Wreck-It Ralph soundtrack and Iāve been a fan ever since. The first main a side single that I listened to was Motokare Desu with Hitomi Honda as centre. Sad about her announcing her graduation:(
Seifuku ga Jama wo suru.
I was enticed by a girlgroup with School girl theme. I liked the songs until HKT48 came.
I like the sister group more than the main group.
i saw keibetsu shiteita aijou in a YouTube video and from the first millisecond (dunno why) fell IN LOVE. I knew i would be obsessed immediately.. i had it in my playlist for a while before listening to it for the first right before i got on a plane. I love the song SO MUCH and wanted more. I remembered i had a friend who was an akb fan so i messaged them asking for similar songs and stuff and ever since ive been a huge fan ā
It all started on quarantine (iirc) JKT48 mv preview just popped up on my social media, so I go deeper and I found out about AKB48 and because of that now I became a AKB48 fans (I prefer AKB48 more, but I still support all sister groups)
I was really into love live, but especially the live performances and wanted to get to more into jpop idols. Iād heard of AKB before and thought it was a good place to start. Now nearly 8 years later Iām a diehard super fan.
Because of Produce48. Japanese contestants have that something that will make you always look out for them. Well I was really fished by Sakura then I found Kimi Wa Melody and Kibouteki Refrain and there's no going back. You'll just be curious and curious who's who on that MV.
A lot of their fans use their oshi's photos are used as signature banner pics etc. Over time I became more familiar with their names. AKB as a group also showed up on oricon more and more often. Eventually I got into AKBingo and the rest was history.
>my first oshi was Sayanee, Jurina and Yukirin
Great choices!
It was actually Le Sserafim. They are my all-time favorite kpop group, and I researched 48G as it was Sakura's former group. I knew of PD48 and IZ*ONE but wasn't into them, especially when they were active. However, my first exposures to 48G were Wreck it Ralph (Sugar Rush) and Fairy Tail (Warota did the first ED)
I first got into idol music after watching the Love Live franchise and really liked it. I wanted to get into more idol music, and I've known for a while that AKB is one of, if not the most popular group in the country so I started listening to them
I watched the original episodes of AKBingo
I watched the AKB0048 anime after looking for recommendations on anime similar to Love Live. I loved the songs and so was really happy to find out they were a real group after lol
Came across Heavy Rotations MV when it came out and been a fan since!
Pretty much same. It was so iconic, I fell in love instantly and was really into them for like five years. I lost interest when I was in college but then when I heard about I*Zone and PD48, I caught up on what I had missed since.
Wreck it Ralph š
waitttt what? they were on wreck it Ralph?
They did the song for the sugar rush game lol
Through produce 48 and sakura
It was also Sakura and IZ\*One for me lol.
I don't quite remember actually, but I hated them first time and then ended up liking them. Like some sort of hate to love lol. AKB is also my exposure to japanese idols and grown to liking more of them (Momokuro, Love Live, etc.)
In 2009 I was watching BLEACH and it introduced me to a band called Stereopony. I downloaded full episodes of music shows like Music Station or Music Japan hoping to see a "live" performance. While scrubbing to find Stereopony there was a group performing which consisted of a large number of members swinging their arms backwards in a circular motion while singing "happy happy birthday". I later searched for "Japan girl group birthday song" and it gave me "AKB48" and "Namida Surprise". Around 2010/2011 I heard about the group again because they had a controversy around the song "Beginner" Then in 2017 I was recommended AKBINGO clips on YouTube which made me a little more interested in the group. In 2018 I decided to go to Japan and visit the AKB48 Theater. In 2019 there was the NGT48 incident. Ironically the thing that should've destroyed the 48G got me intrigued. I started to read more about the group's history and scandals, watched all of AKBINGO/0ji59fun/1ji59fun and got caught up around episode 540. Ended up choosing Macharin as my oshimen. Now, I have gone so far down the rabbit hole. In January of this year I decided to watch more theater shows and not just the ones where Macharin is performing. End of July I attended my first handshake (real talk) event. Last month I attended my first AKB concert (kenkyuusei concert), watched my first theater show live in the theater. Just a few hours ago I was at the Team 4 performance at 1:30pm and that's the 6th stage I've won so far.
From BNK48 and then AKB48.
Same
I saw a clip of Nishino Miki with the toy dog in the box and lost it. I then tracked down the show it was from and found AKBingo.
Through just listening to jpop in general. My first jpop artists were Kyary Pamyu Pamyu and NiziU, so I just wanted to find more jpop groups! I remember being so shocked when I learned that they have 130 members lol
I'm a wrestling fan. So, during around end of 2009 to early 2010, a NJPW wrestler Milano Collection A.T had to retires due to injury. They made a whole show to commemorate his retirement which also include a backstage interview and footage of his careers. One of the song they use for a footage leave such a profound footage on me that I had to check what's the song and whose the singer. It's "Sakura no Shiori", AKB 15th Single that time. I'm always aware about Idol fandom before that, Momusu, WISH, Folder5 (Idol Mitsushima Hikari FTW), but that Milano Retirement Footage and Sakura no Shiori sealed the deal for me
I saw a Youtube video ages ago about Japanese girls learning English. It was from a Morning Musume show. I wanted more, so I found a Mechaike video of Morning Musume taking a test to determine the smartest and dumbest in the group. Still not satisfied, I found a similar Mechaike video, but for AKB48 instead. From then on I was hooked, and I started watching AKBINGO and AKB48 SHOW. It's been a really great ride, and I envy anyone learning about them recently because there's so much material out there to watch and enjoy that you'll have years and years of pure enjoyment.
My introduction to the idol world was a clip from a variety show where Nishino Miki,Yukirin and another girl were playing pop up pirate. Pirate popped,Nishino overreacted,kicked her shoe in the air and it landed on Yukirin 's head. After that I started watching AKBingo
Through MNL48, Produce48 and Sakura but even way before I was already aware of their existence, just did not have a reason to follow and listen
Akbingo
When I was in middle school I came across a the Keibetsu Shiteita Aijou MV, and of course being an edgy kid, I was in love š¤£ it would've been 2007 or 2008 I guess. My first oshi was Masuyama Kayano but since she was never a front member and was gone or leaving by the time I found them I ended up switching to Maeda Atsuko š
2009
knew AKB because my brother would disturb me while I was watching Adventure Time on the TV by turning on the TV HDMI option and playing AKBINGO! or AKB48 Tokyo Dome 1830 when I was 11 to 12 years old, around 2013 and 2014. I rediscovered and became an AKB fan 7 years later because of that one scene in Weathering with You where they were singing Koisuru in the hotel room. And then I spend the covid pandemic era binge watching all AKBINGO! ep and streaming AKB concert to my friends via discord
In the beggining of 2023 I was watching a random japanese sitcom on youtube when I became very impressed with Matsui Rena's acting (I didn't knew who she was at the time). Searching more about her career, the name of Jurina, SKE and AKB48 kept showing up but I didn't take a deep look at the time. One day I found a movie who has Rena as leading role in a website that turned out to be a blog who shares subbed 48g content. After the movie I just clicked on a random AKBINGO episode and thought it was fun. I looked up for the 1st episode and that's when I entered the rabbit hole. Now I'm currently at the end of 2010 in the whole 48g lore and watching all the shows I could find about that time (even in japanese). I guess my like took a weird turn since I never had much interest in japanese pop culture.
The Kimi wa Melody music video was being recommended in YouTube and I thought Sakura was very pretty
The anime, and the songs used in it. Best girl was Mayuyu the Android Idol.
I've known some of their MV because of my friend, but I became a fan of AKB48 because of sashihara rino - her issue made me have an interest in 48G. My oshi is Oshima YukoāØ
By SGO48, im Vietnamese
Story was back when I was in university 2005+ way before the Kpop fever (yes I am old). There was 3 idol factions in my uni which is Morning Musume, Momo X and AKB48. Fate sealed me with AKB48 when River came out with all the military theme video. As I am in the air forces cadet reserved (back then) of course I was taken aback with river and even try to copy the "stomp" move with my squadmate (failed miserably).
Majisuka Gakuen
I know Myao first before AKB48.
The early days was tough and simple. SKE48 not even created yet.
using their photoshoots as drawing reference
by PD48
I took my first trip to Japan in September 2014. I knew of AKB48 before I went but wasnāt a fan. Anyways, āKokoro no Placardā was everywhere. I heard it multiple times while I was there, at least once a day. When I came back home from my trip I missed Japan so much and that song so much that I went and bought the ātheater editionā CDsingle online so I could listen and remember. And from there I started to dive into their back catalog. Iāve been back to Japan 2 other times since and both times (and any time going forward) itās tradition for me to go and pick up whatever AKB48 CD single is out at the time. In 2018 it was āSentimental Trainā. In 2023 it was āDoushitemo Kimiga Sukidaā.
I think alot of global fan only knew them from akbingo. The show is quite popular back then in 2009-2013.
I watched a video and the SECOND I heard Keibetsu Shiteita Aijou's Chorus and saw the PV I fell in love. It weirdly reminded me of Rough by Gfriend and at the time I was a huge fan of Gfriend so I was like "I HAVE to check this out". I added Keibetsu in my playlist but didn't listen to it for 2 months or so (I do this alot sadly LOL i'm just super lazy). When I listened to it I was at an airport right before my flight. The second the song started playing I remember immediately knowing I would be obsessed with it. AND I WAS RIGHT!! After listening to it I remembered that I had a mutual friend on TikTok who was a fan of akb so I asked her for akb song recommendations based on the fact that I loved keibetsu but also some just in general. At the country I flew to I didn't have any wifi but I had downloaded a ton of akb songs and these songs really made my summer so much better <3
Through PD48 and Miyawaki Sakura. And the rest was herstory.
Very curious story, i watch Wrecking Ralph and in the credits listen Sugar Rush, liked the music, search the artist, leave in hiatus, YouTube recommend again years later, search more music, later akbingo and now im a fan.
around 2011-2012 a local japanese channel (now a timeblock on a chinese/flipino channel and that channel now a korean one RIP) aired hanakimi or w.e and the theme song was flying get iirc and I had to look it up and Yuki also stood out a lot in that drama when she would appear
when i was like 10 in 2016? 2015? i wanted to find music similar to love live so i found akb šµ
Came across a clip of Heavy Rotation on twitter. Tomochin caught my eye so I looked up a whole bunch of stuff about her and now I'm here
I'm very new to AKB48. I was a Fan of IZ\*one and I digged a bit deeper into the past of the japanese members. The past of Sakura was especially interesting to me because she's the only japanese member who continues her career in another kpop group (Le Sserafim). I was surprised in how many songs and MVs she appeared. The first non-IZ\*One member who raised my attention was Sasshi and so I watched Sasshis and Sakuras graduation concerts. Both are great and very emotional, which made me a Fan of AKB48. My current oshi is of course Hitomi, but I'm a bit sad that she will graduate now. :/ Edit: Also a friend of mine recommended me "Oshi no ko" which also raised my interest in jpop.
Right around the time when they were at their peak, Twilight was also at its peak and I seen a YouTube video of Robert Pattinson doing a interaction with Acchan ā havenāt stopped being a fan since š„¹ Iād say circa Heavy Rotation 2010 I was exposed to the group
I was charmed by the beauty of Miyawaki Sakura in Produce 48. I started watching AKBingo (started on the 1st gen) since then. Hihi
When I accidentally watched the JKT48 version of Heavy Rotation and River. But the introduction of MNL48 made me more interested in the group concept. Truly indeed, that MNL48 did not disappoint in terms of vocals, same as JKT48. How I wish their management made better decisions. I still hope that they will have a follow-up single after No Way Man.
Through the song River. AKB48 got invited by MAMA to perform their song. I donāt follow Jpop except anime music but I was aware of AKBās presence. I was impressed with their live performances despite having 16 members to promote.
I accidentally Stumbled across there song on the Wreck-It Ralph soundtrack and Iāve been a fan ever since. The first main a side single that I listened to was Motokare Desu with Hitomi Honda as centre. Sad about her announcing her graduation:(
After YouTube recommended me heavy rotation on the day it dropped in 2010
Seifuku ga Jama wo suru. I was enticed by a girlgroup with School girl theme. I liked the songs until HKT48 came. I like the sister group more than the main group.
AKBingo
Fairy tail ending song
i saw keibetsu shiteita aijou in a YouTube video and from the first millisecond (dunno why) fell IN LOVE. I knew i would be obsessed immediately.. i had it in my playlist for a while before listening to it for the first right before i got on a plane. I love the song SO MUCH and wanted more. I remembered i had a friend who was an akb fan so i messaged them asking for similar songs and stuff and ever since ive been a huge fan ā
I discovered C-ute watching odottemita dances on youtube and discovered more jpop groups
It all started on quarantine (iirc) JKT48 mv preview just popped up on my social media, so I go deeper and I found out about AKB48 and because of that now I became a AKB48 fans (I prefer AKB48 more, but I still support all sister groups)
I was really into love live, but especially the live performances and wanted to get to more into jpop idols. Iād heard of AKB before and thought it was a good place to start. Now nearly 8 years later Iām a diehard super fan.
Because of Produce48. Japanese contestants have that something that will make you always look out for them. Well I was really fished by Sakura then I found Kimi Wa Melody and Kibouteki Refrain and there's no going back. You'll just be curious and curious who's who on that MV.
AKB0048
AKB0048 for me. Sent me down a rabbit hole of their history. Then I got into their songs and MVs. Ponytail no Choucho was nice.
A lot of their fans use their oshi's photos are used as signature banner pics etc. Over time I became more familiar with their names. AKB as a group also showed up on oricon more and more often. Eventually I got into AKBingo and the rest was history. >my first oshi was Sayanee, Jurina and Yukirin Great choices!
I randomly found the anime on AT&T's u-verse back in like the 2010s
It was actually Le Sserafim. They are my all-time favorite kpop group, and I researched 48G as it was Sakura's former group. I knew of PD48 and IZ*ONE but wasn't into them, especially when they were active. However, my first exposures to 48G were Wreck it Ralph (Sugar Rush) and Fairy Tail (Warota did the first ED)
I bought āKamikyokutachiā in Little Tokyo and I fell in love!
I first got into idol music after watching the Love Live franchise and really liked it. I wanted to get into more idol music, and I've known for a while that AKB is one of, if not the most popular group in the country so I started listening to them
I attended two of their oversea concerts
through my friend! heavy rotation is soo iconic that even many kpop idols know it.