Japanese pop band AKB48 includes more than 120 members.
Japanese pop band AKB48 includes more than 120 members.
AKS
AKB48's election poster
AKB48's election poster
"You, Be Cool," King Records
Rino Sashihara, 2016 election winner
Rino Sashihara, 2016 election winner
AKS
AKB48 fans watch the election campaign posters prior to the group's general election announcement in 2013.
AKB48 fans watch the election campaign posters prior to the group's general election announcement in 2013.
TOSHIFUMI KITAMURA/AFP/AFP/Getty Images
"Negaigoto no Mochigusare" album cover
"Negaigoto no Mochigusare" album cover
"You, Be Cool," King Records
Yui Yokoyama, the team leader of AKB48
Yui Yokoyama, the team leader of AKB48
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The Japanese pop group AKB48 at the charity concert MTV Video Music Aid Japan at Chiba City in suburban Tokyo on June 25, 2011.
The Japanese pop group AKB48 at the charity concert MTV Video Music Aid Japan at Chiba City in suburban Tokyo on June 25, 2011.
TOSHIFUMI KITAMURA/AFP/AFP/Getty Images
Japanese pop group AKB48 performed at the Lincoln Theater in Washington on March 27, 2012.
Japanese pop group AKB48 performed at the Lincoln Theater in Washington on March 27, 2012.
NICHOLAS KAMM/AFP/AFP/Getty Images
A fan of Japanese girl pop group AKB48 takes a picture of a poster with members of AKB48 at a cafe in Tokyo on May 26, 2014.
A fan of Japanese girl pop group AKB48 takes a picture of a poster with members of AKB48 at a cafe in Tokyo on May 26, 2014.
YOSHIKAZU TSUNO/AFP/AFP/Getty Images
Ayaka Umeda (2L), Minami Takahashi (C) and Minami Minegishi (2R) of Japanese pop group AKB48 pose with Japanese ambassador to the US Ichiro Fujisaki (R) and Diana Mayhew, President of the National Cherry Blossom Festival, after a press conference at the Japanese ambassador's residence in Washington on March 26, 2012. The band was in the US capital as part of the 100th anniversary celebration of the gift of 3,000 cherry trees from the mayor of Tokyo to the city of Washington.
Ayaka Umeda (2L), Minami Takahashi (C) and Minami Minegishi (2R) of Japanese pop group AKB48 pose with Japanese ambassador to the US Ichiro Fujisaki (R) and Diana Mayhew, President of the National Cherry Blossom Festival, after a press conference at the Japanese ambassador's residence in Washington on March 26, 2012. The band was in the US capital as part of the 100th anniversary celebration of the gift of 3,000 cherry trees from the mayor of Tokyo to the city of Washington.
NICHOLAS KAMM/AFP/AFP/Getty Images
AKB48 poses for photographs on the red carpet during the MTV Video Music Aid Japan at Makuhari Messe on June 25, 2011 in Chiba, Japan.
AKB48 poses for photographs on the red carpet during the MTV Video Music Aid Japan at Makuhari Messe on June 25, 2011 in Chiba, Japan.
Koki Nagahama/Getty Images AsiaPac/Getty Images
JAKB48 sister group JKT48 performs at the Jakarta International Java Jazz Festival on March 1, 2014 in Jakarta, Indonesia.
JAKB48 sister group JKT48 performs at the Jakarta International Java Jazz Festival on March 1, 2014 in Jakarta, Indonesia.
Robertus Pudyanto/Getty Images AsiaPac/Getty Images