AKB48 In Indonesia

The management company behind Japanese super-idol group AKB48 will launch its first overseas franchise of the group by the end of the year in Indonesia.

The announcement was made at the Makuhari Messe Convention Center in Chiba, Japan, by AKB48 founder-guru Yasushi Akimoto during a ceremony to mark the release of AKB48’s new single, “Flying Get.”

As with all the AKB48 offshoots, Akimoto will produce the new group, which is to be named JKT48, after Jakarta.

The new company is presently holding auditions for the group. Finalists will begin training in October.

There is also a rumor that another offshoot is being planned for Taiwan, but no details have emerged.