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AKB48's 'Team 8' Sub-Unit to Perform in Philippines in November
posted on by Rafael Antonio Pineda
The official blog of AKB48 announced on Tuesday that its Team 8 sub-unit will perform in the Philippines for the first time in November. AKB48 Team 8 will perform at the Cool Japan Festival at the Trinoma Activity Center on November 7 (at 12:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m.) and November 8 (at 1:00 p.m. and 5:30 p.m.).
AKB48's Team 8 is a newly formed sub-unit sponsored by automotive manufacturer Toyota, and it consists of 47 members recruited from each of the 47 prefectures of Japan.
The Team 8 members participating in the Philippines performance are Rin Okabe, Maria Shimizu, Nanase Yoshikawa, Erina Oda, Shiori Sato, Nao Ota, Nanami Yamada, Momoka Onishi, Yuri Tani, Riona Hamamatsu, Yurina Gyoten, and Rena Fukuchi.
AKB48 founder and producer Yasushi Akimoto previously announced that he was planning a Manila-based spinoff group of AKB48, among other locations. HalloHallo Inc. CEO Okada Yasunari also announced in June that the company will build a "Cool Japan Mall" in Manila by 2017, which will include a theater for local group MNL48 to perform.
[Via Anime Pilipinas, JPop Asia]
