The downfall of J-pop? How the AKBG's biz model & culture get adapted in China

[Star Angel Haruki]

^ An official report about it, released yesterday (it doesn't cover all the events & details in it, but you can get the feel of it even just from the many pics):

大型女子偶像团体SNH48 GROUP官方网站

[EDIT 1]
^ The 3rd team of SNH48 entering the venue:

[EDIT 2]
^ The 1st team of the same group entering, posing as ancient swordswomen & martial artists:

[EDIT 3]
^ A prominent member of that group's 3rd team performing in the artistic gymnastics event:

^ The holder of a degree in media studies can speak four languages: Mandarin, Cantonese, English, & Korean.

Very elegant.

 

[Rika-Chicchi]

A pretty brief behind-the-scenes footage of the MV:

Behind-the-scenes footage of related shootings, released today:

[EDIT]
^ An exclusive one for a member of SNH48's 2nd team, who's a former member of SHY48:

The one for a member of SNH48's 1st team, a newbie member:

 

[Rika-Chicchi]

^ The captain of SNH48's 1st team, a former member of BEJ48:

The ace & sexy queen of SNH48's 4th team:

The captain of SNH48's 3rd team:

 

[Rika-Chicchi]

The MV for the title song of that EP, released today:

^ The ending of the MV is quite unexpected - a surprising, abrupt change of atmosphere & mood. lol

The center girl of both the song & MV is the ace & sexy queen of SNH48's 4th team, a high-ranking 4th-generation member.

The dance version of the MV, released today:

 

[pgsmfan]

Can you change the name of the thread into „Everything on SNH48“?
Just kidding

 

[Rika-Chicchi]

Can you change the name of the thread into „Everything on SNH48“?
Just kidding

Yeah, I've totally forgotten about the thread title ever since the 1st posts of the thread - should update it as it's so looong overdue. lol

[EDIT]
OK, have modified it now.

 

[Rika-Chicchi]

Some shots of a graduated 1st-generation member of SNH48 for promoting her upcoming solo EP:

https://wx3.sinaimg.cn/large/b5ff8eb1ly1grbvsdb6fvj22tc480x6x.jpg

https://wx3.sinaimg.cn/large/b5ff8eb1ly1grbvsjiaalj24802tckjv.jpg

https://wx1.sinaimg.cn/large/b5ff8eb1ly1grbvsrmzlmj22tc480nph.jpg

The very charismatic former captain of their 1st team is now also a core member of AW9, an SNHG group.

 

[pgsmfan]

Okay, so a short summary, as I have no knowledge of major groups. The new thread title states, China is adapting the AKB48 business model. So That SNH48 group is associated with AKB? Or is it just a Chinese rip-off? Are they successful? Does China even have an Idol culture? (I only know „serious“ acts like Faye Wong).

 

[Rika-Chicchi]

So That SNH48 group is associated with AKB?

It's been the 2nd official overseas sister group of AKB48 after JKT48, but has broken up w/ AKB48 after forming its own sister groups BEJ48 & GNZ48 in China several years later (there're deeper reasons for the breakup, but those unauthorized sister groups are definitely a trigger).

Or is it just a Chinese rip-off?

Its current status is ambiguous, since its founding was officially announced by AKB48 at a major public event in Japan back then, & it's apparently still authorized to use some of AKB48's music works in China (at least AKB48 has never legally challenged that), but BEJ48 & GNZ48, as well as SHY48 & CKG48 which're formed later, are certainly seen as rip-offs from the POV of AKB48.

Are they successful?

They've been pretty successful, but have since been going downhill due to various internal & external challenges in the recent years (especially the last year), like their AKB48 counterpart.

Does China even have an Idol culture?

Not really (at least not like the long-existing, fully developed one in Japan), even tho there're numerous (but mostly short-lived) idol groups in China - SNH48 is widely considered to be a most successful & long-surviving one to date.

I'm keeping my answers pretty short & simple - each of your questions can actually been answered in very long essays &/or historical accounts, but of course I don't have the time here.

 

[Rika-Chicchi]

The election manifesto of a popular 4th-generation member in SNH48's 4th team for the current General Election of SNHG, released today:

^ The towering skillful skateboard player is also a science buff.

 

[Rika-Chicchi]

The election manifesto of a former BEJ48 member in SNH48's 2nd team for the current General Election of SNHG, released today:

^ She's acting as a traditional street circus performer.

 

[Rika-Chicchi]

Cool costumes - some of the SNH48 members & former members performed together on a variety show last night, & here're three of them:

https://wx1.sinaimg.cn/large/002VZWIBly1gqj7ql8t7hj62v44aob2k02.jpg

^ A 3rd-generation member in their 3rd team.

https://wx2.sinaimg.cn/large/002VZWIBly1gqj7rlticdj62v44ao7wq02.jpg

^ A 6th-generation member in their 2nd team.

https://wx1.sinaimg.cn/large/002VZWIBly1gqj7pezukaj62v44aob2h02.jpg

^ A 4th-generation member in their 4th team; also a member of their subgroup 7SENSES.

[EDIT 1]
^ Three more:

https://wx2.sinaimg.cn/large/002VZWIBly1gqj79ghxloj62v44ao7wr02.jpg

^ A 2nd-generation member in their 2nd team.

https://wx4.sinaimg.cn/large/002VZWIBly1gqj78tg1u6j62v44aokjv02.jpg

^ A now-graduated 1st-generation member; also a member of their subgroup 7SENSES.

https://wx4.sinaimg.cn/large/002VZWIBly1gqj7865aifj62v44aonpn02.jpg

^ A 5th-generation member in their 3rd team; also that team's captain.

[EDIT 2]
^ And the performance itself, which, like their costumes, also features a fusion of Eastern & Western cultural styles:

Now this clip of that performance won't be taken down again - it's uploaded by the copyright holder itself yesterday: lol

 

[Rika-Chicchi]

The election manifesto of a popular 4th-generation member in SNH48's 4th team for the current General Election of SNHG, released today:

^ The towering skillful skateboard player is also a science buff.

Her posing in front of her birthday decoration set placed by her fan club at the 1/F lobby of their exclusive theater yesterday:

https://wx3.sinaimg.cn/large/002VZWIBly1grfz3wx65nj644m2r3e8a02.jpg

And that simple but elegant decoration set:

https://wx3.sinaimg.cn/large/002VZWIBly1grfz4wwlqgj65453er4r402.jpg

Two shots of her at that team's theater performance specially held yesterday to celebrate her birthday:

https://wx3.sinaimg.cn/large/002VZWIBly1grfz4hk4sjj63ky2dzhdv02.jpg

^ Posing as an elf donning an elegant qipao.

https://wx2.sinaimg.cn/large/002VZWIBly1grfz4o3ct4j62mb3xgnpj02.jpg

^ Posing as a boxer.

 

[Rika-Chicchi]

A veteran 2nd-generation member in SNH48's 3rd team at the Shanghai International Film Festival - even tho she hasn't graduated yet & is still nominally a member of the group, she's been focusing on movie & TV drama works & no longer participating in the events & activities of the group for a pretty long time:

https://wx3.sinaimg.cn/large/002VZWIBly1grfsyi5wrjj62wz4dgb2g02.jpg

https://wx2.sinaimg.cn/large/002VZWIBly1grfsymwetyj652u3dw1l702.jpg

The now de facto solo artist is a graduate of a nationally prestigious college-level academy of performing arts.

 

[Rika-Chicchi]

Some shots of a graduated 1st-generation member of SNH48 for promoting her upcoming solo EP:

https://wx3.sinaimg.cn/large/b5ff8eb1ly1grbvsdb6fvj22tc480x6x.jpg

https://wx3.sinaimg.cn/large/b5ff8eb1ly1grbvsjiaalj24802tckjv.jpg

https://wx1.sinaimg.cn/large/b5ff8eb1ly1grbvsrmzlmj22tc480nph.jpg

The very charismatic former captain of their 1st team is now also a core member of AW9, an SNHG group.

A couple more shots:

https://wx2.sinaimg.cn/large/b5ff8eb1ly1grhnvd1y2hj22tc480x6r.jpg

https://wx3.sinaimg.cn/large/b5ff8eb1ly1grhnvbcqh1j22tc4804qs.jpg

A poster for one of the songs in that EP:

https://wx1.sinaimg.cn/large/b5ff8eb1ly1grhnuvh1mij22tc4807wi.jpg

 

[Rika-Chicchi]

The election manifesto of a newbie member of BEJ48 for the current General Election of SNHG, released today:

This' her 1st time running in an SNHG General Election. Her identical-twin sister is also a member of the group.

 

[Rika-Chicchi]

A veteran 2nd-generation member in SNH48's 3rd team at the Shanghai International Film Festival - even tho she hasn't graduated yet & is still nominally a member of the group, she's been focusing on movie & TV drama works & no longer participating in the events & activities of the group for a pretty long time:

https://wx3.sinaimg.cn/large/002VZWIBly1grfsyi5wrjj62wz4dgb2g02.jpg

https://wx2.sinaimg.cn/large/002VZWIBly1grfsymwetyj652u3dw1l702.jpg

The now de facto solo artist is a graduate of a nationally prestigious college-level academy of performing arts.

She does still run in the current General Election of SNHG, despite her long hiatus in the group.

 

[Rika-Chicchi]

The election manifesto of a 9th-generation member in SNH48's 2nd team for the current General Election of SNHG:

^ She's making a dish of spicy tofu - the hardworking member also loves cooking.

[EDIT]
The one of a 4th-generation member in their 4th team:

^ Her handwriting looks pretty good & mature.

She's also a member of their elite subgroup 7SENSES.

 

[Rika-Chicchi]

A CM for a semi-autonomous car of a domestic brand, featuring two prominent members of GNZ48:

I don't think the car is exported overseas, tho.

 

[Rika-Chicchi]

A cool special video for the birthday of a former group ace of SNH48, released today:

[EDIT]
The election manifesto of a 5th-generation member in SNH48's 1st team for the current General Election of SNHG:

^ She's rendering a song of their subgroup 7SENSES.

The former deputy captain of their old 5th team is one of their best vocalists.