12 September 2011
JKT48 has been officially announced
It's official, JKT48 is an actual project by Dentsu, and they are affiliated directly with AKB48. It was announced by AKB48's management at today's handshake event in the Makuhari Messe in Chiba. It was also on the Official Blog: http://ameblo.jp/akihabara48/entry-11014534628.html
If you remember, I wrote an article about JKT48 not so long ago and questioned their realness.
I managed to speak with a Dentsu official based in Singapore and he confirmed it was real, but I was still waiting for an official announcement from Japan. And it's now here.
Fans were suspicious because their "official website" at that time was run straight off blogspot. Certainly questions the professionalism of a multinational corporation. That "official website" still exists too http://jkt48.blogspot.com/. Their official facebook page was also region locked to Indonesia. But now they have sorted those out have have a proper working official website. It's not in English though.
Official Website: http://www.jkt48.com/
Official Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/official.JKT48
Official Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/officialJKT48
JKT48 will still be produced by Akimoto Yasushi and have the same "Idols you can meet" concept, but with an Indonesian flavor to it. There is word that they will even go to Japan and perform alongside with AKB48 and the other sister groups. If your eligible for audition, don't miss this chance!
Compared to their Japan counterparts, JKT48 has quite a shallow age range, allowing only girls between the ages of 13 to 18. The 2nd round of applications is already taking place and will end at September 15th. Interviews will take place around late September, and the final performance audition will take place the month after.
JKT48 is planning to have a debut before the end of the year.
There had been reports earlier this year around February of an official OOO48 group in Taiwan that was to debut in the Summer. However there has not been any word about it since, and JKT48 has overtook it. I wonder what's causing the delays? Or has it been outright canceled?
I also wonder, once JKT48 is properly formed are the Indonesians gonna spend more money on importing AKB48 goods from Japan or instead on JKT48 Theater shows?
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