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Japan-ASEAN summit

TOKYO, Japan - Members of the Japanese pop idol group AKB48 perform during a banquet for leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations at a Tokyo hotel on Dec. 14, 2013. The ASEAN leaders attended a summit with Japan in Tokyo. (Pool photo)

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People walk by AKB48 mall under Akihabara Station

TOKYO, Japan - People walk by the AKB48 Cafe & Shop mall under East Japan Railway Co.'s Akihabara Station in Tokyo in this file photo taken on Dec. 21, 2014. AKB48 is a Japanese female pop group named after the Akihabara area where its theater is located.

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AKB48 encourages Niigata on Chuetsu earthquake 10th anniv.

NIIGATA, Japan - Japanese pop group AKB 48 members hold up message boards to support the recovery from the disastrous 2004 Niigata-Chuetsu earthquake during a concert in Ojiya, Niigata Prefecture, Japan, on Oct. 23, 2014, the 10th anniversary of the disaster.

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AKB48, sister groups at event in Shanghai

SHANGHAI, China - Japanese pop group AKB48 member Rie Kitahara shakes hands with a fan at a meet-the-fans event with its sister groups on July 29, 2014, in Shanghai, China. The event also aims to promote tourism and enhance exchanges among youth in Asia.

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AKB48, sister groups at event in Shanghai

SHANGHAI, China - Japanese pop group NMB48 member Sae Murase communicates with fans at a meet-the-fans event with AKB48 and other sister groups on July 29, 2014, in Shanghai, China. The event also aims to promote tourism and enhance exchanges among youth in Asia.

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Wu wins most votes in SNH48's 'general election'

SHANGHAI, China - Wu Zhehan of SNH48, the Shanghai version of Japan's popular all-female pop group AKB48, delivers a speech in the Chinese city on July 26, 2014, after winning the most votes in an online "general election" to select members to perform on the group's next single.

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Wu wins most votes in SNH48's 'general election'

SHANGHAI, China - Wu Zhehan of SNH48, the Shanghai version of Japan's popular AKB48 idol girl group, is seen in the Chinese city on July 26, 2014. Wu won the most votes in an online "general election" to select members to perform on the group's next single.

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SNH48 members at vote-counting event for 'general election'

SHANGHAI, China - Members of SNH48, the Shanghai version of Japan's popular all-female pop group AKB48, wave to the audience in an event in the Chinese city on July 26, 2014, for the group's online "general election" to select members who will perform on the group's next single.

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SNH48 members sing in 'general election' event

SHANGHAI, China - Members of SNH48, the Shanghai version of Japan's popular all-female pop group AKB48, wave to the audience in an event in the Chinese city on July 26, 2014, for the group's online "general election" to select members who will perform on the group's next single.

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Pop group AKB48 member Oshima bids farewell

TOKYO, Japan - Yuko Oshima leaves on a gondola a concert commemorating her "graduation" from Japan's hugely popular all-female pop group AKB48 at Ajinomoto Stadium in Chofu, Tokyo, On the evening of June 8, 2014.

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AKB48 member Oshima sheds tears at her farewell concert

TOKYO, Japan - Yuko Oshima wipes tears from her face during a concert commemorating her "graduation" from Japan's hugely popular all-female pop group AKB48 at Ajinomoto Stadium in Chofu, Tokyo, on the evening of June 8, 2014.

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3 plaques of AKB48 group missing at Iwate Pref. station

MORIOKA, Japan - Plaques made of scallop shells hanging in a waiting room of Koishihama Station on the Sanriku Railway Co.'s Minami Rias Line in Ofunato, Iwate Prefecture, are seen in this photo taken on May 29, 2014. Three plaques on which members of popular Japanese all-girl pop group AKB48, including Mayu Watanabe, wrote some messages went missing recently.

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Police check security system of pop group AKB48's theater

TOKYO, Japan - Police officers enter the AKB48 Theater in Tokyo's Akihabara district on June 2, 2014, to examine its security system in the wake of a recent attack on members of the pop group.

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Pop group AKB48's theater limits audience to ticket winners

TOKYO, Japan - An information board set up for security reasons at the AKB 48 Theater in Tokyo's Akihabara district on June 2, 2014, says only ticket winners can enter the facility in the wake of a recent attack on members of the pop group.

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AKB48 leader Takahashi

TOKYO, Japan - Minami Takahashi, leader of all-girl pop group AKB48 and its sister units, speaks at an event in Tokyo's Akihabara district on May 29, 2014. Two of her fellow AKB48 members and a staff member were attacked by a man with a saw at a fan event in Takizawa, Iwate Prefecture, on May 25.

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Attacked AKB48 members leave hospital

MORIOKA, Japan - Anna Iriyama (R), 18, and Rina Kawaei, 19, part of all-girl pop group AKB48, talk to reporters after being discharged from hospital in Morioka, Iwate Prefecture, on May 26, 2014, with cuts to their hands covered by towels. The previous day, a 24-year-old unemployed man was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder after the two AKB48 members and a staff member were attacked with a saw at a fan event in the city of Takizawa in the same prefecture.

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Attacked AKB48 members leave hospital

MORIOKA, Japan - Anna Iriyama (R), 18, and Rina Kawaei, 19, part of all-girl pop group AKB48, talk to reporters after being discharged from hospital in Morioka, Iwate Prefecture, on May 26, 2014. The previous day, a 24-year-old unemployed man was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder after the two AKB48 members and a staff member were attacked with a saw at a fan event in the city of Takizawa in the same prefecture. The victims sustained cuts.

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Attacked AKB48 members leave hospital

MORIOKA, Japan - Anna Iriyama (R), 18, and Rina Kawaei, 19, part of all-girl pop group AKB48, leave hospital in Morioka, Iwate Prefecture, on May 26, 2014, with cuts to their hands covered by towels. The previous day, a 24-year-old unemployed man was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder after the two AKB48 members and a staff member were attacked with a saw at a fan event in the city of Takizawa in the same prefecture.

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Attacked AKB48 members leave hospital

MORIOKA, Japan - Anna Iriyama (R), 18, and Rina Kawaei, 19, part of all-girl pop group AKB48, talk to reporters after being discharged from hospital in Morioka, Iwate Prefecture, on May 26, 2014, with cuts to their hands covered by towels. The previous day, a 24-year-old unemployed man was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder after the two AKB48 members and a staff member were attacked with a saw at a fan event in the city of Takizawa in the same prefecture.

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AKB48 members appointed Tottori sports ambassador

TOTTORI, Japan - Members of the all-girl pop group AKB48 including Reina Fujie (2nd from R) receive a letter of appointment as Tottori Prefecture's sports support ambassador from Gov. Shinji Hirai (L) at a ceremony before the Tottori marathon in the city facing the Sea of Japan on March 16, 2014.

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AKB48 pop group member sings 'enka' song in Hiroshima

HIROSHIMA, Japan - Misaki Iwasa, a member of the popular pop group AKB48, performs a Japanese "enka" ballad, "Tomonoura Elegy," outside the city hall of Fukuyama, Hiroshima Prefecture, on Feb. 18, 2014. Tomonoura, a scenic spot in the Seto Insland Sea of Japan, is famous for being the setting for Hayao Miyazaki's animated film "Ponyo."

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Comedienne Kintaro becomes PR ambassador for Aichi Pref.

NAGOYA, Japan - Japanese comedienne Kintaro (left), appointed as public relations ambassador for the Aichi prefectural government, poses on Jan. 20, 2014, with Aichi Gov. Hideaki Omura. Kintaro, who hails from the central Japan prefecture, is known for her impersonation of Atsuko Maeda, a former member of the all-girl pop group AKB48.

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Peach Aviation

OSAKA, Japan - Mariko Shinoda (C), a member of the pop idol group AKB48, poses in front of a Peach Aviation airplane featuring her face during a ceremony at Kansai International Airport near Osaka, western Japan, on Oct. 27, 2013. The ceremony marked the launch of the low-cost carrier's Kansai-Narita service.

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Peach Aviation

OSAKA, Japan - Mariko Shinoda (C), a member of the pop idol group AKB48, poses in front of a Peach Aviation airplane featuring her face during a ceremony at Kansai International Airport near Osaka, western Japan, on Oct. 27, 2013. The ceremony marked the launch of the low-cost carrier's Kansai-Narita service.

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SNH48

SHANGHAI, China - Mariya Suzuki (L) and Sae Miyazawa, Japanese members of SNH48, perform in Shanghai on Oct. 11, 2013. They performed for the first time as members of the Shanghai sister unit of Japan's all-girl pop group AKB48.

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AKB48 tournament

TOKYO, Japan - Jurina Matsui (L) of the pop idol groups SKE48 and AKB48 reacts after winning a rock-paper-scissors tournament before some 12,000 fans at the Nippon Budokan hall in Tokyo on Sept. 18, 2013. She won the right to sing in the center for the AKB48's next single CD song. (Internet use permitted only until a week after release)

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AKB48 tournament

TOKYO, Japan - Jurina Matsui of the pop idol groups SKE48 and AKB48 holds the trophy after winning a rock-paper-scissors tournament before some 12,000 fans at the Nippon Budokan hall in Tokyo on Sept. 18, 2013. She won the right to sing in the center for the AKB48's next single CD song. (Internet use permitted only until a week after release)

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AKB48 tournament

TOKYO, Japan - Jurina Matsui of the pop idol groups SKE48 and AKB48 holds the trophy after winning a rock-paper-scissors tournament before some 12,000 fans at the Nippon Budokan hall in Tokyo on Sept. 18, 2013. She won the right to sing in the center for the AKB48's next single CD song. (Internet use permitted only until a week after release)

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SNH48

SHANGHAI, China - Mariya Suzuki (L) and Sae Miyazawa pose for photos in Shanghai on Aug. 30, 2013. They have joined Japanese pop idol group AKB48's Chinese version, SNH48.

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HKT48's Sashihara visits hometown

OITA, Japan - Rino Sashihara of the idol group HKT48 receives a bouquet while visiting the Oita city hall in Oita Prefecture, southwestern Japan, on June 14, 2013. Sashihara, who moved from AKB48 to HKT48 in 2012, serves as a tourism envoy for the city, her hometown. She captured the coveted No. 1 spot within AKB48 and its sister groups in the 2013 popularity vote.

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ANA launches project with AKB48

TOKYO, Japan - Members of all-girl pop group AKB48, (from L) Sayaka Akimoto, Rina Kawaei, Mayu Watanabe and Yui Yokoyama, and Mariya Suzuki, who has been transferred to sister group SNH48, pose for photos wearing All Nippon Airways Co. cabin attendant uniforms at an event in Tokyo on April 10, 2013. The event was held to announce the launch of a joint project between ANA and AKB48 to push young Asians to travel more.

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ANA launches project with AKB48

TOKYO, Japan - Members of all-girl pop group AKB48, (from L) Sayaka Akimoto, Rina Kawaei, Mayu Watanabe and Yui Yokoyama, and Mariya Suzuki, who has been transferred to sister group SNH48, pose for photos wearing All Nippon Airways Co. cabin attendant uniforms at an event in Tokyo on April 10, 2013. The event was held to announce the launch of a joint project between ANA and AKB48 to push young Asians to travel more.

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Chinese idol group

SHANGHAI, China - Members of SNH48, the Shanghai version of the Japanese pop idol group AKB48, perform in their first concert in Shanghai, China, on Jan. 12, 2013.

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Chinese idol group

SHANGHAI, China - Members of SNH48, the Shanghai version of the Japanese pop idol group AKB48, pose for photos before their first concert in Shanghai, China, on Jan. 12, 2013.

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Maeda promotes Tokyo film festival

TOKYO, Japan - Actress Atsuko Maeda, a former member of the all-girl pop group AKB48, speaks on Sept. 20, 2012, during a press conference in Tokyo where lineups for the Tokyo International Film Festival were introduced, after being appointed as TIFF ambassador to promote the film festival, which is to be held Oct. 20 to 28.

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Maeda promotes Tokyo film festival

TOKYO, Japan - Actress Atsuko Maeda, a former member of the all-girl pop group AKB48, takes the stage Sept. 20, 2012, during a press conference in Tokyo where lineups for the Tokyo International Film Festival were introduced, after being appointed as TIFF ambassador to promote the film festival, which is to be held Oct. 20 to 28.

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Maeda promotes Tokyo film festival

TOKYO, Japan - Actress Atsuko Maeda, a former member of the all-girl pop group AKB48, waves on Sept. 20, 2012, during a press conference in Tokyo where lineups for the Tokyo International Film Festival were introduced, after being appointed as TIFF ambassador to promote the film festival, which is to be held Oct. 20 to 28.

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AKB48's "general election"

TOKYO, Japan - Photo shows an official guidebook (R) for the "AKB48 general election 2012," an annual popularity poll in which fans of the Japanese all-girl pop group AKB48 choose their favorite member, and the jacket of their 26th single CD "Manatsu no Sounds good!," (Sounds good in midsummer!) which was released on May 23, 2012. A ballot for the popularity vote is attached to the CD, which sold a record-breaking 1.17 million copies on its first day of release. The votes will be counted June 6.

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AKB48's "general election"

TOKYO, Japan - Yasushi Akimoto (C), producer of the Japanese all-girl pop group AKB48, speaks about the group's upcoming "general election" -- an annual popularity poll in which fans choose their favorite member -- in Tokyo in May 2012, flanked by some members of the group. The votes will be counted on June 6.

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JKT48's 1st theater performance

JAKARTA, Indonesia - JKT48, a sister unit of Japan's AKB48 all-girl pop group, performs for the first time in a theater in Jakarta on May 17, 2012. JKT48, based in the Indonesian capital, is the first overseas sister act modeled after the popular Japanese ''idol'' group.

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Kansai's 1st AKB48 cafe

OSAKA, Japan - Some members of all-girl pop group AKB48 pose at AKB48 Cafe & Shop Namba in Osaka on April 3, 2012. The first AKB48 outlet in the Kansai region will open the following day.

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Kansai's 1st AKB48 cafe

OSAKA, Japan - Some members of all-girl pop groups AKB48 (1st to 4th from R) and NMB48 (1st to 3rd from L) pose with drinks at AKB48 Cafe & Shop Namba in Osaka on April 3, 2012. The first AKB48 outlet in the Kansai region will open the following day.

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AKB48 members sing Japan anthem

TOKYO, Japan - Atsuko Maeda (2nd from L, front) and other members of all-girl pop group AKB48 sing Japan's national anthem before the season opener in the Central League between the Yomiuri Giants and the Yakult Swallows at Tokyo Dome on March 30, 2012. (Pool photo)

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AKB48 members visit U.S. elementary school

WASHINGTON, United States - (From R to L) Aki Takajo, Sae Miyazawa and Rina Hirata, members of Japanese all-girl pop group AKB48, visit Thompson Elementary School in Washington on March 26, 2012, to introduce Japanese culture and convey the Japanese people's gratitude for U.S. support following the March 11 disaster last year.

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AKB48 members visit U.S. elementary school

WASHINGTON, United States - Aki Takajo (C), a member of Japanese all-girl pop group AKB48, spends time with children at Thompson Elementary School in Washington on March 26, 2012. Takajo and two other group members visited the school to introduce Japanese culture and convey the Japanese people's gratitude for U.S. support following the March 11 disaster last year.

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AKB48's Maeda calls it quits

TOKYO, Japan - A tearful Atsuko Maeda (C), member of the all-girl pop group AKB48, is surrounded by other group members during a concert in Saitama, near Tokyo, on March 25, 2012, after she abruptly announced on stage her decision to leave the band.

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eAccess launches LTE high-speed wireless service

TOKYO, Japan - Sachio Semmoto (C left), chairman of eAccess Ltd., and Tomomi Itano (C right), a member of Japanese all-girl pop group AKB48, promote the company's new high-speed wireless service at an event in Tokyo's Chiyoda Ward on March 15, 2012, as the mobile phone carrier launched the new service the same day.

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AKB48 in China

BEIJING, China - Members of the Japanese pop idol group AKB48 shake hands with fans after holding a mini concert in Beijing on Feb. 17, 2012. The performance was part of events commemorating the 40th anniversary of normalization of relations between Japan and China.

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Suicide prevention slogan dropped

TOKYO, Japan - Deputy Prime Minister Katsuya Okada responds to questions from Democratic Party of Japan lawmaker Daigo Matsuura (bottom R), who displays a sign showing a government slogan aimed at preventing suicides, during a House of Councillors Budget Committee session at the Diet building in Tokyo on Feb. 6, 2012. The government decided to withdraw the controversial slogan GKB47, a play on the name of pop idol group AKB48.

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JKT48, 1st overseas sister group of AKB48

JAKARTA, Indonesia - Members of Jakarta-based JKT48, the first official overseas sister group of Japanese all-girl pop group AKB48, meet journalists in the Indonesian capital on Nov. 2, 2011. Twenty-eight girls aged between 12 to 21 were selected to join JKT48 the same day after a six-hour final audition.