[caption id="attachment_98183" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="NMB48"][/caption]

Currently, AKB48�s separate �local idol� groups such as NMB48 and SKE48 are becoming quite popular. On the 10th, it was announced that Osaka�s Minami area would be taking applications from ordinary males to form a male version of NMB48. The female group �NMB48� is currently popular in Namba.

They will be produced by a major entertainment production company and will begin performances in June. Their main event venue will be at Abeno�s Kintetsu Department Store. Since it�s rare for there to be local male idol groups, depending on the success of this group, Minami could spread a chain reaction of potential local male groups to other areas.

Member recruitment will begin in late February and the conditions to join are, �You must be a male under 20 years old, who can commute to Osaka�. In the middle of March they plan to do their final selection and after that the boys will go through intensive singing and dance training. After their debut in June, the boys are expected to perform at least once a month.

Preparations for their stage equipment, sound, and lighting are currently being done at their event hall, �Art Kan�, in Abeno. The event hall is said to hold 400 people.

Source: Sponichi Annex