AKG48, a local idol group from the Gunma prefecture with over 100 members, held their first official event in Tokyo today.

'AKG' stands for 'A-KA-GI', the dominant mountain of the prefecture and which also bore the name for the infamous Japanese aircraft carrier. However, it's obviously not just a coincidence that they share a name quite similar to national idol group AKB48. The local group bluntly hopes that they will become just as successful as AKB48 someday.

The group was offered to make themselves known outside of Gunma via the "Akagi no Megumi AKG48 Matsuri" at "Gunmachanchi", a store in Ginza, Tokyo that sells typical goods from the Gunma prefecture. It was teamG, the group's center unit, that traveled to Tokyo and performed their hit song "Knee High?Lover" in front of the store.

Back in March, AKG48's agency, Oriental Japan, held auditions for the group with the initial goal to find 48 talented girls, but since there were too many promising applicants, they spontaneously decided to accept over 100 of them. Two months later the group made its official debut in Gunma, but of course they are still going through vocal and dance lessons three to five times a week. Next to their training, they frequently visit welfare institutions in Gunma and attend all kinds of local events.

Member Amada Mami, who already participated in an audition to become a AKB48 research student, commented, "We want to surpass AKB someday!"

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Source: Daily, AKG48