AKB48 group promise their continuous restoration support for the Tohoku Earthquake

TH STAFF

On March 11, exactly 3 years since the Tohoku earthquake, AKB48 groups held special concerts for the restoration support.

The members of the AKB groups have been visiting the disaster areas taking turns once a month since in May of 2011.

On the day, a total of 266 members divided into 7 venues (16 members in Miyako, Iwate, 16 members in Ishinomaki, Miyagi, 14 members in Minamisoma, Fukushima, 58 members at AKB48 theater, 63 members at SKE48 theater, 57 members at NMB48 theater, and 42 members at HKT48 theater), and participated in the special concerts in each location.

Using relay broadcasting, they connected all 7 venues, and the girls performed their restoration support song "Tenohira ga Kataru Koto" all together. They also promised their continuous support.

At 2:46 pm, which was the time the earthquake occurred, the members observed a moment of silence for the victims.

Oshima Yuko who will be graduating from the group, visited Ishinomaki city, Miyagi. She commented, "Even after I graduate from AKB48, I would like to continue to support the victims somehow in my own way."

Takahashi Minami who participated in the special performance at AKB48 theater, stated, "It has been 3 years. In order to prevent it from fading with time, we would like to widen the circle of support together with everyone, although we don't know how helpful we could be."

The ticket fee for the concerts (2000 yen), the profits from charity T-shirts (1000 yen) and the fund raising will all be donated through Japanese Red Cross Society.