Originally published on metropolis.co.jp on August 2011

Popular all-girl group AKB48 performed live for three consecutive nights at Seibu Dome in Saitama Prefecture last week. Members from AKB48, as well as members from affiliate groups NMB48, based in Osaka’s Namba, SKE48, based in Sakae, Nagoya, and Not Yet also performed at the event. In all, 141 members performed 45 songs over the course of the two-hour show. The concerts attracted around 90,000 people. Sub-acts associated with AKB48 now include SKE48, NMB48, HKT48, SDN48, OJS48, no3b Watarirouka Hashiritai, French Kiss, Not Yet and DiVA. The group, which is officially the largest pop group in the world, has also set the date for first round of its next rock-paper-scissors tournament, by which it will select the members to perform in the group’s 24th single. The round is to take place in Tokyo’s Budokan on September 20. The group’s 24th single is currently scheduled for release in December.