Originally published on metropolis.co.jp on September 2011

Out of the multitude of teen girl pop groups in Japan, none are more popular than AKB48. Their newest album, Flying Get, set a Japanese first-day sales record of over 1 million.

But AKB48 are not just a unit; some members thrive outside the group. Tomomi Itano is one. The 20-year-old has had a busy year hawking products in TV ads and on billboards, releasing a solo single, performing, and fronting for the Japanese Red Cross. In August, Itano held a solo concert in Osaka for 1,700 fans chosen from 50,000 applicants, and followed with a live event in Shibuya to publicize her second solo single, “Fui ni,” currently on sale.

Born in Kanagawa, the 152-cm-tall Itano joined AKB48 in 2005. She was voted 4th most popular member by fans last year but dropped to 8th this year, probably due to her outside activity.

Itano is appearing in a TV ad campaign for handbag maker Samantha Thavasa, as one of the “Samantha Muse All-Stars,” along with models such as Mizuki Yamamoto, and American actress Taylor Momsen. Itano can also be seen in TV ads and posters for EMobile’s “Finger Logo” campaign. The ad features Itano dancing to her new single “Wanna Be Now” and making an “E” and “M”’ (for EMobile) with her fingers.

To ensure AKB48 do their bit to help Japan’s recovery, Itano and four others are official messengers for the Red Cross. Dressed in relief worker uniforms, the girls attended a disaster prevention class and learned to give a cardiac massage. For summer, the Red Cross has been running a campaign using the AKB48 song “Whatever I Can Do.” Itano said: “I really like the line ‘Let’s unite the world as one family’ from that song. I want to live by those words.”

Chris Betros is the editor of Japan Today (www.japantoday.com).