ABSTRACT
In 2014, all top five bestselling singles on the Oricon charts were held by AKB48, an idol group consisting of more than 100 women in their teens and twenties. Given their success, it is perhaps not surprising that the members of AKB48 are often described as ‘national idols’. Not everyone, however, agrees with this designation. In fact, producers’ proposal to have an AKB48 spin-off called ‘Japan48’ perform at the Tokyo Olympics in 2020 sparked a wave of intense controversy. Using this case as a starting point, this chapter explores the politics and problematics of how idols come to represent ‘Japan’ and shape individuals’ sense of national identity.
