Yasushi Akimoto

Yasushi Akimoto (Japanese: 秋元 康, Hepburn: Akimoto Yasushi, born May 2, 1958) is a Japanese record producer, lyricist, and television writer, best known for creating and producing some of Japan's top idol groups, Onyanko Club and the AKB48 franchise.[1][2] Total sales of the singles he has written exceed 100 million copies, making him the best-selling lyricist in Japan.[3]

Yasushi Akimoto
秋元 康
Akimoto in 2012
Background information
Born (1958-05-02) May 2, 1958
Meguro, Tokyo, Japan
Genres
Occupation(s)
  • Record producer
  • lyricist
  • television writer
Years active1973–present
Labels
Associated acts

Career

Akimoto created the Chakushin Ari (One Missed Call) horror franchise, which began with his novel of the same name and was first brought to film in 2003 before being remade by Hollywood in 2008. He wrote both the novel and the screen adaptation for One Missed Call: Final.

Akimoto became a television writer in high school, he has produced many television programs, such as Utaban.

Akimoto started as a lyricist with The Alfee in 1981; he has written lyrics for various artists such as Kinki Kids, Tunnels, Onyanko Club, AKB48, SKE48, SDN48, NMB48, HKT48, NGT48, STU48, Nogizaka46 and Keyakizaka46. He also wrote Hibari Misora's last single during her lifetime, "Kawa no Nagare no Yō ni", and Jero's debut single "Umi Yuki".

He debuted the 1st international sister group of AKB48 called JKT48.[4] Auditions were held on October 8 and 9, 2011 and the official members were announced early November.[5] And the 2nd international sister group of AKB48 called SNH48 was announced in October, 2012. On June, 2016 it was announced that SNH48 and its sister groups became fully independent from AKB48 having BEJ48, GNZ48, SHY48 and CKG48 as SNH48's Local Sister Groups which formed an alliance known as SNH48 Group or Star48. The 3rd international sister group of AKB48 called BNK48 was announced on February 12, 2017. The 4th international sister group of AKB48 called TPE48 was announced on February 4, 2018. And MNL48 the 5th international sister group of AKB48, the 1st generation members were officially announced on April 28, 2018. Also on the same year, MUM48, AKB48-China and SGO48 were formed too as 6th, 7th and 8th overseas sister groups respectively.

Akimoto also got involved in female professional wrestling, introducing wrestler Cutie Suzuki.[6]

In 2007 he became a professor and vice president at Kyoto University of Art and Design.[7]

On March 17, 2014 it was announced that Akimoto was named a member of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics Committee and was put in charge of producing the opening ceremony along with photographer Mika Ninagawa who has previously produced music videos for AKB48, including 2010's Heavy Rotation and 2013's Sayonara Crawl.[8] A petition against his appointment has been created due his representing the "decline" of the Japanese entertainment industry, with 11,000 signatures as of March 23.[9]

He also contributed in forming a South Korean girl group Iz*One with collaboration between AKS and Mnet.[10]

In 2016, Japanese idol girl group multimedia project between Yasushi Akimoto, Aniplex, and Sony Music Records called 22/7 was formed. The project is described as "idols who transcend dimensions." The members consist of voice actresses who provide the voice and motion capture for their characters, as well as perform as a musical group.

In 2019, Akimoto is no longer part of the AKS management and is involved only as the creative producer of AKB48 Groups.[11]

Criticism

Akimoto is often criticized as song lyrics written by him frequently carry misogynistic undertones which some argue contributes to the objectification of women and encourages and/or excuses sexual harassment.[12] Specifically, the 2016 HKT48 song "Einstein yori Dianna Agron" was seen as an insult to women's intelligence.[13][14][15][16][17][18]

Personal life

Akimoto married Onyanko Club member Mamiko Takai in 1988.

Awards

See also

References
  1. 秋元康 (in Japanese). Yahoo Japan Corporation. Retrieved 2015-11-11.
  2. 秋元康氏プロフィール (in Japanese). Tokyo Metropolitan Government. Retrieved 2015-11-11.
  3. 【オリコン】秋元康氏、作詞シングル総売上が1億枚突破「34年間の積み重ね」. Oricon (in Japanese). 2015-12-09. Retrieved 2016-02-04.
  4. "AKB48 the new talent model from Japan and beyond". PopularTrash. 2012-02-24.
  5. "Yasushi Akimoto to expand the AKB48 franchise overseas to Indonesia and Taiwan". Asia Pacific Arts. 2011-10-06.
  6. Pride: The Secret Files (in Japanese). Kamipro. 2008.
  7. "A Message from the Vice President". Archived from the original on June 15, 2008. Retrieved 2010-10-06.CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  8. "AKB48 Akimito Yasushi to produce 2020 Olympics Opening Ceremony". Anime News Network. 2014-03-23.
  9. "AKB48 Akimito Yasushi to produce 2020 Olympics Opening Ceremony". Anime News Network. 2014-03-23.
  10. https://english.shukanbunshun.com/2017/11/produce-48-by-akb48-group-yasushi.html
  11. 指原莉乃、ＮＧＴ山口問題現状語る　秋元Ｐに相談も. Nikkan Sports (in Japanese). 2019-05-06. Retrieved 2019-05-21.
  12. "乃木坂46歌唱で『セーラー服を脱がさないで』歌詞の酷すぎる女性蔑視に非難殺到！ 変わらない秋元康の差別性" (in Japanese). Litera. Retrieved January 3, 2021.
  13. "HKT48 and Akimoto Yasushi Criticized for Misogynistic Song". Arama! Japan. Retrieved January 3, 2021.
  14. "VIDEO: HKT48 song angers the president of a women's university in Tokyo". SBS TV. Retrieved January 3, 2021.
  15. ""I Prefer Dianna Agron Over Einstein" : Is Charm Valued Over Cleverness in Japan?". Tokyo Girls Update. Retrieved January 3, 2021.
  16. "HKT新曲の歌詞が女性蔑視だと大炎上…「女の子はバカでいい」と書く秋元康のグロテスクな思想は昔から" (in Japanese). Litera. Retrieved January 3, 2021.
  17. "【炎上】HKT48の新曲が海外ドラマ『glee』を侮辱しているとネットで大炎上!! 「女性蔑視だ」「全然ドラマを理解していない」と物議" (in Japanese). Rocket News 24. Retrieved January 3, 2021.
  18. "「女の子」を愚弄した秋元康を＜断罪＞する　 『glee』が私たちに教えてくれたこと" (in Japanese). Wezzy. Retrieved January 3, 2021.
  19. 第41回日本作詩大賞 [The 41st Japan Lyricist Awards] (in Japanese). Japan Lyricists Association. Retrieved 2015-05-07.
  20. 『第51回日本レコード大賞』候補11作品決定 最優秀アルバムはGReeeeN『塩、コショウ』に (in Japanese). oricon ME inc. Retrieved 2015-11-11.
  21. "第16回AMD Award '10 受賞作品一覧 － AMD 一般社団法人デジタルメディア協会". amd.or.jp. Retrieved 2019-03-17.
  22. "2012年『日本有線大賞』は氷川きよし 2年ぶり史上最多7回目の大賞". ORICON NEWS. Retrieved 2019-03-21.
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