Where Is Nogizaka?

In the summer of 2010, AKB48, the idol girl group produced by Yasushi Akimoto, claimed the title of “Japan’s national girl group” with their hit “Heavy Rotation.” They sold a million copies, topped the Oricon charts, and appeared at the Kohaku Uta Gassen, achievements that no longer seemed out of reach to other idol groups.

However, industry insiders saw the “Akimoto method” as a “cancer,” and traditional musicians resented it for taking away their livelihoods. More and more people grew dissatisfied, or envious of the tens of billions in profits AKB had created.

At just this moment, a girl group quietly came into being to take on the AKB family. Their name was Nogizaka46.