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Anyone hearing of Yasushi Akimoto's NEW project called Nogizaka46? You think AKB48's girls are nice? Well, meet your possible worst nightmare.

More details on AKB48’s “official rival” Nogizaka46
http://www.tokyohive.com/2011/06/mor...al-nogizaka46/

Earlier, we mentioned rumors regarding the formation of AKB48’s new “official rival,” Nogizaka46. Now, more information has been released, confirming that a new rival group will be formed.

On June 28th, it was confirmed that AKB48’s producer Akimoto Yasushi will form a new group, Nogizaka46. The group will differ from AKB48’s sister groups SKE48, NMB48, and SDN48 as they will operate as “AKB48’s Official Rivals” in their idol activities. The members will be chosen through open auditions starting on July 20th.

The members of Nogizaka46 will be hand-picked and produced by Akimoto and Sony Music. According to Akimoto, the “Nogizaka” part of the group name comes from the location of the last stage of the auditions, the “SME Nogizaka Building,” while the “46” comes from the idea that “Although there are fewer members than AKB48, they will not lose.”

For general open auditions, the first stage of auditions will occur on July 20th (selection by paper application); the second stage of auditions will occur on August 6th and 7th in 7 places throughout Japan (Sapporo, Sendai, Tokyo, Nagoya, Osaka, Fukuoka, and Okinawa) (selection through interview); and the last stage of auditions will occur on August 20th and 21st (selection through talents/skills). The first generation of Nogizaka46 will be composed of 20 members; starting in October, those who successfully pass through all the stages of auditions are set to appear in variety programs on television and will have a CD debut through Sony Music Records.

For further information regarding auditions or other activities of the group, please visit their official website.

Official website: http://www.nogizaka46.com/
Source and photo: Oricon (http://www.oricon.co.jp/news/music/89336/full/)