Japan’s largest girl idol group holds annual election

Japan’s largest girl idol group AKB 48 has held its 9th annual election. Saturday’s poll aimed to choose new leading members to perform a new single.

The group has 322 members in total and will release its 49th single in August. This year’s election was a huge success, attracting 3.4 million votes. Fans obtain ballots by buying a CD, which contains a serial number enabling them to vote on the group’s official website.

Rino Sashihara, a 24-year-old member of sister group HKT 48, got almost a quarter of a million votes and will be the main performer for the eagerly awaited new song.

(CGTN)