generasia:Featured article for 2021 week 42
STU48
STU48 is Japanese idol group produced by Akimoto Yasushi and sister group of AKB48 named after the Setouchi region. They performed on a cruise ship, named STU48go (STU48号), that traveled through the Yamaguchi, Hiroshima, Okayama, Hyogo, Tokushima, Kagawa and Ehime prefectures, from 2019 to 2021. It is co-owned by the tourism board of Setouchi Region and is highly involved in their promotional efforts. STU48 management announced that the shipboard theater would be decommissioned in the spring of 2021, and that performances would be held around the Setouchi Region with no fixed venue.
The formation of STU48 was announced in October 2016. In January 2017 it was announced that Okada Nana of AKB48 and Sashihara Rino of HKT48 would be concurrent members of the group. On March 19th, 44 applicants who passed the auditions to become first generation members were introduced, and, on the 31st, STU48's first generation was formed with 31 members.
In 2018, STU48 was selected as one of the New Artists of The Year for the 60th Japan Record Awards, making them a candidate to win the Japan Record Award for Best New Artist. They are the first group in the AKB48 Group to earn the distinction.
Their seventh single, "Hetare-tachi yo", is released this week on October 20th.
