Japan girl group AKB48 attacked with saw
The reading
Two members of one of Japan's most popular pop groups AKB48 were injured on Sunday. A fan attacked them with a saw while they were at a promotional event signing autographs. The two singers, Rina Kawaei, 19, and Anna Iriyama, 18, were mingling with fans who had queued for hours to see them, when a man suddenly lunged forward and slashed them with a saw. The pair were fortunate not to have sustained serious injuries and were released from hospital a day after the attack. They both had cuts on their hands and head. A concert in Tokyo that had been scheduled for Monday night was cancelled. The assailant got past lax security and said he wanted to kill anyone. He had not targeted the women.
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The band AKB48 have become a pop culture phenomenon in Japan and are hugely popular around Asia. They are ubiquitous in their home country, appearing daily on TV and radio, with their images being plastered on advertisements throughout Japan. They hold the Guinness record for being the world's largest pop group. The group was formed in 2005 in Tokyo's Akihabara district with 48 members. They have since expanded to 140 members. Annual competitions are held to replenish their number when older members retire. Members have to follow strict rules if they join the group, including a total ban on dating. A clause in their contract states that any band member falling in love is "forbidden".
Sources:
- http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-27572723
- http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2014/05/26/national/crime-legal/akb48-singers-targeted-slasher/#.U4WX1i8uKHA
