Akimoto Yasushi Launches AKB Art Club

Drawing by Katayama Haruka - http://goo.gl/1zGkt

We posted last month that AKB48's Producer Akimoto Yasushi was considering hiring lyricists to help with the songwriting for the 48' groups. In the same article were hints of things to come - Cultural Festival, Art Club, and more...
http://melosnomichi.blogspot.com/2012/01/akimoto-yasushi-to-hire-lyricists-to.html

On Wednesday February 8th, he announced on his Google+ that an AKB48 Art Club will be established, with Katayama Haruka as the President, and called for member submissions of their art. He has also "accidentally" leaked in a subsequent post that there will be an AKB48 Art Exhibition in June 2012.

Announcement: https://plus.google.com/113474433041552257864/posts/L8LYsnMnJEB

More information was revealed on a post on Thursday. Yasusu is planning to rent a space in Tokyo, and ask experts in different fields of Art to come in and give lessons to the members. Eventually the artwork created by the members will be published in a monthly art magazine Bijutsu Techouu (美術手帖). Many members have submitted their creations and there are enough pieces for the time being.

Shukan AKB will be another interactive channel for the Art Club. He then said maybe the Art Club will be asked to design CD covers, concert posters, costumes and more. He is also considering calligraphy and photography.


According to Katayama's G+, she is busy organizing members into Circles. Here is the list of potential members:

AKB48: Ishida Haruka, Katayama Haruka, Satou Natsuki, Suziki Shihori, Takajo Aki, Tanabe Miku, Nakagawa Haruka, Nito Moeno, Natamata Shiori, Nakaya Sayaka
SKE48: Ishida Anna, Isohara Kyoka, Umemoto Madoka, Kato Tomoko, Kaneko Shiori, Kobayashi Ami, Sato Mieko, Shibata Aya, Takagi Yumana, Tsuzuki Rika, Furukawa Airi, Matsumura Kaori, Yakata Miki, Yamashita Yukari
NMB48: Azuma Yuki, Ota Riona, Kadowaki Kanako, Kawakami Rena, Kinoshita Momoka, Koga Narumi, Kotani Riho, Koyanagi Arisa, Shinohara Kana, Nakagawa Hiromi, Hikawa Ayame, Fukumoto Aina, Mita Mao, Yamagishi Natsumi, Yamaguchi Yuuki
HKT48: Imada Mina, Shimono Yuki

President: Katayama Haruka
Consultant: Akimoto Yasushi

[Membership Acknowledged or Recommended by Akimoto Yasushi - Confirmed Members?]
AKB48: Katayama Haruka, Sato Natsuki, Suzuki Shihori, Tanabe Miku, Natamata Shiori, [Nakagawa Haruka]
SKE48: Ishida Anna, Umemoto Madoka, Kobayashi Ami, Furukawa Airi, Matsumura Kaori
NMB48: Azuma Yuki, Nakagawa Hiromi, Mita Mao, Yamaguchi Yuuki