Former AKB48 member Oshima Mai has shared an interesting behind-the-scenes story about how stage names were handled during the early days of the iconic Japanese idol group.
Appearing on TOKYO FM’s late-night radio program TOKYO SPEAKEASY alongside WHITE SCORPION members AOI and ACE, Oshima opened up about the naming process for idols and recalled her own experience as one of AKB48’s original members.
According to Oshima, AKB48 members were initially allowed to choose their own stage names before debuting.
However, the plan changed unexpectedly when producer Yasushi Akimoto decided that all members would use their real names instead.
Oshima Mai revealed that she had spent considerable time thinking about a unique stage name and wanted something elegant that resembled the name of a wealthy schoolgirl from a Japanese drama.
She added that many first-generation AKB48 members had also prepared their own stage names before the policy changed. (Overseasidol.com)
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