Overseasidol.com — Former AKB48 ace and actress Maeda Atsuko confirming her participation in AKB48’s upcoming 66th single, “Oh My Pumpkin!”.
This single will be released in celebration of the group’s 20th anniversary.
The commemorative single features 22 selected members, including four legendary former members, Maeda Atsuko, Takahashi Minami, Kojima Haruna, and Sashihara Rino.
In her post, Maeda shared a photo of herself in a white gown, expressing how special this project is.
She reflected on her debut two decades ago, recalling the moment the curtain first rose at the AKB48 theater.
“Without that day in December 20 years ago, I wouldn’t be here,” she wrote.
Although she admitted that many of her AKB48 memories have faded, that debut moment remains vivid.
She explained that she decided to join the single out of gratitude, especially toward producer Yasushi Akimoto.
“If my involvement could mean even a small gesture of thanks to Akimoto-sensei or support for the hardworking current members, then I wanted to do something,” she said.
Maeda shared that Akimoto personally thanked her during the recording session, a moment that reaffirmed the meaning of her participation.
“Just hearing that made it all worthwhile,” she added.
She also said reuniting with fellow legends and seeing the new generation brought back powerful memories.
She added “Watching the girls sing and dance together again reminded me just how beautiful this all is,”.
She hoped the song would reach fans of all generations, calling it a track full of AKB48’s true essence.
