History Trivia / AKB48

* ContractualPurity: Many IdolSinger groups in Japan, both male and female, have a no-dating rule to keep up the image of being attainable. [=AKB48=] has become one of the most common examples, especially after Minami Minegishi's scandal in 2013 (where she was caught spending the night at EXILE member Alan Shirahama's home) made international news. A year before that, Rino Sashihara's alleged ex-boyfriend sold her out to the media by releasing intimate details about their relationship, which almost nearly ruined her career and caused her to be transferred to Music/HKT48. Fortunately, both girls were able to pick their careers back up after that, ''especially'' Sashihara, who now consistently ranks high on popularity polls.

* TheWikiRule: There are [[http://stage48.net/wiki/index.php/Main_Page Wiki48]] and [[http://akb48.wikia.com AKB48 Wikia]].

** 48 Group members (including Minegishi, years after her incident) and even Yasushi Akimoto himself have acknowledged in several interviews that the "love prohibition rule" is more of an unwritten rule or "understanding". However, many fans have come to expect it to be followed nonetheless, and even a slight indication that a member might be interested in a boy group (usually one of those under Johnny & Associates) could spark heated arguments in fan circles. In the end, what matters is whether the member is still able to face her fans after her indiscretion is exposed and whether the fans are still willing to support her.

* NamesTheSame:
** Minami Takahashi shares her name with a voice actress who lent her voice to the anime adaptations of ''Manga/FoodWars'', ''Manga/JojosBizarreAdventureStardustCrusaders'', and ''LightNovel/ReZero'', among others. The latter's given name is usually written with kanji, while the former General Manager's is usually rendered in hiragana.
** Nana Okada shares her name with a Showa-era idol, who reached her peak popularity in the late 70's and 80's and still acts to this day (most recently in 2016's ''[[http://asianwiki.com/The_Book_Peddler The Book Peddler]]''). They both write their names with the same kanji, but the latter was born Hiroko Yai. Naachan has stated in a "100 Questions" session that the older Nana Okada was the person she most wanted to meet.
*** Her real sister is named Rina Okada, like the AKB member, and while she's not a public figure, she sometimes joins Naachan in her live streams and [=YouTube=] videos.
** In a combination with BreakingTheOneSteveLimit, there were two members named Shiori Sato (Team 8 and 3rd Draft), and there was also one in Music/Keyakizaka46.
** Nanami Yamada's real name doesn't have the -mi. Nanami herself stated she auditioned under that name so she won't be confused with (now former) NMB member who bears the same name.
** There a tarento also named Mayu Watanabe, formerly member of PALET.

* ContractualPurity: Many IdolSinger groups in Japan, both male and female, have a no-dating rule to keep up the image of being attainable. [=AKB48=] themselves are known to have it stated explicitly in their contract, known as the "love prohibition rule." [=AKB48=] has become one of the most common examples, especially after Minami Minegishi's scandal in 2013 (where she was caught spending the night at EXILE member Alan Shirahama's home) made international news. A year before that, Rino Sashihara's alleged ex-boyfriend sold her out to the media by releasing intimate details about their relationship, which almost nearly ruined her career and caused her to be transferred to Music/HKT48. Fortunately, both girls were able to pick their careers back up after that, ''especially'' Sashihara, who now consistently ranks high on popularity polls.

** Nanami Yamada's real name doesn't have the -mi. Nanami herself stated she auditioned under that name so she won't be confused with NMB member who bears the same name.