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| Takamina’s Back in Charge! AKB48’s OG Queen Returns as 20th Anniversary Support Group Leader |
AKB48’s 20th Year Spring Concert 2025 kicked off with a proper bang at Tokyo Garden Theater on May 5 – and just when fans thought it couldn’t get any more intense, a familiar silhouette popped up and stole the whole show.
That’s right: Takahashi Minami, the very first General Manager of the group (and living legend in her own right), made a shock return on day one of the three-day event… only to get ambushed with an even bigger surprise.
While she thought she was just showing up to cheer from the sidelines, the 4th-gen GM, Kuranoo Narumi, suddenly called her out from the audience mid-show and hit her with a live on-stage offer:
“Please be the leader of our 20th anniversary support group – and come stand with us at Budokan in December!”
Takamina, flustered but grinning, gave the most AKB48-style reply ever:
“Wait, what!? You’re offering me this on the spot? So AKB! Alright, I’m in!”
And just like that, with confetti cannons firing and the whole crowd in stitches, AKB48's original captain was officially back on deck.
From Graduation to General (Again)
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| AKB48 Spring Concert 2025 Opens with Takamina’s Surprise Appearance |
Takahashi Minami graduated from the group in 2016, after years of leading the girls through chaos, growth, and glory.
Known for her iconic phrase, “Doryoku wa kanarazu mukuwareru” (“Effort will definitely be rewarded”), she’s been an emotional pillar of the group from the start.
So it’s only fitting that she’s been pulled back in to lead the charge for AKB’s milestone 20th anniversary.
Kuranoo even asked her to help gather OGs for the grand finale of the tour, which will take place at Nippon Budokan from December 4–7.
Takamina laughed and promised, “I’ll do what I can. I’ve actually been wanting to support the current members for this anniversary, so yeah – I’ll give it my all.”
Concert Highlights: “This Is Only the Beginning”
The concert itself was a whirlwind – opening with a jaw-dropping ‘NO WAY MAN’ that instantly raised the roof.
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The girls dove straight into a setlist packed with bangers like ‘Flying Get’, ‘Kibouteki Refrain’, and their brand-new single ‘Masaka no Confession’, which features new-gen centre Yagi Aizuki.
The setlist flexed AKB’s new blood too – from the rising 18th-gen members, now full-fledged members as of April, to the mysterious intensity of the Universe Girls’ ‘Taimu Mashin Fuyouron’.
Kuranoo, smiling ear-to-ear, addressed the packed venue:
“All three shows this weekend are sold out – thank you! We’re here to show you what today’s AKB48 is made of.”
AKB48’s Future: More Than Just Nostalgia
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It wasn’t just a nostalgia fest, though – AKB made it clear they’re ready to carve out their next golden era.
During the MC segment, they revealed the 21st gen auditions are on the way, now accepting entries via JOYSOUND karaoke and even LINE. Yup, they’re levelling up their reach while staying true to their roots.
To wrap things up, the girls delivered the full 30-song marathon with endless energy, closing the main set with ‘Masaka no Confession’.
The encore brought fans to tears with ‘10nen Zakura’, before the final surprise hit:
The AKB48 20th Year Live Tour 2025 – PARTY ga Hajimaru yo will hit Aichi, Osaka, Hiroshima, and Miyagi from August, with the grand finale set for Nippon Budokan.
Six shows over four days in December.
And with Takamina back as the “General of Generals” leading the OGs into the mix?
You know this anniversary is about to be unforgettable.