We don’t write about them because we’re necessarily big fans of AKB48, but because they’re insanely popular in Japan and abroad, not to mention their antics have been hard to ignore.

AKB48’s Wacky Antics

Last year AKB48 introduced a new member to the group, only to reveal later that she was completely computer-generated. They also launched an internet service that lets you create virtual babies with members from the group.

And just recently, they raised a few eyebrows with a candy commercial that features some of the members passing candy to each other with their mouths, nearly kissing. Japan’s Broadcast Ethics & Program Improvement Organization has been flooded with complaints about the TV spot, although I’m sure just as many people are uh, enjoying it.

It’s crazy that these girls have been able to become so successful, but it shouldn’t be any surprise. Aside from the hard work that these girls have put in and the experienced producer behind them, they’re the latest in a long line of idols.

What Are Idols?

Idol (or アイドル), has become sort of a generic term for young entertainers in Japan. Idols can be singers, voice actors, or models.

But idols aren’t like most entertainers; they work their way up through a very specific career path. They’re recruited as bright-eyed, bushy-tailed kids, and are put through the paces being an idol.

Being an idol can be like an incubator for celebrity. An idol might end up becoming a big, multimedia celebrity; but, more likely than not, they won’t be famous outside of a small, localized niche.

Another thing that sets idols apart from your everyday, run-of-the-mill singer is their sophistication, or lack thereof. Idols are often recruited as unrefined, unpolished performers, and are expected to improve as time goes on.

The idol’s lack of sophistication is endearing, and avid fans can track the idol’s progress as she goes through her career.

On the surface, this whole system of becoming an idol seems pretty innocent, but if critics are to be believed, it’s anything but.

The Dark Side of Idols

Idols are held up to some pretty high standards, both by executives and fans. They can’t have any sort of Brittany Spears meltdown and expect their career to be intact.

Idols are expected to be models of innocence and purity, young and uncorrupted. Any disruption of that illusion can end an idol’s career. If an idol is caught smoking in her off-time or – God forbid – in a romantic relationship, it’s game over.

For that, and other reasons, idols have their critics; and not just on an individual level, but some people criticize the whole system of idols in Japan. (The cardigan-clad Marxy of Néojaponisme has done an especially great job of riling up idol fans over the years.)

They see idols as raw, unadulterated capitalism at its finest; part of a brutal, unforgiving system that commodifies attractive young women and exploits unsuspecting fans into making heaps of cash for producers and executives.

I can definitely see a kernel of truth in those accusations. As an outsider, it’s sometimes hard for me to really understand the appeal of these teen entertainers.

But try telling that to the fans.

All About The Fans

Idol fans are some of the most loyal, fanatic fans of anything out there. They take a much more active, evangelical role in the career of an idol than your everyday music fan.

They’ll memorize all of their favorite idol’s stats (birthday, height, weight, blood type), go to all their shows, and of course, buy all of their singles and albums. Some idol fans go so far as to buy multiple copies just to help their idol’s record sales. One crazy fan bought 5,500 copies of an AKB48 single. Talk about dedication! People in the comments are saying that the guy who bought 5,500 copies of an AKB48 single is a hoax, though not completely out of the realm of possibility.

What drives these fans? What makes them so dedicated and loyal? Obviously each fan has his or her own reasons, but my personal theory is that it’s the narrative of the idols that really draws people in.

Everybody loves an underdog story, and idols are the ultimate underdogs. They start from the bottom in a fiercely competitive, saturated market full of other idols, and try to work their way up to the top.

But the best part is that fans are part of the story. Fans track an idol’s career from the very beginning, buy the singles that help put the idol on the charts, meet with idols at concerts, and overall feel very involved in the success of their favorite idols.

Bearing the fans’ involvement in the career of idols, AKB48′s success makes a lot of sense. And you can be sure that we’ll see many, many more successful idols in the future, thanks to fan support.

(Just don’t talk to fans about Korean idols.)

Read more: Dae’s Idol 101, Néojaponisme

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When she was added as the newest member, this story got some news. Some people care about this kind of thing, though Tofugu isn’t really interested in it, I’d say. The part we like was how it turned out she was fake. The technology behind it is also interesting. After being added to the group, Eguchi appeared in a Glico Commercial (seriously, you know you’ve hit it big once you’ve been in a Glico commercial).

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Then, people found out she wasn’t actually real… All the otaku who fell in love with her were crushed and heartbroken. Not even putting together that Gundam figurine could make them happy again :(

I don’t think the story here is so much that she’s fake (though that’s pretty  cool), I think the interesting part is the technology that went into making someone fake. Normally, when you put together a bunch of random things from a bunch of different people, it doesn’t turn out too good. I think Conan O’Brien’s “If They Mated” sketch proves this.

The “Making Of” video isn’t particularly illuminating, but it does have some info as to what they did to create Aimi Eguchi. Looks like they recorded the six idols, did some CG magic, then combined the individual face features into one fake AKB48 idol.

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I’d say some of her pictures / videos are pretty good, though every once in a while you come across one where you’re like “ooh, she looks funny,” though I wonder if I’d notice any of this if I didn’t know she was fake.

The really interesting part, I’d say, is figuring out what will happen with her a year or so from now. Will she still exist? Will there still be rabid fans of her? If Hatsune Miku (A computer generated singer) can be super popular and have a ton of fans, why not Aimi Eguchi?

Personally, though, if I were AKB48, I’d see how long I could keep this hoax going. Start a betting pool inside the company, or something. I’d bet they could keep it secret for about a month before anyone figured it out, though you’d need to come up with all kinds of excuses why she never appears anywhere in person…

Create Your Own Idol!

This is just a little extra, but has a “Create Your Own Idol” kind of website where you can take different pieces of different AKB48 idols to make your own Frankenstein.

See what you can come up with. It’s actually pretty hard to make something that’s too terrifying, though I have faith in all of you Tofugu readers to come up with something amazing. You can’t beat this one, though.

Go ahead, create your own idols! Show us in the comments what you’ve come up with.

P.S. Steve Buscemi is a baller of an actor. If you agree, you should Follow Tofugu On Twitter.

P.P.S. If you don’t agree with the previous statement, perhaps you’re more of a Facebook type of person?