Akimoto founded the AKB48 idol group in 2005, and its sixth and latest domestic sister group, STU48, launched in summer 2017.
AKB48 producer Yasushi Akimoto and Warner Music Japan announced a partnership on Monday to produce a new “idol girls band,” with member applications open from Tuesday to October 31.
The application is open to applicants betweens the ages of 12 to 19 (as of the end of March 2019).
The project aims to produce an “idol girls band for the nation,” debuting next spring.