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**Fuerfsanv** · 05-25-2012, 08:59 PM

AFP 6:01PM BST 25 May 2012

Japan's cash-strapped government is reportedly turning to popular music group AKB48 to help it sell
government bonds, as interest in the low-yield paper wanes.

The all-female pop group will headline a summer campaign for "reconstruction bonds" aimed at financing
projects in regions hammered by last year's quake-tsunami disaster, the Wall Street Journal said, citing
an unnamed source.

AKB48, one of the world's highest-grossing acts with more than $200m in CD and DVD sales last year,
are a phenomenon in Japan and across Asia, with members appearing in commercials for everything from
chocolate to mobile phones.

The debt campaign will see AKB48 - comprising about 90 performers, ranging in age from early teens to
mid-20s - joined by sumo wrestling's champion Hakuho and female football star Homare Sawa, Japan's
Jiji press agency reported.

05-25-2012, 08:59 PM	#1
Fuerfsanv Join Date Oct 2005 Posts 386 Senior Member	Girlband AKB48 To Sell Government Bonds AFP 6:01PM BST 25 May 2012 Japan's cash-strapped government is reportedly turning to popular music group AKB48 to help it sell government bonds, as interest in the low-yield paper wanes. The all-female pop group will headline a summer campaign for "reconstruction bonds" aimed at financing projects in regions hammered by last year's quake-tsunami disaster, the Wall Street Journal said, citing an unnamed source. AKB48, one of the world's highest-grossing acts with more than $200m in CD and DVD sales last year, are a phenomenon in Japan and across Asia, with members appearing in commercials for everything from chocolate to mobile phones. The debt campaign will see AKB48 - comprising about 90 performers, ranging in age from early teens to mid-20s - joined by sumo wrestling's champion Hakuho and female football star Homare Sawa, Japan's Jiji press agency reported.
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