JKT48 Teases First Venture Into Virtual Idols With New Subunit

Popular Indonesian idol group JKT48 has teased to the public its newest subunit called "JKT48V", the idol group's first venture into debuting their own lineup of virtual idols. A teaser trailer for the new subunit has been released, though there are no specific details on when the subunit will officially debut.

The newly-announced members include Pia Meraleo, Kanaia Asa, and Tana Nona.

This will mark the first time an idol group from the 48G system to debut a standalone virtual idol group. However, this is not the first time the massive idol group system has ventured into experimenting virtual idols. In 2011, the AKB48 "idol" Aimi Eguchi was revealed to be actually a fictional idol created by the idol group, composed of a CGI composite of six real-world AKB48 members' faces with the voice of one of the kenkyūsei (research student) trainees.

It is also worth noting that AKB48 also launched a special unit called AKB48 Surreal to accompany its 60th single titled "Wagamama Metaverse", the coupling song for the group's 60th single "Hisashiburi no Lip Gloss".

Idol groups venturing into the virtual scene are becoming a rising trend in the Japanese idol scene. For instance, the local group Yumemiru Adolescence launched its own VTuber unit called YUMEADO VANQUISH back in November 2021.

JKT48 is one of the many overseas idol groups under the current 48G system. It was founded in 2011. At the moment, they are currently signed under Indonesia Musik Nusantara (IDN Media). Other overseas members of the 48G system include MNL48 (Manila), BNK48 (Bangkok), CGM48 (Chiang Mai), and AKB48 Team SH (Shanghai) and AKB48 Team TP (Taipei).

Source: JKT48 Official YouTube