TWICE’s Mina Has Liked AKB48 Since Pre-Debut, Here’s What You Need To Know About The Popular J-Pop Girl Group
TWICE‘s Mina may be a world famous K-Pop idol, but that doesn’t mean she can’t also be a fan of other singers! In an interview with Allure, she opened up about her music taste and gave some surprising answers.
She apparently likes rock music, naming the band King Gnu as one of her favorites. They are known for their songs “Kasa” (2019) and “Hakujitsu” (2020).
I listen to a lot of band songs. There is a Japanese band ‘King Gnu’, their songs are really good. I shared a music player with my brother, so I also listened to a lot of Japanese Band songs he listened to.
— Mina
This isn’t all—her music tastes are varied, and pop songs have always been a great choice for her. She confirmed this when she was asked, “Before meeting K-Pop, what kind of songs did you mainly listen to?”
I also listened to idols like AKB48 and followed the choreography too.
— Mina
AKB48 is one of the most famous J-Pop girl groups. They pioneered the idol-next-door concept as they frequently performed in small theaters in front of their fans, held handshake events, and more. The first generation was revealed in 2005, making Mina just eight years old at the time.
She grew up listening to their music. Their most famous songs include “Aitakatta” (2007), “Heavy Rotation” (2010), “Koi Suru Fortune Cookie” (2014), “High Tension” (2016) and many more.
Unlike most K-Pop groups, AKB48’s lineup is constantly changing. They have a graduation system where members can leave or “graduate” from the group once they choose to. New members fill in the empty slots and slowly climb to the top by building their fanbase.
These top members are recognized in every Senbatsu Election where fans can vote for their favorite members in AKB48 and their sister groups. These include HKT48 based in Hakata, NMB48 based in Namba, SKE48 based in Sakae, and more. There are even overseas teams like JKT48 (Jakarta), BNK48 (Bangkok) and MNL48 (Manila) to name a few.
K-Pop fans may be aware of AKB48 and their sister groups through the survival program Produce 48.
Following the contract expiration of its winning group, IZ*ONE, Honda Hitomi returned to Japan to continue promoting with AKB48.
Based on their history, iconic track list, and interesting lineup, it’s no wonder Mina found them cool. If only she knew that she’d one day become a huge celebrity as well!
