The producer of Japan's popular idol group AKB48, Yasushi Akimoto (54 yrs), has confirmed plans to create another "AKB48" in Taiwan. The group might be labelled as, "Taiwan48". So what gave him the idea?

He decided to launch a new group in Taiwan because he has been receiving countless offers from Thailand, Russia, Singapore and China etc. to start a new group given the success of AKB48. A program will be broadcasted to reveal the creation of "Taiwan48" this summer that will show Taiwanese locals auditioning for a spot in the group and then selected to be trained before cameras. The process will be similar to 'American Idol'.