Saga Prefecture lies in the northwest corner of Japan’s island of Kyushu. This past week, in an unusual attempt at self-promotion, the Saga Prefectural Office uploaded a video of hundreds of workers from its various divisions happily dancing to the new AKB48 single, Koi Suru Fortune Cookie (Love Fortune Cookie). With more than 480,000 views on YouTube so far, the up-beat video certainly beats a boring old poster campaign!
Every Sunday night, Fuji Television airs a program called AKB Eizou (Video) Center. For one of the show’s primary segments, they invite viewers to submit their own videos in accordance with a given theme for a chance at being aired on TV. Select submissions are not only given a two-minute snippet of televised fame, the full clip is also added to AKB48’s official YouTube channel!
Saga Prefecture submitted their dancing music video both as a fun side-project and to give the people of Japan a happy introduction to all of the different departments managed by their government. Luckily for them, the charming dance clip made the cut, and now appears on AKB48’s official channel.
Approximately 60 prefectural departments and their associated staff members are featured in the three-and-a-half-minute video. Bright-eyed workers both young and old wear their biggest smiles as they dance in sync to the up-beat pop song. Even the prefecture’s mascot characters gathered together for the recording, and the prefectural governor in particular displays a great deal of excitement for the song and dance.
▼ In case it wasn’t obvious, the governor is the man in the middle.
So, if you’re looking for a nice little pick-me-up as we struggle towards the end of the working week, Saga Prefecture’s rendition of Koi Suru Fortune Cookie will certainly raise your spirits, while also giving you a well-rounded sampling of the many kinds of people who keep Japan running smoothly. Enjoy!
▼ Watch the video here or on AKB48’s official YouTube channel!
▼ In case you can’t watch the video right away, here’s a few stills from the merry music video.
Source: Net Lab (Japanese)
Japanese students get people dancing to AKB48 all over Singapore【Video】
GMO’s pretty employees rival AKB48 with big smiles and short skirts
Subpar AKB48 performance in Thailand earns scalding remarks from netizens 【Video】
AKB48 and South Korean idol groups perform hits at music awards, turns out to be a disaster
Tokyo’s AKB48 idol-themed cafe announces sudden, permanent closure
Japan announces sudden 500-percent increase in visa fees for foreigners entering the country
Studio Ghibli store Donguri Republic announces opening of first-ever store in America
Japanese ninja certification exam attracts 131 candidates from Japan and abroad
Japanese sweets brand creates new drinkable Cigare and we’re totally here for it
“Phantom Egg Shop” opens in Japan, with a dozen rare Japanese varieties
Starbucks Japan releases new Frappuccino, tea and soda drinks for summer
Starbucks Japan sells Valencia Flavoured Syrup, and here are four ways to use it this summer
Ginza Happo: One of Tokyo’s best all-you-can-eat seafood restaurants is an extreme buffet affair
Cheap Japanese sandwich hack: Popular cafe’s 21-cent white bread offcuts will really up your game
Enjoy the world’s oldest gyoza chain hidden just outside Shinjuku Station
Japanese sweets shop sells an ohagi so exquisite it sells out by noon
Forget Tokyo go-karts – there’s a new way to sightsee on four wheels in Japan
7-Eleven Japan to start selling Vietnamese banh mi sandwiches this summer
Tokyo’s life-size Gundam is getting a new look before its end-of-summer removal
Starbucks Japan releases new limited-edition summer drinks…and a pastry for dunking
New Japanese overnight train coming to connect Tokyo with Tohoku in sleep-travel style
Uniqlo reveals third round of massive 100-year-anniversary manga T-shirts for Jump’s Shueisha
Even at twice regular Daiso price, this handy item is still great for summer travel in Japan
New official Ghibli anime food cookbook will teach you how to make Ponyo’s ramen and more
Japanese convenience store Lawson launches new “mini supermarket” chain, L Minimart
Japan’s real-world Pokémon hot spring’s first photos are here![Photos]
Japan’s human washing machines will go on sale to general public, demos to be held in Tokyo
Starbucks Japan releases new drinkware and goods for Valentine’s Day
We deeply regret going into this tunnel on our walk in the mountains of Japan
Starbucks Japan releases new sakura goods and drinkware for cherry blossom season 2026
Japan’s newest Shinkansen has no seats…or passengers [Video]
Put sesame oil in your coffee? Japanese maker says it’s the best way to start your day【Taste test】
Japan reportedly adding Japanese language skill requirement to most common foreigner work visa
Japan’s 5.3 million beautiful Hitachi Nemophila flowers are now in full bloom[Photos]
Pokémon and Ikea Japan cross over into each other’s worlds with collaboration events
Hello Kitty and AKB48 collaborate for the ultimate fan merchandise from Thank You Mart
Idols ahoy! AKB48 to hold concerts at Universal Studios Japan every day starting in July
AKB48’s new idol outfits are so stylish everyone’s talking about the company that makes them
Japanese salarymen and OLs make company-wide music video of AKB48’s “Halloween Night” 【Video】
AKB48 fan shows his love the only way he knows how: By buying $300,000 worth of CDs
AKB48 and Nogizaka46 songs to be played as subway train departure melodies in Tokyo
AKB48 signs removed from exterior of AKB48 Theater building in Akihabara
Dance contest underway to co-star in AKB48 member’s video, Mr. Sato throws hat into ring
AKB48 to hold exclusive show for coffee contest winners, Mr. Sato immediately buys over 300 cans
Top 10 YouTube videos in Japan 2013
Idol singer mega-group AKB48 cancels annual General Election following string of scandals
AKB48, Japan’s biggest idol singer group, apologizes for selling “Date Tickets”
4 new versions of McDonald’s anime shorts with AKB48 idols streamed