
Submissions for AKB48’s Kokoro no Placard Video Awards are open, and the first company to submit their entry is GMO Internet Group, who reveals a startling high number of pretty ladies working for them. Just look at those fresh smiling faces! Will we be seeing a GMO idol group sometime in the future?
In 2013 AKB48 released a music video for their song Koi Suru Fortune Cookie which featured 356 members of the AKB staff doing the dance moves. This started a craze for people of all professions from government employees to taxi drivers uploading videos of themselves doing the dance, many of whom can be seen on AKB48’s YouTube channel.
This year the hyper-popular idol group is running an official video contest for their latest single Kokoro no Placard, and submissions are now open. The first upload is from GMO Internet Group, who also created a video last year, and features teams from their divisions all around Japan and the world singing and performing the dance routine. But what’s really got netizens talking is the amount of gorgeous ladies who seem to work at this company. This will probably work as some excellent free advertising for GMO, and given the reaction online we imagine they might be seeing quite an increase in single young men applying for jobs with them in the near future.
▼ Watch GMO’s video entry for the Kokoro no Placard contest.
Let’s introduce netizens’ favourite teams from the video.
First up is Team konkatsu. ‘Konkatsu’ means ‘marriage hunting’ and their sign proclaims that they are ‘brides in training’. Basically these ladies are using the video as a way to advertise that they’re all single and looking for a potential husband to sweep them off their feet, so now’s your change, guys!
Next we have Team nikushoku shojo?, which literally means ‘meat eating girls’. This phrase is usually used to refer to guys who are confident and aggressively seek out female ‘companionship’, while ‘herbivorous’ is used to talk about guys who don’t actively pursue women. So these girls are letting everyone know that they’re on the prowl for prey, but their sign reminds us that they don’t go out to ‘goukon‘ or ‘dating parties’ every night!
Team o-de-mu-ka-e or Team Reception is made up of, you guessed it, receptionists. These four have even matched their outfits, and are showing huge potential for starting up a receptionist idol group.
And last but not least is Team kumapon wo aisuru hitobito, or Team ‘people who love Kumapon’. Kumapon is a coupon site run by GMO with a bear (kuma) as its mascot, so they’re being cute as well as showing company spirit. These girls are super into the dancing, and just look at those smiles!
▼ And as a bonus, here’s GMO’s entry for last year.
Which was your favourite team from the video? Let us know in the comment section below!
Source: IT Soku, AKB48 Official YouTube





AKB48 signs removed from exterior of AKB48 Theater building in Akihabara
Saga Prefecture broadcasts its appeal by dancing to AKB48 【Video】
Japanese students get people dancing to AKB48 all over Singapore【Video】
4 new versions of McDonald’s anime shorts with AKB48 idols streamed
Japanese idol supergroup AKB48 said to phasing out swimsuit modeling for younger teen members
Our 52-year-old pole dancing reporter shares his tips for achieving your New Year’s exercise goal
Starbucks Japan releases new Frappuccino and latte for Valentine’s Day
What’s inside Starbucks Japan’s fukubukuro lucky bag for 2026?
Giant hotel rooms in Osaka reflect the new non-niche face of travel in Japan.
Bamboo trees vandalized near Kyoto’s Fushimi Inari shrine, foreign graffiti prevalent
Princess Mononoke magnets return just in time to treat yourself to awesome anime decorations
How lucky are the themed retro video game lucky bags from this shop in the Tokyo boonies?
Ramen restaurant’s English menu prices are nearly double its Japanese ones, denies discriminating
Here’s what our bachelor writers ate over the New Year’s holiday in Japan
Gaming toilet design could be Japan’s greatest bathroom contribution since washlet bidets
10 times to avoid traveling in Japan in 2026
Japanese beef bowl chain Sukiya’s 2026 Smile Box lucky bag basically pays for itself
Top Japanese cosplayer Enako returns to Comiket after 6 years, creates mayhem with admirers
Umamusume anime girl plushie recalled for having parts she absolutely should not have【Pics】
We ate sushi made from Japan’s most expensive tuna ever【Taste test】
Starbucks Japan ready to get Year of the Horse started with adorable drinkware and plushies【Pics】
7-Eleven Japan starts new temporary luggage storage service in over 300 branches
Disillusionment at Tsukiji’s tourist-target prices led us to a great ramen restaurant in Tokyo
Starbucks teams up with 166-year-old Kyoto doll maker for Year of the Horse decorations【Photos】
Tokyo’s Tsukiji sushi neighborhood asks tour groups to stay away for the rest of the month
Japan may add Japanese language proficiency, lifestyle classes to permanent foreign resident requirements
Lacquerware supplier to emperor of Japan and Pokémon team up for new tableware
Starbucks Japan releases new zodiac chilled cup drink for 2026
Survey asks foreign tourists what bothered them in Japan, more than half gave same answer
Japan’s human washing machines will go on sale to general public, demos to be held in Tokyo
We deeply regret going into this tunnel on our walk in the mountains of Japan
Studio Ghibli releases Kodama forest spirits from Princess Mononoke to light up your home
Major Japanese hotel chain says reservations via overseas booking sites may not be valid
Put sesame oil in your coffee? Japanese maker says it’s the best way to start your day【Taste test】
No more using real katana for tourism activities, Japan’s National Police Agency says
Starbucks Japan reveals new sakura drinkware collection, inspired by evening cherry blossoms
Updated cherry blossom forecast shows extra-long sakura season for Japan this year
Human washing machine pods coming to Japanese hotels【Photos】
Japanese salarymen and OLs make company-wide music video of AKB48’s “Halloween Night” 【Video】
Idol supergroup AKB48 abolishes team system, team sayonara concerts to be held this summer
Tokyo’s AKB48 idol-themed cafe announces sudden, permanent closure
New single moves AKB48 to second place on all-time Japanese CD sales list, but is it enough?
Idol singer mega-group AKB48 cancels annual General Election following string of scandals
AKB48’s new idol outfits are so stylish everyone’s talking about the company that makes them
Dance contest underway to co-star in AKB48 member’s video, Mr. Sato throws hat into ring
Subpar AKB48 performance in Thailand earns scalding remarks from netizens 【Video】
Weird Cosplay: When AKB48 and Resident Evil Meet AK-47 Assault Rifles
AKB48’s final original member, who had to shave her head, is leaving the group
Government’s Cool Japan Project to fund AKB48 sister group in Philippines
AKB48 member tests positive for coronavirus
AKB48, Japan’s biggest idol singer group, apologizes for selling “Date Tickets”
AKB48 idols Anna Iriyama, Rina Kawaei released from hospital
Leave a Reply