AI Wrote a Hit for Japanese Girl Group AKB48

Japanese girl group AKB48, one of the biggest stars on the domestic pop scene, has just released its 67th official single. This time, it is not just an ordinary track—it is a song called Omoide Scroll, whose lyrics were created by artificial intelligence. The group is celebrating 20 years on the scene and decided to do so in an original way: it organized a television contest in which its longtime songwriter Yasushi Akimoto faced off against an AI-powered version of himself. Fans decided the winner live and chose the machine. This is the story that shook the entire music world.

A Contest Full of Surprises

It all took place on Japanese television. Yasushi Akimoto, the man who created AKB48 as well as other successful groups such as Onyanko Club and has sold more than 100 million copies of his songs, wrote the track Cécile. It is a Motown-inspired tune with a French touch, whose lyrics describe a girl's obsession with her best friend: "I copy the way you style your hair / Please don't notice my love for you." Akimoto chose the group's current frontwoman, Kuranoo Narumi, to perform the lead vocals.

On the other side was "AI Akimoto," trained on Akimoto's writing style, vocabulary, and technique. They used Google Gemini software, which analyzed the songwriter's essays, interviews, and old lyrics. The AI generated the lyrics for Omoide Scroll, which means "scroll of memories." The song features a modern light-techno backing track and a group chorus, depicting heartbreak in the age of smartphones: "I'll stop scrolling through the memories / Like a battery running out." After analyzing interviews with AKB48 members, the AI chose newcomer Ito Momoka because she excels at emotional storytelling. Humans completed the melody and arrangement, although some Japanese sources also mention AI involvement in the music.

Fans listened to both songs without knowing who had written which one. Voting took place online for five days and culminated in a live broadcast. The result? Omoide Scroll won with 14,225 votes, compared with 10,535 for Cécile. Akimoto reacted in shock: "What? Is this a joke?" He later admitted his disappointment: "I put everything I had into writing it." Meanwhile, the song Cécile disappeared from YouTube, while the winning track made its way onto streaming services.

Reactions from the Creator and Stars

Akimoto, often compared to the "Steve Jobs of otaku"—a visionary for anime and gaming fans—took a philosophical view before the contest. He said: "It's fascinating that AI can create such a great song, and I'm looking forward to it. I'd love to hear fans say, 'I never would have thought of that!'" After his defeat, he was consoled by Grammy-winning jazz musician Hiromi Uehara and former AKB48 member Sashihara Rino, who suggested a rematch. Akimoto laughed but expressed frustration at how technology mines data and searches for the "greatest common denominator." Nevertheless, he acknowledged: "I think the AI song is good."

The AI itself was given a chance to speak during the broadcast: "Maybe the real me was trying to show something new by losing this time." Akimoto replied: "Shut up!" prompting laughter in the studio. The entire scene shows how the boundaries between humans and machines are blurring—and how even professionals find it entertaining.

 Japanese Music

The Japanese music industry is now watching Omoide Scroll closely. AKB48 has had 53 number-one singles on the Oricon chart, so if this AI track breaks that streak, it could signal resistance to the technology. Conversely, if it succeeds, it will open the door to greater use of AI in music creation. The group has more than 40 members, and its latest album, Nantettatte AKB48, topped the charts in December last year. Fans now know the truth about the song's origins, and their response will decide its fate.

This case is not an isolated one—AI lyric generators for J-pop are becoming increasingly widespread, from tools for anime songs to Vocaloid tracks. The debate over whether a machine can replace human creativity continues to rage, but AKB48 has just shown that fans are open to experimentation. Omoide Scroll is therefore not just a hit, but a milestone in the history of Japanese pop music.