A petition against his appointment has been created due his representing the "decline" of the Japanese entertainment industry, with 11,000 signatures as of March 23. He also contributed in forming a South Korean girl group Iz*One with collaboration between AKS and Mnet. In 2016, Japanese idol girl group multimedia project between Yasushi Akimoto, Aniplex, and Sony Music Records called 22/7 was formed. The project is described as "idols who transcend dimensions." The members consist of voice actresses who provide the voice and motion capture for their characters, as well as perform as a musical group. In 2017, Akimoto co-founded the $4.50 Theater Company, in cooperation with the entertainment company Avex Inc. As of 2019, Akimoto is no longer part of the AKS management and is involved only as the creative producer of AKB48 Groups. On September, 2022, OVERSE announces the launch of its new idol group project, it will be a new kind of idol group with blockchain and metaverse concepts, and names Akimoto Yasushi as the idol group's general producer. Criticism Akimoto has been criticized in the past for song lyrics that some consider to have misogynistic undertones. Specifically, the 2016 HKT48 song "Einstein yori Dianna Agron" was seen as an insult to women's intelligence. Personal life Akimoto married Onyanko Club member Mamiko Takai in 1988. Awards 2008: 41st Japan Lyricist Awards — Grand Prix (for the song "Umiyuki", performed by Jero) 2009: 51st Japan Record Award Special Award 2011: 16th The AMD Award — Grand Prize 2012: 54th Japan Record Award — Lyricist Award. 45th Japan Cable Award, Special Award. 2017: 19th Mnet Asian Music Awards — Inspired Achievement 2022: Medal with Purple Ribbon See also AKB48 Nogizaka46 AKB48 Group Sakamichi Series Nurse Angel Ririka SOS References External links Fujipacific Music Inc Yasushi Akimoto profile on AKB48 AKB48 1958 births Annie Award winners Japanese television writers Japanese record producers Japanese lyricists Academic staff of Kyoto University of the Arts Talent managers Japanese racehorse owners and breeders Living people Musicians from Tokyo Omega Tribe (Japanese band) members Recipients of the Medal with Purple Ribbon