Tsugi no Ashiato is the third studio album by Japanese idol girl group AKB48. It is the second AKB48 double-album, and was released in Japan on January 22, 2014 by King Records. It debuted at number one in the weekly Oricon Albums Chart, selling over 960,000 copies. On February 6, the album became AKB48's second successive album to sell over one million copies.
Tsugi no Ashiato
AKB48 is a Japanese idol musical girl group named after the Akihabara area in Tokyo, where the group's theater is located. AKB48 has sold more records than any other female musical act in Japanese history. AKB48's producer, Yasushi Akimoto, wanted to form a girl group with its own theater and performing daily so fans could always see them live. This "idols you can meet" concept includes teams which can rotate performances and perform simultaneously at several events and "handshake" events, where fans can meet group members. Akimoto has expanded the AKB48 concept to several girl groups within Japan, and internationally in Mainland China, Indonesia, Thailand, Taiwan, and Philippines.
AKB48 performing at the Nokia Theater (now Peacock Theater) in Los Angeles, California in July 2010
AKB48 Theater in Akihabara, Tokyo
AKB48 preparing for its debut on March 26, 2006
AKB48 live at Japan Expo 2009 (Paris)