Yasushi Akimoto, the producer behind AKB48 and its cohorts, never misses an opportunity to make money, even when the stimulus is safety and a nearly tragic event. After the saw attack incident that saw two AKB48 idols Rina Kawaei and Anna Iriyama hospitalized, along with a male member of staff, and a maddened "fan" taken in custody by police, many predicted the end of the group's famous hand-shaking events. AKB has always promoted itself as "idols you can meet" but were they now just too big to be safe from madcap young men? What to do? Metal scanners? Checks on all bags ...

An otaku has made a shocking confession that he bought 3,000 CDs due to his obsession with Rina Ikoma, the 18-year-old idol and member of girl group Nogizaka46. Naturally he is also a regular attendant at Nogizaka46 handshaking events. These meet-and-greet sessions are where they can have a few seconds of bliss stroking the hand of the idols they adore. He told Rina what he had done at a recent handshaking event. Unfortunately he was less than impressed with her muted response to his confession, crushing his dreams of happiness with the teenaged idol. He now claims to ...