Vernalossom
Native name | 株式会社Vernalossom |
|---|---|
| Formerly | AKS |
| Company type | Kabushiki gaisha |
| Industry | Service industry |
| Founded | 2006 |
| Headquarters | Chiyoda, Tokyo , Japan |
Key people | Natsuko Yoshinari (President) |
| Brands | AKB48 Group members outside Japan |
| Services | Artist management |
| Owner | Natsuko Yoshinari |
| Website | vernalossom.jp |
Vernalossom Co., Ltd. (株式会社Vernalossom, Kabushiki-gaisha Vernalossom), formerly AKS Co., Ltd. (株式会社AKS, Kabushiki-gaisha AKS), is a Japanese talent agency headquartered in Tokyo, Japan. The company is involved in various entertainment-related industries, including music, film and merchandise production.
History
[edit]AKS has managed the Japanese idol groups AKB48, SKE48,[1] NMB48,[2] HKT48,[3] and NGT48, as well as the Japanese promotional activities of South Korean-Japanese idol group, Iz*One.
AKB48 employed a so-called "transfer system" for the first to tenth generation members, where members started out under AKS management, and should receive a contract offer from other artist management companies after a predetermined period.[4] Members in the next generations would be managed directly by AKS, although they could still accept offers to transfer to other agencies.
In 2016, ownership of NMB48 was transferred from Kyoraku Yoshimoto Holdings to AKS, putting all the 48 groups at the time under AKS's banner.[2]
In 2019, the talent agency KeyHolder acquired SKE48 and placed it under the management of its subsidiary SKE, Inc., renamed in June to Zest, Inc.;[5][6] AKS received a 20% stake in the subsidiary.[7] It was also announced that Yasushi Akimoto is no longer part of AKS management, but still being involved as the creative producer.[8] In June, NMB48 was sold back to Kyoraku Yoshimoto Holdings.[2]
In 2020, AKS was restructured into Vernalossom and transferred ownership of their three remaining Japanese idol groups to three independent business entities, while Vernalossom would retain control of the AKB48 sister groups outside Japan.[9][10] AKB48 would be managed by DH, headed by Kazuki Uchimura, who is also the CEO of the AKB48 Group costume maker, Osare Company. HKT48 would be managed by Mercury[11] and NGT48 by Flora,[12] both of which are subsidiaries of the holding company Sproot, itself co-owned by Line Corporation, Septeni Holdings,[13] and the advertising company Piala.[14] In May, it was announced that KeyHolder has also bought out Vernalossom's subsidiary North River, Inc., a transportation company which also owned 50% of Nogizaka46's management company.[15]
On April 1, 2023, it was announced on Vernalossom's homepage that all of the company's business operations would be transferred to a branch subsidiary company named Superball, effective from the same day.[16]
Artists
[edit]Current artists
[edit]Units
[edit]Talents
[edit]- Shekinah Arzaga (MNL48)
Former artists
[edit]- AKB48 (Transfer to DH, Co. Ltd.)
- SKE48 (Transfer to Keyholder/ZEST, Co. Ltd.)
- NMB48 (Transfer to Kyoraku Yoshimoto, Co. Ltd.)
- HKT48 (Transfer to Mercury, Co. Ltd.)
- NGT48 (Transfer to Flora, Co. Ltd.)
- SDN48 (2010–2012)
- IZ*ONE (2018–2021, co-managed by Off The Record)
- Sakura Miyawaki (Transfer to A.M. Entertainment)
- Hitomi Honda (Transfer to DH, Co. Ltd.)
- DEL48 (2019–2020)
- SGO48 (2018–2021)
- Nako Yabuki
See also
[edit]
References
[edit]- ^ "お知らせ" (in Japanese). AKB48 TOKYO DOME までの軌跡. 1 November 2011. Retrieved 1 May 2015.
- ^ a b c "AKS、NMB48事業をKYORAKU吉本に譲渡". ORICON NEWS. Retrieved 3 December 2021.
- ^ "会社情報" (in Japanese). HKT48. Retrieved 1 May 2015.
- ^ "【前編】AKB48"非選抜組"仲谷明香が語る「光と影」 ～総選挙の日、前田敦子の隣にいた私". Eltha (in Japanese). 9 March 2012. Retrieved 1 May 2015.
- ^ "アイドルグループ「SKE48」を買収したKeyHolderってどんな会社". M＆A Online. 23 November 2018. Retrieved 3 February 2021.
- ^ "Notice of Change of Trade Name of Consolidated Subsidiary" (PDF) (Press release) (in Japanese). JASDAQ. 6 June 2019.
- ^ "Notice Concerning Partial Transfer of Subsidiary Shares" (PDF) (Press release) (in Japanese). JASDAQ.
- ^ "指原莉乃、ＮＧＴ山口問題現状語る 秋元Ｐに相談も". Nikkan Sports (in Japanese). 6 May 2019. Retrieved 21 May 2019.
- ^ "AKS becomes Vernalossom, AKB48, HKT48 and NGT48 new operating companies announced". Neo-Tokyo 2099. 1 April 2020. Retrieved 3 February 2021.
- ^ "ＡＫＢ、ＨＫＴ、ＮＧＴもＡＫＳから独立 国内４８グループ今後は地域密着がカギ – 東京スポーツ新聞社". 東スポＷeb – 東京スポーツ新聞社 (in Japanese). 2 April 2020. Retrieved 3 February 2021.
- ^ "ＡＫＳ、ＨＫＴ運営をＭｅｒｃｕｒｙに事業譲渡 - ＡＫＢ４８ : 日刊スポーツ". nikkansports.com (in Japanese). Retrieved 3 February 2021.
- ^ "ＡＫＳがＮＧＴ４８運営を新設会社「Ｆｌｏｒａ」に事業譲渡 早川支配人は退任 – 東京スポーツ新聞社". 東スポＷeb – 東京スポーツ新聞社 (in Japanese). April 2020. Retrieved 3 February 2021.
- ^ "Septeni Holdings Announces Equity Participation in Sproot Corp., Presiding over Two Idol Groups, HKT48 and NGT48, as Official Digital Marketing Partner to Promote DX in the Entertainment Industry". SEPTENI HOLDINGS CO.,LTD. 27 May 2020. Retrieved 2 December 2021.
- ^ "HKT48及びNGT48の持株会社としてSprootを新たに設立 〜LINE、セプテーニ・ホールディングス、ピアラが資本参画〜". 株式会社Sproot (in Japanese). Retrieved 1 December 2021.
- ^ "Basic Agreement for the Acquisition of All Shares of North River Co" (PDF) (Press release) (in Japanese). JASDAQ. 14 May 2020.
- ^ 株式会社Vernalossom (in Japanese), 1 April 2023, archived from the original on 1 April 2023
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