Relationship between Japanese idol AKB48 and Akiba Shrine, very long history

Very famous idol group "AKB48" was born in 2005, in Japan. Its popularity was enormous at the time. Many young guys were crazy for AKB48. And its sales promotion was very unique, the system was taken which allowed fans to select the leader by their votes at the "election".

It was said that AKB48 is there on the top of Otaku culture. Its sister groups appear one after another, for example SKE48 and Nogizaka46 and so on, and its movement is going on now. These group have a feature, that all of them have the base theaters for acting.

The word "AKB" of AKB48 is shortened of "Akihabara(秋葉原)". Akihabara is a place name, and it is in Tokyo. Akihabara is said the sanctuary of Otaku culture. There are so many shops, electric equipment shops, Anime shops, souvenir shops. And many foreign tourists visit here.

In 1870 a huge fire happened here in Akihabara, many houses had burned. Until that time this place had not been called "Akihabara". By the direction of the emperor one shrine had been built there. Its name was "Akiba Shrine", so this place became called Akihabara.

Akiba Shrine is believed to be the God for preventing fire. From Edo-period(1603-1868) to around Showa-period(1926-1986), here in Japan, many fires happened in the cities. Therefore, too many Akiba Shrines were built all over Japan. The number of it is beyond 1000.

And in my town street too, there is a small Akiba Shrine. It is very small and built over the waterway. Here, within this town organization, there are about 35 houses. We 35 residents save and maintain this small shrine. And in January, we worship it as the New Year's event.

It is not well known, within Japan, there is a relationship between the idol group AKB48 and the local small Akiba shrine.