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Japanese all-women group culture shines in China

Kong Xiaoyin (right) from Northeast China said she joined the group to help her family. [Photo by Chen Zhongqiu/China Daily]

A small theater is located near the Huangpu River in downtown Shanghai. When it was built in the 1930s, the venue was known as Paradise Theater, but today it is being used exclusively for shows by the all-women group SNH48.

The group, which started in 2012, has since grown into more than 100 members divided into different areas of interest in singing and dancing. Each sub-group presents at least one public performance in a week that allows the young women to meet their otaku fans (nerds who prefer to stay home and play video games). This is also a platform for the women to become popular.

The limited space on the stage allows only 16 to perform at one time in competition gigs. The ones that draw the most cheers from the audience likely perform better than their peers and get the chance to move on to the next stage of a competition as well as music deals outside of the theater.

To a large extent, fans determine the fate of the women. From their weekly performances at the venue to the annual general ranking by fans online, only the best can succeed in this game.


Some girls watch their promotion film on the big screen before entering the stage. [Photo by Chen Zhongqiu/China Daily]


The women that draw the most cheers from the audience are placed at the center stage and will likely get more opportunities in the future. [Photo by Chen Zhongqiu/China Daily]


Members of SNH48 perform on stage. [Photo by Chen Zhongqiu/China Daily]


A fan cannot contain his excitement after being chosen to play interactive games with the performers. [Photo by Chen Zhongqiu/China Daily]


Xu Jiaqi (right) from Zhejiang province said she signed up for the competition with a friend, but the other girl didn't join. [Photo by Chen Zhongqiu/China Daily]


The wall inside the theater's cafe has portraits of last year's top three winners. [Photo by Chen Zhongqiu/China Daily]


People who have purchased the "handshake" ticket are allowed to shake hands with the girls for three seconds after a performance. [Photo by Chen Zhongqiu/China Daily]


SNH48 fans line up in front of the theater in Shanghai to watch a special performance by the group. [Photo by Chen Zhongqiu/China Daily]

 

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