AKS appoints new NGT48 Theatre Manager, adds Vice Theater Manager and adds follow up to their investigation in regards to Yamaguchi Maho’s assault

With a petition surpassing 50,000 online signatures asking for the resignation of NGT48 Theatre Manager Imamura Etsurou, AKS Corporation has appointed a new theatre manager: Hayakawa Maiko and a new Vice Theatre Manager Okada Tsuyoshi.

Hayakawa had the following statement:

My name is Hayakawa Maiko. I have been involved in the management of SKE48, AKB48 and STU48.

As Theatre Manager and working in cooperation with the Vice Theatre Manager Okada and the staff around us as well as the members and those who have dreams of entering NGT48, I would like to aim for a group that will bring things closer to what I have envisioned.

I apologize at this time, starting with all the fans who have been worrying about various members.

I have not understood all of the circumstances yet, so I will immediately talk to Yamaguchi Maho and members to get more information as possible.

On top of that, I think we can go forward one step at a time.

We appreciate your continued support for NGT48.

Vice Theatre Manager, Okada Tsuyoshi wrote the following:

My name is Okada Tsuyoshi.  I have been appointed as the Vice Theater Manager for NGT48.  Together with Manager Hayakawa, I will continue to work hard to restore the trust of NGT48.  Thank you to NGT48, fans and everyone involved.

In addition, AKS representative director Yoshinagi Natsuko and Operating Officer and Director Matsumura Takumi have issued the following statement:

About the incident related to Yamaguchi Miho which occurred on December 8, 2018, we apologize again for having worried and inconvenienced the fans who have been cheering on NGT48 and also making members feel uneasy.

As explained below, I will explain the circumstances of the past and plans set for the future.

First, in regards to whether members were involved in the incident or not, again, Niigata Police Station arrested two culprits who call themselves fans, if there was an accomplice they would be able to send a message confirming that.  If there was anyone who carried out illegal acts among members of NGT48, they should be treated the same way as the those who were responsible for the incident, but no members were found or referred to Niigata Police at this time.

Therefore, we believe that no member had conducted any illegal acts.

However, in the future, we will continue to investigate by a third-party committee of experts and lawyers to investigate the truth of the case and whether or not inappropriate behavior by a member was done.

In regards to security, we can not specifically indicate what is being done as recommended by the security company, but we do take matters seriously and the fact that this incident has occurred, we deeply reflect on it.  While consulting with the police and the security company, we will further strengthen our security system and keep our members safe and secure.

---