Vernalossom Explained

, formerly, 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

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.

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.

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,,^[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 1 April 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.

Artists

Current artists (under the Superball)

Units

• MNL48 (2011 - present) (based in Manila, Philippines, with P.O.S inc.)
• BNK48 (2017 - present) (based in Bangkok, Thailand, with Independent Artist Management (iAM))
• JKT48 (2018 - present) (based in Jakarta, Indonesia, with PT Indonesia Musik Nusantara (part of IDN))
• TSH48 (2018 - present) (previously AKB48 Team SH, based in Shanghai, China, with Shanghai Sengyu Culture Development (AKB48 China))
• TPE48 (2018 - present) (based in Taipei, Taiwan, with Good Luck)
• CGM48 (2019 - present) (based in Chiang Mai, Thailand, with Independent Artist Management (iAM))
• QUADLIPS (2024 - present) (based in Bangkok, Thailand)
• KLP48 (2024 - present) (based in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, with 48 Entertainment Sdn. Bhd.)

Talents

• Kokoa Kai (STU48's 1st Generation member)

Former artists

Pre-Superball (until 2023)

• 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 in Japan and SOURCE MUSIC in South Korea (with LE SSERAFIM))
• Hitomi Honda (Transfer to DH, Co. Ltd. in Japan, now under iNKODE in South Korea)
• DEL48 (2019–2020)
• SGO48 (2018–2021)
• Nako Yabuki (Transfer to Twin Planet in Japan)

Superball Era (since 2023)

• SHEKI (former JKT48's 1st Generation member)
• Shania Gracia (former MNL48's 3rd Generation Member)

Notes and References

1. Web site: お知らせ. 1 November 2011. AKB48 TOKYO DOME までの軌跡. 2015-05-01. ja.
2. Web site: AKS、NMB48事業をKYORAKU吉本に譲渡. 2021-12-03. ORICON NEWS.
3. Web site: 会社情報. 2015-05-01. HKT48. ja.
4. News: 【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. 9 March 2012. 2015-05-01. ja.
5. Web site: アイドルグループ「SKE48」を買収したKeyHolderってどんな会社. 2021-02-03. M＆A Online. 23 November 2018 .
6. Notice of Change of Trade Name of Consolidated Subsidiary. 2019-06-06. JASDAQ. ja. 30 November 2021. 29 December 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20221229115811/http://www.keyholder.co.jp/dl/20190606_Change%20of%20subsidiary%20company%20name.pdf?s.5cf89fdc2346579jn4l3. dead.
7. Notice Concerning Partial Transfer of Subsidiary Shares. ja. JASDAQ. 2 December 2021. 18 January 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230118171026/http://www.keyholder.co.jp/dl/20181227_jyouto.pdf?s.5c245eb168db41lg0gj6. dead.
8. News: 指原莉乃、ＮＧＴ山口問題現状語る 秋元Ｐに相談も . ja . . 2019-05-06 . 2019-05-21.
9. News: April 1, 2020. AKS becomes Vernalossom, AKB48, HKT48 and NGT48 new operating companies announced. Neo-Tokyo 2099. February 3, 2021.
10. Web site: 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. 2021-02-03. 東スポＷeb – 東京スポーツ新聞社. 2 April 2020 . ja.
11. Web site: ＡＫＳ、ＨＫＴ運営をＭｅｒｃｕｒｙに事業譲渡 - ＡＫＢ４８ : 日刊スポーツ. 2021-02-03. nikkansports.com. ja.
12. Web site: 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. 2021-02-03. 東スポＷeb – 東京スポーツ新聞社. April 2020 . ja.
13. Web site: 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. 2021-12-02. SEPTENI HOLDINGS CO.,LTD.. 27 May 2020 . en.
14. Web site: 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〜. 2021-12-01. 株式会社Sproot. ja. 31 March 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220331061452/https://sproot.co.jp/news/20200527/. dead.
15. Basic Agreement for the Acquisition of All Shares of North River Co.. JASDAQ. 2020-05-14. ja. 30 November 2021. 17 May 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220517181301/https://www.keyholder.co.jp/dl/20200514_Basic%20agreement.pdf?s.5ebd0cc23c431a1k22k4. dead.