Atsuko MAEDA

Atsuko Maeda is a Japanese idol, singer, actress, and model. She is a member of the idol group AKB48 and its sister groups SKE48, NMB48, HKT48, and NGT48. She is also a member of the sub-unit Not Yet. Maeda was born in Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture, Japan on March 10, 1991. She began her career as an idol in 2005, when she joined the group AKB48. Maeda has released several solo albums and singles, and has starred in a number of films and television dramas. She is also a popular figure in Japanese pop culture, and is often referred to as "the idol of Japan." Maeda's career has been marked by a number of successes. In 2010, she was named "Idol of the Year" by the Japanese magazine Nikkan Sports. In 2011, she was ranked number one on the Oricon chart of the most popular idols in Japan. Maeda has also won a number of awards for her acting, including the Japan Academy Prize for Best Actress in 2012. Maeda