The Japanese idol industry is no stranger to innovation. From hologram concerts to digital fan engagement, groups like AKB48 have constantly pushed the boundaries of what it means to be a pop sensation.
But in 2025, the group’s latest experiment has sparked debates that go far beyond music charts an AI written J-pop song.
The release of the much anticipated AKB48 AI song, officially titled Omoide Scroll Memory Scroll, has raised questions about artistry, authenticity, and the role of technology in Japan’s most beloved music genre.
For the first time, an idol group’s signature lyrics traditionally penned by legendary producer Yasushi Akimoto were partially written by artificial intelligence.
In this article
- Why the AKB48 AI song is one of the most groundbreaking and controversial releases in J-pop history.
- How AI songwriting is shaping music production in Japan and worldwide.
- The future implications for artists, fans, and the global music industry if AI continues to compete with human songwriters.
The Rise of the AKB48 AI Song
When news first broke that AKB48 would release a new single in 2025 written with AI, fans and critics alike were stunned.
The group has always been associated with Akimoto’s lyrical style heartfelt stories about youth, dreams, and fleeting emotions.
The track, officially named Omoide Scroll Memory Scroll, was a collaboration between Akimoto and a machine learning system trained on decades of AKB48 lyrics.
The result was an AI generated J-pop song that both mimicked the group’s style and introduced unpredictable twists in tone and imagery.
The AI wrote multiple lyric drafts, and the producers selected lines that blended best with Akimoto’s vision. This collaborative approach was marketed as an AI vs human songwriting competition.
The AKB48 New Single 2025 Memory Scroll
The single’s concept is built around the idea of memories stored in digital archives a poetic reflection on how today’s generation records everything on phones, clouds, and social media.
The AI suggested metaphors like scrolling through yesterday and memories cached in the heart, phrases that sound eerily digital yet emotional.
Akimoto reshaped these lines into a narrative about young love and nostalgia. Fans immediately nicknamed it the Omoide Scroll AI track, acknowledging its hybrid origins.
On Japanese forums, some fans admitted they felt strangely moved by the machine generated lyrics, while others worried AKB48 might lose its human touch if AI continued to play a bigger role.
A major talking point has been Yasushi Akimoto vs AI. Known for his poetic ability to capture adolescence, Akimoto has been the lyrical backbone of AKB48 since its inception.
Supporters argue Akimoto’s influence ensures the music remains authentic. Critics suggest AI’s involvement undermines his role and could one day replace him.
In a press interview, Akimoto admitted the AI sometimes produced metaphors he never would have considered.
One striking example was a line comparing love to a disappearing notification a metaphor deeply rooted in digital life. Akimoto called it a perspective only a machine could see.
This opens an important debate: Is AI enhancing creativity, or is it erasing the human soul of music?
Japanese Girl Band Meets AI Songwriting
Japan’s idol culture thrives on intimacy between fans and artists. Fans don’t just consume the music they feel part of the journey. That’s why the idea of a Japanese girl band AI song strikes such a chord.
Imagine a future AKB48 handshake event where fans vote not only on setlists but also on AI generated lyric drafts. The emotional connection could shift from artist to fan to fan to algorithm.
This new layer of interaction could deepen fan engagement or alienate those who believe idols must remain human storytellers.
The AKB48 new release AI vs human isn’t just an isolated experiment it’s part of a growing wave of AI songwriting in Japan.
Sony Music has experimented with AI generated background tracks for anime themes. Independent artists in Tokyo have begun uploading fully AI written songs to streaming platforms.
Global stars like BTS and Coldplay have also toyed with AI composition, showing this isn’t just a Japanese trend.
According to a 2025 report by the Japan Music Association, 12% of new indie songs in Japan used AI assistance in lyric writing or composition.
The AKB48 AI Music Competition
To promote Omoide Scroll, AKB48 hosted an online AI music competition. Fans were invited to submit their own AI generated AKB48 style songs, with winners chosen by both AI and human judges.
One winning entry included lyrics about cherry blossoms blooming in the cloud, mixing traditional Japanese imagery with modern tech slang.
The track went viral on TikTok Japan, showing how AI generated lyrics resonate with younger digital native fans. This competition not only engaged fans but also normalized the idea of AI as part of the creative process.
If you’re a musician, songwriter, or even a YouTube creator, the lessons from the AKB48 AI song experiment can apply to your work, Experiment with Co-Creation, Use AI for first drafts, but refine with your personal style.
Test Audience Reactions, Share AI vs human versions of lyrics and measure fan engagement. Incorporate AI generated metaphors or phrases rooted in modern digital life.
Balance Authenticity, Never let AI overshadow your human narrative use it as a tool, not a replacement. Stay Ahead of the Curve, Early adopters of AI tools in music will likely benefit from novelty and viral attention.
Why the AKB48 AI Song Matters
The AKB48 AI song represents more than a new single. It symbolizes a cultural shift in how we define music, creativity, and identity.
It challenges their idea of what makes music authentic. It redefines collaboration not just with humans, but with machines It points toward a future where AI isn’t just a tool but a cocreator.
AI will not replace songwriters, it will replace the way we think about songwriting. The AKB48 experiment is proof that music in the 21st century is a dialogue between humanity and technology.
Dr. Haruto Saito, Tokyo University of the Arts, Looking ahead, AI in J-pop could expand in fascinating directions, Virtual idols performing AI written songs.
Personalized singles where fans receive lyrics customized to their names or life events. AI human duets where machines generate harmonies or even voices.
For AKB48, the release of Memory Scroll may be remembered as the turning point where AI songwriting in Japan became mainstream.
The AKB48 AI song isn’t just a new single it’s a cultural experiment testing the limits of creativity, authenticity, and technology in music.
Omoide Scroll shows how human artistry and AI innovation can coexist, but it also forces us to ask Do we value the emotion of the lyric, or the human behind it?
The AKB48 new single 2025 blends human and AI creativity in groundbreaking ways. The project highlights both opportunities global reach, fan engagement and risks loss of authenticity.
AI songwriting is not a threat it’s a new frontier that artists can embrace to stay relevant. As AI becomes a regular collaborator, the future of J-pop will depend on how groups like AKB48 balance technology with humanity.
Call to Action: What do you think? Should AI write idol songs, or should music remain fully human? Share your thoughts in the comments, and follow us for more deep dives into the future of music.