All-female idol group AKB48 will not hold an annual popularity contest this year which has drawn huge crowds over the past 10 years, its management agency AKS said Wednesday.Having held the so-called General Election since 2009 for fans to pick winners to appear in a new single, the group "has come to a significant stage to open up a new chapter," the agency said in its news release.The annual event has been popular among devoted fans and is viewed as a money-making opportunity for municipalities that host the event.AKB48 has several sister groups in locations across Japan in addition to ov…READ FULL ARTICLE
