Nighthawk@ngt141
People are too quick to blackpill every time someone mentions the possibility of a new great era for AKB48
A lot of people, especially non-Indonesian in the fandom, may not know this. But within the 48 Group, there is a very real example of a group that fell to the brink of collapse, and then rose again to the national stage
Let me remind you of a concrete example of a 2nd Golden Era, that is the rebirth of JKT48
Around 2018 to 2021, JKT48 was on the brink of collapse, especially when COVID hit
We saw it unfold in real time. Mass graduations. Low morale across the fandom. It genuinely felt like the end was near. They tried everything to gain new fans and even retain old ones, traveling across cities to meet fans. But the reception was low. Even the venues were often far from full in those tours
Until, around late 2021-2022, there's a lot of reform in the group and in the fandom. But in my opinion, the biggest catalyst was memes and TikTok
Fans on Facebook and TikTok, where a lot of normies and the general public are, started editing photos and videos in comedic ways that resonated with viewers
One viral video I remember used "RIVER" over a flood clip, turning a tragic moment into comedy. Sometimes people cope through humor, and those jokes connected with the wider public
Another moment was the widespread Freya memes during Ramadhan. They attracted young people who became curious about her, and eventually about the group itself. The memes were relatable, and that relatability opened the door
and personally, I think another major turning point was the release of "Rapsodi". The general public reception was incredible. So many normies heard it, and many genuinely loved it
There's an insane influx of new fans during that era, bigger that anyone would expected. I would even argue that the 2023 era of JKT48 was bigger than they had ever been before. For most of their history, JKT48 was a niche fandom. People knew the name, but that was it
I witnessed it myself during their annual tour stop in Yogyakarta at Sleman City Hall, the venue used to be only half full. But at the peak of their rebirth, it was completely packed. Even the upper floors were full. People were curious about this group that had existed for almost 10 years stopping by their city
At that moment, I realize that we've reached a new turning point. A turning point that we've really wished for since like 2017
Now, the general public has, more or less, embraced both the group and its fandom, relative to the previous era
So the lesson is simple
Anything can happen
Stop blackpilling
Stop doomerposting
Manifest the rebirth that you wish to see
