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Entertainment115 words1 min read

Mystery "Aoba-zaka46" Ad Surprises Fans in Japan

man in purple long sleeve shirt beside woman in blue and yellow floral dress
Photo by EMMANUEL TABUKO on Unsplash
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Listen to the story

A new TV commercial is surprising people in Japan.

The commercial shows a group called "Aoba-zaka46."

In the commercial, girls say the word "Aoba-zaka?"

Nobody knows what this group is.

Many fans are talking about it online.

The name sounds like other famous idol groups.

Those groups have names ending in "zaka46."

Some fans think this is a new idol group.

Other fans think it is a mix of three groups.

They call this a collaboration group.

People are making many guesses online.

The commercial does not explain everything.

It is a mystery for now.

Something will happen on August 18.

It will happen at 21:00 at night.

Fans are waiting to learn the truth.

Vocabulary8 words

commercial
a short ad on TV
collaboration
when groups work together
guesses
ideas about something you do not know
mystery
something nobody understands yet
idol group
a group of singers, popular in Japan
fans
people who like something very much
reveal
to show something secret
online
on the internet

Quiz

1. What is surprising fans in Japan?
2. What do the girls say in the commercial?
3. When will something happen, according to the commercial?

Fill-in-the-blank listening

Play the audio again and fill in the missing words as you listen.

A new TV _____ is surprising people in Japan.

The commercial shows a group called "Aoba-zaka46."

In the commercial, girls say the word "Aoba-zaka?"

Nobody knows what this _____ is.

Many fans are talking about it _____.

The name sounds like other famous idol groups.

Those groups have names ending in "zaka46."

Some fans think this is a new idol _____.

Other fans think it is a mix of three groups.

They call this a _____ group.

It is a _____ for now.

Something will happen on _____ 18.

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