2012/9/7 Michael Studte <izumi@iinet.net.au>:
> Started watching Saba Doru, live action drama with the AKB48 subgroup whose
> name I can never remember... Main character is Watanabe Mayu. So, are AKB48
> and Nogizaka 46 in any way related? This series seems to imply that a person
> from one group can be "traded" to the other...

Both group are under the same parent production house headed by
Akimoto Yasushi, the person behind many idol units such as Onyanko
Club, Shoujo-tai, Suitei Shoujo, etc.

AKB48 and Nogizaka 46 are "official rival" idol groups.

As for trading members with other groups, 2 from AKB48 were
re-assigned to JKT48 based in Jakarta, and another 2 were re-assigned
to SNH48 based in Shanghai.

-- 
'CuSO4' Yung