Akimoto Yasushi and Watanabe Mayu take on the ice bucket challenge

AKB48′s Mayu Watanabe and producer Yasushi Akimoto have taken on the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge, which has become a viral phenomenon on social media recently. The challengers are tasked to dump a bucket of ice water on themselves and upload a proof video on social media within 24hours once they have received the challenge. If they choose to forfeit, they’d have to donate US$100 to the ALS Association. Donations aside, the aim is really to spread awareness about the ALS disease.

Gotensha’s CEO had challenged Akimoto Yasushi to this and he readily took up the challenge on the last day of AKB48’s Tokyo Dome concert. Rino Sashihara and Minami Takahashi dumped the bucket of ice on Akimoto’s head, while members watched from behind and shrieked in delight. Watanabe Mayu also stepped up to represent AKB48, as she dumped ice water on her own head, spoiling the precious bangs that she painstakingly manages.

To move this campaign forward, Akimoto nominated Fuji TV president Chihiro Kameyama, Toyota President Akio Toyoda, comic Tsurube Shofukutei, and New York-based Japanese painter Hiroshi Senju.

Earlier, other Japanese stars like Ayumi Hamasaki had also accepted the challenge.