AKB48, and and all of their sister groups from the 48 family (SKE48, STU48, NMB48, HKT48, and NGT48) have decided to postpone their famed handshake events since February 2020. With the repercussions of COVID-19 not going away anytime soon, their management has decided to adapt and make some temporary changes for the event.

Beginning this month in May, the groups will begin to hold Air handshake events. The groups official SNS profiles will upload videos from a fan’s preservative of attending a handshake event. It will feature a girl doing a handshake, and having a small conversation to the camera. The groups management hopes that this will help recreate the atmosphere of the real thing.

In the past, AKB48 did something similar while promotion their best album “0 to 1 no Aida”. AKB48 will be the first group to roll out their set of air handshakes beginning on May 4th and the 5th. The rest of the groups are as follows:

• SKE48 (May 7th and 8th)
• NMB48 (May 5th and 6th)
• HKT48 (May 9th and 10th)
• NGT48 (May 10th)
• STU48 (May 4th and 5th)