The AKB48 Theater in Tokyo's Akihabara district, the base for all-girl chorus and dance troupe AKB48, on Wednesday welcomed its millionth visitor since opening on Dec. 8, 2005.

Its beginnings were underwhelming: There were only seven people in the audience during the group's first performance at the 250-seat theater.

Yui Yokoyama, 22, one of the leading members of AKB48, thanked fans for their support.

"We will join forces to achieve 2 million and 3 million visitors from now on," she said.

The millionth visitor to the theater was a 19-year-old university student from Osaka Prefecture.