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AKB48 Kenkyuusei

Kenkyuusei (2017)

AKB48 Kenkyuusei (研究生; Research Students), formerly known as AKB48 SEED, are a group of trainees aspiring to debut in AKB48. They fill in for absent members in the theater and are promoted to official members of AKB48 to replace graduated members.

See also: SKE48 Kenkyuusei, NMB48 Kenkyuusei, HKT48 Kenkyuusei, NGT48 Kenkyuusei.

Members

Names of current members are in bold.
1st Generation (2005)
Minegishi was originally a founding member of AKB48 in 2005. She was transferred from Team B to Kenkyuusei in February 2013 following a scandal.
3rd Generation (2006)
Members of AKB48's third generation were set to debut as Team B. The members who left in December 2006 were not official Kenkyuusei, but were Team B candidates who withdrew before their debut. Saotome was originally a member of Team B as well, but was transferred to Kenkyuusei in January 2009.
4th Generation (2007)
Deguchi and Nakanishi would go on to become members of SKE48.
5th Generation (2007)
6th Generation (2008)
7th Generation (2009)
Kikuchi was originally a founding member of Team B, but was dismissed in 2008. She then rejoined the seventh generation Kenkyuusei. Although Suzuki Shihori was promoted in 2009, she announced her graduation and left the group within the same year. She rejoined as an 11th generation Kenkyuusei and properly accepted her promotion.
8th Generation (2009)
Muranaka was originally a fourth generation member. She then rejoined the eighth generation.
9th Generation (2009)
  • Ishiguro Atsuki (石黒貴己, graduated June 20, 2010)
  • Ito Ayaka (伊藤彩夏, graduated January 6, 2010)
  • Oba Mina (大場美奈, promoted to full member status, December 8, 2010)
  • Kinumoto Momoko (絹本桃子, graduated June 20, 2010)
  • Shimazaki Haruka (島崎遥香, promoted to full member status, December 8, 2010)
  • Shimada Haruka (島田晴香, promoted to full member status, December 8, 2010)
  • Takamatsu Eri (高松恵理, graduated June 20, 2010)
  • Takeuchi Miyu (竹内美宥, promoted to full member status, December 8, 2010)
  • Nagao Mariya (永尾まりや, promoted to full member status, December 8, 2010)
  • Nakamura Mariko (中村麻里子, promoted to full member status, December 8, 2010)
  • Fujimoto Sara (藤本紗羅, graduated June 20, 2010)
  • Mori Anna (森杏奈, promoted to full member status, December 8, 2010)
  • Yamauchi Suzuran (山内鈴蘭, promoted to full member status, December 8, 2010)
  • Yokoyama Yui (横山由依, promoted to Team K, October 10, 2010)
Fujimoto was originally a fourth generation member. She then rejoined the ninth generation. The members who were promoted in December 2010 would be placed in Team 4 in June 2011. Until the announcement of Team 4, these members were not placed in other teams after their promotion.
10th Generation (2010)
Nakamata and Ichikawa would be placed in the newly-formed Team 4 in June 2011. Members promoted in June 2012 were only promoted to "full member status". The memberships in their respective teams did not take effect until November 1, 2012.
11th Generation (2010)
Suzuki was originally a 7th generation member and was given the same promotion, but left the group in 2009. After rejoining the 11th generation, her promotion was properly accepted. Members promoted in June 2012 were only promoted to "full member status". The memberships in their respective teams did not take effect until November 1, 2012.
12th Generation (2011)
12.5th Generation (2011)
Eguchi is a virtual CG idol whose facial features are a composite from the facial features of select AKB48 members. Her profile was removed from the AKB48 official website on May 8, 2013.
13th Generation (2011)
14th Generation (2012)
15th Generation (2013)
Iino, Okawa, Tatsuya, and Taniguchi were 15th generation "tentative" members. Okawa and Tatsuya joined on October 28, 2013, whereas Iino and Taniguchi joined on April 14, 2014.
2nd Generation (Draftees) (2015)
16th Generation (2016)
3rd Generation (Draftees) (2018)
17th Generation (2022)
  • Ota Yuki (太田有紀, promoted to regular member, March 17, 2024)
  • Kohama Kokone (小濱心音, promoted to regular member, March 17, 2024)
  • Sato Airi (佐藤綺星, promoted to regular member, March 17, 2024)
  • Hashimoto Eriko (橋本恵理子, promoted to regular member, March 17, 2024)
  • Hasegawa Niina (長谷川新奈, resigned August 28, 2022)
  • Hatakeyama Nozomi (畠山希美, promoted to regular member, March 17, 2024)
  • Hirata Yuki (平田侑希, promoted to regular member, March 17, 2024)
  • Hotei Moka (布袋百椛, promoted to regular member, March 17, 2024)
  • Masai Mayuu (正鋳真優, promoted to regular member, March 17, 2024)
  • Mizushima Miyuu (水島美結, promoted to regular member, March 17, 2024)
  • Yamazaki Sora (山﨑空, promoted to regular member, March 17, 2024)
18th Generation (2023)
19th Generation (2024)

Kenkyuusei Selections

AKB48 became known as Team Kenkyuusei in January 2009. Since then, AKS has held internal auditions to choose kenkyuusei to make up Team Kenkyuusei. The kenkyuusei who did not pass the audition graduated. Members who graduated from Kenkyuusei Selections are encouraged to come back.

First Team Kenkyuusei Audition

  • 4th through 7th generation members participated
  • Ended January, 2009
  • Graduating Members: Suzuki Nae, Fujimoto Sara, Muranaka Satomi, Tomita Mayu, Hatakeyama Arisa

Second Team Kenkyuusei Audition

  • 4th through 8th generation members participated
  • Ended May, 2009
  • No graduating members

Third Team Kenkyuusei Audition

  • 8th and 9th generation members participated
  • Publicly referred to as the "Kenkyuusei Selection"
  • Ended November 30, 2009
  • Graduating members: Asai Madoka, Ishii Ayaka, Ishibe Aya, Kaku Grace, Komizu Nanami, Sakamoto Rio, Sugiyama Miku, Tomite Ami, Miki Nikoru, Muranaka Satomi

Fourth Team Kenkyuusei Audition

  • 8th, 9th and 10th generation members participated
  • Publicly referred to as the "Kenkyuusei Selection"
  • Ended June 12, 2010
  • Graduating members: Ishiguro Atsuki, Kinumoto Momoko, Fujimoto Sara

Fifth Team Kenkyuusei Audition

  • 8th-11th generation kenkyuusei participated
  • Publicly referred to as the "Kenkyuusei Selection"
  • Ended September 30th, 2010
  • Graduating members: Iwasaki Hitomi, Sano Yuriko

Sixth Team Kenkyuusei Audition

  • 12th-13th generation kenkyuusei participated
  • Publicly referred to as "Kenkyuusei Selection"
  • Ended August 5, 2012
  • Graduating Members: Amemiya Maika, Kita Shiori, Hasegawa Haruna, Moriyama Sakura, Watanabe Nene

Discography

Compilations / Other

Units

Trivia

  • Kenkyuusei shows cost ¥2000 for men and ¥1000 for women and students
  • The 8th generation of AKB48 is the only generation to have no representative members in the group

External Links