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NMB48

NMB48 (2022)

NMB48 is a Japanese idol group produced by Akimoto Yasushi. It performs regularly in the NMB48 Theater, previously known as base YOSHIMOTO.

History

2010 - 2011: Theater Debut

NMB48 promoting "Zetsumetsu Kurokami Shoujo" (2011)

To continue his plan for a franchise of idol groups in Japan, Akimoto Yasushi announced that he would start an idol group in Nanba, Osaka. NMB48's name comes from NaMBa, an alternate romanization of Nanba.

Auditions were held in August 2010, and were broadcast on the TV show "Starhime Sagashitarou", which featured members of SKE48. Initially, 26 girls passed but there will still be inter-auditions to pick the 16 girls who will be Team N. The 26 girls were introduced on October 9th, 2010 at AKB48's Aki Matsuri.

On December 4, 2010, NMB48 announced that Team N and its captain will be announced at the shonichi performance of Team N's first stage. The remaining members will remain kenkyuusei.

On January 1, 2011, NMB48 started performances of its first stage. On March 10, 2011 Team N was formed.

In June 2011, it was announced that NMB48 would be making their single debut with "Zetsumetsu Kurokami Shoujo" on July 20, several months after their first original song Seishun no Lap Time was being performed in the theater. After its release, the single broke the record for largest debut first-week sales for a female artist. On June 6, the second generation winners were announced at the end of Team N's performance at TDC Hall. The introduction of the 2nd generation brought the total number of members in NMB48 to their goal number of 48. NMB48 also participated in their first AKB48 Senbatsu Election on the 8th. Yamamoto Sayaka, at #28, was the only member to rank in the election.

In August 2011, photos of 2nd generation member Shimada Rena with a boyfriend surfaced on the internet. Initially, no action was taking regarding the photos, but as more photos surfaced and as other scandals were brought to attention by fans, Shimada was suspended from activities for the rest of 2011 starting in September. At this time, Yoshida Akari and Matsuda Shiori were also suspended due to issues balancing school work with work, and Yoshida, Kondo Rina and Watanabe Miyuki were removed from the preliminary senbatsu for NMB's second single due to undisclosed reasons, and replaced with Yamaguchi Yuuki, Yamagishi Natsumi and Murakami Ayaka.

2012 - 2013: Team M and BII formation

NMB48 promoting "Kitagawa Kenji" (2012)
NMB48 promoting "Bokura no Eureka" (2013)

In Janaury 2012, NMB48 formed their second team, Team M, with 16 members. Shimada Rena was appointed as the team's captain. Team M performed their first stage, "Idol no Yoake," in May. Following AKB48's introduction of the concurrent (兼任; kennin) position, it was also announced that Team N member Watanabe Miyuki would hold a concurrency with AKB48's Team B.

In February 2012, the third generation winners were announced, consisting of 23 members. The group also released their third single, "Junjou U-19," on the 8th.

On May 9, 2012, the group released their fourth single, "Nagiichi." It became the group's best-selling single after its first week of release, selling 375,000 units according on Oricon. It was also the group's first single that did not chart #1 on the weekly charts, which was achieved by ARASHI's single "Face Down."

In August 2012, NMB48 released their fifth single, "Virginity," on the 8th. The single marked the first appearance of the third generation, with members Kato Yuuka and Yabushita Shu also appearing in Senbatsu. On the 24th, during AKB48's Tokyo Dome concert and team shuffle, two member changes were announced for NMB48. AKB48 member Yokoyama Yui would hold a concurrency with NMB48, and Team N member Kotani Riho would hold a concurrency with AKB48 Team A.

In October 2012, NMB48 formed their third team, Team BII, with 16 members. The team primarily consisted of third generation members, with Kamieda Emika being appointed as the team's captain.

On November 7th, 2012, NMB48 released their sixth single, "Kitagawa Kenji (NMB48)," named after the titular staff member. It marked the group's fourth single in 2012 alone, the first appearance of Yokoyama Yui as an NMB48 member, and the first after the formation of Team BII.

In December 2012, the fourth generation winners were announced, consisting of 16 members.

On February 27, 2013, NMB48 released their first album, Teppen Tottande! The album debuted #1 on the Oricon chart, with first-week sales of 328,000 units.

On April 28, 2013, it was announced that Yokoyama Yui and Kotani Riho's concurrencies would be revoked, with both members returning to their native groups. Ichikawa Miori was also given a concurrency with Team N.

On June 19, 2013, NMB48 released their seventh single, "Bokura no Eureka." The single is currently the group's best-selling single on Oricon, with total sales of 558,000 units.

On October 13, 2013, Jo Eriko, originally a second generation member, rejoined NMB48 as a 4.5th generation member, after leaving the group in August 2012. This marked the first instance in a 48 sister Group where a member rejoins after leaving.

On November 10, 2013, NMB48 participated alongside AKB48, SKE48, and HKT48, in the first AKB48 Group Draft Kaigi, where team captains and members could choose from a pool of candidates to join their team. The event's conclusion saw four new members, Suto Ririka (Team N), Takei Sara (Team M), Iso Kanae (Team BII), and Naiki Kokoro (Team BII).

2014 - 2016: AKB48 Group Daisokaku Matsuri

NMB48 promoting "Don't look back!" (2015)
NMB48 promoting "Boku wa Inai" (2016)

In February 2014, NMB48 participated in their first team shuffle, as part of the AKB48 Group Daisokaku Matsuri. For the first time, co-captains were introduced for the three teams. Kashiwagi Yuki (AKB48), Murashige Anna (HKT48), and Takayanagi Akane (SKE48) were also given concurrencies with NMB48, while Yagura Fuuko, Yamamoto Sayaka, Shibuya Nagisa, and Yamada Nana were given concurrencies with AKB48 teams A, K, and 4, and SKE48 Team KII, respectively. Shibuya become the first member in the 48 Group to receive a concurrency upon promotion from kenkyuusei. Kotani Riho's concurrency was also reinstated to Team 4, whereas Watanabe Miyuki's concurrency was transferred to SKE48 Team S. Ichikawa Miori, Umeda Ayaka, and Fujie Reina were transferred to NMB48, whereas Ogasawara Mayu was transferred to AKB48 Team B.

On August 13, 2014, NMB48 released their second album, Sekai no Chuushin wa Osaka ya ~Namba Jichiku~, marking the first release after the new team changes took effect.

On October 15, 2014, Team M member Yamada Nana announced her graduation during the group's fourth anniversary event, which would be held on April 3, 2015. Following the announcement, auditions were announced for a singular member to become her successor. On February 4, 2015, the winner was announced to be Uemura Azusa, who began her activities in Team M after Yamada's graduation.

In January 2015, following the conclusion of AKB48 Request Hour Setlist Best 1035 2015, it was announced that NMB48 and SKE48 would be competing against each other with their next singles, to be released on March 31st. NMB48 released their eleventh single, "Don't look back!" on the day of. It was Yamada Nana's first solo center on a title track, as well as her last appearance in NMB48. The single ranked #2 on the Oricon weekly chart, with first-week sales of 447,000 units.

On March 26, 2015, AKB48 held another team shuffle, resulting in several changes to the concurrencies held by current NMB48 members. Kashiwagi Yuki, Murashige Anna, and Takayanagi Akane's concurrencies with NMB48 were revoked, whereas Yagura Fuuko, Kotani Riho, and Yamada Nana's concurrencies with their second groups were revoked. Shiroma Miru was given a new concurrency with AKB48 Team A. Watanabe Miyuki's concurrency was also transferred back to AKB48 Team B.

On May 10, 2015, NMB48 participated in the second AKB48 Group Draft Kaigi, which saw seven new members: Nishinaka Nanami and Hongo Yuzuha for Team N, Shibata Yui and Hori Shion for Team M, and Ando Erina, Muranaka Yuki, and Yasuda Momone for Team BII.

On October 7, 2015, NMB48 released their thirteenth single, "Must be now." The single marked the group's smallest Senbatsu, with nine members, along with being the first Senbatsu without Team M members.

In February 2016, auditions were announced for NMB48's fifth generation, which would be the first new generation in over three years. The 10 winners were announced on June 28th; among the winners were Jonishi Kei's sister, Jonishi Rei, and Yamada Nana's sister, Yamada Suzu.

On April 13, 2016, Team BII member Watanabe Miyuki announced her graduation from the group. Her last performance with AKB48 was held on August 8th, whereas her graduation concert for NMB48 was held on August 9th. The group's fifteenth single, "Boku wa Inai," marked her last appearance in NMB48.

On October 18, 2016, NMB48 held their first team shuffle, independent from its sister groups. The team shuffle saw one of the fastest promotions in 48 Group history, from fifth generation member Yamamoto Ayaka. In addition, the remaining kenkyuusei members were bound to one of the three teams, in a similar process to the AKB48 Group Draft Kaigi. The shuffle took effect on January 1, 2017; however, NMB48's sixteenth single, "Boku Igai no Dareka," was released with the new teams in effect.

2017 - 2018: First team shuffle

NMB48 promoting "Warota People" (2017)
NMB48 promoting "Boku Datte Naichau yo" (2018)

In April 2017, a trio of graduations concerts were held for Jonishi Kei, Yabushita Shu, and Fujie Reina, after Jonishi and Yabushita's announcements in 2016 and Fujie's announcement in January.

On June 17, 2017, during the year's AKB48 Senbatsu Election, Team N member Suto Ririka announced her marriage after ranking 20th. Due to the nature of Japanese idol laws and the entertainment industry, this was often considered a controversial decision. Although Suto was allowed to remain in NMB48, she announced her graduation from the group a few days later, with her graduation ceremony held on August 30th.

On August 2, 2017, NMB48 released their third album, Namba Ai ~Ima, Omou Koto~.

On October 11, 2017, leading Team BII member Yagura Fuuko announced her graduation from the group, which was held on April 4, 2018.

On December 27, 2017, NMB48 released their seventeenth single, "Warota People," one year after the group's previous single. The single marked Shiroma Miru's first solo center on a title track. The Type-D exclusive track "Which one," performed by Shibuya Nagisa, Yoshida Akari, Uemura Azusa, Ota Yuuri, and Murase Sae, was also met with critical praise. The five members formed NMB48's first unit, Queentet, shortly after the single's release.

In January 2018, Team N member Ichikawa Miori announced her graduation from the group on the 19th. She became the second member in the 48 Group (after AKB48's Kojima Haruna) to receive two graduation concerts, which were held on April 3rd at Namba and April 16th at Saitama. NMB48 also participated in the third AKB48 Group Draft Kaigi on the 21st, which saw the largest addition of new members since the group's fourth generation. A total of five Team N, six Team M, and five Team BII draftees were introduced.

In April 2018, it was announced that NMB48 would hold auditions for the group's sixth generation. The 14 winners were announced on June 28th.

In June 2018, Team N members Umeyama Cocona and Naiki Kokoro, Team M members Kato Yuuka and Shiroma Miru, and Team BII members Uemura Azusa and Murase Sae participated in the South Korean survival show Produce 48. Umeyama and Uemura withdrew before the first elimination round. Naiki and Kato were eliminated in the first elimination round, after ranking #87 and #74, respectively. Murase was eliminated in the third elimination round, after ranking #22. Shiroma was eliminated in the final elimination round, after ranking #20.

On July 30, 2018, leading member and Team N captain Yamamoto Sayaka announced her graduation from the group, which was held on November 4, 2018. The group's nineteenth single, "Boku Datte Naichau yo," marked her last appearance in NMB48. A total of 18 members represented Senbatsu, but all (71) promoted and kenkyuusei members at the time of release were featured in the music video.

On December 3, 2018, it was announced that Team BII member Uemura Azusa would withdraw from the group, to pursue a career as a YouTuber.

2019 - 2020: Second team shuffle

NMB48 promoting "Tokonoma Seiza Musume" (2019)
NMB48 promoting "Datte Datte Datte" (2020)

On January 1, 2019, NMB48 held their second independent team shuffle. Kawakami Chihiro, Shibuya Nagisa, and Kojima Karin were appointed as the new team captains of Team N, M, and BII, respectively, while Ishida Yuumi, Ijiri Anna, and Yamada Suzu were appointed as co-captains. The team shuffle also saw three promotions: Kawano Nanaho to Team N, and Shiotsuki Keito and Yamamoto Mikana to Team BII. The group's twentieth single, "Tokonoma Seiza Musume," marked the first release with the new teams in effect. The single also saw the first coupling track of Queentet, after their name announcement in 2018.

On August 14, 2019, NMB48 released their twenty-first single, "Bokou e Kaere!" The single saw the debut of NMB48's new dance sub-unit, Danceable!, consisting of Team N's Ishida Yuumi, Kawakami Chihiro, and Kawano Nanaho, and Team BII's Azuma Yuki, Kato Yuuka and Kojima Karin.

On September 4, 2019, leading Team N member Ota Yuuri announced her graduation from the group, which was held on November 30, 2019. The group's twenty-second single, "Hatsukoi Shijou Shugi," marked her last appearance in NMB48. With Ota's graduation, the year 2019 saw the largest number of graduations from NMB48, with fourteen team members and two kenkyuusei members leaving the group.

On January 1, 2020, auditions were announced for NMB48's seventh generation. The 11 winners were announced on September 12th.

In March 2020, it was announced that NMB48 would release their twenty-third single, "Datte Datte Datte," on May 13th. Due to circumstances surrounding the COVID-19 outbreak, the single was postponed to August 19th.

On August 16, 2020, founding member Yoshida Akari announced her graduation from the group. which was held on December 21st. The group's twenty-fourth single, "Koi Nanka No thank you!" marked her last appearance in NMB48.

In October 2020, leading Team N member Murase Sae announced her graduation from the group, with her graduation concert held on December 14th and official graduation date of December 23rd. NMB48 also held a series of concerts, including their tenth anniversary concert on the 23rd, and a Next Gen concert and Yoshida Akari's graduation concert on the 24th. The tenth anniversary concert featured all active NMB48 members, including former first, second, and third generation members.

2021: Dissolution of teams

NMB48 promoting "Shidare Yanagi" (2021)

On January 1, 2021, it was announced that the teams would be dissolved on January 21st, with the beginning of a new event, NAMBATTLE. All team members remained as promoted "official" members, whereas kenkyuusei members would remain as such. NAMBATTLE saw all NMB48 members (except for Azuma Yuki, Sakamoto Nami, and Yamamoto Ayaka due to graduation announcements, and Miyake Yuria due to hiatus) grouped into six units of eight, where they would compete against each other in theater performances, live streaming, and fan voting, to revitalize the group's image.

The final concert for NAMBATTLE was held on March 2nd, in which Kyun mart, consisting of Kato Yuuka, Kojima Karin, Satsuki Aika, Shiotsuki Keito, Shibuya Nagisa, Sumino Wakana, Hara Karen, and Hongo Yuzuha, emerged the victor. Following the event's conclusion, founding member Shiroma Miru announced her graduation from the group, making her the last first generation member to leave NMB48.

In March 2021, photos of sixth generation member Yokono Sumire with members from the entertainment agency Johnny & Associates surfaced on the internet. Since these rumors, Yokono temporarily halted activities within the group. On May 23rd, Yokono requested to withdraw from NMB48.

On June 16, 2021, NMB48 released their twenty-fifth single, "Shidare Yanagi." This marked Shiroma Miru's last appearance in NMB48, as well as the first single following the teams' dissolution.

On August 14, 2021, NMB48 held their concert, "NMB48 LIVE 2021 in Shoka ~Hatsunatsu! Hatsuratsu!~," at Osaka-jo Hall. The group announced that a new member, Lee Siyeon, would join NMB48 as a 7.5th generation member. She is the first Korean member after SDN48's Siyeon to join a 48 Group. 7th generation kenkyuusei Hirayama Mai and Manabe Anju were also promoted to official members. After the concert, auditions were annouced for NMB48's eighth generation.

On November 3, 2021, NMB48 held their 11th anniversary concert. It was announced that the group would release their 26th single in spring 2022.

2022 - present: Team reformation

On January 1, 2022, it was announced that in February 2022, Team N and Team M would be reformed among the official members, while Team BII would be reformed among the kenkyuusei members without being promoted. A total of 14 winners were also announced for the group's eighth generation.

The group's 26th single, "Koi to Ai no Sono Aida ni wa," was released on February 23rd, and their 27th single, "Suki da Mushi", was released on September 21st. On November 3rd, it was announced that the group had been transferred from laugh out loud! records, where they had been since 2011, to Universal Music's Universal Sigma label.

On March 8, 2023, the group released their fourth album, NMB13.

Members

Current Team Members

Team N (2023)
Team M (2023)
Team BII (2023)
9th Generation Kenkyuusei (2022)

Names that are italicized denote that the member has announced their graduation.

Team N

Team M

Team BII

Kenkyuusei

9th Generation

Former Members

Official Members

Kenkyuusei

Soloists

Units

Events

NAMBATTLE

AKB48 Senbatsu Elections

AKB48 Senbatsu Janken Taikai

Discography

Albums

Stage Albums

Singles

Digital Singles

Video Releases

Concerts / Live
Music Video Collection
Documentary
Stage Video Releases

Compilations / Other

Stages

Team N

Team M

  • [2012.05.05-2014.04.17] Team M 1st Stage "Idol no Yoake" (チームM 1st Stage「アイドルの夜明け」)
  • [2014.05.02- ] Team M 2nd Stage "RESET" (チームM 2nd Stage「RESET」)

Team BII

  • [2012.10.10-2013.10.17] Team BII 1st Stage "Aitakatta" (チームBII 1st Stage 「会いたかった」)
  • [2013.11.01-2014.04.15] Team BII 2nd Stage "Tadaima Ren'aichuu" (チームBII 2nd Stage 「ただいま 恋愛中」)
  • [2014.04.22- ] Team BII 3rd Stage "Saka Agari" (チームBII 3rd Stage 「逆上がり」)

Kenkyuusei

Works

TV / Cinema

Movies
  • [2014] NMB48 Geinin! THE MOVIE Returns Sotsugyo! Owarai Seishun Girls! (NMB48 げいにん! THE MOVIE リターンズ 卒業! お笑い青春ガールズ!)

AKB48 Group

Japanese
Overseas

External Links

Expired