generasia:Featured article for 2023 week 51
HKT48
HKT48 is a Japanese idol group produced by Akimoto Yasushi. It is a Fukuoka-based sister group to AKB48 and performs daily in their own theater. As of 2020, the group performs at City Bank HKT48 Theater in Fukuoka and has sold nearly 4 million copies of CDs in Japan. Two out of their 15 singles and both albums have reached the top spot on the weekly Oricon charts.
Plans for the group were first revealed by AKB48 producer Yasushi Akimoto on November 19, 2008. HKT48 was officially announced on May 1, 2011, at an AKB48 handshake event. The group was the fourth AKB48 sister group to be launched, after the groups SKE48, SDN48, and NMB48. While the group took its name from its proposed base location of Hakata-ku, Fukuoka, HKT48 was eventually based at a theater in the Hawks Town Mall in neighboring Chuo-ku, Fukuoka until its closure in 2016 when they moved to a temporary theater in Nishitetsu Hall.
The group's 21 first generation members debuted at HKT48 Theater on November 26, 2011. On December 31st, 16 members appeared on the stage of the 62nd edition of "NHK Kohaku Uta Gassen", as one of the sister groups of AKB48. HKT48 released their debut single, "Suki! Suki! Skip!", on March 20, 2013, under the Universal Sigma record label.
In mid-2018, 10 members of HKT48 joined Produce 48, a South Korean competition television show on Mnet to form a girl group. Members Miyawaki Sakura and Yabuki Nako finished in 2nd and 6th placed respectively, both earning themselves a spot to debut in IZ*ONE. After promoting with the group for two and a half years, both girls returned HKT48. Miyawaki Sakura graduated from HKT48 on June 27, 2021 and went on to be a member of the Korean pop girl group LE SSERAFIM. Yabuki Nako also later graduated from the group on April 1, 2023 and has since continued her career as an actress.
Their 17th single, "Bucket wo Kabure!", is released this week on December 20th.
