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AKB48

From generasia

AKB48 (short for Akihabara48) is an idol girl group produced by Akimoto Yasushi. The group has their own theater in Akihabara (a district in Tokyo) where they perform once every weekday, and twice on both Saturday and Sunday. Tickets are 3000yen for men, and 2000yen for women and children.

History

In July 2005, Akimoto Yasushi held an audition for a new theater based idol girl group. Of the 7,924 girls that applied, 45 passed the first round of auditions. Finally, only 24 girls were chosen to be in the group. In December 2005, the group debuted in the theater with only 20 girls, later known as Team A. In January 2006 Shinoda Mariko joined the group to become the newest member of Team A to date. Usami Yuki of Team A was the first girl to graduated during March 2006.

In December 2005 a new audition was announced, this audition was held in cooperation with Japanese telecom company NTT DoCoMo. It was the first audition ever where the applicants had to send in their audition video with their mobile phones. 19 of the 11,892 applicants were chosen to join AKB48, but in the end only 18 girls joined the group to become Team K in April 2006. However in June 2006 Uemura Ayako withdrew from the group.

In October 2006, a new audition was announced to form Team B, resulting in the arrival of 18 new members in December 2006.

AKB48 released its debut single Sakura no Hanabiratachi in February 2006, which made it to #10 on Oricon charts and sold 22,011 units in its first week - surprising for a group on an indies label. In August 2006 they signed a major label contract with DefSTAR Records, a part of Sony Music Entertainment. Their first single under DefSTAR Records, Aitakatta, was released on October 25, 2006 and got to #12 on Oricon.

In December of 2006, the first change was made to the three teams; taking members Urano Kazumi, Watanabe Shiho and Hirajima Natsumi from Team A to Team B. Orii Ayumi graduated from the group shortly after this, though appeared in the unit Crayon Friends from AKB48 after her graduation.

On January 31st, 2007, AKB48's fourth single (second under DefSTAR Records) Seifuku ga Jama wo Suru was released; reaching #7 on Oricon charts. There has been speculation that the PV and lyrics to this song are an allusion to enjo kosai - volountary underage prostitution - though this has not been confirmed. Their next single, Keibetsu Shiteita Aijou, featured a theme of bullying throughout the lyrics and PV.

In April 2007, Team B were added to AKB48's official website; albeit with five fewer members than had originally been announced. This brought the group's numbers down from 53 to 48 - the first time since its creation that the member total reflected the group's name.

Members Imai Yu, Hoshino Michiru and Takada Ayana graduated at roughly the same time during June 2007. However, Takada was the only one of these to appear in the PV to the group's sixth single BINGO!, which was released on July 18th, 2007.

In February 2008, they re-released their first single titled Sakura no Hanabiratachi 2008 which would turn out to be their last under the DefSTAR Records label. A spring concert was initially announced and if you were to buy a copy of Sakura no Hanabiratachi 2008 at the theater, you would be given a random poster featuring one of the girls. If you collected all of the 44 (at the time) girl posters, you'd be entered in a lottery to win tickets for their spring concert. The concert was later canceled due to violating an anti-monopoly law, stating that it would cost a person a lot of money to achieve this goal.

In August 2008, Kikuchi Ayaka was fired after pictures of her with a boy surfaced but fans requested a second chance for her. In the end, she was transfer to kenkyusei.

On October 2008, the group signed with KING RECORDS under the You, Be Cool! label, and released their 10th single titled Oogoe Diamond featuring solely Matsui Jurina of the just newly formed SKE48 on the CD cover. In that same month at the final performance of A4 Revival, original members Ohe Tomomi, Komatani Hitomi, Tojima Hana, Nakanishi Rina and Narita Risa announced their graduation with it taking place at NHK Shuffle Concert on 2008-11-23.

In August 22-23, 2009, AKB48 and SKE48 performed the concert at Nihon Budokan. Immediately at the end of the concert a new formation of AKB48 was announced shuffling members from all teams which was suppose to be effective in January 2010--- but was ultimately pushed backed. Also announced were captains for each team, something that wasn't established throughout the group until now. 4 of the older AKB48 members, Ohori Megumi, Noro Kayo, Urano Kazumi, and Sato Yukari were placed in the newly announced all adult show (with no one under 20 can attend) group called SDN48, with no official graduations taking place whatsoever.

In October 21, 2009, AKB48 released single RIVER which became the first AKB48 single to be No 1 Oricon weekly chart and also the second best selling female single of 2009. AKB48 was a guest for Music Station Superlive on December 25, 2009 and performed RIVER with all members of AKB48 in the show.

In December 31, 2009, AKB48 performed RIVER-Surprise special remix in the 60th NHK Kouhaku uta gassen. 72 members (all AKB48,Kenkyusei and 3 SKE48 members)) were in the performance.

"Majisuka Gakuen" (Majisuka Academy) is the drama featuring several members of AKB48, SKE48 and SDN48 started airing from January 8th, 2010 on TV Tokyo replacing the former time slot of Mendol ~Ikemen Idol~ (featuring 3 Team A Members).

On March 3, 2010, a full 5 months after they announced that all the teams were to be reshuffled, the first new formation of AKB48's Team K premiered with their new stage titled "RESET."

On December 8, 2010, AKB48 celebrated its 5th anniversary in the theater with a special performance by all members, as well as returning graduates. All 9th generation kenkyuusei were also promoted.

Members

Names in Bold are Team Captains.

Team A

Team A as of March 2010

Team K

Team K as of March 2010

Team B

Team B as of March 2010

AKB48 Kenkyuusei (Formerly AKB48 SEED)

Research students as of March 2010

9th Generation

  • Oba Mina
  • Shimazaki Haruka
  • Shimada Haruka
  • Takeuchi Miyu
  • Nagao Mariya
  • Nakamura Mariko
  • Mori Anna
  • Yamauchi Suzuran

10th Generation

  • Abe Maria
  • Izuta Rina
  • Ichikawa Miori
  • Iriyama Anna
  • Kato Rena
  • Kanazawa Yuuki
  • Kobayashi Marina
  • Nakamata Shiori
  • Fujita Nana

11th Generation

  • Ushikubo Sara
  • Kawaei Rina
  • Kojima Natsuki
  • Suzuki Shihori
  • Tanari Wakana
  • Morikawa Ayaka
  • Yamaguchi Nau

Former Members

Official Members

Research Students

  • Watanabe Marie (Fired November 2007)
  • Deguchi Aki (Graduated November 2007, Joined SKE48)
  • Nakanishi Yuuka (Joined SKE48 September 2008)
  • Katano Yurie (Withdrew September 2008)
  • Arima Yuka (Graduated January 19, 2009)
  • Hatayama Arisa (Graduated January 19, 2009)
  • Muranaka Satomi (Graduated January 19, 2009)
  • Suzuki Nae (Graduated January 19, 2009)
  • Tomita Mayu (Graduated January 19, 2009)
  • Uriya Akane (Graduated April 26, 2009)
  • Suzuki Shihori (Graduated September 30, 2009)
  • Imai Yurie (Graduated February 1, 2010)
  • Ishiguro Atsuki (Graduated June 20th, 2010)
  • Kinumoto Momoko (Graduated June 20th, 2010)
  • Fujimoto Sara (Graduated June 20th, 2010)
  • Takamatsu Eri (Withdrew June 20th, 2010)
  • Ueki Asaka (Withdrew July 6th, 2010)
  • Sano Yuriko (Graduated September 30, 2010)
  • Iwasaki Hitomi (Graduated September 30, 2010)

Units

Former Units

Baragumi and Yurigumi

On November 4th, 2006, it was announced that the members of Akihabara48 would be rearranged into two groups: Baragumi ('rose group') and Yurigumi ('lily group'). No more official announcements have been made on this matter since then, and it is widely believed that this idea has been scrapped.

The two groups are as follows (☆ denotes a girl who has changed teams or graduated since the announcement was made):

  • Baragumi
Team A: Hirajima Natsumi☆, Kojima Haruna, Komatani Hitomi☆, Masuyama Kayano☆, Minegishi Minami, Oshima Mai☆, Takahashi Minami, Urano Kazumi☆, Watanabe Shiho☆.
Team K: Akimoto Sayaka, Imai Yu☆, Kasai Tomomi, Kobayashi Kana, Matsubara Natsumi, Noro Kayo☆, Ohori Megumi☆, Ono Erena.
  • Yurigumi
Team A: Hoshino Michiru☆, Itano Tomomi, Kawasaki Nozomi☆, Maeda Atsuko, Nakanishi Rina☆, Narita Risa☆, Ohe Tomomi☆, Sato Yukari☆, Shinoda Mariko, Tojima Hana☆.
Team K: Hayano Kaoru☆, Masuda Yuka, Miyazawa Sae, Oku Manami, Oshima Yuko, Sato Natsuki, Takada Ayana☆, Umeda Ayaka.

Discography

Stage Albums

Albums

Singles

Download Exclusive

Stages

Team A

  • [2005.12.08 - 2006.03.31] Team A 1st Stage "PARTY ga Hajimaru yo" (チームA 1st Stage「PARTYが始まるよ」)
  • [2006.04.15 - 2006.08.11] Team A 2nd Stage "Aitakatta" (チームA 2nd Stage「会いたかった」)
  • [2006.08.20 - 2007.01.25] Team A 3rd Stage "Dareka no Tame ni" (チームA 3rd Stage「誰かのために」)
  • [2007.02.25 - 2007.06.26] Team A 4th Stage "Tadaima Renaichuu" (チームA 4th Stage 「ただいま 恋愛中」)
  • [2008.04.20 - 2008.10.11] Team A 4th Stage "Tadaima Renaichuu" (チームA 4th Stage 「ただいま 恋愛中」)
  • [2008.10.19 - 2010.05.20] Team A 5th Stage "Renai Kinshi Jourei" (チームA 5th Stage 「恋愛禁止条例」)
  • [2010.07.27 - ] Team A 6th Stage "Mokugekisha" (チームA 6th Stage 「目撃者」)

Team K

  • [2006.04.01 - 2006.07.05] Team K 1st Stage "PARTY ga Hajimaru yo" (チームA K 1st Stage 「PARTYが始まるよ」)
  • [2006.11.08 - 2006.12.14] Team K 1st Stage "PARTY ga Hajimaru yo" (チームA K 1st Stage 「PARTYが始まるよ」)
  • [2006.07.08 - 2006.11.06] Team K 2nd Stage "Seishun Girls" (チームK 2nd Stage「青春ガールズ」)
  • [2006.12.17 - 2007.06.22] Team K 3rd Stage "Nonai Paradise" (チームK 3rd Stage「脳内パラダイス」)
  • [2008.05.31 - 2009.04.04] Team K 4th Stage "Saishuu Bell ga Naru" (チームK 4th Stage 「最終ベルが鳴る」)
  • [2009.04.11 - 2010.02.21] Team K 5th Stage "Saka Agari" (チームK 5th Stage 「逆上がり」)
  • [2010.03.12 - ] Team K 6th Stage "RESET" (チームK 6th Stage 「RESET」)

Team B

  • [2007.04.08 - 2007.10.02] Team B 1st Stage "Seishun Girls" (チームB 1st Stage 「青春ガールズ」)
  • [2007.10.07 - 2008.02.21] Team B 2nd Stage "Aitakatta" (チームB 2nd Stage 「会いたかった」)
  • [2008.03.01 - 2009.02.01] Team B 3rd Stage "Pajama Drive" (チームB 3rd Stage 「パジャマドライブ」)
  • [2009.02.08 - 2010.04.17] Team B 4th Stage "Idol no Yoake" (チームB 4th Stage 「アイドルの夜明け」)
  • [2010.04.21 - ] Team B 5th Stage "Theater no Megami" (チームB 5th Stage 「シアターの女神」)

Himawari Gumi

  • [2007.07.01 - 2007.11.30] Himawari gumi 1st Stage "Boku no Taiyou" (ひまわり組 1st stage「僕の太陽」)
  • [2007.12.08 - 2008.04.19] Himawari-gumi 2nd Stage - Yume wo Shinaseru Wake Ikanai (ひまわり組 2nd Stage「夢を死なせるわけにいかない」)

Team Kenkyusei

  • [2008.05.22 - 2008.10.07] Team Kenkyusei 1st Stage "Tadaima Renaichuu" (チーム研究生 1st Stage 「ただいま 恋愛中」)
  • [2009.03.06 - ] Team Kenkyusei 2nd Stage "Idol no Yoake" (チーム研究生 2nd Stage 「アイドルの夜明け」)

Stage DVDs

Concert DVDs

Photobooks

  • [2006.02.18] AKB48 Welcomebook vol.1
  • [2006.03.01] Micchaku! "AKB48" Photo Album Vol. 1 The Debut (密着!「AKB48」~写真集 Vol.1 the・デビュー)
  • [2006.06.15] AKB48 Welcomebook vol.2
  • [2007.03.03] AKB48 Jump & Cry ― Shinoyama Kishin Shashinshuu (AKB48 Jump & Cry―篠山紀信写真集)
  • [2008.03.18] AKB48 Visual Book 2008 - featuring Team A (AKB48 ヴィジュアルブック 2008―featuring team A)
  • [2008.03.18] AKB48 Visual Book 2008 - featuring Team K (AKB48 ヴィジュアルブック 2008―featuring team K)
  • [2008.03.18] AKB48 Visual Book 2008 - featuring Team B (AKB48 ヴィジュアルブック 2008―featuring team B)
  • [2008.03.18] AKB48 Visual Book 2008 - featuring Research Student (AKB48 ヴィジュアルブック 2008―featuring Research Student)
  • [2008.12.16] AKB48 Complete Book 2005-2008
  • [2009.08.20] AKB48 Sousenkyo! Mizugi Sunrize Happyou (AKB48総選挙! 水着サプライズ発表)
  • [2009.12.08] AKB48 Oversea Travel Diary
  • [2010.07.23] AKB48 Visual Book 2010 - featuring Team A (AKB48 ヴィジュアルブック 2010―featuring team A)
  • [2010.07.23] AKB48 Visual Book 2010 - featuring Team K (AKB48 ヴィジュアルブック 2010―featuring team K)
  • [2010.07.23] AKB48 Visual Book 2010 - featuring Team B (AKB48 ヴィジュアルブック 2010―featuring team B)

Filmography

Movies

Dramas

Appearance

TV Shows

  • [Nippon TV] (2008-10-01 to Present) AKBINGO!
  • [Enta!371](2007.10 - 2009.9) AKB48+10
  • [Family Gekijo] AKB48 Nemousu Terebi (AKB48 ネ申テレビ)
  • [Nippon TV] (2008-04-07 to 2008-09-29) AKB 0ji 59fun (AKB0時59分)
  • [NHK] (2008.11.8-2009.3.31 to present) Suiensa すイエんサー
  • [TV Tokyo] (2009.7.10 to present ) ShuukanAKB 週刊AKB
  • [Enta!371] (2009.11.18. to present ) AKB1/48

Radio

  • [bayfm] ON8
  • [CBC Radio] AKB48 Konya wa Kaeranai... (AKB48 今夜は帰らない…)
  • [Star Radio] AKB48 no Zenryoku de Kikanakya Dame Jyan!! (AKB48の全力で聴かなきゃダメじゃん!!)
  • [Bunka Hoso] AKB48 Asu Made Mou Chotto. (AKB48 明日までもうちょっと。)
  • [Bunka Hoso] Sakurazuka Yakkun no Sukeban Rengo Kinkyu Shukai (桜塚やっくんのスケバン連合緊急集会)
  • [TOKYO FM] COUNTDOWN JAPAN
  • [TOKYO FM] AKB48 no Yonpachi After (AKB48のよんぱちアフター)

Commercial

  • Cokyo Koukoku Kikyo (公共広告機構) / Mittsu no R de Chikyu wo Sukue! REDUCE RESUME RECYCLE (3つのRで地球を救え! REDUCE REUSE RECYCLE)
  • Recrute (リクルート) / Hana Saku・Project (ハナサク・プロジェクト)
  • Tokyo City「TOKYO exercises」
  • Yomiuri Newpaper 『読売新聞×AKB48』
  • Recochoku 「レコチョクの部屋 AKB編」
  • AOKI『AOKI×AKB48』

See Also

External Links