AKB48

AKB48 (short for Akihabara 48) is an idol girl group produced by Akimoto Yasushi. They have their own theater in Akihabara (a district in Tokyo) where they perform once every weekday and twice on both Saturday and Sunday. The concept of the group is "idols you can meet".

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 K

Team B

AKB48 Kenkyuusei (Formerly AKB48 SEED)

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

Usami Yuki (Graduated March 2006)
Uemura Ayako (Withdrew June 2006)
Orii Ayumi (Graduated January 2007)
Hoshino Michiru (Graduated June 2007)
Imai Yu (Graduated June 2007)
Takada Ayana (Graduated June 2007)
Watanabe Shiho (Graduated October 2007)
Masuyama Kayano (Graduated November 2007)
Kikuchi Ayaka (Fired August 2008)
Inoue Naru (Graduated September 2008)
Ohe Tomomi (Graduated October 2008)
Komatani Hitomi (Graduated October 2008)
Tojima Hana (Graduated October 2008)
Nakanishi Rina (Graduated October 2008)
Narita Risa (Graduated October 2008)

Kawasaki Nozomi (Graduated Febuary 2009)
Noguchi Reina (Graduated Febuary 2009)
Matsuoka Yuki (Graduated Febuary 2009)
Oshima Mai (Graduated April 2009)
Hayano Kaoru (Graduated April 2009)
Saotome Miki (Graduated April 2009)
Naruse Risa (Graduated May 2009)
Saeki Mika (Graduated August 2009)
Noro Kayo (Transferred to SDN48, February 2010)
Ohori Megumi (Transferred to SDN48, February 2010)
Urano Kazumi (Transferred to SDN48, April 2010)
Kohara Haruka (Transferred to SDN48, April 2010)
Sato Yukari (Transferred to SDN48, April 2010)
Ono Erena (Graduated September 2010)

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)

Soloists

Former Soloists

Ohori Megumi

Units

no3b (ノースリーブス)
Watarirouka Hashiritai (渡り廊下走り隊)
AKBIdoling!!! (AKBアイドリング!!!)
Natto Angels Z (ナットウエンジェルZ)
Queen & Elizabeth
Team Dragon from AKB48 (チームドラゴン)
French Kiss
Not yet

Former Units

Honegumi from AKB48 (ほね組 from AKB48)
ICE from AKB48
Crayon Friends from AKB48 (クレヨンフレンズ from AKB48)
Chocolove from AKB48
Himawari-gumi (ひまわり組)
Okashina Sisters (お菓子なシスターズ)
Natto Angels (ナットウエンジェル)

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

[2007.03.07] Team A 1st Stage "PARTY ga Hajimaru yo" (チームA 1st Stage「PARTYが始まるよ」)
[2007.03.07] Team A 2nd Stage "Aitakatta" (チームA 2nd Stage「会いたかった」)
[2007.03.07] Team A 3rd Stage "Dareka no Tame ni" (チームA 3rd Stage「誰かのために」)
[2007.03.07] Team K 1st Stage "PARTY ga Hajimaru yo" (チームK 1st Stage「PARTYが始まるよ」)
[2007.03.07] Team K 2nd Stage "Seishun Girls" (チームK 2nd Stage「青春ガールズ」)
[2007.03.07] Team K 3rd Stage "Nonai Paradise" (チームK 3rd Stage「脳内パラダイス」)
[2009.08.11] Team A 5th Stage "Renai Kinshi Jourei" (チームA 5th Stage 「恋愛禁止条例」)
[2009.08.11] Team K 5th Stage "Saka Agari" (チームK 5th Stage 「逆上がり」)
[2009.08.11] Team B 4th Stage "Idol no Yoake" (チームB 4th Stage 「アイドルの夜明け」)
[2010.08.07] Team K 6th Stage "RESET" (チームK 6th　Stage　「RESET」)
[2010.08.07] Team B 5th Stage "Theater no Megami" (チームB 5th Stage 「シアターの女神｣)
[2010.09.18] Team A 6th Stage "Mokugekisha" (チームA　6th Stage ｢目撃者｣)

Albums

[2008.01.01] SET LIST ~Greatest Songs 2006-2007~ (SET LIST ～グレイテストソングス 2006-2007～)
[2010.04.07] Kamikyokutachi (神曲たち; Godly Songs)
[2010.07.14] SET LIST ~Greatest Songs Kanzenban~ (SET LIST〜グレイテストソングス〜完全盤; SET LIST ~Greatest Songs~Complete)
[2011.04.13] TBA

Singles

[2006.02.01] Sakura no Hanabiratachi (桜の花びらたち; Cherry Blossom Petals)
[2006.06.07] Skirt, Hirari (スカート、ひらり; Skirt, Flutters)
[2006.10.25] Aitakatta (会いたかった; I Wanted to Meet You)
[2007.01.31] Seifuku ga Jama wo Suru (制服が邪魔をする; My School Uniform Gets in the Way)
[2007.04.18] Keibetsu Shiteita Aijou (軽蔑していた愛情; Scorned Love)
[2007.07.18] BINGO!
[2007.08.08] Boku no Taiyou (僕の太陽; My Sun)
[2007.10.31] Yuuhi wo Miteiru ka? (夕陽を見ているか?; Do You See the Sunset?)
[2008.01.23] Romance, Irane (ロマンス、イラネ)
[2008.02.27] Sakura no Hanabiratachi 2008 (桜の花びらたち2008; Cherry Blossom Petals 2008)
[2008.10.22] Oogoe Diamond (大声ダイヤモンド; Diamond Shout)
[2009.03.04] 10nen Zakura (10年桜; 10 Year Cherry Blossoms)
[2009.06.24] Namida Surprise! (涙サプライズ!; Tearful Surprise)
[2009.08.26] Iiwake Maybe (言い訳Maybe; Maybe it's an Excuse)
[2009.10.21] RIVER
[2010.02.17] Sakura no Shiori (桜の栞; Cherry Blossom Bookmark)
[2010.05.26] Ponytail to Chouchou (ポニーテールとシュシュ; Ponytail and Scrunchie)
[2010.08.18] Heavy Rotation (ヘビーローテーション)
[2010.10.27] Beginner
[2010.12.08] Chance no Junban (チャンスの順番 My Turn by Chance)
[2011.02.16] Sakura no Ki ni Narou (桜の木になろう Let's become a Cherry Tree)

Download Exclusive

[2008.06.13] Baby! Baby! Baby!