AKB48

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AKB48

AKB48 is a Japanese idol group based in Akihabara produced by Akimoto Yasushi. They have sold over 1,292,408 copies in Japan only.

Contents

Information

As their name implies, AKB48 currently consists of 48 members divided into three teams: Team A, Team K and Team B. Each group contains 16 members.

The group has their own theatre in Akihabara (a district in Tokyo) where they perform once every weekday, and three times on both Saturday and Sunday. Tickets are 3000yen for men, and 2000yen for women and children. The special prices for Himawari-gumi shows are fixed at 3000yen for men, and 2000yen for women and children.

So far, Akihabara48 have released eight singles - two under an indies label, and six under the major label DefSTAR Records - three unit singles, six albums, six DVDs and four photobooks.

Members Oshima Yuko, Kojima Haruna, Ono Erena, Noro Kayo, Minegishi Minami, Maeda Atsuko and Kasai Tomomi will be in a movie called Densen Uta with actor Matsuda Ryuhei. Former member Hoshino Michiru (as Goi Michiko) will be singing the theme song 'Boku no Hana' for the movie.

Recently, 18 new members were added to the group as AKB48 SEED, with girls taking lessons and appearing in the background for a possible chance to join the main group.

While they have been working separately until now, Team A and Team K teamed up (along with four members from AKB48 SEED) in July to perform regularly as Himawari-gumi. This arrangement is temporary, and individual girls are still identified as being part of their original teams.

When making TV singing appearances (Music Japan, Music Fighter, etc.) not all original performers picked for that particular single participate in the TV performances making other members take their lead lines.

History

Debut

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. Uemura Ayako and Usami Yuki of Team A both graduated during 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.

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.

DefSTAR Records

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 August 2008, Kikuchi Ayaka was fired after pictures of her with a boy surfaced. Months later, Kikuchi was later then brought back as 7th Generation Kenkyuusei member.

King Records

For the release of the 9th single Oogoe Diamond, the group switched its label from Def.Star (Sony Music) to King Records. The single managed to sold over 70,000 copies being the group's best-selling and highest-charting at that time.

On October 11, 2008, the final performance of A4 Revival, original members Ohe Tomomi, Komatani Hitomi, Tojima Hana, Nakanishi Rina and Narita Risa graduated.

In 2009, More graduations were announced: Original Team A member Kawasaki Nozomi graduated on February 27, 2006; Oshima Mai will graduate on April 26, while Hayano Kaoru will graduate at the end of Team K's 4th Stage.

In March 4, 2009, it was decided the release of a new single 10nen Zakura, it's marked as their 10th single overall but their 2nd single under King Records. The single managed to sold over 100,000 copies, breaking their own record with their past single Oogoe Diamond. It wasn't just their best-selling single to date but the best-selling release by any idol group in 5 years.

On September 27, 2009, AKB48 hold a debut concert in USA at Webster Hall.

In late 2009 they released 13th single RIVER and reached Oricon Weekly #1 spot for the first time, the single sold over 207,000 copies being their best-selling and highest-charting release to date.

On November 21, 2009, AKB48 did they debut performance in Korea on MNET Asian Music Awards performing latest single RIVER which won the Asian Recommend Award.

Members

Team A

Team K

Team B

Research Students (Kenkyuusei)

8th Generation

Former Members

Official Member

Research Students

Subgroups

Former Subgroups

Discography

Albums

#TitleRelease Date1st Week SalesTotal SalesTop Rank
1 Team A 1st Stage - PARTY ga Hajimaru yo ( チームA 1st Stage「PARTYが始まるよ」 ) 2007.03.07 -- 1,196 --
2 Team A 2nd Stage - Aitakatta ( チームA 2nd Stage「会いたかった」 ) 2007.03.07 -- 1,191 --
3 Team A 3rd Stage - Dareka no Tame ni ( チームA 3rd Stage「誰かのために」 ) 2007.03.07 -- 1,346 --
4 Team K 1st Stage - PARTY ga Hajimaru yo ( チームK 1st Stage「PARTYが始まるよ」 ) 2007.03.07 -- 884 --
5 Team K 2nd Stage - Seishun Girls ( チームK 2nd Stage「青春ガールズ」 ) 2007.03.07 -- 1,114 --
6 Team K 3rd Stage - Nounai Paradise ( チームK 3rd Stage「脳内パラダイス」 ) 2007.03.07 -- 1,123 --
7 SET LIST ~Greatest Songs 2006-2007~ ( SET LIST ～グレイテストソングス 2006-2007～ ) 2008.01.01 -- 15,921 #29
8 Team A 5th Stage - Renai Kinshi Jourei ( チームA 「恋愛禁止条例」 ) 2009.08.11 --
9 Team K 5th Stage - Saka Agari ( チームK 「逆上がり」 ) 2009.08.11 --
10 Team B 4th Stage - Idol no Yoake ( チームB 「アイドルの夜明け」 ) 2009.08.11 --
11 Kami Kyokutachi ( 神曲たち ) 2010.04.07 --

Indies Singles

#TitleRelease Date1st Week SalesTotal SalesTop Rank
1 Sakura no Hanabiratachi ( 桜の花びらたち ) 2006.02.01 22,011 46,274 #10
2 Skirt, Hirari ( スカート、ひらり ) 2006.06.07 13,349 20,609 #13

Major Singles

#TitleRelease Date1st Week SalesTotal SalesTop Rank
1 Aitakatta ( 会いたかった ) 2006.10.25 17,481 25,544 #12
2 Seifuku ga Jama wo Suru ( 制服が邪魔をする ) 2007.01.31 16,866 21,989 #7
3 Keibetsu Shiteita Aijou ( 軽蔑していた愛情 ) 2007.04.18 20,323 22,671 #8
4 BINGO! 2007.07.18 21,830 25,611 #6
5 Boku no Taiyou ( 僕の太陽 ) 2007.08.08 25,946 28,840 #6
6 Yuuhi wo Miteiru ka? ( 夕陽を見ているか？ ) 2007.10.31 15,370 18,429 #10
7 Romance, Irane ( ロマンス、イラネ ) 2008.01.23 19,303 23,209 #6
8 Sakura no Hanabiratachi 2008 ( 桜の花びらたち2008 ) 2008.02.27 22,112 25,482 #10
9 Oogoe Diamond ( 大声ダイヤモンド ) 2008.10.22 48,258 83,378 #3
10 10nen Zakura ( １０年桜 ) 2009.03.04 66,226 113,691 #3
11 Namida Surprise! ( 涙サプライズ！ ) 2009.06.24 104,180 153,082 #2
12 Iiwake Maybe ( 言い訳Maybe ) 2009.08.26 90,774 122,955 #2
13 RIVER 2009.10.21 178,579 232,751 #1
14 Sakura no Shiori ( 桜の栞 ) 2010.02.17 317,828 350,596 #1

Digital Releases

#TitleRelease DateDownloads
1 Aitakatta 2006.10.25 100,000
2 Baby! Baby! Baby! 2008.06.13 --

DVD

Stage DVD

#TitleRelease DateTotal Sales
1 Team A 1st STAGE - Party ga Hajimaru yo ( チームA 1st Stage「PARTYが始まるよ」 ) 2007.03.21 --
2 Team A 2nd STAGE - Aitakatta ( チームA 2nd Stage「会いたかった」 ) 2007.03.21 --
3 Team A 3rd STAGE - Dareka no Tame ni ( チームA 3rd Stage「誰かのために」 ) 2007.03.21 --
4 Team K 1st STAGE - Party ga Hajimaru yo ( チームK 1st Stage「PARTYが始まるよ」 ) 2007.03.21 --
5 Team K 2nd STAGE - Seishun Girls ( チームK 2nd Stage「青春ガールズ」 ) 2007.03.21 --
6 Team A 4th STAGE - Tadaima Renaichuu ( チームA 4th Stage「ただいま恋愛中」 ) 2007.11.28 --
7 Team K 3rd STAGE - Nounai Paradise ( チームK 3rd Stage「脳内パラダイス」 ) 2007.11.28 --
8 Team B 1st STAGE - Seishun Girls ( チームB 1st Stage「青春ガールズ」 ) 2008.03.26 --
9 Himawarigumi 1st STAGE - Boku no Taiyou ( ひまわり組 1st Stage「僕の太陽」 ) 2008.04.23 1,170
#TitleRelease DateTotal Sales
1 Team B 2nd STAGE - Aitakatta ( チームB 2nd Stage「会いたかった」 ) 2008.09.26 --
2 Himawarigumi 2nd STAGE - Yume wo Shinaseru Wake ni Ikanai
( ひまわり組 2nd Stage「夢を死なせるわけにいかない」 ) 		2008.10.05 --
3 Team B 3rd STAGE - Pajama Drive ( チームB 3rd Stage「パジャマドライブ」 ) 2009.04.03 --

Concert DVD

#TitleRelease DateTotal Sales
1 First Concert Aitakatta - Hashira wa Nai ze! In Nihon Seinenkan Normal Version
(ファーストコンサート「会いたかった～柱はないぜ!～」in 日本青年館ノーマルバージョン) 		2007.01.31 1,314
2 First Concert Aitakatta - Hashira wa Nai ze! In Nihon Seinenkan Shuffle Version
(ファーストコンサート「会いたかった～柱はないぜ!～」in 日本青年館 シャッフルバージョン) 		2007.01.31 891
3 Haru no Chotto Dake Zenkoku Tour - Madamada da ze AKB48! in Nihon Kouseinenkin Kaikan
(春のちょっとだけ全国ツアー~まだまだだぜ AKB48!~」in 東京厚生年金会館) 		2007.07.18 1,443
4 AKB48 - Request Hour Setlist Best 100
(AKB48 リクエストアワー セットリスト ベスト100 2008) 		2007.07.25 --
5 Live DVD wa Derudarou kedo, Yappari Name ni Kagiruze! AKB48 Natsumatsuri
ライブDVDは出るだろうけど、やっぱり生に限るぜ! AKB48夏祭り) 		2008.11.20 --
6 AKB48 - Masaka, Kono Concert no Ongen wa Ryuushutsu shinai yo ne? Live DVD
(まさか、このコンサートの音源は流出しないよね? ライブDVD) 		2008.12.27 --
7 AKB48 - Toshiwasure Kanshasai Shuffle Suruze, AKB! SKE mo Yoroshiku ne
(年忘れ感謝祭 シャッフルするぜ、AKB! SKEもよろしくね) 		2009.02.28 --
8 AKB48 - Request Hour Setlist Best 100 2009
(AKB48 リクエストアワー セットリスト ベスト100 2009) 		2009.04.23 --
8 AKB48 - Shin Kouen Youtei
(神公演予定) 		2009.08.08 --

Stage Performances

Team A

Team K

Team B

Himawari-gumi

TV Shows

Current

Past

Awards and recognitions

Total Sales Count

YearYear SalesTotal Sales
200691,99791,997
2007127,079219,076
2008136,239355,315
2009597,042952,357
2010340,0511,292,408

Links

Retrieved from "http://j-ongaku.org/wiki/AKB48"
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