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AKB48 (read "A.K.B. Forty-eight") is a Japanese girl group. It has achieved such popularity in Japan that it has been characterized as a social phenomenon. The group has 91 members, ranging in age from the youngest at 13 to mid-20s. Produced by Yasushi Akimoto, it is one of the highest-earning musical acts in the world, with 2011 record sales of over US$200 million in Japan alone.
The group's thirteen latest consecutive singles topped the Oricon Weekly Singles Chart. In 2010, &...
Read more (746 words more)AKB48 (read "A.K.B. Forty-eight") is a Japanese girl group. It has achieved such popularity in Japan that it has been characterized as a social phenomenon. The group has 91 members, ranging in age from the youngest at 13 to mid-20s. Produced by Yasushi Akimoto, it is one of the highest-earning musical acts in the world, with 2011 record sales of over US$200 million in Japan alone.
The group's thirteen latest consecutive singles topped the Oricon Weekly Singles Chart. In 2010, "Beginner" and "Heavy Rotation" placed, respectively, first and second in the list of Japan's best selling singles for the year. In 2011, AKB48's singles occupied the top five spots of the Oricon Yearly Singles Chart. AKB48 has reached a total of 20,300,000 copies (17,597,000 singles sold, 2,703,000 albums sold), and holds the record for most singles sold in Japan by a female group.
AKB48 is named after Akihabara (Akiba for short), the area in Tokyo where the group's own theater is located. The idea of AKB48's producer Yasushi Akimoto was to create a girl group that, unlike a regular pop group, which gives occasional concerts and that is mostly seen on TV, would have its own theater and perform there on a daily basis; the fans would always be able to go and see the girls live. Presently, AKB48 still performs at the theater every day, although, due to great demand, tickets are now distributed only via a lottery.
Current Members
Minami Takahashi is the leader of AKB48 and all of its sister groups.
Team A
Mariko Shinoda is the captain of Team A.
Rina Izuta (伊豆田 莉奈?) (November 26, 1995 in Saitama)
Anna Iriyama (入山 杏奈?) (December 3, 1995 in Chiba)
Karen Iwata (岩田 華怜?) (May 13, 1998 in Miyagi)
Ryōka Ōshima (大島 涼花?) (October 21, 1998 in Kanagawa)
Tomomi Kasai (河西 智美?) (November 16, 1991 in Tokyo)
Rina Kawaei (川栄 李奈 ?) (February 12, 1995 in Kanagawa)
Ayaka Kikuchi (菊地 あやか?) (June 30, 1993 in Tokyo)
Riho Kotani (小谷 里歩?) (August 24, 1994 in Kyoto)
Marina Kobayashi (小林 茉里奈?) (Feb. 24, 1996 in Tokyo)
Sumire Satō (佐藤 すみれ?) (November 20, 1993 in Saitama)
Mariko Shinoda (篠田 麻里子?) (March 11, 1986 in Fukuoka)
Juri Takahashi (高橋 朱里?) (October 3, 1997 in Ibaraki)
Minami Takahashi (高橋 みなみ?) (April 8, 1991 in Tokyo)
Yūka Tano (田野 優花?) (March 7, 1997 in Tokyo)
Tomomi Nakatsuka (中塚 智実?) (June 18, 1993 in Saitama)
Shiori Nakamata (仲俣 汐里?) (July 25, 1992 in Tokyo)
Moeno Nitō (仁藤 萌乃?) (July 22, 1992 in Tokyo)
Sakiko Matsui (松井 咲子?) (December 10, 1990 in Saitama)
Ayaka Morikawa (森川 彩香?) (March 24, 1996 in Saitama)
Yui Yokoyama (横山 由依?) (December 8, 1992 in Kyoto)
Mayu Watanabe (渡辺 麻友?) (March 26, 1994 in Saitama)
Team K
Yūko Ōshima is the captain of Team K.
Sayaka Akimoto (秋元 才加?) (July 26, 1988 in Chiba)
Maria Abe (阿部 マリア?) (November 29, 1995 in Kanagawa)
Tomomi Itano (板野 友美?) (July 3, 1991 in Kanagawa)
Mayumi Uchida (内田 眞由美?) (December 27, 1993 in Tokyo)
Yūko Ōshima (大島 優子?) (October 17, 1988 in Tochigi)
Rie Kitahara (北原 里英?) (June 24, 1991 in Aichi)
Asuka Kuramochi (倉持 明日香?) (Sep. 11, 1989 in Kanagawa)
Kana Kobayashi (小林 香菜?) (May 17, 1991 in Saitama)
Amina Satō (佐藤 亜美菜?) (October 16, 1990 in Tokyo)
Haruka Shimada (島田 晴香?) (Dec. 16, 1992 in Shizuoka)
Shihori Suzuki (鈴木 紫帆里?) (Feb. 17, 1994 in Kanagawa)
Rina Chikano (近野 莉菜?) (April 23, 1993 in Tokyo)
Chisato Nakata (中田 ちさと?) (October 8, 1990 in Saitama)
Sayaka Nakaya (仲谷 明香?) (October 15, 1991 in Iwate)
Mariya Nagao (永尾 まりや?) (March 10, 1994 in Kanagawa)
Nana Fujita (藤田 奈那?) (December 28, 1996 in Tokyo)
Ami Maeda (前田 亜美?) (June 1, 1995 in Tokyo)
Jurina Matsui (松井 珠理奈?) (March 8, 1997 in Aichi)
Natsumi Matsubara (松原 夏海?) (June 19, 1990 in Fukuoka)
Miho Miyazaki (宮崎 美穂?) (July 30, 1993 in Tokyo)
Tomu Mutō (武藤 十夢?) (November 25, 1994 in Tokyo)
Team B
Ayaka Umeda is the captain of Team B.
Anna Ishida (石田 安奈?) (May 27, 1996 in Aichi)
Haruka Ishida (石田 晴香?) (December 2, 1993 in Saitama)
Miori Ichikawa (市川 美織?) (February 12, 1994 in Saitama)
Misaki Iwasa (岩佐 美咲?) (January 30, 1995 in Chiba)
Ayaka Umeda (梅田 彩佳?) (January 3, 1989 in Fukuoka)
Mina Ōba (大場 美奈?) (April 3, 1992 in Kanagawa)
Shizuka Ōya (大家 志津香?) (December 28, 1991 in Fukuoka)
Yuki Kashiwagi (柏木 由紀?) (July 15, 1991 in Kagoshima)
Haruka Katayama (片山 陽加?) (May 10, 1990 in Aichi)
Rena Katō (加藤 玲奈?) (July 10, 1997 in Chiba)
Natsuki Kojima (小嶋 菜月?) (March 8, 1995 in Chiba)
Haruna Kojima (小嶋 陽菜?) (April 19, 1988 in Saitama)
Mika Komori (小森 美果?) (July 19, 1994 in Aichi)
Haruka Shimazaki (島崎 遥香?) (March 30, 1994 in Saitama)
Miyu Takeuchi (竹内 美宥?) (January 12, 1996 in Tokyo)
Miku Tanabe (田名部 生来?) (December 2, 1992 in Shiga)
Mariko Nakamura (中村 麻里子?) (Dec. 16, 1993 in Chiba)
Wakana Natori (名取 稚菜?) (June 7, 1995 in Tokyo)
Misato Nonaka (野中 美郷?) (April 20, 1991 in Fukuoka)
Reina Fujie (藤江 れいな?) (February 1, 1994 in Chiba)
Minami Minegishi (峯岸 みなみ?) (Nov. 15, 1992 in Tokyo)
Suzuran Yamauchi (山内 鈴蘭?) (December 8, 1994 in Chiba)
Miyuki Watanabe (渡辺 美優紀?) (September 19, 1993 in Nara)
Overseas transfer
JKT48
Aki Takajō (高城 亜樹?) (October 3, 1991 in Tokyo)
Haruka Nakagawa (仲川 遥香?) (Feb. 10, 1992 in Tokyo)
SNH48
Mariya Suzuki (鈴木 まりや?) (April 29, 1991 in Saitama)
Sae Miyazawa (宮澤 佐江?) (August 13, 1990 in Tokyo)
The following members are
members of more than one group simultaneously.
Jurina Matsui (SKE48's Team S and AKB48's Team K)
Rie Kitahara (SKE48 and AKB48's Team K)
Anna Ishida (SKE48's Team KII and AKB48's Team B)
Miyuki Watanabe (NMB48's Team N and AKB48's Team B)
Yui Yokoyama (NMB48's Team N and AKB48's Team A)
Riho Kotani (NMB48's Team N and AKB48's Team A)
Kenkyūsei
(Kenkyūsei (研究生?, lit. "Trainees"))
12th generation
Miyū Ōmori (大森 美優?) (September 3, 1998 in Kanagawa)
Yukari Sasaki (佐々木 優佳里?) (August 28, 1995 in Saitama)
Rina Hirata (平田 梨奈?) (July 16, 1998 in Fukuoka[116])
12.5th generation
Aimi Eguchi (江口愛実?) (February 11, 1995 in Saitama)
13th generation
Moe Aigasa (相笠 萌?) (April 6, 1998 in Kanagawa)
Saho Iwatate (岩立 沙穂?) (October 4, 1994 in Kanagawa)
Ayano Umeta (梅田 綾乃?) (March 20, 1999 in Tokyo)
Ayaka Okada (岡田 彩花?) (November 6, 1998 in Tokyo)
Saki Kitazawa (北澤 早紀?) (June 5, 1997 in Aichi)
Ayana Shinozaki (篠崎 彩奈?) (January 8, 1996 in Saitama)
Yurina Takashima (髙島 祐利奈?) (May 24, 1997 in Aichi)
Yuiri Murayama (村山 彩希?) (June 15, 1997 in Kanagawa)
Shinobu Mogi (茂木 忍?) (February 16, 1997 in Chiba)
14th generation
Natsuki Uchiyama (内山 奈月?) (September 25, 1995 in Kanagawa)
Nana Okada (岡田 奈々?) (November 7, 1997 in Kanagawa)
Mako Kojima (小嶋 真子?) (May 30, 1997 in Tokyo)
Miki Nishino (西野 未姫?) (April 4, 1999 in Shizuoka)
Hikari Hashimoto (橋本 耀?) (June 17, 1997 in Kanagawa)
Mitsuki Maeda (前田 美月?) (October 5, 1998 in Tokyo) · close
Become true fan of AKB48 to write a fan message
Mayuyu
Yukirin
tomochin 
I LOVE AKB48!!!!!!!
i want to be updated about them.., hehe 
if you like too,, kindly visit this site
akb48wrapup.com
AKB48 really Kawaiii
So many members are graduating 
They will all be dearly missed.
akb48 foreverr
Akb48 is great ^_^
love AKB48!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
i love you until my heart stops pumpin' 
dai suki dayo
i'm one of your die hard fans
and i'm PROUD, totally proud of it 
AKB48, DAISUKI.
I LOVE AKB48 They are my idols and I wish I was like them. They are all so pretty and talented and I love their music
all 48family Ganbatte !! d^.^b
I am so sad about Tomochin's graduation. Hope she will have a great future career.
hope mayuyu be the next center 
Go go! AKB48!
So glad they're going strong even after Acchan left, I love you < 3
Greetings from the American Continent, from one of your devoted American fans.
If you ask me which is my favorite member of the group.....to be honest, I can't really decide since I find equal charm in each and every member, past and present. Anyhoo, here's hoping that one day you'd make an appearance again Stateside one of these days.
Regards,
Charlesk1974
AKB48
AKB48 you are the best idol group , although acchan already gone..
ganbatte \(^.^)/
All the best for Acchan
Ganbatte Acchan! We will miss you!
| Band name | AKB48 |
| Band type | girlband (91 members) |
| Debut | 8 December, 2005 (active) |
| Label | AKS, DefStar Records, King Records/You! Be Cool |
| Official website | http://www.akb48.co.jp/ |
| Official topic | |
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