AKB48 group profile
AKB48 is one of Japan’s most popular pop groups. The girl group made their debut in 2005 as theatre based performers before making their breakthrough as best selling artists, with hit songs like Sakura no Ki ni Narou, Beginner, and Heavy Rotation etc. They are still performing on regular basis at the theatre despite their mainstream success.
AKB stand for Tokyo’s Akihabara township where their theatre is located. The group consists of 48 members and are divided into three teams – team A, K and B. Minami Takahashi is the captain of Team A, Sayaka Akimoto captain of Team K, and Yuki Kashiwagi captain of Team B. Check out AKB48 member profiles.
AKB48 were formed in 2005 by Yasushi Akimoto through open auditions. They made their debut in December as theatre based idol group with only 20 girls, later known as team A. Their debut single Sakura no Hanabira Tachi was released in February 2006 and made it to the #10 spot on the Oricon chart.
AKB48 enrolled another 18 girls in April as team K. The group signed a major label contract with DefStar Records in August, and released Aitakatta in October. The forming of AKB48 was completed in December with 13 new members joining as team B. It was not until April 2007 though, that the number of members (48) finally reflected the group name after a few of the girls were graduated from the group.
AKB48 moved to King Records in 2008 and released their 10th single Oogoe Diamond in October, which became their first podium finish on Oricon chart. The girls also began starring in their very own variety show AKBINGO! (still running in 2011). They have starred in many other made-for-AKB48 variety shows and drama series since then.
2009 was AKB48′s breakthrough year. March single Jūnen Zakura became their first to achieve over 100,000 copies in first week sales. Their two subsequent single albums managed to maintain the figure, and they finally achieved #1 on Oricon in October with their 14th single, River, which sold over 230,000 copies.
AKB48′s first 2010 single, Sakura no Shiori, was also a huge hit, selling over 380,000 copies which made them the best selling Japanese female artists in seven years. The girls released their second compilation album, Kamikyoku Tachi, in April which did well with over 410,000 copies sold.
AKB48 broke their own single sales record in May with Ponytail to Shushu which sold over 650,000 copies. They set new record again with Heavy Rotation in August which sold over 700,000 copies, and yet again in October with their 18th single Beginner which sold over a million copies. The girls released Chance no Junban in December, which was also a best seller.
AKB48 released their 20th single, Sakura no Ki ni Narou, in February 2011 – another record breaker with over a million copies sold in just two weeks. The girls are setting up their first overseas regular theatre show in Singapore, with bi-monthly performances beginning in May.
Check out AKB48 member profiles for more personal details of each member. Visit my main blog for more AKB48 updates, news, pictures and videos.
AKB stand for Tokyo’s Akihabara township where their theatre is located. The group consists of 48 members and are divided into three teams – team A, K and B. Minami Takahashi is the captain of Team A, Sayaka Akimoto captain of Team K, and Yuki Kashiwagi captain of Team B. Check out AKB48 member profiles.
AKB48 were formed in 2005 by Yasushi Akimoto through open auditions. They made their debut in December as theatre based idol group with only 20 girls, later known as team A. Their debut single Sakura no Hanabira Tachi was released in February 2006 and made it to the #10 spot on the Oricon chart.
AKB48 enrolled another 18 girls in April as team K. The group signed a major label contract with DefStar Records in August, and released Aitakatta in October. The forming of AKB48 was completed in December with 13 new members joining as team B. It was not until April 2007 though, that the number of members (48) finally reflected the group name after a few of the girls were graduated from the group.
AKB48 moved to King Records in 2008 and released their 10th single Oogoe Diamond in October, which became their first podium finish on Oricon chart. The girls also began starring in their very own variety show AKBINGO! (still running in 2011). They have starred in many other made-for-AKB48 variety shows and drama series since then.
2009 was AKB48′s breakthrough year. March single Jūnen Zakura became their first to achieve over 100,000 copies in first week sales. Their two subsequent single albums managed to maintain the figure, and they finally achieved #1 on Oricon in October with their 14th single, River, which sold over 230,000 copies.
AKB48′s first 2010 single, Sakura no Shiori, was also a huge hit, selling over 380,000 copies which made them the best selling Japanese female artists in seven years. The girls released their second compilation album, Kamikyoku Tachi, in April which did well with over 410,000 copies sold.
AKB48 broke their own single sales record in May with Ponytail to Shushu which sold over 650,000 copies. They set new record again with Heavy Rotation in August which sold over 700,000 copies, and yet again in October with their 18th single Beginner which sold over a million copies. The girls released Chance no Junban in December, which was also a best seller.
AKB48 released their 20th single, Sakura no Ki ni Narou, in February 2011 – another record breaker with over a million copies sold in just two weeks. The girls are setting up their first overseas regular theatre show in Singapore, with bi-monthly performances beginning in May.
Check out AKB48 member profiles for more personal details of each member. Visit my main blog for more AKB48 updates, news, pictures and videos.
AKB48 members profile
Japanese pop group AKB48 members’ personal profiles.
Information arranged in “Name (Japanese name, date of birth, birthplace, height)” format according to thumbnail sequence. Click image for bigger pic.
Misaki Iwasa (岩佐美咲, Jan 30 1995, Chiba, 156cm)
Aika Ota (多田愛佳, Dec 8 1994, Saitama, 150cm)
Shizuka Oya (大家志津香, Dec 28 1991, Fukuoka, 164cm)
Haruka Katayama (片山陽加, May 10 1990, Aichi, 154cm)
Asuka Kuramochi (倉持明日香, Sept 11 1989, Kanagawa, 156.5cm)
Haruna Kojima (小嶋陽菜, Apr 18 1988, Saitama, 164cm)
Rino Sashihara (指原莉乃, Nov 21 1992, Oita, 159 cm)
Mariko Shinoda (篠田麻里子, Mar 11 1986, Fukuoka, 168cm)
Aki Takajo (高城亜樹, Oct 3 1991, Tokyo, 164cm)
Minami Takahashi (高橋みなみ, Apr 8 1991, Tokyo, 148.5cm) (captain)
Haruka Nakagawa (仲川遥香, Feb 10 1992, Tokyo, 157cm)
Chisato Nakata (中田ちさと, Oct 8 1990, Saitama, 155.7cm)
Sayaka Nakaya (仲谷明香, Oct 15 1991, Iwate, 159cm)
Atsuko Maeda (前田敦子, July 10 1991, Chiba, 161cm)
Ami Maeda (前田亜美, June 1 1995, Tokyo, 163cm)
Natsumi Matsubara (松原夏海, June 19 1990, Fukuoka, 160cm)
Sayaka Akimoto (秋元才加, July 26 1988, Chiba, 166cm) (captain)
Tomomi Itano (板野友美, July 3 1991, Osaka, 154cm)
Mayumi Uchida (内田眞由美, Dec 27 1993, Tokyo, 150cm)
Ayaka Umeda (梅田彩佳, Jan 3 1989, Fukuoka, 151.5cm)
Yuko Oshima (大島優子, Oct 17 1988, Tochigi, 152cm)
Ayaka Kikuchi (菊地あやか, June 30 1993, Tokyo, 160cm)
Miku Tanabe (田名部生来, Dec 2 1992, Shiga, 162.5cm)
Tomomi Nakatsuka (中塚智実, June 18 1993, Saitama, 154cm)
Moeno Nito (仁藤萌乃, July 22 1992, Tokyo, 156.5cm)
Misato Nonaka (野中美郷, Apr 20 1991, Fukuoka, 165cm)
Reina Fujie (藤江れいな, Feb 1 1994, Chiba, 159cm)
Sakiko Matsui (松井咲子, Dec 10 1990, Saitama,, 167.5cm)
Minami Minegishi (峯岸みなみ, Nov 15 1992, Tokyo, 158cm)
Sae Miyazawa (宮澤佐江, Aug 13 1990, Tokyo, 164cm)
Yui Yokohama (横山由依, December 8 1992, Kyoto, 158cm)
Rumi Yonezawa (米沢瑠美, June 6 1991, Saitama, 161cm)
Haruka Ishida (石田晴香, Dec 2 1993, Saitama, 151.5cm)
Manami Oku (奥真奈美, Nov 22 1995, Tokyo, 153.5cm)
Tomomi Kasai (河西智美, Nov 16 1991, Tokyo, 153cm)
Yuki Kashiwagi (柏木由紀, July 15 1991, Kagoshima, 163cm) (captain)
Rie Kitahara (北原里英, June 24 1991, Aichi, 157cm)
Kana Kobayashi (小林香菜, May 17 1991, Saitama, 159cm)
Mika Komori (小森美果, July 19 1994, Aichi, 163cm)
Amina Sato (佐藤亜美菜, Oct 16 1990, Tokyo, 156cm)
Sumire Sato (佐藤すみれ, Nov 20 1993, Saitama, 161cm)
Natsuki Sato (佐藤夏希, July 1 1990, Hokkaido, 164cm)
Mariya Suzuki (鈴木まりや, Apr 29 1991, Saitama, 159cm)
Rina Chikano (近野莉菜, Apr 23 1993, Tokyo, 159cm)
Natsumi Hirajima (平嶋夏海, May 28 1992, Tokyo, 154cm)
Yuka Masuda (増田有華, Aug 3 1991, Osaka, 162cm)
Miho Miyazaki (宮崎美穂, July 30 1993, Tokyo, 159cm)
Mayu Watanabe (渡辺麻友, Mar 26 1994, Saitama, 154cm)
Extra notes
Members of AKB48 changed gradually from time to time, through graduations and election rankings etc. Profile last updated in December 2010.
It’s rare for all the 48 members to participate in the same job, for example only 16-20 members would feature in most of the MV. Check each member’s link (on their name) to see what projects the particular member has taken part in.
Visit my main blog for more AKB48 updates, news, pictures and videos.
Share your comments at AKB48 group profile page.
Information arranged in “Name (Japanese name, date of birth, birthplace, height)” format according to thumbnail sequence. Click image for bigger pic.
Misaki Iwasa (岩佐美咲, Jan 30 1995, Chiba, 156cm)
Aika Ota (多田愛佳, Dec 8 1994, Saitama, 150cm)
Shizuka Oya (大家志津香, Dec 28 1991, Fukuoka, 164cm)
Haruka Katayama (片山陽加, May 10 1990, Aichi, 154cm)
Asuka Kuramochi (倉持明日香, Sept 11 1989, Kanagawa, 156.5cm)
Haruna Kojima (小嶋陽菜, Apr 18 1988, Saitama, 164cm)
Rino Sashihara (指原莉乃, Nov 21 1992, Oita, 159 cm)
Mariko Shinoda (篠田麻里子, Mar 11 1986, Fukuoka, 168cm)
Aki Takajo (高城亜樹, Oct 3 1991, Tokyo, 164cm)
Minami Takahashi (高橋みなみ, Apr 8 1991, Tokyo, 148.5cm) (captain)
Haruka Nakagawa (仲川遥香, Feb 10 1992, Tokyo, 157cm)
Chisato Nakata (中田ちさと, Oct 8 1990, Saitama, 155.7cm)
Sayaka Nakaya (仲谷明香, Oct 15 1991, Iwate, 159cm)
Atsuko Maeda (前田敦子, July 10 1991, Chiba, 161cm)
Ami Maeda (前田亜美, June 1 1995, Tokyo, 163cm)
Natsumi Matsubara (松原夏海, June 19 1990, Fukuoka, 160cm)
Sayaka Akimoto (秋元才加, July 26 1988, Chiba, 166cm) (captain)
Tomomi Itano (板野友美, July 3 1991, Osaka, 154cm)
Mayumi Uchida (内田眞由美, Dec 27 1993, Tokyo, 150cm)
Ayaka Umeda (梅田彩佳, Jan 3 1989, Fukuoka, 151.5cm)
Yuko Oshima (大島優子, Oct 17 1988, Tochigi, 152cm)
Ayaka Kikuchi (菊地あやか, June 30 1993, Tokyo, 160cm)
Miku Tanabe (田名部生来, Dec 2 1992, Shiga, 162.5cm)
Tomomi Nakatsuka (中塚智実, June 18 1993, Saitama, 154cm)
Moeno Nito (仁藤萌乃, July 22 1992, Tokyo, 156.5cm)
Misato Nonaka (野中美郷, Apr 20 1991, Fukuoka, 165cm)
Reina Fujie (藤江れいな, Feb 1 1994, Chiba, 159cm)
Sakiko Matsui (松井咲子, Dec 10 1990, Saitama,, 167.5cm)
Minami Minegishi (峯岸みなみ, Nov 15 1992, Tokyo, 158cm)
Sae Miyazawa (宮澤佐江, Aug 13 1990, Tokyo, 164cm)
Yui Yokohama (横山由依, December 8 1992, Kyoto, 158cm)
Rumi Yonezawa (米沢瑠美, June 6 1991, Saitama, 161cm)
Haruka Ishida (石田晴香, Dec 2 1993, Saitama, 151.5cm)
Manami Oku (奥真奈美, Nov 22 1995, Tokyo, 153.5cm)
Tomomi Kasai (河西智美, Nov 16 1991, Tokyo, 153cm)
Yuki Kashiwagi (柏木由紀, July 15 1991, Kagoshima, 163cm) (captain)
Rie Kitahara (北原里英, June 24 1991, Aichi, 157cm)
Kana Kobayashi (小林香菜, May 17 1991, Saitama, 159cm)
Mika Komori (小森美果, July 19 1994, Aichi, 163cm)
Amina Sato (佐藤亜美菜, Oct 16 1990, Tokyo, 156cm)
Sumire Sato (佐藤すみれ, Nov 20 1993, Saitama, 161cm)
Natsuki Sato (佐藤夏希, July 1 1990, Hokkaido, 164cm)
Mariya Suzuki (鈴木まりや, Apr 29 1991, Saitama, 159cm)
Rina Chikano (近野莉菜, Apr 23 1993, Tokyo, 159cm)
Natsumi Hirajima (平嶋夏海, May 28 1992, Tokyo, 154cm)
Yuka Masuda (増田有華, Aug 3 1991, Osaka, 162cm)
Miho Miyazaki (宮崎美穂, July 30 1993, Tokyo, 159cm)
Mayu Watanabe (渡辺麻友, Mar 26 1994, Saitama, 154cm)
Extra notes
Members of AKB48 changed gradually from time to time, through graduations and election rankings etc. Profile last updated in December 2010.
It’s rare for all the 48 members to participate in the same job, for example only 16-20 members would feature in most of the MV. Check each member’s link (on their name) to see what projects the particular member has taken part in.
Visit my main blog for more AKB48 updates, news, pictures and videos.
Share your comments at AKB48 group profile page.
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