# NGT48

NGT48 (read "N.G.T. Forty-eight") is a Japanese girl group produced by Yasushi Akimoto. NGT48 is named after Niigata City of Niigata Prefecture, where the group is based. The group performs at the NGT48 Theater which is located in the fourth floor of the LoveLa2 shopping mall in Niigata City.
After then-member Maho Yamaguchi's assault in December 2018, after which she had claimed that the management had done nothing to address other NGT48 members allegedly involved in assisting her attackers, in April 2019, the NGT48 management dissolved the team system, with all current members unified according to generations.

## History
### 2015–2018: Debut

The creation of the group was announced on January 25, 2015 on the final, fifth day of a traditional series of AKB48 concerts entitled AKB48 Request Hour Setlist Best 1035 2015. In October 2015, the Niigata-based company Kuriyama Beika Co., Ltd. (栗山米菓) appointed NGT48 a "bakauke PR ambassador", a PR ambassador for its product named bakauke. As of December 2015, NGT48 is collaborating with McDonald's on a 48-piece bucket of Chicken McNuggets sold in Japan. Each bucket features photos of NGT48 and comes with a collectible card with a photo of a random member of the group. NGT48's own theater opened in Niigata on January 10, 2016.
The group's members are part of the cast of a television series adaptation of Higurashi When They Cry, which was premiered from May 20 on BS Sky PerfecTV!. The group also recorded the theme song for the series. It is titled "Kimi wa Doko ni Iru?" and is included on the Theater Edition of the 44th single by AKB48, "Tsubasa wa Iranai", which was released on June 1, 2016.
Their debut single, "Seishun Dokei", was released on April 12, 2017 under Ariola Japan. In 2018, Noe Yamada and Rena Hasegawa participated in the South Korean competition show Produce 48, representing NGT48. Hasegawa placed 71st and was eliminated during the first round; Yamada placed 41st and was eliminated during the second round.

### 2018–2019: Group restructure

Following Maho Yamaguchi's alleged assault, during a press conference on March 29, 2019, the city of Niigata announced that they were cutting ties with NGT48 effective April, including ending their radio show, "Port de NGT." On April 11, 2019, after apologizing to the Niigata government for mishandling Yamaguchi's assault allegations, the official NGT48 website announced that the management was dissolving the team structure and reintroducing the current members as a unified "first generation" after their final performances on April 21. On April 17, Yuki Kashiwagi announced she was withdrawing from NGT48, her last performance with them being at Team NIII's concert on April 21.
On April 21, Yamaguchi, Rena Hasegawa, and Riko Sugahara announced they were graduating from NGT48 on May 18, 2019, following the ending of Team NIII's and Team G's stages. Then, the two teams' structure of NGT48 was disbanded after their final performance of Team NIII's Hokori no Oka (誇りの丘) Stage and Team G's Saka Agari (逆上がり) Stage.
On May 21, 2019, Minami Kato was demoted to kenkyūsei after posting an Instagram story of Yamaguchi's graduation with the caption, "I'm doing my nails over here. I wish someone would change the channel." The NGT48 management also decided to halt social media posts from all members for the time being.
On July 18, 2019, Fuka Murakumo also announced her graduation from the group, with her graduation taking place at the end of August 2019.
After seven months of inactivity, the group had its first concert on August 3, 2019, at the Tokyo Idol Festival, with plans to resume activity in the fall. On August 13, the group started their 1st stage without any teams entitled Yume wo Shinaseru Wake ni Ikanai (夢を死なせるわけにいかない), a revival stage from AKB48's Himawarigumi 2nd Stage.
On August 26, Anju Sato announced she was graduating on September 25. On February 18, 2020, Moeka Takakura announced that she will graduate from the group on March 22, 2020.

## Members

As of May 2019, according to the official website.

### First generation

| Name | Birth date (age) | Election rank | Election rank | Election rank |
| Name | Birth date (age) | 8 | 9 | 10 |
| Yuka Ogino (荻野由佳) | (1999-02-16) February 16, 1999 (age 25) | 95 | 5 | 4 |
| Anju Satō (佐藤杏樹) | (2001-11-05) November 5, 2001 (age 23) | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Reina Seiji (清司麗菜) | (2001-04-19) April 19, 2001 (age 23) | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Marina Nishigata (西潟茉莉奈) | (1995-10-16) October 16, 1995 (age 29) | N/A | 41 | 24 |
| Nanako Nishimura (西村菜那子) | (1997-08-11) August 11, 1997 (age 27) | N/A | N/A | 43 |
| Noe Yamada (山田野絵) | (1999-10-07) October 7, 1999 (age 25) | N/A | N/A | 91 |
| Tsugumi Oguma (小熊倫実) | (2002-12-15) December 15, 2002 (age 22) | N/A | N/A | 69 |
| Yuria Kado (角ゆりあ) | (2000-05-22) May 22, 2000 (age 24) | N/A | 77 | N/A |
| Aina Kusakabe (日下部愛菜) | (2002-02-06) February 6, 2002 (age 22) | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Rika Nakai (中井りか) | (1997-08-23) August 23, 1997 (age 27) | 96 | 23 | 37 |
| Ayuka Nakamura (中村歩加) | (1998-07-28) July 28, 1998 (age 26) | N/A | N/A | 64 |
| Miharu Nara (奈良未遥) | (1998-03-20) March 20, 1998 (age 26) | N/A | N/A | 21 |
| Hinata Homma (本間日陽) | (1999-11-10) November 10, 1999 (age 25) | N/A | 13 | 16 |
| Fūka Murakumo (村雲颯香) | (1997-07-05) July 5, 1997 (age 27) | N/A | N/A | N/A |

### 3rd Draft

| Name | Birth date (age) | Election rank |
| Name | Birth date (age) | 10 |
| Chikana Ando (安藤千伽奈) | (2001-01-13) January 13, 2001 (age 23) | N/A |
| Kairi Satō (佐藤海里) | (2000-08-05) August 5, 2000 (age 24) | N/A |
| Nanami Takahashi (高橋七実) | (2001-07-07) July 7, 2001 (age 23) | N/A |
| Yunako Tsushima (對馬優菜子) | (2001-08-20) August 20, 2001 (age 23) | N/A |
| Miyu Fujisaki (藤崎未夢) | (2000-11-17) November 17, 2000 (age 24) | N/A |

### 2nd Generation

| Name | Birth date (age) |
| Name | Birth date (age) | Nanami Ōtsuka (大塚七海) | (2000-11-07) November 7, 2000 (age 24) |
| Haruka Ogoe (小越春花) | (2004-06-26) June 26, 2004 (age 20) |
| Sayaka Kawagoe (川越紗彩) | (2000-10-14) October 14, 2000 (age 24) |
| Sara Komiyama (小見山沙空) | (2004-07-27) July 27, 2004 (age 20) |
| Yume Sogabe (曽我部優芽) | (2002-03-16) March 16, 2002 (age 22) |
| Hina Terada (寺田陽菜) | (2004-03-13) March 13, 2004 (age 20) |
| Yū Tominaga (富永夢有) | (2002-07-16) July 16, 2002 (age 22) |
| Ai Furusawa (古澤愛) | (2000-10-01) October 1, 2000 (age 24) |
| Aoi Furutate (古舘葵) | (2004-08-10) August 10, 2004 (age 20) |
| Kaho Mashimo (真下華穂) | (1999-11-08) November 8, 1999 (age 25) |
| Hino Mimura (三村妃乃) | (2002-06-15) June 15, 2002 (age 22) |
| Hinata Morohashi (諸橋姫向) | (2003-01-04) January 4, 2003 (age 21) |

### Former members

| Name $_{(Birthdate)}$ | Election | Election | Election | Election | Election | Election | Election | Election | Election | Election | Team | Notes |
| Name $_{(Birthdate)}$ | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | Team | Notes |
| Ayaka Mizusawa (水澤彩佳) ((1994-11-05)November 5, 1994) | | | | | | | | | N/A | | Kenkyūsei | Graduated on March 31, 2017. |
| Yuria Ōtaki (大滝友梨亜) ((1995-04-21)April 21, 1995) | | | | | | | | | N/A | N/A | Kenkyūsei | Graduated on October 31, 2017. |
| Rie Kitahara (北原里英) ((1991-06-24)June 24, 1991) | 13 | 16 | 13 | 13 | 21 | 19 | 11 | 12 | 10 | | Team NIII | Graduated on April 18, 2018. |
| Aya Miyajima (宮島亜弥) ((1997-11-27)November 27, 1997) | | | | | | | | N/A | 70 | | Team NIII | Graduated on August 7, 2018. |
| Mau Takahashi (髙橋真生) ((2001-06-03)June 3, 2001) | | | | | | | | N/A | N/A | N/A | Team NIII | Graduated on October 6, 2018. |
| Runa Hagiri (羽切瑠菜) ((1999-11-29)November 29, 1999) | | | | | | | | | | | Kenkyūsei | Resigned on March 10, 2019. |
| Yuki Kashiwagi (柏木由紀) ((1991-07-15)July 15, 1991) | 9 | 8 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 5 | | | Team NIII | Left on April 21, 2019. |
| Maho Yamaguchi (山口真帆) ((1995-09-17)September 17, 1995) | | | | | | | | N/A | 53 | 70 | First generation | Graduated on May 18, 2019. |
| Riko Sugahara (菅原りこ) ((2000-11-23)November 23, 2000) | | | | | | | | N/A | N/A | N/A | First generation | Graduated on May 18, 2019. |
| Rena Hasegawa (長谷川玲奈) ((2001-03-15)March 15, 2001) | | | | | | | | N/A | N/A | 77 | First generation | Graduated on May 18, 2019. |
| Mirii Yamazaki (山崎美里衣) ((2000-11-21)November 21, 2000) | | | | | | | | | | | Kenkyūsei | Graduated on June 12, 2019. |
| Tomoka Takazawa (高沢朋花) ((2003-06-01)June 1, 2003) | | | | | | | | | | | Kenkyūsei | Graduated on June 30, 2019. |
| Ayusa Watanabe (渡邉歩咲) ((2001-03-09)March 9, 2001) | | | | | | | | | | | Kenkyūsei | Graduated on June 30, 2019. |
| Moeka Takakura (高倉萌香) ((2001-04-23)April 23, 2001) | | | | | | | | N/A | 25 | 67 | First generation | Graduated on March 23, 2020. |
| Ayaka Tano (太野彩香) ((1997-07-20)July 20, 1997) | | | | | | | | N/A | N/A | 53 | First generation | Graduated on October 31, 2020. |
| Minami Kato (加藤美南) ((1999-01-15)January 15, 1999) | | | | | | | | 76 | 71 | 30 | First generation | Graduated on January 31, 2021. |

## Discography
### Studio albums

List of studio albums, with selected chart positions :
| Title | Album details | Peak positions | Peak positions | Sales |
| Title | Album details | JPN Oricon | JPN Billboard | Sales |
| Mikansei no Mirai (未完成の未来) | Released: June 29, 2022 Label: Universal Music Japan Formats: CD | 3 | 3 | JPN: 31,943 |

### Singles

List of singles, with selected chart positions, showing year released, sales, certifications and album name :
| No. | Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Peak chart positions | Sales | Sales | Sales | Certifications | Albums |
| No. | Title | Year | JPN | JPN Hot | Oricon | Oricon | Billboard Japan | Certifications | Albums |
| No. | Title | Year | JPN | JPN Hot | First week | Total | Billboard Japan | Certifications | Albums |
| 1 | "Seishun Dokei" (青春時計) | 2017 | 1 | 1 | 160,271 | 208,247 | 277,180 | RIAJ: Platinum | Non-album singles |
| 2 | "Sekai wa Doko Made Aozora na no ka?" (世界はどこまで青空なのか?) | 2017 | 2 | 2 | 148,442 | 201,800 | 266,946 | RIAJ: Platinum | Non-album singles |
| 3 | "Haru wa Doko kara Kuru no ka?" (春はどこから来るのか?) | 2018 | 1 | 1 | 109,012 | 165,917 | 189,405 | RIAJ: Gold | Non-album singles |
| 4 | "Sekai no Hito e" (世界の人へ) | 2018 | 2 | 2 | 143,303 | 175.607 | 207,269 | RIAJ: Gold | Non-album singles |
| 5 | "Sherbet Pink" (シャーベットピンク) | 2020 | 2 | 5 | 80,011 | 132,985 | 165,736 | RIAJ: Gold | Non-album singles |
| 6 | "Awesome" | 2021 | 3 | 37 | 76,530 | 84,822 | 197,836 | | Non-album singles |
| 7 | "Ponkotsu na Kimi ga Suki da" (ポンコツな君が好きだ) | 2021 | 2 | 6 | 62,530 | | 171,087 | | Non-album singles |
| 8 | "Wataridoritachi ni Sora wa Mienai" (渡り鳥たちに空は見えない) | 2022 | 1 | 12 | 43,826 | | 172,146 | | Non-album singles |
| 9 | "Ano sa, Iya Betsu ni..." (あのさ、いや別に…) | 2023 | 2 | 5 | 52,241 | | | | Non-album singles |
| 10 | "Isshun no Hanabi" (一瞬の花火) | 2024 | 5 | 9 | 55,430 | | | | Non-album singles |

### Other songs

| Title | Year | Albums |
| "Max Toki 315gō" (Maxとき315号) | 2016 | "Kimi wa Melody" |
| "Kimi wa Doko ni Iru?" (君はどこにいる?) | 2016 | "Tsubasa wa Iranai" |
| "Midori to Mori no Undokōen" (みどりと森の運動公園) | 2017 | "Shoot Sign" |
| "Tomodachi de Imashō" (友達でいましょう) | 2018 | "Jabaja" |

## Filmography
### Television shows

* HKT48 vs NGT48 Sashikita Gassen (NTV and Hulu Japan, January 12 – March 29, 2016)
* Higurashi When They Cry (SKY PerfecTV!, May 20 – June 24, 2016)
* Higurashi When They Cry Kai (SKY PerfecTV!, November 2016 – present)