JKT48

PT Indonesia Musik Nusantara (JKT48, pronounced "J-K-T forty-eight") is an Indonesian-Japanese idol girl group whose name is derived from the IATA airport code for the Jakarta metropolitan area ("JKT") and the Japanese idol group AKB48, owned by IDN (in Indonesia) and under license from Superball (a subsidiary of Vernalossom, from Japan). Formed in 2011, the group is the first AKB48 sister group outside of Japan and adopted the concept of "idols you can meet", before switching to "idols that will come to meet you" in April 2018. The group opened their own theater to hold regular performances under the name "JKT48 Theater" located on the 4th floor of the fX Sudirman shopping mall in Central Jakarta, Jakarta on 8 September 2012, where fans can attend daily performances which are subject to change at any time at this time.
While JKT48 membership is not limited to any nationality, applicants must be residents of Indonesia. As of 5 March 2025, the group has 58 individual members.
On 16 February 2013, JKT48 released its first studio album Heavy Rotation via Hits Records, a division of MNC subsidiary PT Star Media Nusantara. The group typically performs songs by AKB48 and other sister groups translated into Indonesian. The group released their first original single "Rapsodi" in January 2020.
Much like AKB48, the female Japanese idol group formed in 2005 in Akihabara, Tokyo, JKT48 is based on the concept of idols with whom fans can greet and develop connections. JKT48 takes its name from the group's base city of Jakarta, Indonesia. The country was seen as a potential market for the idol business because of its relatively young population and the popularity of Japanese manga series. In order to bring the concept of AKB48 to Indonesia, producer Yasushi Akimoto and Dentsu Media Group Indonesia partnered with the country's largest media conglomerate, Global Mediacom, and Rakuten.
In an interview on CNN's TalkAsia program, Akimoto responded to the question of why he selected Indonesia as the first target of AKB48's overseas expansion:
On 11 September 2011, the formation of JKT48 was announced at an AKB48 event held at Makuhari Messe in Chiba, Japan. Applicant interviews took place the following weeks, in late September 2011, and the first auditions were held a month after the initial announcement, from 8–9 October 2011. AKB48 member Minami Takahashi also visited Jakarta during the audition to promote JKT48 among fans of AKB48. Although applicants did not have to be Indonesian citizens, they did have to already reside in the country. Approximately 1,200 girls auditioned for the group, and 51 were selected to proceed to the second round. Finalists were judged based on their dance performance of "Heavy Rotation", from AKB48's single of the same name, and their performance of a song of their choice. JKT48's 28 first generation members, ages 12–21, were selected on 2 November 2011.
On 17 December 2011, JKT48 made its first public appearance on the live music program 100% Ampuh on Global TV, performing "Heavy Rotation", with lyrics translated into Indonesian.
As part of the group's core concept, AKB48 performs daily at its theater in Akihabara. The JKT48 management team aimed to accomplish this same principle and began scouting locations in Jakarta for the group's own theater in early 2012. An unoccupied site in the fX Sudirman shopping mall was selected as the theater's eventual location, and planning for its renovation began in April. In the meantime, the first theater performances were held 17–20 May 2012 at a temporary stage in the Nyi Ageng Serang Building in Kuningan, Jakarta. The official theater opened on 8 September 2012 for daily performances with a set list of 16 songs that have been translated into Indonesian. The theater first had a seating capacity of 180 and standing room for 30, and its design is a close replica of the AKB48 Theater. Currently it holds around 350 people, both seated and standing.
JKT48 has also performed in Japan alongside other AKB48 sister groups. In its first performance in Japan, the group was a surprise guest at 2011 AKB48 Kōhaku Taikō Uta Gassen and performed the Indonesian version of "Aitakatta". It also performed alongside AKB48 and other sister groups at the 62nd NHK Kōhaku Uta Gassen with a total 210 members onstage. It also participated in the 2012 AKB48 concerts at Saitama Super Arena and Tokyo Dome.
On 13 August 2012, management began accepting applications for second generation members. Of the 4,500 applicants, approximately 200 were selected for interviews the following month. The pool was then narrowed down from 67 to 31 in a selection round held by RCTI. All 31 finalists were eventually chosen as second generation members at a final audition on 3 November in Japan. Additionally, AKB48 members Aki Takajō and Haruka Nakagawa, whose transfers to JKT48 were announced at the Tokyo Dome concert, officially began their activities with the group on 1 November and made their theater debut on 26 December. Nakagawa became interested in Jakarta during a visit with other members of AKB48 earlier in February 2012.
JKT48 was scheduled to release its debut album in January 2013, but production was hampered because of flooding in Jakarta. To celebrate the release, the group's management team had distributed 100,000 free CD singles. Each single featured an Indonesian version of one of four songs: "Heavy Rotation"; "Kimi no Koto ga Suki Dakara"; "Baby! Baby! Baby!"; and "Ponytail to Shushu". Members, some of whom had been directly affected by the flooding, later held a charity event in order to raise funds for the city's relief efforts. The debut album, entitled Heavy Rotation, had a limited release at the JKT48 Theater on 16 February 2013 and went on sale in music stores nationwide on 2 March. All of the four songs aforementioned were included in the album. Throughout 2013, JKT48 released four singles: "River" (11 May), "Apakah Apakah Kau Melihat Mentari Senja?" (3 July), "Fortune Cookie yang Mencinta" (21 August), and "Musim Panas Sounds Good!" (26 November). The third single was released concurrently with its parent group AKB48.
On 28 January 2014, JKT48 announced the names of 63 finalists who were vying to become JKT48 trainees in the third generation. On 15 February, the group announced and performed their fifth single "Flying Get". On 24 February 2014, Rina Chikano was transferred from AKB48 to JKT48, with Aki Takajo and Rena Nozawa's concurrent positions being cancelled.
On 26 April 2014, JKT48 finished its first annual senbatsu election, with the 16 ranked members going to appear in JKT48's 6th single, Gingham Check, released on 11 June 2014. On 27 August 2014 the group released "Papan Penanda Isi Hati", with Shania Junianatha taking the center position for the first time, and Rina Chikano and Thalia Ivanka Elizabeth appearing in the senbatsu for the first time. The single was released concurrently with AKB48, the second consecutive year of such. The group's 8th single, "Angin Sedang Berhembus", was released on 24 December 2014.
On 20 February 2015, JKT48 held a collaboration concert with AKB48 in Jakarta. 15 members of AKB48 was sent to Jakarta for the concert, including Yui Yokoyama, Rie Kitahara and Asuka Kuramochi. On 27 March 2015, JKT48 released its 9th single, Pareo wa Emerald.
On 2 May 2015, JKT48 held its second senbatsu election, with the 16 ranking members are featured in the group's 10th single Kibōteki Refrain, Jessica Veranda displaced Melody Laksani to win the election. On 26 August 2015, JKT48 released its 11th single, Halloween Night, the third consecutive year of concurrent single release with AKB48.
On 21 March 2017, JKT48 general manager Jiro Inao committed suicide by hanging at his house in South Tangerang, Banten, Indonesia.
JKT48 RE:BOOST
On 8 April 2018, Melody Nurramdhani Laksani(General Manager of JKT48 Operational Team, and ex-1st Generation of JKT48) announced several important notice at the JKT48 Theatre. These announcements concluding the new tagline "JKT48 RE:BOOST" where the motto will change from "Idol You Can Meet" to "Idol Who Will Come to Meet You" along with several announcement that was made that day:
• JKT48 will announced several new activities to fulfil their new moto, such as "JKT48" Circus that will include with several activities outside Jakarta such as: Theatre performance, Handshake Event, and 2 Shot.
• JKT48 will renovate their old theatre that will occur during the fasting month and will be opened during the Ramadan with several repairs in the theatre such as LED Instalment, and AC repairs.
• JKT48 will commence a new system in their teams, where they will launch two new teams in the group: Team and Academy. Them Team will consist of Team J, Team KIII, Team T that will consists of 16 individual members and JKT48 Trainee Academy that will consist of 2 Class: Class A and Class B and will be launched at 16 April 2018.
• JKT48 Team shuffling will be announced every Handshake event with the possibility that each Team and Academy may be promoted or demoted. The decision will be made based on the members performance score in the group. Devi Kinal Putri, a member of the 1st Generation of JKT48 is appointed as the head mistress of JKT48 Academy. Class A will be filled with JKT48 Trainee and Class B will consist of the members of the 6th Generation.
• JKT48 announced the "20th Single Senbatsu Sousenkyo" and the 7th Anniversary concert. These two events will be held simultaneously on 17 November 2018.
• JKT48 will release a 'Double Single' for their 19th Single, Everyday, Kachuusha and UZA. Both song has been released in 7 July 2018.
JKT48 ONE
On 11 January 2019, the group released its 20th Single "High Tension", with Cindy Yuvia as the centre who came out as the winner of the 20th Single Senbatsu Sousenkyo that was held last year. The Single includes Musim Yang Selanjutnya as the song for the Undergirls, with Thalia Ivanka Elizabeth as the Center.
The Group released their 4th album, Joy Kick! Tears, on 9 October 2019 that contained 8 tracks.
On 30 November 2019, the 1st Original Single Senbatsu Sousenkyo was held at BRP SMESCO Convention Hall, in Jakarta. Shani Indira Natio was declared the 1st place of the Senbatsu and will be the centre of their 1st Original Single.
On 22 December 2019, the group commenced JKT48 8th Anniversary Concert “ONE” that was held in Tunjungan Plaza Convention Hall, Surabaya. At the end of the concert, Melody Nurramdhani Laksani announced and explained a new project of JKT48 ONE. ONE stands for “One for All”, which means a symbol for the members and fans to move forward towards the future as ONE.
On 9 January 2020, the group released its 21st Single and 1st Original Song, “Rapsodi” along with the coupling song, “Bitter & Sweet”. Rapsodi was centered by Shani Indira Natio and Bitter & Sweet was centered by Maria Genoveva Natalia Desy Purnamasari Gunawan of the undergirls. This single remains as JKT48’s most popular and streamed song in the history of their career.
On 14 February 2020, JKT48 held a solo concert titled JKT48 Team KIII Solo Concert "KIII vs KIII" in GOR Bulungan. Although it's labeled as solo concert, some of former Team KIII member was invited to participate in this concert (whether they're still in JKT48 or have graduated from the group). The objective of this stage is to give a challenge for the new Team KIII members before Ratu Vienny Fitrilya's graduation. The challenge is for this concert is to sold 1000 ticket in less than a month. If they were to fail the challenge, then the shonichi of Team KIII 5th Stage will be cancelled. For this concert, the member was divided into two team: Team Blue and team Yellow.
On 28 September 2020, amid the COVID-19 pandemic in Indonesia, one member was announced to be positive for COVID-19. Over the next month, two more members of the team had also been announced to be positive as well.
In November 2020, JKT48 announced it would forcibly mass-graduate its members and staffs following the group's crisis due to the pandemic. The group had previously announced the 10th generation members of the group, consisted of 11 members, but cancelled their debut following the announcement. On 11 January 2021, the group announced 26 of its members would leave the group, leaving only 33 members. They officially left the group mid-March 2021. All three teams were then dissolved and the academy stopped its operation.
On 18 December 2020, the group held a concert titled, JKT48 9th Anniversary : Sol/Luna. The remaining members of the group held the concert on Studio 14, MNC Studio, Jakarta. The concert was held with no live audience and it was streamed online due to the Covid-19 pandemic that still occurs at that time. The concert was divided into two sections, Sol: The Anniversary concert and Luna: The graduation ceremony of Beby Chaesara Anadila, Frieska Anastasia Laksani, Nadila Cindi Wantari, Rona Anggreani, and Maria Genoveva Natalia Desy Purnamasari Gunawan.
On 16 March 2021, the group released its 22nd Single, Cara Ceroboh Untuk Mencinta or Darashinai Aishikata a coupling from AKB48's 49th Single, #Sukinanda. All 33 of the remaining members that is not impacted by the restructurization is a part of this single. This single will be the first and only single that JKT48 has released in the year of 2021.
On 18 December 2021, the group re-introduced 8 of the 11 tenth generation members. The group also announced the creation of a new single, to be produced by Matt Rad and August Rigo.
2022
The group announced a new project for this group, JKT48 NEW ERA a fresh new start for the groups Image. On 8 January 2022, the group announced the acquisition from Dentsu Inter Admark Media Group Indonesia to IDN where it will commenced on 7 April 2022, and they officially become a part of IDN on 27 June 2022.
On 17 June 2022, the group released it's 23rd Single and 2nd Original Song, Flying High. 9 members was appointed to be in this song and Azizi Asadel (Zee) is appointed as the center. This song has the most least senbatsu members in the group's history.
Following the groups 10th Anniversary celebration, the group held a JKT48 10th Anniversary Tour from 25 June 2022 - 3 July 2022. The tour was held in 6 cities across Java and is filled with several activities such as Personal Meet and Greet, Stage Activity, Mini Live performance, and 2-Shot.
On 6 August 2022, The group held 10th Anniversary Concert "Heaven" that was held in Istora Senayan, Jakarta. This concert is a follow-up concert, where in 2021 JKT48 is not able to hold a concert due to the Covid-19 Pandemic regulations where it gathers all JKT48 members who have graduated from the 1st generation to the 10th generation. The concert is also a graduation ceremony to the last 1st Generation of the group, Gabriela Margareth Warouw.
On 17 December 2022, the group held the second anniversary concert titled 11th Anniversary Concert "Flying High" that was held in Marina Convention Center, Semarang, Central Java. This will be the only time JKT48 held a anniversary concert two times in a year.
2023
To open the groups new era project, the group released a special album, "THIS IS JKT48 NEW ERA". It contains 7 Songs that has been released by the group, but with new arrangements introducing new sound and image to the group.
JKT48 does multiple events to regain its popularity, by doing its first Handshake Events "Nice to See You!" at BRP Smesco Convention Hall, Smesco Indonesia, South Jakarta, Jakarta, on 7 May 2023.
In 23 August 2023, the group release its new sub-unit, JKT48V. JKT48V the first virtual group, anime/Vtuber sub-unit that consist of 3 Members: Kanaia Asa, Pia Meraleo, and Tana Nona. They released one song titled "Punkish"
On 27 October 2023, the group released its 5th Album, Mahagita Vol.2 which contained old songs that has been re-recorded to fit the group "NEW ERA" image.
JKT48 held a Summer Concert titled "JK48 Summer Festival 2023" on 2 July 2023 that was held in Tennis Outdoor Senayan, Central Jakarta, Jakarta. The concert was opened by the performance by the trainee's from the 11th Generation performed Kitagawa Kenji, along with the groups general manager, Melody.
2024
Shani graduation concert, Last Voyage was held on 27 April 2024 at Tennis Indoor Senayan, Jakarta. The concert gathered the graduating members of the 3rd Generation, as to celebrate the graduation of Shani Indira Natio.
The group announced that they will release its 3rd Original Single and its 25th Single, Magic Hour centered by Azizi Asadel and Marsha Lenathea. During the release of this single, the group released two version of the MV, Story version and Dance Version. The single was released in 10 May 2024.
Before the Sousenkyo takes place at the end of the year, the group released several digital single. Belalang Yang Membangkang was released at 21 August 2024 as a project for the JKT48 Trainees, Saatnya Kesempatan was released at 2 September 2024 as the groups theme song for the upcoming sousenkyo, and Laptime Masa Remaja that was released at 29 October 2024 as a remastered version alongside the release of the new MV. All these songs are part of JKT48 New Era project to re-introduce the group image and song to the public.
The group also held a "Personal Meet and Greet: Road to Sousenkyo 2024" on 28 September 2024, where the event is not only a meet and greet, but also an announcement of the first preliminary result of JKT48 26th Single Senbatsu Sousenkyo, and also the announcement of the 26th Single #Sukinanda.
JKT48 held its annual anniversary concert on 15 December 2024 titled, “Wonderland: JKT48 13th Anniversary Concert and Sousenkyo Announcement” The concert was held at Indonesia Arena, Gelora Bung Karno Sports Complex, Central Jakarta, Jakarta and is one of the largest arena that the group’s concert was held in their career. The concert introduced new song called “Sugar Rush” and new outfits. The concert covered the result of the long awaited Sousenkyo, where Feni Fitriyanti declared as the 1st winner and the centre for the upcoming single and Indah Cahya as the Center for the Undergirls.
As of 5 March 2025 evening, the group individually consists of 58 members: 33 regular members, 16 trainees from the 12th generation, and nine trainees from the 13th generation.
JKT48 follows its Japanese sister group AKB48 in order to boost the record sales through a variety of marketing strategies. The main track for each single is sung by a team of "All Stars" (選抜, senbatsu, selection) consisting of popular members from JKT48's teams, with one of the girls selected as the center performer or Center. The singles and albums are released in different types with alternate type and voting codes for annual election contests. Alan Swarts of MTV Japan has noted that collectors purchasing multiple copies of AKB48 CDs have inflated the market, and is one of the reasons Japan's music industry has been booming. Six elections have been held; most recently in 2019.
JKT48 is billed as a "unique idol group with Indonesian culture". Harris Thayeb, President Director of the group's promotional agent Dentsu Media Group Indonesia, believed the group's concept "will make our idols more down to earth, being always nice and able to be greeted anytime". The group was seen as part of the "Cool Japan" brand adopted by the Japanese government to promote the country's culture around the world.
On 25 February 2012, JKT48 held a joint concert with AKB48 at the Japan Pop Culture Festival at Balai Kartini in Jakarta. The event was sponsored by the Embassy of Japan, the Japanese Agency for Cultural Affairs, and the Indonesian Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy. According to Junji Shimada, deputy to the Japanese ambassador, AKB48 was invited to perform because of its status as a Japanese pop icon, and the two sister groups represent the friendship between Japan and Indonesia.
JKT48 appeared in television shows almost daily after its debut and in television advertisements by Japanese companies that intend to capture a share of the rapidly growing Indonesian market. Otsuka Pharmaceutical hired JKT48 to promote the company's Pocari Sweat beverages one month after the group's first members were announced. Sharp Corporation selected JKT48 to appear at the company's promotional events, and Yamaha Motor Company hired the group in order to promote its line of fuel efficient Mio J scooters to Indonesian teens. Ezaki Glico also featured the group in its advertisements as part of an effort to grow sales in Indonesia to over Rp1 billion.
Teenagers and single young men make up the largest portion of the JKT48 and AKB48 fan base. Furthermore, some believe JKT48's idol concept does not fit the Indonesian culture.
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