AKB48

**AKB48** (short for Akihabara48) is a Japanese idol group produced by Akimoto Yasushi based in Akihabara, Tokyo.

## History

### 2005

* In July, the Akihabara 48 project started. Recruitment announcements for first generation members were released with the deadline being October 8.
* On October 9, auditions for the second generation members began.
* On October 30, 20 out of the 7,924 applicants of the first generation audition were announced as members of the "Team A".
* On November 3, vocal and dance lessons began in preparation for the opening of the theater.
* Grand opening on December 8. Team A premiered their 1st Stage. The attendance was 72 (this includes 65 officials; the actual number of guests was only 7).
* On December 16, the first "handshake event" was held because the stage set broke down and the performance was canceled. The number of customers is about 50.
* On December 27, the AKB48 "1st Indies Single" Song Selection was held.

### 2006

* On January 22, 48 Café employee Shinoda Mariko joined the group as a Team A member.
* On February 1, the debut indies single "Cherry Blossom Petals" was released. A release event was held at the theater.
* On February 26, 17 out of 11,892 applicants passed the second generation audition and joined as Team K members.
* On March 1, Usami Yuki announced that she would be graduating from the group at the end of the month.
* On March 31, Usami Yuki graduated from the group. On the same day, the senshuuraku of Team A's 1st Stage was held.
* On April 1, Team K premiered their 1st Stage.
* On April 5, the studio recording of Team A's 1st stage was released.
* On April 15, Team A premiered their 2nd Stage.
* On April 29, the AKB48 "2nd Indies Single" Song Selection was held.
* On June 7, the group released their 2nd indies single "Skirt, Flutters".
* On June 26, Uemura Ayako resigned from the group.
* On July 5, Team K held the senshuuraku of their 1st stage.
* On July 8, Team K premiered their 2nd Stage and 1st original stage.
* On July 10, the studio recording of Team K's 1st stage was released.
* On August 11, Team A held the senshuuraku of their 2nd stage.
* On August 15, the studio recording of Team A's 2nd stage was released.
* On August 20, Team A premiered their 3rd Stage.
* On August 21, it was announced that the group had signed with Sony Music Japan and would be making their major debut.
* On August 30, the AKB48 "1st Major Single" Song Selection was held.
* On October 25, the group made their major debut with "I Wanted To Meet You".
* On November 6, Team K held the senshuuraku of their 2nd stage.
* On November 7, the studio recording of Team K's 2nd stage was released.
* On November 8, Team K revived their 1st stage.
* On December 3, 13 out of 12,828 applicants passed the third generation audition and formed Team B.
* On December 4, the AKB48 "2nd Major Single" Song Selection was held.
* On December 7, the group released their first digital single "Christmas Eve with You (Team K Ver.)".
* On December 14, Team K held the senshuuraku of their 1st stage revival.
* On December 17, Team K premiered their 3rd Stage.
* On December 19, Urano Kazumi, Hirajima Natsumi, Masuyama Kayano and Watanabe Shiho were given concurrent positions in Team B with the expectation of starting activities in early 2007.
* On December 23, Umeda Ayaka went on hiatus due to an injury.

### 2007

* On January 20, Masuyama Kayano ended her concurrent position with Team B, thus not debuting with the team.
* On January 25, Team A held the senshuuraku of their 3rd Stage. On the same day, Orii Ayumi graduated from the group and Urano Kazumi, Hirajima Natsumi, and Watanabe Shiho were fully transferred to Team B.
* On January 31, the group released their 2nd single "My School Uniform is in My Way".
* On February 1, the studio recording of Team A's 3rd stage was released.
* On February 4, Team B premiered their 1st Stage.
* On February 25, Team A premiered their 4th Stage.
* On March 11, the AKB48 "3rd Major Single" Song Selection was held.
* On March 17, the studio recording of Team K's 3rd stage was released.
* On March 31, AKB48's first sub-unit Chocolove from AKB48 was formed.
* On April 8, the studio recording of Team B's 1st stage was released.
* On April 18, the group released their 3rd single "Scorned Love".
* On May 20, it was announced that Team A and Team K would be premiering a joint stage on July 1 under the name "Team Sunflower".
* On May 27, 13 applicants passed the fourth generation audition and formed Team Kenkyuusei, also known as Trainees or AKB48 SEEDs.
* On June 6, Chocolove from AKB48 released their first single "Tomorrow The Future You Will Be Born".
* On June 22, Imai Yu and Takada Ayana graduated from the group and Team K held the senshuuraku of their 3rd stage.
* On June 26, Hoshino Michiru graduated from the group and Team A held the senshuuraku of their 4th Stage.
* On July 1, Team Sunflower premiered their 1st Stage.
* On July 4, the studio recording of Team A's 4th stage was released.
* On July 8, AKB48 Kenkyuusei premiered their 1st Stage.
* On July 18, the group released their 4th single "Only today".
* On August 8, the group released their 5th single "Fruit of the Future".
* On September 5, the studio recording of Team Sunflower's 1st stage was released.
* On September 19, the studio recording of Kenkyuusei's 1st stage was released.
* On October 2, Watanabe Shiho graduated from the group and Team B held the senshuuraku of their 1st Stage.
* On October 6, 12 girls passed the 5th generation auditions. On the same day, AKB48 Kenkyuusei held the senshuuraku of their 1st Stage.
* On October 7, Team B premiered their 2nd Stage.
* On October 8, AKB48 Kenkyuusei premiered their 2nd Stage.

## Teams

* Team A
* Team K
* Team B
* Kenkyuusei

## Discography

### Singles

Indies
1. [2006.02.01] Cherry Blossom Petals
2. [2006.06.07] Skirt, Flutters

Major
1. [2006.10.25] I Wanted To Meet You
2. [2007.01.31] My School Uniform is in My Way
3. [2007.04.18] Scorned Love
4. [2007.07.18] Only today
5. [2007.08.08] Fruit of the Future

### Stage Albums

Indies
1. [2006.04.05] Team A 1st Stage "The Party Begins!" Studio Recording
2. [2006.07.10] Team K 1st Stage "The Party Begins!" Studio Recording
3. [2006.08.15] Team A 2nd Stage "I Wanted To Meet You" Studio Recording

Major
1. [2006.11.07] Team K 2nd Stage "Young Girls" Studio Recording
2. [2007.02.01] Team A 3rd Stage "For Someone's Sake" Studio Recording
3. [2007.03.17] Team K 3rd Stage "A Paradise Inside The Head" Studio Recording
4. [2007.04.08] Team B 1st Stage "Young Girls" Studio Recording
5. [2007.07.04] Team A 4th Stage "I'm Back in the Middle of Love" Studio Recording
6. [2007.09.05] Team Sunflower 1st Stage "My Sun" Studio Recording
7. [2007.09.19] AKB48 Kenkyuusei 1st Stage "I'm Back in the Middle of Love" Studio Recording

### Digital Singles

1. [2006.12.07] Christmas Eve with You (Team K Ver.)

## Stages

### Team A

* Team A 1st Stage "The Party Begins!" (2005.12.08 - 2006.03.31)
* Team A 2nd Stage "I Wanted To Meet You" (2006.04.15 - 2006.08.11)
* Team A 3rd Stage "For Someone's Sake" (2006.08.20 - 2007.01.25)
* Team A 4th Stage "I'm Back in the Middle of Love" (2007.02.25 - 2007.06.26)

### Team K

* Team K 1st Stage "The Party Begins!" (2006.04.01 - 2006.07.05)
* Team K 2nd Stage "Young Girls" (2006.07.08 - 2006.11.06)
* Team K 1st Stage "The Party Begins!" Revival (2006.11.08 - 2006.12.14)
* Team K 3rd Stage "A Paradise Inside The Head" (2006.12.17 - 2007.06.22)

### Team B

* Team B 1st Stage "Young Girls" (2007.02.04 - 2007.10.02)
* Team B 2nd Stage "I Wanted To Meet You" (2007.10.07 - )

### Kenkyuusei

* AKB48 Kenkyuusei 1st Stage "I'm Back in the Middle of Love" (2007.07.08 - 2007.10.06)
* AKB48 Kenkyuusei 2nd Stage "A Paradise Inside The Head" (2007.10.08 - )

### Team Sunflower

* Team Sunflower 1st Stage "My Sun" (2007.07.01 - )

## Events

1. [2005.12.27] AKB48 "1st Indies Single" Song Selection
2. [2006.04.29] AKB48 "2nd Indies Single" Song Selection
3. [2006.08.30] AKB48 "1st Major Single" Song Selection
4. [2006.12.04] AKB48 "2nd Major Single" Song Selection
5. [2007.03.11] AKB48 "3rd Major Single" Song Selection