AKB48 facts for kids

Quick facts for kids AKB48
AKB48 performing at Nokia Theatre, Los Angeles, in July 2010
Background information
Origin	Akihabara, Tokyo, Japan
Genres	Pop
Years active	2005–present
Labels	AKS Co., Ltd. (Japan) DefStar Records (Japan) You, Be Cool!/King Records (Japan) Gold Typhoon (Taiwan) Subunits' labels: Avex Trax Nayutawave Pony Canyon Nippon Columbia EPIC Japan
Associated acts	MNL48 SKE48 SDN48 NMB48 JKT48 HKT48 SNH48 TPE48 OJS48 Nogizaka46 no3b Watarirouka Hashiritai French Kiss Not Yet DiVA
Members	Team A Details Team K Details Team B Details Team 4 Details
Past members	Former Members

AKB48 is a very popular Japanese idol group. It was created by Yasushi Akimoto. He looked for new and exciting members in Akihabara, a lively area in Tokyo.

The name "AKB" comes from Akihabara, which is where the group started. In Japanese, Akihabara is written as Japanese: 秋葉原. By October 31, 2012, AKB48 had sold over 20 million records in Japan. This made them the best-selling female group in J-POP history.

What is AKB48's Concept?

The group started in January 2009. They have their own special place to perform called the "AKB48 Theater" (AKB48劇場). It's located on the 8th floor of the Don Quixote shopping mall (ドン・キホーテ秋葉原店) in Akihabara.

Yasushi Akimoto wanted to change how people saw idols. Usually, idols seem far away and perfect. But Akimoto wanted fans to feel like they could meet and interact with the idols. This led to their famous idea: "Idols you can meet every day."

Meeting the Idols

When AKB48 was new, fans could go to the theater almost every day. They could even meet their favorite members after shows. Now, AKB48 is so popular that many fans want to see them. Because of this, fans must enter a lottery to win tickets for the shows.

The group also holds "handshake events." If you buy one of their CD singles, you might get a ticket for these events. This gives you a chance to meet a member and shake her hand for about ten seconds.

AKB48's Sister Groups

AKB48 has many sister groups in different cities. These include SKE48, NMB48, HKT48, JKT48, SNH48, TPE48, and MNL48.

• "SKE" comes from Sakae (栄).
• "NMB" comes from Namba (難波).
• "HKT" comes from Hakata (博多).
• "JKT" comes from Jakarta.
• "SNH" comes from Shanghai (上海).
• "TPE" comes from Taipei (台北).
• "MNL" comes from Manila.

There was also a group called SDN48. "SDN" stood for "Saturday Night." This group had members who were 20 years old or older, but it later stopped performing.

What Does AKB48's Name Mean?

The "AKB" part of the name is a short way of saying Akihabara. At first, the group was going to be called "Akihabara 48."

Many people think the number "48" means there are 48 members. But it actually comes from the name of the group's president's office, "office48." This office is in Chiba Prefecture. In Japanese, the word "Chiba" sounds a bit like "48."

Who Are AKB48's Members?

AKB48 has many members. They don't all perform at the same time. Instead, the group is divided into five main teams: "Team A," "Team K," "Team B," "Team 4," and "Team 8." Most members belong to one of these teams.

Each team has its own special shows at the AKB48 Theater. These shows, called "stages," include about 15 to 20 songs. Each team has more than 20 members.

Research Students

Some members are called "research students." These are newer members who are still gaining experience. They can fill in for a team member if someone is sick or can't perform. When research students gain enough experience, they can join one of the main teams.

What Are "Senbatsu Members"?

Because there are so many members, only a few are chosen to appear in music videos or on TV. These chosen members are called "senbatsu members." "Senbatsu" is a Japanese word that means "selection."

Being a senbatsu member is a special honor. These members represent the group in public. They are chosen in different ways, but the most famous way is through an election.

The AKB48 Election

AKB48 holds big elections to decide which members will sing their new songs. Fans can get tickets to vote in these elections when they buy certain AKB48 CDs or other items.

The member who gets the most votes becomes the "center" of the new song. This means she stands in the front and center during the dance. She also gets a starring role in the song's music video.

First AKB48 Election

The first election took place from June 23 to July 7, 2009. The results were announced at Akasaka BLITZ (赤坂 BLITZ). The top 21 members got to sing in their 13th single, "Iiwake Maybe." Atsuko Maeda was chosen as the first "center."

Second AKB48 Election

The second election was from May 25 to June 8, 2010. Results were shared at JCB Hall (JCBホール). The top 21 members sang in the 17th single, "Heavy Rotation." The top 12 were called "Media Senbatsu." They helped promote new information on TV and radio. Yuko Oshima was the "center" for this song.

Third AKB48 Election

The third election happened from May 24 to June 8, 2011. The results were announced at Nihon Budoukan (日本武道館). The top 21 members sang in the 22nd single, "Flying Get." Atsuko Maeda was again the "center."

Fourth AKB48 Election

The fourth election was from May 22 to June 5, 2012. Results were announced at Nihon Budoukan (日本武道館). The top 16 members sang in their 27th single, "Gingham Check." Yuko Oshima was the "center."

Fifth AKB48 Election

The fifth election took place from May 21 to June 7, 2013. The results were announced at Nissan Stadium (日産スタジアム). The top 16 members sang in the 32nd single, "Koi Suru Fortune Cookie." Rino Sashihara was the "center."

Sixth AKB48 Election

The sixth election was from May 20 to June 6, 2014. Results were announced at Ajinomoto Stadium (味の素スタジアム). The top 16 members sang in the 37th single, "Kokoro no Placard." Mayu Watanabe was the "center."

Seventh AKB48 Election

The seventh election took place from May 19 to June 5, 2015. Results were announced at Fukuoka Yahoo Auction Dome (福岡 ヤフオク!ドーム). The top 16 members sang in the 41st single, "Halloween Night." Rino Sashihara was the "center."

Discography

Here are some of AKB48's singles:

• Aitakatta
• Seifuku ga jama wo suru
• Keibetsu shiteita Aijou
• BINGO!
• Boku no Taiyou
• Yuuhi wo miteiru ka?
• Romance, irane
• Sakura no hanabiratachi 2008
• Baby! Baby! Baby!
• Oogoe diamond
• 10nen Zakura
• Namida Surprise!
• Iiwake Maybe
• RIVER
• Sakura no Shiori
• Ponytail to shushu
• Heavy rotation
• Beginner
• Chance no junban
• Sakura no Ki ni narou
• Everyday, Katyusya
• Flying Get
• Kaze wa fuiteiru
• Ue kara Mariko
• GIVE ME FIVE!
• Manatsu no Sounds good!
• Gingham Check
• UZA
• Eien Pressure
• So Long!
• Sayonara Crawl
• Koi Suru Fortune Cookie
• Heart Electric
• Suzukake no Ki no Michi de 'Kimi no Hohoemi o Yume ni Miru' to Itte Shimattara Bokutachi no Kankei wa Dō Kawatte Shimau no ka, Bokunari ni Nan-nichi ka Kangaeta Ue de no Yaya Kihazukashii Ketsuron no Yō na Mono
• Mae Shika Mukanē
• Labrador Retriever
• Kokoro no Placard
• Kibouteki Refrain
• Green Flash
• Bokutachi wa Tatakawanai
• Halloween Night
• Kuchibiru ni Be my baby
• Kimi wa Melody

Awards

AKB48 has won many awards. Here are some of the major ones:

Images for kids

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  AKB48 Theater in Akihabara, Tokyo

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  AKB48 live at Japan Expo 2009 (Paris)

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  AKB48 at Japan Expo in Paris, 2009

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  AKB48 at the 2010 Asia Song Festival

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  AKB48 on Cool Japan Night, as part of the November 2010 Anime Festival Asia X in Singapore

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  AKB48 shop in Singapore, 2011

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  AKB48 Shop in Akihabara selling "Everyday, Kachūsha" and "Give Me Five!" merchandise in March 2012

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  AKB48 in Tokyo in 2013

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  AKB48 Theater on the 8th floor

See also

In Spanish: AKB48 para niños