AKB48 is a Japanese idol girl group formed on December 8, 2005. As of 2024, the group consists of 50 members, including 32 official members and 18 trainees.[1][2]

The member lineup often changes as members graduate from the group and are replaced by members promoted from trainee status. Monica Hesse of The Washington Post describes the AKB48 audition process as "American Idol-esque".[3]

The group has publicized special events for choosing the promotional and recording lineup for some of its singles.[4] In 2009, the concept of sōsenkyo (総選挙, "general elections") was introduced.[5] To obtain a ballot, voters have to buy the group's latest "election single",[6] or sign up for the official paid fanclub. The members who receive the most votes will get to participate in the recording of AKB48's next single,[5] and are heavily promoted.[7] The highest voted member earns the right to be the center performer during the group's live performances.[4][6]

Mion Mukaichi is the current leader or "general manager" of AKB48 and all of its sister groups.[8] The results from AKB48's annual general elections from 2009–2018 are included.

Members are listed by order below as they appear on the official website's roster as of February 10, 2024.[2]

Official members

Key
  Denotes elections that the member did not take part in
N/A Denotes elections the member took part in but did not rank
Denotes ranking between #81 and #100
Official members of AKB48
Name Birth date (age) Generation Election rank
1[9] 2[10] 3[11] 4[12] 5[13] 6[14] 7[15] 8[16] 9[17] 10
Yuki Kashiwagi (柏木 由紀, Kashiwagi Yuki) (1991-07-15) July 15, 1991 (age 32) 3 8 8 3 3 4 3 2 5    
Yukari Sasaki (佐々木 優佳里, Sasaki Yukari) (1995-08-28) August 28, 1995 (age 28) 12       N/A N/A 47 50 38 43 44
Saho Iwatate (岩立 沙穂, Iwatate Saho) (1994-10-04) October 4, 1994 (age 29) 13       N/A N/A 66 N/A 51 42 22
Yuiri Murayama (村山 彩希, Murayama Yuiri) (1997-06-15) June 15, 1997 (age 26) 13       N/A N/A N/A        
Haruka Komiyama (込山 榛香, Komiyama Haruka) (1998-09-12) September 12, 1998 (age 25) 15           N/A N/A 21 52 52
Megu Taniguchi (谷口 めぐ, Taniguchi Megu) (1998-11-12) November 12, 1998 (age 25) 15             N/A 69 45 33
Seina Fukuoka (福岡 聖菜, Fukuoka Seina) (2000-08-01) August 1, 2000 (age 23) 15           N/A N/A 97 32 31
Mion Mukaichi (向井地 美音, Mukaichi Mion) (1998-01-29) January 29, 1998 (age 26) 15           N/A 44 13 17 13
Hinana Shimoguchi (下口 ひなな, Shimoguchi Hinana) (2001-07-19) July 19, 2001 (age 22) 1st Draft           N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A
Momoka Onishi (大西 桃香, Onishi Momoka) (1997-09-20) September 20, 1997 (age 26) Team 8           N/A N/A N/A N/A 38
Rin Okabe (岡部 麟, Okabe Rin) (1996-11-07) November 7, 1996 (age 27) Team 8           N/A N/A N/A N/A 58
Yui Oguri (小栗 有以, Oguri Yui) (2001-12-26) December 26, 2001 (age 22) Team 8           N/A N/A N/A 51 25
Erina Oda (小田 えりな, Oda Erina) (1997-04-25) April 25, 1997 (age 26) Team 8           N/A N/A N/A 92 60
Yurina Gyōten (行天 優莉奈, Gyōten Yurina) (1999-03-14) March 14, 1999 (age 24) Team 8           N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A
Narumi Kuranō (倉野尾 成美, Kuranō Narumi) (2000-11-08) November 8, 2000 (age 23) Team 8           N/A N/A 34 30 49
Hiyuka Sakagawa (坂川 陽香, Sakagawa Hiyuka) (2006-10-07) October 7, 2006 (age 17) Team 8                    
Miu Shitao (下尾 みう, Shitao Miu) (2001-04-03) April 3, 2001 (age 22) Team 8           N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A
Ayane Takahashi (高橋 彩音, Takahashi Ayane) (1997-12-30) December 30, 1997 (age 26) Team 8           N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A
Remi Tokunaga (徳永 羚海, Tokunaga Remi) (2006-10-01) October 1, 2006 (age 17) Team 8                    
Serika Nagano (永野 芹佳, Nagano Serika) (2001-03-27) March 27, 2001 (age 22) Team 8           N/A N/A N/A 67 104
Haruna Hashimoto (橋本 陽菜, Hashimoto Haruna) (2000-05-25) May 25, 2000 (age 23) Team 8           N/A N/A N/A N/A 109
Erii Chiba (千葉 恵里, Chiba Erii) (2003-10-27) October 27, 2003 (age 20) 2nd Draft               N/A N/A N/A
Ma Chia-Ling (馬 嘉伶, Ma Chia-Ling) (1996-12-21) December 21, 1996 (age 27) AKB48 Taiwan Audition               N/A N/A 97
Haruka Kurosu (黒須 遥香, Kurosu Haruka) (2001-02-28) February 28, 2001 (age 22) 16                 N/A N/A
Minami Sato (佐藤 美波, Sato Minami) (2003-08-03) August 3, 2003 (age 20) 16                 N/A N/A
Kurumi Suzuki (鈴木 くるみ, Suzuki Kurumi) (2004-09-02) September 2, 2004 (age 19) 16                 N/A N/A
Manaka Taguchi (田口 愛佳, Taguchi Manaka) (2003-12-12) December 12, 2003 (age 20) 16                 N/A N/A
Ayami Nagatomo (長友 彩海, Nagatomo Ayami) (2000-11-02) November 2, 2000 (age 23) 16                 N/A N/A
Orin Muto (武藤 小麟, Mutō Orin) (2000-07-22) July 22, 2000 (age 23) 16                 55 N/A
Mizuki Yamauchi (山内 瑞葵, Yamauchi Mizuki) (2001-09-20) September 20, 2001 (age 22) 16                 N/A 92
Suzuha Yamane (山根 涼羽, Yamane Suzuha) (2000-08-11) August 11, 2000 (age 23) 16                 N/A N/A
Maho Omori (大盛 真歩, Omori Maho) (1999-12-05) December 5, 1999 (age 24) 3rd Draft                   N/A

Trainees

Trainees (研究生, kenkyūsei) are members who have entered the group but have not been assigned or promoted to a fixed team. Currently the trainees are 17th generation-members who were introduced on May 4, 2022,[1] and 18th generation-members who were introduced on April 9, 2023.

Trainees of AKB48
Name Birth date (age) Generation
Yuki Ōta (太田 有紀, Ōta Yuki) (2004-03-27) March 27, 2004 (age 19) 17
Kokone Kohama (小濱 心音, Kohama Kokone) (2007-02-12) February 12, 2007 (age 17) 17
Airi Satō (佐藤 綺星, Satō Airi) (2004-06-24) June 24, 2004 (age 19) 17
Eriko Hashimoto (橋本 恵理子, Hashimoto Eriko) (2006-04-16) April 16, 2006 (age 17) 17
Nozomi Hatakeyama (畠山 希美, Hatakeyama Nozomi) (2008-01-25) January 25, 2008 (age 16) 17
Yuki Hirata (平田 侑希, Hirata Yuki) (2002-09-03) September 3, 2002 (age 21) 17
Moka Hotei (布袋 百椛, Hotei Moka) (2004-12-01) December 1, 2004 (age 19) 17
Mayū Masai (正鋳 真優, Masai Mayū) (2005-03-01) March 1, 2005 (age 18) 17
Miyū Mizushima (水島 美結, Mizushima Miyū) (2003-11-12) November 12, 2003 (age 20) 17
Sora Yamazaki (山﨑 空, Yamazaki Sora) (2004-05-13) May 13, 2004 (age 19) 17
Yuna Akiyama (秋山 由奈, Akiyama Yuna) (2005-12-12) December 12, 2005 (age 18) 18
Sae Arai (新井 彩永, Arai Sae) (2005-10-05) October 5, 2005 (age 18) 18
Kasumi Kudō (工藤 華純, Kudō Kasumi) (2005-06-15) June 15, 2005 (age 18) 18
Hinano Kubo (久保 姫菜乃, Kubo Hinano) (2006-02-02) February 2, 2006 (age 18) 18
Yumemi Sako (迫 由芽実, Sako Yumemi) (2006-02-05) February 5, 2006 (age 18) 18
Kohina Narita (成田 香姫奈, Narita Kohina) (2004-03-03) March 3, 2004 (age 19) 18
Azuki Yagi (八木 愛月, Yagi Azuki) (2005-03-22) March 22, 2005 (age 18) 18
Yui Yamaguchi (山口 結愛, Yamaguchi Yui) (2009-03-08) March 8, 2009 (age 14) 18

References

  1. ^ a b "AKB48、第17期生11名お披露目 最年少は14歳、メンバー実妹も" [AKB48, 17th generation 10 trainess unveiled, The youngest is 14 years old, including member's sister]. modelpress (in Japanese). April 20, 2022. Retrieved May 4, 2022.
  2. ^ a b "AKB48公式サイト｜メンバー情報 (AKB48 Official Site – Member List)". AKB48 Official Website (in Japanese). Retrieved January 31, 2021. List is subject to change from graduations and transfers.((cite web)): CS1 maint: postscript (link)
  3. ^ Hesse, Monica (March 27, 2012). "Japanese girl group AKB48 breezes through D.C. in whirlwind of cuteness". The Washington Post. Retrieved April 9, 2012.
  4. ^ a b "Japan's AKB48, a girl pop group whose lineup is chosen by fans, set to go global". Daily News. New York. Associated Press. June 12, 2012. Retrieved April 7, 2013.
  5. ^ a b AKB48 (February 14, 2011). What is AKB48? / AKB48 [Official] (in Japanese and English). YouTube. Retrieved June 29, 2011.((cite AV media)): CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  6. ^ a b St. Michel, Patrick; Kikuchi, Daisuke (May 31, 2012). "AKB48 'election' shows marketing brilliance". The Japan Times. p. 17.
  7. ^ "Girl idol group about mass exposure, fans". The Japan Times. August 24, 2010. Retrieved June 29, 2011.
  8. ^ "AKB48横山由依&向井地美音、新旧総監督が思い明かす". Modelpress (in Japanese). Netnative. April 8, 2019. Retrieved April 8, 2019.
  9. ^ "AKB48 13thシングル選抜総選挙 結果発表" [13th single selection general election result announced]. AKB48 Official Blog (in Japanese). Ameblo.jp. July 8, 2009. Retrieved January 13, 2014.
  10. ^ "AKB48 選抜総選挙 結果" [AKB48 Selection Election]. AKB48 Official Blog (in Japanese). Ameblo.jp. June 9, 2010. Retrieved January 13, 2014.
  11. ^ "AKB48 22ndシングル選抜総選挙結果" [AKB48 22nd Single selection Election]. AKB48 Official Blog (in Japanese). Ameblo.jp. June 10, 2011. Retrieved January 13, 2014.
  12. ^ "AKB48 27thシングル選抜総選挙 開票結果" [AKB48 27th Single selection election vote counting result]. AKB48 Official Blog (in Japanese). Ameblo.jp. June 6, 2012. Retrieved January 13, 2014.
  13. ^ "AKB48 32ndシングル 選抜総選挙" [32nd single selection elections]. AKB48 Official Site (in Japanese). June 8, 2013.
  14. ^ "AKB48 37thシングル 選抜総選挙" [37th single selection elections]. AKB48 Official Site (in Japanese). June 7, 2014.
  15. ^ "AKB48 41stシングル 選抜総選挙" [41st single selection elections]. AKB48 Official Site (in Japanese). June 6, 2015.
  16. ^ AKB48 45thシングル 選抜総選挙 [45th single selection elections]. AKB48 Official Site (in Japanese). Retrieved July 8, 2016.
  17. ^ AKB48公式サイト AKB48 49thシングル 選抜総選挙 [49th single selection elections]. AKB48 Official Site (in Japanese). June 17, 2017.
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