AKB48 (AKihaBara48) is a Japanese all-female idol group formed in Akihabara, Tokyo, where they have their own theater in Don Quixote.
The group, established in 2005, is produced by Akimoto Yasushi and signed under King Records, originally from DefSTAR RECORDS/Sony Music Japan. In addition, the group also has trainees called Kenkyuusei, and an international transference team, Team Kaigai.
They hold the record for highest overall single sales for a female group on the Oricon charts and also hold the Guinness World Record for world's "largest pop group" and usually averages over 100 members with dozens active at any time.
On April 29, 2023, their general manager Mukaichi Mion announced the disbandment of the teams, with a new system replacing the teams. The teams system was discontinued on August 6, 2023 following Team 4's dissolution concert before officially forming the new system on October 17.
Members[]
For a complete list of AKB48 members click here.
Subunits[]
Main Units[]
- No Sleeves
- French Kiss
- Not yet
- AKB48 TeamOgi
- DIVA
- Watarirouka Hashiritai 7
Single Unit[]
One-Shot Subunit[]
- Sukeban Girls
- Team Z
- Beauty Giraffes
Special Subunit[]
- AnRiRe
Sister Groups[]
Active[]
- SKE48 (SaKaE48 | Nagoya Sister Group in Sakae, Nagoya, Aichi, Japan)
- NMB48 (NaMBa48 | Osaka Sister Group in Namba, Osaka, Japan)
- HKT48 (HaKaTa48 | Fukuoka Sister Group in Hakata, Fukuoka, Japan)
- NGT48 (NiiGaTa48 | Niigata Sister Group in Niigata, Japan, Japan)
- STU48 (SeToUchi48 | Setouchi Sister Group in Setouchi, Okayama, Japan)
Disbanded[]
- SDN48 (SaturDay Night48 | Mature Sister Group of AKB48 in Tokyo, Japan)
- OJS48 (OJiSan48 | Osaka, Japan | Security Guards of AKB48)
International Sister Groups[]
Active[]
- JKT48 (JaKarTa48 | Indonesian Sister Group in Jakarta, Indonesia)
- BNK48 (BaNgKok48 | Thai Sister Group in Bangkok, Thailand)
- MNL48 (MaNiLa48 | Filipino Sister Group in Manila, Philippines)
- AKB48 Team SH (AKihaBara48 Team SHanghai | Sister Group in Shanghai, China)
- AKB48 Team TP (AKihaBara48 Team TaiPei | Taiwanese Sister Group in Taipei, Taiwan)
- CGM48 (ChianG Mai48 | Thai Sister Group in Chiang Mai, Thailand | Chiang Mai Sister Group of BNK48)
Disbanded[]
- TPE48 (TaiPEi48 | Taiwanese Sister Group in Taipei, Taiwan; Rebranded to AKB48 Team TP)
- SHY48 (SHenYang48 | Sister Group of SNH48 in Shenyang, China)
- CKG48 (ChungKinG48 | Sister Group of SNH48 in Chungking, China)
- SGO48 (SaiGOn48 | Vietnamese Sister Group in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam)
- MUB48 (formerly MUM48 (MUMbai48) | MUmBai48 | Indian Sister Group in Mumbai, India)
- DEL48 (DELhi48 | Indian Sister Group in Delhi, India)
Independent[]
- SNH48 (ShaNgHai48 | Independent Chinese Sister Group of AKB48 in Shanghai, China)
- BEJ48 (BEiJing48 | Sister Group of SNH48 in Beijing, China)
- GNZ48 (GuaNgZhou48 | Sister Group of SNH48 in Guangzhou, China)
Rival Groups[]
- Nogizaka46
- Sakurazaka46 (formerly known as Keyakizaka46/Kanji Keyakizaka46)
- Hinatazaka46 (formerly known as Keyakizaka46/Hiragana Keyakizaka46)
- Yoshimotozaka46
Discography[]
For a more regularly updated discography, please see AKB48's discography page on AKB48 Wiki.
Gallery[]
