HKT48 (read "H.K.T. Forty-eight") is a Japanese idol group produced by Yasushi Akimoto. HKT48 is named after the Hakata-ku, Fukuoka city of Fukuoka Prefecture, where Akimoto originally intended to base the group.[1] The group currently performs at City Bank HKT48 Theater in Fukuoka[2] and has sold nearly 4 million copies of CDs in Japan.
Plans for a group entitled HKT48 were first revealed by AKB48 producer Yasushi Akimoto on November 19, 2008.[1] HKT48 was officially announced on May 1, 2011, at an AKB48 handshake event.[3] The group was the fourth AKB48 sister group to be launched, after the groups SKE48, SDN48 and NMB48.[4] While the group took its name from its proposed base location of Hakata-ku, Fukuoka, HKT48 was eventually based at a theater in the Hawks Town Mall in neighboring Chūō-ku, Fukuoka.[1][4] This location is next to the Fukuoka Yahoo! Japan Dome.[5] In addition, it was announced that the group would be accepting applications from girls aged between 11 and 22.[3] The first round of the first HKT48 audition took place from May 31, 2011, and successful applicants took part in the second round of auditions, consisting of a singing and dancing test, in the first half of July 2011.[3] The final auditions were held at Hilton Fukuoka Sea Hawk Hotel on July 10 and 24 candidates successfully passed the final.[6]
After undergoing dance and vocal lessons, HKT48's 21 first-generation members were first revealed at an AKB48 handshake event on October 23, 2011, at Seibu Dome.[5] Of these 21 members, 17 were junior high school students or below, and two were elementary-school students.[7] The youngest member of the group, Natsumi Tanaka, was born in 2000, and was 11 years old at the time of the announcement. She said that "joining AKB48 is my ambition since I was 5 years old, so it feels like a dream to be in this group."[7] The oldest member was Yūko Sugamoto, who was 17 years old at the time of the announcement.[5]
They debuted at HKT48 Theater on November 26, 2011,[8] and have been performing sets of songs entitled "Te o Tsunaginagara", which had been originally performed by SKE48 Team S and KII. On December 31, 2011, 16 members appeared on the stage of the 62nd edition of "NHKKōhaku Uta Gassen", as one of the sister groups of AKB48.[9] On March 4, 2012, the first 16 members were selected to form Team H, and appeared on the stage.[10] On June 20, 2012, Rino Sashihara from AKB48 transferred to HKT48 and as of 2012 was HKT48's oldest member.[11]
On June 23, 2012, the final auditions for the second generation were held, and 34 candidates out of 48 finalists has passed the final.[12] On August 18, 2012, the management announced that five members, three from Team H, Komori, Sugamoto and Taniguchi, and two Kenkyusei – Eto and A. Nakanishi, would be resigning from HKT48 "due to personal reasons".[13] On August 24, 2012, it was announced on the first day of the AKB48 concert at Tokyo Dome that Aika Ota, one of AKB48 Team A members, would be transferred to HKT48.[14] On September 23, 2012, HKT48's second generation research students were announced.[15]
On March 31, 2016, the existing theater located at Hawks Town Mall was closed, with a special farewell performance. A new temporary theater opened in Nishitetsu Hall, also in Chūō-ku, Fukuoka, on April 28, 2016.[18]
In mid-2018, 10 members of HKT48 joined Produce 48, a South Korean competition television show on Mnet to form a girl group. Members Sakura Miyawaki and Nako Yabuki finished in 2nd and 6th placed respectively, both earning themselves a spot to debut in IZ*ONE.
On November 2, 2020, the new and permanent theatre was opened in BOSS E・ZO FUKUOKA. The theatre was named "Nishi-Nippon City Bank HKT48 Theater".
On October 16, 2022, during HKT48 11th anniversary concert, Nako Yabuki announced her graduation from the group with graduation concert would be held in Spring 2023.[19]
Members
Team H's formation was announced at HKT48 theater on March 4, 2012. At the conference, it was also announced that 16 members were selected and 5 members remained as a trainee.[20] On January 11, 2014, during their first exclusive concert tour in Ōita, a theater manager Rino Sashihara announced a new Team KIV and promotion of 17 members from the trainees.[21] On March 30, 2016, the group announced that Team TII was formed and 10 trainees were promoted from 3rd generation and 2nd Generation draft members.[22]
On November 26, 2017, the group announced that all 10 trainees from 4th generation were promoted and assigned to the existing 3 teams, one to Team H, two to Team KIV, and seven to Team TII.
On April 9, 2021, the group announced that 4 trainees from the 5th generation were promoted and assigned to two teams, two to Team H and two to Team KIV.
On October 16, 2022, the group will end its current three-team system with Team TII ceased and start its two-team activities with Team H and Team KIV in February 2023.[19] It is also announced a new captain for both Teams H and Team KIV respectively.
Team H
Team H is associated with the color Sulu Green, the current captain is Yuka Akiyoshi.[23]
Ozaki Shihainin ga Naita Yoru Documentary of HKT48 (2015)[53]
Notes
↑ This figure is based Oricon monthly album ranking from December, 2021. Figure is still updating as March, 2022.
↑ Billboard Japan sales figures are from the top 50 only. Exact sales figures are not available as Billboard Japan does not count sales below the top 50; this figure is still updating as April 20, 2022.
Related Research Articles
AKB48 is a Japanese idol musical girl group named after the Akihabara area in Tokyo, where the group's theater is located. AKB48 has sold more records than any other female musical act in Japanese history. AKB48's producer, Yasushi Akimoto, wanted to form a girl group with its own theater and performing daily so fans could always see them live. This "idols you can meet" concept includes teams which can rotate performances and perform simultaneously at several events and "handshake" events, where fans can meet group members. Akimoto has expanded the AKB48 concept to several girl groups within Japan, and internationally in Mainland China, Indonesia, Thailand, Taiwan, and Philippines.
Aika Ota, is a former member of the Japanese idol group HKT48, the captain of its Team KIV. She has also been a member of AKB48 and Watarirouka Hashiritai, and portrayed Kazue Kae in Tomie Unlimited (2011).
SKE48 is a Japanese idol group produced by Yasushi Akimoto. SKE48 is named after the Sakae district in Nagoya of Aichi Prefecture, where the group is based. The group performs at SKE48 Theater on 2F of Sunshine Sakae, a shopping center in Sakae, Nagoya. Avex Group is its current official label. The group has sold nearly 11 million CDs in Japan.
Ayaka Umeda is a former Japanese idol and singer from the girl group NMB48, in which she is the co-captain of Team BII. She was also a member of the AKB48 and its subunit DiVA.
Rino Sashihara is a Japanese tarento, singer, producer and actress. She is best known as a former member of idol groups HKT48, AKB48 and STU48, and was the theater manager for HKT48 and STU48. She was also a member of AKB48's unit Not Yet and is the producer of the idol groups =Love, ≠Me and ≒Joy.
Reina Fujie, is a Japanese actress and former singer. She is a former member NMB48's Team BII and former member of AKB48. She is a cousin of Berryz Kobo sub- captain Miyabi Natsuyaki.
Mayu Watanabe is a Japanese former singer and actress. Watanabe started her career as a member of the idol girl group AKB48 under Team B. In the annual AKB48 General Elections event, she had consistently been voted by fans to rank among the group's top members. She has released five solo singles, many of which have peaked in the top ten in the Oricon charts, and one solo album. She left the group on the last day of 2017 and on the first day of 2018 and pursued as an acting career until her retirement from the entertainment industry in June 2020.
NMB48 is a Japanese idol group that debuted in 2011 as the second sister group to AKB48, produced by Yasushi Akimoto. NMB48 is named after the Namba district in Osaka city of Osaka Prefecture, where the group is based. The group performs at the NMB48 Theater, which is located in the basement of the Yes-Namba Building in Namba, Osaka. The group has sold over 9 million CDs in Japan.
Rie Kitahara is a Japanese singer and actress formerly associated with the Japanese idol girl group NGT48 and former member of AKB48 and SKE48. She debuted in 2008 in Team A and was later co-captain of Team K (2014). In March 2015, it was announced Kitahara would be transferred to NGT48 as captain of the group. She has sung on many of the groups' main singles, having been voted number 13, 16, 13, 13, 21, 19, 11 and 12 in AKB48's General Elections. In 2017, for her final participation, she was voted number 10 which is her best rank ever. Since 2011, Kitahara is also a member of the AKB48 subgroup Not Yet.
Amina Sato is a Japanese voice actress and a former member of the Japanese idol girl group AKB48. In AKB48, she was originally a fourth generation trainee, then in Team A, in Team B, and finally in Team K. Amina Sato was also a member of a pop group named No Name, which consisted of several AKB48 members voice acting in the animation series AKB0048.
Sakura Miyawaki, better known mononymously as Sakura, is a Japanese singer and actress based in South Korea. She is currently a member of the South Korean girl group Le Sserafim, and is a former member of South Korean-Japanese girl group Iz*One, Japanese girl group AKB48, and Japanese girl group HKT48.
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Kaori Matsumura is a Japanese tarento who is a former member of SKE48's Team KII.
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Haruka Kodama is a Japanese actress and former member of the idol girl groups HKT48 and AKB48. In HKT48, she was a member of Team H.
"Bokutachi wa Tatakawanai" is the 40th single by the Japanese idol girl group AKB48. It was released in Japan on May 20, 2015. AKB48's Chinese sister group, AKB48 Team SH, made their own Chinese version of the song.
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"Love Trip / Shiawase wo Wakenasai" is the 45th single by the Japanese idol girl group AKB48. It was released in Japan on August 31, 2016. It was number-one on the Oricon Weekly Singles Chart with 1,177,769 copies sold. The song also reached number-one on the Billboard Japan Hot 100.
"3-2" (さんひくに) is the 13th single by the Japanese idol girl group HKT48. It was released on April 22, 2020. The choreographic center is performed by Hirona Unjo.
References
1 2 3 ＡＫＢ48がＲ－18、大人相手の深夜ライブ. Nikkan Sports News (in Japanese). November 19, 2008. Retrieved October 24, 2011.
1 2 "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.
1 2 "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.
1 2 "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.
1 2 3 "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.
↑ "[TOPICS] HKT48九州7県ツアーレポート in 鹿児島 更新"[[TOPICS] HKT48 Kyushu 7-prefecture Tour Report in Kagoshima – revised] (in Japanese). January 21, 2014. Retrieved August 15, 2016.
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