48 FAMILY

Welcome to the 48 Group carrd! This was created by @namjooning99 on Twitter. I am an avid fan of Japanese culture and entertainment, which is why I fell in love with AKB48 years ago. For those who are curious, I created this little guide to let you know more about AKB48 and its sister groups.

Disclaimer: I will write all names in the standard Japanese format (Last Name, First Name) with the exception of JKT48, BNK48, CGM48, MNL48, SGO48, and DEL48, where I will refer to the members by their nicknames, or the typical western name format (First Name, Last Name).

Info + Domestic Sister Groups

WHAT IS AKB48?

AKB48 is a Japanese idol group formed in 2005 by producer and lyricist Akimoto Yasushi (秋元 康). Akimoto wanted to form a girl group that was more personable and appealing to fans, by having their own theater with weekly performances instead of performing in only arenas and stadiums. This became known as the “idols you can meet” concept, and is administered through AKB48 and all of its sister groups.

• Left Arrow

AKB48

AKB48 (short for Akihabara48), is a Japanese idol group. Their theater for weekly performances is located on the eighth floor of the Don Quijote store in Akihabara, Tokyo. Twenty 1st generation members debuted on December 8, 2005.

As of now, they have 5 teams: Team A, Team K, Team B, Team 4, and Team 8

MOST RECENT SINGLE: Shitsuren, Arigatou
CENTER: Yamauchi Mizuki (AKB48 Team 4)
RELEASED: March 18, 2020

FIRST SINGLE: Sakura no Hanibiratachi
CENTER: Takahashi Minami (AKB48 Team A)
RELEASED: February 1, 2006

• Left Arrow

AKB48 GENERAL ELECTIONS

AKB48 has had 10 General Elections so far, with the most recent election haven taken place in 2018. This is a list of every winner, plus the song they centered.

First General Election (2009)
AKB48 and SKE48 members were allowed to participate.

Winner: Maeda Atsuko, with 4,630 votes.

Song: Iiwake Maybe

Kami 7 (in order of ranking from first to seventh): Maeda Atsuko, Oshima Yuko, Shinoda Mariko, Watanabe Mayu, Takahashi Minami, Kojima Haruna, Itano Tomomi

Second General Election (2010)
AKB48 and SKE48 members were allowed to participate.

Winner: Oshima Yuko, with 31,448 votes.

Song: Heavy Rotation

Kami 7 (in order of ranking from first to seventh): Oshima Yuko, Maeda Atsuko, Shinoda Mariko, Itano Tomomi, Watanabe Mayu, Takahashi Minami, Kojima Haruna

Third General Election (2011)
AKB48, SKE48, and NMB48 members were allowed to participate.

Winner: Maeda Atsuko, with 139,892 votes.

Song: Flying Get

Kami 7 (in order of ranking from first to seventh): Maeda Atsuko, Oshima Yuko, Kashiwagi Yuki, Shinoda Mariko, Watanabe Mayu, Kojima Haruna, Takahashi Minami

Fourth General Election (2012)
AKB48, SKE48, NMB48, and HKT48 members were allowed to participate.

Winner: Oshima Yuko, with 108,837 votes.

Song: Gingham Check

Kami 7 (in order of ranking from first to seventh): Oshima Yuko, Watanabe Mayu, Kashiwagi Yuki, Sashihara Rino, Shinoda Mariko, Takahashi Minami, Kojima Haruna

Fifth General Election (2013)
AKB48, SKE48, NMB48, HKT48, and Team Kaigai members were allowed to participate. Graduated 48G members who were in their respective group for four years or longer were also allowed to participate.

Winner: Sashihara Rino, with 150,570 votes.

Song: Koisuru Fortune Cookie

Kami 7 (in order of ranking from first to seventh): Sashihara Rino (HKT48), Oshima Yuko, Watanabe Mayu, Kashiwagi Yuki, Shinoda Mariko, Matsui Jurina (SKE48), Matsui Rena (SKE48)

Sixth General Election (2014)
AKB48, SKE48, NMB48, HKT48, and Team Kaigai members were allowed to participate. Ikoma Rina, a Nogizaka46 member who had a concurrent position in Team B, was also allowed to participate (she placed 14th).

Winner: Watanabe Mayu, with 159,854 votes.

Song: Kokoro no Placard

Kami 7 (in order of ranking from first to seventh): Watanabe Mayu, Sashihara Rino (HKT48), Kashiwagi Yuki, Matsui Jurina (SKE48), Matsui Rena (SKE48), Yamamoto Sayaka (NMB48), Shimazaki Haruka

Seventh General Election (2015)
AKB48, SKE48, NMB48, HKT48, and Team Kaigai members were allowed to participate. Once again, Ikoma Rina was eligible for participation, but she chose not to enter.

Winner: Sashihara Rino, with 194,049 votes.

Song: Halloween Night

Kami 7 (in order of ranking from first to seventh): Sashihara Rino (HKT48), Kashiwagi Yuki, Watanabe Mayu, Takahashi Minami, Matsui Jurina (SKE48), Yamamoto Sayaka (NMB48), Miyawaki Sakura (HKT48)

Eighth General Election (2016)
AKB48, SKE48, NMB48, HKT48, NGT48, and Team Kaigai members were allowed to participate.

Winner: Sashihara Rino, with 243,011 votes.
First time a member of ALL48 groups received over 200,000 votes
Songs: LOVE TRIP / Shiawase wo Wakenasai

Kami 7 (in order of ranking from first to seventh): Sashihara Rino (HKT48), Watanabe Mayu, Matsui Jurina (SKE48), Yamamoto Sayaka (NMB48), Kashiwagi Yuki, Miyawaki Sakura (HKT48), Suda Akari (SKE48)

Ninth General Election (2017)
AKB48, SKE48, NMB48, HKT48, NGT48, and STU48 members were allowed to participate. Izuta Rina, a Team Kaigai member who transferred to BNK48, was also allowed to participate.

Winner: Sashihara Rino, with 246,376 votes.
Sasshi's last election. To date, she is the only 48G member to have received over 1 million votes amongst all elections.

Song: #Sukinanda

Kami 7 (in order of ranking from first to seventh): Sashihara Rino (HKT48), Watanabe Mayu, Matsui Jurina (SKE48), Miyawaki Sakura (HKT48), Ogino Yuka (NGT48), Suda Akari (SKE48), Yokoyama Yui

Tenth General Election (2018)
All 48 Groups inside and outside of Japan were allowed to participate, including JKT48, BNK48, and AKB48 Team TP members. All members of JKT48 declined participation due to the Ramadan and Eid Al-Fitr holidays.

Winner: Matsui Jurina, with 194,453 votes.

Song: Sentimental Train

Kami 7 (in order of ranking from first to seventh): Matsui Jurina (SKE48), Suda Akari (SKE48), Miyawaki Sakura (HKT48), Ogino Yuka (NGT48), Okada Nana, Yokoyama Yui, Muto Tomu

• Left Arrow