HKT48

HKT48
Origin Fukuoka, Japan
Genres Pop
Years active 2011–present
Labels Universal Sigma
Associated acts AKB48
Website www.hkt48.jp
Members Team H details
Team KIV details

HKT48 (read "H.K.T. Forty-eight") is an all-female Japanese theater/idol group produced by Yasushi Akimoto. The group performs at HKT48 Theater at Hawks Town in Fukuoka.[1]

About

HKT48 is named after the Hakata-ku, Fukuoka city of Fukuoka Prefecture, where Yasushi Akimoto originally intended to base the group.[2] HKT48's theater is located in Hawks Town Mall in Chūō-ku, Fukuoka.[3]

History

HKT48 theater

Plans for a group entitled HKT48 were first revealed by AKB48 producer Yasushi Akimoto on November 19, 2008.[2] HKT48 was officially announced on May 1, 2011 at an AKB48 handshake event.[1] The group is the fourth AKB48 sister group to be launched, after the groups SKE48, SDN48 and NMB48.[3] The group takes its name from its proposed base location of Hakata-ku, Fukuoka.[2] Instead of the previously targeted Hakata, HKT48 will instead be based at a theater in the Hawks Town Mall in neighboring Chūō-ku, Fukuoka.[3] This location is next to the Fukuoka Yahoo! Japan Dome.[4] In addition, it was announced that the group would be accepting applications from girls aged between 11 and 22.[1] The first round of the first-ever 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.[1] The final auditions were held at Hliton Fukuoka Sea Hawk Hotel on July 10, and 24 candidates successfully passed the final.[5]

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.[4] Of these 21 members, 17 are junior high school students or below, and two are elementary-school students.[6] The youngest member of the group, Natsumi Tanaka, was born in 2000, and 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."[6] The oldest member is Yūko Sugamoto, who was 17 years old at the time of the announcement.[4]

They debuted at HKT48 Theater on November 26, 2011,[7] 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 "NHK Kōhaku Uta Gassen", as one of the sister groups of AKB48.[8] On March 4, 2012, the first 16 members were selected to form Team HKT48, and appeared on the stage.[9] On June 20, 2012, Rino Sashihara from AKB48 transferred to HKT48 and is currently HKT48's oldest member.[10]

On June 23, 2012, the final auditions for the second generation were held, and 34 candidates out of 48 finalists has passed the final.[11] On August 18, 2012, the management announced that five members, 3 from Team H - Komori, Sugamoto, and Taniguchi, and 2 Kenkyusei - Eto and A. Nakanishi, would be resigning from HKT48 "due to personal reasons".[12] 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.[13] On September 23, 2012 HKT48's second generation research students were announced.[14]

HKT48 released their debut single, "Suki Suki Skip!" on March 20, 2013 under the Universal Sigma record label.[15][16]

Members

HKT48 has 2 teams, H and KIV. The Trainees' team is formed by 7 girls from the 3rd generation. The following line-up started to work on April 5, 2014, on the concert live at the Saitama Super Arena, as part of the AKB48 Spring Concert.

Team H

Chihiro Anai and Natsumi Matsuoka are the leader and the co-leader of Team H respectively.[17]

Name Birth date (age) Election rank
1[18] 2[19] 3[20] 4[21] 5[22] 6[23]
Yuka Akiyoshi (秋吉 優花) October 24, 2000         N/A N/A
Chihiro Anai (穴井 千尋) January 27, 1996       N/A N/A 39
Yuriya Inoue (井上 由莉耶) June 15, 1999         N/A N/A
Haruka Kodama (兒玉 遥)[24] September 19, 1996       N/A 37 21
Yui Kojina (神志那 結衣) January 24, 1998         N/A N/A
Hiroka Komada ((駒田 京伽) November 21, 1996         N/A 79
Natsumi Matsuoka (松岡 菜摘) August 8, 1996       N/A N/A 64
Naoko Okamoto (岡本 尚子) April 4, 1996         N/A N/A
Riko Sakaguchi (坂口 理子) July 26, 1994         N/A 60
Rino Sashihara (指原 莉乃) [25] November 21, 1992 27 19 9 4 1 2
Miku Tanaka (田中 美久) September 12, 2001           N/A
Natsumi Tanaka (田中 菜津美)[26] August 10, 2000       N/A N/A N/A
Meru Tashima (田島 芽瑠) January 7, 2000         55 38
Mashiro Ui (宇井 真白) May 15, 2000         N/A N/A
Izumi Umemoto (梅本 泉) May 15, 1997         N/A N/A
Haruka Ueno (上野 遥) September 20, 1999         N/A N/A
Haruka Wakatabe (若田部 遥) September 26, 1998       N/A N/A N/A
Nako Yabuki (矢吹 奈子) June 18, 2001           N/A
Marina Yamada (山田 麻莉奈) March 24, 1995         N/A N/A
Mao Yamamoto (山本 茉央) September 18, 1996           N/A

Transferred Members

Resigned Members

Team KIV

Aita Oka and Sakura Miyawaki are the leader and the co-leader of Team KIV respectively.[17]

Name Birth date (age) Election rank
1[18] 2[19] 3[20] 4[21] 5[22] 6[23]
Mai Fuchigami (渕上 舞) September 21, 1996         N/A N/A
Maiko Fukagawa (深川 舞子) July 5, 1999       N/A N/A N/A
Izumi Goto (後藤 泉) September 27, 1997         N/A N/A
Mina Imada (今田 美奈) September 19, 1996       N/A N/A N/A
Raira Ito (伊藤 来笑) October 31, 1998         N/A N/A
Shino Iwahana April 1, 2000         N/A N/A
Kanon Kimoto (木本 花音)[27] August 11, 1997     N/A 56 31 50
Serina Kumazawa (熊沢 世莉奈) April 17, 1997       N/A N/A N/A
Manami Kusaba (草場 愛) October 17, 1995         N/A N/A
Sakura Miyawaki (宮脇 咲良)[28] March 19, 1998       47 26 11
Madoka Moriyasu (森保 まどか) July 26, 1997       N/A N/A 25
Aoi Motomura (本村 碧唯) May 31, 1997       N/A N/A 48
Anna Murashige (村重 杏奈)[29] July 29, 1998       N/A N/A 67
Kanna Okada (岡田 栞奈) June 26, 1997         N/A N/A
Aika Ota (多田 愛佳) December 8, 1994 20 22 25 52 43 42
Yuki Shimono (下野 由貴) April 2, 1998       N/A N/A N/A
Yuka Tanaka (田中 優香) June 7, 2000         N/A N/A
Asuka Tomiyoshi (冨吉 明日香) September 20, 1997         N/A N/A
Mio Tomonaga (朝長 美桜)[30] May 17, 1998         59 27
Nao Ueki (植木 南央) August 12, 1997       N/A N/A N/A

Transferred Members

Kenkyūsei

Kenkyūsei (研究生, "Trainees")

3rd generation

Graduated members

Resigned members

Discography

Singles

Release date Title Chart position Sales
(Oricon)[31]
Oricon
Weekly
Singles
Chart
[32]		 Billboard Japan
Hot
100
[33]		 First
week		 Total
March 20, 2013 "Suki! Suki! Skip!" (スキ！スキ！スキップ！, "Liked! Liked! Skip!") 1 2 250,147 291,876
September 4, 2013 [34] "Melon Juice" (メロンジュース) 1 1 268,897 306,014
March 12, 2014 [35] "Sakura, Minnade Tabeta" (桜、みんなで食べた , "We Ate Sakura Together") 1 1 276,799 328,300
September 24, 2014 "Hikaeme I Love You!" (控えめI love you!, "Quietly I Love You") 1 1 277,534 311,872
April 22, 2015 "12 Byou" (12秒, "12 Seconds") 1 1 277,916 -

Songs recorded on AKB48 singles

Release date Title of
HKT48 song		 Title of AKB48 single
which HKT48 song is recorded on
December 5, 2012 "Hatsukoi Butterfly" (初恋バタフライ, "First-love Butterfly") Eien Pressure
December 11, 2013 "Wink wa 3-kai" (ウインクは3回, "Winks 3 times") "Suzukake no Ki no Michi de ..."
March 4, 2015 "Otona Ressha" (大人列車, "Train to Adulthood") "Green Flash (song)"

Stages

Names in bold are the stages currently performed.

Team H

Team KIV

Himawarigumi

Trainees

Tours

HKT48 Kyushu 7 Prefecture Tour ~Kawaii Ko ni wa Tabi wo Saseyo~

The group's first tour, being presented only in the Kyushu Island.

Tour Dates

In all the venues, with the exception of Miyazaki and Kumamoto, had 2 shows, one held in the afternoon and another at night.

Trivia

HKT48 Kyushu 7 Prefecture Tour ~Kawaii Ko ni wa Motto Tabi wo Saseyo~

HKT48's second tour, an extension of their first. This tour is a national tour, so unlike the first one, they travelled all over Japan.

Tour dates

International performances

On August 3, 2014 Rino Sashihara, who is in charge of HKT48, used Twitter to announce that the group was going to perform in Hong Kong and Taiwan.[39]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 "FAKB48の妹分・福岡拠点の"HKT48"誕生へ！". Career Oricon (in Japanese). May 1, 2011. Retrieved October 23, 2011.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 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.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 "HKT48 ：次は福岡発！ AKB48妹プロジェクト始動". Mainichi Shimbun Digital Co.Ltd (in Japanese). May 1, 2011. Retrieved October 24, 2011.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 "HKT48、西武ドームで初代21人お披露目　AKBグループ最年少の平均年齢13.8歳". Oricon, Inc. (in Japanese). October 23, 2011. Retrieved October 24, 2011.
  5. ↑ "24 girls pass the first stage of auditions for HKT48". tokyohive. July 10, 2011. Retrieved February 5, 2012.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 "HKT48 ：「HKT48」始動ばい！ 平均13.8歳、最年少は小5でファンどよめき". eiga.com (in Japanese). October 23, 2011. Retrieved October 24, 2011.
  7. ↑ "HKT48 makes their theater debut". tokyohive. November 27, 2011. Retrieved February 5, 2012.
  8. ↑ 〈速報〉ＡＫＢ！巨大「がんばろう」人文字／紅白. The Asahi Shimbun Company (in Japanese). December 31, 2011. Retrieved February 5, 2012.
  9. ↑ "HKT48 チームＨお披露目公演終了". HKT48 official blog (in Japanese). March 4, 2012. Retrieved March 10, 2012.
  10. ↑ "Sashihara Rino’s last Team A performance to be on June 20th". June 16, 2012. Retrieved June 17, 2012.
  11. ↑ "HKT48 第2期生オーディション最終審査結果". HKT48 Official Website (in Japanese). June 23, 2012. Retrieved June 23, 2012.
  12. ↑ "5 members resigning from HKT48" (in Japanese). August 18, 2012.
  13. ↑ "AKB48 announces a big team shuffle!!!". Tokyohive. August 24, 2012.
  14. ↑ "HKT48 announces their second generation research students". Tokyohive. September 23, 2012.
  15. ↑ "HKT48 to release debut single". Tokyohive. January 15, 2013.
  16. ↑ "HKT48's debut single title revealed". Universal Music. February 13, 2013.
  17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 "AKB48公式サイト | AKB48グループ 大組閣祭り". Akb48.co.jp. Retrieved 2014-02-25.
  18. ↑ 18.0 18.1 "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. 2009-07-08. Retrieved 2014-01-13.
  19. ↑ 19.0 19.1 "AKB48　選抜総選挙　結果" [AKB48 Selection Election]. AKB48 Official Blog (in Japanese). Ameblo.jp. 2010-06-09. Retrieved 2014-01-13.
  20. ↑ 20.0 20.1 "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. 2011-06-10. Retrieved 2014-01-13.
  21. ↑ 21.0 21.1 "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. 2012-06-06. Retrieved 2014-01-13.
  22. ↑ 22.0 22.1 "AKB48 32ndシングル 選抜総選挙" [32nd single selection elections]. AKB48 Official Site (in Japanese). 2013-06-08.
  23. ↑ 23.0 23.1 "AKB48 37thシングル 選抜総選挙" [37th single selection elections]. AKB48 Official Site (in Japanese). 2014-06-07.
  24. ↑ Concurrent member of AKB48 Team K since April 24, 2014, and formerly a concurrent member of AKB48 Team A until being transferred to Team K since April 28, 2013.
  25. ↑ Concurrently holding a position as a Manager of HKT48 Theater.
  26. ↑ Concurrent member of SKE48 Team S since April 4, 2014
  27. ↑ Originally a member of SKE48 Team E, concurrently being a member of HKT48 since April 4, 2014
  28. ↑ Concurrent member of AKB48 Team A since April 25, 2014
  29. ↑ Concurrent member of NMB48 Team N since April 5, 2014
  30. ↑ Concurrent member of AKB48 Team B since April 28, 2014
  31. ↑ "オリコンランキング情報サービス「you大樹」". Oricon. Retrieved February 9, 2011. (subscription only)
  32. ↑ "HKT48のCDシングルランキング │オリコン芸能人事典-ORICON STYLE" (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved 2014-03-08.
  33. ↑ "Hot 100｜JAPAN Charts｜Billboard JAPAN" (in Japanese). Billboard.
  34. ↑ "HKT48 2nd Single Release Date decision!!" (in Japanese). June 13, 2013. Retrieved June 13, 2013.
  35. ↑ "[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). 2014-01-21. Retrieved 2014-01-24.
  36. ↑ http://www.hkt48.jp/schedule/2014/11/011610.html
  37. ↑ http://www.hkt48.jp/news/2014/06/010395.html
  38. ↑ http://ameblo.jp/akihabara48/entry-11890282029.html
  39. ↑ 39.0 39.1 https://twitter.com/345__chan/status/495793380773740544
  40. ↑ http://ameblo.jp/akihabara48/entry-11890282029.html

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to HKT48.