AKB48

AKB48, a Japanese pop-idol group formed in 2005 by producer Yasushi Akimoto, consisted of rotating team members selected from regular auditions and fronted by center performers chosen by the fans via ballots attached to singles. Unique about them was also the fact that they performed regularly in their own theater, the AKB48 theater in Tokyo's district Akihabara. A notable early member was 14-year-old Atsuko Maeda. Their early singles included: Sakura no Hanabiratachi (2006), Skirt Hirari (2006), Aitakatta (2006), Seifuku ga Jama o Suru (2007), Keibetsu Shiteita Aijo (2007), Bingo! (2007); and were collected on the compilation Set List (2008).

They adopted the 11-year-old Jurina Matsui as the center and cover girl of Ogoe Diamond (2008), followed by 10nen Sakura (2009), Namida Surprise! (2009), Iiwake Maybe (2009), which were increasingly popular. Their first number-one hit was River (2009), followed by the even more successful Sakura no Shiori (2010) and by their first album, Kamikyokutachi (2010).

After Ponytail to Chouchou (2010) and Beginner (2010), the single Flying Get (2010) sold one million copies on its first day as did Kaze wa Fuiteiru (2010). Then came Ue kara Mariko (2011), Give Me Five! (2012). Sen Happyaku Sanju Metoru/ 830m (2012), Manatsu no Sounds Good! (2012), Sayonara Crawl (2012), Koisuru Fortune Cookie (2013), Heart Electric (2013) Kimi no Hohoemi wo Yume ni Miru/ I See Your Smile in My Dream (2013). Meanwhile, Atsuko Maeda had left the group in 2012.

The band also had satellite sister groups (SKE48, NMB48 and HKT48) as well as overseas sister group (JKT48 in Indonesia's capital Jakarta and SNH48 in Shanghai, followed in 2016 by BNK48 in Thailand's capital Bangkok, MNL48 in the Philippines' capital Manila, and TPE48 in Taiwan). There was also a companion anime series, titled "AKB0048", and there were also two nationally broadcast variety shows, titled "AKBingo" and "AKB48 Show".

After the album Tsugi no Ashiato (2014) and the singles Mae shika Mukanee and Labrador Retriever, and after the album Koko ga Rhodes da Koko de Tobe (2015) and the singles Green Flash, Bokutachi wa Tatakawanai, Halloween Night and Kuchibiru ni Be My Baby, Rina Kawaei quit too. She had become the most popular member. After the album 0 to 1 no Aida (2015) came the singles Kimi wa Melody (2016), Kimi Wa Melody (2016), Tsubasa wa Iranai, Love Trip and High Tension.

The album Thumbnail (2017) was followed by the singles Shoot Sign, Negaigoto no Mochigusare , #sukinanda and 11gatsu no Anklet. The following year they continued the string of number-one hits with Teacher Teacher (2018), their highest selling single, Jiwaru Days (2018), Sustainable (2018), etc. Then Rino Sashihara quit too.