AKB48 Members
Introduction
AKB48 had a total of 165 members during all their 13 generations. the first until the third generation is what we know as the original teams (1st Gen: Team A, 2nd Gen: Team K, 3rd Gen: Team B).
Later on when more auditions were held, all the future successful candidates would take part of a in-training team of members that would work as sub and under for the official members in various actives (mostly the Theater Performances). And finally, when any of the official members would graduate a girl would be promoted to fill the space.
This group of girls was called AKB48 SEED. A term was was dropped later on and changed for Kenkyusei Members (Research Students). after more auditions and eventually more generations were created, the Kenkyuseis started to perform by themselves in the theater covering various old AKB48 Stages.
In 2009 a Team Kenkyusei (Previously they were just "Kenkyusei(s)" and not part of any kind of team) was created and different "auditions" were periodically made before a new Generation joined the group. All the current Kenkyuseis went through a selection phase where the manager decided which girls "truly wanted" to be an idol and were actually giving their best. Eventually, some girls were Demoted during each Kenkyusei Sellection to reduce the quantity of members (these girls were always given the chance to audition once again and start from zero. Thing that actually happened with some members, and some even made it to be part of the group once again.)
Since then, the Team Kenkyusei are considered and acknowledged as another team of the group and currently even perform in the theater way more frequently than the "official" teams.
They also started to appear in the singles (even as Senbatsu) and also got their own tv show focused in them. denoting the importance they have even though they any of them have a real safe position in the group.
Some AKB48 Members actually auditioned more than once until being finally successful joining the group (like the current Team B captain, Kashiwagi Yuki). some even auditioned and were transfered to the spin-off groups (graduated Kenkyusei Deguchi Aki and previous Kenkyusei Nakanishi Yuka are now part of SKE48).
As of March 2012, AKB48 has 57 Members and 33 Kenkyusei with members from the 10th to 13th generation.
AKB48 Auditions
1st Generation (Original Team A)
- Announced on October, 2005
Members (21): Itano Tomomi · Usami Yuki · Urano Kazumi · Ooe Tomomi · Oshima Mai · Orii Ayumi · Kawasaki Nozomi · Kojima Haruna · Komatani Hitomi · Sato Yukari · Takahashi Minami · Tojima Hana · Nakanishi Rina · Narita Risa · Hirajima Natsumi · Hoshino Michiru · Maeda Atsuko · Masuyama Kayano · Minegishi Minami · Watanabe Shiho | Shinoda Mariko (joined the group on 2006/1/22)
- Transfered to Original Team B (3): Urano Kazumi · Hirajima Natsumi · Watanabe Shiho
- Now on Team A (2): Takahashi Minami, Shinoda Mariko
- Now on Team K (1): Itano Tomomi
- Now on Team B (2): Kojima Haruna, Minegishi Minami
- Now Graduated (17): Usami Yuki, Ooe Tomomi, Oshima Mai, Orii Ayumi, Kawasaki Nozomi, Komatani Hitomi, Tojima Hana, Nakanishi Rina, Narita Risa, Hirajima Natsumi, Hoshino Michiru, Masuyama Kayano, Watanabe Shiho, Maeda Atsuko, Urano Kazumi, Sato Yukari
2nd Generation (Original Team K)
- Announced on February, 2006
Members (17): Akimoto Sayaka · Imai Yuu · Uemura Ayako · Umeda Ayaka · Oshima Yuko · Ohori Megumi · Oku Manami · Ono Erena · Kasai Tomomi · Kobayashi Kana · Sato Natsuki · Takada Ayana · Noro Kayo · Hayano Kaoru · Masuda Yuka · Matsubara Natsumi · Miyazawa Sae
- Now on Team A (2):Kasai Tomomi, Sato Natsuki
- Now on Team K (5): Matsubara Natsumi, Akimoto Sayaka, Oshima Yuko, Kobayashi Kana, Masuda Yuka
- Now on Team B (1): Umeda Ayaka
- Now on Team Kaigai (1): Miyazawa Sae
- Now Graduated (8): Imai Yuu, Uemura Ayako, Oku Manami, Ono Erena, Hayano Kaoru, Takada Ayana, Ohori Megumi, Noro Kayo, Ohori Megumi, Noro Kayo
3rd Generation (Original Team B)
- Announced on December, 2006
Members (13): Inoue Naru · Oota Aika · Kashiwagi Yuki · Katayama Haruka · Kikuchi Ayaka · Saotome Miki · Tanabe Miku · Nakagawa Haruka · Nakaya Sayaka · Noguchi Reina · Matsuoka Yuki · Yonezawa Rumi · Watanabe Mayu
- Now on Team A (2): Watanabe Mayu, Kikuchi Ayaka
- Now on Team K (1): Nakaya Sayaka
- Now on Team B (3): Kashiwagi Yuki, [Katayama Haruka]], Tanabe Miku
- Now on HKT48 (1): Oota Aika
- Now on Team Kaigai (1): Nakagawa Haruka
- Now Graduated (5): Inoue Naru, Saotome Miki, Noguchi Reina, Matsuoka Yuki, Yonezawa Rumi
AKB48 SEEDs / Research Students (4th Gen~14th Gen)
4th Generation
- Announced on May, 2007
Members (18): Iinuma Yurina · Uriya Akane · Oya Shizuka · Kaneko Satomi · Kuramochi Asuka · Kozuka Rina · Saeki Mika · Sato Amina · Suzuki Nae · Deguchi Aki · Nakanishi Yuka · Nakata Chisato · Naruse Risa · Fujie Reina · Fujimoto Sara · Muranaka Satomi · Yoshioka Saki · Watanabe Marie
- Now on Team K (3): Nakata Chisato, Sato Amina, Kuramochi Asuka
- Now on Team B (2): Fujie Reina, Oya Shizuka
- Former Kenkyuuseis (9): Iinuma Yurina, Uriya Akane, Kaneko Satomi, Kozuka Rina, Suzuki Nae, Yoshioka Saki, Watanabe Marie, Saeki Mika, Naruse Risa
- Muranaka Satomi left the group but then returned on the 8th generation
- Fujimoto Sara left the group but then returned on the 9th generation
- Nakanishi Yuka and Deguchi Aki left the group but then returned on SKE48
5th Generation
- Announced on October, 2007
Members (12): Arima Yuka · Ishida Haruka · Uchida Mayumi · Chikano Rina · Kitahara Rie · Kohara Haruka · Sashihara Rino · Tomita Mayu · Nakatsuka Tomomi · Nito Moeno · Hatayama Arisa · Miyazaki Miho
- Now on Team A (2): Nakatsuka Tomomi, Nito Moeno
- Now on Team K (4): Uchida Mayumi, Kitahara Rie, Miyazaki Miho, Chikano Rina
- Now on Team B (1): Ishida Haruka
- Now on HKT48 (1): Sashihara Rino
- Now Graduated (1): Kohara Haruka
- Former Kenkyuuseis (3): Arima Yuka, Tomita Mayu, Hatayama Arisa
6th Generation
- Announced on April, 2008
Members (4): Katano Yurie · Takajo Aki · Nishizawa Sara · Nonaka Misato
- Now on Team B (1): Nonaka Misato
- Now on Team Kaigai (1): Takajo Aki
- Former Kenkyuuseis (2): Katano Yurie, Nishizawa Sara
7th Generation
- Announced on December, 2008
Members (10): Iwasa Misaki · Katoono Mizuho · Kikuchi Ayaka · Komori Mika · Sato Sumire · Suzuki Shihori · Suzuki Mariya · Hayashi Ayano · Maeda Ami · Matsui Sakiko
- Now on Team A (3): Kikuchi Ayaka, Matsui Sakiko, Sato Sumire
- Now on Team K (1): Maeda Ami
- Now on Team B (2): Komori Mika, Iwasa Misaki
- Now on Team Kaigai (1): Suzuki Mariya
- Former Kenkyuuseis (2): Katoono Mizuho, [Hayashi Ayano]]
- Suzuki Shihori left the group but then returned on the 11th generation
8th Generation
- Announced on April, 2009
Members (15): Asai Madoka · Ishii Ayaka · Ishibe Aya · Imai Yurie · Ueki Asaka · Kaku Grace · Komizu Nanami · Sakamoto Rio · Sano Yuriko · Sugiyama Miku · Tomite Ami · Nishikawa Nanami · Miki Nikoru · Muranaka Satomi
- Former Kenkyuuseis (15): Asai Madoka, Ishii Ayaka, Ishibe Aya, Imai Yurie, Ueki Asaka, Kaku Grace, Komizu Nanami, Sakamoto Rio, Sano Yuriko, Sugiyama Miku, Tomite Ami, Nishikawa Nanami, Miki Nikoru, Muranaka Satomi
9th Generation
- Announced on September, 2009
Members (14): Ishiguro Atsuki · Ito Ayaka · Oba Mina · Kinumoto Momoko · Shimazaki Haruka · Shimada Haruka · Takamatsu Eri · Takeuchi Miyu · Nagao Mariya · Nakamura Mariko · Fujimoto Sara · Mori Anna · Yamauchi Suzuran · Yokoyama Yui
- Now on Team K (3): Yokoyama Yui, Shimada Haruka, Nagao Mariya
- Now on Team B (5): Oba Mina, Shimazaki Haruka, Takeuchi Miyu, Nakamura Mariko, Yamauchi Suzuran
- Now Graduated (1): Mori Anna
- Former Kenkyuuseis (5): Ito Ayaka, Ishiguro Atsuki, Kinumoto Momoko, Takamatsu Eri, Fujimoto Sara
10th Generation
- Announced on March, 2010
Members (10): Abe Maria · Izuta Rina · Ichikawa Miori · Iriyama Anna · Iwasaki Hitomi · Kato Rena · Kanazawa Yuuki · Kobayashi Marina · Nakamata Shiori · Fujita Nana
- Now on Team A (4):, Iriyama Anna, Nakamata Shiori, Izuta Rina, Kobayashi Marina
- Now on Team K (2): Abe Maria, Fujita Nana
- Now on Team B (2): Ichikawa Miori, Kato Rena
- Former Kenkyuuseis (2): Iwasaki Hitomi, Kanazawa Yuuki
11th Generation
- Announced on July, 2010
Members (10): Ushikubo Sara · Okazaki Chinami · Kawaei Rina · Kawakami Marina · Kojima Natsuki · Suzuki Shihori · Toyoda Saki · Natori Wakana · Morikawa Ayaka · Yamaguchi Nau
- Now on Team A (2): Kawaei Rina, Morikawa Ayaka
- Now on Team B (3): Suzuki Shihori, Kojima Natsuki, Natori Wakana
- Former Kenkyuuseis (5): Ushikubo Sara, Okazaki Chinami, Toyoda Saki, Kawakami Marina, Yamaguchi Nau
12th Generation
- Announced on April, 2011
Members (9): Tano Yuuka · Suzuki Rika · Saeed-Yokota Erena · Takahashi Juri · Hirata Rina · Omori Miyuu · Muto Tomu · Iwata Karen · Sasaki Yukari
- Now on Team A (3): Tano Yuuka, Takahashi Juri, Iwata Karen
- Now on Team K (1): Muto Tomu
- Still part of Team Kenkyusei (3): Hirata Rina, Omori Miyuu, Sasaki Yukari
- Former Kenkyuuseis (2): Suzuki Rika, Saeed-Yokota Erena
13th Generation
- Announced on September, 2011
Members (16): Aigasa Moe · Amemiya Maika · Iwatate Saho · Umeta Ayano · Oshima Ryoka · Okada Ayaka · Kita Shiori · Kitazawa Saki · Shinozaki Ayana · Takashima Yurina · Hasegawa Haruna · Mitsumune Kaoru · Murayama Yuiri · Mogi Shinobu · Moriyama Sakura · Watanabe Nene
- Now on Team A (1): Oshima Ryoka
- Still part of Team Kenkyusei (9): Aigasa Moe, Iwatate Saho, Umeta Ayano, Okada Ayaka, Kitazawa Saki, Shinozaki Ayana, Takashima Yurina, Murayama Yuiri, Mogi Shinobu
- Now Graduated (1): Mitsumune Kaoru
- Former Kenkyuuseis (5): Amemiya Maika, Kita Shiori, Hasegawa Haruna, Moriyama Sakura, Watanabe Nene
14th Generation
- Announced on July, 2012
Members (6): Hashimoto Hikari · Kojima Mako · Maeda Mitsuki · Nishino Miki · Okada Nana · Uchiyama Natsuki
- Still part of Team Kenkyusei (6): Hashimoto Hikari, Kojima Mako, Maeda Mitsuki, Nishino Miki, Okada Nana, Uchiyama Natsuki
