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 Gen~3rd Gen)

1st Generation (Original Team A)

- these members took part and made the Original Team A.

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 (4): Kojima Haruna · Takahashi Minami · Maeda Atsuko · Shinoda Mariko
• Now on Team K (2): Itano Tomomi · Minegishi Minami

• Now on SDN48 (2): Urano Kazumi · Sato Yukari

- Still part of AKB48 (6/21): Itano Tomomi · Kojima Haruna · Takahashi Minami · Maeda Atsuko · Minegishi Minami · Shinoda Mariko
- Transfered and still part of SDN48 (2/21): Urano Kazumi · Sato Yukari
- Now Graduated (13/21): 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

2nd Generation (Original Team K)

- these members took part and made the Original Team K.

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 (1): Matsubara Natsumi
• Now on Team K (4): Akimoto Sayaka · Umeda Ayaka · Oshima Yuko · Miyazawa Sae
• Now on Team B (4): Kasai Tomomi · Kobayashi Kana · Sato Natsuki · Masuda Yuka

• Now on SDN48 (2): Ohori Megumi · Noro Kayo

- Still part of AKB48 (9/17): Akimoto Sayaka · Umeda Ayaka · Oshima Yuko · Kasai Tomomi · Kobayashi Kana · Sato Natsuki · Masuda Yuka · Matsubara Natsumi · Miyazawa Sae
- Transfered and still part of SDN48 (2/17): Ohori Megumi · Noro Kayo
- Now Graduated (6/17): Imai Yuu · Uemura Ayako · Oku Manami · Ono Erena · Hayano Kaoru · Takada Ayana

3rd Generation (Original Team B)

- these members took part of the Original Team B.

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 (4): Oota Aika · Katayama Haruka · Nakagawa Haruka · Nakaya Sayaka
• Now on Team K (2): Tanabe Miku · Kikuchi Ayaka
• Now on Team B (2): Kashiwagi Yuki · Watanabe Mayu

- Still part of AKB48 (7/13): Oota Aika · Kashiwagi Yuki · Katayama Haruka · Tanabe Miku · Nakagawa Haruka · Nakaya Sayaka · Watanabe Mayu
- Was fired but has returned to AKB48 (1/13): Kikuchi Ayaka
- Now Graduated (5/13): Inoue Naru · Saotome Miki · Noguchi Reina · Matsuoka Yuki · Yonezawa Rumi

(Current/Previous) AKB48 SEEDS / Kenkyusei (4th Gen~)

4th Generation (Kenkyusei Members)

Members (18) (bolded members were promoted (7)): 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

• Promoted to Original Team A (3): Sato Amina · Nakata Chisato · Fujie Reina
• Promoted to Original Team K (2): Kuramochi Asuka · Naruse Risa
• Promoted to Original Team B (1): Saeki Mika
• Promoted to Team A (1): Oya Shizuka

• Now on Team A (3): Oya Shizuka · Kuramochi Asuka · Nakata Chisato
• Now on Team K (1): Fujie Reina
• Now on Team B (1): Sato Amina
• Now on SKE48 (2): Nakanishi Yuka · Deguchi Aki

- Promoted and still part of AKB48 (5/17): Oya Shizuka · Kuramochi Asuka · Sato Amina · Nakata Chisato · Fujie Reina
- Transfered and still part of SKE48 (2/17): Deguchi Aki · Nakanishi Yuka
- After Promoted, Now Graduated (2/17): Saeki Mika · Naruse Risa
- Now not part of the group (Demoted Kenkyusei Members (AKB48)) (9/18): Iinuma Yurina · Uriya Akane · Kaneko Satomi · Kozuka Rina · Suzuki Nae · Fujimoto Sara · Muranaka Satomi · Yoshioka Saki · Watanabe Marie

• Note: Muranaka Satomi and Fujimoto Sara were demoted but returned with 8th and 9th generation to be demoted once again

5th Generation (Kenkyusei Members)

Members (12) (bolded members were promoted (9)): Arima Yuka · Ishida Haruka · Uchida Mayumi · Chikano Rina · Kitahara Rie · Kohara Haruka · Sashihara Rino · Tomita Mayu · Nakatsuka Tomomi · Nito Moeno · Hatayama Arisa · Miyazaki Miho

• Promoted to Original Team A (2): Kitahara Rie · Miyazaki Miho
• Promoted to Original Team K (1): Chikano Rina
• Promoted to Original Team B (4): Kohara Haruka · Sashihara Rino · Nakatsuka Tomomi · Nito Moeno
• Promoted to Team K (1): Uchida Mayumi
• Promoted to Team B (1): Ishida Haruka

• Now on Team A (1): Sashihara Rino
• Now on Team K (3): Uchida Mayumi · Nakatsuka Tomomi · Nito Moeno
• Now on Team B (4): Ishida Haruka · Chikano Rina · Kitahara Rie · Miyazaki Miho
• Now on SDN48 (1): Kohara Haruka

- Promoted and still part of AKB48 (8/12): Ishida Haruka · Uchida Mayumi · Chikano Rina · Kitahara Rie · Sashihara Rino · Nakatsuka Tomomi · Nito Moeno · Miyazaki Miho
- After Promoted, Now Graduated (1/12): Kohara Haruka
- Now not part of the group (Demoted Kenkyusei Members (AKB48)) (3/12): Arima Yuka · Tomita Mayu · Hatayama Arisa

6th Generation (Kenkyusei Members)

Members (4) (bolded members were promoted (2)): Katano Yurie · Takajyo Aki · Nishizawa Sara · Nonaka Misato

• Promoted to Original Team A (1): Takajyo Aki
• Promoted to Team K (1): Nonaka Misato

• Now on Team A (1): Takajyo Aki
• Now on Team K (1): Nonaka Misato

- Promoted and still part of AKB48 (2/4): Takajyo Aki · Nonaka Misato
- Now not part of the group (Demoted Kenkyusei Members (AKB48)) (2/4): Katano Yurie · Nishizawa Sara

7th Generation (Kenkyusei Members)

Members (10) (bolded members were promoted (7)): Iwasa Misaki · Katono Mizuho · Kikuchi Ayaka · Komori Mika · Sato Sumire · Suzuki Shihori · Suzuki Mariya · Hayashi Ayano · Maeda Ami · Matsui Sakiko

• Promoted to Team A (2): Iwasa Misaki · Maeda Ami
• Promoted to Team K (2): Kikuchi Ayaka · Matsui Sakiko
• Promoted to Team B (3): Komori Mika · Sato Sumire · Suzuki Mariya

- Promoted and still part of AKB48 (7/10): Iwasa Misaki · Maeda Ami · Kikuchi Ayaka · Matsui Sakiko · Komori Mika · Sato Sumire · Suzuki Mariya
- Left but returned to AKB48 in the later generation (1/10): Suzuki Shihori
- Now not part of the group (Demoted Kenkyusei Members (AKB48)) (2/10): Katono Mizuho · Hayashi Ayano

• Note: Suzuki Shihori left the group after the announcement that she will be promoted to new Team B, but has returned with 11th generation

8th Generation (Kenkyusei Members)

Members (15): Asai Madoka · Ishii Ayaka · Ishibe Aya · Imai Yurie · Ueki Asaka · Kaku Grace · Komizu Nanami · Sakamoto Rio · Sono Yuriko · Sugiyama Miku · Tomite Ami · Nishikawa Nanami · Miki Nikoru · Muranaka Satomi

- Now not part of the group (Demoted Kenkyusei Members (AKB48)) (15/15): Asai Madoka · Ishii Ayaka · Ishibe Aya · Imai Yurie · Ueki Asaka · Kaku Grace · Komizu Nanami · Sakamoto Rio · Sono Yuriko · Sugiyama Miku · Tomite Ami · Nishikawa Nanami · Miki Nikoru · Muranaka Satomi

9th Generation (Kenkyusei Members)

Members (14) (bolded members were promoted (9)): Ishiguro Atsuki · Ito Ayaka · Oba Mina · Kinumoto Momomko · Shimazaki Haruka · Shimada Haruka · Takamatsu Eri · Takeuchi Miyu · Nagao Mariya · Nakamura Mariko · Fujimoto Sara · Mori Anna · Yamauchi Suzuran · Yokoyama Yui

• Promoted to Team K (1): Yokoyama Yui
• Promoted to Team 4 (8): Oba Mina · Shimazaki Haruka · Shimada Haruka · Takeuchi Miyu · Nagao Mariya · Nakamura Mariko · Mori Anna · Yamauchi Suzuran

• Now on Team K (1): Yokoyama Yui
• Now on Team 4 (7): Oba Mina · Shimazaki Haruka · Shimada Haruka · Takeuchi Miyu · Nagao Mariya · Nakamura Mariko · Yamauchi Suzuran

- Promoted and still part of AKB48 (8/14): Oba Mina · Shimazaki Haruka · Shimada Haruka · Takeuchi Miyu · Nagao Mariya · Nakamura Mariko · Yamauchi Suzuran · Yokoyama Yui
- After Promoted, Now Graduated (1/14): Mori Anna
- Now not part of the group (Demoted Kenkyusei Members (AKB48)) (5/14): Ito Ayaka · Ishiguro Atsuki · Kinumoto Momomko · Takamatsu Eri · Fujimoto Sara

10th Generation (Kenkyusei Members)

Members (10) (bolded members were promoted (4)): Abe Maria · Izuta Rina · Ichikawa Miori · Iriyama Anna · Iwasaki Hitomi · Kato Rena · Kanazawa Yuuki · Kobayashi Marina · Nakamata Shiori · Fujita Nana

• Promoted to Team 4 (4): Abe Maria · Ichikawa Miori · Iriyama Anna · Nakamata Shiori

- Promoted and still part of AKB48 (4/10): Abe Maria · Ichikawa Miori · Iriyama Anna · Nakamata Shiori
- Still part of Team Kenkyusei (4/10): Izuta Rina · Kato Rena · Kobayashi Marina · Fujita Nana
- Now not part of the group (Demoted Kenkyusei Members (AKB48)) (2/10): Iwasaki Hitomi · Kanazawa Yuuki

11th Generation (Kenkyusei Members)

Members (10): Ushikubo Sara · Okazaki Chinami · Kawaei Rina · Kawakami Marina · Kojima Natsuki · Suzuki Shihori · Toyoda Saki · Natori Wakana · Morikawa Ayaka · Yamaguchi Nau

• Promoted to Team B (1): Suzuki Shihori

- Promoted and still part of AKB48 (1/10): Suzuki Shihori
- Still part of Team Kenkyusei (4/10): Kawaei Rina · Kojima Natsuki · Natori Wakana · Morikawa Ayaka
- Now not part of the group (Demoted Kenkyusei Members (AKB48)) (5/10): Ushikubo Sara · Okazaki Chinami · Toyoda Saki · Kawakami Marina · Yamaguchi Nau

12th Generation (Kenkyusei Members)

Members (9): Tano Yuuka · Suzuki Rika · Saeed-Yokota Erena · Takahashi Juri · Hirata Rina · Omori Miyu · Muto Tomu · Iwata Karen · Sasaki Yukari

- Still part of Team Kenkyusei (9/9): Tano Yuuka · Suzuki Rika · Saeed-Yokota Erena · Takahashi Juri · Hirata Rina · Omori Miyu · Muto Tomu · Iwata Karen · Sasaki Yukari

13th Generation (Kenkyusei Members)

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

- Still part of Team Kenkyusei (16/16): 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