HKT48 (read "H.K.T. Forty-eight") is a Japanese idol group produced by Yasushi Akimoto. HKT48 is named after the Hakata-ku ward of Fukuoka, where Akimoto originally intended to base the group. The group performs at City Bank HKT48 Theater in Fukuoka and has sold nearly 4 million copies of CDs in Japan.
History
Plans for a group entitled HKT48 were first revealed by AKB48 producer Yasushi Akimoto on November 19, 2008. HKT48 was officially announced on May 1, 2011, at an AKB48 handshake event. The group was the fourth AKB48 sister group to be launched, after the groups SKE48, SDN48 and NMB48. While the group took its name from its proposed base location of Hakata-ku, Fukuoka, HKT48 was eventually based at a theater in the Hawks Town Mall in neighboring Chūō-ku, Fukuoka. This location is next to the Fukuoka Yahoo! Japan Dome. In addition, it was announced that the group would be accepting applications from girls aged between 11 and 22. The first round of the first 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. The final auditions were held at Hilton Fukuoka Sea Hawk Hotel on July 10 and 24 candidates successfully passed the final.
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. Of these 21 members, 17 were junior high school students or below, and two were elementary-school students. The youngest member of the group, Natsumi Tanaka, was born in 2000, and was 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." The oldest member was Yūko Sugamoto, who was 17 years old at the time of the announcement.
They debuted at HKT48 Theater on November 26, 2011, 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. On March 4, 2012, the first 16 members were selected to form Team H, and appeared on the stage. On June 20, 2012, Rino Sashihara from AKB48 transferred to HKT48 and as of 2012 was HKT48's oldest member.
On June 23, 2012, the final auditions for the second generation were held, and 34 candidates out of 48 finalists has passed the final. On August 18, 2012, the management announced that five members, three from Team H, Komori, Sugamoto and Taniguchi, and two Kenkyusei – Eto and A. Nakanishi, would be resigning from HKT48 "due to personal reasons". 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. On September 23, 2012, HKT48's second generation research students were announced.
HKT48 released their debut single, "Suki Suki Skip!" on March 20, 2013, under the Universal Sigma record label.
On March 31, 2016, the existing theater located at Hawks Town Mall was closed, with a special farewell performance. A new temporary theater opened in Nishitetsu Hall, also in Chūō-ku, Fukuoka, on April 28, 2016.
In mid-2018, 10 members of HKT48 joined Produce 48, a South Korean competition television show on Mnet to form a girl group. Members Sakura Miyawaki and Nako Yabuki finished in 2nd and 6th placed respectively, both earning themselves a spot to debut in IZ*ONE.
On November 2, 2020, the new and permanent theatre was opened in BOSS E・ZO FUKUOKA. The theatre was named "Nishi-Nippon City Bank HKT48 Theater".
On May 15, 2021, both Sakura Miyawaki and Nako Yabuki returned to HKT48. Sakura Miyawaki also announced her graduation, which took place on June 27, 2021.
On October 16, 2022, during HKT48 11th anniversary concert, Nako Yabuki announced her graduation from the group with graduation concert would be held in Spring 2023.
Members Team H's formation was announced at HKT48 theater on March 4, 2012. At the conference, it was also announced that 16 members were selected and 5 members remained as a trainee. On January 11, 2014, during their first exclusive concert tour in Ōita, a theater manager Rino Sashihara announced a new Team KIV and promotion of 17 members from the trainees. On March 30, 2016, the group announced that Team TII was formed and 10 trainees were promoted from 3rd generation and 2nd Generation draft members.
On November 26, 2017, the group announced that all 10 trainees from 4th generation were promoted and assigned to the existing 3 teams, one to Team H, two to Team KIV, and seven to Team TII.
On April 9, 2021, the group announced that 4 trainees from the 5th generation were promoted and assigned to two teams, two to Team H and two to Team KIV.
On October 16, 2022, the group will end its current three-team system with Team TII ceased and start its two-team activities with Team H and Team KIV in February 2023. It is also announced a new captain for both Teams H and Team KIV respectively.
Team H Team H is associated with the color Sulu Green, the current captain is Toyonaga Aki. Name Birth date (age)Election rank 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 72 83 73 60 37 59 49 114 45 28 10 79 83
Team KIV Team KIV is associated with the color Charlotte Blue, the current captain is Aoi Motomura. Name Birth date (age)Election rank 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 84 98 87 85 117 31 40 34 40 48 80 36 62 71
Team TII
Team TII is associated with the color Golden Yellow, the current captain is Emiri Yamashita and the current co-captain is Hazuki Hokazono.
Name Birth date (age)Election rank 6 7 8 9 10 50 96 87 120 80 66
Kenkyuusei members
Name Birth date (age)
Graduated members Team H
Name (Birthdate) Election Notes1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 () Resigned on August 18, 2012. () Resigned on August 18, 2012. () Resigned on August 18, 2012. () Graduated on December 27, 2015. () 39 33 Graduated on July 31, 2016. () 82 Graduated on January 12, 2017. () Graduated on May 8, 2017. () 48 Graduated on June 12, 2017. () Graduated on March 21, 2018. () Graduated on April 20, 2018. () Graduated on May 21, 2018. Held a position as a Manager of HKT48 Theater until graduation. () 27 19 9 4 1 2 1 1 1 Graduated on April 28, 2019. () 37 21 17 9 Graduated on June 9, 2019. () 79 60 61 Graduated on June 17, 2019. () 89 50 63 Graduated on January 11, 2020. () Graduated on January 9, 2022. () Graduated on February 26, 2022. () 55 38 32 43 40 26 Graduated on April 3, 2022. () Graduated on April 3, 2022. () 28 37 9 Graduated on April 1, 2023.
Team KIV Name (Birthdate) Election Notes1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 () 56 31 50 48 68 88 Concurrent position canceled with HKT48 on March 26, 2015. () Graduated on April 30, 2015. () Graduated on October 30, 2015. () Graduated on February 29, 2016. () 42 Graduated on March 22, 2016. () 20 22 25 52 43 42 41 Graduated on April 10, 2017. () Graduated on February 28, 2018. () 42 38 Graduated on March 30, 2019. () Graduated on June 21, 2019. () 72 58 54 81 Graduated on July 31, 2019. () 91 Graduated on July 21, 2019. () 59 27 21 23 35 48 Graduated on January 15, 2020. () 25435031 Graduated on May 29, 2021. Concurrent member of AKB48 Team A from April 25, 2014 to April 1, 2018 () 47 26 11 7 6 4 3 Graduated on June 19, 2021. () 67 80 100 Graduated on December 27, 2021. () Graduated on April 3, 2022. () 90 95 Graduated on April 4, 2022.
Team TII
Name (Birthdate) Election Notes6 7 8 9 10 () Graduated on May 29, 2017. () Graduated on December 27, 2018. () 119 Graduated on March 30, 2020. () Graduated on December 20, 2021.
Kenkyuusei members
Name (Birthdate) Election Notes 10 () Graduated on October 12, 2020. () Graduated on March 23, 2021.
Transferred members These members were transferred from HKT48 to a different group.
Transferred to AKB48 Name Birth date (age) Transferred fromElection rank45678910 HKT48 Team H 91
Transferred to SKE48 Name Birth date (age) Transferred fromElection rank5678910 HKT48 Team KIV 23 55 66 89
Membership timeline
Discography
Studio albums Release date Title Chart position Sales(Oricon) Billboard Japan sales OriconWeeklyAlbumsChart Billboard JapanJapan AlbumsOutstanding: Firstweek Total December 27, 2017 092 1 1 122,262 167,037163,131 December 1, 2021 1 2 94,548 133,484 This figure is based Oricon monthly album ranking from December, 2021. Figure is still updating as March, 2022. 143,311 Billboard Japan sales figures are from the top 50 only. Exact sales figures are not available as Billboard Japan does not count sales below the top 50; this figure is still updating as April 20, 2022.
Singles Release date Title Chart position Sales(Oricon) (subscription only) Billboard Japan sales Album OriconWeeklySinglesChart Billboard JapanHot100
Firstweek Total March 20, 2013 1 2 250,147 291,876 092 September 4, 2013 1 1 268,897 306,014 March 12, 2014 1 1 276,799 331,015 September 24, 2014 1 1 277,534 318,533 April 22, 2015 1 3 277,916 337,237 November 25, 2015 1 3 280,567 345,413April 13, 201611 238,828 305,137379,439September 7, 201611 269,907345,267427,908February 15, 201711210,070274,545404,163August 2, 201711199,504260,757376,374May 2, 201811165,176272,811296,470OutstandingApril 10, 201911197,846298,427367,963April 22, 2020"3-2"11161,785196,146196,610May 12, 20212141,792162,527233,264June 22, 202213127,375280,736February 8, 202324128,591TBA289,456December 20, 202325121,607TBA242,622September 11, 20243595,053TBA314,523July 23, 20253681,691TBA
Songs recorded on AKB48 singles Release date Title ofHKT48 song Title of AKB48 singlewhich HKT48 song is recorded on December 5, 2012 Eien Pressure December 11, 2013 "Suzukake no Ki no Michi de ..." March 4, 2015 "Green Flash" March 9, 2016 "Kimi wa Melody" March 15, 2017 "Shoot Sign"
Filmography Television shows HKT48 no Odekake! (TBS, 2013–2017) Majisuka Gakuen 0 Kisarazu Rantō Hen (NTV and Hulu Japan, November 28, 2015) HKT48 vs NGT48 Sashikita Gassen (NTV and Hulu Japan, January 12 – March 29, 2016) HKT Variety 48 (2012-2019)
Films Ozaki Shihainin ga Naita Yoru Documentary of HKT48 (2015)
Notes
References
External links