Often abbreviated as AKB48, Akihabara48 is a Japanese theater/idol group produced by Akimoto Yasushi. The group has 48 members, divided into 3 subgroups, namely Team A, Team K, and Team B. They have released 4 singles as of present, and will be releasing their next single in April of 2007.

AKB48's primary place of performance is the 8th floor of Don Quixote, in Akihabara, Japan. Tickets are sold at 2000 yen for adults, and 1000 yen for girls, students and children. Performances are held once every weekday, and twice every weekend.

Opening Member Audition
The opening audition received an initial application of 7924 girls, 45 of which became successful candidates after the interview selection process. And of the 45 who passed the interview, only 24 made it after screening their dancing and singing abilities. And of the 24 who were successful in the audition, 20 showed up in the initial performance date as team A.

Second Member Audition
In the second member audition, initial applicants rose to 11892 girls, of which 131 were successful at the initial screening. Of the 131, 54 made it through the TV-phone audition. And of the 54, only 19 made if after the final screening of dancing and singing abilities. Of the 19, 18 showed up on April 1, 2006 as team K.

Third Member Audition
From the 12,828 initial applicants, 13 were accepted as Team B.

Members

Team A

Team A板野友美 (Itano Tomomi). Born:July 3, 1991 in Kanagawa. Height:153cm. Nickname:tomochan
大江朝美 (Ohe Tomomi). Born:June 15, 1989 in Tokyo. Height:155cm. Nickname:ooe, tomomi
大島麻衣 (Oshima Mai). Born:September 11, 1987 in Chiba. Height:158cm. Nickname:maimai
川崎希 (Kawasaki Nozomi). Born:August 23, 1987 in Tokyo. Height:155cm. Nickname:nonchan
小嶋陽菜 (Kojima Haruna). Born:April 19, 1988 in Saitama. Height:163cm. Nickname:haruna, kojiharu, harunachan, harunyan
駒谷仁美 (Komatani Hitomi). Bornecember 16, 1988 in Saitama. Height:156cm. Nickname:hiichan, hiipink
佐藤由加理 (Sato Yukari). Born:November 22, 1988 in Shizuoka. Height:161cm. Nickname:yukarin
篠田麻里子 (Shinoda Mariko). Born:March 22, 1986 in Fukuoka. Height:165cm. Nickname:mariko
高橋みなみ (Takahashi Minami). Born:April 8, 1991 in Tokyo. Height:148cm. Nickname:minami, takamina
戸島花 (Tojima Hana). Born:July 11, 1988 in Saitama. Height:159cm. Nickname:hana
中西里菜 (Nakanishi Rina). Born:June 26, 1988 in Ooita. Height:158cm. Nickname:rina, rinatin, rinachan
成田梨紗 (Narita Risa). Born:March 1, 1991 in Tokyo. Height:158cm. Nickname:risa, natalie
平嶋夏海 (Hirajima Natsumi). Born:November 15, 1992 in Tokyo. Height:153cm. Nickname:nacchan
星野みちる (Hoshino Michiru). Born:November 19, 1985 in Chiba. Height:153cm. Nickname:micchii, chiruchiru, chiruri, michelle
前田敦子 (Maeda Atsuko). Born:July 10, 1991 in Chiba. Height:157cm. Nickname:aachan
増山加弥乃 (Masuyama Kayano). Born:February 12, 1994 in Tokyo. Height:142cm. Nickname:kaya
峯岸みなみ (Minegishi Minami). Born:November 15, 1992 in Tokyo. Height:157cm. Nickname:miichan, minegishi sensei

Team K

Team K秋元才加 (Akimoto Sayaka). Born:July 26, 1988 in Chiba. Height:166cm. Nickname:sayaka, saaya
今井優 (Imai Yu). Born:April 17, 1985 in Saitama. Height:152cm. Nickname:yuu
梅田彩佳 (Umeda Ayaka). Born:January 3, 1989 in Fukuoka. Height:151.5cm. Nickname:umechan
大島優子 (Oshima Yuuko). Born:October 17, 1988 in Tochigi. Height:152cm. Nickname:yuuko
大堀恵 (Ohori Megumi). Born:August 25, 1983 in Tokyo. Height:158cm. Nickname:me-tan
奥真奈美 (Oku Manami). Born:November 22, 1995 in Tokyo. Height:140cm. Nickname:mana, ma-chan, manamana
小野恵令奈 (Ono Erena). Born:November 26, 1993 in Tokyo. Height:146cm. Nickname:erepyon
河西智美 (Kasai Tomomi). Born:November 16, 1991 in Tokyo. Height:153cm. Nickname:tomo
小林香菜 (Kobayashi Kana). Born:May 17, 1991 in Saitama. Height:158cm. Nickname:kana, kaachi, kacchan
佐藤夏希 (Satou Natsuki). Born:July 1, 1990 in Hokkaido. Height:163cm. Nickname:nacchi
高田彩奈 (Takada Ayana). Born:July 21, 1988 in Aichi. Height:161cm. Nickname:ayana, ayanya
野呂佳代 (Noro Kayo). Born:October 28, 1983 in Tokyo. Height:161cm. Nickname:norokayo
早野薫 (Hayano Kaoru). Bornecember 12, 1992 in Tokyo. Height:152cm. Nickname:kaorin
増田有華 (Masuda Yuka). Born:August 3, 1991 in Osaka. Height:162cm. Nickname:yuka
松原夏海 (Matsubara Natsumi). Born:June 19, 1990 in Fukuoka. Height:159cm. Nickname:natsumi
宮澤佐江 (Miyazawa Sae). Born:August 13, 1990 in Tokyo. Height:164cm. Nickname:sae

Team B

Team B浦野一美 (Urano Kazumi). (Originally from Team A) Born: October 23, 1985 in Saitama. Height:155cm. Nickname:miho
平嶋夏海 (Hirajima Natsumi). (Originally from A) Born: November 15, 1992 in Tokyo. Height:153cm. Nickname:nacchan
渡邊志穂 (Watanabe Shiho). (Originally from A) Born: October 25, 1987 in Hyougo. Height:166cm. Nickname:shiho
井上奈瑠（Inoue Naru). Born: December 18, 1991 in Osaka. Height:165cm. Nickname:narupon
多田愛佳（Ohta Aika). Born: December 8, 1994 in Saitama. Height:150cm. Nickname:aichan
柏木由紀（Kashiwagi Yuki). Born: July 15, 1991 in Kagojima. Height:163cm. Nickname:yukirin
片山陽加（Katayama Haruka). Born: May 10, 1990 in Chiba. Height:154cm. Nickname:kataharu,ha-chan
菊地彩香（Kikuchi Ayaka). Born: June 30, 1993 in Tokyo. Height:160cm. Nickname:ayarin,kikuzi
早乙女美樹（Saotome Miki). Born: June 22, 1991 in Tochigi. Height:159cm. Nickname:totiotome,mikipomu
田名部生来（Tanabe Miku). Born: December 2, 1992 in Shiga. Height:162cm. Nickname:tanamin
仲川遥香（Nakagawa Haruka). Born: February 10, 1992 in Tokyo. Height:155cm. Nickname:nakaharu,harugon,haruka
仲谷明香（Nakaya Sayaka). Born: October 15, 1991 in Iwate. Height:159cm. Nickname:nakayan
野口玲菜（Nogichi Reina). Born: April 15, 1993 in Saitama. Height:162.5cm. Nickname:gussan,reina
松岡由紀（Matsuoka Yuki). Born: October 7, 1987 in Kanagawa. Height:162cm. Nickname:yukkyi,yukiyuki
米沢瑠美（Yonezawa Rumi). Born: June 6, 1991 in Saitama. Height:161cm. Nickname:rumichan,yonechan,rumi
渡辺麻友（Watanabe Mayu). Born: March 26, 1994 in Saitama. Height:154cm. Nickname:mayuyu

Graduated Members
宇佐美友紀 (Usami Yuki). Bornecember 6, 1984 in Saitama. Height:149cm. Nickname: yukki. Graduated on March 31, 2006.
上村彩子 (Uemura Ayako). Born:February 7, 1986 in Saitama. Height:148cm. Nickname: a-ya. Left on June 17, 2006.
折井あゆみ (Orii Ayumi). (Originally from A) Born:July 20, 1985 in Nagano. Height:160cm. Nickname:ayu. Graduated on January 25, 2007.