AKB48 Primer
AKB48 is a Japanese idol group formed in 2005 with the concept of "idols you can meet" in mind.While their home base is the AKB48 theatre in Akihabara, Tokyo, having such a large number of members in one group allows them to hold performances and fan meetings every day across Japan, often simultaneously.AKB48 has expanded through Japan and the world, spawning five Japanese sister groups based in different cities, three rival groups, and several overseas sister groups in Indonesia, Thailand, the Philippines, Taiwan, China, and Malaysia.This carrd is designed to help you get started with AKB48 and contains information on their members, music, performances, other content and history in association with 48directory.Click on the links above to navigate to each section!
Members
The number 48 does not stand for the number of members in the group! There are currently 45 members in AKB48.
There are also hundreds more in their various sister groups.A member’s charm is often in their approachability and relatability; they are the girl next door or your little sister or daughter. They aren't perfect, but you can be there to watch them grow from debut into confident performers.No, you don't have to learn every single member, but it is possible!New members join AKB48 after auditions as part of a new generation either chosen by management or by the members themselves (draft generations). These members spend a certain amount of time as a trainee or kenkyuusei before being promoted to a team. Currently AKB48 has 8 kenkyuusei members.Members can choose to graduate at any time and this is typically accompanied by a farewell performance at the theatre. More popular members may also have a graduation ceremony at a concert. Being part of AKB48 is often seen more as a stepping stone into the entertainment industry rather than a final destination in itself. While graduation can be sad, it is also something to be congratulated, as hopefully the idol in question is moving towards their next dream.
Iwatate Saho
(Sahhoo)
Born October 4th, 1994.
Joined as part of 13th gen in 2011.
Lightstick colours are red, white, and blue.
Hobby is eating ekiben (bento boxes sold at train stations) and collecting their wrappers.
Recently she is learning to crochet and her current obsession is escape rooms.
Describes her personality as very laidback.
Studied French, holding a DELF A2 Diploma, as well as qualifications in the fields of nutrition, food coordination, product development, cosmetics, and aromatherapy, and has a forklift/tractor license.
Oldest member of AKB48.
Favourite AKB48 songs are Only today, Kimi wa boku no kaze, and Himawari.
Centre for Lion wo nerae, and also appears in Love shugyou, Sugar night, Neta furi, Nantettatte idol, and more!
Current theatre units are Furimukizama no kiss, Kiseki wa ma ni awanai, Gyakuten oujisama, Ashita no tame ni kiss wo, Kokoro no hashi no sofa.
Kuranoo Narumi
(Naru / Naruchan)
Born November 8th, 2000.
Joined as part of Team 8 in 2014.
Lightstick colours are red and green.
Was known for her rivalry with the rest of AKB48 when she was solely a Team 8 member, but now she is AKB's general manager.
Now considers the AKB48 of the past the rivals of the current AKB.
Describes herself as competitive and the type to push herself very hard.
Hobbies are eating shaved ice and watching anime and her current obsession is travelling.
Special skill is video editing.
Wants to appear in a drama in the future.
Favourite AKB48 songs are 47 no suteki na machi e, Seishun girls, and Koi no onawa.
Centre for Shishunki no adrenaline, Ikiru koto ni nekkyou wo!, Shuuden no yoru, Aru hi fui ni..., and more!
Current theatre units are Lollipop, Christmas ring, Seifuku resistance, Gyakuten oujisama, Kokoro no hashi no sofa, Namida no shounan, and Omoidasu tabi ni tsuraku naru.
Hashimoto Haruna
(Harupyon)
Born May 25th, 2000.
Joined as part of Team 8 in 2014.
Lightstick colours are pink and white.
Bad with sports, scary things like bugs and ghosts, and rain.
Loves rabbits so much that rabbit ears feature in her introduction catchphrase and signature.
Goals are to obtain more qualifications, including becoming a disaster prevention specialist, and to learn to edit videos.
Can solve a Rubik's Cube in 3 minutes.
Hobbies are solving puzzles, escape rooms, watching baseball, and sleeping.
Favourite AKB48 songs are 47 no suteki na machi e, Kuchibiru ni be my baby, and Everyday, kachuusha.
One of her favourite AKB48 stages is B4.
Appears in Aisatsu kara hajimeyou, Yume e no route, Hoshizora wo kimi ni, Shuuden no yoru, and more!
Current theatre units are Lollipop, Seifuku resistance, Gyakuten oujisama, Ashita no tame ni kiss wo, and Kokoro no hashi no sofa.
Muto Orin
(Orin / Orinchan)
Born July 22nd, 2000.
Joined as part of 16th gen in 2016.
Lightstick colours are light blue and dark pink.
Her name is derived from the word ‘Olympic’ because she was born in the year of the Sydney Olympic Games.
Special skill is full contact karate and she was once a runner-up in a national tournament.
Has a Master's degree and studied marketing at Seijo University.
Her future dream is to become a Pokemon master.
Hobbies are solving puzzles and visiting power spots.
Wants to try travelling around the world.
Describes herself as friendly like a dog, laidback like a cat, and true to herself.
Younger sister of former AKB48 member Muto Tomu.
Favourite AKB48 songs are Suzukake nanchara, Heart no dasshutsu game, and Omoiyari.
One of her favourite AKB48 stages is K6.
Appears in Jibuntachi no koi ni kagitte, Shuuden no yoru, and Nantettatte idol.
Current theatre units are Christmas ring, Gyakuten oujisama, and Kokoro no hashi no sofa.
Sakagawa Hiyuka
(Hiyuka)
Born October 7th, 2006.
Joined as part of Team 8 in 2019.
Lightstick colours are red and orange.
Hobbies are painting, drawing, and cooking. She also likes watching movies projected on her wall rather than on a TV.
Special skill is impersonating Tetsuko Kuroyanagi.
In her opinion her strength is being able to talk to anyone, but her weakness is that physically she’s very weak.
Her charm points are her eye smile and very curly eyelashes.
Used to travel for 4 hours from Fukui to Tokyo for AKB48 work.
Favourite AKB48 songs are Only today, Love trip, and Kimi ga oshiete kureta.
One of her favourite AKB48 stages is K6.
Appears in Shittakaburi no sono shita ni, Hoshi ga kienai uchi ni, Yumemite gomen, and Masaka no confession.
Current theatre units are Christmas ring, Seifuku resistance, Kiseki wa ma ni awanai, Ashita no tame ni kiss wo, Namida no shounan, and Kimi wa pegasus.
Hatakeyama Nozomi
(Nonchan)
Born January 25th, 2008.
Joined as part of 17th gen in 2022.
Lightstick colours are purple and blue.
Hobbies are collecting manga and watching reptiles.
Special skill is kendo.
Currently obsessed with growing her eyelashes and smartphone games.
When asked in kindergarten what her future dream was she wrote that she wanted to be part of AKB48.
Has a pet leopard gecko named Tenchan.
Describes her personality as moody.
Her goal is to learn archery and obtain some kind of qualification.
Favourite AKB48 songs are Zutto zutto, Nante suteki na sekai ni umareta no darou, and Dareka no tame ni ~ What can I do for someone? ~.
One of her favourite AKB48 stages is A4.
Appears in Ano natsu no bouhatei, Do the dance!, Hoshi ga kienai uchi ni, Yumemite gomen, and more!
Current theatre units are Kaze no machibuse, Seifuku resistance, Kiseki wa ma ni awanai, Ashita no tame ni kiss wo, Haru ga kuru made, Faint, and Zenryoku hankouki.
Mizushima Miyuu
(Mizumin)
Born November 12th, 2003.
Joined as part of 17th gen in 2022.
Lightstick colours are light blue and pink.
Her special skills are baton twirling, which she has done since she was two years old, sprinting, and holding her eyes open for a long time.
Currently into eating ice cream at night.
Doesn't play competitive video games because she dislikes losing too much.
Cries easily.
Wants to try posting about make-up on social media and travelling.
Described by 17th gen members as having a cool, older sister-like image, despite being quite talkative.
Favourite AKB48 songs are Ano natsu no bouhatei, Colorcon wink, and Chance no junban.
Appears in Ano natsu no bouhatei, Shittakaburi no sono shita ni, Do the dance!, Colorcon wink, and more!
Current theatre units are Kaze no machibuse, Christmas ring, Seifuku resistance, Gyakuten oujisama, Ashita no tame ni kiss wo, Kokoro no hashi no sofa, Junai no crescendo, Kikyou, and Itoshisa wo marumete.
Kudo Kasumi
(Kasumin)
Born June 15th, 2005.
Joined as part of 18th gen in 2023.
Lightstick colours are red and green.
Hobbies are collecting temple stamps, eating, playing claw machines, watching anime and movies, and gaming.
Special skill is eating lemons whole.
In her opinion, her best quality is her smile and dimples, and her ability to make other people smile.
Wanted to become an idol after watching AKB48's MV for Yasai Sisters which made her want to eat vegetables even though she hates them.
Wants to try stand-up comedy.
Favourite AKB48 songs are Watashitachi no reason, Zutto zutto, and Yume e no route.
Appears in Ano natsu no bouhatei, Do the dance!, Hoshi ga kienai uchi ni, Yumemite gomen, Nagori zakura, and more!
Current theatre units are Christmas ring, Seifuku resistance, Kiseki wa ma ni awanai, Gyakuten oujisama, Ashita no tame ni kiss wo, Saisho no ai no monogatari, Kimi wa pegasus, 7ji 12fun no hatsukoi, Junai no crescendo, Kikyou, Bye bye bye, and Zenryoku hankouki.
Yagi Azuki
(Azu)
Born March 22nd, 2005.
Joined as part of 18th gen in 2023.
Lightstick colours are pink and yellow.
Has a baka (stupid/foolish) character.
Won the best rookie prize at AKB's 18th Anniversary.
In her opinion, she is the best among 18th gen at dancing powerfully.
Hobbies are eating ice cream and the manga/anime Chibi Maruko-chan.
Special skills are imitating octopuses and making her fans smile.
Currently obsession is watching only the first episode of old dramas.
Wants to appear at Tokyo Girls Collection and climb Mt Fuji.
Favourite AKB48 songs are Masaka no confession, Ano natsu no bouhatei, and Kimi to boku no polestar,
Centre for Ano natsu no bouhatei and Masaka no confession, and also appears in Shittakaburi no sono shita ni, Do the dance!, and more!
Current theatre units are 2gatsu no mermaid, Gyakuten oujisama, Kokoro no hashi no sofa, Haru ga kuru made, Faint, and End roll.
Kawamura Yui
(Kawayui)
Born June 18th, 2006.
Joined as part of 19th gen in 2024.
Lightstick colours are red and purple.
Admires Oguri Yui and would like to meet graduated member Yabuki Nako.
Her special skill is the Y-balance yoga pose.
Her hobbies are watching idols and baseball.
Current obsession is furikake and collecting character socks.
Is trying to find a new special skill so wants to try a lot of new things.
Also wants to throw the first pitch at a baseball game.
Favourite AKB48 songs are Gomen ne, suki ni nacchatte..., Sustainable, and Chance no junban.
Appears in Yumemite gomen and Nagori zakura.
Current theatre units are Kaze no machibuse, Seifuku resistance, Ashita no tame ni kiss wo, 7ji 12fun no hatsukoi, Junai no crescendo, Bye bye bye, Wimbledon e tsureteitte, and Choco no yukue.
Takahashi Mao
(Maatan)
Born June 25th, 2010.
Joined as part of 21st gen in 2025.
Lightstick colours are purple and purple.
Favourite things are talking to people and going for walks.
Special skill is eating a lot.
Would describe herself in one word as a pacifist.
Current theatre units are Kaze no machibuse, Wimbledon e tsureteitte, Choco no yukue, and Yume de kiss me.
Watanabe Kiko
(Kikochan)
Born July 12th, 2007.
Joined as part of 21st gen in 2025.
Lightstick colours are blue and blue.
Hobbies are karaoke, watching comedy shows, and visiting cafes.
Special skills are drumming, swimming, roundoffs, long-distance running, and roasting marshmallows.
Would describe herself in one word as lively.
Current theatre units are Christmas ring, Glory days, Wimbledon e tsureteitte, and Yume de kiss me.
Yamauchi Rinoa
(Rinoa)
Born December 13th, 2012.
Joined as part of 22nd gen in 2026.
Lightstick colours are light pink and yellow green.
Special skills are calligraphy, dancing, and swimming.
Her hobby is learning about Disney.
Strength is becoming completely absorbed in the things she loves.
Describes herself as enthusiastic.
Youngest member of AKB48.
Current theatre units are .
Fukuoka Seina
(Seichan)
Born August 1st, 2000.
Joined as part of 15th gen in 2013.
Lightstick colours are blue and white.
Loves cooking and was the captain for the dessert team in the AKB48 Cooking Senbatsu Competition.
Previously wanted to become a voice actor, but after appearing on stage many times she wants to continue live action acting and music in the future.
Hobby is watching anime and dramas.
Special skill is people-watching.
Describes her personality as being like a cat.
Made personalised earrings for her members.
Favourite AKB48 songs are River, Kimi wa melody, and Osaekirenai shoudou.
Centre for Osaekirenai shoudou, Yume e no process, and Neta furi.
Current theatre units are Furimukizama no kiss, Kiseki wa ma ni awanai, Gyakuten oujisama, Ashita no tame ni kiss wo, Kokoro no hashi no sofa, Namida no shounan, and Omoidasu tabi ni tsuraku naru.
Shitao Miu
(Tao / Miu)
Born April 3rd, 2001.
Joined as part of Team 8 in 2014.
Lightstick colours are white and blue.
Wasn't initially interested in being an idol, but auditioned after her family sent in an application.
Lead of the 2023 film Pecopin and the Devil.
Hobbies are visiting bakeries to try different types of bread, collecting pokemon cards, and watching anime, dramas, and movies.
Special skills are dancing and calligraphy.
Describes her personality as straightforward and honest.
Favourite AKB48 songs are Kaze wa fuiteiru, 47 no suteki na machi e, and Nemohamo Rumor.
Appears in Sukida sukida sukida, Jitabata, Nemohamo rumor, Moto kare desu, Nantettatte idol, and more!
Current theatre units are Lollipop, Christmas ring, Kiseki wa ma ni awanai, Ashita no tame ni kiss wo, Saisho no ai no monogatari, and Kimi wa pegasus.
Chiba Erii
(Erii / Eriichan)
Born October 27th, 2003.
Joined as part of draft 2nd gen in 2015.
Lightstick colours are yellow and blue.
Her childhood dreams were to work in a cake shop, to work in an ice cream shop, and to become a member of AKB48.
Her current obsession is eating.
Likes looking at people's teeth and would like more members with big teeth to join AKB48.
Known for her smelly feet.
Special skill is remembering fans.
Considered by staff to have shown the most growth out of all of the members.
Favourite AKB48 songs are Hisashiburi no lip gloss, Koike, and Seifuku no hane.
One of her favourite AKB48 stages is B4.
Centre for Hisashiburi no lip gloss, and appears in Wakariyasukute gomen, Omoide my friend, Colorcon wink, Nantettatte idol, and more!
Current theatre units are Lollipop, Seifuku resistance, and Ashita no tame ni kiss wo.
Yamauchi Mizuki
(Zukky)
Born September 20th, 2001.
Joined as part of 16th gen in 2016.
Lightstick colours are pink and yellow.
Was a child actor who performed in musicals including The Lion King (as young Nala) and learnt tap dance and ballet.
Wants to become a wizard by the age of 30.
Daughter of a longtime AKB48 fan who became a fan herself in 2011.
Hobbies are Disney, watching plays, and eating gourmet food.
Special skills are moving her ears, dancing, whistling, and Jagarico tasting.
Favourite AKB48 songs are Shitsuren arigatou, Dakitsukouka?, and Neko allergy.
Unclear what her favourite AKB48 stage is because she didn't pick any of the popular ones.
Centre for Neko allergy, Monica yoake da, Shitsuren arigatou, and also appears in Idol nanka janakattara, and more!
Current theatre units are Lollipop, Christmas ring, Seifuku resistance, Gyakuten oujisama, Ashita no tame ni kiss wo, Namida no shounan, and Kimi wa pegasus.
Ota Yuki
(Yukitan)
Born March 27th, 2004.
Joined as part of 17th gen in 2022.
Lightstick colours are light blue and purple.
She can play alto, baritone, and soprano saxophone, and has a good sense of musical pitch.
Her charm point is her soft ears which she can move by themselves and the mole under her eye.
Can't live without carbonated lemon drinks.
Her hobbies are watching anime and idols.
Describes her personality as full of curiousity.
Wants to try hosting a solo radio show.
Favourite AKB48 songs are Love shugyou, Hoshi ga kienai uchi ni, and Ano natsu no bouhatei.
One of her favourite stages is AKB18.
Appears in Shittakaburi no sono shita ni, Do the dance!, Hoshi ga kienai uchi ni, Yumemite gomen, and more!
Current theatre units are Kaze no machibuse, Furimukizama no kiss, Kiseki wa ma ni awanai, Ashita no tame ni kiss wo, Saisho no ai no monogatari, Kimi to boku no kankei, 7ji 12fun no hatsukoi, Haru ga kuru made, Faint, Kikyou, and Stoic na bigaku.
Hirata Yuki
(Yuki)
Born September 3rd, 2002.
Joined as part of 17th gen in 2022.
Lightstick colours are white and purple.
Joined not because she wanted to become an idol, but because she wanted to be part of AKB48 after being a fan since she was a child.
Was an Instagram influencer with over 28,000 followers.
Voted by the other members as AKB48's fashionista.
Her hobbies are watching movies, collecting merchandise, and fashion.
Describes her personality as selfish.
Wants to try doing more fashion-related work, such as modeling and designing.
Favourite AKB48 songs are Baby! Baby! Baby!, Watashitachi no reason, and Kinou yori motto suki.
One of her favourite AKB48 stages is K6.
Appears in Ano natsu no bouhatei, Doushitemo kimi ga suki da, Shittakaburi no sono shita ni, Do the dance!, and more!
Current theatre units are Lollipop, Christmas ring, Furimukizama no kiss, Kiseki wa ma ni awanai, Kokoro no hashi no sofa, Haru ga kuru made, Faint, Kikyou, and Itoshisa wo marumete.
Yamazaki Sora
(Sorara)
Born May 13th, 2004.
Joined as part of 17th gen in 2022.
Lightstick colours are purple and pink.
Hobby is watching idols.
Described by 17th gen members as high-energy and very outgoing, though she describes her personality as shy and says she finds it hard to talk to her seniors and to strangers.
Special skill is swimming, which she did for 10 years.
Wants to try acting in films and dramas, and doing make-up and fashion work.
Wants to become someone who can sing stably while dancing energetically, like Okada Nana.
Part of the main cast for the movie Girls Drive.
Favourite AKB48 songs are 11gatsu no anklet, Nemohamo rumor, and Hoshi ga kienai uchi ni.
Centre for Hoshi ga kienai uchi ni, and also appears in Ano natsu no bouhatei, Idol nante janakattara, Do the dance!, Pin to kita, and more!
Current theatre units are Kaze no machibuse, Seifuku resistance, Gyakuten oujisama, Saisho no ai no monogatari, Kimi wa pegasus, 7ji 12fun no hatsukoi, Junai no crescendo, and Stoic na bigaku.
Kubo Hinano
(Chanhina)
Born February 2nd, 2006.
Joined as part of 18th gen in 2023.
Lightstick colours are dark pink and light pink.
In her opinion, she is the physically strongest and most agile member of 18th gen.
Her hobbies are baking, cooking, and cycling.
Her special skills are tongue twisters and differentiating between different types of sneezes.
Current obsession is eating spicy food.
Wants to try working in a food-related field and travelling abroad.
Part of the cast for the movie Girls Drive.
Favourite AKB48 songs are Zenryoku hankouki, White day ni wa..., and Matenrou no kyori.
Appears in Ano natsu no bouhatei, Do the dance!, Hoshi ga kienai uchi ni, Yumemite gomen, and more!
Current theatre units are Lollipop, Kaze no machibuse, Seifuku resistance, Kiseki wa ma ni awanai, Ashita no tame ni kiss wo, Namida no shounan, Kimi to boku no kankei, 7ji 12fun no hatsukoi, Junai no crescendo, Faint, and Itoshisa wo marumete.
Yamaguchi Yui
(Yuichi)
Born March 8th, 2009.
Joined as part of 18th gen in 2023.
Lightstick colours are red and orange.
Youngest member of 18th gen.
In her opinion, she is the best in 18th gen at eating.
Her hobbies are dancing to Kpop songs, listening to music and eating, especially eating kimchi, ramen, and potatoes.
Special skill is dancing.
Favourite things to hear are 'Yui, teach me the choreography!!' and 'You're so good at dancing'.
Wanted to reach 300 theatre performances by 2025. To achieve this she would have had to perform 200 times that year (she 'only' made 120).
Was a model in her hometown in Nagasaki before joining AKB48.
Favourite AKB48 songs are UZA, Nemohamo rumor, and Ponytail to shushu.
Appears in Ano natsu no bouhatei, Do the dance!, Hoshi ga kienai uchi ni, Yumemite gomen, and more!
Current theatre units are Christmas ring, Seifuku resistance, Gyakuten oujisama, Ashita no tame ni kiss wo, Saisho no ai no monogatari, Kimi wa pegasus, 7ji 12fun no hatsukoi, Junai no crescendo, and End roll.
Oga Saki
(Saachan)
Born May 16th, 2006.
Joined as part of 20th gen in 2024.
Lightstick colours are blue and yellow green.
Tallest member of AKB48 at 168.2cm. She is 4cm taller than any other member.
Studied dance from the ages of 4 to 13.
Plays the French horn.
Her hobbies are collecting cute band-aids and watching anime.
Special skills are folding tiny cranes and being able to talk to anyone.
Currently obsessed with eating alone.
Says she has no physical strength and needs to work hard on her stamina.
Wants to try modeling to take advantage of her height and finding a new hobby.
Favourite AKB48 songs are Ano natsu no bouhatei, Yumemite gomen, and Baby! Baby! Baby!.
Current theatre units are Furimukizama no kiss, Seifuku resistance, Gyakuten oujisama, 7ji 12fun no hatsukoi, Kikyou, Wimbledon e tsureteitte, Choco no yukue, and Kanojo.
Tanaka Sayuri
(Sayurin)
Born December 9th, 2008.
Joined as part of 21st gen in 2025.
Lightstick colours are light blue and yellow green.
Favourite things are Jiro-style ramen, collecting cute things, and Aikatsu.
Special skill is playing basketball.
Would describe herself in one word as competitive.
Current theatre units are Kaze no machibuse, Saisho no ai no monogatari, Kimi to boku no kankei, Kono mune no barcode, Choco no yukue, and Yume de kiss me.
Onishi Yuna
(Yuuchan)
Born June 15th, 2008.
Joined as part of 22nd gen in 2026.
Lightstick colours are purple and yellow green.
Special skill is sewing and her other hobby is dancing.
Describes herself as always cheerful and energetic, but a sore loser.
Her strength is forgetting anything bad that's happened when she goes to sleep.
Current theatre units are .
Oguri Yui
(yuiyui)
Born December 26th, 2001.
Joined as part of Team 8 in 2014.
Lightstick colours are yellow and pink.
An actor appearing in many productions including Good Morning Nemureru Shishi, Girls Drive, and Yume Kanaeru Project.
Loves travelling to hot springs, saunas, and power spots alone during her free time.
Current obsession is acai bowls.
Competed in the 2025 Tokyo Marathon.
Joined AKB48 after getting encouraged by her friends, but found out later that they were just joking around and she was the only one who took it seriously and applied.
Describes her personality as very positive.
Favourite AKB48 songs are Yuuhi wo miteiru ka?, Idol nanka janakattara, and River.
One of her favourite AKB48 stages is A6.
Centre for Houtei sokudo to yuuetsukan, Teacher Teacher, Jitabata, Idol nanka janakattara, Oh my pumpkin!, and more!
Current theatre unit is Lollipop.
Takahashi Ayane
(Ayanechan)
Born December 30th, 1997.
Joined as part of Team 8 in 2014.
Lightstick colours are light blue and red.
Likes animals, including orcas, has a pet turtle named Kame-chan, and wants to raise pet snakes and cliones.
The anmal she would want to become is an otter.
Wants to become a cute and long-lasting grandmother someday.
Hobbies are crafting, eating popcorn at the cinema, and going to karaoke alone.
Special skills are eating and sleeping a lot.
Obsession is hanging out with her members.
Wants the current AKB48 to become more fierce and to improve performances through competition.
Favourite AKB48 songs are Hashire! Penguin, Junjou soda sui, and Scrap & Build.
One of her favourite AKB48 stages is A5.
Appears in Aisatsu kara hajimeyou, Yume e no route, Hoshizora wo kimi ni, Neko allergy, and more!
Current theatre units are Lollipop, Furimukizama no kiss, Seifuku resistance, Gyakuten oujisama, Saisho no ai no monogatari, and Kimi to boku no kankei.
Kurosu Haruka
(Haachan)
Born February 28th, 2001.
Joined as part of 16th gen in 2016.
Lightstick colour is yellow.
Studied education at Tokyo Gakugei University and has an elementary school teaching licence.
She wrote her thesis on Katsu Kaishu and would like to time travel back to the late Edo period.
Special skills are soccer, flamenco dance, and playing the sanshin.
Says her unique strength among the members is her patience for waiting.
Was a member of KLP48 between June 2024 and February 2026, and during that time often posted her travels around Malaysia and other Southeast Asian countries.
Appears in the KLP48 version of Heavy rotation, as well as other AKB48 and KLP48 songs, though none that have music videos.
Current theatre units are Christmas ring, Seifuku resistance, Kiseki wa ma ni awanai, Ashita no tame ni kiss wo, Saisho no ai no monogatari, Kimi wa pegasus, Glory days, and Wimbledon e tsureteitte.
Yamane Suzuha
(Zunchan)
Born August 11th 2000.
Joined as part of 16th gen in 2016.
Lightstick colours are pink and green.
Auditioned for Team 8, NMB48, and the 2nd Draft Kaigi before getting in to 16th gen.
Has a soft toy frog named Gabriel that she used to bring to handshake events (you can see him here!)
Apparently bad at all her hobbies (including drawing and playing guitar).
Diligent with her Showroom streams, earning her a place in many Showroom senbatsu selections over the years.
Revealed in 2021 that she had been diagnosed with bipolar disorder.
Was a member of KLP48 between June 2024 and February 2026, and during that time often posted her travels around Malaysia.
Appears in Private summer, "Suki" no tane, Seishun da capo, Sugar night, and more!
Current theatre units are Gyakuten oujisama, Kokoro no hashi no sofa.
Sato Airi
(Aichan)
Born June 24th, 2004.
Joined as part of 17th gen in 2022.
Lightstick colours are red and white.
Ace of 17th gen, being the first to appear on a music show and enter senbatsu.
Her special skills are cheerleading, flute, soft tennis, learning things quickly, and erasing blackboards.
Currently obsessed with Gakuen Idolmaster.
Wants to work on being able to cook for herself.
Younger sister of former AKB48 member Sato Kiara, but she did not mention this during her audition as she wanted to be accepted on her own merit.
Favourite AKB48 songs are Oogoe diamond, Zutto zutto, and Enkyori poster.
One of her favourite stages is AKB18.
Centre for Do the dance!, Ano natsu no bouhatei, Koi tsunjatta, and Pin to kita.
Current theatre units are Lollipop, Kaze no machibuse, Gyakuten oujisama, Kokoro no hashi no sofa, Namida no shounan, Kimi to boku no kankei, 7ji 12fun no hatsukoi, Faint, and Zenryoku hankouki.
Hotei Moka
(Hotechan / Mokarun)
Born December 1st, 2004.
Joined as part of 17th gen in 2022.
Lightstick colours are pink and red.
According to 17th gen members, she drinks 2 litres of cola a day and an energy drink each morning. She listed this as a special skill.
Loves anime and manga, and Chainsaw Man in particular.
She also loves playing video games and supporting idols.
Her special skills are drinking milk quickly, cola tasting, and eating extremely spicy food.
Currently obsessed with finding cute clothes and Monster Hunter Wilds.
Wants to try studying languages.
Favourite AKB48 songs are Suki suki suki, Doushite mo kimi ga suki da, and Hachinosu dance.
Appears in Ano natsu no bouhatei, Shittakaburi no sono shita ni, Hoshi ga kienai uchi ni, Yumemite gomen, and more!
Current theatre units are Lollipop, Kaze no machibuse, Gyakuten oujisama, Kokoro no hashi no sofa, 7ji 12fun no hatsukoi, Kikyou, and Zenryoku hankouki.
Akiyama Yuna
(Yunachan)
Born December 12th, 2005.
Joined as part of 18th gen in 2023.
Lightstick colours are light blue and light blue.
Ace of 18th gen, being one of the first members to enter senbatsu and the centre of their song, Machibito.
Has been a fan of AKB48 since she was five when she wrote that it was her dream to be a member in the future.
Special skill is basketball which she has played for 7 years.
Hobbies are karaoke and shopping, and is currently into looking for cute clothes and cosmetics.
Describes her personality as straightforward.
Wants to try basketball-related work, bungee jumping, knitting, and obtaining a qualification.
Favourite AKB48 songs are Everyday, kachuusha, Shoujotachi yo, and #Sukinanda.
Appears in Ano natsu no bouhatei, Shittakaburi no sono shita ni, Do the dance!, Colorcon wink, Nantettatte idol, and more!
Current theatre units are Kaze no machibuse, Christmas ring, Furimukizama no kiss, Seifuku resistance, Ashita no tame ni kiss wo, Namida no shounan, Kimi to boku no kankei, 7ji 12fun no hatsukoi, Faint, and Zenryoku hankouki.
Sako Yumemi
(Yumemin / Sakoyumemi)
Born February 5th, 2006.
Joined as part of 18th gen in 2023.
Lightstick colours are white and light blue.
In her opinion, she is the best at making facial expressions among the 18th gen members.
Hobbies are collecting Sanrio goods, listening to the radio, and collecting cute clothes.
Special skill is doing cartwheels.
Current obsession is watching Sanrio Puroland videos on Youtube.
Describes her personality as somebody with strong convictions who likes to have fun.
Wants to try modeling work and radio.
Favourite AKB48 songs are Machibito, Hoshi ga kienai uchi ni, and Tobenai agehachou.
Appears in Ano natsu no bouhatei, Do the dance!, Hoshi ga kienai uchi ni, Yumemite gomen, and more!
Current theatre units are Christmas ring, Kiseki wa ma ni awanai, Gyakuten oujisama, Kokoro no hashi no sofa, Namida no shounan, Kimi wa pegasus, 7ji 12fun no hatsukoi, Kikyou, Bye bye bye, Wimbledon e tsureteitte, and Choco no yukue.
Ito Momoka
(Itomomo)
Born December 6th, 2003.
Joined as part of 19th gen in 2024.
Lightstick colours are light pink and light pink.
The oldest member and ace of 19th gen.
Former member of the idol group Always Thankyou under the name Kitano Nana.
Her special skills are dancing, long-distance running, ballet, eating spicy food, and playing the flute.
Her hobbies are rakugo, running, and reading.
Current obsession is eating spicy food.
In the future wants to try climbing Mt Fuji, acting, becoming a gummy candy connoisseur, and eating more spicy food.
Favourite AKB48 songs are Oogoe diamond, Shonichi, and Gingham check.
Centre for Pin to kita and Nagori zakura, and also appears in Yumemite gomen, Masaka no confession, and Oh my pumpkin!.
Current theatre units are Furimukizama no kiss, 7ji 12fun no hatsukoi, Faint, Itoshisa wo marumete, Kono mune no barcode, and Ame no pianist.
Kondo Saki
(Kosaki)
Born February 23rd, 2012.
Joined as part of 20th gen in 2024.
Lightstick colours are orange and green.
Hobbies are dancing, listening to music, and watching idols.
Special skills are dancing and making funny faces.
Currently obsessed with eating Japanese food.
Was introduced to AKB48 by her mother who likes them.
Has wanted to be an idol since was very little, influenced by Kpop idol groups like aespa.
Wants to appear on TV and in other media a lot.
Favourite AKB48 songs are Koi tsunjatta, Hachinosu dance, and 47 no suteki na machi e.
Current theatre units are Christmas ring, Seifuku resistance, Gyakuten oujisama, Ashita no tame ni kiss wo, Kokoro no hashi no sofa, Saisho no ai no monogatari, Kimi wa pegasus, Haru ga kuru made, Faint, Glory days, Ame no pianist, and Kanojo.
Makito Ema
(Emachan)
Born May 25th, 2007.
Joined as part of 21st gen in 2025.
Lightstick colours are dark pink and dark pink.
Favourite things are idols, Takarazuka Revue, The Rose of Versailles (manga), the French Revolution, and collecting pink things,
Special skills are English, classical ballet, back exercises, and making uchiwa.
Would describe herself in one word as a dreamer.
Current theatre units are Lollipop, Kono mune no barcode, Ame no pianist, and Yume de kiss me.
Hasegawa Momoka
(Hasemomo)
Born December 14th, 2006.
Joined as part of 22nd gen in 2026.
Lightstick colours are orange and orange.
Formerly part of AKB48 between 2019 and 2021 as a member of Team 8.
Special skills are cartwheeling, jumping rope, playing alto saxophone, and eating spicy food.
Her strength is her confidence.
Hobbies are watching movies, reading, and listening to music.
Describes herself as honest and straightforward.
Current theatre units are .
Gyoten Yurina
(Yurina)
Born March 14th, 1999.
Joined as part of Team 8 in 2014.
Lightstick colours are pink and pink.
Has a bonsai artist licence which she obtained while preparing to star in the film Kekkoi Bonsai.
Special skill is cooking and she can also play the bass a little.
Considered one of the prettiest members among Team 8 and has a older sister-like presence.
Has been learning different forms of dance since she was a kid and was a member of a local idol group in Kagawa before joining AKB48.
Hobbies are reading manga and watching anime, particularly from the action genre. She's a fan of One Piece and Demon Slayer.
Was a member of KLP48 between June 2024 and February 2026.
Appears in Ohayo kara hajimaru sekai, Generation change, Suki da suki da suki da, Jitabata, and more!
Current theatre units are Furimukizama no kiss, Gyakuten oujisama, Kokoro no hashi no sofa.
Nagano Serika
(Serichan)
Born March 27th, 2001.
Joined as part of Team 8 in 2014.
Lightstick colours are white, white, and white.
Relieves her stress by eating.
Produced her own original character Makaro~n-chan complete with merchandise.
Hobbies are playing mahjong, baking bread, collecting temple stamps and One Piece figurines, and visiting trendy cafes.
Special skills are dancing and hula hoop.
Describes her personality as laidback and refreshing.
Wants to try skydiving, improving her English conversation skills, and appearing in a sunscreen commercial (since her skin is so pale).
Favourite AKB48 songs are 47 no suteki na machi e, Christmas ring, and Chance no junban.
One of her favourite stages is AKB18.
Appears in Kegarete iru shinjitsu, Shishunki no adrenaline, Tsuki no kamen, Yume e no process, and more!
Current theatre units are Christmas ring, Furimukizama no kiss, Kiseki wa ma ni awanai, and Ashita no tame ni kiss wo.
Nagatomo Ayami
(Ayamin)
Born November 2nd, 2000.
Joined as part of 16th gen in 2016.
Lightstick colours are yellow and light blue.
Quick to memorise choreography.
Hobbies are shopping, watching sports, and going to the sauna. She has started a sauna club with Masai Mayuu and wants to continue expanding her influence.
Special skill is cooking, particularly broiled beef short ribs (galbi).
Currently obsessed with make-up and beauty.
Wants to release a photobook and continue working hard in the theatre.
Favourite AKB48 songs are Colorcon wink, Sayonara crawl, and Henachoko support.
Appears in Shittakaburi no sono shita ni and Colorcon wink.
Current theatre units are Lollipop, Kaze no machibuse, Seifuku resistance, Kiseki wa ma ni awanai, Gyakuten oujisama, Ashita no tame ni kiss wo, and Kokoro no hashi no sofa.
Tokunaga Remi
(Remitan)
Born October 1st, 2006.
Joined as part of Team 8 in 2019.
Lightstick colours are blue and pink.
Hobbies are playing catch, and doing her hair and make-up.
Was a cheerleader and softball player growing up.
Currently into watching videos of people eating and looking for delicious ramen.
Relieves stress by sleeping.
Her strength is that she appreciates time, but her weakness is that she’s impatient.
Wants to bungee jump.
Favourite AKB48 songs are Love shugyou, Watashitachi no reason, and Futari nori no jitensha.
Centre for the unit AKB48 SURREAL as virtual member, SURRY.
Also appears in Shittakaburi no sono shita ni and Hoshi ga kienai uchi ni.
Current theatre units are Lollipop, 2gatsu no mermaid, Seifuku resistance, Gyakuten oujisama, Ashita no tame ni kiss wo, and Kokoro no hashi no sofa.
Hashimoto Eriko
(Erichan)
Born April 16th, 2006.
Joined as part of 17th gen in 2022.
Lightstick colours are red and yellow.
Has been a fan of AKB48 for over a decade and learnt the dance to Skirt, Hirari when she was 6 years old.
Tried to audition for the 3rd Draft Kaigi in 2017, but was eliminated when it was discovered she lied about her age.
Loves idols and could easily talk about them for hours.
Able to identify people based on smell alone.
Her goals are making more TV appearances, appearing in music videos and films, producing a short film, and becoming centre.
Favourite AKB48 songs are Idol nanka janakattara, Hoshi ga kienai uchi ni, and Ano natsu no bouhatei.
Centre for Hoshi ga kienai uchi ni, and also appears in Ano natsu no bouhatei, Idol nanka janakattara, Do the dance!, Nagori zakura, and more!
Current theatre units are Lollipop, Seifuku resistance, Ashita no tame ni kiss wo, 7ji 12fun no hatsukoi, Faint, Kikyou, and Bye bye bye.
Masai Mayuu
(Mayuuchan)
Born March 1st, 2005.
Joined as part of 17th gen in 2022.
Lightstick colours are white and white.
Did rhythmic gymnastics for over 10 years before joining AKB48 and is very flexible.
Hobbies are going to onsens, taking baths, and watching anime, dramas, figure skating, and sumo wrestling.
Described by members as kind and reliable, earning her the nickname Masaru (gentleness) based on a different reading of the kanji making up her name.
Hardly ever feels nervous.
Wants to go to the French Fries World Championships?
Favourite AKB48 songs are Ano natsu no bouhatei, Hoshi ga kienai uchi ni, and High school days.
Appears in Ano natsu no bouhatei, Shittakaburi no sono shita ni, Do the dance!, Hoshi ga kienai uchi ni, and more!
Current theatre units are Kaze no machibuse, Christmas ring, Kiseki wa ma ni awanai, Ashita no tame ni kiss wo, Kokoro no hashi no sofa, Namida no shounan, Kimi wa pegasus, 7ji 12fun no hatsukoi, Junai no crescendo, Faint, Kikyou, End roll, Glory days, and Ame no pianist.
Arai Sae
(Saechan / Saemaru)
Born October 5th, 2005.
Joined as part of 18th gen in 2023.
Lightstick colours are yellow and yellow.
Is good at English, with an EIKEN Grade Pre-1 certification. She can also speak some French.
Has played piano for 12 years and her other special skills include ballet, skiing, basketball, and swimming.
Her hobby is watching musicals and she especially loves Phantom of the Opera.
Describes her personality as positive and competitive.
Wants to try doing jobs that utilise her English skills, as well as acting and appearing in musicals.
Favourite AKB48 songs are Enkyori poster, Shittakaburi no sono shita ni, and Kimi to niji to taiyou to.
One of her favourite AKB48 stages is A5.
Centre for Shittakaburi no sono shita ni and Yumemite gomen, and also appears in Do the dance!, Hoshi ga kienai uchi ni, and more!
Current theatre units are Kaze no machibuse, 2gatsu no mermaid, Kiseki wa ma ni awanai, Kokoro no hashi no sofa, Namida no shounan, Omoidasu tabi ni tsuraku naru, Junai no crescendo, Kikyou, Bye bye bye, and Zenryoku hankouki.
Narita Kohina
(Kohi)
Born March 3rd, 2004.
Joined as part of 18th gen in 2023.
Lightstick colours are purple and yellow.
Has an average score of 95 at karaoke and in her opinion loves singing the most out of all the 18th gen members.
Wants to become someone who can support others with her music.
Hobbies are watching Kdramas and songwriting.
Special skill is Korean which she learned mostly from watching Kdramas. She wants to make use of her Korean language skills in the future work.
Currently obsessed with collecting things and cooking for herself.
Favourite AKB48 songs are Hoshi ga kienai uchi ni, Namida no hyomen choryoku, and Kimi to boku no polestar.
Appears in Ano natsu no bouhatei, Do the dance!, Hoshi ga kienai uchi ni, Yumemite gomen, and more!
Current theatre units are Furimukizama no kiss, Christmas ring, Kiseki wa ma ni awanai, Ashita no tame ni kiss wo, Namida no shounan, Omoidasu tabi ni tsuraku naru, Haru ga kuru made, Faint, and Stoic na bigaku.
Okumoto Kairi
(Kairi)
Born January 27th, 2007.
Joined as part of 19th gen in 2024.
Lightstick colours are light blue and blue.
Admires Kuranoo Narumi and would like to meet graduated member Kawaei Rina.
Her special skill is playing piano (which she taught herself) and keeping her eyes open even with a hairdryer blowing in her face.
Her hobbies are playing electric guitar, playing games, and listening to music.
Describes herself as highly sensitive.
Wants to appear in many theatre performances and try performing as part of a band.
Favourite AKB48 songs are 365 nichi no kamihikouki, Darashinai aishikata, and Nante suteki na sekai ni umareta no darou.
Appears in Yumemite gomen.
Current theatre units are Lollipop, Namida no shounan, Kimi wa pegasus, Haru ga kuru made, Faint, Stoic na bigaku, Kono mune no barcode, Ame no pianist, and Romance kakurenbo.
Maruyama Hinata
(Maruchan)
Born July 11th, 2008.
Joined as part of 20th gen in 2024.
Lightstick colours are dark pink and blue.
Her special skill is drawing.
Her hobby is eating.
Big fan of Ultraman.
Currently obsessed with tofu.
Describes her personality as serious.
Was also introduced to AKB48 by her mother who played their songs in the car and at karaoke.
Did cheerleading in elementary school, but says she's bad at dancing.
Wants to try doing anything and everything.
Favourite AKB48 songs are Hachinosu dance, Ponytail to shushu, and Ano hi no fuurin.
Current theatre units are Kaze no machibuse, Seifuku resistance, Ashita no tame ni kiss wo, 7ji 12fun no hatsukoi, Kikyou, Glory days, Choco no yukue, and Kanojo.
Morikawa Yu
(Yuuyu)
Born June 24th, 2008.
Joined as part of 21st gen in 2025.
Lightstick colours are light blue and orange.
Hobby is watching ASMR videos.
Special skills are Korean and karate, in which she holds a black belt.
Would describe herself in one word as having potential.
Current theatre units are Christmas ring, Seifuku resistance, Gyakuten oujisama, Glory days, Choco no yukue, and Yume de kiss me.
Maeda Izumi
(Izu)
Born November 17th, 2008.
Joined as part of 22nd gen in 2026.
Lightstick colours are yellow green and yellow green.
Special skills are playing piano and her perfect pitch.
Hobby is watching Disney movies and she also loves architecture.
Can speak English.
Describes herself as a hard worker.
Current theatre units are .
Music
There are three major types of AKB48 songs within their discography.Stage songs come from original theatre set lists. These original set lists were produced mostly in the early days when the theatre was the main focus of the group. In 2013, the studio versions of these songs were finally released.Two indie and 64 major label singles have been released. Several versions of each single are produced, each with different b-sides or coupling songs. Up until 2009, singles and coupling songs were mostly taken from stage set lists that were already being performed.There are also nine studio albums containing recent singles, coupling songs and new songs. There are also three Team Surprise stages, which are collections of singles released for Pachinko ad campaigns.Members chosen for each song can be sourced from AKB48 or from any of their sister groups. Those chosen to be part of the single a-side are known as senbatsu. For the most part senbatsu are chosen by management. However, for some singles, senbatsu has been chosen by fan elections (sousenkyo) and by paper-scissors-rock tournaments (janken). Since 2021, releases have all been AKB48 only without sister group involvement.You can find every AKB48 music video along with information on which members are participating at 48Directory.To get you started, I've made three Spotify playlists with different themes!
Cool and fierce songs to inspire a battle or an adventure into the mysterious woods of another world.Songs for a party. First raucously bounce off all the walls and then later maybe things will get a bit sexy?Classic idol songs filled with love, longing and the wind blowing through your hair as you run down that hillside.
Performances
Theatre
The theatre is my favourite part of AKB48 (this may be because I stan all the flop members who don’t get as much variety or concert time).You can check out the theatre schedule and line-ups at AKB48’s website, at akiha, or using my line-up spreadsheets (for recent stages).These spreadsheets have information on who is performing what stage, and can let you easily find every date a particular member has performed. There are links to watch performances, and the folder also contains colour-coded lyrics.If you can't decide on a stage to watch, I would recommend their latest original stage Koko kara da.Theatre LODs (live on demand performances) at DMM.com for a subscription fee. You can subscribe to DMM using a VPN and paypal using these instructions.Alternatively, links to stream and download LODs can be found on my spreadsheets. Because.. you know.. it can get expensive.
Concerts
Concerts are a great way to introduce yourself to AKB48 performances (although they do tend to focus more on popular members and include sister group members).You can download and stream concerts from places like 48directory, aidoru-online, and oshimen48.If you're not sure where to start and want to focus more on the current AKB48, you can watch their 2025 Spring Concert or tour setlistIf you don't care about all of the members having graduated already and want to see AKB48 at its "peak", then try 2012 Tokyo Dome or 2013 Group Rinji Soukai.You can also access almost all of AKB48's concerts on their very own streaming site eizo, which costs 1078 yen a month, however you will need a VPN.
Other things to watch
Documentaries
AKB48 has several documentaries that are a great place to start getting to know about the system and history of the group. You can stream them with English subtitles here. The latest documentary, released for their 20th anniversary is available with English subtitles here.
Dramas
AKB48 have produced several live action dramas featuring the members in the main cast. Check them out at here. You can also find links to their anime and manga series on the 48directory home page.
Variety
A great place to start for AKB variety is AKBingo!. You can stream it here. If there are dead links, you can find raw episodes and soft subs here.AKBingo ended in 2019 and you might be more interested in seeing content from newer members. In that case, try episodes of AKB48 Sayonara Mouri-san or their youtube content, subbed by Amateur48 Subs.And here and here are masterlists of other subbed content for AKB48 and their sister groups.Please be aware that some of these variety shows do not stand up to modern standards of being a decent person and you will at times encounter sexism, racism, transphobia, homophobia, fatphobia, sexual harassment, and sexualisation of minors, particularly in older episodes. The subbing team for AKBingo! up to episode 65 also makes some horrible comments about the members and some guests that you may wish to avoid.