HKT48

About

HKT48 is named after the Hakata-ku, Fukuoka city of Fukuoka Prefecture, where Yasushi Akimoto originally intended to base the group. HKT48's theater was located in Hawks Town Mall in Chūō-ku, Fukuoka until March 31, 2016. A new theater opened in Nishitetsu Hall in April 28, 2016.

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 is the fourth AKB48 sister group to be launched, after the groups SKE48, SDN48 and NMB48. The group takes its name from its proposed base location of Hakata-ku, Fukuoka. Instead of the previously targeted Hakata, HKT48 will instead be 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-ever 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 are junior high school students or below, and two are elementary-school students. The youngest member of the group, Natsumi Tanaka, was born in 2000, and 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 is 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 HKT48, and appeared on the stage. On June 20, 2012, Rino Sashihara from AKB48 transferred to HKT48 and is currently 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, 3 from Team H - Komori, Sugamoto, and Taniguchi, and 2 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 current theater located on Hawks Town Mall was closed, with a special farewell performance. A new theater opened in Nishitetsu Hall, in April 28 2016.

Members

Team H formation was announced at HKT48 theater on March 4, 2012. On 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.

Team H

Natsumi Matsuoka is the leader of Team H.

Transferred Members

Resigned Members

Graduated Members

Team KIV

Aika Ota and Sakura Miyawaki are the leader (Captain) and the co-leader of Team KIV respectively.

Transferred Members

Former Members

Graduated Members

Team TII

Emily Yamashita and Hazuki Hokazono are the leader (Captain) and the co-leader of Team TII respectively.

Kenkyūsei

Kenkyūsei (研究生, "Trainees")

Graduated members

Resigned members

Stages

Names in bold are the stages currently performed.

Team H

Team KIV

Himawarigumi

Trainees

HKT48 Kyushu 7 Prefecture Tour ~Kawaii Ko ni wa Tabi wo Saseyo~

The group's first tour, being presented only in the Kyushu Island.

Tour Dates

In all the venues, with the exception of Miyazaki and Kumamoto, had 2 shows, one held in the afternoon and another at night.

Trivia

HKT48 Kyushu 7 Prefecture Tour ~Kawaii Ko ni wa Motto Tabi wo Saseyo~

HKT48's second tour, an extension of their first. This tour is a national tour, so unlike the first one, they travelled all over Japan.

Tour dates

Television shows

Films

International performances

On August 3, 2014 Rino Sashihara, who is in charge of HKT48, used Twitter to announce that the group was going to perform in Hong Kong and Taiwan.