HKT48
Encyclopedia
HKT48 is a Japanese female idol group
based in Fukuoka
. The group is produced by Yasushi Akimoto
, and it is the third sister group to AKB48
. The group's 21 first-generation members were announced on October 23, 2011, and their debut performance will take place at the end of 2011.
HKT48 is named after the Hakata-ku, Fukuoka
ward of Fukuoka Prefecture
, where Yasushi Akimoto originally intended to base the group. HKT48's theater is located in Hawks Town Mall in Chūō-ku, Fukuoka
.
on November 19, 2008. HKT48 was officially announced on May 1, 2011 at an AKB48 handshake event. The group is the third AKB48 sister group to be launched, after the groups SKE48
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.
HKT48's 21 first-generation members were first revealed at an AKB48 handshake event on October 23, 2011. 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 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 Yoko Sugamoto, who was 17 years old at the time of the announcement.
Japanese idol
In Japanese culture, are media personalities in their teens and early twenties who are considered particularly attractive or cute and who will, for a period ranging from several months to a few years, regularly appear in the mass media, e.g...
based in Fukuoka
Fukuoka
Fukuoka most often refers to the capital city of Fukuoka Prefecture.It can also refer to:-Locations:* Fukuoka, Gifu, a town in Gifu Prefecture, Japan* Fukuoka, Toyama, a town in Toyama Prefecture, Japan...
. The group is produced by Yasushi Akimoto
Yasushi Akimoto
is a Japanese television writer, lyricist, record producer, professor and vice president at Kyoto University of Art and Design. He also created some of Japan's top idol groups, Onyanko Club and the AKB48 franchise.- Career :...
, and it is the third sister group to AKB48
AKB48
AKB48 is a Japanese female idol group produced by Yasushi Akimoto.The group has achieved enormous popularity in Japan. Its ten latest consecutive singles topped the Oricon Weekly Singles Chart...
. The group's 21 first-generation members were announced on October 23, 2011, and their debut performance will take place at the end of 2011.
HKT48 is named after the Hakata-ku, Fukuoka
Hakata
Hakata may refer to:*Hakata-ku, Fukuoka, a ward in Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan.**Hakata ningyō , traditional Japanese clay dolls, originally from Hakata*Hakata Station, a large train station in Fukuoka...
ward of Fukuoka Prefecture
Fukuoka Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located on Kyūshū Island. The capital is the city of Fukuoka.- History :Fukuoka Prefecture includes the former provinces of Chikugo, Chikuzen, and Buzen....
, where Yasushi Akimoto originally intended to base the group. HKT48's theater is located in Hawks Town Mall in Chūō-ku, Fukuoka
Chuo-ku, Fukuoka
is one of the seven wards of Fukuoka city in Japan. The ward is located in the center of the city.It includes Tenjin and Daimyō which are among the largest downtown areas in Kyūshū, Nagahama, which is known for its fish market, and Ōhori Park.-Main facilities:...
.
History
Plans for a group entitled HKT48 were first revealed by AKB48 producer Yasushi AkimotoYasushi Akimoto
is a Japanese television writer, lyricist, record producer, professor and vice president at Kyoto University of Art and Design. He also created some of Japan's top idol groups, Onyanko Club and the AKB48 franchise.- Career :...
on November 19, 2008. HKT48 was officially announced on May 1, 2011 at an AKB48 handshake event. The group is the third AKB48 sister group to be launched, after the groups SKE48
SKE48
SKE48 is an all-female Japanese theater/idol group produced by Yasushi Akimoto. The audition was held during the summer and debuted in October 2008. SKE48 performs in the newly built studio in the renovated Sunshine Sakae in Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture, every Saturday...
and NMB48
NMB48
NMB48 is an all-female Japanese theater/idol group produced by Yasushi Akimoto. The group performs at NMB48 Theater on the basement of Yes-Namba Building in Namba, Osaka.-About:...
. The group takes its name from its proposed base location of Hakata-ku, Fukuoka
Hakata-ku, Fukuoka
is one of the seven wards of Fukuoka City, Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan. It is best known as the location of Fukuoka's main train station, Hakata Station.-Geography:...
. Instead of the previously targeted Hakata, HKT48 will instead be based at a theater in the Hawks Town Mall in neighboring Chūō-ku, Fukuoka
Chuo-ku, Fukuoka
is one of the seven wards of Fukuoka city in Japan. The ward is located in the center of the city.It includes Tenjin and Daimyō which are among the largest downtown areas in Kyūshū, Nagahama, which is known for its fish market, and Ōhori Park.-Main facilities:...
. This location is next to the Fukuoka Yahoo! Japan Dome
Fukuoka Dome
The is a baseball field, located in Chūō-ku, Fukuoka, Japan. Built in 1993, the stadium can accommodate 35,695 spectators and was Japan's first stadium with a retractable roof....
. 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.
HKT48's 21 first-generation members were first revealed at an AKB48 handshake event on October 23, 2011. 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 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 Yoko Sugamoto, who was 17 years old at the time of the announcement.