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| associated_acts = | website = (akb48.co.jp ) | current_members = See List of AKB48 members | past_members = See List of former members of AKB48 }} AKB48 (pronounced ''A.K.B. Forty-eight'') is a Japanese idol girl group named after the Akihabara (''Akiba'' for short) area in Tokyo, where the group's theater is located, and its original roster of 48 members. , the group has expanded to include 140 members〔 aged from their early teens to their mid-20s. AKB48's producer, Yasushi Akimoto, wanted to form a girl group with its own theater (unlike pop groups performing occasional concerts and seen on television) and performing daily so fans could always see them live. This "idols you can meet" concept includes teams〔 which can rotate performances and perform simultaneously at several events〔 and "handshake" events, where fans can meet group members.〔 Akimoto has expanded the AKB48 concept to several sister groups in Japan, China and Indonesia. The group is one of the highest-earning musical performers in Japan, with 2013 sales of over $128 million,〔 - references Oricon article〕〔 and has been characterized as a social phenomenon.〔 the group has sold over 30 million records, including over 28.78 million singles , the second-highest musical act in Japan in the number of singles sold〔 and the highest by a girl group. AKB48's twenty-seven latest singles have topped the Oricon Weekly Singles Chart, with a record eighteen singles selling over a million copies;〔 the 2013 single, "Sayonara Crawl", sold over 1.87 million. In 2010 "Beginner" and "Heavy Rotation" placed first and second, respectively, on the list of Japan's best-selling singles for the year. AKB48's singles occupied the top five spots of the Oricon Yearly Singles Chart in 2011 and 2012,〔 the top four in 2013 and the top five in 2014. == Concept == AKB48 was founded as "idols you can meet".〔 The group's chief producer, Yasushi Akimoto, said that his goal was to create a unique idol group which, unlike other idol groups which perform occasional concerts and appear primarily on television, would perform regularly in its own theater.〔Although AKB48 performs at the theater daily, tickets are distributed via a lottery only due to the high demand. (The theater offers 145 seats and 105 standing)〕 The AKB48 Theater is in the Don Quijote store in Akihabara, Tokyo.〔 The group is split into several teams, reducing its members' workload (since the theater's daily performance is by only one team) and enabling AKB48 to perform simultaneously in several places.〔 "Because the teams rotate performances, AKB48’s two theaters, four TV shows and four radio programs always have a group to fill them. Like if it’s Team A today, Team K and Team B will go next, so those two teams can be on TV or go to other places."〕 According to member Misaki Iwasa, each team has its own theme. Team A represents freedom; Team B is idol-like, with cute costumes, and Team K has a strong, powerful image.〔 - video originally posted with article 〕 According to an early press release the group was intended to have 16 members on each of three teams, for a total membership of 48;〔〔 its membership actually varied over time,〔 with a high of 92. New members are who are understudies for the group,〔 performing occasionally in the theater as a team. In addition to their performances with the group, members are promoted by the Japanese mass media.〔 AKB48 regularly hosts events, where fans can interact with the members, such as taking pictures or shaking hands with the members.〔 The group members' ages range from their early teens to over 20,〔〔 and they are selected from auditions held in Japan twice a year.〔〔 Members are not allowed to date, and must be well-behaved; any violation of these restrictions is punished, possibly by expulsion from the group.〔 AKB48 has a system that allows members to "graduate" from the group when they are older and are replaced by trainees who are promoted. Monica Hesse of ''The Washington Post'' described the AKB48 audition process as "rolling ''American Idol''-esque". 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「AKB48」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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