History Music / AKB48

'''[=AKB48=]''' is an [[IdolSinger idol]] [[GirlGroup girl group]] which, at the time of its conception in 2005, consisted of, you guessed it, 48 members. However, the group currently has ''way'' more than 48 members, with even more members scattered in its many sister groups and units.

In 2020, all [=AKB48=] events were halted due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It planned to resume after the safety measures were implemented, but the capital's ongoing state of emergencies made it impossible. Also, the handshake events were suspended indefinitely. In 2022, Team 8 announced that it would be winding down its activities the following year and go on hiatus indefinitely, while its members would continue their activities as part of the other four teams. In 2023, alongside a move to Creator/UniversalMusicGroup, [=AKB48=] returned its handshake events. Also that same year, the group announced that it would replace the original team system with a new system.

** The unit name [=IxR=] stands for "Idol Reality", inspired by [=xR=], the broad acronym for AugmentedReality and VirtualReality.

* PandaingToTheAudience: One of the girls wears a panda outfit in "Ame no Doubutsuen" from Team K's 2nd Stage.

In 2020, all [=AKB48=] events were halted due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It planned to resume after the safety measures were implemented, but the capital's ongoing state of emergencies made it impossible. Also, the handshake events were suspended indefinitely. In 2022, Team 8 announced that it would be winding down its activities the following year and go on hiatus indefinitely, while its members would continue their activities as part of the other four teams. In 2023, alongside a move to Creator/UniversalMusicGroup, [=AKB48=] returned its handshake events. Also that same year, the group announced that it would replace the original system with a new team system.

[=AKB48=] is divided into five teams: Team A, Team K, Team B, Team 4, and Team 8. Each roughly consists of 20 members, with the exception of Team 8, which debuted with 47 members at the time of its conception, each one of them from a different Japanese prefecture. As a very large musical act which emphasizes group identity over individual ones, membership is rather fluid, and the girls regularly exit the group for various reasons. Before they exit, they usually hold farewell performances or "graduation ceremonies", although there are those who choose to exit without fanfare, which includes those who are fired by the management. In addition to regular members, there are also trainees (''kenkyuusei''), understudies who have not been assigned teams and only occasionally perform in the theatre. As of 2023, the group, including trainees, consists of 85 members, and is captained by Mion Mukaichi of Team A, who is not only considered the leader of [=AKB48=] but also all of its sister groups.

** Kiara Sato's sister Airi joined the group in 2022 (and was selected for the 60th single's main lineup only three months after joining, while Kiara has never been given the opportunity). Their cordial relationship is often compared to the constantly bickering Mutos.

* OfficiallyShortenedTitle: The 34th single title, "Suzukake no Ki no Michi de 'Kimi no Hohoemi o Yume ni Miru' to Itte Shimattara Bokutachi no Kankei wa Dou Kawatte Shimau no ka, Bokunari ni Nan-nichi ka Kangaeta Ue de no Yaya Kihazukashii Ketsuron no Youna Mono" [[note]]"Sort of a little bit embarrassing conclusion I came up to after thinking for days about how our relationship would change if while walking along a road of plane trees I said to you, 'I dream of your smile'"[[/note]], is usually shortened to "Suzukake Nanchara" ("Plane Tree Something...") when spoken.

* LongTitle: AKB's 34th single, "Suzukake no Ki no Michi de 'Kimi no Hohoemi o Yume ni Miru' to Itte Shimattara Bokutachi no Kankei wa Dou Kawatte Shimau no ka, Bokunari ni Nan-nichi ka Kangaeta Ue de no Yaya Kihazukashii Ketsuron no Youna Mono" [[note]]"Sort of a little bit embarrassing conclusion I came up to after thinking for days about how our relationship would change if while walking along a road of plane trees I said to you, 'I dream of your smile'"[[/note]], often shortened to "Suzukake Nanchara" ("Suzukake Something...").

* MemeticHandGesture:
** Team K: The "I love you" sign 🤟 held sideways to somewhat look like the letter K.
** Team 4: Raised four fingers, for obvious reasons.
** Team 8: The OK sign 👌 with the thumb and index fingertips touching the head, forming an 8.

** Nana Okada brought along her sister, Rina (who is not an idol or public figure, and not to be confused with the Team K member of the same name), to cosplay with her as Ram and Rem from ''LightNovel/ReZero'' for the 2016 Janken. She also shows up occasionally in Naachan's Showroom sessions and they once did a session with SKE's Jurina Matsui.

* SurprisinglyGoodEnglish:
** "Overture" is entirely in English and performed by a male native speaker.
** While the English in the lyrics are almost unnoticeable, the intro to "Juujun na Slave" is pretty well-pronounced.
---> Just tell me what you want, yeah!\\
You name it, I'll do it\\
I'm willing\\
Let's go!
** Yuki Kashiwagi's rendition of "[[WesternAnimation/{{Cinderella}} A Dream Is a Wish Your Heart Makes]]" in the compilation album ''Thank You Disney'' is pretty good, although still accented.
* SurprisinglyGoodForeignLanguage: Anna Iriyama's [=YouTube=] channel is in Spanish and Japanese, since she spent a few years in UsefulNotes/{{Mexico}} to star in a {{telenovela}}.

* TranslatedCoverVersion: Though not officially released, the group did perform a [[SurprisinglyGoodEnglish pretty good]] English version of "Oogoe Diamond" in New York.

In 2020, all [=AKB48=] events were halted due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It planned to resume after the safety measures were implemented, but the capital's ongoing state of emergencies made it impossible. Also, the handshake events were suspended indefinitely. In 2022, Team 8 announced that it would be winding down its activities the following year and go on hiatus indefinitely, while its members would continue their activities as part of the other four teams. In 2023, alongside a move to Creator/UniversalMusicGroup, [=AKB48=] returned its handshake events.

* Music/SKE48: Formed in 2008 and based in Nagoya, it is composed of Team S, Team KII and Team E. It distinguishes its style from AKB's by focusing on a more summery and flirty vibe in its songs, with [[PseudoRomanticFriendship the relationship between Rena Matsui and Jurina Matsui (not related)]] becoming a big selling point.
* Music/NMB48: Formed in 2010 and based in Osaka, it is composed of Team N, Team M and Team BII. Has a HotterAndSexier style in many of its songs, with many of its members focusing [[TheIdiotFromOsaka in comedy skits and wackier personalities than the other group's members]].
* Music/HKT48: Formed in 2011 and based in Fukuoka, it is composed of Team H, Team KIV and Team TII. Focused on a cutesy, {{kawaiiko}} style in its earlier years. The acronym "HKT" refers to Fukuoka's Hakata ward.
* Music/NGT48: Formed in 2015 and based in Niigata. Rather than teams, its subunits are based on generations, after management dissolved the team system in 2019, following a scandal surrounding member Maho Yamaguchi being assaulted in 2018.
* Music/STU48: Formed in 2017, it was formerly based in a CoolShip that wandered the waters that bathe the Setouchi region. The ship has since been decommissioned, and the group now tours the Setouchi region with no fixed venue. Like [=NGT48=], it has no team system. Its image focuses on a cooler, fancier style similar to that of Music/Nogizaka46 and its sister groups, and it's very involved in tourism promotion of the area.

* [=JKT48=]: Formed in 2011 and based in Jakarta (Indonesia), it is composed of Team J, Team KIII, and Team T. The project's first group outside of Japan.
* [=BNK48=]: Formed in 2017 and based in Bangkok (Thailand), it is composed of Team BIII and Team NV.
** [=CGM48=]: Formed in 2019 and based in Chiang Mai (Thailand). BNK's first sister group, and the first instance of an overseas group forming a sister group of its own.
* [=MNL48=]: Formed in 2018 and based in Manila (Philippines), it is composed of Team MII, Team NIV, Team L, and Team Unknown.
* [=AKB48=] Team SH: Formed in 2018 and based in Shanghai (China). It was created after the original Chinese group [=SNH48=] left the AKB project.
* [=AKB48=] Team TP: Formed in 2018 and based in Taipei (Taiwan), it is composed of Unit Tic Tac Toe and Unit Peek A Boo. A retooling of the never-realized [=TPE48=] project.

'''[=AKB48=]''' is an [[IdolSinger idol group]] which, at the time of its conception, consisted of, you guessed it, 48 members. However, the group currently has ''way'' more than 48 members, with even more members scattered in its many sister groups and units.

* Music/HKT48: Formed in 2011 and based in Fukuoka, it is composed of Team H, Team KIV and Team TII. Focused on a cutesy, {{kawaiiko}} style in its earlier years.

* Music/STU48: Formed in 2017, it was formerly based in a CoolShip that wanders the waters that bathe the Setouchi region. The ship has since been decommissioned, and the group now tours the Setouchi region with no fixed venue. Like [=NGT48=], it has no team system. Its image focuses on a cooler, fancier style similar to that of Music/Nogizaka46 and its sister groups, and it's very involved in tourism promotion of the area.

* [=SDN48=]: Formed in 2009. Focusing on a HotterAndSexier image, it was composed of adult graduated members from AKB and new members. Most of its songs focused on life of the night and IntercourseWithYou, and thus it performed at the AKB Theater at night with only an adult audience being allowed to attend. It was disbanded in 2012.

* [=MUB48=]: Formed in 2019 and based in Mumbai (India). Previously known as [=MUM48=] but changed it after the possible British word of "mum". Unlike [=DEL48=], it never had the chance to select its members before it was suspended due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, then disbanded in 2022.

In 2020, all [=AKB48=] events were halted due to the UsefulNotes/COVID19Pandemic. It planned to resume after the safety measures were implemented, but the capital's ongoing state of emergencies made it impossible Also, the handshake events were suspended indefinitely. In 2022, Team 8 announced that it would be winding down its activities the following year and go on hiatus indefinitely, while its members would continue their activities as part of the other four teams. In 2023, alongside a move to Creator/UniversalMusicGroup, [=AKB48=] returned its handshake events.

'''[=AKB48=]''' is an [[IdolSinger idol group]] which, at the time of its conception, consisted of, you guessed it, 48 members. However, the group currently holds ''way'' more than 48 members, with even more members scattered in its many sister groups and units.

A brainchild of idol group master producer Yasushi Akimoto, [=AKB48=] was created on the concept of "idols you can meet". It holds daily performances in its theater in Akihabara, Tokyo, with different teams of the group taking turns performing stages-a set list of songs. It also holds regular meet-and-greets with fans. Special events are held each year: the Senbatsu Elections, where fans choose their favourite members, with the highest-ranking member earning the privilege of becoming the lead singer for one of its annual single; the Janken Tournament, where the girls take part in rock-paper-scissors games to get into the Christmas' single senbatsu; the Request Hour, where fans choose their favourite songs; and the Draft Tournament, where the captains for all the teams choose between a group of new girls who aren't even trainees.

[=AKB48=] is divided into five teams: Team A, Team K, Team B, Team 4, and Team 8. Each roughly consists of 20 members, with the exception of Team 8, which debuted with 47 members at the time of its conception, each one of them from a different Japanese prefecture. As a very large musical act which emphasizes group identity over individual ones, membership is rather fluid, and the girls regularly exit the group for various reasons. Before they exit, they usually hold farewell performances or "graduation ceremonies", although there are those who chose to exit without fanfare, which includes those who are fired by the management. In addition to regular members, there are also trainees (''kenkyuusei''), understudies who have not been assigned teams and only occasionally perform in the theatre. As of 2023, the group, including trainees, consists of 85 members, and is captained by Mion Mukaichi of Team A, who is not only considered the leader of [=AKB48=] but also all of its sister groups.

[=AKB48=] is divided into five teams: Team A, Team K, Team B, Team 4, and Team 8. Each roughly consists of 20 members, with the exception of Team 8, which debuted with 47 members at the time of its conception, each one of them from a different Japanese prefecture. As a very large musical act which emphasizes group identity over individual ones, membership is rather fluid, and the girls regularly exit the group for various reasons. Before they exit, they usually hold farewell performances or "graduation ceremonies", although there are those who chose to exit without fanfare, which includes those who are fired by the management. In addition to regular members, there are also trainees (''kenkyuusei''), understudies who have not been assigned teams and only occasionally perform in the theatre. As of 2023, the group, including trainees, consist of 85 members, and is captained by Mion Mukaichi of Team A, who is not only considered the leader of [=AKB48=] but also all of its sister groups.

* Music/SKE48: The first sister group, based in Nagoya and founded in 2008. Composed of Team S, Team KII and Team E. It distinguishes its style from AKB's by focusing on a more summery and flirty vibe in its songs, with [[PseudoRomanticFriendship the relationship between Rena Matsui and Jurina Matsui (not related)]] becoming a big selling point.
* Music/NMB48: The second sister group, based in Osaka and founded in 2010. Composed of Team N, Team M and Team BII. Has a HotterAndSexier style in many of its songs, with many of its members focusing [[TheIdiotFromOsaka in comedy skits and wackier personalities than the other group's members]].
* Music/HKT48: The third sister group, based in Fukuoka and founded in 2011. Composed of Team H, Team KIV and Team TII. Focused on a cutesy, {{kawaiiko}} style in its earlier years.
* Music/NGT48: The fourth sister group, based in Niigata and founded in 2015. Composed of a single group formed around its first generation members after management dissolved the team system in 2019. Mostly known overseas for the [[OvershadowedByControversy scandal surrounding member Maho Yamaguchi being assaulted]].
* Music/STU48: The fifth sister group, based in a CoolShip that wanders the waters that bathe the Setouchi region and founded in 2017. Its members are divided in different subunits. Its image focuses on a cooler, fancier style similar to that of Music/Nogizaka46 and its sister groups and it's very involved in tourism promotion of the area.

* [=JKT48=]: Formed in 2011, based in Jakarta (Indonesia). The project's first group outside of Japan.
* [=BNK48=]: Formed in 2017, based in Bangkok (Thailand).
** [=CGM48=]: Formed in 2019, based in Thailand. BNK's first sister group, and the first instance of an overseas group forming a sister group of its own.
* [=MNL48=]: Formed in 2018, based in Manila (Philippines).
* [=AKB48=] Team SH: Formed in 2018, based in Shanghai (China). Formed after the original Chinese group [=SNH48=] left the AKB project.
* [=AKB48=] Team TP: Formed in 2018, based in Taipei (Taiwan). A retooling of the never-realized [=TPE48=] project.

* [=SDN48=]: Formed in 2009 focusing on a HotterAndSexier image, it was composed of adult graduated members from AKB and new members. Most of its songs focused on life of the night and IntercourseWithYou, and thus it performed at the AKB Theater at night with only an adult audience being allowed to attend. It was disbanded in 2012.
* [=SNH48=]: Formed in 2012, based in Shanghai (China). It left the [=AKB48=] Group over contractual reasons in 2016, and has since [[StartMyOwn spawned its own franchise in China]] with its own sister groups based in Chinese cities.
* [=SGO48=]: Formed in 2018, based in Ho Chi Minh City (Vietnam). The group was disbanded in 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
* [=DEL48=]: Formed in 2019, based in New Delhi (India). The group was disbanded in 2022 due to the COVID-19 Pandemic.
* [=MUB48=]: Formed in 2019, based in Mumbai (India). Previously known as [=MUM48=] but changed it after the possible British word of "mum". The group was disbanded in 2022 due to the COVID-19 Pandemic.

A brainchild of idol group master producer Yasushi Akimoto, [=AKB48=] was created on the concept of "idols you can meet". It holds daily performances in its theater in Akihabara, Tokyo, with different teams of the group taking turns performing stages-a set list of songs. They also hold regular meet-and-greets with fans. Special events are held each year: the Senbatsu Elections, where fans choose their favourite members, with the highest-ranking member earning the privilege of becoming the lead singer for one of its annual single; the Janken Tournament, where the girls take part in rock-paper-scissors games to get into the Christmas' single senbatsu; the Request Hour, where fans choose their favourite songs; and the Draft Tournament, where the captains for all the teams choose between a group of new girls who aren't even trainees.

* Music/STU48: The fifth sister group, based in a CoolShip that wanders the waters that bathe the Setouchi region and founded in 2017. Its members are divided in different subunits. Its image focuses on a cooler, fancier style similar to that of Music/Nogizaka46 and its sister groups and they're very involved in tourism promotion of the area.

* [=SDN48=]: Formed in 2009 focusing on a HotterAndSexier image, it was composed of adult graduated members from AKB and new members. Most of their songs focused on life of the night and IntercourseWithYou, and thus they performed at the AKB Theater at night with only an adult audience being allowed to attend. It was disbanded in 2012.

The group's official "rival" is Music/Nogizaka46, also produced by Yasushi Akimoto, which has spawned its own sister groups, collectively called the Sakamichi Series. Former members have occasionally formed acts together, which some refer to as "daughter groups", such as =LOVE and ≠ME produced by Rino Sashihara and Music/HoneyPopcorn produced by Yua Mikami (a.k.a. former [=SKE48=] member Momona Kito). Finally, there was [=OJS48=], a "sister group" formed in 2010 that was composed of... middle-aged men[[labelnote:*]]The group's full name, ''Ojii-san 48'' ("[[MeaningfulName Grandpa 48]]") should've made it obvious[[/labelnote]]. While considered more of a publicity stunt than anything, they did release a single before disbanding, though its members now work as security staff for the [=AKB48=] Group.

In 2018, members of [=AKB48=] and its sister groups participated in the reality series ''Series/Produce48'', and an AKB Team 8 member (Hitomi Honda) and two [=HKT48=] members (Sakura Miyawaki and Nako Yabuki) were eventually selected to join the Korean-Japanese group Music/{{IZONE}} for 2.5 years. That group has also collaborated with the 48 and 46 groups, and their activities in Japan are managed by AKB's former management.

The franchise doesn't limit itself to music. It has spawned mobile games, frequent commercial collaborations and even three DatingSim games published by [[Creator/BandaiNamcoEntertainment BANDAI]] released for [=PlayStation=] consoles. One notable mobile game, released during the height of UsefulNotes/COVID19Pandemic, was ''[=AKB48=] WORLD'' when you can be part of the group FOR REAL!![[note]]albeit, as part of managing the activities of the group[[/note]] It's not the group's first management game, though, since there was also the short-lived ''[=AKB48=] Cherry Bay Blaze'' for the Chinese market, launched in late-2019 and was shuttered in January 2021 after a major management change at AKB. They have their own [[Anime/AKB0048 anime]], which is set in the future & directed by Creator/ShojiKawamori, and a [[Manga/AKB49RenaiKinshiJourei manga]], set more or less in the present day. There's also the mystery manga series ''[=AKB48=] Satsujin Jiken'' (''[=AKB48=] Murder Mystery'') written by Gosho Aoyama of ''Manga/CaseClosed'' fame, which has been adapted into a 5-part live-action commercial series for Glico Fruit Ice. In the live-action TV side, there are ''Series/MajisukaGakuen'', the group's longest and most popular drama series, and ''Series/MendolIkemen'', that features the members of no3b. And of course, the LongRunner VarietyShow ''Series/AKBingo'' and its spiritual successor ''[=AKB48=] Goodbye Mr. Mouri''.

In 2020, all [=AKB48=] events were halted due to the UsefulNotes/COVID19Pandemic. They planned to resume after the safety measures were implemented, but the capital's ongoing state of emergencies made it impossible Also, the handshake events were suspended indefinitely. In 2022, Team 8 announced that they would be winding down their activities the following year and go on hiatus indefinitely, while its members would continue their activities as part of the other four teams. In 2023, alongside a move to Creator/UniversalMusicGroup, AKB returned their handshake events.

Based on the concept of "idols you can meet", '''[=AKB48=]''' is an [[IdolSinger idol group]] consisting of, you guessed it, 48 members. However, the group currently holds more than 48 members, with even more members scattered in its many sister groups and units:

[[folder: 48 Project groups]]

* ''Music/AKB48'': The original group, based in Tokyo and founded in 2006. Composed of Team A, Team K, Team B, Team 4 and Team 8. All of them are composed of roughly 20 members, except Team 8, which debuted with 47 members, each one of them from a different Japanese prefecture. Considered the main flagship of all the groups, with many of its former members becoming popular singers and actresses in their own right.
* ''Music/SKE48'': The first sister group, based in Nagoya and founded in 2008. Composed of Team S, Team KII and Team E. It distinguishes its style from AKB's by focusing on a more summery and flirty vibe in its songs, with [[PseudoRomanticFriendship the relationship between Rena Matsui and Jurina Matsui (not related)]] becoming a big selling point.
* ''Music/NMB48'': The second sister group, based in Osaka and founded in 2010. Composed of Team N, Team M and Team BII. Has a HotterAndSexier style in many of their songs, with many of their members focusing [[TheIdiotFromOsaka in comedy skits and wackier personalities than the other group's members]].
* ''Music/HKT48'': The third sister group, based in Fukuoka and founded in 2011. Composed of Team H, Team KIV and Team TII. Focused on a cutesy, {{kawaiiko}} style in its earlier years.
* ''Music/NGT48'': The fourth sister group, based in Niigata and founded in 2015. Composed of a single group formed around its first generation members after management dissolved the team system in 2019. Mostly known overseas for the [[OvershadowedByControversy scandal surrounding member Maho Yamaguchi being assaulted]].
* ''Music/STU48'': The fifth sister group, based in a CoolShip that wanders the waters that bathe the Setouchi region and founded in 2017. Its members are divided in different subunits. Its image focuses on a cooler, fancier style similar to that of Music/Nogizaka46 and its sister groups and they're very involved in tourism promotion of the area.

* ''[=JKT48=]'': Formed in 2011, based in Jakarta (Indonesia). The project's first group outside of Japan.
* ''[=BNK48=]'': Formed in 2017, based in Bangkok (Thailand).
** ''[=CGM48=]'': Formed in 2019, based in Thailand. BNK's first sister group, and the first instance of an overseas group forming a sister group of its own.
* ''[=MNL48=]'': Formed in 2018, based in Manila (Philippines).
* ''[=AKB48=] Team SH'': Formed in 2018, based in Shanghai (China). Formed after the original Chinese group [=SNH48=] left the AKB project.
* ''[=AKB48=] Team TP'': Formed in 2018, based in Taipei (Taiwan). A retooling of the never-realized [=TPE48=] project.

* ''[=SDN48=]'': Formed in 2009 focusing on a HotterAndSexier image, it was composed of adult graduated members from AKB and new members. Most of their songs focused on life of the night and IntercourseWithYou, and thus they performed at the AKB Theater at night with only an adult audience being allowed to attend. It was disbanded in 2012.
* ''[=OJS48=]'': Formed in 2010, composed exclusively by... ''middle-aged men''[[labelnote:*]]The group's full name, ''Ojii-san 48'' ("[[MeaningfulName Grandpa 48]]") should've made it obvious[[/labelnote]]. After releasing only one single they disbanded and its members now work as security staff for the 48 Project groups.
* ''[=SNH48=]'': Formed in 2012, it left the 48 project in 2016 to [[StartMyOwn spawn its own franchise in China]] with its own sister groups based in Chinese cities.
* ''[=SGO48=]'': Formed in 2018, based in Vietnam. The group was disbanded in 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
* ''[=DEL48=]'': Formed in 2019, based in New Delhi (India). The group was disbanded in 2022 due to the COVID-19 Pandemic.
* ''[=MUB48=]'': (Previously known as [=MUM48=] but changed it after the possible British word of "mum") Formed in 2019, based in Mumbai (India). The group was disbanded in 2022 due to the COVID-19 Pandemic.

The group's official rival is Music/Nogizaka46, which has also spawned several sister groups, collectively called the Sakamichi Series. There are also groups produced by former members, which some refer to as the "daughter groups", such as =LOVE and ≠ME produced by Rino Sashihara and Music/HoneyPopcorn produced by Yua Mikami (a.k.a. former Music/SKE48 member Momona Kito).

In 2018, members of the group and its sister groups participated in the reality series ''Series/Produce48'', and an AKB Team 8 member (Hitomi Honda) and two Music/HKT48 members (Sakura Miyawaki and Nako Yabuki) were eventually selected to join the Korean-Japanese group Music/{{IZONE}} for 2.5 years. That group has also collaborated with the 48 and 46 groups, and their activities in Japan are managed by AKB's former management.

The group holds performances in their theater in Akihabara, Tokyo and the different teams take turns performing stages-a set list of songs. They also hold special events each year: the Senbatsu Elections, where fans choose their favourite members; the Janken Tournament, where the girls take part in rock-paper-scissors games to get into the Christmas' single senbatsu; the Request Hour, where fans choose their favourite songs and the Draft Tournament, where the captains for all the teams choose between a group of new girls who aren't even trainees.

The franchise doesn't limit itself to music, and it also spawns mobile games, frequent commercial collaborations and even three DatingSim games published by [[Creator/BandaiNamcoEntertainment BANDAI]] released for [=PlayStation=] consoles.

Also has an [[Anime/AKB0048 anime]], which is set in the future & directed by Creator/ShojiKawamori, and a [[Manga/AKB49RenaiKinshiJourei manga]], set more or less in the present day. There's also the mystery manga series ''[=AKB48=] Satsujin Jiken'' (''[=AKB48=] Murder Mystery'') written by Gosho Aoyama of ''Manga/CaseClosed'' fame, which has been adapted into a 5-part live-action commercial series for Glico Fruit Ice.

For more live-action TV, there's ''Series/MajisukaGakuen'', the group's longest and most popular drama series, and ''Series/MendolIkemen'', that features the members of no3b. And of course, the LongRunner VarietyShow ''Series/AKBingo'' and its spiritual successor ''[=AKB48=] Goodbye Mr. Mouri''.

In 2020, all AKB events were halted due to the UsefulNotes/COVID19Pandemic and months later after the safety measures were implemented... they resumed however, the capital's ongoing state of emergencies are making it impossible. Also, the handshake events were suspended indefinitely. So one year later, they announced a mobile game called ''[=AKB48=] WORLD'' when you can be part of the group FOR REAL!![[note]]albeit, as part of managing the activities of the group[[/note]] It's not the group's first management game, though, since there was also the short-lived ''[=AKB48=] Cherry Bay Blaze'' for the Chinese market, launched in late-2019 and was shuttered in January 2021 after a major management change at AKB. In 2022, Team 8 announced that they would be winding down their activities the following year and go on hiatus indefinitely, while its members would continue their activities as part of the other four teams.

In 2023, alongside a move to Creator/UniversalMusicGroup, AKB returned their handshake events.

* ''Music/NMB48'': The second sister group, based in Osaka and founded in 2011. Composed of Team N, Team M and Team BII. Has a HotterAndSexier style in many of their songs, with many of their members focusing [[TheIdiotFromOsaka in comedy skits and wackier personalities than the other group's members]].

* ''Music/NGT48'': The fourth sister group, based in Niigata. Composed of a single group formed around its first generation members after management dissolved the team system in 2019. Mostly known overseas for the [[OvershadowedByControversy scandal surrounding member Maho Yamaguchi being assaulted]].
* ''Music/STU48'': The fifth sister group, based in a CoolShip that wanders the waters that bathe the Setouchi region. Its members are divided in different subunits. Its image focuses on a cooler, fancier style similar to that of Music/Nogizaka46 and its sister groups and they're very involved in tourism promotion of the area.

* ''[=MNL48=]'': Formed in 2016, based in Manila (Philippines).

* ''[=AKB48=] Team SH'': Formed in 2017, based in Shanghai (China). Formed after the original Chinese group [=SNH48=] left the AKB project.
* ''[=AKB48=] Team TP'': Formed in 2017, based in Taipei (Taiwan). A retooling of the never-realized [=TPE48=] project.
* ''[=DEL48=]'': Formed in 2019, based in New Delhi (India). Cancelled due to the COVID-19 Pandemic.
* ''[=MUB48=]'': (Previously known as [=MUM48=] but changed it after the possible British word of "mum") Formed in 2019, based in Mumbai (India). Cancelled due to the COVID-19 Pandemic.

The group's official rivals are Music/Nogizaka46, which has also spawned several sister groups, collectively called the Sakamichi Series. There are also groups produced by former members, which some refer to as the "daughter groups", such as =LOVE and ≠ME produced by Rino Sashihara and Music/HoneyPopcorn produced by Yua Mikami (a.k.a. former Music/SKE48 member Momona Kito).

* DreamTeam: The 2012 Yubi Matsuri in Budokan held by Sasshi was dubbed as Idols Emergency Meeting, and wa attended by the nation's best idol groups such as Music/MomoiroCloverZ, Ebichu, Buono!, Music/TokyoGirlsStyle, Passpo, Idoling!, Music/Nogizaka46 and Supergirls. The best part? They performed Heavy Rotation altogether in the encore.

* SelfDeprecation: TV show titles like ''Surpassed by Nogizaka'', ''[=AKB48=], Saikin Kiita?'' ("Have you heard about [=AKB48=] Lately?"). There are also segments in ''Sayonara, Mouri-san'' which pokes fun at the group's frequent [[ThatSyncingFeeling lipsyncing]] as well as those where members who have never been on the ''senbatsu'' (title song lineup) discuss the disparity in treatment and work between them and the ''senbatsu'' members.

* HotterAndSexier: The basis of [=SDN48=], which is where [=AKB48=] girls (e.g. Megumi "Meetan" Ohori) went once they turned into a ChristmasCake. However, all the members graduated from this group in February 2012 and it was disolved, but the sub-unit [=DiVA=] still follows this theme with songs and outfits more similar to K-Pop groups.

* ''[=OJS48=]'': Formed in 2010, composed exclusively by... ''middle-aged men''[[labelnote:*]]The group's full name, ''Ojii-san 48'' ("Grandpa 48") should've made it obvuious[[/labelnote]]. After releasing only one single they disbanded and its members now work as security staff for the 48 Project groups.

* ''[=OJS48=]'': Formed in 2010, composed exclusively by... ''middle-aged men''[[labelnote:*]The group's full name, ''Ojii-san 48'' ("Grandpa 48") should've made it obvuious[[/labelnote]]. After releasing only one single they disbanded and its members now work as security staff for the 48 Project groups.

* ''[=OJS48=]'': Formed in 2010, composed exclusively by... ''middle-aged men''. After releasing only one single they disbanded and its members now work as security staff for the 48 Project groups.

* WidgetSeries: ''Saturday Night Child Machine'' starring Team B.