History Music / AKB48

'''[=AKB48=]''' is an [[IdolSinger idol group]] consisting of, you guessed it, 48 members.
However, currently the group holds more than 48 members, with even more members scattered in its many sister groups - Nagoya-based {{Music/SKE48}}, Osaka-based [=NMB48=], Fukuoka-based [=HKT48=], Jakarta-based [=JKT48=] and Shanghai-based [=SNH48=].

* TheMerch: Plenty of them-from files to T-shirts to posters, the list goes on...

** Also, sister group [=JKT48=] (based in Jakarta, Indonesia) only does Music/AKB48 songs translated into Indonesian. However, the music videos produced for each are significantly different- compare Heavy Rotation as done by [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lkHlnWFnA0c AKB48]] and [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e0SOevO2N68 JKT48]].

It also has five main subunits: DIVA, French Kiss, Not Yet, no3b and Watarirouka Hashiritai.

** Also,let's not forget the two Marikos and Minamis!

[[caption-width-right:254:The logo of the group, because getting a photo of all the girls would be... [[[LoadsAndLoadsOfCharacters quite hard]].]]

* AutoTune: Used very sparingly, but some songs like Shinoda Mariko's "Plastic no Kuchibiru" or Watanabe Mayu's "Hikaru Monotachi" do have it.

[[caption-width-right:254:The logo of the group]]

However, currently the group holds more than 48 members, with even more members scattered in its many sister groups - Nagoya-based {{SKE48}}, Osaka-based [=NMB48=], Fukuoka-based [=HKT48=], Jakarta-based [=JKT48=] and Shanghai-based [=SNH48=].

* ContractualPurity

However, currently the group holds more than 48 members, with even more members scattered in its many sister groups - Nagoya-based {{SKE48}}, Osaka-based [=NMB48=], Fukuoka-based [=HKT48=], Jakarta-based [=JKT48=] and Shanghai-based [=SNH48=].

* GenreRoulette: The [=PV=] for "Gingham Check" switches between a Cop Show,Horror scenes,a Kaiju attack and dance shots.

* HotterAndSexier: The basis of [=SDN48=], which is where [=AKB48=] girls (e.g. Megumi "Meetan" Ohori) went once they turned into a Christmas Cake. 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.

* BaitAndSwitchLesbians: An implied theme, as the girls cannot have boyfriends and most of the romantic scenes in the [=PVs=] are played by the members themselves. Taken to the extreme in [=SKE48=]'s "[[SchoolgirlLesbians Kataomoi Finally]]", with the members playing a LoveTriangle in an all-girls school.
* BeachEpisode: The [=PVs=] for "BINGO!", "Ponytail to Shushu", "Everyday, Katyusha", and "Manatsu no Sounds good!" all take place at the beach.

* Joshikousei: What the girls are in many of their [=PVs=].

However, currently the group holds more than 48 members, with even more members scattered in its many sister groups - Nagoya-based SKE48, Osaka-based [=NMB48=], Fukuoka-based [=HKT48=], Jakarta-based [=JKT48=] and Shanghai-based [=SNH48=].

However, currently the group holds more than 48 members, with even more members scattered in its many sister groups-Music/{{SKE48}}, Osaka-based [=NMB48=], Fukuoka-based [=HKT48=], Jakarta-based [=JKT48=] and Shanghai-based [=SNH48=].

However, currently the group holds more than 48 members, with even more members scattered in its many sister groups-Music/{{SKE48}},NMB48,HKT48,Jakarta-based JKT48 and Shanghai-based SNH48.
It also has five main subunits:DIVA,French Kiss,Not Yet,no3b and Watarirouka Hashiritai.

The group holds performances in their theater in Akihabara,Tokyo and the different teams take turns performing stages-a set list of songs.

* DoorClosesEnding: The [=PV=] for "Kaze wa Fuiteiru".

* ColorCodedForYourConvenience: [[color:fuchsia:Team A]], [[color:green:Team K]] [[color:blue:Team B]] and [[color:gold:former team 4]]. Each group also has its own color: [[color:fuchsia:AKB]], [[color:gold:SKE]], [[color:black:HKT]], [[color:red:JKT]] and [[color:blue:SNH]]. NMB's color is... leopard print.

* AffectionateParody: The [=PV=] for "Everyday,Katyusha" can be seen as one,with scenes echoing previous [=PVs=] such as "Iiwake Maybe","Oogoe Diamond","Ponytail to Shushu" and "10nen Zakura".
* AutoTune: Used very sparingly,but some songs like Shinoda Mariko's "Plastic no Kuchibiru" do have Auto-Tune.

* ColorCodedForYourConvenience: Team A color is pink, Team K's is green and Team B's is blue. Former team 4 color was yellow.

* OneSteveLimit: Averted,with FIVE girls named Haruka-Ishida,Shimazaki,Shimada,Nakagawa and Katayama.

* PayingTheirDues: Although the group had been around for a few years, success didn't really come until they released River making a slew of number one hits follow.
** In addition,the Kenkyuseis have to work for months or even years to prove that they are worthy of being a full-time member.

* SchoolFestival: The [=PV=] for "Oogoe Diamond" takes place during a school festival,with the members performing the titular song.

* TheMerch: Plenty of them-from files to T-shirts to posters,the list goes on...

* VideoFullOfFilmClips: "Majisuka Rock And Roll" has some of this,with clips coming from drama Majisuka Gakuen.

However, currently the group holds more than 48 members, with even more members scattered in its many sister groups-SKE48,NMB48,HKT48,Jakarta-based JKT48 and Shanghai-based SNH48.

'''[=AKB48=]''' is an [[IdolSinger idol group]] consisting of, you guessed it, 48 members. However, currently the group holds more than 48 members, with even more members scattered in its many sister groups-SKE48,NMB48,HKT48,Jakarta-based JKT48 and Shanghai-based SNH48.

* SchoolFestival: The [=PV=] for Oogoe Diamond takes place during a school festival,with the members performing the titular song.

'''[=AKB48=]''' is an [[IdolSinger idol group]] consisting of, you guessed it, 48 members. However, currently the group holds more than 48 members, with even more members scattered in its many sister groups-[=SKE48=],NMB48,HKT48,Jakarta-based JKT48 and Shanghai-based SNH48.

* Joushikousei: What the girls are in many of their [=PVs=].

'''[=AKB48=]''' is an [[IdolSinger idol group]] consisting of, you guessed it, 48 members. However, currently the group holds more than 48 members, with even more members scattered in sister groups.
It also has 4 main subunits:DIVA,French Kiss,no3b and Watarirouka Hashiritai.

* BookEnds: Maeda Atsuko's first single participation in Music/AKB48 was the group's debut single, Sakura no Hanabiratachi. A week before Atsuko's graduation from the group six years later, Music/AKB48 released an album on which Atsuko recorded a solo, more melancholy reprise of the same song. Sakura no Hanabiratachi was also the final song performed during Atsuko's graduation performance.

* CatGirl: Part of the MusicVideo for Heavy Rotation.

* HumanAliens: The girls in Watarirouka Hashiritai's [=PV=] Shonen Yo Uso O Tsuke are these.

** Also in the [=PVs=] for Majisuka Rock 'n' Roll and Majijou Teppen Blues where the girls act as the same characters from the above drama.

** Also,let's not forget the two Marikos.

** Also, sister group JKT48 (based in Jakarta, Indonesia) only does Music/AKB48 songs translated into Indonesian. However, the music videos produced for each are significantly different- compare Heavy Rotation as done by [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lkHlnWFnA0c AKB48]] and [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e0SOevO2N68 JKT48]].