Nogizaka46

Nogizaka46
Origin	Nogizaka, Tokyo, Japan
Genres	Pop
Years active	2011–present
Labels	Sony Music Entertainment Japan
Associated acts	AKB48 SKE48 SDN48 NMB48 HKT48 OJS48
Website	nogizaka46.com/top.html

Nogizaka46 (乃木坂46^?) is a Japanese female idol group produced by Yasushi Akimoto, and it is billed as the "official rival" of the group AKB48.^[1]

Nogizaka46 was named after the place where the SME Nogizaka Building, which houses Sony Music Japan’s office, is located in.^[1] Their producer Yasushi Akimoto also said that the number "46" was chosen as a direct challenge to AKB48.^[1]

History

2011

The formation of Nogizaka46 was first announced on 29 June 2011, when it became the first group to be labelled as the "official rival" to the group AKB48.^[1] This is unlike other groups related to AKB48, like NMB48 and SKE48, because these groups are created as AKB48's sister groups.^[1] Even their name "Nogizaka46" also carries the meaning that "even with fewer members than AKB48, we won’t lose". ^[1]

The final auditions for the group was held over the weekend of 20-21 August, where 56 finalist competed for the 36 available places.^[2] Overall, 38,934 people applied to join their auditions.^[2] The list of the 36 selected members was announced on 22 August.^[2] In a surprise announcement, it was also announced that another 16 girls would be joining the group as a provisional “senbatsu” member.^[2]

Nogizaka46 will have their own variety show on television, and this show will start airing on October 2, 2011. ^[2][3] This variety show is entitled Nogizakatte, Doko? (乃木坂って、どこ?, Lit: Where is Nogizaka?^?), and will be aired on the main television stations in the TX network, mainly TV Tokyo, TV Osaka, TV Aichi, TV Setouchi, TV Hokkaido, and TVQ Kyushu Hoso. ^[3]

Members

First Generation

• Ririko Aso (麻生梨里子^?) (October 18, 1994 in Kanagawa Prefecture)
• Mikumo Ando (安藤美雲^?) (May 21, 1994 in Kanagawa Prefecture)
• Nene Ito (伊藤寧々^?) (December 12, 1995 in Tokyo)
• Marika Ito (伊藤万理華 ^?) (February 20, 1996 in Tokyo)
• Sayuri Inoue (井上小百合^?) (December 14, 1994 in Saitama Prefecture)
• Yumiko Iwase (岩瀬佑美子 ^?) (June 12, 1990 in Saitama Prefecture)
• Misa Eto (衛藤美彩 ^?) (January 4, 1990 in Oita Prefecture)
• Yukina Kashiwa (柏幸奈^?) (August 12, 1994 in Kanagawa Prefecture)
• Hina Kawai (川相陽菜^?) (March 22, 1998 in Fukuoka Prefecture)
• Mahiro Kawamura (川村真洋^?) (July 23, 1995 in Osaka)
• Asuka Saito (齋藤飛鳥^?) (August 10, 1998 in Tokyo)
• Chiharu Saito (斎藤ちはる^?) (February 17, 1997 in Saitama Prefecture)
• Yuri Saito (斎藤優里^?) (July 20, 1993 in Tokyo)
• Seira Nagashima (永島聖羅^?) (May 19, 1994 in Aichi Prefecture)
• Himeka Nakamoto (中元日芽香^?) (April 13, 1996 in Hiroshima Prefecture)
• Nanase Nishino (西野七瀬^?) (May 25, 1994 in Osaka)
• Hina Higuchi (樋口日奈^?) (January 31, 1998 in Tokyo)
• Mai Fukagawa (深川麻衣^?) (March 29, 1991 in Kanagawa Prefecture)
• Honoka Yamamoto (山本穂乃香^?) (March 31, 1998 in Aichi Prefecture)
• Yumi Wakatsuki (若月佑美^?) (June 27, 1994 in Shizuoka Prefecture)

References

1. ^ ^{a b c d e f} "“AKB48公式ライバル”乃木坂46結成　一般公募でメンバー決定" (in Japanese). Oricon Inc.. 2011-06-29. http://www.oricon.co.jp/news/confidence/89336/full/. Retrieved 2011-08-22. 
2. ^ ^{a b c d e} "“AKB48公式ライバル”乃木坂46結成　一般公募でメンバー決定" (in Japanese). Sankei Sports. 2011-08-22. http://www.sanspo.com/geino/news/110822/gnj1108220506015-n2.htm. Retrieved 2011-08-22. 
3. ^ ^{a b} "乃木坂46のTVレギュラー番組「乃木坂って、どこ?」が10月にスタート" (in Japanese). TOWER RECORDS ONLINE. 2011-09-12. http://tower.jp/article/news/2011/09/12/n13. Retrieved 2011-09-13. 

External Links

• Official website (Japanese)