Idol Supergroup AKB48 Abolishes Team System

If you are a hard-core anime fan, there is a good chance you are also an Idol fan. One of the pioneering and high-profile Idol groups is AKB48, who made an unforgettable debut on the scene in 2005.

Because of the huge size of AKB48, which has a total of 85 members,the group is subdivided into five teams: Team A, Team K, Team B, Team 4, and Team 8. While AKB48 also performs together as a whole, the teams each have their own segments within the group’s concerts, individual promotional events, image colors, and even team captains.

But during Day One of the Spring Concert 2023 held on April 29th, Team A captain Mukaichi Mion, who also holds the position of General Manager, told the crowd that the team system is being done away with. The team system has been part of AKB48’s structure since the group’s formation 2005, so this marks a major change in how the idols will perform and operate. In addressing the fans, Mukaichi said she was sad to see the system ending, but added “I think this is good timing for AKB to be united as a whole and kick things up a notch.”

Former Team B captain Kashiwagi Yuki, who joined AKB48 in 2006 and at 31 years old is its oldest member, added “Everyone will keep doing their best as members of AKB. I hope people will cheer for and support the group as a whole.”

Of the five teams, Team 8 (whose members all concurrently held positions with other teams as well) were the first to cease operations, with the second day of the Spring Concert 2023 on April 30 its last team event. The remaining four teams, A,K, B, and 4, disbanded this past autumn. Each held “sayonara concerts” between August 4 and 6. On the bright side, the dissolution of the teams doesn’t mean their members are being dismissed, as they’ll remain members of AKB48. And in a crowd-pleasing move, the number of on-stage performers at the permanent AKB48 Theater in Tokyo’s Akihabara neighborhood has been doubled from 8 to 16 as pandemic protocols have been scaled back. Still, for fans who were devoted to not just AKB48 but to a particular team, this is the end of an era. 

Did you know there was an anime?

In 2012 prolific anime studio Satelight produced a science fiction version of the group titled AKB0048. Set in a dystopian future where music has been outlawed by the totalitarian government, legendary idol group AKB48 is resurrected as the interplanetary troupe AKB0048, made up of girls who carry on the title and spirit of the original members.

Their goal is to bring hope and happiness to the general populace crushed under the heel of an authoritarian boot. Since their very existence is illegal, they go from planet to planet holding “guerrilla concerts”. Held as heroines by some and labeled as terrorists by others, they take up arms to bring their music to their fans.

The story focuses mainly on a group of girls who are Trainees in AKB0048. In the Japanese dub, they were voiced by actual members from AKB48’s various teams and are credited as NO NAME to sing the opening and closing credits.

The Successors are veteran members who are named after members of the original AKB48 troupe, but their roles are performed by professional voice actresses (seiyuu). The other characters are also voiced by professional voice actor and actresses. In contrast to the Japanese dub, in the English dub they are all voiced by professional voice actors and actresses from the United States.

Are you a fan of idols? Did you catch the anime? Drop us a comment and discuss. Until next time, keep your otaku flag flying high. Hajimeriu yo.