SKE48

SKE48 (short for sakae48) is an Japanese Idol Group produced by Akimoto Yasushi and the 1st sister group of AKB48. The group have their own theater in Sunshine Sakae, on Nagoya (Aichi Prefecture). The 1st generation members were announced on July, 2008. The debut single of the group, Tsuyokimono yo, was released on August 5, 2009. They are currently signed under avex trax, originally from Nippon Crown Records.

History
In the Summer of 2008, Akimoto Yasushi started his plan to expand AKB48 to the entire country of Japan by starting in Nagoya. 22 members were chosen and 15 of these girls debuted with former AKB48 Kenkyuusei Nakanishi Yuuka as Team S. 11 year old Matsui Jurina was chosen as senbatsu and center for AKB48's 10th major single Oogoe Diamond, and SKE48 started performing regularly in the SUNSHINE SAKAE theater. Even before they could release a single, Suzuki Kirara of Team S graduated in November 2008 having only to perform their first stage.

In April 2009, 23 new girls were chosen as the candidates for the new SKE48 team, KII. 1st generation kenkyuusei Sato Seira and Team S member Sato Mieko were chosen to join Team KII and Mori Sayuki was added to Team S.

In August 2009, SKE48 released their first single Tsuyokimono yo on Lantis. It did not have senbatsu, and instead featured Team S on the A-side and Team KII as the B-side. Shortly after this Team S lost another member, Takai Tsukina graduated citing to focus on her studies.

In November 2009, a third generation was announced and 13 members were added to Kenkyuusei.

In December 2009, Maeda Eiko from Team KII transferred to the newly debuted sister group, SDN48 for idols who are above 18 years old. Also in this time, Yamashita Moe graduated from the group to become a graphic artist.

In February 2010, SKE48 Kenkyuusei began performing regularly in the theater.

In March 2010, SKE48 released its first single on CROWN GOLD. It featured a 7 person senbatsu. Also in March, 1st generation members Mori Sayuki and Shinkai Rina were demoted to Kenkyuusei, eventually to graduate in May 2010.

SKE48's 4th generation debuted in September 2010. 16 new Kenkyuusei were added to the group, bringing the total number of Kenkyuusei to 26.

On December 6, 2010, SKE48 announced the creation of Team E, using 16 kenkyuusei. 4 members of Team KII, Iguchi Shiori, Uchiyama Mikoto, Kit Momona and Saito Makiko were moved to Kenkyuusei. 4 remaining members of Kenkyuusei, Abiru Riho, Goto Risako, Hata Sawako and Yakata Miki were moved to Team KII. This was also the first time that SKE48 reached its goal of 48 official members.

On May 28, 2011, SKE48 announced that they were changing record labels to avex trax and their first single under their new label, Pareo wa Emerald would be released on July 27, 2011.

On January 15, 2012, SKE48 members Kuwabara Mizuki, Takada Shiori, Hiramatsu Kanako (Team S), Akaeda Ririna, Ogiso Shiori (Team KII), Ueno Kasumi, Hara Minami (Team E) and Kobayashi Emiri (Kenkyuusei) will be graduating from the group.

Members
Team S

Team KII

Team E

Kenkyuusei

Single Units

 * Senbatsu (選抜)
 * Undergirls (アンダーガールズ)
 * Akagumi (紅組)
 * Shirogumi (白組)
 * Selection 8
 * Kouen Ganbattagumi (公演頑張った組)
 * Kinect (キネクト)
 * Theater Girls (シアターガールズ)
 * Team BLT
 * Tabidachi Sotsugyou-gumi
 * Seven Dancers
 * 14 Carat

Senbatsu Elections

 * [2009.07.08] AKB48 13th Single Senbatsu Sousenkyo
 * [2010.06.08] AKB48 17th Single Senbatsu Sousenkyo
 * [2011.06.08] AKB48 22nd Single Senbatsu Sousenkyo
 * [2012.06.06] AKB48 27th Single Senbatsu Sousenkyo

Senbatsu Janken Taikai

 * [2011.09.20] 24th Single Janken Senbatsu Tournament
 * [2012.09.18] 29th Single Janken Senbatsu Tournament

Request Hour

 * [2010.07.31] SKE48 Request Hour Best 30 2010
 * [2012.11.26] SKE48 Request Hour Best 50 2011
 * [2012.10.11] SKE48 Request Hour Best 50 2012

Anniversary

 * [2012.10.05] SKE48 4th Anniversary Concert

Team S

 * 1st Stage 「PARTYが始まるよ」 (SKE48 Team S 1st Stage "PARTY ga Hajimaru yo") [2008.10.05 - 2009.02.08]
 * 2nd Stage 「手をつなぎながら」 (SKE48 Team S 2nd Stage "Te wo Tsunaginagara") [2009.02.14 - 2009.10.16]
 * 3rd Stage 「制服の芽」 (SKE48 Team S 3rd Stage "Seifuku no Me") [2009.10.25 - ]

Team KII

 * 1st Stage 「会いたかった」 (SKE48 Team KII 1st Stage "Aitakatta") [2009.06.13 - 2009.11.29]
 * 2nd Stage 「手をつなぎながら」(SKE48 Team KII 2nd Stage "Te wo Tsunaginagara") [2009.12.06 - 2010.09.22]
 * 3rd Stage 「ラムネの飲み方」(SKE48 Team KII 3rd Stage "Ramune no Nomikatta") [2011.10.01 - ]

Team E

 * 1st Stage 「パジャマドライブ」 (SKE48 Team E 1st Stage "Pajama Drive") [2011.01.16 - 2012.03.28]
 * 2nd Stage 「逆上がり」 (SKE48 Team E 2nd Stage "Saka Agari") [2012.05.14~]

Kenkyuusei

 * 1st Stage 「PARTYが始まるよ」 (SKE48 Kenkyuusei 1st Stage "PARTY ga Hajimaru yo") [2010.02.16 - ?]
 * 2nd Stage 「会いたかった」 (SKE48 Kenkyuusei 2nd Stage "Aitakatta")

Photobooks

 * Houkago, Nijigen Doukoukai (放課後、二次元同好会) (2012/04/20)
 * SKE48 OFFICIAL HISTORY BOOK (2012/12/21)

TV Shows

 * Jimoto Ouen Variety Kono Hen Traveller!!
 * SKE48 Gakuen
 * Shitte Kaiketsu! SKEtto Netto
 * Dera SKE
 * Buttsuke!! ~SKE48 Owarai e no Michi~
 * Do desu ka!
 * Mousou Deka!

Other Media
SKE48's Private SPA! Academy