Creation and independent releases

In July 2005, Yasushi Akimoto held an audition for a new theater-based idol girl group.

On December 8, 20 members debuted as Team A in the AKB48 Theater performing "Party ga Hajimaru yo" (PARTYが始まるよ)to an audience of seven.

AKB48 released its first independent-label single, "Sakura no Hanabiratachi"(桜の花びらたち), in February 2006. It entered Oricon's weekly Top 10 chart, with first-week sales of 22,011. On June 7 AKB48 released its second independent single, "Skirt, Hirari"(スカート、ひらり),which sold 13,349 copies on its first day.

Team B and NHK Kōhaku Uta Gassen

In October 2006 AKB48 announced auditions for Team B, and 13 girls were chosen out of 12,828 applicants in December.

The group's first DefStar Records single, "Aitakatta"(会いたかった), was recorded by 20 members of Teams A and K and released on October 25.

On November 3–4 AKB48 performed its first concert, "AKB48 First Concert: Aitakatta ~Hashira wa Nai ze!~" at Nippon Seinenkan in Shinjuku. Also, The group performed "Aitakatta" on the New Year's Eve TV program 58th NHK Kōhaku Uta Gassen as a part of the "Nihon ga Hokoru Saisentan! Special Medley".

AKB48's second major-label single, "Seifuku ga Jama o Suru"(制服が邪魔をする), was released on January 31, 2007. On March 18 AKB48 released "Keibetsu Shiteita Aijō"(軽蔑していた愛情). Sadly The group's second concert, "AKB48 Haru no Chotto dake Zenkoku Tour ~Madamada daze AKB48!~" on March 10, had poor ticket sales.

In April 2007 AKB48 posted its Team B roster on its website, with five fewer members than originally announced. For the first time, its membership numbered 48. The group's fourth single, "Bingo!", was released on July 18, AKB48's sixth single. Boku no Taiyō' (僕の太陽 My sun) is AKB48's seventh single, and the fifth major single released. On August 8, 2007. "Yūhi o Miteiru ka?"(夕陽を見ているか?), was released on Halloween 2007.

When the dreams are starting to come true

On New Year's Day 2008 AKB48 released its first album, Set List: Greatest Songs 2006–2007, a collection of the group's singles and live song lists. The group's seventh major-label single (its ninth overall), "Romance, Irane"(ロマンス、イラネ), was released on January 23.

On February 27 the group released its eighth major-label single, "Sakura no Hanabiratachi 2008"(桜の花びらたち2008), a reprise of its Team A debut single. This version featured ten members from Team A, six from Team K and five from Team B.

"Baby! Baby! Baby!" is the main song from AKB48's 9th and 1st digital single Baby! Baby! Baby!, by Senbatsu.

In June 2008 AKB48 announced plans to launch a sister group, SKE48, in Sakae, Nagoya. In August, the group moved from DefStar Records to King Records.

On October 22 AKB48's tenth single, "Ōgoe Diamond"(大声ダイヤモンド), was released on King Records' You Be Cool label. With 11-year-old SKE48 member Jurina Matsui the single's center and cover girl, it was the first single featuring a member of AKB48's sister group.

Reached number one on Oricon Top 10

The group released its 11th major-label single, "10nen Sakura"(10年桜), on March 4, 2009. Also reaching number three on the Oricon charts in its first week, it was the group's first single to sell over 100,000 copies.

The group's 12th major-label single, "Namida Surprise!"(涙サプライズ!), was released on June 24. Promotions included a handshaking-event ticket and a ballot for a member to headline its next single.

AKB48's 13th single, "Iiwake Maybe"(言い訳Maybe), was released on August 26. It reached number one on the Oricon Daily Singles Chart and number two on the Oricon Weekly Singles Chart.

Its 14th single, "River" (released on October 21), debuted atop the Oricon Top 10 weekly chart and was the group's first number one.

AKB48 released its 15th major-label single, "Sakura no Shiori"(桜の栞), on February 17, 2010. In its first week the single topped the Oricon chart with over 300,000 copies sold, the most by a Japanese female artist in seven years.

Becoming popular group

AKB48's 16th single, "Ponytail to Chouchou"(ポニーテールとシュシュ), was released on May 26, 2010. Its sales exceeded those of the previous single, with over 400,000 copies sold on its first day and over 513,000 in its first week.

"Heavy Rotation" (ヘビーローテーション) is AKB48's 17th single, released on August 18, 2010.

later the group released its 18th single, "Beginner". It sold 826,989 copies in its first week, the highest first-week sales for a female idol group single.

Following AKB48's July concerts at Yoyogi National Gymnasium in Tokyo, it was announced that the headlining "senbatsu" members for the 19th single would be decided in a janken (rock-paper-scissors) tournament among AKB48 members and four representatives of AKB48 trainees (also known as research students or kenkyuusei) also decided by janken. The top 16 were given senbatsu status and participated in the single, 12 of which would be given media senbatsu members. "Chance no Junban" (チャンスの順番 ) is AKB48's 19th single, released on December 8, 2010.

Success their dreams

The group's first 2011 single, "Sakura no Ki ni Narō"(桜の木になろう), was released on February 16. It sold 655,000 copies on its first day, surpassing "Beginner's" first-day sales of 568,000. By the end of its first week the single sold 942,479 copies, the group's best and the fastest sales in Japan since 2000.

On February 21 AKB48 announced its third album, Koko ni Ita Koto (ここにいたこと), which would include 11 new tracks and was scheduled for an April 6 release.

Due to the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami, the group stopped its AKB48 Theater performances and canceled some of its public events. AKB48 began the "Dareka no Tame ni" (誰かのために "For someone's sake") project, collecting donations for earthquake and tsunami relief.

One of its concert venues, the Yokohama Arena, was used for a two-day charity event beginning on March 26 and 12 AKB48 members attended the Okinawa International Movie Festival that day for the same purpose. On March 15, AKB48 announced that ¥500 million would be donated by the group, its sister groups SKE48, SDN48 and NMB48 and associates of AKS, its management company.

On April 1 the group released the charity single "Dareka no Tame ni (What can I do for someone?)" (誰かのために -What can I do for someone?) on the Recochoku website as a digital download, with all proceeds earmarked for earthquake and tsunami relief.

On May 1 AKB48 announced a new sister group: HKT48, based in Fukuoka, Kyushu, with its theater in the Hawks Town Mall of Fukuoka’s Chuo ward.

AKB48 released its 21st major-label single, "Everyday, Kachūsha"(Everyday, カチューシャ), on May 25. An "election single", it contained ballots for determining who would headline the group's next single and set Japanese records for first-day (942,475 copies) and first-week sales (1,333,969 copies).

On June 7, before its nationwide concert tour, AKB48 announced the creation of Team 4. The 16-member team would be captained by Mina Ōba

AKB48 released its 22nd single, "Flying Get" (フライングゲット), on August 24. It sold 1,025,952 copies on its first day, and became the group's fourth single to sell over a million copies (1.354 million) in its first week.

On September 20, AKB48 held its second rock-paper-scissors tournament to determine the lineup for the group's 24th single. The group's 23rd single, "Kaze wa Fuiteiru"(風は吹いている), was released on October 26 and sold 1,045,937 copies on its first day.The next single, "Ue kara Mariko"(上からマリコ) (released on December 7), sold 1.199 million copies in its first week.

At the end of 2011, AKB48 won the Grand Prix in the 53rd Japan Record Awards for "Flying Get".

1830m, The distance from AKB48 Theater in Akihabara to Tokyo Dome

On January 22 (the final day of its "AKB48 Request Hour Set List Best 100 2012" concert series at Tokyo Dome City Hall) AKB48 members performed the new "Give Me Five!" as Baby Blossom, playing guitars, keyboards, percussion and horns. The Baby Blossom members had spent five months learning to play musical instruments, and some had little (or no) previous experience. "Give Me Five!" was released on February 15.

On March 25, longtime headliner Atsuko Maeda announced her graduation from the group. AKB48 announced that Maeda would graduate after the Tokyo Dome concerts. Her final performance (and graduation ceremony) took place in the AKB48 theater on August 27, and was streamed live on YouTube.

On March 26 AKB48 announced an election for the lineup for the group's 27th major-label single, "Gingham Check". The candidates were 243 members of AKB48, SKE48, NMB48 and HKT48, and ballots were included with the group's 26th single "Manatsu no Sounds Good!"(真夏のSounds good!).

On April 23 AKB48 announced the creation of its third overseas sister group, SNH48, based in Shanghai. It was announced on June 17 that Rino Sashihara would be transferred to HKT48 in July as a "restart" because of an alleged scandal involving her ex-boyfriend.

"Gingham Check" (ギンガムチェック) is the 27th major single by AKB48. The members were chosen from their placements in the AKB48's 2012 general election.

"Uza" (stylized in Japanese as "UZA", meaning "Annoying" and pronounced "oo-zah") is the 28th major single by AKB48, released in Japan on October 31, 2012.

Its third rock-paper-scissors tournament (scheduled for September 18) to determine the lineup for the group's 29th single, "Eien Pressure"(永遠プレッシャー ).

On August 15 the group released its fourth album, 1830m, and on August 24 (the first day of its Tokyo Dome concert series) AKB48 announced a reorganization of its teams.

AKB48 recorded "Sugar Rush" for the 2012 Disney animated film, Wreck-It Ralph, and the group set a Guinness World Record for the most pop singers in a video game (its dating simulation game, AKB1/149 Ren'ai Sōsenkyo). It won a second consecutive Japan Record Award, for "Manatsu no Sounds Good!"

Members Gradation

"So Long!" (stylized as "So long !" with a space before the exclamation mark) is the 30th major single by AKB48.

AKB48 released its 31st single, "Sayonara Crawl"(さよならクロール) (an election single), on May 22. It sold more than 1.9 million copies in its first month, breaking Speed's White Love 1997 record for the highest single sales by a female group.

The winner of election was HKT48 member Rino Sashihara, a former member of AKB48. On August 21 the group released its 32nd single, "Koisuru Fortune Cookie"(恋するフォーチュンクッキー). Its music video had 3,800 extras, the most for any AKB48- and sister group-related video. On August 24 the group announced the restoration of Team 4, with Minami Minegishi as captain and members promoted from the 13th and 14th generation of trainees.

On September 18, AKB48 held its annual rock-paper-scissors tournament at Nippon Budokan to determine the lineup for its 34th single, with Jurina Matsui the winner. After the event the group announced the lineup and performed its 33rd single, "Heart Electric"(ハート・エレキ), which was released in October.

On December 11 the group released its 34th single, "Suzukake no Ki no Michi de 'Kimi no Hohoemi o Yume ni Miru' to Itte Shimattara Bokutachi no Kankei wa Dō Kawatte Shimau no ka, Bokunari ni Nan-nichi ka Kangaeta Ue de no Yaya Kihazukashii Ketsuron no Yō na Mono"(鈴懸の木の道で「君の微笑みを夢に見る」と言ってしまったら僕たちの関係はどう変わってしまうのか、僕なりに何日か考えた上でのやや気恥ずかしい結論のようなもの), and on December 31 longtime member Yuko Oshima announced on Kōhaku Uta Gassen that she was leaving the group.

Full of trouble

On January 22, 2014, AKB48 released the album Tsugi no Ashiato. It reached number one on the weekly Oricon Albums Chart, selling 962,000 copies. The group's 35th single, "Mae shika Mukanee"(前しか向かねえ), was released on February 26 and sold 970,413 copies on its first day.

AKB48 announced plans for a fifth team, Team 8, with one member from each of Japan's 47 prefectures.

On May 21 the group released its 36th single, "Labrador Retriever"(ラブラドール・レトリバー), which sold over 1,462,000 copies on its first day

On May 25, 2014 handshake event at the Iwate Industry Culture and Convention Center in Takizawa, Iwate, group members Rina Kawaei, Anna Iriyama and a staff member were attacked by a 24-year-old man with a handsaw. The suspect was arrested for attempted murder, and the three were treated at a hospital for fractures and cuts. AKB48 canceled its theater performances through the end of May,[188] and handshake and photo-shoot fan events in May and June were postponed.

On June 7, AKB48 and its related groups announced the results of the annual election to determine the lineup for its 37th single. The winner was Mayu Watanabe with 159,854 votes, and Rino Sashihara was runner-up with 141,954 votes. The top eighty candidates were ranked in five groups of sixteen.

On August, AKB48 announced the Baito AKB project, which allows girls to join AKB48 part-time using the job search site Baitoru. After the end of the project, 11 of the former Baito AKB members entered the yearly Draft Kaigi event aiming to become full members, while others expressed their desire to take part in the auditions for the newly planned NGT48 group.

On December 8, long-time member and general manager Minami Takahashi announced she will leave the group in December 2015 for the group's tenth anniversary. She recommended that Team K captain Yui Yokoyama be her successor.

Successful path

On January 21, 2015, the group released its sixth studio album, Koko ga Rhodes da, Koko de Tobe!.

On March 4, the group released the single "Green Flash". The group became the first group who sold their 20 consecutive singles in 1 million on the first week.

On May 20, the group released the single "Bokutachi wa Tatakawanai"(僕たちは戦わない).

On August 26, the group released the single "Halloween Night"(ハロウィンナイト).

On October 25, 2015, during the handshake and autograph event at Pacific Yokohama had announced the details of AKB48's 42nd Single and Request Hour 2016. The 42nd single was released on December 9, 2015. Minami Takahashi was the Center in what will be her final appearance on an AKB48 single

On November 18, the group released its 7th album, 0 to 1 no Aida. This album marks the 10th anniversary of Japanese group, founded in 2005.

The group's 42nd single "Kuchibiru ni Be My Baby"(唇にBe My Baby) sold 813,044 copies on its first day of release. This brought their combined single sales to over 36,158,000 single albums sold, making them the artist with the highest number of single album sales in Japan, surpassing rock group B'z.

10th Anniversity

On January 24, 2016, during the final day of the Request Hour 2016 at Tokyo Dome City, AKB48 performed their 43rd single "Kimi wa Melody"(君はメロディー) which released on March 9, 2016. Kimi Wa Melody is the first single to bring back graduates Atsuko Maeda, Yuko Oshima, Mariko Shinoda and Tomomi Itano being featured on the main track. The single was centred by Sakura Miyawaki being her first time to have a solo centre on an AKB48 track.

On June 1, 2016, the group released the 44th single "Tsubasa wa Iranai"(翼はいらない), the single included ballots for the group's General Election for that year.

On August 31, the group released the 45th single "LOVE TRIP / Shiawase wo Wakenasai".

On August 26, the group released the single "Halloween Night"(ハロウィンナイト).

On October 3, Haruka Shimazaki announced her graduation from AKB48 during a new TV commercial presentation of Baitoru.

On November 16, the group released the 46th single "High Tension"(ハイテンション).

Fall down

On January 25, 2017, the group released the eighth studio album Thumbnail.

On March 15, the group released their 47th single "Shoot Sign"(シュートサイン), and Haruna Kojima announced she would be graduating.

On May 31, the group released their 48th single "Negaigoto no Mochigusare"(願いごとの持ち腐れ), which contained ballots for the general election. Rino Sashihara won the poll for the third consecutive year, this time with 246,376 votes, and served as the center performer for their 49th single "#sukinanda"(#好きなんだ), released on August 30.

On November 22, their 40th single "11gatsu no Anklet" (11月のアンクレット)was released.

Chasing the dream again

On January 24, 2018, the group released the ninth album Bokutachi wa, Ano Hi no Yoake o Shitteiru.

On March 14, 2018, the group released their 51st single "Jabaja"(ジャーバージャ), with Nana Okada as the center for the single.

Jurina Matsui topped the 10th installment of the AKB48 general elections with 194,453 votes, and will be the center performer for the 53rd single.

n June, 39 members of AKB48 and their sister groups participated in the South Korean television competition Produce 48, which will form a new idol girl group that will run for two and a half years in Seoul. Team B and Team 8 member Hitomi Honda finished in 9th place, earning a spot to debut in Iz One.

On September 19, the group released their 53rd single "Sentimental Train"(センチメンタルトレイン).

On September 24, the group announced for the 54th single "No Way Man"

On February 4, 2019, it was announced that the group's 55th single (last in the Heisei Period) "Jiwaru DAYS"(ジワるDAYS) was released on March 13, with Rino Sashihara serving as the center performer and this will be her last single with AKB48 before her graduation.