Conoce a Nogizaka46 RIVAL de AKB48!

Conoce a Nogizaka46 RIVAL de AKB48!

Imagine an idol group that started out as AKB48’s official rival and ended up becoming one of the most important phenomena in modern J-Pop. Today we’re talking about Nogizaka46, a group that blends elegance, talent, and a story of overcoming challenges that won over millions in Japan and around the world. Nogizaka46 is a Japanese female idol group created in 2011 by Yasushi Akimoto, the same producer behind AKB48. Their name comes from Nogizaka Hall, the place where their first auditions were held, and the “46” is a statement of intent: with fewer members, they aim higher. Their image is a blend of traditional French schoolgirls with refined elegance. Unlike AKB48’s “sister” groups, Nogizaka46 was created as their official rival group, not as a sister group. More than 38,000 applicants auditioned, resulting in 36 initial members and 16 extras called “senbatsu” for media and performances. In October 2011, they began their first broadcast of their television show, Nogizakatte, Doko?, hosted by the comedy duo Bananaman. The style combines pop rock with lyrics about love, friendship, and youth , and occasional touches of electronic music. Their stage performance is energetic and visually sophisticated, with striking choreography that has influenced youth fashion. Their debut single, Guruguru Curtain, was released in 2012, reaching number 2 on the Oricon charts and selling over 136,000 copies in its first week. It was the first step in a string of successes. Their second single, Oide Shampoo, reached number 1 on the Oricon charts, marking the start of 36 consecutive releases at the top. The choreography drew attention for its daring, one-part lifting of the skirts over the girl’s face, and although it was well received, that same year Sakurai Reika was named the group’s official leader. However, it was with songs like “Seifuku no Mannequin” and “Kimi no Na wa Kibō” that they began to gain widespread attention. With a more restrained visual style and elegant choreography, they quickly differentiated themselves from other idol groups. In June 2012, Nogizaka46 participated in the Yubi Matsuri festival at the Nippon Budokan in front of 8,000 attendees, and in September they starred in their own musical at Shibuya Parco. The year closed with over 870 million yen in sales, crowning them the best-selling rookies on Oricon. In 2013, the second generation members were announced, along with the program “Nogizakatte” and “Doko.” The sixth and seventh singles, “Girls Rule” and “Baretta,” were also released. Meanwhile, Yukina Kashiwa ended her activities with the group. In 2014 they released their eighth, ninth and tenth singles, which were Kizuitera Kataomi, Natsu no Free & Easy and Rena Ichiki, Nene Ito and Rina Yamato concluded their activities. The turning point came in 2015, when they released the successful single Inochiha Utsukushii, followed by Harujionga Sakukoro and Hadashi de Summer. Releasing their first album Transparent color, this year Seira Hatakana concluded their activities and at the end of the year they made their first performance on NHK Kouhaku Uta Gassen, where they performed Kimi no Na wa Kibou. Entering 2016, several singles were released including Harujionga SakuKoro, also releasing their second album Sorezore no Isu, that same year they held Mai Fukagawa’s graduation concert and at the end of the year the third generation student presentation event was held as well as their second show at the NHK Kouhaku Uta Gassen, where they performed The meaning of goodbye. In 2017 they released several singles including Influencer which won the Japan Record Award, presenting their third album The first dream I’ve seen since I was born, this year was Himeka Nakamoto’s last presentation and Marika Ito’s activities ended . In 2018 the album Boku Dake no Kimi was released and several singles such as Synchronicity as well as the end of activities of several members such as Mahiro Kawamura. Also that same year Yumi Wakatsuki graduated where her graduation was celebrated at the Nippon Budokan, that same year the new students of the fourth generation were introduced and they performed again at the NHK Kouhaku Uta Gassen performing Kaerimichi wa Toidewari Shitaku Naru. In February 2019 Nogizaka46 celebrated its seventh anniversary live at the Kyocera Domo Osaka, later several members ended their activities as Misa Eto, in April they released their fourth album Until Now Becomes a Memory, also releasing their single Sing Out and in September Manatsu Akimoto succeeds Sakurai as second leader, and by the end of the year they performed again at the NHK Kouhaku Uta Gassen performing Route 246. In 2020 they released their single Protective Color of Happiness and Route 246 and several members ended their activities such as Kotoko Sasaki and by the end of the year Mai Shiraishi’s graduation took place, ending with a performance at the NHK Kouhaku Uta Gassen for its sixth consecutive year. For 2022 and 2023 several graduations took place such as Minami Hoshino’s and the single Actually was released, they also celebrated their 10-year career at Nissan Stadium in Kanagawa. Later they released an exclusive digital single Bokutachi no Sayonara and ended with a celebration for their 11-year career. Additionally, they have released visually-driven concept albums that include documentaries and special sessions with their members. Since then, the group has released more than 37 singles and six albums with cumulative sales exceeding 3 billion copies. In 2021, Time Flies, their first best-selling album, was released, debuting straight to #1 on Oricon and Billboard Japan, earning them the 2022 Japan Gold Disc Award for Best Album. Some of their biggest hits include 2017’s Influencer, which won Song of the Year at the Japan Record Awards, and 2018’s Syncronicity, another multi-award-winning track that cemented their popularity. The latter two won the Grand Prix at the Japan Record Awards and have accumulated nearly 18 million CD sales in Japan. I see…, Route 246, and Sayonara no Imi are tracks that blend emotion, nostalgia, and impeccable choreography. Nogizaka46 started in small Zepp-style venues and now fill domes and stadiums across Japan and Asia. They’ve toured in France, Singapore, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Taiwan, and more. They’ve performed shows of up to four days with 177 songs at the Kyocera Dome in 2019. Their 13th Birthday Live will be in May 2025 at Ajinomoto Stadium. Nogasaki 46 has gone through multiple generations. Among the most iconic are Mai Shiraishi, considered one of the group’s most recognizable faces, a model and actress; Nanase Nishino, known for her sweetness and charisma; Erika Ikuta, with a classical musical background, stood out for her voice and stage talent; Asuka Saitō, a key part of the group’s transition to a new era. They currently continue to renew themselves with new generations, maintaining a balance between experience and freshness. Nogizaka46 isn’t just a group; they’ve starred in dramas, films, and anime such as Zambi and Nogizaka Cinemas. They’ve collaborated with brands such as Gu, Asahi, and Más. Its members have modeled for fashion magazines such as Can Cam, Non-no, and Ray. Some former members have launched careers as soloists, actresses, and influencers. They’ve even had international performances, gaining fans across Asia and the West. The number 46 was chosen to demonstrate that with fewer members than AKB48, they could be just as successful, or even more so. Each generation of members has their own documentary available on Japanese platforms. Graduations of core members such as Mai Shiraishi, Nanase Nishino, and Asuka Saito were very emotional for fans. Their fanbase is known for being very loyal and organized. Many fans follow sushis even after they graduate. In 2022, their 10th anniversary was celebrated with a mega-concert broadcast across Japan. Once Nogizaka46 was created. After that, Keyakizaka46, Sakurazaka 46, and Hinatazaka 46 were born. In 2025, they have 41 active members divided into four generations, plus the group New 4 from 2020. For a total of 101 members since their debut, their internal style is based on Senbatsu circles, which are the main faces and under members. Each single has a center that rotates between them. The current leader since February 2023 is Minami Umezawa of the third generation. She is an outstanding vocalist and her role has grown a lot, earning admiration among fans and colleagues. Nogizaka46 has shown that idols can evolve, mature, and stay relevant in an industry as competitive as JPop. They have gone from their initial challenge in 2011 to become a dominant force in the idol world with more than 37 singles, six albums, millions of fans, and a presence on top-level stages with an artistic approach that blends elegance, depth, and talent. They remain one of the most beloved and respected groups in Japan today. Their emphasis on quality music, performance, and audiovisual production is incredible. Their energy and deep feelings connect with the young adult audience who seek more than just kawaii: quality, narrative, and evolution. Have you heard of them before? Do you have a favorite Nogizaka46 oshi? Tell me in the comments and don’t forget to subscribe for more content about Japanese idols. School never closes here! See you next class, idol.

¿Sabías que Nogizaka46 fue creada como rival directa de AKB48, pero terminó forjando su propio camino hacia la cima del J-Pop? En este video te contamos todo sobre Nogizaka46, desde su formación hasta sus grandes éxitos, miembros icónicas, curiosidades y su legado en la cultura idol japonesa.

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VIDEOS OFICIALES

Nogizaka46 – Guruguru Curtain

Nogizaka46 – Oide Shampoo

Nogizaka46 – Seifukuno Mannequin

乃木坂46 『インフルエンサー』 Influencer

乃木坂46 『シンクロニシティ』 Synchronicity

乃木坂46 『Sing Out！』

INSTAGRAM

https://www.instagram.com/nogizaka46_official/