I am going to give you a basic lesson in AKB, so they don’t seem so confusing to you. AKB48 is divided into three teams, kinda like H!P’s flagships. Each team ideally has 16 members, but it rarely works out that way due to graduations.
Team A: think of them as Morning Musume. The original group. The flagship. Most of the old-time members are here. Many of the most popular members are in Team A
Team K: they came around about a year later. Think of them as Berryz Kobou. Team K is well known for being a very cohesive unit, with very few changes or graduations since inception. They are also known as the best dancers.
Team B: was the last of the main groups formed in 2007. Think of them as C-ute. This is the young-lolli team. Very cute, extremely energetic.
Each group performs independently of one another with their own material. They also have a version of the H!P Eggs, called Team Kenkyuusei, or “research students” Like the Eggs, these girls do their own performances. But they also serve as subs for the main three groups when girls are out ill or for prior commitments. So if you say, went to see Team K, it wouldn’t be unlikely that there would be a couple of Kenkuusei on the Team that night, if a few girls are out filming or something.
Each group performs their “stage” (think of it as an album) for approximately a year, until the stage is called complete. Then the Team gets new material and begins a new performance. Right now Teams A and K are on their 5th Stage and Team B is on their 4th.
They also have sub-groups. There are three current active groups like this…
Watarirouka Hashirtai: all four members are from Team B. You know about them
No3b (or No Sleeves): Three members of Team A. They were formed in conjunction with the TV show Mendol, which they also starred in. BTW, you should watch that series. It was great!
And now a new sub-group named “French Kiss” whom are yet to make their debut release.
Natto Angels: I think they are a one shot deal. But their song was cute!
Chocolove: an old sub-group that was really popular, especially their song Ashita wa Ashita no Kimi ga Umareru wo. The video for that song is amazing
ICE: was a one-shot sub-unit, but their song was so pretty
The Singles releases: This is where they stray a bit from H!P’s model. When they put out a single, they select girls from each team to participate. They are called Senbatsu. So the girls all work hard so they will be selected for Senbatsu.
Big Concerts: Are a lot like H!P winter and H!P summer. They do a lot of shuffling of the girls, so you may have a mix of A and K girls doing a Team B song. Stuff like that. But it is usually a big showcase of their best stuff.
That is basic AKB…and just to give you a taste…
SKE48: they are trying to reproduce what they have in Akihabara down in Nagoya. It is the same model. Team S, Team KII, and soon there should be a Team E.
SDN48: is a brand new concept. Older idols performing more adult material, They perform in the AKB48 Theater twice a week. Saturday night, and one random night mid-week
Albums…okay, this might be a little confusing: by CK
Here is a list of Albums by AKB48.
Team A currently has 4 Albums…
1. Team A 1st Stage
2. Team A 2nd Stage
3. Team A 3rd Stage
4. Team A 5th Stage
*You may notice that Team A 4th Stage is missing. This is due to contractual issues with DefStar, AKB48’s former label, an album for the 4th Stage never got released, although a DVD did.
Team K’s Albums…
1.Team K 1st Stage (which is the same songs as Team A 1st Stage)
2. Team K 2nd Stage
3. Team K 3rd Stage
4. Team K 5th Stage
*again, same issue for Team K’s 4th Stage, but a DVD is available
Team B has one album…
1. Team B 4th Stage
*there are no albums for Team B’s 1st three stages, although B3 was their first original stage. B1 was a redo of K2, and B2 was A2.
“Himawari-Gumi” was AKB’s All-Star Stage, and there were 2. H1 and H2, but neither were ever released on album.
Currently there are two “best of” type albums, with a third one to be released this Summer. You have “Kamikyou Tachi”, the other is called “Setlist, Greatest Songs 2005-2007”
For SKE, Team S has 2 (S2 and S3, and Team KII has their one album, which is the same as S2. Team S’ first stage was actually a redo of A2, and team KII’s 1st stage was a redo of K2.
Keep in mind that every stage is available on DVD, although some were Theater Only releases, which means you can only find them via deputy services at the official site, or on YJA. But yes, a few of the albums are missing due to the DefStar/AKS contract issues.
Releases: by CK
As far as their CDs are concerned, all of the released albums are available via online retailers except for the most recent 3 (A5, K5 and B4). Those were only available in Japan.
As far as the Stage DVDs, like I said all of the Stages that have completed (with the exception of A5 and B4 which JUST completed) have been released to DVD. However, AKB48 started releasing them exclusively through their website some time ago. So K4, K5, B2, B3 and H2 are not available via online retailers. The rest are.
Oh by the way, everything by SKE is available through online retailers.
However, your response triggered another topic…LIVE CONCERT DVDs
There are quite a few. These are concerts in venues other than the theater. The first couple of concerts from the early days are available through online retailers, although they are fairly high priced. However, early on AKB started packaging their concert series’ in Box Sets that were 1) expensive and 2) only available through their site and in Japan. That said, these are my favorite items they sell…I will give some examples,
Shibuya AX Setlist Concerts. Their annual January event. Four night concert of Top 100 songs as voted by the fans. Comes in a 5 disc set (the 4 shows plus 1 backstage disc) with photobook and collector cards and usually sell for around $200 USD There are three of these 2008, 2009 and 2010
AKB104 Sokaku Matsuri (aka the Budokan Box Set) 7-Disc Set featuring the three concerts at Budokan. Team A Live at Fukuoka, Team K live in Osaka, and Team B live in Nagoya. plus Photobook. Retailed for about $310 usd
Their JCB Hall Concert Series and NHK concert series are also available in 2 or 3 disc sets. I’m not sure since I don’t have them.
Yokohama Arena Box Set should be coming out soon, and I guess it will be a 4-disc set and retail for about 150-200 usd.
By the way, many of these items ARE still available through AKB48’s shop, which you can buy from via your deputy service.
TV Show Box Sets…
Some are available via the regular buy sites (like Majisuka Gakuen, Mendol and Nemousu TV), some are Theater/Website exclusives (Shukan AKB) And of course AKB-Infinity (their play) is also a theater exclusive.
For your perusal, AKB48’s Online Shop
(And a funny little conversation we had about a tidbit about visiting AKB48’s theater in Akihabara…(^q^)!)
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