Sakamichi Series

Sakamichi Series (Japanese: 坂道シリーズ, "Sloping Roads Series") refers to a Japanese idol group franchise that began with Nogizaka46, an "official" rival group of AKB48. Based on AKB48's "idols you can meet" concept, it currently consists of four groups. The first group, Nogizaka46, was formed on August 22, 2011 and released their debut single Guruguru Curtain on February 22, 2012.

Sakamichi Series
Origin Japan
GenresJ-POP
Years active2011–present
Associated acts

The second group, and Nogizaka46's first sister group, Keyakizaka46, was created on August 21, 2015. It was initially named Toriizaka46 before it was changed.[1][2] They released their first single Silent Majority on April 6, 2016. A sub group known as Hiragana Keyakizaka46 was created shortly after. On July 16, 2020, it was announced that Keyakizaka46 would change the group's name and rebrand, with the new name being Sakurazaka46.[3][4][5][6] The change came into effect on October 14.

On February 21, 2018, Yoshimotozaka46 was created as the third group in the franchise.[7] It is a much different group than the other three in that it contains both male and female members of various ages, and most members are Japanese entertainers. Unlike the other groups, Yoshimotozaka46 is named after the company that manages many Japanese comedians, the 48 group NMB48 and Produce 101 Japan group JO1 and is based in Osaka. They released their first single, Nakasete Kure yo, on December 26, 2018.

On February 11, 2019, Hiragana Keyakizaka46, the sub-group of Sakurazaka46 (still named Keyakizaka46 at the time), became independent and changed its name to Hinatazaka46, thus becoming the fourth group in the franchise.[8] They released their debut single, Kyun, on March 27, 2019.

In the summer of 2018, a joint Sakamichi Audition was held and 36 of those that auditioned were accepted. Of the 36, 21 were immediately accepted into one of Nogizaka46 (11), Keyakizaka46 (9), and Hinatazaka46 (1). The other 15 were grouped as Sakamichi Kenshusei (坂道研修生) in 2019.[9] On February 16, 2020, 14 of the trainees were finally assigned to the three groups, with five going to Nogizaka46, six going to Sakurazaka46, and three going to Hinatazaka46. The remaining member dropped out at some point.

Current groups
Group name Group color Years active Teams
(if split)		 Location Notes
Nogizaka46 (乃木坂46)Purple2011–present1st Gen, 2nd Gen, 3rd Gen, 4th GenTokyo, Japan
Sakurazaka46 (櫻坂46)White-Pink2015–2020 (as Keyakizaka46)
2020- (as Sakurazaka46)		1st Gen, 2nd GenTokyo, JapanFirst sister group
Formerly Toriizaka46 and Keyakizaka46 (group color green).
Yoshimotozaka46 (吉本坂46)Orange2018–present1st Gen, 2nd GenOsaka, JapanSecond sister group, First in the Sakamichi series to be mixed with males and has no age limit to become recruits.
Hinatazaka46 (日向坂46)Blue2015–2019 (as Hiragana Keyakizaka46)
2019–present		1st Gen, 2nd Gen, 3rd GenTokyo, Japan

References
  1. "Toriizaka46's 1st generation members chosen, but changes its name to Keyakizaka46". tokyohive. 6Theory Media, LLC. Retrieved March 8, 2016.
  2. 乃木坂46、新グループ「欅坂（けやきざか）46」1期生メンバー決定 「鳥居坂46」からチーム名変更 (in Japanese). modelpress. Retrieved March 8, 2016.
  3. "欅坂46 結成記念日8・21にラストシングル 10月にラストライブ" (in Japanese). Oricon. July 16, 2020. Retrieved July 16, 2020.
  4. "欅坂46が10月ライブで5年の歴史に幕、改名し再始動「これからも私たちに期待していて」" (in Japanese). Natalie. July 16, 2020. Retrieved July 16, 2020.
  5. "欅坂46、改名後の新グループ名は「櫻坂46」" (in Japanese). Oricon. September 21, 2020. Retrieved September 21, 2020.
  6. "新グループ名発表!". Keyakizaka46 Official Website (in Japanese). September 21, 2020. Retrieved September 21, 2020.
  7. Japan, Arama! (February 21, 2018). "New unisex "Sakamichi Series" group announced, Yoshimotozaka46". ARAMA! JAPAN.
  8. "けやき坂46が「日向坂46」に改名！ファンも驚き「まさか改名するとは」「おめでとう!!」". RBB TODAY.
  9. "坂道合同オーディション合格者の配属先決定、12月には武道館でお見立て会". ナタリー. ナターシャ. November 29, 2018. Retrieved November 29, 2018.
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