JKT48

2011–2012: Formation

On 11 September 2011, the formation of JKT48 was announced at an AKB48 event at Makuhari Messe in Chiba, Japan.^[8] Applicants were interviewed over the next few weeks, and the first auditions were held on 8–9 October.^[1] AKB48 member Minami Takahashi visited Jakarta during the auditions to promote JKT48 among fans of AKB48.^[9] Although applicants did not have to be Indonesian citizens, they had to be Indonesian residents.^[10] Approximately 1,200 girls auditioned for the group, and 51 were selected for the second round. Finalists were judged based on their dance performance of AKB48's "Heavy Rotation" and their performance of a song of their choice.^[11] JKT48's 28 first-generation members, aged 12 to 21, were selected on 2 November.^[12] The group made its first public appearance on Global TV's 17 December live-music program 100% Ampuh, performing "Heavy Rotation" with Indonesian lyrics.^[13]

JKT48 Theater at fX Sudirman in 2012 (top) and 2020 (middle), with its logo since 2024 (bottom).

A core feature of AKB48 is daily performances at its theater in Akihabara.^[14] Aiming to replicate this model, the JKT48 management team began scouting Jakarta locations for the group's theater in early 2012. An unoccupied site in the fX Sudirman shopping mall was selected as the theater's location, and plans for its renovation began in April.^[15] The first theater performances were held on a temporary stage in the Nyi Ageng Serang Building in Kuningan, Jakarta, from 17 to 20 May 2012.^[16] The theater opened on 8 September 2012 for daily performances, with a set list of 16 songs translated into Indonesian. The theater had an original seating capacity of 180 and standing room for 30, and its design is a replica of the AKB48 Theater.^[17] It presently holds around 350 people, seated and standing.

JKT48 has performed in Japan with other AKB48 sister groups. For its first performance in that country, the group was a surprise guest at the 2011 AKB48 Kōhaku Taikō Uta Gassen and performed the Indonesian version of "Aitakatta".^[18] It performed with AKB48 and other sister groups at the 62nd NHK Kōhaku Uta Gassen, with a total of 210 members onstage.^[19][20] The group also participated in the 2012 AKB48 concerts at Saitama Super Arena and Tokyo Dome.^[21][22]

On 13 August 2012, management began accepting applications for second-generation members. Of 4,500 applicants, approximately 200 were selected for interviews the following month. The pool was narrowed from 67 to 31 in a selection round held by RCTI.^[23] All 31 finalists were eventually chosen as second-generation members at a final audition on 3 November in Japan.^[24] AKB48 members Aki Takajō and Haruka Nakagawa, whose transfers to JKT48 were announced at the Tokyo Dome concert, began their activities with the group on 1 November and made their theater debut on 26 December.^[25] Nakagawa became interested in Jakarta during a visit with other members of AKB48 in February 2012.^[26]

2013–2017

JKT48 was scheduled to release its debut album in January 2013, but production was hampered because of flooding in Jakarta.^[27] For the release, the group's management team distributed 100,000 free CD singles. Each single had an Indonesian version of one of four songs: "Heavy Rotation"; "Kimi no Koto ga Suki Dakara"; "Baby! Baby! Baby!" or "Ponytail to Shushu".^[28] Members, some of whom were affected by the flooding, held a fundraiser for the city's relief efforts.^[29] The debut album, Heavy Rotation, had a limited release at the JKT48 Theater on 16 February 2013 and went on sale in music stores nationwide on 2 March.^[30] All four CD singles were included on the album.^[28] That year, JKT48 released four singles: "River" (11 May), "Apakah Apakah Kau Melihat Mentari Senja?" (3 July), "Fortune Cookie yang Mencinta" (21 August), and "Musim Panas Sounds Good!" (26 November).^[31] The third single was released concurrently with AKB48.^[32]

JKT48 announced the names of 63 finalists as third-generation JKT48 trainees on 28 January 2014.^[33] The group announced and performed its fifth single, "Flying Get", on 15 February.^[34] Rina Chikano was transferred from AKB48 to JKT48 nine days later, with Aki Takajo and Rena Nozawa's positions cancelled.^[35]

On 26 April 2014, JKT48 finished its first annual senbatsu election. The 16 ranked members were scheduled to appear on the group's sixth single, "Gingham Check", which was released on 11 June.^[36] JKT48 released "Papan Penanda Isi Hati" on 27 August, with Shania Junianatha taking the center position and Rina Chikano and Thalia Ivanka Elizabeth appearing in the senbatsu for the first time. The single was released concurrently with AKB48's version for the second consecutive year.^[37] The group's eighth single, "Angin Sedang Berhembus", was released on 24 December.^[38][39]

On 20 February 2015, JKT48 held a concert with AKB48 in Jakarta. Fifteen members of AKB48 were sent to Jakarta for the concert, including Yui Yokoyama, Rie Kitahara and Asuka Kuramochi.^[40] JKT48 released its ninth single, "Pareo wa Emerald", on 27 March.^[41]

On 2 May, the group held its second senbatsu election; Jessica Veranda displaced Melody Laksani to win the election. The 16 ranking members appeared on its 10th single, "Kibōteki Refrain".^[42][43] JKT48 released its 11th single ("Halloween Night") on 26 August, the third consecutive year of a concurrent single release with AKB48.^[44] JKT48 general manager Jiro Inao died by suicide at his home in South Tangerang, Banten, on 21 March 2017.^[45]

2018–2019

On 8 April 2018, Melody Nurramdhani Laksani (general manager of the JKT48 operational team and former first-generation group member) announced a new tagline ("JKT48 RE:BOOST") at the JKT48 Theater.^[46] JKT48's motto was changed from "Idol You Can Meet" to "Idol Who Will Come to Meet You".

2020–2021: First original song, crisis, and restructuring

The group released its 21st single and first original song, "Rapsodi", with "Bitter & Sweet" on 9 January 2020. "Rapsodi" was centered by Shani Indira Natio, and "Bitter & Sweet" was centered by Maria Genoveva Natalia Desy Purnamasari Gunawan. The single is JKT48's most popular and streamed song in its history.

On 14 February 2020, JKT48 held a solo concert (JKT48 Team KIII Solo Concert "KIII vs KIII") in GOR Bulungan. Although a solo concert, some former Team KIII members were invited to participate. The objective was to challenge the new Team KIII members before Ratu Vienny Fitrilya's graduation by selling 1,000 tickets in less than a month. If they failed the challenge, then the Team KIII fifth stage would be cancelled. For the concert, members were divided into blue and yellow teams.^[47]

On 28 September 2020, during the Indonesian pandemic, one member tested positive for COVID-19.^[48] Over the next month, two more members also tested positive.^[49][50]

In November, JKT48 announced that it would graduate its members and staff due to the pandemic. The group had announced its 11-person 10th-generation members, but cancelled their debut.^[51] The group announced on 11 January 2021, that 26 of its members were leaving, reducing its membership to 33;^[52] they left the group in mid-March.^[53] All three teams were dissolved, and the academy ceased operations.^[54]

The group released its 22nd single, "Cara Ceroboh Untuk Mencinta" or "Darashinai Aishikata" (from AKB48's 49th single, "#Sukinanda"), on 16 March. All 33 remaining members appeared on the single, JKT48's only 2021 release.^[55] The group re-introduced 8 of the 11 tenth-generation members on 18 December,^[56] and announced a new single produced by Matt Rad and August Rigo.^[57]

Singles

Studio albums

Films

Television shows