Announced in concert just now, there'll be "AKB48 Group Draft Kaigi" where each team's captain & GM could choose member to join their team.There will be nomination and open audition starting from 10th November.
"Starting September, management will advertise about this draft and accept sign-ups""after some filtering based on management's criteria, they will decide on the final group of candidates""captains from all 4 teams will be able to select these candidates for their respective teams""if there is an agreement between a captain and a chosen candidate, then the candidate becomes an official kks of this particular team""management wants to make this event as big as the Senbatsu Election and the Janken Tournament""this draft is the same as the baseball draft in that the candidates cannot pick the area that they want to be in"(so basically if you're from Hokkaido but was drafted by, say, HKT48, then you'd have to move quite far unless you reject the choice)"the management is still working on guidelines/rules for this event"so yes it seems like we will have team-specific kks in the future...last but not least, "group-specific auditions will also be held, just like before"
AKB Group Draft as reported by Nikkan SportsPosted on August 8, 2013 by bilingual48Original: http://www.nikkansports.com/entertainment/akb48/news/f-et-tp0-20130808-1170240.htmlThe Kyocera Dome performances of AKB48 Group ended on the 8th, with the announcement of an audition event called “Draft Conference” at Grand Prince New Takanawa on November 10th.According to the management, an open call for sign-ups will start in September. The pool of candidates will go through multiple evaluation rounds, and the final pool will be presented to team captains of AKB48, SKE48, NMB48 and HKT48. When a captain picks a candidate and the candidate agrees to the negotiation, then the candidate becomes a kenkyuusei of that particular team.As for the status after being picked, at first it was announced that the candidate will become a regular member, but after the concert was over, the management issued a notice saying that was an error and the candidate will only become a kenkyuusei.The management wants to make this event comparable to Senbatsu Sousenkyo as well as the Janken Tournament.Just like the professional baseball draft, the candidates cannot pick where they want to go geographically. Even the venue is the same as the one used for professional baseball draft. Management is now working on rules/guidelines for the draft. Group-specific auditions will still be held regularly, just like how some baseball players were employed without going through the draft, or were employed as “test players”.The captains are already meeting and discussing about what they are looking for in these candidates, such as “people that can really dance” or “people that are really good at MC”.
looks like we will have another team shuffle eh...and takamina will have her own team?
AKB48 Draft Meeting: The aim is the revitalisation of the groupOn 10th November, the “AKB Group Draft Meeting” will be held. In general, girls target an individual group in their auditions - AKB, SKE, NMB, HKT (10 teams) and once they’ve cleared the audition, become the new force of that group.On 8th August, At the Osaka Dome performance of AKB48’s 5 Dome Tour, there was a surprise announcement. General Director Takahashi Minami (22) did not give us all the details, but said “it is certain that AKB needs something,” with the expectation that the group would make a great leap forwards.Yasuhi Akimoto (55), the manager and producer of the group up until now, held a meeting after the Sapporo Dome Concert on the 31st July, which was attended by every captain and theatre manager, and which was rife with the opinion that the group needs, “more girls who can MC,” and, “fresh, young girls”. According to the management, this should be an event on the same scale as the general election and the janken tournament: “We aim to transform the group,” they explained. However, the auditions in their original format will also continue
On August 8th, popular idol group AKB48 held the 2nd day of their live concert at the Kyocera Dome Osaka and made a surprise announcement about a new event called "AKB48 Group Draft Kaigi" being held on November 10th at Grand Prince Hotel New Takanawa. The event will be held to recruit new members by the draft. Just like the drafts in sports, the captains of 10 total teams in AKB48, SKE48 (*leaders for SKE48), NMB48, and HKT48, will appoint new members among the candidates who pass the "AKB48 Group Draft Candidate Audition" (to be held one of these days), after consultations with each group's theater managers.There is a difference in this audition when compared to the group's regular auditions, which is that the candidates have no choice for which group (and team) they will join. If there is an appointment overlap, the candidate's team will be decided by drawing lots by the captains.The candidates, whose negotiations are settled, will be assigned to the appointed team as Kenkyuusei members.More details on the draft will be announced later date.What is your opinion on this? Source & Image: Oricon + Nikkan Sports
On August 8th, popular idol group AKB48 held the 2nd day of their live concert at the Kyocera Dome Osaka and made a surprise announcement about a new event called "AKB48 Group Draft Kaigi" being held on November 10th at Grand Prince Hotel New Takanawa. The event will be held to recruit new members by the draft. Just like the drafts in sports, the captains of 10 total teams in AKB48, SKE48 (*leaders for SKE48), NMB48, and HKT48, will appoint new members among the candidates who pass the "AKB48 Group Draft Candidate Audition" (to be held one of these days), after consultations with each group's theater managers.There is a difference in this audition when compared to the group's regular auditions, which is that the candidates have no choice for which group (and team) they will join. If there is an appointment overlap, the candidate's team will be decided by drawing lots by the captains.The candidates, whose negotiations are settled, will be assigned to the appointed team as Kenkyuusei members.More details on the draft will be announced later date.
AKB48 Group Draft Details AnnouncedThe official blog announced more details on the draft. More after the cut…Source: <"http://ameblo.jp/akihabara48/entry-11589552492.html">Official AKB48 BlogTeam captains will be able to choose their own members from the pool of candidatesif one candidate is desired by more than one team, it will be decided by lotterymembers that join the group through the draft (different from KKS up to now) belong to specific teams as “draft members”, and will participate in lessons/theater performancescandidates cannot pick the group they want to join, even though they will be asked to write down the desired group on the formif candidates only want to get into a specific group, they are advised to apply for group auditionsshould a candidate reject being drafted a group they didn’t want to join, they lose the right to join any team altogetheraudition processfirst evaluation (application)accepted between 8/12 and 9/3shortlisted candidates will be contacted between 9/7 and 9/13second evaluation (interview)9/14-9/16third evaluation (dance & vocal)9/21-9/23 in Tokyofinal candidates will be announced on the daycandidates are advised to show up with a guardian or a friendvideo clips of final pool of candidates will be published on the web until the drafteligibility:1. no need for prior experience2. 11-18 years old (as of 2013 8/8) and does not belong to any production agency(if under 15, will need a signed approval form from the guardian)3. must be able to attend lessons at the theater of the group that they belong
Tomonobu Togasaki (English page) The recruitment of applicants for the auditions of the draft meeting started yesterday.In this first trial, the applicants would be able to join whichever groups in AKB48G that they want to enter.We are waiting for applicants that have big dreams and the confidence to climb up the ladder and achieve them!!http://www.akb48.co.jp/akbdraft/https://member.akb48.co.jp/akbdraft/form.php
Tomonobu Togasaki (English page) We will be having a two-day concert in Nagoya today!!Please come to the concert.I appreciate those who shared their opinions during the draft meeting.There were people who shared their opinions saying, "Are you ignoring the current teams and the Team Trainees?" Of course it's not like that, but rather, I just only want to make things better!!There will be always pros and cons whenever we hold a new event. However, it's really enjoyable to exchange opinions with the fans.There are still a lot of unclear things about the draft meeting. That is why, I will be answering your questions through Google+.Mr. Akimoto told me that "The team is like a migratory fish. It wouldn't be able to go anywhere if it doesn't continue to swim. It must not stay in one place."I want to continue improving without forgetting what he said to me.I also need the warm support from the fans.There are still a lot of things that I should do. I'll do my best!!
There have been some updates regarding the draft's specifics. Blog post: http://ameblo.jp/akihabara48/entry-11600377873.htmlIn short- There is no longer an upper age limit for applicants. Anyone above 11 years old can apply.- Team 4 does not participate in the draft.