About 乃木坂46

Nogizaka46 (乃木坂46) is a Japanese female idol group produced by Yasushi Akimoto, and it is billed as the "official rival" of the group AKB48. The formation of the group was first announced on 29 June 2011, with member auditions for the first generation being held in August 2011. 36 girls were selected for the first generation and were announced on 22 August 2011. Nogizaka46 was named after the place where the SME Nogizaka Building, which houses Sony Music Japan's office, is located in.Their producer Yasushi Akimoto also said that the number "46" was chosen as a direct challenge to AKB48. They released their début single, ぐるぐるカーテン on February 22, 2012. First Generation: 安藤美雪 (Andou Mikumo) 生田絵梨花 (Ikuta Erika) 生駒里奈 (Ikoma Rina) 市来玲奈 (Ichiki Rena) 伊藤寧々 (Ito Nene) 伊藤万理華 (Ito Marika) 井上小百合 (Inoue Sayuri) 岩瀬佑美子 (Iwase Yumiko) 衛藤美彩 (Eto Misa) 柏幸奈 (Kashiwa Yukina) 川相陽菜 (Kawago Hina) 川村真洋 (Kawamura Mahiro) 斎藤飛鳥 (Saito Asuka) 斎藤ちはる (Saito Chiharu) 斎藤優里 (Saito Yuri) 桜井玲香 (Sakurai Reika) 白石麻衣 (Shiraishi Mai) 高山一実 (Takayama Kazumi) 中田花菜 (Nakada Kana) 中元日芽香 (Nakamoto Himeka) 永島聖羅 (Nagashima Seira) 西野七瀬 (Nishino Nanase) 能條愛未 (Noujou Ami) 橋本奈々未 (Hashimoto Nanami) 畠中清羅 (Hatanaka Seira) 樋口日奈 (Higuchi Hina) 深川麻衣 (Fukagawa Mai) 星野みなみ (Hoshino Minami) 松村沙友里 (Matsumura Sayuri) 宮澤成良 (Miyazawa Seira) 大和里菜 (Yamato Rina) 若月佑美 (Wakatsuki Yumi) 和田まあや (Wada Maaya) Graduated Members: 山本穂乃香 (Yamamoto Honoka) 吉本彩華 (Yoshimoto Ayaka)