BNK48 | |
|---|---|
 BNK48 at Cat Expo 2017 | |
| Background information | |
| Origin | Bangkok, Thailand |
| Genres | |
| Years active | 2017–present |
| Labels | independent Artist Management (iAM) |
| Member of | AKB48 Group |
| Members | 42 (list) |
| Past members | 45 (list) |
| Website | bnk48.com |
BNK48 (read B.N.K. Forty-eight) is a Thai idol girl group and the third international sister group of Japan's AKB48, following Indonesia's JKT48 and China's SNH48 (Former).
After holding its first audition in mid-2016 and announcing its first-generation members in early 2017, the group officially debuted on 2 June 2017 and released the debut single, "Aitakatta", on 8 August 2017. Its second single, "Koisuru Fortune Cookie", released on 20 December 2017, was a great success.[1] As of September 2024[update], the group has 42 members.
The group is named after Bangkok, the capital city of Thailand, where its theatre, BNK48 the Campus, is located. Orchid, a flower popular in the country, serves as both the colour and motif of the group.[2]
BNK48 announced the formation of their first sister group, CGM48 (named after the city of Chiang Mai), on 2 June 2019. CGM48 is the first domestic sister group to be launched outside Japan and second sister group of 48 Group in Thailand.[3]
- ^ "SKE48's Jurina Matsui wins first AKB48 popularity contest to include sister groups". japantimes.co.jp. Tokyo: The Japan Times Ltd. 17 July 2018. Retrieved 22 June 2018.
- ^ "ประกาศตั้ง BNK48 เกิร์ลกรุ๊ปน้องสาว AKB48 สาขาประเทศไทย". MGR Online (in Thai). 26 March 2016. Archived from the original on 1 December 2017. Retrieved 26 November 2017.
- ^ "CGM48結成発表! Announcement of CGM48!". Facebook.com (in Japanese). AKB48. 3 June 2019. Retrieved 7 June 2019.