Minami Minegishi

is a Japanese media personality best known for her affiliation with the idol girl group AKB48 and its subunit no3b. She has the longest tenure among AKB48's original members, lasting 16 years from 2005 to 2021.

Career Early days at AKB48 Minegishi debuted with AKB48 Team A in 2005. She ranked 14th in the AKB48 2012 general election with 25,638 votes. She is one of the three members of AKB48 sub-group no3b, with whom she played in the drama Mendol, Ikemen Idol in 2008 and sang its theme song as the fictional band "Persona". She has also been a frequent guest on television variety shows. Beyond appearing in commercials as a member of AKB48, she has also appeared in some by herself.

Scandal and demotion On January 31, 2013, the weekly tabloid Shukan Bunshun reported that Minegishi had spent a night at the apartment of actor Alan Shirahama with an undisclosed member of the boy band Generations from Exile Tribe. A few hours later, it was announced through the AKB48 official blog that she would be demoted from Team B to kenkyūsei (trainee) status as of February 1. She thus became the first AKB48 member to be demoted to kenkyūsei in four years since Miki Saotome in late January 2009. On the same day, the AKB48 official channel published a video of Minegishi with her head shaved (or more accurately reduced to a crew cut), apologizing to her fans for her "thoughtless behavior" and hoping that the management would let her stay in the group, with other members that she loved. In the YouTube statement, Minegishi explained that she cut her hair in a state of shock induced by reading the Shukan Bunshun scoop, when she could not calm down. However, the shaving of her hair was criticised by fans and commentators that it went too far, and might have even been a publicity stunt arranged by Yasushi Akimoto, the producer behind AKB48.

In an article for The Japan Times, titled: "AKB48 member’s ‘penance’ shows flaws in idol culture", Ian Martin noted: "What is happening here is that the protection of fans’ fragile fantasies automatically trumps the basic human right to a life outside that fantasy framework. Though as lawyer Hifumi Okunuki pointed out in a Japan Times article on Jan. 22, such an arrangement is probably illegal under Japanese labor laws."

Return On August 24, 2013, AKB48 announced the reinstatement of Team 4, with Minegishi reinstated as a full member as well as the captain; the rest of the members were promoted from the 13th and 14th generation trainees, later affectionately known as the .

Graduation On December 8, 2019, Minegishi announced her graduation. Her graduation concert was initially scheduled to occur on April 2, 2020 at Yokohama Arena, but was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Her graduation song, , was included in AKB48's 57th single "Shitsuren, Arigatō", released on March 18, 2020.

Her postponed concert was eventually rescheduled to May 22, 2021, and held at Pia Arena MM in Yokohama. She officially graduated from AKB48 on May 28, ending her 16-year membership with the group.

Personal life Minegishi was born and raised in Takashimadaira in Itabashi, Tokyo. Her parents own and manage a craft beer pub in the area, named Kirigirisu.

On August 16, 2022, Minegishi announced her marriage to Tokai On Air leader Tetsuya Oyaizu. In December 2022, she launched her own skincare brand.

On March 1, 2024, Minegishi announced through her social media account that she and Tetsuya are expecting their first child together. She gave birth to a daughter in July 2024.

Discography Singles with AKB48

Year No. Title Role Notes 2006 Ind-1 "Sakura no Hanabiratachi" A-side Debut with Team A. Ind-2 "Skirt, Hirari" Supporting Backup dancer role in title track. 1 "Aitakatta" A-side 2007 2 "Seifuku ga Jama o Suru" A-side 3 "Keibetsu Shiteita Aijō" A-side 4 "Bingo!" A-side 5 "Boku no Taiyō" A-side 6 "Yūhi o Miteiru ka?" A-side 2008 7 "Romance, Irane" A-side 8 "Sakura no Hanabiratachi 2008" A-side 9 "Baby! Baby! Baby!" A-side 10 "Ōgoe Diamond" A-side 2009 11 "10nen Sakura" A-side 12 "Namida Surprise!" A-side 13 "Iiwake Maybe" A-side Ranked 16th in 2009 General Election. 14 "River" A-side 2010 15 "Sakura no Shiori" A-side First single as Team K. Also sang on "Majisuka Rock 'n' Roll". 16 "Ponytail to Shushu" A-side 17 "Heavy Rotation" A-side Ranked 14th in 2010 General Election. Also sang on "Yasai Sisters" and "Lucky Seven". 18 "Beginner" A-side 19 "Chance no Junban" B-side Did not sing on title track; lineup was determined by rock-paper-scissors tournament. Sang on "Yoyakushita Christmas"; and "Alive" with Team K. 2011 20 "Sakura no Ki ni Narō" A-side -- "Dareka no Tame ni - What can I do for someone?" -- charity single 21 "Everyday, Katyusha" A-side Also sang on "Korekara Wonderland" and "Yankee Soul". 22 "Flying Get" A-side Ranked 15th in 2011 General Election. 23 "Kaze wa Fuiteiru" A-side 24 "Ue kara Mariko" A-side Placed third in rock-paper-scissors tournament; She also sang on "Noël no Yoru"; and on "Zero-sum Taiyō" as Team K. 2012 25 "Give Me Five!" A-side (Baby Blossom) Played trombone in Baby Blossom; She also sang "Hitsujikai no Tabi" as part of Special Girls B. 26 "Manatsu no Sounds Good!" A-side 27 "Gingham Check" A-side Ranked 14th in 2012 General Election. Also sang on "Yume no Kawa". 28 "Uza" A-side Also sang on "Seigi no Mikata ja Nai Hero" as New Team B. 29 "Eien Pressure" B-side Did not sing on title track; lineup was determined by rock-paper-scissors tournament. First single as member of Team B. She sang on "Totteoki Christmas"; and "Eien Yori Tsuzuku Yō ni" as part of OKL48. 2013 30 "So Long!" A-side She also sang on "Sokode inu no unchi fun jau ka ne?" as Team B. 31 "Sayonara Crawl" B-side First single after being demoted to trainee. Did not sing on title track. She sang on "Haste to Waste" and "Love Shugyou". 32 "Koi Suru Fortune Cookie" Under Girls Ranked 18th in 2013 General Election. Did not sing on title track. Sang on "Ai no Imi wo Kangaete Mita" as part of the Under Girls. Sang on "Namida no Sei Janai" and "Saigo no Door". 33 "Heart Electric" A-side In main lineup as "Barbara". Also sang on "Seijun Philosophy" as Team 4. 34 "Suzukake no Ki no Michi de "Kimi no Hohoemi o Yume ni Miru" to Itte Shimattara Bokutachi no Kankei wa Dō Kawatte Shimau no ka, Bokunari ni Nannichi ka Kangaeta Ue de no Yaya Kihazukashii Ketsuron no Yō na Mono" B-side Lost in rock-paper-scissors tournament. Sang "Mosh&Dive" and "Party is over" as AKB48. 2014 35 "Mae Shika Mukanee" A-side 36 "Labrador Retriever" A-side Also sang on "Heart no Dasshutsu Game" as Team 4. 37 "Kokoro no Placard" Under Girls Ranked 22nd in 2014 General Election. Sang on "Dareka ga Nageta Ball" 38 "Kibōteki Refrain" A-Side Also sang "Me wo Akete Mama no First Kiss" as Team 4. 2015 39 "Green Flash" B-Side Sang on "Haru no Hikari Chikadzuita Natsu" as AKB48. 40 "Bokutachi wa Tatakawanai" A-Side Sang on "Bokutachi wa Tatakawanai" without participating in the music video. Also sang on "Summer Side" as Selection 16. 41 "Halloween Night" Under Girls Ranked 19th in 2015 General Election. Sang on "Sayonara Surfboard" 42 "Kuchibiru ni Be My Baby" A-Side Sang on "Kuchibiru ni Be My Baby" but only appeared briefly in the music video due to work commitments. Also sang on "Senaka Kotoba" and "Oneesan no Hitorigoto" as Team K. 2016 43 "Kimi wa Melody" A-side 44 "Tsubasa wa Iranai" A-side Sang on "Aishū no Trumpeter" as Team K. 45 "Love Trip / Shiawase wo Wakenasai" Under Girls Placed 17th in 2016 General Election. Sang on "Densetsu no Sakana" as Under Girls. 46 "High Tension" B-side Sang on "Mata Anata no Koto o Kangaeteta" 2017 47 "Shoot Sign" A-side 48 "Negaigoto no Mochigusare" A-side Also sang on "Ano Koro no Gohyakuendama" 49 "#sukinanda" Under Girls Placed 19th in 2017 General Election. Sang on "Darashinai Aishikata" 50 "11gatsu no Anklet" A-side Also sang on "Yosougai no Story" 2018 52 "Teacher Teacher" B-side Sang on "Shuuden no Yoru" as Team K 53 "Sentimental Train" Under Girls Placed 32nd in 2018 General Election. Sang on "Sandal ja Dekinai Koi" 54 "No Way Man" B-side Sang on "Ike no Mizu wo Nukitai" as Ike no Mizu Senbatsu 2020 57 "Shitsuren, Arigatō" A-side Also sang on "Mada Aeru Hi Made", her graduation song

Albums with AKB48 Kamikyokutachi "Baby! Baby! Baby! Baby!" "Kimi to Niji to Taiyō to"

Koko ni Ita Koto "Shōjotachi yo" "Boku ni Dekiru Koto" (Team K) "Kaze no Yukue" "Koko ni Ita Koto"

1830m "First Rabbit" "Iede no Yoru" (Team K) "Itterasshai" "Aozora yo Sabishikunai Ka?" (AKB48 + SKE48 + NMB48 + HKT48)

Tsugi no Ashiato "After Rain" "Team Zaka" (Team 4) "Ichi ni no San"

Koko ga Rhodes da, Koko de Tobe! "Ai no Sonzai" "Panama Unga" "Namida wa Atomawashi"

0 to 1 no Aida "Ai no Shisha" (Team K)

With no3b

Filmography

Films Ashita no Watashi no Tsukurikata (2007) Densen Uta (2007) Moshidora (2011) Documentary of AKB48: Show Must Go On (2012) Documentary of AKB48: No Flower Without Rain (2013) Joshikō (2016) Owari ga Hajimari (2021)

Television Joshideka!: Joshi Keiji (TBS, 2007) Guren Onna (episode 5: guest appearance only) (TV Tokyo, 2008) Cat Street (NHK, 2008), Yukari Mendol: Ikemen Idol (TV Tokyo, 2008), Hinata Otowa/Kū Koi Shite Akuma: Vampire Boy (KTV, 2009), Saki Inaba Majisuka Gakuen (TV Tokyo, 2010), herself Sakura Kara no Tegami: AKB48 Sorezore no Sotsugyō Monogatari (Nippon TV, 2011), herself Majisuka Gakuen 2 (TV Tokyo, 2011), Shaku(ex-student president) Soup Curry (HBC and TBS, 2012), Megumi Natsukawa So Long! (NTV, 2013), Mitsuki Watase Aoyama 1-seg Kaihatsu (NHK, 2014–2015), Nana Kawahara AKB Horror Night: Adrenaline's Night Ep.35 - Claim (2016), Kyōko AKB Love Night: Love Factory Ep.9 - Way Back Home (2016), Aika Last One Standing (Netflix, 2022), herself AKB48 Sayonara Mōri-san (Nippon TV, 2022–present), regular