History Of BNK48

2016

On 26 March 2016, the formation of BNK48, MNL48, and TPE48 was announced.[4]
The first BNK48 audition was held from 29 July to 31 August 2016, attracting a total of 1,357 applicants,[5] of whom 330 were selected on 5 September.[6] The initial selection of the first-generation members was later held on 17 and 18 September 2016. On 23 September 2016, the selection result was declared, stating that 80 candidates would pass into the final selection. However, due to the death of King Bhumibol Adulyadej on 13 October 2016, the final selection was postponed until 18 December, on which a number of candidates were selected as the first generation of the group.

2017
Members Jennis, Nam-Neung, Maysa, Namhom, Kaimook, and Miori, clad in the first single outfit, perform at The Mall Bang Kapi in Bangkok on 23 July 2017.
On 12 February 2017, the first generation of the group was officially announced, consisting of 29 members.[7][8] They made their first appearance at the AKB48 show during the 12th Japan Festa in Bangkok on the same day.[9]

It was later revealed on 13 April 2017 that AKB48 Team 4 member Rina Izuta would be transferred to the group on 2 July 2017, totalling the members of the group to 30.[10]

On 2 June 2017, the group made its official debut with the single "Aitakatta – Yak Cha Dai Phop Thoe".[11] The single was officially released on 8 August 2017 and was available for purchase for a limited period of time only, during which it sold 13,500 copies. So far, no official music video has been released for the single.[12]

The group, representing Japan, performed with Thai singer Palitchoke Ayanaputra and the South Korean band iKON at the concert 2017: 411 Fandom Party in Bangkok, held at Siam Paragon on the night of 30 August 2017, during which it premiered the song "Khukki Siangthai", a cover of AKB48's "Koi Suru Fortune Cookie".[13][14]

On 31 August 2017, an announcement was made saying that due to their violation of undisclosed rules, Jan, Kaew, Orn, and Nam-Nueng, the oldest members of the group who were scheduled to perform at the Japan Expo in Thailand 2017 on 1 and 3 September 2017, were demoted to undergirls and replaced by Jane, Mobile, Pupe, and Rina Izuta for the said event. It was speculated that the four were punished for truancy.[15]

At the Japan Expo, the group performed "Khukki Siangthai" with World Order during the opening ceremony[16] and unveiled its eponymous anthem, "BNK48 (Bangkok48)", which depicts tourist spots and foods of Bangkok.[17]

The group held its first formal concert, BNK48 We Love You, on 23 September 2017 at The EmQuartier in Bangkok to mark the graduation of Kidcat. At the event, the release of the song "Khukki Siangthai" as the group's second single was announced.[18] The music video for the song was premiered at the concert BNK48 Mini Live and Handshake, held at J.J Mall in Bangkok on 18 November 2017.[19]

On 24 December 2017, the first team of the group, Team BIII, was announced at a fan convention called BNK48 We Wish You, held at Siam Square One in Bangkok. At the same event, it was also revealed that the group's first theatrical performance would be held in April 2018, the group's second generation audition would be commenced as from 25 December 2017, and the song "Shonichi" will be the group's third single.[20][21]

Members Izurina, Tarwaan, Cherprang, Jennis, Nam-Neung, and Miori at the 72th Chula–Thammasat Traditional Football Match on 3 February 2018.

2018

At the third handshake event of the group, held at The Mall Ngam Wongwang in Bangkok on 13 and 14 January 2018, additional songs were announced as the B-side tracks for this single, that is, "Namida Surprise!" and "Anata to Christmas Eve".[22]

The group performed at the 72th Chula–Thammasat Traditional Football Match on 3 February 2018.[23] It also held a handshake and mini live event outside Bangkok for the first time from 2 to 4 February 2018 at Central Festival Chiang Mai.[24] On 11 February 2018, the group was selected as the brand ambassador of True Corporation's Truemove H in the project TruePoint x BNK48.[25]

The group carried out an audition for its second-generation members from February to April 2018. Ninety-four of the total candidates passed the initial round on 20 March 2018[26] and twenty-seven of them were finally announced as the second-generation members on 29 April 2018.[27]

On 28 February 2018, the group was selected as the official Thailand national football team supporters.[28]

The group held its first concert, called Starto, at BITECT on 31 March and 1 April 2018.[29]

On 24 April 2018, the group had an audience with military junta chief Prayut Chan-o-cha at the Government House, where the group held a live-broadcast handshake event with the general. The event is seen by scholars as the junta's attempt to build popularity amongst young people for the upcoming election. But the group's company denied any political purpose behind the meeting, saying the event was just for promoting a government radio station.[30]

The first album of the group, River, was announced on 31 May 2018.[31]

In December 2018, BNK48 was invited to perform together with AKB48 in the 69th NHK Kōhaku Uta Gassen (第69回NHK紅白歌合戦, The 69th NHK Red & White Song Battle).