JKT48 is an Indonesian idol group whose name is derived from its base city … Read Full Bio ↴JKT48 is an Indonesian idol group whose name is derived from its base city of Jakarta, Indonesia and the Japanese idol group AKB48. Formed in 2011, it is the first AKB48 sister group outside of Japan and adopts the concept of "idols you can meet". Fans can attend daily performances at the group's theater, which was built as a close replica to the AKB48 Theater in Akihabara.

Producer Yasushi Akimoto decided to bring the AKB48 concept to Indonesia because the group had begun to develop a fan base in the country. Indonesia's growing economy was seen as a potential market by many Japanese companies, and Akimoto established a partnership with these businesses and the country's largest media conglomerate Global Mediacom (MNC Media), the southeast Asia's largest and most integrated media group to replicate the AKB48 business model.

While JKT48 does not restrict membership by nationality, applicants must be residents of Indonesia. The group has 44 members and released its first studio album "Heavy Rotation on 16 February 2013 via Hits Records, a division of MNC subsidiary PT Star Media Nusantara. It performs songs by AKB48 and other sister groups that are translated into Indonesian.

History

2011–2012: Formation

The formation of JKT48 was announced on 11 September 2011 at an AKB48 event held at Makuhari Messe in Chiba, Japan. Applicant interviews took place in late September, and the first auditions were held 8–9 October. AKB48 member Minami Takahashi also visited Jakarta during the auditions to promote JKT48 among fans of AKB48. Applicants did not have to be Indonesian citizens, but they must reside in the country. Approximately 1,200 girls auditioned for the group, and 51 were selected to proceed to the second round. Finalists were judged based on their dance performance of "ヘビーローテーション" (Heavy Rotation), from AKB48's single of the same name, and their performance of a song of their choice. JKT48's 28 first generation members, ages 12–21, were selected on 2 November. JKT48 made its first public appearance on 17 December on the live music program 100% Ampuh on Global TV and performed "Heavy Rotation", with lyrics translated into Indonesian.

As part of the concept of "idols you can meet every day", AKB48 performs daily at its theater in Akihabara. The JKT48 management team aimed to accomplish this same principle and began scouting locations in Jakarta for the group's own theater in early 2012. An unoccupied site in the fX Sudirman shopping mall was selected as the theater's eventual location, and planning for its renovation began in April. In the meantime, the first theater performances were held 17–20 May at a temporary stage in the Nyi Ageng Serang Building in Kuningan, Jakarta. The official theater opened on 8 September for daily performances with a set list of 16 songs that have been translated into Indonesian. The theater has a seating capacity of 180 and standing room for 30, and its design is a close replica of the AKB48 Theater.

JKT48 has also performed in Japan alongside other AKB48 sister groups. In its first performance in Japan, the group was a surprise guest at 2011 AKB48 Kōhaku Taikō Uta Gassen and performed the Indonesian version of "会いたかった" (Aitakatta). It also performed alongside AKB48 and other sister groups at the 62nd NHK Kōhaku Uta Gassen with a total 210 members onstage. It also participated in the 2012 AKB48 concerts at Saitama Super Arena and Tokyo Dome.

Management began accepting applications for second generation members on 13 August 2012. Of the 4,500 applicants, approximately 200 were selected for interviews the following month. The pool was then narrowed down from 67 to 31 in a selection round held by RCTI television. All 31 finalists were eventually chosen as second generation members at a final audition on 3 November in Japan. Additionally, AKB48 members Aki Takajo and Haruka Nakagawa, whose transfers to JKT48 were announced at the Tokyo Dome concert, officially began their activities with the group on 1 November and made their theater debut on 26 December. Nakagawa became interested in Jakarta during a visit with other members of AKB48 earlier in February.

2013–present: Major debut

JKT48 was scheduled to release its debut album in January 2013, but production was hampered because of flooding in Jakarta. To celebrate the release, the group's management team had distributed 100,000 free CD singles. Each single featured an Indonesian version of one of four songs: "Heavy Rotation", "Kimi no Koto ga Suki Dakara", "Baby! Baby! Baby!", and "Ponytail to Shushu". Members, some of whom were directly affected by the flooding, later held a charity event in order to raise funds for the city's relief efforts. The debut album, titled Heavy Rotation, had a limited release at the JKT48 Theater on 16 February and went on sale in music stores nationwide on 2 March. All previously released singles were included in the album.

On 4 February 2014, JKT48 announced the names of 63 finalists that are vying to become JKT48 trainees in the third generation. On 15 February, the group announced and performed its fifth single "Flying Get".

jkt48.com

Suifu wa Arashi ni Yume wo Miru
JKT48 Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Ada di atas tebing
Di pulau yang terpencil
Yang tidak seorangpun tahu
Diselimuti awan
Anginpun berteriak
Hujan memukul pipi

Di kejauhan sana

Ada tempat tak ada di peta
Ujung bumi bagaimanapun
Arungi laut tetapkan tujuan

Ubahlah badai yang dahsyat
Menjadi kekuatan
Sekarang keluarkanlah kapal
Berlayar

Ubahlah kegembiraan
Menjadi keberanian
Kembangkan layar mimpi
Wahai pelaut believe

Ombak bergulung
Meleburkan mulutnya
Menunggu datangnya kapal

Petir yang dekat
Poseidon yang marah
Cakrawala yang memudar

Di dunia yang luas
Ada takdir belum terjangkau
Yang menghalangi jalan
Hanya diri yang sudah menyerah

Angkatlah jangkar
Dari masa saat kita lemah
Ayolah saatnya tuk berlayar
Sekarang

Janganlah berfikir bahwa
Kamu akan tenggelam
Banggalah dengan mimpi
Wahai pelaut sailing

Ubahlah badai yang dahsyat
Menjadi kekuatan
Sekarang keluarkanlah kapal
Berlayar

Ubahlah kegembiraan
Menjadi keberanian

Kembangkan layar mimpi
Wahai pelaut believe

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to JKT48's song "Suifu wa Arashi ni Yume wo Miru" tell a story of resilience, courage, and pursuing dreams in the face of adversity. The song describes a secluded island surrounded by clouds and battered by strong winds and rain. In the distance, there is a place that is not marked on any map, an uncharted territory worth exploring. Despite the challenges and uncertainties, the lyrics encourage the listener to transform the powerful storms into strength and to set sail towards their destination.

The song emphasizes the importance of changing one's perspective in order to overcome obstacles. It suggests that instead of succumbing to fear and surrendering, one should convert joy into bravery and expand the sails of dreams. The lyrics also mention the roaring waves waiting for the arrival of a ship, signifying the anticipation and hope that accompany embarking on a new journey. Additionally, references to thunder, an angry Poseidon, and a fading horizon highlight the difficulties and doubts that may arise along the way.

Line by Line Meaning

Ada di atas tebing
We are on top of a cliff

Di pulau yang terpencil
On a remote island

Yang tidak seorangpun tahu
Where no one knows

Diselimuti awan
Covered by clouds

Anginpun berteriak
Even the wind is screaming

Hujan memukul pipi
Rain hitting our cheeks

Di kejauhan sana
In the distance

Ada tempat tak ada di peta
There's a place not found on any map

Ujung bumi bagaimanapun
No matter the edge of the earth

Arungi laut tetapkan tujuan
Sail across the sea, set the destination

Ubahlah badai yang dahsyat
Transform the fierce storm