Graduation announcements thread

Okarina's comments following her graduation announcement today:
https://48times.com/free/newsDetail/2523

via DeepL:

 

For how long will this one-day-one-member thing go on? What number of girls does management intend to keep? X.x

 

With the exception of Hii, everyone who is under-23 and wasn't on OO48 is gone. Nagi and Mogi are the "special" ones. The big question here is what will happen to the over-23 ones.

 

Okarina is one I will actually miss but it's kind of a miracle she stayed in the group this long. she was so un-idolish when she started I figured she's last months rather than years.

 

I feel like everyone who isn't staple senbatsu is at risk currently. None of the following members would surprise me if they announced graduation:

• Sasaki Yukari (2011)
• Shinozaki Ayana (2011)
• Komiyama Haruka (2013)
• Fukuoka Seina (2013)
• Taniguchi Megu (2014)
• Asai Nanami (2016)
• Kurosu Haruka (2016)
• Suzuki Kurumi (2016(
• Nagatomo Ayami (2016)
• Michieda Saki (2016)
• Shimoguchi Hinana (2013)
• Otake Hitomi (2018)
• Saito Haruna (2018)
• Yoshihashi Yuzuka (2018)
• Nagano Serika (2014)
• Yamada Kyoka (2017)
• Ma Chia-Ling (2015) (she might be waiting for 2025 'cause once you've been in Japan for 10+ years, you can get residency rights without a visa)

The following members would slightly surprise me but also not really...

• Iwatate Saho (2011)
• Taguchi Manaka (2016)
• Muto Orin (2016)
• Yamane Suzuha (2016)
• Onishi Momoka (2014)
• Gyoten Yurina (2014)
• Shitao Miu (2014)
• Takahashi Ayane (2014)
• Hashimoto Haruna (2014)
• Sato Minami (2016)

And these members would quite surprise me:

• Tokunaga Remi (2019)
• Sakagawa Hiyuka (2019)
• 17ki (2022) + 18ki (2023)
• Idol Nanka Janakattara senbatsu members (mixed)

 

Sakipon actually announced graduation at the end of July (on 27th July).

I don't know about every member since I don't follow them all too closely, but for Harupyon's case, she has said quite a lot of times in recent weeks that she wants to do well as idol in AKB, that she isn't planning to graduate now. Now I know that idols can say this sometimes and still graduate... but I think she isn't going to announce in the close future ^^

 

Satomina some weeks ago posted that she doesn't intend to graduate anytime soon. I believe her. I don't think she would pull a Yoshida Karen

 

Suzuki Kurumi isn't going to graduate, she's practically the only AKB member getting regular grav work these days.

 

She's not, but then there's Hinako...

Kurumi is one of those girls who usually sell out a few slots, kinda like Nagatomo. This time tho...

For some of these girls they're going to wait and see. "See what, Aka?" For starters, what they plan to do with AKB. DH finances aren't exactly the best, but what do these graduations mean for the future? Will they have more money to spend on lesser girls or will they keep pushing the same few faces while ignoring the rest? If so, it wouldn't make a difference for the less popular members. And what else? Well, a lot of them graduated this year and the ones who didn't will see how things go for those girls. If they see them having success somewhere else they might start thinking twice if there's any point on staying in AKB.

 

"want to stay ..."
I'd still point Karen's showroom in which she more or less said she and some who anounced still wanted to stay indeed. So unless the totaly unexpected ones like Nagi or Shinobu, it's not entirerly each girls very own decision.

 

I'm surprised that Sahho didn't announce grad considering her age, time in the group and the fact that management doesn't value her that much.

At this point, every theater girl with zero push that has been in the group for 8+ years is in risk of being in the grad territory. I wouldn't even be surprised if DH fired these girls lol, they are making clear that they now only care about Senbatsu + KKS and if the girl is a veteran with weak numbers, it's grad time. Without new stages and no teams, being a theater girl doesn't make sense anymore.

 

Naamin

 

Honda Hitomi (Team A) announced her graduation from AKB48 today on YouTube and Weverse.

Every single U-22 who wasn't in OUT OF 48.


if the video does not show watch the video here

 

Official notice:
https://ameblo.jp/akihabara48/entry-12818407578.html

Comment via Google Translate:

 

Quoting myself from Hii's thread:

What feels odd is the way she graduated. A simple taped YouTube video and that's it, no explanation. Usually they announce it with their friends but not this time. And she could've done it in the future concert. So, she must've accepted something recently or a scandal is coming.

 

Yeah, if there was anyone who’d get a pompous farewell it was gonna be Hiichan. I’m sure management is pulling out their hair now.

But alas.

 

And they private the video on Youtube like 15 minutes after released.

Spoiler

So Hiichan won't graduate, will she? I'm not ready to send my baby off.

 

PHEEEEEEEEEEEW!

Spoiler

The video is going to come back soon.

 

Pending a possible reupload on YouTube here it is on BiliBili (credit to uploader):