Graduation

AKB48 Group Rinji Soukai ~Shirokuro Tsukeyou Janai ka~

AKB48 Group Rinji Soukai ~Shirokuro Tsukeyou Janai ka~AKB48 Group Rinji Soukai ~Shirokuro Tsukeyou Janai ka~ (AKB48グループ臨時総会 〜白黒つけようじゃないか!〜) will be released on DVD and Blu-ray on September 25.

AKB48 Group Rinji Soukai ~Shirokuro Tsukeyou Janai ka~, also known as AKB48 Fair (AKB48フェア), was held on April 25-28 at Nippon Budokan.

AKB48, SKE48, NMB48, and HKT48 performed at the live.

Each edition includes 3 concerts : 2 live performances with all groups, and another one with only one of them.

The DVD and the Blu-ray also feature making-of footage.

(more…)

Otsuka Aina withdrew from Juice=Juice and Hello! Project

Otsuka Aina (Juice=Juice, Hello! Project)Otsuka Aina withdrew from Juice=Juice and Hello! Project on July 5.

After a series of discussions between the agency and her family about her contract, they have failed to reach an agreement on terms and conditions.

Juice=Juice will continue its activities with 5 members and make its major label debut this summer.

(more…)

AKB48 Senbatsu General Election 2013 Results

AKB48Sashihara Rino won the 5th AKB48 Senbatsu General Election 2013. Oshima Yuko and Watanabe Mayu came in 2nd and 3rd position.

The first 64 members are selected to perform in AKB48’s 32nd single will be released on August 21.

Shinoda Mariko announced her graduation from AKB48.

The AKB48 32nd Single Senbatsu Sousenkyo (AKB48 32ndシングル 選抜総選挙) was held on June 8 at Nissan Stadium in Yokohama.

Check out the full ranking.

(more…)

Techpri to disband

TechpriTechpri (テクプリ, t.c. princess) is going to disband this summer.

The leader of Techpri, Rika, announced that she had withdraw due to health problems. She is suffering of back pain since fall 2012 and need to concentrate on medical treatment.

(more…)

Nakatsuka Tomomi to graduate from AKB48

Nakatsuka Tomomi (AKB48)Nakatsuka Tomomi announced her graduation from AKB48. The date of her graduation ceremony hasn’t been determined yet.

As she’s going to be 20 years old in June, she explained that decided to start a new life.

Nakatsuka Tomomi joined AKB48 5 years ago as a 5th generation member. She is part of Team A.

She won’t participate in the 5th AKB48 Senbatsu Election 2013.

(more…)

Erika to graduate from Lyrical School

Erika (Lyrical School)Erika announced her graduation from Lyrical School. She will participate in her last live performance on June 28 in Shibuya in Tokyo.

The announcement was made on May 19 at Tower Records Shinjuku during a release event held for their new single Parade.

Erika is the leader of Lyrical School. She joined the idol group as an original member in 2010 when it was known as Tengal6.

(more…)

Komori Mika to graduate from AKB48

Komori Mika (AKB48)Komori Mika announced her graduation from AKB48. The date of her graduation ceremony hasn’t been determined yet.

Komorin explained that she decided to leave the group to study abroad.

Komori Mika joined AKB48 in 2009 as a 7th generation member. She is part of Team B. She is also a member of Watarirouka Hashiritai.

Moreover, the Kenkyuusei Hioki Miki and Ito Akane have also announced their graduation from SKE48. They want to focus on their studies.

(more…)

Matsubara Natsumi announced her graduation from AKB48

Matsubara Natsumi (AKB48)Matsubara Natsumi announced her graduation from AKB48. The date of her graduation ceremony hasn’t been determined yet.

On her blog, she explained that she decided to leave the group to become an actress. She wants to perform in stage play, drama, and movie.

Matsubara Natsumi joined AKB48 in 2006 as a 2nd generation member. She is part of Team K.

(more…)

Yamamoto Hitomi to graduate from NMB48

Yamamoto Hitomi (NMB48)Yamamoto Hitomi announced her graduation from NMB48. The announcement was made on May 1 during NMB48 Team M 1st Stage Idol no Yoake (アイドルの夜明け). She will leave the group on May 30.

She explained that she took this decision to focus on her studies as she is going to take the high school examination next spring.

Yamamoto Hitomi joined NMB48 as a 2nd generation member in August 2011. She was promoted from Kenkyuusei to Team M in October 2012.

(more…)

Ando Mikumo to graduate from Nogizaka46

Ando Mikumo (Nogizaka46)Nogizaka46 announced the graduation of Ando Mikumo from the group.

Ando Mikumo, who will be 20 in May, decided to leave the unit to focus on her studies.

She will graduate on June 16 after the special event Anata Dake no Tame ni Message, Iwasete Kudasai! -Namagoe Rokuon Kai- (あなただけのためにメッセージ、言わせてくださいっ！-生声録音会-) which will be held in Tokyo.

Ando Mikumo joined Nogizaka46 in August 2011 as a 1st generation member.

(more…)