Graduation

Graduation (卒業 Sotsugyou) is a term used to refer to a member of AKB48, SKE48, NMB48, HKT48, JKT48, SNH48 or Nogizaka46, that leaves their respective group. The term is used for other idol groups as well, such as Morning Musume '14 and the Hello!Project groups.

Graduation Process

Members usually announce their graduation from the group as a surprise announcement at the end of theater performances. The date of the member's final performance is usually decided by management at a later date.

Other methods of graduation announcement include (but are not limited to):

• Announcement at AKB48-related concerts and events (Examples: Maeda Atsuko, Shinoda Mariko)
• Announcement on television programs (Examples: Oshima Yuko, Itano Tomomi, etc.)
• Announcement through social networking sites (Examples: Akimoto Sayaka, Yagami Kumi)
• Official announcement from management (Example: Sato Natsuki)

Reasons for graduation can vary. Common reasons include:

• Choosing to focus on studies
• Poor health
• Pursuing a career in show-business outside the AKB48 Group
• Personal reasons

For AKB48 members, the graduation ceremony usually consists of a final theater performance, after which the member takes down her picture from the portrait wall of the theater. Senbatsu members often get segments of concerts dedicated to their graduation in addition to the theater ceremony.
In some cases, graduated members are still obligated to attend a handshake event after their final performance.

Other Terms

Withdraw (「辞退」・「活動辞退」)
This term cam be used for members who chose to leave the group after a scandal involving them surfaces, such as Yonezawa Rumi, Hirajima Natsumi, and Masuda Yuka. It can also be used for kenkyuusei scheduled for promotion who want to leave the group anyway, such as Mitsumune Kaoru and Fujimoto Mitsuki. Lastly, the term is used for members who wish leave the group without having a final graduation ceremony.

Dismiss (「解雇」・「契約解除」)
This term is used for members who are forced to leave the group after breaking a rule. This rare occurrence has happened for four cases.

• Kikuchi Ayaka (AKB48 Team B) was dismissed from the group due to a scandal on August 14, 2008.
• Nishikawa Nanami (AKB48 8th Generation Kenkyuusei) was dismissed from the group on July 18, 2009.
• Yanase Aiko (SKE48 3rd Generation Kenkyuusei) had her contract terminated and was dismissed from the group on December 9, 2009.
• Cindy Gulla (JKT48 Team J) was dismissed from the group on February 16, 2014.

Graduated (and Graduating) Members in 2014

Many members have graduated from the AKB48 Group since its formation. A full list of members who have graduated can be found here
Below is a list of members who graduated or announced their graduation in 2014 specifically.

AKB48

• Katayama Haruka (Team A)
• Takahashi Minami (Team A) (Will graduate on 2015)
• Kikuchi Ayaka (Team A)
• Sato Amina (Team K)
• Oshima Yuko (Team K)
• Nonaka Misato (Team B)
• Takashima Yurina (Team 4)
• Okubora Chinatsu (Team 8)
• Tsukamoto Mariko (Otona AKB48)

SKE48

• Mukaida Manatsu (Team S)
• Sato Seira (Team S)
• Deguchi Aki (Team S)
• Kaneko Shiori (Team S)
• Nakanishi Yuka (Team S) (Will graduate on 2015)
• Sato Mieko (Team S) (Will graduate on 2015)
• Matsumoto Rina (Team KII)
• Mizuno Honoka (Team KII)
• Kinoshita Yukiko (Team KII)
• Kato Tomoko (Team KII)
• Kito Momona (Team E)
• Iguchi Shiori (Team E)
• Owaki Arisa (Team E)
• Yamada Reika (Team E)
• Yamamoto Yuka (Kenkyuusei)
• Orito Aisa (Kenkyuusei)
• Sora Miyuka (Kenkyuusei)
• Goto Mayuko (Kenkyuusei)

NMB48

• Yogi Keira (Team N)
• Yamauchi Tsubasa (Team N) (Will graduate on 2015)
• Shimada Rena (Team M)
• Yamada Nana (Team M) (Will graduate on 2015)
• Murakami Ayaka (Team M) (Will graduate on 2015)
• Kobayashi Rikako (Team BII)
• Umehara Mako (Team BII)
• Akazawa Hono (Team BII)
• Nakagawa Hiromi (Kenkyuusei)
• Shimazaki Momoka (Kenkyuusei)
• Takayama Riko (Kenkyuusei)

JKT48

• Cindy Gulla (Team J)
• Rica Leyona (Team J)
• Octi Sevpin (Team KIII)
• Pipit Ananda (Kenkyuusei)
• Shaffa Nabila (Kenkyuusei)
• Milenia Christien Glory Goenawan (Kenkyuusei)
• Kezia Putri Andinta (Kenkyuusei)
• Zebi Magnolia Fawwaz (Kenkyuusei)

SNH48

• Tang Min (Team SII)
• Dong ZhiYi (Team SII)
• Gu XiangJun (Team SII)
• Zeng LinYu (Team SII)
• Hu SiYi (Team NII)
• Wang JiaLu (Team NII)
• Yang YaRu (Team NII)
• Chen JiaYao (Team NII)
• Zhou ShuYan (Team NII)
• Lu SiQin (Team NII)
• Xu YanYu (Team NII)
• Kang Xin (Team HII)
• Zhou QiuJun (Team HII)
• Zhang XiYin (Team HII)
• Li YiWen (Kenkyuusei)

Nogizaka46

• Nishikawa Nanami (Kenkyuusei)
• Ichiki Rena (1st Generation)
• Ito Nene (1st Generation)
• Yamato Rina (1st Generation)
• Yada Risako (Kenkyuusei)
• Yonetoku Kyoka (Kenkyuusei)

Trivia

• The first member to graduate from the AKB48 group is Team A's Usami Yuki who graduated on March 31, 2006.
• The biggest mass graduation was by SDN48, where all members from the group graduated together on March 31, 2012.