Graduation
Graduation (卒業 Sotsugyou) is a term used to refer to a member of AKB48, Nogizaka46, SNH48 and its respective national and international sister and rival groups, that leaves their respective group. The term is used for other idol groups as well.
Contents
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, Kawaei Rina, Takahashi Minami)
- Announcement on television programs (Examples: Oshima Yuko, Itano Tomomi, Miyazawa Sae)
- Announcement through a newspaper (Example: Kuramochi Asuka, Nakamura Mariko)
- Announcement through radio shows (Example: Matsui Rena)
- Announcement through social networking sites (Examples: Akimoto Sayaka, Yagami Kumi)
- Official announcement from management (Example: Sato Natsuki)
- Annoncement on press conference (Example: Shimazaki Haruka)
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
The graduation ceremony of members 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 rare cases, a full concert can be dedicated to and named after the graduating member/s if the member is highly significant to the group. This has happened on several occasions:
- AKB48 Ajinomoto Stadium Concert in 2014 was dedicated to and named after Oshima Yuko.
- AKB48 Saitama Super Arena Concert in 2015 was dedicated to and named after Kawaei Rina.
- SKE48 Toyota Stadium Concert in 2015 was dedicated to and named after Matsui Rena.
- AKB48 Tokyo Dome Hall Concert in 2016 was dedicated to and named after Takajo Aki and Nagao Mariya.
- SKE48 Nippon Gaishi Hall Concert in 2016 was dedicated to and named after Miyazawa Sae.
- AKB48 Yokohama Stadium Concert in 2016 was dedicated to and named after Takahashi Minami.
- NMB48 Kobe World Kinen Hall Concert in 2016 was dedicated to and named after Watanabe Miyuki.
- SKE48 Zepp Nagoya Concert in 2016 was dedicated to and named after Shibata Aya.
- AKB48 Yoyogi National Stadium First Gymnasium in 2017 was dedicated to and named after Kojima Haruna.
- There were three NMB48 Orix Theater Concerts in 2017 that were dedicated to and named after Jonishi Kei, Yabushita Shu, and Fujie Reina.
- SKE48 Nippon Gaishi Hall Concert in 2017 was dedicated to and named after Oya Masana.
- AKB48 Saitama Super Arena Concert in 2017 was dedicated to and named after Watanabe Mayu.
- JKT48 Kota Kasablanka Hall Concert in 2018 was dedicated to and named after Melody Nurramdhani Laksani.
- NMB48 Orix Theater Concert in 2018 was dedicated to and named after Yagura Fuuko.
- NGT48 Toki Messe Concert in 2018 was dedicated to and named after Kitahara Rie.
- There were two NMB48 concerts at Orix Theater and Omiya Sonic City in 2018 that were dedicated to and named after Ichikawa Miori.
- NMB48 Orix Theater Concert in 2018 was dedicated to and named after Yagura Fuuko.
- Nogizaka46 Nippon Budokan Concert in 2018 was dedicated to and named after Ikoma Rina.
- JKT48 Thamrin Nine Ballroom in 2018 will dedicated to and named after Devi Kinal Putri.
In some cases, graduated members are still obligated to attend handshake events 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, Masuda Yuka, Harada Mayu and Tsuji Nozomi. 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 nineteenth 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.
- Yamato Rina (Nogizaka46 1st Generation) had her contract terminated and was dismissed from the group on December 15, 2014.
- Delima Rizky (JKT48 Team J) was dismissed from the group due to a scandal on March 18, 2016.
- Cheng WenLu (SNH48 Team XII) was dismissed from the group on May 16, 2016.
- Otoshima Risa (HKT48 4th Generation Kenkyuusei) was dismissed from the group on July 21, 2016.
- Liu LiWei (SNH48 Team SII) was dismissed from the group on August 14, 2016.
- Shen YueJiao (SNH48 Team SII) was dismissed from the group on August 14, 2016.
- Deng YanQiuFei (SNH48 Team NII) was dismissed from the group on August 14, 2016.
- Qian Yi (SNH48 Team NII) was dismissed from the group on August 14, 2016.
- Sendy Ariani (JKT48 Team J) was dismissed from the group on December 1, 2016.
- He SuKun (SNH48 Team XII) was dismissed from the group on September 30, 2017.
- Zhao MengTing (SNH48 Team HII) was dismissed from the group on September 30, 2017.
- Regina Angelina (JKT48 Team T) was dismissed from the group due to a scandal on November 1, 2017.
- Shi Qin (CKG48 Team K) was dismissed from the group due to a scandal on March 7, 2018.
- Zheng YangYing (CKG48 Team K) was dismissed from the group due to a scandal on March 7, 2018.
- Violeta Burhan (JKT48 Team T) was dismissed from the group due to family reasons on July 3, 2018.
Return
A graduated member can return to the group she graduated or to a sister or rival group. However, this is usually limited due to the age limit of auditions. Currently, a total of 10 members returned to AKB48 Group after their graduation:
- Kikuchi Ayaka, originally a AKB48's 3rd generation member, returned on AKB48's 7th generation
- Muranaka Satomi, originally a AKB48's 4th generation member, returned on AKB48's 8th generation
- Fujimoto Sara, originally a AKB48's 4th generation member, returned on AKB48's 9th generation
- Deguchi Aki, originally a AKB48's 4th generation member, returned on SKE48's 1st generation
- Saeki Mika, originally a AKB48's 4th generation member, returned as a Baito AKB member
- Suzuki Shihori, originally a AKB48's 7th generation member, returned on AKB48's 11th generation
- Nishikawa Nanami, originally a AKB48's 8th generation member, returned on Nogizaka46's 2nd generation
- Jo Eriko, originally a NMB48's 2nd generation member, returned on NMB48's 4.5 generation
- Tojima Hana and Komatani Hitomi, originally AKB48's 1st generation members, returned on SDN48's 3rd generation
Graduated members can also return sporadically to perform on concerts or special theater shows.
Graduated and Graduating Members in 2018
Many members have graduated from the 48 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 2018 (some cases in 2017) specifically.
Bolded names denote members who have yet to graduate since their announcement.
AKB48
- Tano Yuuka (Team K)
- Kojima Natsuki (Team B)
- Iino Miyabi (Team 4) (Announced in 2017)
- Hayasaka Tsumugi (Team 8)
- Hirose Natsuki (Team 8) (Announced in 2017)
- Shimoaoki Karin (Team 8/Team A)
- Mogi Kasumi (Team 8) (Announced in 2017)
- Kitagawa Yuri (Kenkyuusei)
SKE48
- Inuzuka Asana (Team S)
- Takatsuka Natsuki (Team KII)
- Ichino Narumi (Team E)
- Sato Sumire (Team E) (Announced in 2017)
- Takatera Sana (Team E) (Announced in 2017)
- Ishikawa Saki (Kenkyuusei)
- Kozuma Honoka (Kenkyuusei)
NMB48
- Ichikawa Miori (Team N)
- Mizokawa Mirai (Team N)
- Yamamoto Sayaka (Team N)
- Ando Erina (Team M)
- Nakano Reina (Team M)
- Okita Ayaka (Team BII)
- Yagura Fuuko (Team BII) (Announced in 2017)
- Kumamoto Hinako (Kenkyuusei)
HKT48
NGT48
- Kitahara Rie (Team NIII) (Announced in 2017)
- Takahashi Mau (Team NIII)
STU48
JKT48
- Devi Kinal Putri (Team J)
- Dwi Putri Bonita (Team J)
- Zahra Yuriva Dermawan (Team J)
- Fakhriyani Shafariyanti (Team KIII)
- Chikano Rina (Team KIII) (Announced in 2017)
- Citra Ayu Pranajaya Wibrado (Team T)
- Elizabeth Gloria Setiawan (Team T)
- Melody Nurramdhani Laksani (Team T/Team J) (Announced in 2017)
- Ruth Damayanti Sitanggang (Team T)
- Violeta Burhan (Team T)
- Amanda Dwi Arista (Academy)
- Dena Siti Rohyati (Trainee)
- Jihan Miftahul Jannah (Academy)
- Priscillia Sari Dewi (Academy)
BNK48
TPE48
- Chan Ka-hei (Trainee)
- Chang Jing (Trainee)
- Chen Wei (Trainee)
- Huang Tzu-ching (Trainee)
- Lee En-yun (Trainee)
- Wen Chen-chun (Trainee)
MNL48
- Angelica Mae Batocael (Team MII)
- Niña Editha Guirnalda (Team MII)
- Sharlene Trixie Tano (Team MII)
- Vanessa Yap (Team MII)
- Zennae Inot (Team NIV)
- Carol Reyes (Trainee)
- Celinedion Dionisio (Trainee)
- Karina Dannah Vital (Trainee)
- Kleif Guillian Almeda (Trainee)
- Kyle Guillian Almeda (Trainee)
- Micaella Joy Yabut (Trainee)
- Nica Mae Fortuno (Trainee)
- Sherry Ann Rebadulla (Trainee)
- Vemberneth Villanueva (Trainee)
Nogizaka46
- Ikoma Rina (1st Generation)
- Kawamura Mahiro (1st Generation)
- Saito Chiharu (1st Generation)
- Nakamoto Himeka (1st Generation) (Announced in 2017)
- Sagara Iori (2nd Generation)
SNH48
CKG48
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.