AKB48's Minami Takahashi Confirms Departure As Graduation Announced!
During the handshake event in Osaka, popular idol group AKB48's latest single was announced for release. Details regarding the title as well as its senbatsu members participating will be noted at a later date as reported by J-Pop Asia.
While there is still a lot of information to be released about AKB48's latest single, it is revealed that 1st generation member Minami Takahashi, 24, who is also the current general manager of one of the world's biggest idol groups - spanning over 140 members from early teens to early 20s and 4 subgroups - will participate in the recording and performance. However, this is also her last one with the group.
On Dec. 9 last year, Minami Takahashi announced her graduation from AKB48 at their 9th anniversary special theater performance at the AKB48 Theater in Akihabara, Tokyo. The upcoming ceremony is scheduled at their 10th anniversary this year - Dec. 8 - as reported by Tokyo Hive.
During this time, Takahashi delivered her speech, thanking everyone who supported her and the group from the beginning. She explained that she announced her graduation date early as being the general manager, she needs to hand over things o her fellow members.
She also appointed Yui Yokoyama as the new General Manager of AKB48 after her graduation. Yokoyama, 22, is a 9th-generation member of the group, entering as a kenkyusei (trainee) on September 2009 after passing the auditions. She was promoted in October 2010 and was placed under Team K.
Minami Takahashi officially joined the group on October 2005, becoming one of the 24 founding members of 1st-generation AKB48. She debuted under Team A on December that year. Year after year, she appeared regularly as one of the group's key singers, and in 2012 she was appointed as the General Manager of the entire AKB48, including its sister groups.
She released her debut single Jane Doe in 2013. Meanwhile, AKB48's latest single is expected to be released later this year, prior to her graduation.
