On April 30th, the 32-year-old popular member of the Japanese girl group AKB48, Yukirin Kashiwagi, held her graduation performance at the AKB48 Theater in Akihabara, Tokyo, officially leaving the group she had been a part of for 17 years. She also posted photos and wrote an article on her official Twitter account, indicating that she will be stepping down from her position in AKB48 to embark on a new beginning.
Kashiwagi Yukirin debuted as a member of AKB48’s 3rd generation in 2007, and she spent a total of 17 years and 23 days as an active member of AKB48, making her the longest-serving member in the group (6,233 days). She also became the first AKB48 member over 30 years old to be selected as the center for a single.
For her final stage performance as an AKB48 member, Kashiwagi Yukirin opened with the 63rd single “Hitomi Wink,” in which she served as the center member for the first time. This song also served as her graduation single. On that day, she expressed, “Today is the last day of my 17-year journey with AKB48. I want to deliver a memorable performance that will stay in everyone’s hearts.”
She also shared a statement that represents her: “I am the Legend,” and explained, “After spending 17 years in AKB48, participating in about 55 selections, and reaching the age of 32, unless an exceptionally talented individual emerges, it should be hard to surpass. Therefore, I feel that I can temporarily leave my name as the ‘legend of AKB48.'”
Kashiwagi Yukirin mentioned that her dream was to stand on stage every day as an idol, which led her to audition for AKB48. She said, “I never thought that I would spend such a long time as an idol since the third year of junior high school. I have never dreamed that I would stay in AKB48 for so long.”
In closing, Kashiwagi Yukirin expressed gratitude to her fans and fellow members for allowing her 17-year idol career to end on a positive note. She also urged her fans to continue supporting her idol activities in the future and to warmly support AKB48 going forward.
Following the graduation performance, Kashiwagi Yukirin shared photos from the day on her official Twitter account, writing, “The graduation performance ended safely. It was the last day of my 17 years, and I was truly happy to spend it in the theater with my beloved fans and fellow members. Starting tomorrow, I will step down from AKB48 and begin my new journey! Choosing to be an idol and living an AKB48 life has truly made me happy!!” commemorating the last day of her 17-year AKB48 career.