HKT48 Leader, AKB48 Veteran Sashihara Rino announced that she will be graduating in April, IZ*ONE’s Miyawaki Sakura and Yabuki Nako in tears

Sashihara Rino has accomplished a lot in her career as an idol, the veteran AKB48 member and HKT48 leader announced today at the HKT48 8th year anniversary event that she will be graduating from the group with her final concert in April 28th and an event with her fans in Fukuoka on May 28th.

“I, Rino Sashihara, will graduate from HKT48.  I will do my utmost as an idol until the last days of Heisei.”

今日のHKT48のコンサートで、卒業発表をしました。突然でびっくりさせてしまってごめんなさい。また改めてアメブロに今の気持ちを書きたいと思っています。

平成のギリギリまでアイドルを全力で楽しみます！☺️

指原莉乃 pic.twitter.com/oVgyNyfoGc

— 指原 莉乃 (@345__chan) December 15, 2018

She was crowned the AKB48 Sousenkyo Senbatsu Queen four times, once in 2013 and three years straight since 2015.

The event featured IZ*ONE’s Miyawaki Sakura and Yabuki Nako (who were from HKT48 and will not return as HKT48 members until IZ*ONE ends on April 2021) at the event.  Many Korean fans were angered at that the two would be appearing at the event, as it was announced that their last event with HKT48 was back in September.  But OFF THE RECORD said, they will be appearing as IZ*ONE members at the event and the two even donned IZ*ONE t-shirts on stage.

But upon hearing the announcement from Sashihara Rino, the two who had a close relationship with Sashihara Rino were seen upfront, shocked and were crying.