Takahashi Juri to graduate from AKB48, will make her debut with Woolim Entertainment in South Korea

It was well-known through the “Produce48” reality audition show (the show which IZ*ONE was formed) that Takahashi Juri wanted to debut in South Korea.  And she came very close, making it to the top 20.

And now, the AKB48 Team B captain has announced on March 4th that she will be graduating from AKB48 and she will be making her debut in South Korea as part of Woolim Entertainment.

Woolim Entertainment also made the announcement:

It is true that Takahashi Juri has signed a contract with Woollim Entertainment. She will be included as a member of a new girl group we are preparing to launch, and she will soon make her debut.

NOTE: Woolim Entertainment is where IZ*ONE members Kwon Eunbi and Kim Chaewon are from.

生誕祭、ありがとうございました！
突然の発表で驚かせてしまって本当にすみません。
少し長くなってしまいますが、今の私の気持ちです😊 pic.twitter.com/Hto5g2rsOk

— 高橋朱里 Juri Takahashi (@juri_t_official) March 4, 2019

Takahashi explained, “Last year, when I took the challenge to appear in the audition program ‘Produce48’ broadcasted in South Korea, I was unable to become a member of IZ*ONE but after talking to the Korean office, I decided this on my own”.

“I was able to meet the goals that I wanted to achieve and the number of choices of my dreams have increased and I decided that I want to shine eve more, I want to challenge myself because I love AKB.  I was taught that when I hit a wall, to learn to continue by trying not to be in the same place”.

Takashi Juri made the announcement at her birthday festival which was originally to be held on February 6th but she was injured in a car accident while coming home in a airport vehicle which collided with an oncoming car and suffered minor injuries.

She passed AKB48’s 12th generation audtions back in February 2012 and was promoted as a member of Team 4 and then transferred to Team A in 2012 after the AKB48G shuffle.

She would become a member of Team B and then Team 4 and back to Team B in which she would be the group’s captain.

She is a high ranking senbatsu member since 2016 (#15 -2016, #11-2017, #12-2018).  In “Produce48”, Takahashi was ranked as B Class and then promoted to A Class during re-evaluation.  She finished at #16, almost making her dream come true as an IZ*ONE member but will now debut in South Korea as part of Woolim Entertainment.

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