The idol conundrum. Dattai (Withdraw) vs. Sotsugyo (Graduate)

It has been a few days since Keyakizaka46 member Hirate Yurina announced she was withdrawing/leaving Keyakizaka46.

But many people are still confused why the popular member, the center of the group didn’t graduate.

On the same day, it was also announced that Oda Nana (21) and Suzumoto Miyu (22) have graduated.  But typically when an idol leaves a group, they graduated.

Or dismissed or fired.  But the concept of a popular idol from a popular idol group withdrawing or leaving a group without graduating is rare.  Or is it?

First, let’s look at the words:

Dattai (脱退) means to withdraw

Sotsugyo (卒業) means graduation

When it comes to idol groups, let’s go back to 1999, the first member to graduate from the idol group Morning Musume was Fukuda Asuka.  She graduated from both Morning Musume and Hello! Project but even through 2000, media reported members leaving as not “Sotsugyo” but reported it as “Dattai”.

But when Nakazawa Yuko graduated from Morning Musume in 2001, it was reported as “Sotsugyo” and since then, the term “Sotsugyo” has been often used in the media.

For Fujimoto Miki, when she was outed by a tabloid that she was dating a man, who eventually became her husband, comedian Shoji Tomoharu, then the word “dattai” was used.  And for Fujimoto, her official press release used the word “dattai” and withdrew from Morning Musume.

In 2011, Momoiro Clover member Hayami Akari made a shocking announcement that she was leaving the group.  As she struggled to be an idol and would rather be an actress and model.  This was announced as “dattai”.

In 2012, Maeda Atsuko made her famous “sotsugyo” announcement from AKB48.

In 2018, Momoiro Clover Z member Ariyasu Momoka announced that she was graduating from the group and media reported it as “sotsugyo”.

But with this past week’s Keyakizaka46 announcement, there were multiple announcements of one “dattai” and two “sotsugyo”.

Japanese media reports have been focusing on this story on articles of “dattai” vs. “sotsugyo” in the last few days.  And ones reponse to “sotsugyo” is more positive vs. “dattai”.

And most often, with a “sotsugyo” announcement, comes an announcement of a final performance or something to celebrate a member’s graduation.

The word “dattai” for an idol, many think negative, as if something bad has happened, a contract was terminated (due to scandals, injuries, poor physical condition, etc.).

In the case of Keyakizaka46, who has been established as the center and face of the group, the use of the word “dattai” on the same day of two members who were graduating, doesn’t sit well with many fans, especially without reason.

It’s well-known that Hirate Yurina has experienced hardships with health issues as a member, but for someone so popular, one would expect a “sotsugyo” announcement and a farewell graduation event.

AKB48 member Minegishi Minami who announced that she is graduating actually chimed in on this on Twitter, after the Keyakizaka46 announcement:

脱退と卒業、表現の差になにか感じた方がいいの…？

— 峯岸みなみ (@chan__31) January 23, 2020

Minegishi writes, “Should I feel something different between “datai” or “sotsugyo”?

In the end, it’s subjective.  Idol fans will have their own opinion but for member Keyakizaka46 Hirate Yurina, if this happened with any of the kami7 members of AKB48.  Would we feel the same?

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