Shimada Haruka, life after AKB48 and giving back to the community in Atami City

Shimada Haruka was a member of AKB48 from 2009-2017. Afterward, she moved to London and lived there for a year to learn English but returned to her home in Atami City in Shizuoka to take work for the family business, the Tachibana Ryokan, which was established 70-years ago.

When the coronavirus infections started to make its way, Shimada decided to move back home to help the family business.

Shimada said about the family business, “Thankfully, customers are gradually returning. I think that the number of people has increased”.

After graduating from AKB48, Shimada set goals such as studying abroad, started a company to support a second career for idol talents (the company is DCT Inc. Program) and her latest involvement is the Appointed Representative Director of Clover Academy. (an academy which helps people have an entertainment career but also work as a nursery school teacher on the side)

Shimada said, “I wanted to live without regrets and I wanted to try various things, it’s difficult, isn’t it?”.

But when the mudslide accidents hit her hometown in July 2021, Shimada launched a crowdfunding effort to raise money for victims and in a month, she was able to earn 3.3 million yen.

Now Shimada wants to give back to Atami City and use her experience as an idol.

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