Sakaurazaka46 member Watanabe Risa has announced she is graduating

Sakurazaka46 member and non-no exclusive model, Watanabe Risa announced she is graduating from the group.

Watanabe announced it on her official Sakurazaka46 blog.

Watanabe writes, “Good evening ~ Today, I have something to tell everyone who always supports me. With the next 4th single, I will be graduating from Sakurazaka46. I had time to think about graduation, but I’m happy to meet everyone and spend time with the members, I want to be with everyone, I want to do my best here. So, I thought, it has came to this day. When the name changed the name from Keyakizaka46 to Sakurazaka46, I really had gained a lot of experience. Every moment was happy and fun, and there were emotions that I wouldn’t have had if I hadn’t spent time in this place, and sometimes I was exhausted both physically and mentally, but there were always kind and warm people around me. I feel that I couldn’t have been able to do this by myself. Furthermore, All the members who were close to me at all times, all the staff who supported me with love, everyone who was pleased with me, and everyone who conveyed a lot of thoughts and supported me, were always on my side. My family and friends. I am deeply grateful to all who have been involved with me. Thank you very much. I have been active as Sakurazaka46 for about 5 years, and now that it is the second year since I started the activity as Sakurazaka46, I reconsidered it over and over again and made this decision. I will spend the rest of my time as Sakurazaka46 with dignity, so I hope we can have a good time together with you until the end”.

Watan abe passed the first year-audition for what was the name of the group at the time, Keyakizaka46 back in August 2015. She was among the most popular members and became an exclusive model for “non-no”. She served as center for the song “Mugon no Uchu” was was included in the Sakurazaka46 third single, “Nagaredama” released last October.

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