Nogizaka46 veteran Saito Asuka announced she is graduating

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Nogizaka46 member Saito Asuka (24) updated her blog on November 4th and announced she was graduating from the group.

She will be graduating with the release of the group’s 31st single (title TBA) which will be released on December 7th. Saito’s activities will end at the end of the year and a graduation concert will be held next year.

Saito wrote, “Thank you very much for the past 11 years. I, Saito Asuka, will graduate from Nogizaka46 with the next single activity. I feel like I made up my mind a long time ago. For a long time, this place existed as my first home, but I’ve already received too many things! Overflowing, my life was completely dyed in Nogizaka”.

“When I was just in junior high school, I took an audition between the ages of 12 and 13. For about 11 years, it was like a series of miracles. It was fun just to meet the members, and when we got together, we never ran out of things to talk about. But at some point, I noticed that the members around me were gaining strength without realizing it, and by that time I was getting older, and I was aware that this was my job. Huh? What am I? I had it, I used being the youngest as a weapon, but there was an end to it, and I had to find something in the meantime, and I started to panic, thinking that I was left behind. But I didn’t have anything. All I could think of was decorating a lot, making a shell and shutting myself in”.

“Since then, I’ve shown a lot of me, so I’ve experienced failures in various patterns. I’ve had my worst moments. I don’t think the time I spent in panic and struggle was short at all. But I’m really glad I was able to experience that in the past. I didn’t think so at the time, but if it wasn’t for that, I wouldn’t be who I am.”

“It’s all thanks to the people around me. Even if I’m at my own pace, they find it amusing and accept me, and there are many people I can respect regardless of age or background!”

“Even so, there are only people who embrace me, and I’m honestly saved by everyone. I’ve never been passionate about anything, so I always feel fresh and happy when I see my fans! How do you manage that kind of heat? Then, like everyone else, I was also passionate about Nogizaka”.

“The most important thing for me now is to give back to those around me!”

“Strictly speaking, the activities will be completed by the end of the year.” “Because I really love live performances and it’s a very important place, I really want to see everyone’s faces at the end of the festival and enjoy the finale. Thank you very much”.

“It’s not like we have a lot of time until the end of the year, so I’d like to spend my time carefully and carefully. Really, really, everyone who has been involved in Nogizaka46 for about 11 years. Thank you very much!  Thank you for your continued support until the end of the year!

Saito Asuka passed Nogizaka46’s 1st generation audition in August 2011.  From the 11th single “Inochi wa Utsukushii” released in March 2015, she has been a senbatsu member and in the 15th single “Hadashi de Summer” released in July 2016, she was the center for the very first time.  After that, Saito has continued to lead the group as an ace.

When Saito graduates, there will only be one remaining first gen member left, and that is team captain Akimoto Manatsu (29).

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