AKB48 Itano Tomomi to graduate AKB48 within this year

  February 1, 2013

Itano talked to fans before the show of February 1st.
“I would like to value each theater performance left in my life”

AKB48 member Itano Tomomi commented that she will graduate AKB48 within this year in the movie “DOCUMENTARY OF AKB48 NO FLOWER WITHOUT RAIN”.

The scene of her expressing her will to graduate was under editing at the film preview.

In the scene, she asked,

“When will this footage be broadcast?”

and then said,

“I will graduate AKB48 in the next year. Since this will be broadcast next Feburary, I’s going to be this year. I would like to go to the next step.”

According to fans who attended the premiere event, she originally intended to announce her graduation at a concert in the spring, but Mr. Akimoto gave her an advice that it will be more like Itano if a slip of tongue, accidentally, reveals her true thoughts in an interview, she said during the event.

“I’m not sure since when I started thinking about my graduation. I guess I’ve thought about it all the time.

Although, regarding Atsuko’s graduation, what she decided affected me significantly, this is not something that I decided in a hurry. I hope we will keep doing our best from now on, too.”

After Itano’s speech, other members including Minegishi Minami showed up at the stage. Minegishi offered an apology. Takahashi Minami, a peer 1gen member of Minegishi and Itano, then shared her thoughts on both of them.

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Itano’s Comment regarding the graduation made before today’s theater performance at AKB48

Arai Hiroki 2/2/2013 11:37 PM

Hello everyone. I’m Itano Tomomi from team K of AKB48.

I’m sorry it was announced in this sudden way, but I will graduate from AKB48.

Since it was filmed in the documentary film, this announcement is scheduled to be made at this timing. But I’ve already decided this since last year.

I mailed my younger sister in this morning.

I sent her, “Today, I’m going to make it public”. Then she replied “You’ve been doing a great job for the past 7 years”, and this brief exchange remains in my heart.

Since I was a child, I was fickle and hadn’t been able to keep doing the same thing. The reason that I could continue AKB48 for as long as 7 years, I think, is because I really love AKB48, and I’m proud of it.

I have a lot of memories in this theater. I, as 1st generation theater, am one of the first person who stepped on the stage of this theater. There were good times, and there were bad times.

Dating back when I was 2nd grade of junior high school, I was in distress and I suddenly burst into tears during theater performance, which caused trouble to staffs.

I wanted to quit AKB48 for many times. But every time I wanted to quit, I found hesitation was in the corner of my heart. But I have no hesitation or doubts in announcing this today.

I might have little time left in AKB48, and thinking about how many times I will able to perform this theater stage, I can’t help but realize each of of stages is really precious. And thinking about how many times I will still be able to perform with the members in front of you fans, I feel sad, but wants to cherish the left time as well.

The day of my graduation hasn’t decided yet, but I will let you know when I have info about it.


SOURCE

※The video is footage of movie premiere earlier last month.