Yuko Oshima announces graduation from AKB48

Every New Year in Japan much of the nation tunes into the five-hour singing show Kohaku Uta Gassen. This year featured the recently remarried (to yet another foreigner!) Ayumi Hamasaki as well as now regulars AKB48, who appeared as all 110 singers.

But there was a surprise for AKB fans. Yuko Oshima made the shock announcement that she would be graduating.

The twenty-five-year-old is a veteran from the Akiba idol group and is the latest in the most popular members to announce her departure. So far, only Atsuko Maeda has really been able to forge a post-AKB career.

Yuko didn’t elaborate on when she would be leaving. Usually there follows of a few months of further promotional events before a big graduation ceremony.

Happy New Year, folks!