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Idol Yuko Oshima Announces Plans to Graduate From AKB48
posted on by Crystalyn Hodgkins
Singer and actress Yuko Oshima announced during this year's NHK Kōhaku Uta Gassen (Red and White Song Battle) New Year's program on Tuesday that she will graduate from idol group AKB48. Oshima was a member of the group's Team K, and she won last year's "General Election" popularity poll.
Oshima made the announcement after AKB48 sang "Koisuru Fortune Cookie Song," saying, "and so this will be my final Kōhaku performance, and I will perform wholeheartedly." Oshima was then in the center of the group's next song, "Heavy Rotation." Oshima had not informed the other group members of her announcement ahead of time. The details on her specific graduation date will be announced later.
Oshima made her debut in Team K in April 2006, and she also won the General Election in 2010.
Oshima starred in last year's live-action film adaptation of Shohei Manabe's Ushijima the Loan Shark (Yamikin Ushijima-kun) manga, and voiced the role of Rinne in the ICE video anime.
Thanks to Chad Stephenson for the news tip.
Source: Natalie
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