AKB48 singer Yuko Oshima announces 'graduation'

All the best to her. She was one of the few AKB48 members that I had some respect for. I believe she'll do well as an actress (she's already had some decent minor roles in TV dramas, where she did quite well).

Ahh, no what a shame the core group is nearly gone too bad...............

When both leaving voluntarily and being forcibly expelled is described with the same word, one tends to expect a henchman of Josef Stalin to be behind it.

So why is she leaving? Could be a human rights issue, such as the right to have a boyfriend?

I really don't get this graduation thing....

@Tohka I really don't get this graduation thing.... its just a nice way of saying, "your too old, get out, make way for some younger fresher meat"

About time. Good for her. 25 is too old to be under the thumb of talent agencies with their draconian rules that treat you like a kid. Almost a decade already in the business, that's enough time to learn to strike out on your own and be responsible for your own career.

Still, it's very telling on the standard of idol industry that so many of the "graduates" do not go on with what they started: a music career. Musicians may start out as groups, but go on solo careers once they find their own voice, because making music is their dream. What does that say about the "talent" agencies that the girls they hire do not dream of music?

Oshima-san probably wants to go into a solo singing career--and probably already has a talent agency signed up (though not yet announced) to promote her. And there's a possibility--if she has a good voice--to work as a seiyuu, where the best ones can earn seriously big money (someone like Nana Mizuki could literally pick and choose her next seiyuu role in addition to her successful singing career).

Time to leave a nest full of amatures. She has had longer experience than others. I guess she's been looking forward to being a solo singer. I' d like to say to her, "Otsukare-sama."

She needs to remember that acting doesn't involve lip-syncing.

Where do the produce find these girls anyway? I am sure that there are more attractive and more talented young ladies in Japan compared to them. AKB48 is on its way of declining and failure. On top of that, they lost a key member to their group's "success". Keep it coming.

And there's a possibility--if she has a good voice--to work as a seiyuu

I think Oshima would make a great seiyuu.

All of my favorite members have "graduated". Are there any original members left?

Other members of the group seemed surprised when Oshima made the announcement.

Brilliant! They all went wide eyed and mouther "eeeeeh!!!!". Which is a pretty stock reaction to anything from the sun coming up to Yuko-cjan graduating. she will be sorely missed - all of the talent and experience is slowly leaving AKB.....

"Oshima said afterwards that she hoped to work more as an actress and was looking forward to a solo career, Sports Nippon reported."

Welcome to porn.

all of the talent and experience is slowly leaving AKB.....

For me it is not so much a talent exodus as it is a loss of interesting personalities. With the loss of Maeda, Shinoda, and now Oshima there are few girls of interest left: Miyazawa and Harunyan are about it.

I guess if you're only interested in members that are already gone you didn't have a real interest in AKB in the first place, as there are many more interesting members who deserve a shot at a career.

And i will give them a chance to charm and enthrall me like Yuko-chan did. Just sad that we all grow older and change is a constant and AKB is the one saving grace in my life.....

Now she is leaving maybe we will get the chance to find out if this prediction was correct.

http://www.jpopasia.com/news/yuko-oshima-is-great-in-bed::11612.html

@ wtfjapan at Jan. 01, 2014 - 06:29PM JST @Tohka I really don't get this graduation thing.... its just a nice way of saying, "your too old, get out, make way for some younger fresher meat"

no it means get out nowxwhy you can find a bf and grt married before you become christmas cake

She's pretty girl .. now can she kiss boys and act like a real girl instead of some kind of cartoon in this girls group machine that sells life like dolls that portray females as mindless little girls that are only into make up, hair and shopping for clothes? Do any of these girls leave the group and become actually singers or entertainers or movie stars?

about time!!! I wish the best for her

AKBfanJan. 03, 2014 - 04:54PM JST And i will give them a chance to charm and enthrall me like Yuko-chan did. Just sad that we all grow older and change is a constant and AKB is the one saving grace in my life.....

This is positively the most depressing comment I've ever read here. If this is an average akb fan I suddenly understand why my train has so many accidents during my commute home.

Honestly, Yuko-chan will be greatly missed by fans, members, and even staff but there are still other aspiring members that are shining forth their talent. That is most likely another reason why Yuko decided to graduate. Not only was she hitting the age limit of the group, but also to give the younger members a shot. AKB48 will not be able to continue if the future generations are not ready.

Groups like this seriously creep me out, when I first heard of them I was like oh nice music for children and young girls and boys. But when you look at their actual audience you can't help but think they're all a bunch of old pervs.