Tomomi Itano announces she is 'graduating' from AKB48

Itano was Japan’s TV commercial queen in 2012, appearing in ads for 21 different companies

That's why... she's financially stable now

She is cute but as a singer??? Stick to TV cms and TV shows, great for Japan and Asia!

love/lust over AKB48, good decision...........

I like her best among AKB48. I wish she could find a place in acting! Her look is very innocent!

Why say 'graduate'? Was this some type of scholastic endeavour? Crikey, just say 'leave' the group!

I know this is a sudden announcement but I have decided to graduate from AKB48.”

Good for her. She is freeing herself from this corrupt industry filled with sex, drugs. Many innocent Japanese have been sexually abused, used, discarded like a trash.

She is cute ... but she has admitted she had her eyes "altered" surgically to give her that cute look. Anyway ... when looking at the AKB48 she is the one who usually stuck out the most because of her attractive face.

She should have no problem with her future ... as long as she stays out of trouble ... and away from drugs ...

Did she mean emancipate?

But most likely this word is contractually prohibited!

Maybe she wants to date !

Never liked her. In all TV and ads, she looks extremely bored.

She should have left last week and avoided the bad press this ...

btw is this the one with the buck teeth on that tech ad with the lion?

@Paul

Why say 'graduate'? Was this some type of scholastic endeavour? Crikey, just say 'leave' the group!

You're right, of course, as far as English goes. But Japanese uses "graduate" all the time. I remember my in-laws talking about my son "graduating" from watching Ampan-man DVDs, and my daughter "graduating" from playing with Popo-chan dolls.

It's just an expression.

She was one of my favorites.

??????????????????? Not a news to me.

I think she is the most attractive of the group too and other foreigners think so too. I think she goes along with the thinking that foreign men have different taste in Japanese women than Japanese men do. Therefore plain jane Atsuko Maeda and Yuko Oshima always get voted as top.

Is "Flower Without Rain" meant to be some sort of double entendre and why that other AKB48 woman felt the need to shave her head. Her flower had seen some rain or something like that?

porn industry made her an offer she couldnt refuse!?

yes just say it how it is, got too old and needs to make way for some fresher meat.

Hope some smart fans are graduating from this AKB.

You can't fire me! I graduate!

The best of luck to Tomomi.

"she's financially stable now"

Unless she spent it all!

Good for her then, hopes she goes onto bigger and much better things.

wtfjapanFeb. 03, 2013 - 05:08AM JST

yes just say it how it is, got too old and needs to make way for some fresher meat.

Stay tuned. They will throw big bones to you.

I found pictures of her.... OMG I can't believe it's on youtube.

She has a nice body...

Her music sounds great !!!!! Suberashi

Her voice is AMAZING !!!!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HuvFtAPloIk&feature=fvwp

Yes,that's goog of her.It's better to graduate before some will date her to avoid beheading her not only to cut her airs.

She was a fine member of the group, if you watch their performances and films carefully you will see that they are a fine group filled with compassion for each other and a love of sharing with the audiences. Contrary to negative thoughts, and other sorts of stars, this is a remarkable group and well deserving of their fame..and I am glad for their fortune as well. Graduation is a fine term for their leaving the group which is a lot to it that is similar to a high school class that is the setting for many of their numbers. Well done and good luck.

At least now she can go with boys without losing all her hair.

Don't forget she is Short, i mean SHORT!!

well i guess she could't change her leg.