Shock news of the week! Atsuko Maeda (前田敦子), probably the most popular and famous member of AKB48, has suddenly announced she is quitting the idol super group!
At a concert on Sunday she made the surprise announcement to thousands of fans, while choking back tears and being comforted by the other girls. It is apparently an individual decision, made in consultation with AKB48 supremo Yasushi Akimoto.
Atsuko entered AKB in 2005 when she was just 14 and now she is heading towards adulthood — or age 20 — she said she had to make a new. No doubt she will head onto other and bigger things, being the most visible and famous member of the band. No date has been set for her final “graduation”, though, so we can look forward to Atsuko for at least a bit more.
Atsuko, we salute you!
