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Sato Kaede just dropped a big announcement on her blog today—she’s graduating from Nogizaka46. Her final single with the group will be their 38th release, Navel Orange, set to drop on 26th March.
A 3rd Generation member since 2016, Kaede has spent over eight years with Nogizaka46.
In her blog post, she shared that seeing her fellow 3rd Gen members graduate recently made her reflect on her own journey.
She realised that she had given it her all and there was nothing left to accomplish within the group.
Sato Kaede admitted that the idea of leaving felt scary at first, but everything changed during the 37th Single Under Live in January.
The energy, the emotions, and the sheer joy of performing pushed her to finally make the decision. “I felt a sense of fulfilment like never before,” she wrote.
She also looked back on her start in the group, revealing that she never aimed to be an idol or even stand in front of people.
But something about Nogizaka46 drew her in, and she took that leap of faith.
Now, as she prepares to leave, she expressed deep gratitude to the group, the members, and her fans.
Kaede won’t be joining Nogizaka46’s Birthday Live in May, but her last live performance will be on 5th April at Yokohama’s Pia Arena MM.
A graduation ceremony will be held during that event. Her final official activity as a member will be the real meet-and-greet in Nagoya on 6th May.
With her departure, only five members from Nogizaka46’s 3rd Generation remain.
Sato Kaede, often called "Denchan" by fans, has had a memorable career, making a name for herself with her athletic abilities and even appearing on SASUKE.
As the countdown to her graduation begins, fans will surely cherish every last moment with her in the group.