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| Morning Musume ’25 Shakes Things Up: Oda Sakura to Graduate in 2026, Miki Nonaka Takes the Helm |
Big news for Hello! Project fans — Morning Musume ’25 have officially confirmed the upcoming graduation of longtime member Oda Sakura, while announcing a fresh leadership structure that’ll carry the group forward.
In a statement posted on 1 July, their agency revealed that following Erina Ikuta’s graduation on 8 July at the Nippon Budokan, the group will move to a new line-up with Miki Nonaka taking over as leader.
Supporting her will be Maria Makino as sub-leader, working alongside Oda Sakura, who will stay in her sub-leader role until her own graduation, scheduled for some time in 2026.
The group explained that discussions around Sakura Oda’s graduation had actually started as far back as 2023, and plans took clearer shape when Ikuta Erika’s graduation became official last year.
As part of the reorganisation, it was decided Oda wouldn’t become leader, but instead would continue to support the group as sub-leader, drawing on her experience until she makes her own exit.
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In her personal message to fans, Oda Sakura described her years with Morning Musume and Hello! Project as a “dream-like time”, full of love and gratitude for both her bandmates and supporters. She shared her determination to give her all until her graduation, saying:
“Every day with Morning Musume, Hello! Project, and all the fans I love is like a dream. I’ll keep thinking about what I can do for Morning Musume and help out until my last day.”
She also expressed excitement for the group’s new era, saying she had high hopes for Miki Nonaka and Maria Makino’s leadership and praised the passion she sees in her junior members.
Newly-appointed leader Miki Nonaka echoed that optimism in her own statement, promising to carry on the proud traditions of Morning Musume while building its future together with the other members. Makino, stepping in as sub-leader, vowed to keep working hard and contribute to the group’s growth.
Fans are now counting down the days to Ikuta’s final performance on 8 July, after which this fresh leadership trio will steer Morning Musume ’25 through its next chapter — with Oda Sakura still on board to lend her experience for a bit longer before she takes her final bow in 2026.