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| SKE48’s Nakano Airi to Graduate After 7 Years—Final Activity on August 31 |
Another chapter’s coming to a close in SKE48’s story—Nakano Airi, beloved member of Team S, has officially announced her graduation from the group.
The news came out of the blue during the Team S “Boku no Taiyou” theatre performance on 15 July 2025, leaving fans in stunned silence before the emotions truly hit.
With a shaky voice and a soft smile, Airi Nakano stood before the crowd at SKE48 Theatre in Nagoya and delivered the unexpected news:
"I, Nakano Airi, will be graduating from SKE48."
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The moment was heavy, heartfelt, and honest. She paused to hold back tears, visibly moved by the support in the room. “There’s still a month and a half left,” she added, trying to keep things light, “and with my photobook coming out too, I hope I’ll still get to see many of you until the end.”
Her final activity with SKE48 will be on 31 August 2025, marking the end of her 7-year journey with the group.
Nakano Airi's Journey with SKE48
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Nakano Airi joined the AKB48 Group Draft Pool back in November 2017 and was selected by Team KII in the January 2018 Draft Conference. She quickly earned her place and was officially promoted in September of that year.
Fast forward to April 2025, and Nakano Airi had just recently been shuffled over to Team S—an exciting change that sadly turned out to be her final team before graduation.
Over the years, she’s grown into a fan favourite, especially for her back-to-back senbatsu spots in SKE48’s 32nd single “Ai no Hologram” and 33rd single “Kokuhaku Shinpaku-suu.” Not to mention her ever-sweet stage presence and close connection with fans.
First Photobook Coming Soon
Before she bows out for good, Nakano Airi’s got one more treat for fans—her 1st photobook, “Kawaii to Itte Hoshi” (“I Want You To Call Me Cute”), is set to be released on 30 July under Kadokawa. It’s a fitting final project for someone who’s always embodied charm, softness, and that classic idol sparkle.
What She Said to the Fans
Wrapping up her announcement, Nakano Airi made sure to leave a message of appreciation and encouragement:
"Team S is a wonderful team, and I hope you’ll continue supporting them—and SKE48—just like always."
The audience responded with warm applause, holding back their own tears as she bowed with gratitude.
What’s Next for Airi?
While she hasn’t revealed future plans just yet, fans are hopeful that Airi will continue to shine—whether in entertainment, modelling, or a completely new path. With a photobook on the way and her graduation coming up, there’s still time to celebrate everything she’s given to SKE48.