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| Hey! Say! JUMP’s Yabu Kota Follows Nakajima Yuto in Announcing Graduation |
The past two days have been emotional ones for Hey! Say! JUMP fans. Just 24 hours after Nakajima Yuto confirmed he was leaving the group to focus on acting, fellow member Yabu Kota (35) has now announced his own graduation.
Yabu Kota Breaks Silence on X
Yabu Kota took to his official X (formerly Twitter) account to address fans.
“Thank you as always for your support!” he wrote, before admitting he hesitated over whether to post anything at all.
“In a place like this, where not only fans but also many others are watching, I was really torn about making a statement. But for now, all I can do is face what’s in front of me sincerely and do my best,” he explained.
He then added a hopeful note, saying: “There are still so many things I want to make happen! Please continue to support me from here on.”
いつも応援ありがとうございます！
— 薮宏太 (@kota_yabu_hsj) August 28, 2025
応援してくれてるファンの方以外の皆さんも見て下さってるこの場で何かを発信することはすごく迷いましたが
とにかく目の前のことを誠心誠意頑張ります！
そしてまだまだ実現したいことが山ほどあります！
これからも応援よろしくお願いします。
Nakajima Yuto Leaves to Pursue Acting
Yabu Kota’s message came on the heels of Nakajima Yuto’s graduation announcement, also on 28 August.
According to their agency, Nakajima Yuto requested to leave Hey! Say! JUMP so he could stand on his own two feet and focus on his career as an actor.
“First, he will be devoting himself to acting activities,” the statement confirmed. The group’s upcoming appearance at a-nation 2025 on 31 August will now see the members perform as seven.
Members Respond to the Double Exit
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Other members also shared heartfelt notes to fans. Daiki Arioka posted on Threads, promising: “There are still loads of things we want to do together and goals we want to achieve!! Let’s look forward to our 20th anniversary and beyond, and see so many more amazing sights together!”
The group highlighted that with their 20th anniversary now approaching, they had been setting fresh goals and planning how best to thank fans.
It was during these conversations that Nakajima revealed his wish to move forward as an actor, with the team ultimately supporting his decision.
While Yabu Kota hasn’t detailed his specific future plans, his post suggests he still has projects and ambitions lined up.
With two graduations in quick succession, Hey! Say! JUMP is entering a major transition phase — but the seven remaining members have pledged to continue their journey towards the milestone anniversary.