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| Future Ace No More? STU48’s Sogawa Saki Drops Graduation Bombshell After Only Two Years (Photo: STU48 Live) |
STU48 fans woke up to a shocker this week as Sogawa Saki, the fresh-faced 3rd Generation member who had only just stepped into the spotlight as the group’s brand-new centre, announced her graduation.
The news dropped during the Boku no Taiyou theatre performance on 19 November 2025, leaving fans in Japan and abroad stunned.
Saki, known affectionately as Sacchii, only joined STU48 two years ago as part of the 3rd Gen intake. Despite her short time in the group, she quickly became the name everyone was betting on as the next big thing.
Management clearly saw the same spark — she was promoted to full member in May 2024 and later chosen as the centre for the group’s 11th single “Chiheisen wo Miteiru ka?”, released in early 2025.
For a newcomer, that’s the kind of leap that usually signals a long and promising future.
Instead, fans got the complete opposite.
Fans Left Disappointed: “She Was Meant to Replace Takino Yumiko”
Japanese social media immediately lit up with reactions. Many fans were gutted, pointing out that Sacchii was being shaped as the perfect successor to former ace Takino Yumiko, who graduated earlier.
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To them, Sacchii had the energy, the charm, and the centre aura that could carry STU48’s new era — only for her journey to end just as it began.
Some fans described it as “the most unexpected graduation of the year,” not because graduations are rare, but because Sacchii felt like a long-term investment for the group.
Her age — turning 20 — is also part of the reason she chose to step away, though she didn’t go into specific details about her next steps.
Sacchii’s Personal Message: A Heartfelt, Emotional Goodbye
In her official statement, shared on the group’s website, Sacchii expressed deep gratitude for her time in STU48:
She said she was “truly happy” to have joined the group at 17, thanking her past self for taking the leap.
She also spoke lovingly about the members, staff, and fans — the people she described as her greatest treasures.
えっ！さっちー卒業発表しちゃったよ？#僕の太陽公演_STU#曽川咲葵 pic.twitter.com/3CBdaanAa5
— masanori0901（まきまきまっきー） (@masanori0901) November 19, 2025
She reflected on the ups and downs, the laughs, the struggles, the moments of frustration, and even the days she cried — calling all of it “lifelong treasures”.
Her message to fans was especially warm, thanking them for always speaking kindly and staying positive for her. She reminded everyone that life is only once, and she plans to continue challenging herself with a smile.
As of now, the final activity date for Sogawa Saki has not been confirmed. STU48 will share further details regarding her graduation performance, schedule, and fan letter deadlines once they are finalised.
Until then, fans still have a bit more time to support her before she officially steps off the STU48 stage.
Source: STU48 Official