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| Mukaichi Mion to Graduate in Spring 2026 After Emotional AKB48 Theatre Reveal (Photo: ORICON) |
AKB48 finally closed out its 20th anniversary celebrations—and with it came one of the group’s biggest announcements of the year. Senior member and former General Manager Mukaichi Mion revealed during today’s theatre performance in Akihabara (12 December) that she will graduate from the group, with her departure planned for spring 2026.
Mion, who joined as a 15th-gen trainee back in 2013, has been one of the central faces of modern AKB48.
From centre positions to steering the entire 48 Group as its third Soukantoku, she’s practically lived every chapter of the group’s history over the past decade.
おんさん卒業発表 pic.twitter.com/TxLJ42eibZ
— JACK (@MYNEAMAEA4848) December 12, 2025
Mion’s journey is basically a timeline of AKB48’s major turning points:
After joining AKB48 as a 15th-generation trainee in June 2013, Mukaichi Mion quickly moved through the ranks. She was promoted to Team 4 in February 2014 during the major Daisokaku reshuffle, marking her first big step into regular group activities.
A year later, in March 2015, she was transferred to Team K as part of the Spring Team Shuffle, where she continued to build her presence as one of the promising members of her generation.
In December 2017, she shifted once more—this time to Team A during the group’s 12th Anniversary Shuffle. Most recently, in October 2023, she became part of AKB48’s New Formation, reflecting the group’s updated structure as it stepped into a new era.
Her leadership journey is just as eventful. In April 2019, Mion was appointed as the third General Manager (Soukantoku) of the entire AKB48 Group, taking over from Yokoyama Yui. This also came with a concurrent role as Captain of AKB48, solidifying her position as the group’s central figure during a major transitional period.
She later added another responsibility in April 2022 when she became the Captain of Team A, succeeding Okabe Rin in the role. However, with the structural changes introduced in October 2023, her Team A captaincy was abolished.
Finally, in March 2024, she stepped down from her General Manager position, officially passing the baton to Kuranoo Narumi and closing a significant chapter of her leadership era.
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Her résumé alone reads like a history book of the group, and fans have long regarded her as one of AKB48’s most stable pillars—especially during the transitional phase into its “new era”.
Her Graduation Message: A Full-Circle Moment
In her announcement, Mion Mukaichi looked back on her 12 and a half years with AKB48, saying the group was “all of her youth” and something she never imagined leaving when she first joined at age 15.
She reflected on everything she experienced—from serving as Soukantoku to witnessing AKB48 shift from the era of its legends to the generation leading today.
The recent AKB48 20th Anniversary Budokan concert, she said, was the moment she finally felt she had handed over the baton properly.
She added that although spring seems far away, it will probably arrive in a flash, and she hopes fans will stay with her until her final day on stage—her “last chapter of youth.”
She Really Did Keep Her Promise
Interestingly, back in March 2025, Mukaichi Mion openly denied rumours that she was preparing to graduate.
At the time, she told fans:
“I said I would try my best to make it to AKB48’s 20th Anniversary. I know you are probably wondering if there will be any announcements, but let me tell you first… there will be no announcements.”
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Well—she wasn’t lying.
She held her ground, reached the 20th anniversary milestone, performed at Budokan, and only after completing that personal mission did she step forward with the news.
For long-time fans, it feels like a fittingly responsible exit—very “Mion” of her, honestly. With spring 2026 set as her expected graduation period, Mukaichi Mion now enters her final months with AKB48.
She says she hopes to give back to every person who supported her, and to leave something meaningful for the juniors following behind her.
AKB48 is no stranger to big transitions, but losing one of its most defining leaders of the past decade will undoubtedly mark the end of another chapter. As for what comes next—both for Mukaichi Mion and the group—the countdown to spring begins.