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| Suganami Mirei Announces Graduation From ≠ME After Seven Years as Group Faces First-Ever Departure. (Credits: Not Equal ME) |
Suganami Mirei is officially leaving ≠ME, and for many fans of the idol group, the announcement felt less like routine graduation news and more like the end of an entire chapter. On 11 May, the group’s management confirmed that the 26-year-old member will graduate following a dedicated concert at Tokyo’s NHK Hall on 12 June 2026, marking the first graduation in the history of the Sashihara Rino-produced idol group.
Seven years in one idol group is already rare enough. Being the first member to walk out the door somehow makes it feel even heavier. The announcement arrives only weeks after Suganami Mirei entered hiatus in March 2026, a move that already had fans quietly preparing themselves for difficult news.
Idol fandoms tend to operate like unofficial detective agencies anyway, so many supporters admitted they had sensed the situation was heading towards graduation territory long before the official statement appeared. Still, when the confirmation finally landed, social media timelines immediately turned emotional.
In a lengthy message shared through the group’s official site, Suganami Mirei apologised for the sudden announcement while reflecting on her journey since joining ≠ME in 2019.
She described the past seven years as “treasures” she would never forget and thanked fans, staff, fellow members and producer Sashihara Rino for supporting her despite entering the entertainment industry with no previous dance or singing experience.
Her message carried the kind of warmth longtime idol fans know too well: grateful, emotional and slightly devastating if you have followed the group since the beginning.
Suganami Mirei said she hoped she had become the kind of idol capable of making people smile, adding that she still wanted fans to attend the final concert featuring all 12 members together one last time.
That final line hit particularly hard online because ≠ME has spent years building an unusually stable image within the modern idol industry.
Unlike groups where graduations arrive every few months like seasonal allergies, ≠ME managed to maintain its original line-up since debut. The group surviving seven years without a single graduation had almost started to feel suspiciously impossible by idol standards.
Fans across Japanese social media described Mirei as one of the emotional pillars of the group, praising her calm personality, gentle presence and steady growth since debut.
Many supporters reposted older performance clips, behind-the-scenes moments and debut-era photos, with some joking that they suddenly felt “personally attacked by the passage of time”. Others admitted they were not emotionally prepared to hear the words “first graduate of ≠ME” attached to her name.
Some fans expressed sadness mixed with support, saying Suganami Mirei deserved the chance to prioritise her own future after years in the spotlight. Others questioned whether her hiatus earlier this year had already quietly signalled the end of her idol activities. A smaller section of netizens also revisited the attention surrounding her reported relationship with a non-celebrity man, first exposed by weekly tabloid publication Shukan Bunshun in September 2025.
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While neither Suganami Mirei nor management directly connected the dating report to her graduation, the timing has inevitably fuelled discussion online. Some commenters criticised the pressure female idols continue to face regarding private relationships, arguing that audiences still place unrealistic expectations on performers to remain permanently “available” to fans.
For ≠ME itself, Suganami Mireis departure represents a major turning point. Since debuting under Sashihara Rino’s production in 2019, the group has steadily built a strong reputation within the idol scene thanks to polished performances, loyal fan support and surprisingly stable member dynamics.
Losing the first member always changes the atmosphere, even if the group continues successfully afterwards. The first graduation is the one that makes fans realise time is actually moving forward whether they like it or not.
Attention is now turning toward the graduation concert scheduled for 12 June at NHK Hall, where all 12 members are expected to appear together for the final time.
Fans are already anticipating an emotional night packed with speeches, tears, nostalgia and at least one audience member dramatically crying before the opening song even starts. Honestly, probably more than one.
So now the question floating around the fandom is simple — can ≠ME truly feel the same after Suganami Mirei leaves, or is this the moment the group quietly enters a completely new era?