On November 4, the official website of Nogizaka 46 announced the news that Asuka Saito, a student of the first issue, was about to graduate, and she also confirmed the news on the official blog.
"I am Asuka Saito, and as just announced, I will graduate from Nogizaka 46 after the event of the 31st single. The group's activities will continue until the end of 2022, and a graduation concert is expected to be held in 2023, the specific time will be announced later. ”
The official blog article also predicted that Saito Asuka will hold a live broadcast on the official YouTube channel "Nogizaka Matching Letter" at 6:30 p.m. on the 5th, and she will personally explain this matter to everyone, and this live broadcast will also perform the group's new songs.
Asuka Saito was born in Tokyo on August 10, 1998, of Japanese-Burmese descent (his father is Japanese, his mother is Burmese), and he debuted as an idol in 2011 as a Nogizaka 46 student, and debuted as the C on the 15th single "Barefoot Summer". After 11 years of growth, this youngest first-term student member has gradually become an ace member of the group, and he has become extremely popular both in Japan and abroad.
With the graduation of the first-class members such as Ikoma Rina, Nanase Nishino, and Mai Shiraishi, Saito Asuka became the absolute core of the group, and continued to lead the growth and development of the group as a senior.
At the same time, the graduation of Asuka Saito also symbolizes that the last member of the first class is the current captain Masatsu Akimoto.