Female Idol Announces Her Departure From Beloved Girl Group
After eight years with her group, an idol has decided that it’s time for her to move on.
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Kawata Hina is a 2nd generation member of Hinatazaka46, a popular Japanese girl group that debuted as the third sister group of Nogizaka46 in 2015. 24-year-old Hina joined the group in August of 2017, when she was 16 years old.
Like many J-Pop groups, Hinatazaka46’s lineup changed over the past ten years as some members “graduated” and new members joined. On August 4, Hina announced in a blog post on her group’s official website that “Onegai Bach!”, Hinatazaka46’s fifteenth single, will be her final song with the group.
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It’s all been like a dream. Honestly, even if someone told me this was all just a dream, I’d probably believe them.
— Kawata Hina
Although she has enjoyed her time with Hinatazaka46, Hina is ready to move on. In her post, she thanked her fans for giving her strength with their support.
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You all gave me the strength to keep going. Even when I felt unsure or wasn’t confident, you never stopped supporting me. You made me feel like I belonged.
— Kawata Hina
Although the September 17th release date for “Onegai Bach!” has been announced, Hina’s graduation date has not been yet. She plans to spend the rest of her time as a Hinatazaka46 idol “with no regrets.”
There’s not much time left, but I want to spend it with no regrets. I’ll treasure every second with the members I love and with you all.
— Kawata Hina
