Asian Junkie Asian pop. Without discretion.
HKT48 members Miyawaki Sakura and Yabuki Nako and AKB48 member Honda Hitomi will be members of IZ*ONE from ‘Produce 48‘ exclusively for the next 2.5 years until April 2021, according to an official statement from IZ*ONE’s company Off The Record.
Off The Record released an official statement on September 24 and stated, “This is regarding IZ*ONE’s three Japanese members, Miyawaki Sakura, Yabuki Nako, and Honda Hitomi and their future activities. “As announced in Japan as well, the three members will be halting all AKB48 Group activities for two years and six months until April 2021, and will be focusing completely on their IZ*ONE activities. All of the IZ*ONE members are currently working hard to wrap up preparations for their official debut, and all twelve members will be giving their all to IZ*ONE.”
Before they leave they will participate in AKB48’s 54th single, “No Way Man”, with Sakura as the center and Nako and Hitomi at her side.
[NEWS] AKB48 54th Single「NO WAY MAN」will be release on 11/28
● Miyawaki Sakura Center (With Yabuki Nako and Honda Hitomi on her side)
● IZ*ONE members last senbatsu (according IZ*ONE contract)
● Takeuchi Miyu last senbatsu
● RH19 Ticket Include#KM pic.twitter.com/h7fZzHoS4D— MRK48 (@OfficialMRK48) September 24, 2018
#AKB48 54th Single Senbatsu member (1) :
Miyazaki Miho
Mukaichi Mion
Yokoyama Yui
Kashiwagi Yuki
Takahashi Juri
Takeuchi Miyu
Okada Nana
Yamauchi Mizuki
Okabe Rin
Oguri Yui
Kuranoo Narumi
Shitao Miu
Honda Hitomi— Aristide ? (@arstde) September 24, 2018
#AKB48 54th Single Senbatsu member (2) :
Sugawara Maya
Suda Akari
Shiroma Miru
Sashihara Rino
Tanaka Miku
Miyawaki Sakura
Yabuki Nako
Ogino Yuka
Nakai Rika
Takino Yumiko— Aristide ? (@arstde) September 24, 2018
54th Single – No Way Man #PRODUCE48 Members who were selected:
Miyawaki Sakura (Center)
Yabuki Nako
Honda Hitomi
Takahashi Juri
Shiroma Miru
Miyazaki Miho
Takeuchi Miyu
Shitao Miu
Tanaka Miku pic.twitter.com/vy5jBPqVRd— 999Jokbal (@pd48jokbal) September 24, 2018
Their last single includes a lot of ‘Produce 48’ contestants, which has to be on purpose.
Honestly, this will make things easier for the trio in terms of scheduling, but I do wonder about the future of HKT48 now, as well as the trio’s careers in Japan. Definitely feels like a significant risk, but perhaps one worth taking if they can get the best of both worlds.
