AKB48 General Director, Minami Takahashi, Announces Graduation.

    On December 8th 2014, during a 9th anniversary concert performance, AKB48 General Director, Minami Takahashi surprised fans worldwide with her announcement that she would be graduating from AKB48 on the group's 10th anniversary, December 8th 2015. At this same time she also named Yui Yokoyama as her successor. Further announcements on post-AKB48 activities have not been announced, though we can assuredly look forward to one last amazing year with her as AKB48 Leader.

2009

2012

2014

    Minami Takahashi first joined AKB48 in 2005 when she was chosen as one of the original 24 winners of the first AKB48 audition. In 2009, she became the leader of AKB48's Team A. In 2012 that role was taken by Mariko Shinoda and she assumed the role of AKB48 General Director, taking charge of AKB48 and all its sister groups. She has been featured on nearly every AKB48 single and is also a member of sub-group no3b with Haruna Kojima and Minami Minegishi. She has also released one solo single, "Jane Doe", in 2013.