On February 16th, Sato Rika, a member of the idol group Nogizaka46, announced on her official blog that she would be graduating from the group. She will be graduating after the group's 41st single, "When Did I Run Up the Stairs?", is released on April 8th.
In her blog, she reported, "Today marks six years since I was assigned to Nogizaka46. Thank you so much to everyone who always supports me. And I have some important news to announce. I will be graduating from Nogizaka46 after our 41st single."
Regarding the reason for her graduation, she explained, "I had made up my mind several years ago, and this past year in particular, I spent the summer, autumn, and winter thinking that it might all be the last. It wasn't triggered by someone else's graduation, it's a decision that had been on my mind for a long time. As I saw my members graduate, I also thought about my own future."
She continued, "In the time until graduation, I want to cherish every moment with you all more than ever before. I hope that we can continue to spend time together in a way that will make the casual moments, the words we exchanged, and the scenery we saw together shine brightly in our memories someday. I hope that I can give back, even just a little, in the time I have left."
She also announced that her own graduation ceremony will be held, saying, "Details will be announced later, so please wait a little while longer. Thank you for your support until the end. So, let's have fun - please stay with us for a little while longer into our seventh year!"
Sato is 24 years old and was born on August 9, 2001. She is originally from Iwate Prefecture and joined Nogizaka46 as a fourth-generation member in February 2020.
