Oda Sakura to graduate from Morning Musume and H!P in 2026

[Solarblade]

https://www.helloproject.com/news/19108/

Miki will take over leadership once Erina graduates and Maria will become sub-leader alongside Sakura.

[Loverindesu]

YES!!!!!!

Sakura will be finally gone. Congrats to queen Miki, she’s a wonderful senpai.

[DJChisato1]

I'm not surprised of the structure, I'm surprised of the timing of the announcement. I didn't think it'd be announced prior to the upcoming graduation next week and the decision on Kita Rio. I'm also shocked that Sakura is not graduating in the Fall of 2025.

[Shabranikuduu]

Not the most surprising news. I have been waiting for 9-11th gen to graduate for ages but it's still bittersweet to see Sakura go, she's one of my favourite voices in MM. I hope she stays with UF and gets to release solo songs.

[Sohee]

Odaaaaa ToT
Glad we have at least a year or so with her though.

Nonaka leader will be good for the girls in terms of the atmosphere in the group I think, but god I hope this doesn't mean they give her more lines. Probably this means she'll stick around until at least 2027, though so yay some sort of stability for the group at least.
I'm curious on how Maria will be as a subleader. Especially after Sakura's gone since the two of them are so close.... and Maria is so... Maria-focused.

The lack of mention of Rio makes me hopeful though. Probably they're just waiting for all the single PR to be done.
I hope.

[321BreakinOut]

Spoiler: show

I think this will be my 13th reason why

[Amped]

tweet

[aerosuffly]

Oda can shine much more outside MM. It will be a good step forward for her.

Miki will make a good leader, and I think Maria actually pays attention to the members and the group a lot, she is just not outspoken about it. They will make a good combo.

[Loverindesu]

Oda can shine much more outside MM. It will be a good step forward for her.

In fact, I think it's too late for her. Her voice sounds worn out and no longer has the same power as before. Ruru and Riai, for example, easily snatch her wig vocally speaking.

I'm glad Sakura will never be a leader, she has the same toxic vision of hierarchies as the former members and because of her hypocrisy (she dared to openly criticize Sayubee and Rio when she had a creepy boyfriend with a lube at her bedroom) and her old vision of how an idol should be and behave she is not a good example for kouhais. Miki is a more positive figure, and she has been praised by her kouhais a lot of times.

It's interesting that Miki has the same color as Hitomi, and that both assume leadership roles with a member who is older than them on the group.

[aerosuffly]

You seem to know her well. I am glad for you.