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

[Shoujo Q]

As an Oda fan this news makes me very sad because she was my beacon of light in a sea of okay girls. I knew it was coming but it still upsets me. Kitagawa was my second favorite and with her career in limbo I’m not sure what I’ll do as a fan. I’ve never not had someone I followed in Morning. Miki will be a great leader but she’s not a vocal powerhouse. I would love to see another English song to come out of Morning though. That’d be fun.

I hope we get some audition news soon. Momoha would definitely be a great addition. They’ll need someone to take over a lot of Sakura’s lines and not scream them. I have very little faith in the current vocal abilities of some of the girls.

[Zunu]

I'm looking forward to seeing Oda in the next stage of her career.

It's really hard to break out as an ex-idol.

True, a few have done it from H!P, a bunch more from the Akimoto groups, and many more from other groups.

But often, the ones you think are surefire successes struggle when they're no longer being pushed as the front girl by management. While on the contrary, some benchwarmer who was always being held back as a perennially junior member might become a huge star without the shackles of low group expectations.

Then there's a few who graduate and promptly lurch from minor scandal to minor scandal, ending up as tabloid fodder, and sometimes attaining a measure of ironic celebrity.

But for 90% of the girls, graduation is basically the end of their career, and at best they fade into showbiz irrelevance like ghostly echoes of their former selves.

I'm hoping Sakura bucks the trend and fully lives up to her potential, even exceeds it.

[Sohee]

I really hope that Sakura would leave to do solo work in the genre she wants and where she won't be stuck with high, fast-paced idol songs.
But, considering she hasn't mentioned anything about what she wants to do, I'm also scared she might retire completely. I hope she doesn't but... D:

[DJChisato1]

I'm looking forward to seeing Oda in the next stage of her career.

It's really hard to break out as an ex-idol.

True, a few have done it from H!P, a bunch more from the Akimoto groups, and many more from other groups.

But often, the ones you think are surefire successes struggle when they're no longer being pushed as the front girl by management. While on the contrary, some benchwarmer who was always being held back as a perennially junior member might become a huge star without the shackles of low group expectations.

Then there's a few who graduate and promptly lurch from minor scandal to minor scandal, ending up as tabloid fodder, and sometimes attaining a measure of ironic celebrity.

But for 90% of the girls, graduation is basically the end of their career, and at best they fade into showbiz irrelevance like ghostly echoes of their former selves.

I'm hoping Sakura bucks the trend and fully lives up to her potential, even exceeds it.

I've believed that it would be better for the girls to start their solo carriers before graduating from the group rather than graduating, taking a year hiatus, then trying to start a solo career.

Release a couple solo singles before leaving the group. Ride the wave.

[Idol Tenshoku Ondo]

I haven't been a Momusu fan in a long time, I only check out a few songs here and there, but I'm happy that the 9-11 ki are finally gonna be gone. This group needs a refresh if they want fans who aren't just around due to brand loyalty that will slowly bleed off. They need interesting new members and new music that tries something different. I'm tired of H!Ps usual sound profile and song structures.

[Nayoko-Kihara]

I really hope that Sakura would leave to do solo work in the genre she wants and where she won't be stuck with high, fast-paced idol songs.
But, considering she hasn't mentioned anything about what she wants to do, I'm also scared she might retire completely. I hope she doesn't but... D:

God, let's hope not. Take a break, sure, but please not quitting.