AKB48 member Kitazawa Saki has announced her graduation from the group. 

This announcement was made on July 4 during a concert at AKB48 Theater. She explained, "I've been with AKB48 for about 12 years. There was a part of me that felt it was wrong to depend on its comfortableness. I also gained the courage from everyone to compete as actor Kitazawa Saki rather than AKB48's Kitazawa Saki, so I made up my mind." Her graduation concert is scheduled for September 5. 

After the concert, Kitazawa updated the group's blog saying, "When I joined AKB48, I didn't know too much about it. However, the more I became active, the more I came to love AKB48. Of course, there weren't only happy days. There were also painful and sad days, but during these past 12 years, I was able to overcome every change and challenge with a smile. AKB48 made me stronger." 

Kitazawa is AKB48's 13th generation member who joined the group in December of 2011. She was promoted to Minegishi Team 4 in August of 2013. She signed with entertainment office 'De－LIGHT' in March of 2021 and has been performing in stage plays.