It's been announced that ANGERME's Sasaki Rikako will graduate from the group as well as Hello! Project after their spring tour. 

Sasaki made her debut as a member of S/mileage back in 2014. After nine years of being active in the group, she wanted to separate herself from group activities in order to challenge herself and figure out what her possibilities are.

She commented, "I've encountered something that excites me from the bottom of my heart, which is 'to express.' One of my reasons for graduating is that I wanted to know more about a different side of me. As much as I have grown in Hello! Project, which I love so much, I strongly felt the desire to move someone's heart and become their light in a different way. In life, we make choices and there are times we fear the unknown, but I don't want to live my only life with regret because I didn't try something." 

Details on the spring tour will be revealed at a later date.