Yuko Oshima, a frontline member of the all-girl pop group AKB48, has announced she will leave the band to pursue a solo career.
After finishing "Koisuru Fortune Cookie" ("The Fall-in-Love Fortune Cookie"), one of the group's million sellers from the past year, on NHK's "Kohaku Utagassen" yearend music show Tuesday night, the 25-year-old Oshima said, "This was the last time I'll be invited to perform like this on 'Kohaku Utagassen.' "
"I feel happy and refreshed," Oshima told reporters after the live program ended. "I am excited about building my solo career."
Her record label said it has not been decided when she will leave the group. Former key AKB48 member Atsuko Maeda left the group in 2012 to start a solo career.