Atsuko Maeda, the pop icon and original member of all-girl group AKB48, announced Sunday that she will leave the band.

"I — Atsuko Maeda — will graduate from AKB48. I tried my best in the 6½ years" since the group began, a tearful Maeda said during a concert. "I must move forward to my dream at the age of 20."

Maeda, 20, was among several girls who started the group, named after Tokyo's Akihabara subculture district, in 2005 and was elected its most popular member in an annual vote by fans in 2009 and 2011.