Beloved Idol Announces Her Exit From Popular Girl Group After 12 Years

It’s the end of an era.

A longtime member of an iconic girl group has decided to take her final bow this spring.

J-Pop idol Maria Makino has been a member of the Japanese idol group Morning Musume for over a decade. She first joined Hello! Project (a Japanese musical collective consisting of all female recording artists and groups under Up-Front Promotion) in 2012.

Morning Musume ’26 | Up-Front Promotion

Like many J-Pop idols before her, she has decided to leave her group on good terms by “graduating” from it. The news, shared officially on April 9, marks the end of an era for fans who have followed her journey since she joined as a Hello! Project Trainee roughly two years before debuting with the group in 2014. In total, Makino has spent approximately 14 years under the Up-Front Promotion umbrella.

Maria Makino | Up-Front Promotion

According to the official statement from Up-Front Promotion, Makino will complete her time with Morning Musume ’26 at the conclusion of the group’s upcoming Spring Concert Tour, Rays Of Light, which kicks off on April 11. The announcement emphasizes respect for her personal decision, noting that after discussions, the company and group have fully supported her choice to pursue what she describes as her next dream.

【Maria Makino Graduation Announcement】🌸

Maria Makino will graduate from Morning Musume. '26 after the Spring Tour "Rays Of Light."

After 14 years in Hello! Project (including 12 years in the group), she is moving to her next dream.

Full Translation ⬇️@MorningMusumeMg pic.twitter.com/09vE1JoJTM

— Hello! Project Link (@UpFrontLink) April 9, 2026

Morning Musume ’26 is one of the longest-running idol acts in J-Pop history, founded in 1997. Read about more members here:

Female Idol Retires 22 Years After Debuting In A Popular Girl Group