With two recent graduation announcements from fell team 4 members, Takahashi Juri’s writes a long and heartfelt post about the departure of her fellow team mates, Tsuchiyasu Mizuki and Maeda Mitsuki.

Tsuchiyasu Mizuki and Maeda Mitsuki both announced their graduations during a recent theater show. Relevant screen captures from the performance:

Afterwards, Takahashi Juri puts up an unusually length G+ post after her thoughts about the situation:

少し遅くなってしまいました、ごめんなさい。
This is a little late, sorry.

美月と瑞希が卒業を発表しました。
Mitsuki and Mizuki announced their graduations.

AKB48をずっと引っ張って来たわけでもなくずっと先輩達の背中を見て追い続けて来た私にはキャプテンとして圧倒的な存在感やかっこいい背中を後輩達に見せる事とか、そうゆうことに説得力が無さ過ぎるから、その分、自分には何が出来るのかなって考えた時に、少しでも、若手と言われ、同じ立場でもある、みんなの悩み、葛藤、不安を一緒に背負ってちゃんと気づいてあげられることを出来るようにって思ってました。
It’s not as if I pulled AKB48 forward, I always watched my senior members from behind. As a captain, I’ve always tried to have an overwhelming presence and coolly lead my junior members. But because I have no persuasive strength in that regard, and I’ve always thought about how I could make up for that. Even just a little, as someone who’s been called young and in the same position, I tried to take on everyone’s worries, troubles, and anxiety. And I thought I’d be able to take notice of those around me.

けど、私は二人の卒業を知りませんでした
But, I didn’t know anything about those two’s graduation.

新チームも本格的に活動してなくて、一緒にいる時間もまだ少なかったけど、それでも、卒業を決める二人の気持ち、葛藤に気づいてあげられなくて、とても、胸が痛くて、辛くて、、ほぼ、ファンのみなさんと一緒のタイミングで卒業を知って、すぐに二人と連絡を取りました。
There is a new team, and we have been together long. But even so, because I didn’t notice their desire to graduate, my heart aches… it feels painful. As soon as you guys found out about their graduation, I contacted them immediately.

自分が不甲斐無くて正直、すぐには美月と瑞希の背中を押せるような綺麗な言葉はかけてあげれなかったかもしれないけど、まだまだこれからも夢がたくさんある二人の人生は自分のために、好きなように過ごして欲しいから二人が決めた事は、私は絶対に全力で応援します。
I’m disappointed in myself, honestly, I probably wasn’t able to give Mitsuki and Mizuki the push they needed. But I know they have many dreams of their own, and I want them to spend their time as they like. No matter what they decided, I plan to support them with all my strength.

それぞれ、自分と向き合って考えて大きな決断をした二人はとても強いと思います。
Each with their own circumstances, they were able to make a very big decision. I think they’re very strong.

私は一度、仲間になったらそれはずっと本物だと思うから AKB48として過ごせる時間は最後は来るけど、夢を追う仲間としては変わらずに私にとっての美月と瑞希、そして、美月と瑞希にとっての私、これからも違う環境になっても変わらず支えていきます。
For me, when I make it friend, it’s a real thing. So while their time as AKB48 has come to an end, it won’t change the fact that they are friends who are also chasing a dream. And to them, even if we’re in different places, I’ll continue to support them.

二人の同期達やずっと一緒の時間を共有してきた旧チームのメンバーの子達も、色んな事を乗り越えてきて絆が深い分、同じ環境で活動出来なくなる事が寂しくなると思うけど、私も、川栄さんの卒業が発表されていてその気持ちは凄く分かるから、一緒に乗り越えていきたい。
To the members in their same generation, and to the members on their team, we’ve overcome many things and strengthened our bonds. And it’ll be lonely to know we’ll be working in different places. I felt the same way when I heard that Kawaei Rina announce her graduation. So, I really understand, and I hope we can overcome this together.

今の私の気持ちです、まだちゃんと整理出来てなくて長くなり、読みづらくてごめんね
That’s how I feel now. I haven’t sorted it out, and this getting long and hard to read, so sorry.

二人の背中をちゃんと押せるように、私も強くなりたいと思います
I hope I’ll become stronger so that I can keep supporting these two.

AKBで一緒に活動出来る残りの時間を大切に、濃い時間を過ごしたいです。
I want to spend the remaining precious time together as wisely as possibly.

応援よろしくお願いします。今は、こんな事しか言葉にできません、、ごめんなさい。
Please continue to offer your support. Sorry if these are the only words I’m able to express.

Source: http://akb48taimuzu.livedoor.biz/archives/45186049.html

Source: http://akb48taimuzu.livedoor.biz/archives/45186288.html

Source: http://akb48-matome.blog.jp/archives/51969827.html

Source: http://www.giogio48.com/archives/45186349.html

Source: https://plus.google.com/107910364578005352567/posts/grfExiX5vj7