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Axelight has revealed that founding member Tachihara Rui will officially graduate from the group on 15 June 2025.
Rui, who’s been with Axelight since day one, and once went by the name Aoi Chino in her Boku wa Mada Shinanai days, shared a heartfelt message explaining her decision.
“It’s been around three years since I debuted as part of Axelight,” she said.
“And honestly, they’ve been some of the happiest times in my life. I got to live out my childhood dreams – performing on big stages, releasing CDs, shooting music videos. I’ve cried, sure – but always happy tears.”
Her journey in the idol world started back on 1 September 2020 with Boku wa Mada Shinanai.
She left that group just a year later, and not long after, stepped into the spotlight again with Axelight, this time donning the colour yellow as her signature.
Now at 22 years old, Rui’s ready to move on – but it wasn’t a snap decision. She’s been wrestling with the idea for months.
“I love Axelight, and I love my members. But I realised the idol I wanted to be, and the path I was on, were slowly drifting apart,” she admitted.
“Even though it hurt, I decided to take a leap and try something new.”
For fans, Rui’s message brought a mix of tears and gratitude.
She thanked everyone for supporting her journey and shared how much their words meant – especially when fans said her performances gave them courage or made their day a little brighter.
It’s a bittersweet moment that feels all too familiar for J-Pop fans – graduation is pretty much a rite of passage in the idol world.
Whether it’s to chase new dreams, take on different creative roles, or simply take a breather from the scene, it’s part of the cycle.
“I said I’d always be here,” she told fans, “so I’m sorry for being selfish and choosing a different path.
But please, let me give you all I’ve got for these final two months.”
Axelight isn’t slowing down either.
The group’s planning a solo show in Osaka in early June, headlined by Rui herself.
It’ll be one of the final big moments before her last stage.
Rui Tachihara’s impact stretches far beyond her vocals and performances.
A shounen manga fan, kendo enthusiast (with a 2-dan rank, mind you), and lover of idols and Vtubers, she brought her own spark to Axelight.
Her style and spirit left a mark that fans won’t forget.
She might be stepping away from Axelight, but this clearly isn’t the end of her story – just the end of one incredible chapter.