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[2026] What did Aoi Hanada do? Summary of the reasons for her AKB contract termination and shaved head.
2026.06.24 09:45
AKB48 member Aoi Hanada's exclusive contract was terminated on June 23, 2026. This article summarizes the reasons for this first-ever contract termination in the group's history, the circumstances described by Hanada herself while sporting a shaved head, and the discrepancies between her claims and those of the management, based on the facts.
[2026] What did Aoi Hanada do? Summary of the reasons for her AKB contract termination and shaved head.
"What did Aoi Hanada do?" "Why did she shave her head?" — Many questions have been raised regarding the announcement of AKB48's contract termination on June 23, 2026. This article will organize both the management's announcement and Aoi's own explanation based on the facts.
What you will learn from this article (conclusion first)
Q. What did Aoi Hanada do that led to the termination of her contract?
A. According to management, the following is prohibited in AKB48: Private connections with specific fans This is because it was discovered that this had happened multiple times. He himself admitted to the thoughtless behavior of holding hands with a fan on the street and has apologized.
Q. Why did you shave your head (shave your head)?
A. The individual claims that "the management told him to shave his head to show sincerity in order to continue his activities." On the other hand, the management clearly denies that they ever instructed him to shave his head, so the two sides' claims are at odds.
Q. Is this an unusual situation for AKB48?
A. Yes. This "contract termination" of a member is a first in AKB48's history and is an extremely unusual measure that differs from normal graduations or withdrawals from activities.
table of contents
- Who is Aoi Hanada? | Profile and Career
- What happened? Timeline leading up to the contract termination
- Reason for contract termination | Explanation from the management
- The reason for shaving his head | His own claims and the management's denial
- Contents of what he said in the video
- Who is the representative, lawyer Takahiro Karasawa?
- This is an unprecedented case of contract termination, the first in AKB48 history.
- Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
1. Who is Aoi Hanada? | Profile and Career
Mei Hanada was born on June 5, 2005, and is a 21-year-old from Kanagawa Prefecture. Her nickname is "Meimei," and she was popular for her bright and friendly personality.
She joined AKB48 as a 19th generation trainee in 2024 and made her debut in a theater performance. She was selected for the first time for the 65th single "Masaka no Confession," released in April 2025, and was subsequently selected as a member for three consecutive singles, and was expected to be one of the next generation's ace candidates. Utilizing her special skill of preparing fish, she was appointed as the "Odawara Fish Special Ambassador" in January 2026, and this event occurred while she was expanding her field of activity.
| item | Content |
| name |
Mei Hanada
|
| date of birth |
June 5, 2005 (age 21)
|
| Birthplace | Kanagawa Prefecture |
| Join |
2024・AKB48 19th generation research student
|
| Nickname | Each |
| Contract termination date |
June 23, 2026
|
2. What happened? Timeline leading up to the contract termination
The sequence of events, when organized chronologically, is as follows:
| season | event |
| Around December 2025 |
Continued tardiness due to poor health
|
| May 1, 2026 |
The official website announced a hiatus.
|
| The process of suspending activities |
Connections with specific fans have been discovered.
|
| June 23, 2026 |
Announcement of termination of exclusive contract
|
| That same night |
He posted a video of himself with a shaved head, which was about 9 minutes long.
|
What began as a hiatus due to poor health eventually escalated to contract termination after private contact with fans came to light during that time.
3. Reasons for contract termination | Explanation from the management
DH Co., Ltd., the company that manages AKB48, explained the circumstances of the contract termination on its official website.
According to the management, Hanada had been repeatedly late due to poor health since around December 2025, and the management decided to suspend her activities so that she could focus on treatment, prioritizing her health. During this process, a connection with a particular fan was discovered. She had explained that she had only met the fan twice by chance, but after interviews with those involved, it was revealed that she had met the fan multiple times.
The management explained that the member's connection with a specific fan was an act that undermined the safety of the members, fairness among members, and trust from fans, and that it is prohibited by AKB48. Furthermore, they stated that they respected the member's request to return and sought discussions, but this was refused, and ultimately, the member's lawyer requested that they decline further discussions. After considering all of these factors, they announced that they had concluded that contract termination was unavoidable.
4. The reason for shaving his head | His own claims and the management's denial
One of the most attention-grabbing aspects of this controversy is Hanada's claim regarding his "shaved head." On this point, his explanation and that of the management are in direct opposition.
🔗 Mei Hanada's official X: @mei_hanada
Hanada claims that she was told about Minami Minegishi's past experience of shaving her head and that if she wanted to continue in AKB48, she should shave her head to show her sincerity. Hanada states that she decided to shave her head because she desperately wanted to continue her activities.
Meanwhile, the management stated in an official announcement that "the person in question claims that the management forced him to shave his head, but when we checked with the person in charge, they said, 'We would never give such an instruction.'" Clearly denying that such an instruction was given.
In short, the individual claims he was "forced (instructed) to shave his head," while the management denies it, stating they "did not instruct him to shave his head." At this point, there is no information for a third party to determine which claim is true, and the two sides' explanations remain contradictory.
5. What the person said in the video
After the announcement of the contract termination, Hanada posted a video of approximately 9 minutes and 8 seconds on his X (formerly Twitter) account. Wearing a mask and sporting a very short haircut that appeared to have grown slightly from a buzz cut, he read from a piece of paper and spoke in a trembling voice about the circumstances.
In the video, Hanada admitted to holding hands with a particular fan in public when they met privately, and apologized, saying it was "a thoughtless action that lacked awareness as an idol." On the other hand, she explained that she was asked sexual questions during discussions with management, and that she was not believed even when she denied them. Regarding shaving her head, she said that she was saddened when she was coldly dismissed with "We never told you to shave your head" even though she did as she was told.
Finally, Hanada tearfully said, "I may never see you all again, but I would be happy if you would remember the memories you shared with me."
6. Who is the representative, lawyer Takahiro Karasawa?
In this announcement, lawyer Takahiro Karasawa was named as Hanada's representative. The organizers' statement also mentions that direct communication with Hanada was refused, and that discussions were conducted through his lawyer.
Attorney Karasawa belongs to the First Tokyo Bar Association, registered as an attorney in 2010, and currently heads the law firm "Steadiness." He is well-known online due to his past actions, and his appearance as a representative has attracted attention.
7. An unprecedented case of contract termination, the first in AKB48 history.
The main reason this incident is receiving so much media attention is that the termination of a member's contract is unprecedented in AKB48's history.
While AKB48, formed in 2005, has seen numerous member graduations and withdrawals over the years, it is extremely unusual for management to terminate a relationship through "contract termination" and to publicly disclose the detailed circumstances. The fact that a member who was considered a candidate for the next generation's ace met this end just over a month after going on hiatus has also contributed to the widespread shock.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q1. What did Aoi Hanada ultimately do?
A. According to management, it has been discovered that she had engaged in private contact with a specific fan on multiple occasions, which is prohibited by AKB48. She herself admitted to the thoughtless behavior of holding hands with a fan on the street and has apologized.
Q2. Was the shaved head forced upon him by the management?
A. The person claims that he was told to shave his head and show his sincerity if he wanted to continue, but the management denies giving such an instruction, so the two sides' accounts differ.
Q3. Is contract termination a common occurrence in AKB48?
A. No. This is the first time in AKB48 history that a member's contract has been terminated, and it is an extremely unusual measure that differs from a normal graduation.
Q4. What will happen to Aoi Hanada in the future?
A. In a video, the person in question stated, "I may not be able to meet you all again," and there has been no official announcement regarding future activities. We will need to check for any new information as soon as it becomes available.
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