SDN48's graduation concert

3 Apr Apr – It was an emotional send-off for the 39 ladies of SDN48, as they performed their first and last concert on 31 March.

Dressed in mini-dresses, the members formed a single line at the beginning of their graduation concert while the group's captain Noro Kayo greeted the fans.

"We started with just 20 members on August 1, 2009. We're able to stand on this stage because of the fans and the staff that continued to support us," she said to the fans.

She added; "We, SDN48, weren't able to leave a big record like AKB48, but we hope to be a team that will remain in everyone's memories."

The group then performed 37 songs on stage. During the intro of "Owaranai Encore", fans took out and waved white penlights, which the members responded by forming the letters 'SDN' on the grand staircase to the stage.

At the end of their last song, "Kodoku na Runner", the members huddled together with their backs facing the fans as they chanted "SDN".

While hugging each other and in tears, the members waved to their fans, bringing an end to their involvement with SDN48 after two years and seven months.

According to Tokyo Hive, since the announcement by AKB48's producer Akimoto Yasushi to graduate all the members, he has received a petition by 5,800 people for him to withdraw his decision.

Originally formed in 2009 as the 'big sister' group to AKB48 with a mature theme, the group only has released four singles. Their only album "Next Encore", which was the group's first and last, had hit the top of the Oricon weekly charts for 26 March this year.

Although it is not known if the group would be