Ayaka Yamauchi leaves NMB48http://www.tokyograph.com/news/id-6941 (http://www.tokyograph.com/news/id-6941)
Fri, November 5, 2010 (8:13pm EDT)
AKB48's newest sister group NMB48 barely made its public debut last month, and now it already has its first graduating member. It was announced on Friday that research student Ayaka Yamauchi (15) has left for health reasons. Yamauchi previously had to take a break from training due to poor health, but her condition has apparently not improved. It is said that she herself also requested to be removed from the group. NMB48 held its auditions earlier this year, screening a pool of 7,256 applicants that even included submissions from overseas. 39 girls passed the audition, and 26 of them were chosen as the initial members of the group. With Yamauchi's departure, NMB48 will continue for now as a 25-member unit.