On December 7th, idol group AKB48 held the final performance of their 20th anniversary concert, "AKB48 20th Year Live Tour 2025 ~Ano Koro, Seishun Desu. Kōkō, Seishun Desu~ 20th Anniversary Concert Part 3" at Nippon Budokan (Chiyoda Ward, Tokyo). It was a legendary night, with 48 current members (including trainees) performing alongside 135 former members, including Atsuko Maeda, Takahashi Minami, and Oshima Yuko.
The 20th anniversary concert took place over four days with six performances, attracting approximately 48,000 people. The final performance kicked off with "Let's Become a Cherry Blossom Tree," and the first-generation members Maeda, Takahashi, Itano Tomomi, Shinoda Mariko, Minegishi Minami, and Kojima Haruna appeared on stage, singing one after the other. Takahashi was already overcome with emotion and moved to tears, and the audience was instantly transported back to "those days of youth."
Next, Yuki Kashiwagi and Rino Sashihara performed "Flying Get" with the current members, followed by a succession of songs that could be considered the origins of AKB48, such as "Aitakatta" with Kayo Noro at the center.
When Oshima appeared midway through the performance, illuminated by the spotlight, the audience erupted in cheers that sounded almost like screams. Oshima then softly sang her own solo song, "Naki na ga Smile" (Smile While Crying), accompanied by Yoshimasa Inoue on piano.
Then, Sashihara, Kitahara Rie, and Yokoyama Yui appeared on stage, reviving the former spin-off unit "Not yet." They thrilled the audience with a medley of "Weekend Not yet" and "Surfing Shaved Ice." During the interlude, Oshima playfully introduced herself, saying, "I'm Momoka Ito! I'm 22 years old!", showing her kindness by highlighting her junior, Ito, who performed the same song the day before.
Rina Kawaei and Miyawaki Sakura, who were unable to attend the performance, sent video messages, with Kawaei commenting, "My best memory is practicing the choreography two hours before the music video. Thanks to that, I've been able to adapt to anything, even though it's been 10 years since I graduated." Miyawaki said, "For me, AKB48 is a place that taught me to dream, take on challenges, and keep working hard. What I learned at AKB48 has become my pillar of strength."
Towards the end of the show, during "Iiwake Maybe," Maeda and Oshima called out to each other, "Yuko-chan!" and "Atsuyu!", and when the group's leader, Atsuyu, took center stage, the venue erupted in joy. During the MC session that followed, Takahashi also expressed excitement, saying, "The scene where Atsuko and Yuko faced each other was amazing." The two looked at each other with a slightly embarrassed look on their faces, saying, "It was really savored. It was a great memory."
35 former guests appeared on stage. 100 former members came to watch. During the encore, the audience guests also appeared on stage, and a total of 183 people, including current members, sang "Sakura no Hanabira-tachi" in unison. Takahashi, the first general manager, patted the shoulder of Kuranoo Narumi, the fourth general manager, and gave her a cheer, saying, "This is where it starts! Do your best! I'm sure you'll all have a great start to 2021!"
Finally, Kuranoo announced that the group will release their 67th single on February 25, 2026, and that the "AKB48 Spring Concert" will be held at Yoyogi National Stadium First Gymnasium (Shibuya Ward, Tokyo) from April 3rd to 5th. She then declared with confidence, "We will build our 21st year with our own strength! We will build a second golden age."
