Graduating From AKB48 and Graduation Concert
Takahashi Juri announced the news about her graduation during a theatre performance on March 4th, 2019, and gained plenty of response from her fans, especially from Japan, when she decided to leave the group that made her become a well-known idol. After her appearance in Produce 48, Takahashi Juri started negotiations with various Korean entertainment companies and eventually confirmed that she signed an exclusive contract with Woollim Entertainment, a company that represents several famous groups, such as INFINITE, Lovelyz, and Golden Child.
The graduation of Takahashi Juri was held on May 2nd, 2019, and her final handshake event was at Pacifico Yokohama on May 6th, 2019. In her previous statement, Takahashi Juri said that she still loves AKB48 but she wants to experience the challenge of becoming a K-Pop idol and be surrounded by a new environment as well.
Click here to watch Takahashi Juri’s latest performance of her graduation from AKB48!
Joining Woolim and Debut with Rocket Punch
On March 4th, 2019, Woollim Entertainment released an official statement that the AKB48 member and former contestant of Produce 48 will make her debut in Korea as a member of their upcoming girl group.
[#Woollim][📽] #로켓펀치
Rocket Punch Logo Motion🖇YouTube ✔ https://t.co/1hKQjPtDvr
🖇 NAVER V ✔ https://t.co/BH6VjtH1F3#울림 #Woollim #로켓펀치 #Rocket_Punch pic.twitter.com/bN4NACf0Mw— woollim (@woollim_ent) July 21, 2019
On July 22nd, 2019, Woollim Entertainment released a new teaser on their official Twitter account by uploaded a motion clip with a logo of a group named Rocket Punch alongside with an announcement of their official social media platforms such as YouTube, V Live, Instagram, Twitter, and many more.
[📢] #로켓펀치 Official Channel Open 안내
-Twitter : https://t.co/TqxM4bgbqZ
-Facebook : https://t.co/UZE7jOC9E3
-Instagram : https://t.co/WyXVWdibXa
-Café : https://t.co/0UJ0CFntBH
-YouTube : https://t.co/A0u4gKEds6
-NAVER V : https://t.co/ukuUbsRIhS#로켓펀치 #Rocket_Punch— woollim (@woollim_ent) July 21, 2019
Many fans speculated that the members of this upcoming group were included from Woollim Entertainment trainees such as Kwon Eunbi and Kim Chaewon who previously made into the Top 12 finalists of Produce 48 and are currently promoting as members of IZ*ONE and the former member of AKB48 who exclusively signed a contract with Woollim Entertainment earlier this year, Takahashi Juri.
On July 23rd, 2019, Woollim Entertainment released another concept film of their upcoming girl group on their official YouTube channel. In this video, Woollim Entertainment introduced them as Rocket Punch along with individual members’ short profiles.
On July 29th, 2019, Woollim Entertainment released their final member video teaser, Takahashi Juri, through their YouTube channel. The former contestant of Produce 48 looks beautiful with her long hair while having fun shopping at a department store.
On July 30th, 2019, Rocket Punch shared their music video teaser with the six members included in the video. The girls are having so much fun together as they already released the individual debut concept films. Are you excited about Rocket Punch’s hot debut?
On July 31st, 2019, Rocket Punch shared another individual members’ prologue. Here’s the translation of Takahashi Juri’s prologue film:
From the previously limited past, I will continue to challenge myself and live stronger. For me not to fall because I am trying not to fail, but I am working hard so I can stand up again no matter what comes my way. So, I’ll always do it with my heart.
Morning will come again every day, the rain will always be stopping. Therefore, don’t be scared and always continue to challenge yourself. Do the things that you can do now, wish the things that you can foresee now.
Takahashi Juri.
On August 2nd, 2019, Rocket Punch finally released their music video teaser for the song titled “Bim Bam Bum.” Raise your hand if you are excited about Takahashi Juri and her members’ debut!
On August 3rd, 2019, Rocket Punch uploaded a video from their mini-album, Pink Punch, with a tracklist of six other songs. The title track itself, “Bim Bam Bum,” was produced by a hit-maker in the K-Pop industry, the duo Iggy Youngbae, who has previously made top songs for GFRIEND, NU’EST, ASTRO, and many other groups.
On August 5th, 2019, Rocket Punch shared their 2nd music video teaser for their debut with “Bim Bam Bum.”
A day later, on August 6th, 2019, Rocket Punch released a video of their album preview, Pink Punch, and a sneak peek of their songs on the 1st mini-album such as “Love Is Over,” “Lucid Dream,” “Favorite,” and “Do Something.”
The day of Rocket Punch’s debut finally came! On August 7th, 2019, Woollim Entertainment’s new girl group, Rocket Punch, finally released their music video on YouTube.
The six members from Rocket Punch: Juri, Dahyun, Suhyun, Sohee, Yeonhee, and Yunkyoung look really beautiful with the colorful theme of their debut music video and many fans are very excited to see their debut performance soon!
Check out Rocket Punch’s debut with their music video for the song “Bim Bam Bum!”
