Nogizaka46: The first of.... three(?) Erika Ikuta graduation posts....

 

 This is an extreme version of a 'spur of the moment' post as less than an hour ago had no plans on doing any posts of her for another week. So the heading says first of three posts, I'd be happy with a second(!) but perhaps with some luck there may even be four posts in all! Erika has now been featured in 208 posts which is the fourth highest total of any Nogi member yet this is only her 17th solo one. She just may have been Nogi's busiest member the last five years but it's been so difficult doing these kinds of posts for her. That's a shame to an extent as she truly did have the potential to be my #1 Nogi member but if I had an all time list for my fave members she'd probably end up around seventh.

 It's also a shame that Erika hasn't had more posts as she's by far the most popular woman I've ever posted about. Did a post for her second photobook "Intermission" over two years ago but what staying power it has, it was the most viewed post for 2019 and bet it's in the top five for this year too! So will be doing a post right after Christmas for the most popular posts for this year, am curious at how many views it's received. Sure know most Nogi fans know that Erika's days with the group are coming to an end, just five more after today. But she's by far the most talented of any member or just may be one of the most talented J-Pop Idols ever. She'll have zero problems with a solo career and she's someone I'll always follow so will try to have posts for her in the future. Erika will be in a film next year plus will be in another stage play beginning in May, she's been in too many to count since 2015 plus has won too many awards to count also!

 So as mentioned in the beginning this was a 'spur of the moment' post so didn't have time to prepare a lot of things. But then again have been planning this for a while, do have 65 or so new pics for this post and there shouldn't be a problem having at least one more this size in about a week. Erika's two graduation concerts will be taking place next week on the 14th and 15th, they'll be streamed live so hope to grab one of them, preferably the second, and include screenshots in her next post(s).

 Think there will be one other graduation taking place then but not positive, it's another first generation member who I need to do a post for very soon. Within two months there will only be nine members left from the first and second generations, after next year will I be able to do any more Nogi posts. Erika has been with Nogi since day one yet will only be turning 25 on January 22nd, that's the same birthday as a bigger fave of mine and shame there couldn't have been a 'pair post' for the duo.

 Erika has had a pair of solo posts this year, her last was in September. But have gotten away from doing group posts so there have been many things that have never been posted. One of those are group cards and do I have many of them amassed(!), some recent ones here from Nogi's mini Autumn tour plus a few newish 'NogiKoi' promo game cards.

 On December 15th Nogi's first greatest hit album 'Time Flies" will be released but in a way you could say all of their previous ones were somewhat greatest hits albums. It'll feature all of their singles and the bonus version has some new songs plus will have a DVD. That's a documentary of Nogi's ten years as a group and on December 2nd there was an event for it, one member from each generation.

 Such a lack of Erika magazine spreads the past two years but have a feeling there may be a few coming up, this set is from the December 24th issue of Friday.

 That's promoting Erika's memorial graduation photobook that will be coming out on the 14th, probably won't be an event that day as there is a concert but hopefully a few days later. Nogi's last seven books have been for graduations and why hasn't there been any for the remaining members, would love to see a few gals have a second or third book. This batch of promo pics for the PB will end the post, there's no way it'll top Erika's second book "Intermission" but bet it'll still be a superb PB. Following the pics is her mini promo video for the new album and it's also her farewell song.