AKB48's first-ever contract termination cost Hanada Aoi her radio show in two days

Hanada Aoi, a 19th-generation AKB48 member, co-hosted Bunka Hoso's Wednesday-night radio program 'AKB48 Ito Momoka to Hanada Aoi no Hito Hana Sakasetai!' alongside fellow member Ito Momoka. The show, which aired in the early hours, carried both members' names in its title.

On June 23, 2026, DH announced the termination of Hanada's exclusive contract — the first termination in the group's history. The company cited repeated lateness since December 2025, a discovered private connection with a specific fan (Hanada said they met 'twice by chance', while the company said interviews showed multiple meetings), her refusal of talks about returning, and a dispute over her claim that the company had made her cut her hair; the company denied that. In a video statement the same day, she said she had privately met a fan and held hands on the street.

Bunka Hoso did not wait. On June 25, two days after the termination, the station announced Hanada would leave the program 'due to various circumstances', and apologized. From July, the show was renamed 'AKB48 Ito Momoka no Hito Hana Sakasetai!', with Ito Momoka as the host and two other 19th-generation members, Okumoto Kairi and Kawamura Yui, rotating as guests.

The station gave no independent reason of its own — the operator's termination announcement was sufficient. A program built around two named talents lost one of them, and the title, format and billing all had to change mid-run.