STU48's Mai Nakamura Holds Solo Concert & Produced Performance on Her 27th Birthday!

STU48 is an idol group based in the Setouchi region. Mai Nakamura, who serves as the center for the 13th single 'Sukisugite Naku' released on Wednesday, March 4th, celebrated her 27th birthday today, Saturday, April 4th. To mark the occasion, she held two performances at the Ueno Gakuen Hall in Hiroshima Prefecture: the 'Mai Nakamura Solo Concert "My Story"' and the produced performance 'STU48 Fresh Concert ~Connect~ Produced by Mai Nakamura.'

At the solo concert, Nakamura greeted the audience, saying, 'Thank you all for coming today! I believe this time is a story we will weave together! Please follow me with all your might!' She performed songs such as 'Kaze wo Matsu,' the first title track for which she was selected as a featured member. 'It's been 8 years since I joined STU48, and I am truly happy to be able to hold a solo concert after continuing for 8 years! I often think about what I can give back to everyone who supports me. I would be happy if I could become an existence that makes you smile when you remember me on days when you feel a little tired or exhausted. I hope you can feel that side of me closely today!' she expressed enthusiastically.

She performed 'Oshibe to Meshibe to Yoru no Chouchou' (AKB48) in a unit with Chiho Ishida, who has announced her graduation. Furthermore, during 'Kinjirareta 2-nin' (AKB48), former member and contemporary Yuka Oki made a surprise appearance, wrapping the venue in loud cheers.

After consecutively performing the STU48 1st album lead track 'Ai no Omosa,' for which she served as the center, and the 13th single 'Sukisugite Naku,' she expressed her gratitude: 'Since experiencing the center position, I have spent more time thinking not just about myself, but about the group and those around me, and I've thought a lot about how STU48 can grow even more. I operate with the hope that we can become a group that you all can proudly say, "STU48 is a great group." There are many times when things are tough or frustrating, but you all have always stayed by my side and supported me. If it weren't for everyone, I wouldn't have been able to stay in this group until now. Thank you so much, always. I have been able to grow a lot by receiving love from all of you!'

During the encore, members rushed to the stage during 'Namida Surprise' (AKB48) to celebrate her birthday with a cake and a bouquet. 'From here on out, I want to connect this story with you all, the members, and the 4th generation trainees!' she said, calling onto the stage the 4th generation trainees who joined STU48 last August, and performing 'Pedal to Sharin to Kita Michi to.' 'These are the friends who will connect the future of STU48 together from now on! I received youthful energy from them,' she rejoiced.

Finally, she began with, 'I have an announcement to make here,' and revealed the decision to release a special digital edition of her 1st photobook and an upcoming 2nd photobook. 'We are going to start shooting soon, so I'm nervous about what kind of me will be captured, but please look forward to it!' she called out. The stage of 26 songs concluded with 'Eien Yori Tsuzuku You ni,' bringing the curtain down.

The second part, 'STU48 Fresh Concert ~Connect~ Produced by Mai Nakamura,' was the group's first performance produced by a member. A total of 29 members from the 2.5 generation, 3rd generation, and 4th generation trainees appeared, unfolding a stage by fresh, next-generation members.

Starting with 'Fune kara Orita Bokutachi wa...', they powerfully performed songs like 'Zetsumetsu Kurokami Shoujo' (NMB48) and 'Yume e no Route' (AKB48).

Rio Okamura of the 2.5 generation expressed her joy: 'With the feeling that the day will come when we, the next generation, will stand at the forefront of STU48, we all worked hard in our lessons, and I am truly happy to be able to perform in front of so many people today like this. We will continue to do our best together, so please support us!'

Saki Sogawa of the 3rd generation, who will graduate from the group after her graduation performance on April 11th, looked back with tears in her eyes: 'I have been really looking forward to today. Doing lessons with the 2.5 generation, the 3rd generation, and the fresh 4th generation trainees who we've really always been together with, and seeing my contemporary 3rd generation members teaching the 4th generation trainees, I was moved, thinking about how we have grown together up to this point. I realized that STU48 is truly surrounded by irreplaceable members.'

Kurea Inoue of the 4th generation trainees shed tears of accomplishment: 'This is the first anniversary concert for us 4th generation trainees, and it was full of things we didn't understand, and almost all the songs were ones we were doing for the first time. It was incredibly difficult to perfect them in a short period, and we all really worked hard. Honestly, I had anxieties, but I am really happy to have safely reached the concert like this. Thank you so much to everyone who came!'

Finally, Yuka Kurushima of the 2.5 generation called out, 'Please continue to dream various dreams with us! And please follow us!' before closing the curtain with a full-power performance of 'Yumeriki.'

It was a performance that heightened expectations for the future of STU48, featuring the growth and resolve of the 2.5 generation trainees (joined May 2022) approaching their 4th anniversary and the 3rd generation (joined April 2023) celebrating their 3rd anniversary, along with the innocent yet powerful performances of the 4th generation trainees who joined last August.

◾️ Mai Nakamura Comment Hosting a solo concert and a produced concert was a very big challenge for me. A solo concert has been a dream I've held for a long time. I love standing on stage, and it's a place where I can pour out my entire body, soul, and emotions. When I heard that I could monopolize such a time all to myself, my heart leaped. I packed everything from my idol life into the setlist. And I infused it with the hope that everyone who came would feel, 'I will do my best tomorrow too.' The produced concert was created together with everyone from the 2.5 generation, 3rd generation, and 4th generation trainees. The theme is 'Connecting with Dreams.' In this world, there are times when it hurts so much that your chest feels like it's being crushed, and moments when you want to throw everything away. Even so, I thought of a setlist with the wish that they would continue chasing their dreams while working hard together with the current members, and connect this group to the future. No matter how much we worry or hit rock bottom, we have friends we can hold hands with. And above all, we have the fans who always watch over us by our sides. I want them to remember that they are not alone, and to continue dreaming. I believe it became a work packed with my message, filled with such thoughts.

Outline of Today's Event - Saturday, April 4, 2026 Venue: Ueno Gakuen Hall, Hiroshima Prefecture (19-1 Hakushima Kitamachi, Naka-ku, Hiroshima City)