Japanese entertainment group Strawberry Prince announced on October 18, 2026, that founding members Satomi and Nanamori. have graduated from the unit [4]. The official statement said that Satomi will now pursue solo entertainment projects, while Nanamori. steps away from stage concerts and music recordings to focus on his work as a group producer [1]. The remaining four vocalists Colon, Jel, Riinu, and Root won’t disband and will keep the group going as a four-person unit, so one of Japan’s most recognizable multimedia idol projects can continue its run after ten years together [3].
Departure of Two Founding Members
The decision arrived through an official post on X by Strawberry Prince management on Sunday night, confirming an immediate performance transition for both Satomi and Nanamori. after ten years together. In a translated excerpt from the announcement, STPR Inc. said, “In these 10 years, we took on various challenges. As each member grew, they developed strong desires to pursue new paths. After repeated discussions among members and staff, we decided to respect their determination and send them off”. Satomi and Nanamori. followed that statement with personal posts titled “Notice” on their individual X feeds. The official notice from STPR didn’t point to internal conflict as the cause for their exit, presenting the graduation instead as a natural transition point reached after ten years of joint effort [4].
Both performers helped build Strawberry Prince from its start on June 4, 2016, blending digital avatars with real-world appearances [4]. Satomi built a loyal audience through voice work, personal streams, and gaming videos on video platforms, and his upcoming plans center on solo work outside SutoPuri [1]. It’s a fresh direction for his creative career in Japan [4].
Four Performers Continue Strawberry Prince
Following the announcement, Strawberry Prince moves into a four-member lineup consisting of Colon, Jel, Riinu, and Root [3]. Online media reports confirmed that the remaining vocalists plan to sustain their group work rather than pause, handling upcoming stage appearances as a united four-member team [5].
Discussions on Japanese forums such as jpnkn examined how the shift to four members alters stage choreography, vocal distribution, and group banter during live performances in Tokyo. Fans on jpnkn said that Colon, Jel, Riinu, and Root won’t recruit replacement performers right away, choosing stability instead. Colon, Jel, Riinu, and Root have performed together through previous hiatuses and tour cycles, so they already share an intuitive stage dynamic [5]. They can adapt their six-part musical arrangements to a four-part harmony without losing their sound, which allows Colon, Jel, Riinu, and Root to keep familiar concert energy alive for longtime ticket holders in Japan. That shared background gives the quartet the confidence to tackle upcoming stage responsibilities without hesitation [3].
The STPR production structure also supports branch units and affiliated projects, giving Colon, Jel, Riinu, and Root a reliable backing team [5]. While live stream formats may shift to highlight four-way banter, the SutoPuri brand identity stays intact. Colon and his fellow vocalists won’t slow down their production pace. They plan to return to weekly broadcasts on streaming sites soon [3].
Ten Years of Music and Television
Strawberry Prince started in 2016 as an internet-native music unit, building an audience by posting original songs and comedy videos to streaming sites. Their popularity grew fast among younger viewers, leading to a smartphone game and regular concert tours. Over their ten-year run, their live shows moved into nationwide arena tours visiting five major arenas in Japan. They proved that web video creators could build an arena-level music career [1].
A major peak in their broadcast career arrived in December 2023, when they made their debut on Kohaku Uta Gassen, Japan’s most-watched television music program on NHK. That appearance introduced their virtual personas to millions of viewers, securing their standing outside digital streaming platforms [1]. Their work also entered mainstream anime, performing theme songs for Yo-kai Gakuen Y and Cardfight!! Vanguard overDress, while members voiced characters in the Yo-kai Gakuen series. Other animated idol franchises follow similar multimedia paths, where projects like the Love Live Nijigasaki final movie schedule dedicated theatrical releases to engage vocal fanbases in Japan. In July 2024, their feature film STPR Origin Story the Movie: Strawberry School Festival!!!! opened in Japanese theaters before streaming on Crunchyroll [2].
To celebrate their tenth anniversary in June 2026, the group held an arena tour titled Strawberry Memory Vol.10th anniversary ～すとぷり ARENA TOUR～ in four major Japanese cities. That tour served as their final full-lineup live concert series before the October announcement. Fans who attended those summer shows saw all six vocalists together on stage for the last time. June 4 marked their official tenth year [4].
Strawberry Prince Producer Stays Behind the Scenes
Even though Nanamori. has stepped down from concert tours and vocal recordings, he isn’t leaving the business side of Strawberry Prince [1]. He will continue to serve as a company director at STPR Inc., keeping his hand on overall brand management and creative direction [4]. This dual status as founder and executive producer means the long-term artistic vision of SutoPuri stays guided by someone who understands its origins from day one [2]. Nanamori. simply won’t appear on concert stages or sing on future music tracks [1]. Splitting management duties from on-stage performance addresses the complex demands of running a modern media agency like STPR. The company handles everything from music publishing to live event planning, making steady STPR oversight helpful as the agency prepares new projects for the upcoming season [2].
Satomi’s departure takes a different path, transitioning into a solo creator without management roles at STPR Inc. while hosting music, gaming streams, and voice projects on personal channels in Tokyo [1]. It’s a clean separation that allows both Satomi and Nanamori. to pursue their respective personal ambitions [4].
How Did Fans and Colleagues Respond?
Following the announcements on X, responses from listeners in Japan leaned heavily toward warmth and gratitude rather than anger. Supporters shared heartfelt messages thanking Satomi and Nanamori. for ten years of consistent entertainment. Many comments echoed that sentiment, with fans writing, “Thank you so much for 10 years,” “Thank you for delivering fun for 10 years,” and “I loved all six of you, and I will always love all six of you!” [4].
Comment threads gathered on VTuberNews pointed out that surviving in the Japanese idol landscape for ten full years without disbanding is a rare achievement. Online posters on VTuberNews remarked that groups often splinter within a few years due to creative fatigue or internal disputes. Strawberry Prince managed to hold its core lineup together through a decade of changing streaming trends, making this peaceful SutoPuri graduation feel earned. Fans recognized that reaching the ten-year mark gave both Satomi and Nanamori. every right to explore fresh paths, and their long history provided a foundation of goodwill that softened the blow of their exit. Online discussions on VTuberNews stayed overwhelmingly positive throughout Monday afternoon [5].
Commentators on Japanese publishing platform Note suggested that fans should follow official communications carefully as Colon, Jel, Riinu, and Root reorganize their upcoming broadcast schedule. The quartet won’t rush to alter their core identity, and their shared chemistry provides reassurance for supporters as both the group and its departing talents prepare for their next ventures [3].
- ONLINE NEWS Anime News Network. (2026, October 19). Satomi, Nanamori Graduate From Strawberry Prince Group. [Article Link]
- ONLINE NEWS Yomimono. (2026, October 19). Satomi And Nanamori Graduate From Strawberry Prince. [Article Link]
- WEBSITE Nao. (2026, October 20). Strawberry Prince: Will the 4-member structure continue after Satomi and Nanamori’s graduation? Note. [Article Link]
- ONLINE NEWS Anime! Anime! (2026, October 19). 2.5-D Idol ‘SutoPuri’ Satomi, Nanamori Announce Graduation. [Article Link]
- WEBSITE VTuberNews. (2026, October 20). SutoPuri Satomi and Nanamori Graduate, Group Continues with Four Members. [Article Link]
