Aika Ota announced her intentions to graduate from HKT48 at the HKT48 Theater during the Team KIV performance of “Saishuu Bell ga naru” on January 17, 2017.
The 3rd generation AKB48 member who was part of original Team B alongside Mayu Watanabe, Yuki Kashiwagi, and Miku Tanabe announced that her final day would be on April 10, 2017, marking the end of her 10 years as an idol. On her Instagram, Ota revealed that she had been considering graduation since she was 19, discussing it extensively with management and producer Yasushi Akimoto. Upon graduating, she will be concentrating on her acting career.