Hello! Project News
Niigaki Risa to graduate from the Hello! Project
2012-01-02 06:08 AM
It was announced today that Morning Musume's current leader Niigaki Risa will graduate from the Hello! Project in May, at the end of the groups spring tour.
After graduation, Risa intends to work as an actress.
Morning Musume 10th Generation
2011-09-29 10:45 AM
The results of Morning Musume's 10th generation auditions were announced today at the Nippon Budokan, with four girl joining the group.
They are: Iikubo Haruna (飯窪春菜), 16, from Tokyo; Ishida Ayumi (石田亜佑美), 14, from Miyagi; Satou Masaki (佐藤優樹), 12, from Hokkaido; and Hello! Project egg Kudou Haruka (工藤遥), 11, from Saitama.
This precedes tomorrow's graduation of current leader Takahashi Ai, which will take the group to 12 members.
MM 10th Generation Auditions Announced
2011-05-08 01:33 AM
Auditions for the 10th generation of Morning Musume have been announced, coming just five months after the 9th generation were revealed.
The application process will run from now until the 13th of June, and is open to any girls aged between 10 and 17.
Official site: http://www.musume-audition.com/
Takahashi Ai to graduate from the Hello! Project
2011-01-08 11:00 PM
Morning Musume leader Takahashi Ai, 24, has announced that she will be graduating from the group, and the Hello! Project, later this year. She announced it herself at today's Hello! Project concert at Nakano Sun Plaza Hall, just 8 days after the group's ninth generation was introduced.
Takahashi joined the group in 2001 as part of its 5th generation, and became the leader in 2007.
The graduation will take place in approximately nine months, and Niigaki Risa will take over as Morning Musume's new leader.
Morning Musume 9th Generation Announced
2011-01-01 11:00 PM
After several months of auditions, the 9th generation of Morning Musume was announced today during the "Hello! Project 2011 WINTER ~Kangei Shinsen Matsuri~" concert in Nakano Sun Plaza Hall, Tokyo.
The winners, and newest members, are: Ikuta Erina (生田衣梨奈), 13 years old from Fukuoka. Suzuki Kanon (鈴木香音), 12 years old from Aichi, and Sayashi Riho (鞘師里保), 12 years old from Hiroshima.
In addition to these three, Hello! Project Egg Fukumura Mizuki was also promoted to full member and added to the group.
Kamei, Junjun and Linlin graduate
2010-12-15 05:40 PM
Kamei Eri, Junjun and Linlin today graduated from Morning Musume and the Hello! Project. The graduation ceremony took place at the end of the Rival Survival concert tour in front of 10,000 people at the Yokohama Arena.
Morning Musume are now down to just five members, which is equal to the lowest number when the group was first formed. The 9th generation auditions are well underway, and footage will be broadcast on the Hello! Project TV show Bijo Gaku from the 16th of December.
Kamei, Junjun and Linlin to Graduate; 9th gen auditions
2010-08-08 03:53 AM
It was announced today that Morning Musume members Kamei Eri, Junjun and Linlin will all graduate at the end of the groups Autumn concert tour.
As the group will be down to just 5 members for the first time since it formed, new auditions will be held to find a 9th generation. These will be the first public auditions since 2006.
Kamei is leaving the Hello! Project to take the time to treat her atopic dermatitis, a chronic form of eczema that causes her irritation and slight skin colour changes.
Junjun and Linlin are graduating from the group, and will pursue music/entertainment careers in China. It is possible that they will remain a part of the Hello! Project, under the Taiwan arm of the company.
Graduation announcement on official MySpace page (with english translation)
Audition site: http://www.musume-audition.com/
Tsuji Nozomi pregnant with her second child
2010-05-27 06:42 AM
Tsuji Nozomi and her husband have announced that they are expecting their second child. Tsuji is seven weeks pregnant, and is due to give birth in January 2011. Their first child Noa was born in November 2007.
Since graduating from the Hello! Project Tsuji has continued to work on television and appear in adverts, plus she has released several books, a range of clothing and jewellery.
Morning Musume to appear in France
2010-05-05 10:06 AM
It was announced today that Morning Musume will appear at France's Japan Expo, where they will stage their first ever European concert. The event will be held at the Parc d'Expositions in Paris from the 1st to the 4th of July; the concert will take place during the evening on the 2nd.
In addition to being the musical guests of honour, Morning Musume will also provide the theme song for the event: "Tomo", the c/w for their upcoming single "Seishun Collection".
Japan Expo is a large convention covering the spectrum of Japanese culture: manga, anime, music, martial arts, video games and more. In 2009 it was attended by approximately 164,000 people.
Japan Expo
Announcement (auto-translated)
Melon Kinenbi to Disband
2010-02-19 10:33 AM
Former Hello! Project group Melon Kinenbi are to officially disband. The announcement comes with the release of their final album "MELON'S NOT DEAD", and will happen on May 3rd at the end of their tour to promote the album.
Over the last year they have released a string of rock collaborations as indie singles, with groups such as BEAT CRUSADERS and GOING UNDER GROUND.
While never achieving huge success, the group have been together for over 10 years with an unchanged line up.
Official Announcement (translated)