Hello! Project News
S/mileage to graduate Eggs and debut
2009-11-27 05:31 AM
Hello! Project Eggs group S_mileage are to graduate from the Eggs to become full Hello! Project members. The announcement was made in a video message from Tsunku during the H!P Eggs Yokohama FIRE! concert on the 23rd of November, surprising the group with the news.
S/mileage - Wada Ayaka, Maeda Yuuka, Fukuda Kanon, and Ogawa Saki - were formed in April, and have just released their third indie single. They will graduate during the Egg concert in the Spring and make their major debut with a full single some time afterwards.
Kusumi Koharu graduation announced
2009-09-19 11:24 AM
Morning Musume's sole 7th generation member Kusumi Koharu will leave the Hello! Project on December 6th 2009, at the end of the current Morning Musume concert tour. The news was announced today at the start of the tour by Hello! Project and group leader Takahashi Ai.
Koharu achieved great success as the voice actor for Tsukishima Kirari, the main character in the anime Kirarin Revolution. Through the show she released six singles and several albums. Her biggest hit "Balalaika" was the highest selling Hello! Project release of 2006, with over 72k of sales. When the show finished in March 2009 Koharu continued to appear on TV shows under her own name.
After graduation, Koharu hopes to move into modelling, while training for a possible future solo career.
New Shugo Chara Egg!
2009-08-26 10:20 AM
Shugo Chara Egg! are to return, and will host segments in a new TV show built around the Shugo Chara!!! Dokki Doki anime, as well as singing its theme song.
With the other three members having left to form S_mileage, Saho Akari is the only remaining original member. She will be joined by Maeda Irori and Fukumura Mizuki.
A fourth member will be chosen from an audition open to any unsigned school girl.
Umeda Erika to Graduate
2009-08-01 05:10 AM
C-ute member, and eldest of the Hello! Project Kids, Umeda Erika, 18, is to leave the Hello! Project.
She will graduate on the 25th of October, at the end of the ~Cutie JUMP~ concert tour. After leaving, Erika aims to study to become a fashion model.
With the recent official departure of Arihara Kanna, C-ute will be down to five members.
Official Announcement (Auto-translated)
Arihara Kanna leaves the Hello! Project
2009-07-10 10:32 AM
After five months away for surgery, Arihara Kanna has decided not to return to the Hello! Project.
Kanna joined through the original Hello! Project Eggs audition in 2004. She was promoted to a full member in 2006 when she joined the group C-ute, the only member not to have been a part of the Hello! Project Kids.
In February 2009, Kanna went on leave to undergo bunion surgery. Since that time, she has missed out on two singles and was not to feature an upcoming Hello! Project shuffles album.
Official Announcement (Auto-translated)
The New Minimoni
2009-06-03 05:35 AM
It was revealed last week that Tsunku will be reviving the popular "little girls" group Minimoni with a whole new group of girls. Minimoni was one of the most popular and recognisable brands in the Hello! Project, and has been inactive since May 2009.
The news first leaked out after Yaguchi Mari, the original leader and creator of the group blogged about Tsunku running the idea past her. Tsunku then revealed on his blog that the group will once again consist of four girls, and named Fukuda Kanon as the first member.
Linlin has now been revealed as the leader of the group.
They will appear together for the first time in the upcoming album "Hello! Project Chanpuru ~Happy Marriage Song Shuu~".
News Update 2009-05-15
2009-05-15 05:46 AM
An official Morning Musume MySpace page has been opened, and they are holding a green screen challenge to produce a video for "3, 2, 1 BREAKIN'OUT!", the c/w for their current single. The contest is in Japanese and English, and is open to everyone. The winners will be announced at the Anime Expo 2009. (Morning Musume on MySpace)
Berryz Koubou are to perform in Korea at the Yonsei University Auditorium on 2009-06-21. This will be the first time they have performed in the country, and will help promote the upcoming Korean auditions.
Mitsui Aika will be out of action for a few weeks while she recovers from surgery to repair detached cartilage on the second toe of her left foot.
Melon Kinenbi are to release five indie singles, each one to be a collaboration with another artist and in a "rock style". The first single will be with the popular group BEAT CRUSADERS, and will be released on 2009-06-24.
A new H!P Egg unit has been announced. S/mileage consists of Wada Ayaka, Maeda Yuuka, Fukuda Kanon and Ogawa Saki. Internal link: S_mileage.
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Fujimoto Miki is engaged to be married
2009-03-24 09:31 AM
Fujimoto Miki is engaged, and will be getting married this July to her boyfriend of two years, comedian Shouji Tomoharu, 33.
Miki quit Morning Musume two years ago after her relationship with Shouji was revealed, and after a suspension returned with a new solo song in 2008, which went on to sell over 24k copies through an extensive series of promotional events.
Her music career is expected to continue as she is now part of the J.P ROOM company alongside Mano Erina, Ogawa Makoto and Tokito Ami.
Official announcement (Auto-translated)
News Update 2009-03-22
2009-03-22 05:43 AM
C-ute's Arihara Kanna has been forced out of action, and will remain on leave for an unknown length of time. She has developed a bad case of bunions and is unable to perform until she has fully recovered, temporarily leaving C-ute as a six girl group.
The announcement was made on February 26th, and she is missing from all of the promotional material for their 8th single. Announcement
Kago Ai is being sued for her part in the break up of a marriage. The ex-wife of actor Mizumoto Hidejiro, 33, claims that Kago had an affair with her husband, which led to their recent divorce. The couple have three children together.
Kago and Mizumoto filmed the movie "Benten-dori no Hitobito" last year, and Mizumoto's Mother is a "psychic" who Kago has visited many times for guidance. In Japanese law the husband or wife can sue for divorce due to adultery, and if the other party is found at fault then he or she may have to pay compensation. Kago is being sued for 10 million yen, and Mizumoto is being sued for 50 million yen.
Quick News:
* Berryz Koubou have been hit by the influenza virus. First, Suudou Maasa was forced to to miss the March 14-15 concerts. Then this weekend Sugaya Risako and Natsuyaki Miyabi caught it, and had to drop out of the concerts. The concert on March 21st featured only the remaining five members, while the concert on the 22nd was cancelled.
* Yajima Maimi is currently filming for her first film. "Fuyu no Kaidan" ("Winter Ghost Story") also features H!P egg Fukuda Kanon.
* The two young children from the New Star auditions in Taiwan, Frances, 8, and Aiko, 6, have been signed up as part of Hello! Project Taiwan.
* The company that published Kago Ai's book has filed for bankruptcy.
Morning Musume to appear in Los Angeles
2009-02-13 07:08 AM
Morning Musume are to perform in America for the first time in their 10 year history. They will appear at the Anime Expo 2009, which will be held from July 2 to July 5 at the Los Angeles Convention Center in Southern California.
Travel and ticket information can be found at: http://www.anime-expo.org/
Press Release
Official Announcement