Hello! Project News
Hello! Project News Update 2008-06-19
2008-06-19 04:52 PM
Former Hello! Project member Goto Maki has signed for Avex Trax. She will be under the Rhythm Zone record label, alongside artists such as Koda Kumi, EXILE, and m-flo. Official Site
Mano Erina will release her debut indie single at her fan-club event on June 29th. It will be called "Mano Piano", and Erina will both sing and play the piano part on the record.
Tsuji Nozomi made her first public appearance since falling pregnant and announcing her marriage. Tsuji, who turned 21 a few days earlier, came on stage during Nakazawa Yuko's 35th birthday concert to present her with a cake.
In a similar vein, Iida Kaori is scheduled to make her first appearance since giving birth as a "Cool Earth Ambassador" at an environmental summit in Hokkaido on July 7th.
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Ogawa Makoto Returns
2008-06-07 05:50 AM
5th generation Morning Musume member Ogawa Makoto has finished her studies, and has returned to the Hello! Project after 18 months away.
Ogawa graduated from the group at the end of the "Ribbon no Kishi" musical in November 2006, and went to study English for a year in New Zealand. She returned to Japan in December 2007 after obtaining a TECSOL, a qualification for teaching children English. She left again in February 2008, and obtained a "Test of English for International Communication" (TOEIC), achieving a 730, which is in the second highest rank.
Ogawa will first appear on Morning Musume's show "Haromoni@" on June 8th, and will be part of the Elder Club. She hopes to become a "Maruchi (multi) talent", which can be described as an all-round entertainer.
Official Announcement: Japanese, Auto-translated
Hello! Project News Update 2008-05-25
2008-05-25 09:36 AM
Goto Yuuki, brother of Goto Maki and former EE Jump singer was found guilty on May 21st of robbery and assault and was sentenced to 5 and a half years in prison. He was the ringleader in the crime which saw 48 reels of copper cable (worth around ¥470,000/US$4500/£2300/€2900) taken from a construction site in July 2007, and left a security guard with a broken nose. Maki was in court for the sentencing, and afterwards apologized to reporters for her brothers actions.
Morning Musume began their asian tour last night with a concert in the Taipei Nankang Exhibition Hall. They also recorded an appearance for the Taiwanese "Hello Project New Star" TV show, the auditions having started earlier that day with around 1000 girls taking part.
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Hello! Project Taiwanese Audition
2008-05-14 04:36 AM
For the first time, the Hello! Project will be holding auditions for new members outside of Japan.
The first round of "Hello! Project New Star" (早安家族New Star) auditions will take place on the 24th of May in Taipei, May 25th in Taichung, and June 1st in Kaohsiung. They will be broadcast on TTV from the following weekend in a show hosted by Taiwanese actor Blackie.
The requirements for applicants is to be a cute, lively and outgoing female between 6 and 24 years old.
Audition Site
Official Announcement
Hello! Project News Update 2008-04-30
2008-04-30 09:04 AM
In addition to Ayaka, Mutou Mika also graduated from the Hello! Project on the 30th of April. She joined the Hello! Project Eggs in 2006 as a Gatas trainee before being put into Ongaku Gatas, and has left to concentrate on her schoolwork. Source
Mano Erina will have her first fan club event since becoming a soloist. She will be joined by Berryz Koubou's Captain Shimizu Saki and C-ute's leader Yajima Maimi. The two shows will take place at the Stellar Ball in the Epson Shinagawa Aqua Stadium on June 29th, and include handshaking events. Source
In the early hours of April 29th, producer Tsunku's wife Kanako gave birth to twins. The babies, a girl and a boy, are the couples first children, and names have not yet been decided. Mother and babies are all said to be in good health.
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Coconuts Musume Ayaka Graduates
2008-04-30 04:38 AM
It was announced today that Ayaka has left the Hello! Project, effective immediately. With no Elder Club concerts on the horizon it means she will not be getting a graduation ceremony.
One of the longest serving members, Ayaka joined the Hello! Project in 1999 as leader of the Hawaiian group Coconuts Musume. She became well known for her Surprise English Lessons, which introduced many international fans to the company.
After Mika graduated four years ago the group was effectively ended, and Ayaka was left at a loose end. She continued to work on multiple radio shows and perform at Elder Club and the big Hello! Project concerts.
Ayaka has said that she will be concentrating on her acting career.
Official Announcement
Hello! Project News Summary 2008-04-27
2008-04-27 08:09 AM
Morning Musume sold just over 48k copies of their single "Resonant Blue" in its first week, reaching number 3 in the weekly chart. That is the third highest sales figure of their last ten singles.
This week saw the release of three Hello! Project singles. On the first day, C-ute reached number 2 with "Namida no Iro" while v-u-den were number 8 with their final single "Nannimo Iwazu ni I LOVE YOU". Meanwhile, Fujimoto Miki's solo return "Okitegami" was number 14 for its first day.
Kago Ai has signed to a new agency called "Mainstream", and she mentioned on her blog that she has agreed to appear in a Hong Kong movie. No further details are available yet.
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Hello! Project News Summary 2008-04-20
2008-04-20 10:50 AM
Morning Musume's 36th single "Resonant Blue" was released this past Monday, reaching number 2 and selling approximately 25k copies on its first day. Takahashi Ai, Tanaka Reina and Junjun arrived in Taiwan on the 16th to promote the single and the Taiwanese leg of Morning Musume's Asian tour on the 24th of May. The third leg has been announced and will take place in Shanghai on the 28th of June.
Mitsui Aika was released from hospital on the 17th after having her appendix removed. She performed at the Morning Musume concert on the 19th in Nagoya sitting on a chair on the stage.
To promote "Cinderella the Musical", a special unit, "High-King", has been formed. Consisting of Takahashi Ai, Tanaka Reina, Shimizu Saki, Yajima Maimi, and Maeda Yuuka, they will release a single "C/C (Cinderella/Complex)" on June 11.
Matsuura Aya opened the 25th National Confectionery Exposition at Hijemi Castle on the 18th. The show is Japan's largest confectionary exhibition, with over 800 companies participating. Meanwhile, Ishikawa Rika was in Shibuya on the 20th to participate in a promotional event for the new soda "Fanta FuruFuru Shaker", where she performed with comedy duo "Speed Wagon".
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Hello! Project News Summary 2008-04-13
2008-04-13 03:00 PM
8th Generation Morning Musume member Mitsui Aika has been forced to rest after being diagnosed with appendicitis, and will miss this weekends concerts. It is currently unknown if she has had to have her appendix removed. Announcement.
Morning Musume will stage their first concert in South Korea this summer. It will be staged on 2008-06-01 in the Olympic Hall at the Seoul Olympic Park. Their upcoming single "Resonant Blue" will be released in South Korea on the same day as Japan. Announcement.
The four Hello! Project Kansai members have "graduated" as trainees, and formed their own unit "SI☆NA " (SI NA, pronounced she-na). The name is taken from the first letters of their names, Suma Ai, Iwashima Manami, Nakayama Nana and Abe Asami. They are working towards their debut, and it is unclear if they are still under the Hello! Project tag. Announcement.
Berryz Koubou single "Dschinghis Khan" has now edged out Buono! for the H!P Kids total sales record. It has sold a total of 35,395 copies, nearly 400 more then Buono's "Renai Rider".
Following her recently released interviews, former Hello! Project member Kago Ai has started an official fanclub called "Biscuit Club", and is writing a blog. Link.
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Kago Ai Speaks Out
2008-04-06 04:35 PM
Former Hello! Project star Kago Ai has given her first interview since having her contract terminated just over a year ago.
In the first in a six part series of videos released by Japanese site ohmynews.co.jp she apologises to her fans, family, and staff for her actions in a prepared statement, then talks about the family problems that led up to them. The other videos will be released on their website one a day until the 12th.
It is said that Kago, now 20 and with a short hairstyle, hopes to return to the entertainment industry as an actress.