Hello! Project News
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.
Berryz Koubou Hit Sales High
2008-03-18 07:02 AM
After a year of being overshadowed by their sister group C-ute, Berryz Koubou have taken the record for highest first week by a Hello! Project Kids unit.
Their single "Dschinghis Khan" has sold 30,667 copies in it's first week, beating C-ute's highest first week sales by 1.5k, and reached number 5 in the weekly chart. It also outsold the first weeks for anime tie-ins Buono! and the Kirarin Revolution singles.
The song was recorded by Berryz Koubou as the theme tune for a musical of the same name. It is a cover of the 1979 German Eurovision Song Contest entry by the band Dschinghis Khan, from which Morning Musume's 2000 hit Koi no Dance Site borrowed heavily.
C-ute are the official 2008 Rakuten Eagles Supporters
2008-03-13 07:43 AM
C-ute will be this years official supporters of the Japanese Pacific League Baseball team Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles, and will release a single "Koero! Rakuten Eagles" on March 20th through the teams website and the official Hello! Project shop. The song, written by Tsunku, is said to be dynamic with a bright melody to inspire the players.
In previous years this role has been filled by Hello! Project groups Morning Musume, DEF.DIVA, and GAM. C-ute will perform the song before the teams first home game of the season on March 29th against the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters.
Rakuten Eagles Press Statement (Japanese)
New Unit MilkyWay
2008-03-03 05:09 AM
A new unit from the anime Kirarin Revolution has been announced, following on from the success of Kira Pika.
Kirari star Kusumi Koharu be joined by Kikkawa Yuu and Kitahara Sayaka from the Hello! Project Eggs to form "MilkyWay". Their first song "Anata Boshi" will be released on the 30th of April.
Official Announcement
Mano Erina Promoted to Soloist
2008-03-02 03:48 AM
Hello! Project Egg Mano Erina will be graduating from the Eggs and from Ongaku Gatas to start training for a solo career within the Hello! Project.
Erina had become the most visible of the Eggs, being pushed as one of the main faces in Ongaku Gatas alongside the established names.
She will leave Ongaku Gatas at the end of their current tour today, and graduate from the Eggs during the third Hello! Project Egg concert on March 29th.
Announcement
Tsunku's Comments
Morning Musume to star in Cinderalla The Musical
2008-03-01 04:17 PM
It has been confirmed that Morning Musume are to appear in "Cinderella The Musical". This will be another joint production with the all-female theatre company "the Takarazuka Revue", following on from the 2006 staging of "Ribbon no Kishi".
It will run for 33 shows at the Shinjuku Koma theatre in Tokyo, from August 6th to August 25th. No details of the casting has yet been revealed, but they will be joined by 20 dancers.
Fujimoto Miki to release a new single
2008-02-14 06:48 AM
It was announced yesterday that Fujimoto Miki will be releasing a new single "Oki Tegami" on April 23, 2008, ending speculation over her future in the business.
This will be the first time Fujimoto has appeared in a non-futsal role since the end of the GAM tour in July last year, which followed her resignation from Morning Musume.
The song, written Sugimoto Masato, will also be recorded by Up-Front singer Horiuchi Takao, and the two singles will be released at the same time. It is said to be more of a folk song, and quite different from her previous work.
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Iida Kaori gave birth a few weeks ago
2008-02-03 05:23 AM
Today in a statement it was announced that Iida Kaori had given birth to her first child, a boy weighing 7lbs 1oz, on January 22nd at 10:45am Japan time. The boy's name has not been given.
Official Announcement
v-u-den are to disband
2008-01-26 06:29 AM
The Hello! Project trio v-u-den (alternately romanized over the years as Biyuuden, Byuuden, and Viyuuden) will separate from June this year. The announcement was made at the end of todays Hello! Project concert at the Yokohama arena.
The group was formed in August 2004 as a vehicle for Ishikawa Rika in preparation for her graduation from Morning Musume. Miyoshi Erika was discovered from an audition in 2003, and Okada Yui was chosen from the Hello! Project eggs.
v-u-den's highest selling single was their first single "Koi no Nukegara", which sold over 33k copies and reached number 6 in the charts. Their last two singles have both sold just over 10k. A tenth single had been scheduled for release in February, but was postponed several weeks ago. It is not clear if it will now be released at all.
All three girls will apparently remain with the company in solo roles.
Official Annoucement (Japanese)
C-ute win Best New Artist at the 49th Japan Record Awards
2007-12-30 08:30 AM
C-ute have won the award for being the Best New Artist at the 49th Japan Record Awards (日本レコード大賞), beating out JYONGRI, Stephanie, and Takasugi Satomi.
The long running show, which is sponsored by the Japan Composer's Association, is one of the major events in the Japanese music calender. Morning Musume won the same award in 1998.
Hello! Project Announcement