Goto Maki
Hello! Project News Update 2008-06-19
Submitted 2008-06-19 11:52 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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Goto Maki leaves the Hello! Project
Submitted 2007-10-28 02:20 PM
Goto Maki has left the Hello! Project and will continue her career with another company. This was announced to the fans at the final concert of her "G-EmotionII ~How to Use Sexy~" tour. She will continue to be represented by the Up Front Agency.
While this came out of the blue for fans, it may have been in the works for some time, with last months announcement that Maki had been dropped from the artist list for the Hello! Project Winter tour for "schedule conflicts". However, it comes just a few weeks after her brother Goto Yuuki, formerly of the Tsunku produced group EE JUMP, was arrested for stealing electric cables from the construction site where he was working as a scaffolder. He is suspected as being the ring-leader in the crime. Yuuki's singing career ended after he was caught drinking underage, and he has since married, had a daughter (with another child on the way), and is heavily tattooed.
Media pressure has been intense on the Goto family since the arrest was made, with reporters covering the homes. The notorious Friday magazine, who broke most of the scandals within the Hello! Project, had a large spread on the story, with recent undercover photographs of the family.
Goto Maki joined Morning Musume as the sole third generation member, and her debut with Love Machine helped push the group to its biggest ever success. She graduated from the group to concentrate on her solo career which, after a small boost from a surgically enhanced image change, has continued to struggle in recent years.
Official Announcement
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