Kago Ai
News Update 2009-03-22
Submitted 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.
Hello! Project News Summary 2008-04-27
Submitted 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.
Permalink - No discussion available
Hello! Project News Summary 2008-04-13
Submitted 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.
Permalink - No discussion available
Kago Ai Speaks Out
Submitted 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.
Kago Ai released after new scandal
Submitted 2007-03-26 03:46 PM
Not long ago we reported that Kago Ai was on the way back after her smoking scandal, moving back to Tokyo and beginning work behind the scenes for the company. Now it seems that she had become romantically involved with a man 18 years older then her, and last weekend the magazine "Weekly Gendai" captured a series of photographs of them holding hands and reportedly travelling to a public bath-house and hotel together.
Today, in a statement from Kawaguchi Yuukichi, the "Representative Director" of UFA, Kago Ai's contract was officially terminated. link
Kago Ai makes the first step in her return
Submitted 2007-02-22 07:20 PM
Just over a year after being suspended for smoking while underage, Kago Ai has given an interview to Friday magazine - the very same magazine that broke the original story and published the infamous smoking pictures.
Kago, looking in great shape and much thinner then in previous years, is shown out walking around, and then sitting down to talk to the reporter and pose for pictures.
She is said to have decided to take control of her life and wants to return to singing, moving back to the Tokyo area away from her family to live on her own, and work in the offices of UFA (the agency responsible for Hello! Project members) while they decide on her future. There had been minimal contact with other members while she was away, and many didn't immediately recognise her with her new look when she appeared backstage at the recent concert in Yokohama. Full scans in the comments.
Back to Hello! Project News