Quit
Goto Maki leaves the Hello! Project
Submitted 2007-10-28 07:20 AM
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
Fujimoto Miki quits Morning Musume
Submitted 2007-06-01 03:05 AM
Morning Musume leader Fujimoto Miki has quit the group, one week after Friday magazine revealed that she was in a relationship. The former soloist, 22, was pictured out with Shouji Tomoharu, 31, from the comedy group "Shinagawa Shouji".
This comes less then one month after Fujimoto became leader, and mirrors how Yaguchi Mari left the group. Takahashi Ai will become the new leader, with Niigaki Risa as the new sub-leader.
Fujimoto is expected to continue on with her duo GAM, who last week released an album and started on a concert tour. She will complete the GAM tour, but has been removed from the Hello! Project summer concerts next month. Official Announcement
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