Kago does it again!

I haven’t been very up to date with my blogging lately as it’s almost exam season here and I’m very busy however I think I’ll take a break from the books for this post!

Former Hello! Project idol Kago Ai has once again found herself caught up in a scandal, this time with a married man! 20 year old Kago seems to have a thing for older men as her new beau is 33 years old and apparently a somewhat well known actor, though I have never heard of him – Hidejiro Mizumoto anyone? Kago’s agency haven’t exactly confirmed the rumour yet though they haven’t denied it. Mizumoto’s soon to be ex-wife is suing both Kago and Mizumoto for monetary damages for apparently 10million yen from Kago and 50million yen from Mizumoto; this is a lot of money!

Head over to Hello! Online for the full story.

Rumors of Natsuyaki Miyabi Scandal

Berryz Koubou and Buono! member Natsuyaki Miyabi may be at the center of a new scandal involving the classic scenario; Hello! Project girl caught on camera with unidentifiable male; though this time the unidentifiable male may not be so unidentifiable as it is speculated it is none other than Hey! Say! JUMP member Inou Kei.

This scandal is currently unconfirmed though in my opinion bares striking resemblance to the Murakami Megumi scandal of 2006. Natsuyaki is a key player in Hello! Project right now however, it will be interesting to see how this develops.

Check out videos and pictures at Hello! Online.

Goto Maki to graduate from Hello! Project [Update 2]

2007 seems to be a pretty bad year for Hello! Project. It has been announced that Hello! Project soloist Goto Maki will graduate from Hello! Project, an exact date has not been given and it’s unknown if she will have a graduation ceremony. The given reason for her graduation is due to her brother’s recent scandal though I have to say that this reason seems a little too easy, it’s more likely Goto simply wants to leave Hello! Project. There have been rumors floating around that Goto is heading to Avex and aims to become a proper pop-star as opposed to a Hello! Project idol. Though these rumors are unfounded.

This explains the cancellation of Goto’s 18th single and her non-appearance at the Winter 2008 Hello! Project concert.

I’m rather shocked by Goto’s graduation so soon after her fourth album and slightly concerned that another good act has left Hello! Project.

[Update 1]

Hello! Online is reporting that on the final night of her tour Goto has told her fans she is graduating from Hello! Project. Various sources have also confirmed that she will continue singing though not with UFA, on another label.

[Update 2]

She’s staying with UFA, not H!P though.

Sources

• Hello! Online (English)
  
• Nikkan Sports (Japanese)
  
• Yahoo! (Japanese)
• MSN Sankei (Japanese)

PS: On my Idol profiles page I’ve moved Maki from the Elder Club to Ex-Hello! Project members and changed her color code to match, I also updated her picture with her presumably last publicity picture from Hello! Project. I also replaced the previous site banner which had contained Maki with a new Nakazawa design.

Fujimoto Miki Leaves Morning Musume

Following in the footsteps of former Morning Musume leader Yaguchi Mari, Fujimoto Miki has quit Morning Musume with the reason being she has betrayed her position as a member of Morning Musume.

I’m actually reasonbly shocked by this as I thought in all honesty this scandal was quite minor, especially consdiering Fujimoto’s character. I feel that it’s quite likely she has been asked to resign as opposed to quiting herself, as she seemed very resolute a few days back. Her resignition is as of today (June 1st 07) and Takahashi Ai has taken over as leader with Niigaki as her subleader. I hope Takahashi can last a little longer, Takhashi stated a few days ago she wasn’t ready to be leader though.

This hasn’t been a good year for Hello! Project so far in terms of scandal.

Fujimoto will continue in GAM with Matsuura Aya, she won’t however be appearing at the 10th anniversary concert this summer.

I wonder if Morning Musume’s 34th single will be delayed now, and I’m also very interested in who will get Fujimoto’s many lines.

UFA Make it Official

There is now a notice on the Hello! Project website about Tsuji Nozomi’s marriage and pregnancy, I’ve translated the article but realised that it’s already been done…twice so you’ll have probably read that else where. Instead…I’ll give my opinion on the situation (Woo for you).

In short, I think UFA and Hello! Project are dealing with this whole “incident” very well. In fact, a little too well. I think it’s most likely been negotiated that Tsuji will part from Hello! Project on good terms and thus not harm any possible future works, which are unlikely now I have to say. Although it has not been announced she is leaving, she won’t be performing pregnant will she? Plus, stress isn’t good for the child in the womb, or so I hear.

I think it would be nice if Tsuji and Hello! Project parted ways nicely, but I very much doubt UFA are “happy for her.” On the contrary, I suspect they’re pretty peeved, what with Tsuji’s solo single just about to be released and her role in an anime just starting. Sure they can replace her, but that usually doesn’t happen in Japanese anime, at least not permanently and so quickly.

I’m pretty sad to see Gyaruru become Gyagonegone. I think they’d have made a nice little unit, even if for only one single. I don’t know if they’ll replace Tsuji, I doubt it somehow. Maybe they’ll still release the single though…maybe.

Anyway before this becomes even more non-sensical, I’m going to stop writing. I almost promise that the next post won’t be about Tsuji. Unless she’s having triplets or something.

Tsuji Nozomi Pregnant and soon to be married! (2 Updates)

Wow! That’s all I can say to this news. I’d like to say I’m surprised but really I’m not too much, what one of the two-top do the other does. I’m not sure how this will affect Gyaruru and her new solo career, but I have a feeling she can’t be a full time idol as well as a mother. I think Tsuji fans will take this very hard, especially after Kago Ai being removed from UFA. The father is supposdly Sugiura Takayasu of ULTRAMAN fame.

The News Report

Update 1: According to FujiTV, UFA have confirmed Tsuji’s upcoming marriage but have yet to confirm the pregnancy.

Update 2: According to Hello! Online, Tsuji is ceasing her showbusiness activities as she needs “peace.”

Sayonara Kago Ai

Well it’s official, Kago Ai won’t be coming back to Hello! Project her contract with UFA has been terminated after the second scandal which has been confirmed as true. I think the fact that this scandal is true is evidence enough that Kago doesn’t really want to be an idol or member of Hello! Project anymore. I’m disappointed I’ll admit, I don’t see how Tsuji can work as a soloist right now. I like Tsuji, but I mainly liked her as a member of W…

I can’t seem to properly access the Hello! Project site right now, maybe it’s flooded with visitors, or maybe they’re removing W’s artist page? Or maybe my computer isn’t working properly… Edit: I can get on now but it’s still going very slowly, I wonder when they’ll take down W’s artist page, or at least update it with a solo picture of Tsuji.

The statement from UFA.

The translated statement from Hello! Online