
Timeline:
May 12: Fujii Rio announces that she has decided to graduate from Kobushi Factory and Hello!Project. Says she wants to focus on becoming a teacher or a nurse. Was meant to graduate at the end of the H!P Summer tour, which ran from July 15 to September 2.
July 6: Up Front announces on the website that they have decided to end Fujii's contract early as a result of noncompliance with the rules. Stated that they had talked with her and her family and tried to resolve the issue first. Magazine reported that it was behavior issues and was having an effect on other members. Fans speculated she wasn't showing up to practice and events because she was absent for a lot of promotional activities for their 4th single.
July 13: H!P website announces that Ogawa Rena has been diagnosed with anxiety neurosis and will go on hiatus until mid-August. Rena posts on her blog telling fans not to worry about her.
July 20: Purikura of Rena with a boy are posted on twitter. Text on photos makes it clear he's a boyfriend. Photos on Kobushi's blog of the exact same outfit make it clear it's her. Up Front makes no statement. Photos in question:
August 4: Photo is leaked of a girl fans believe to be Hamaura Ayano, because of a backpack. Girl isn't able to be clearly seen, but is with a boy and using the charger station on his bike. No statement is released nor is any action taken against Hamaura. Photo in question:
August 16: Up Front states that there is no sign of recovery for Ogawa and that her physical condition is still unstable. Hiatus will continue.
September 6: It's announced that Ogawa Rena has decided to graduate from both Kobushi Factory and Hello!Project. Her final blog post hints that Up Front gave her an ultimatum and she decided to leave on her own. Joins Twitter soon after. Her twitter has recently been locked and is not public. Has also streamed on Line Live and showed Taguchi's face to prove she was the real Rena.
November 9: Photos are leaked on twitter of Taguchi Natsumi in bed with a boy. Photos in question. Up Front makes no statement, Taguchi continues blogging and performing with the group as normal.
December 6: Up Front announces that the contract with Taguchi Natsumi has been terminated. A TV reporter who is a fan of hers says that he knows Up Front Staff and that Taguchi decided to end it herself, had planned to do so at the end of the year but pushed it forward for an unknown reason, and that Ogawa leaving was a big influence on her decision.
December 9: Photos of Hirose Ayaka are leaked on twitter with a man. The twitter account in question is brand new, is writing as if it's from her point of view and is tagging everything #kobushi_bus. Kobushi just started a bus tour.
December 9: Totsugeki Mou Icchou (a show Taguchi has been on before) got word of her leaving and talked about her for a bit. Man from the show named Nakajima sums up what happened and states that the Line Live hurt her more than the actual relationship did. Says she felt guilty, and asked to be withdrawn. Told him to come to the Kobushi Shinjuku ReNy stage or he might regret it, and was not acting her usual self while he was there.
December:
December: someone created a Twitter account under the name Sasuke (さすけ) the other day to leak a purikura of Taguchi and Rena (wearing the same clothes as their infamous LINE LIVE), and talk about "Hirose Hate", "Drinking Factory", "Hirose's ex-boyfriend" and "Wada-Hirose-Taguchi are slutty bitches". Screenshots in question:
Edit by aine: See these two threads for more background.