Maeda Yuuka is going to graduate from S/mileage

[al kusanagi]

It's on Sanspo, so that makes it official...



Yuka is leaving HP at the end of the year to prepare for college exams.



This is kinda bullshit. They push the girl to the front and now they're letting her go? Yeah, it's good for her to get her education on, but Momoko manages to do both.



Another thing that pisses me off is that S/mileage is all but MM now. They should just merge the remnants of the groups and be done with it or let MM disappear into J-pop history and have S/mileage take over.

[Mugi]

From Hello Online it says Yuuka is graduating to focus on her university entrance exams.



WOW. I didn't see this coming AT ALL. <img src='http://mm-bbs.org/public/style_emoticon ... nfused.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' /> I really didn't think another person would leave the group this fast. What age do you go to college in Japan? Man I'm guessing s/mileage is gonna lose a lot of fans with this graduation. <img src='http://mm-bbs.org/public/style_emoticon ... >/sigh.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':sigh:' />

[Anderei]

It makes me feel like Wada and Kanon are on borrowed time. I hope neither of them decide to split as well.

[boinsie]

This whole thing's just ridiculous. Why release a single on the birthday of a girl that's graduating mere days later? The Single V will be released after she's gone.



It's also all very poor planning to have had it announced in the paper before somewhere official. Bleh.



Also, hilarious. Remember when all the girls were answering "Yuuka" as whose voice they'd like to have, and everyone was like, "Ohhhh, bet she's next to go solo!"

Well, that was half-right. <img src='http://mm-bbs.org/public/style_emoticon ... mellow.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':mellow:' />

[al kusanagi]

Yeah, it's ridiculous that the news comes out this way when their manager tweets like every 5 minutes.

[al kusanagi]

Who the fuck changed my thread title? I'd never call her "Yuuka." It's Yuka, dammit. And her last name comes second because we're speaking English!!! And my snarky sub comment about MM Kids!



I'm being oppressed!!!

[Cyrene]

OMG no! I actually kind of liked this member! <img src='http://mm-bbs.org/public/style_emoticon ... ryalot.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':cryalot:' />

[al kusanagi]

And the official announcement with comments from Yuka and Tsunku.



Makes it sound like she decided it the day the sub-members got promoted.

[Melon]

So, they kicked out the two members I thought were cute. I don't think I have a chance at loving this group the way I do the other H!P groups now. <img src='http://mm-bbs.org/public/style_emoticon ... hahaha.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':hahaha:' />



Is it time to play the funeral violins for s/mileage now? <img src='http://mm-bbs.org/public/style_emoticon ... /ph34r.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':ph34r:' />

[Farrah]

[quote name='Al Kusanagi' timestamp='1319488933' post='111124']

This is kinda bullshit. They push the girl to the front and now they're letting her go? Yeah, it's good for her to get her education on, but Momoko manages to do both.

[/quote]



That reminds me of SweetS - Aya and Aki went on hiatus for just a short time for entrance exams. Makes me think this has less to do with education and more to do with unrest over the new members.



This is really shocking, tbh. Two members leaving a once static group in just a few months. I never would have expected Yuuka to leave.

[Pucchi-Mo]

A birthday single for graduation, just like Ai? Make it double A-sided!

This is not the solo career I had in mind when I said all of the Pocket Morning comments were because she's going to do something outside of S/mileage soon. <img src='http://mm-bbs.org/public/style_emoticon ... dammit.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':dammit:' />



Maybe she was the true reason for the audition, or that the sub-member idea is over.

Wait, when Tsunku was trolling us with the sub/full member position announcement, wasn't Yuuka's picture the only one he didn't touch?



So,

C-ute: 5

S/mileage: 6

Berryz: 7

Morning Musume: ∞

[Madara]

In my blog entry on the C-ute-S/mileage joint concert two weeks ago (Oct. 10), I noted that Saki had been the only member I really liked but that Yuuka showed real improvement in this concert. I put it this way:

...you can see the girls of S/mileage working very hard to keep up with their seniors. Saki Ogawa, S/mileage’s departing member, acquits herself beautifully, as always, but I was quite impressed with Yuuka Maeda, who showed an energy and confidence I hadn’t noticed before.

Later, in response to a comment, I added:

the fact remains that 50% of the enjoyment I get from [the S/mileage Limited Live concert] is due to Saki, 30% is due to Yuuka and only 10% each from the other two. So with Saki gone, that's 50% of the enjoyment gone...

And now with Yuuka leaving...80%!



I just ordered the "Tachia Girl" single-V, which will be my first glimpse of the new girls. I'm skeptical, but we'll see...



A question:

Does this mean High-King is finished for good?

[Shoujo Q]

SHOCK!





I'm going to blame Takahashi AND Saki O for making Yuka graduate, I bet they put the silly idea in her head.



Now who are all of H!P going to pick as their favorite member for everything in their Q&A's? D:



But seriously, putting S/mileage aside for the moment I was thinking about Berryz and C-ute today. Sure they are the stable groups, but just how stable can they be when the members are starting to push 20? Can you honestly see a bunch of 20 year olds in a group called Berryz Koubou and C-ute? They are very childish names to me. Especially Berryz.



Anyway, I went off there, back to Yuka.



At least Kanon is still there? Meimi better get some mega awesome singing chops to go with her teeth because if she doesn't I'm going to have a serious problem next year if all I have are Akari and Kanon to fall back on.



WHY COULDN'T WADA GO AWAY!?

[Mugi]

[quote name='Al Kusanagi' timestamp='1319489739' post='111134']

Who the fuck changed my thread title? I'd never call her "Yuuka." It's Yuka, dammit. And her last name comes second because we're speaking English!!! And my snarky sub comment about MM Kids!



I'm being oppressed!!!

[/quote]



<img src='http://mm-bbs.org/public/style_emoticon ... /lmfao.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':lmfao:' /> I think I changed it or our two threads merged into one. If you look it says my comment came 1 minute after yous did. So it took my tile and sub title, but it made it look like you made the thread. I was confused as well. What does speaking english have to do with the way her name is wrote?

[Shoujo Q]

Mama fix!



I wonder if there will be another round of S/mileage auditions next year, or they will let Fuyuka back in? She may have not been able to sing, but she seemed to be good enough for front girl material.



Kana is going to be beside herself.





And why the hell if Yuka getting a mention of graduation in advance and all Saki O got was a weeks notice?

[Anderei]

[quote name='Madara' timestamp='1319492105' post='111144']



I just ordered the "Tachia Girl" single-V, which will be my first glimpse of the new girls. I'm skeptical, but we'll see...



[/quote]



You'll get a very small glimpse, since they don't have any real lines and not a ton of screen-time. You're probably better off waiting for the S/mileage concert.

[al kusanagi]

MM 3rd generation- Maki Goto



S/mileage 3rd generation- KARIN!!!!



Otherwise I'm going to need a new pair of Nikes, because one is going to be permanently stuck up Tsunku's ass...

[Farrah]

[quote name='Al Kusanagi' timestamp='1319492779' post='111152']

MM 3rd generation- Maki Goto



S/mileage 3rd generation- KARIN!!!!



Otherwise I'm going to need a new pair of Nikes, because one is going to be permanently stuck up Tsunku's ass...

[/quote]



Something tells me that Karin is going to go the Saho Akari route and be forever passed over in favor of less attractive, less talented girls until she completely fades into obscurity.

[Mugi]

Hello SayuNii has a translation of Yuuka's message about her graduating.

[tsukinobyouin]

[quote name='Shoujo Q' timestamp='1319492531' post='111147']

WHY COULDN'T WADA GO AWAY!?

[/quote]



My thoughts exactly. <img src='http://mm-bbs.org/public/style_emoticon ... /laugh.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':lol:' /> I always thought Maeda was overrated, but this is a pretty big blow to the group. They're basically H!P's version of NEWS now.

[Mukuro]

This killed me, Yuka was always my favourite it just won't be the same. ):

[kuhaiyaazi]

[quote name='Shoujo Q' timestamp='1319492531' post='111147']WHY COULDN'T WADA GO AWAY!?

[/quote]

Thirded! <img src='http://mm-bbs.org/public/style_emoticon ... dammit.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':dammit:' />



This is really sad. She can sing and dance pretty well, and while it's good that she's going to pursue her education, she'd better go to school like she says otherwise I'll... be unjustifiably angry about something that has little to do with me, damn it!

[Haru]

Screamed at the computer irl.

I feel like Kanana is the only good thing about S/mileage now. <img src='http://mm-bbs.org/public/style_emoticon ... pyeyes.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':puppyeyes:' />

Although it's good she's pursuing education. But...why couldn't she try to pull a Momoko?

[MiniLovely]

[quote name='ketamine' timestamp='1319501656' post='111176']

[quote name='Shoujo Q' timestamp='1319492531' post='111147']WHY COULDN'T WADA GO AWAY!?

[/quote]

Thirded! <img src='http://mm-bbs.org/public/style_emoticon ... dammit.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':dammit:' />



[/quote]



Fourthed! <img src='http://mm-bbs.org/public/style_emoticon ... umbsup.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' />



Reading the translation of the graduation letter, it seems like she's really put a lot of thought into her decision. She never struck me as, at least after the overhaul, one of the members who hated the change (or at least other members) as much as the girls did at the time of the announcement and possibly Saki. They all seem to get along well in S/mileage, between the two generations.



Also, though it may be due to the wording of the translation, Maeda seems like a smart girl. I'm sure she'll do well in whatever she puts her mind to, if she has the determination to make a decision like this.



Perhaps Tsunku knew about her consideration of this beforehand, thus the subbies becoming full members? Seems like there's a pre-baked, underhanded for all of the decisions made, for this group.



[quote name='Haru' timestamp='1319505245' post='111179']

Screamed at the computer irl.

I feel like Kanana is the only good thing about S/mileage now. <img src='http://mm-bbs.org/public/style_emoticon ... pyeyes.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':puppyeyes:' />

Although it's good she's pursuing education. But...why couldn't she try to pull a Momoko?

[/quote]



I agree, even though I still can't enjoy S/mileage at all since the turnover, Kanana is the only one I like. <img src='http://mm-bbs.org/public/style_emoticon ... pyeyes.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':puppyeyes:' />

Kanon, though! That girl needs to pick a hairstyle that works and come back to the forefront of frontgirls and be visibly adorable again because she will fall right to the back quickly if she doesn't now that the other girls are fullmembers.



As for Momoko, isn't she studying to be a preschool teacher? As respectable a profession that is, and while I'm not sure of the regulations and requirements of it in Japan, at least here (in the US, or at least in my state) a teaching certification is not required for this. I'd considered going the preschool/kindergarten teacher route and done research into it and, while respectable and surely taxing, it isn't as much of a trial as other programs in universities. Is Momoko at a university, or just a college? If she's handling both education and a decently busy idol career, her courseload is probably light (or via correspondence).



Yuuka though, if she wants to go to University, will be very busy with it! She hasn't claimed a major or study publicly, either.



Needless to say, there's been such a mismanagement and (objective) wrecking of such a great group. Even if Maeda has been debating this for some time, there's little chance now that it would seem like a worthwhile career to stay in.



Good job, Tsunku.



<img src='http://mm-bbs.org/public/style_emoticon ... onechi.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':kanonechi:' />

[eri]

I don't know. I think I'm done with S/mileage too now.

[tsukinobyouin]

[quote name='Afternoon Mimolette' timestamp='1319507460' post='111185']

Stuff about idols going to college/university.

[/quote]



I'm not sure what Momoko is doing, but the whole go to college while being an idol is practically the cool thing to do these days. Sakurai Sho of Arashi used to get huge praise for it, because he went through all of the Keio elevator schools while in Johnnys Juniors, did college entrance exams, went to Keio, and graduated with a business degree while in Arashi. He graduated in 2004 I believe, and back then most idols didn't even finish high school xD But now a whole buch of Johnnys members are going to/have graduated from various universities, and lots of young actresses have done it as well. I wouldn't be surprised if most schools gave all of these people more leeway than the average student though.



So in short it's not at all impossible for an idol to pursue a degree at a university, regardless of the prestige of the school or the difficulty of the degree. In general, Japanese university is not as difficult as you would think. The hard part is getting in, but once you're in it's a lot more about networking and finding a job using the name of your school as a fancy badge that lets you in nice places. Sure there are still exams and work, but it's nothing like the work in high school.



I would imagine that the main reason to drop out of the idol life and go to school full time is that the person is thinking about the vitality of their idol career and/or thinking about what they really want to do with the rest of their lives. Maybe Maeda wants to fully enjoy the social life of college, meet boys and get married before she's 35 and sitting around UFA doing nothing. Maybe she wants to pursue a specific career and realizes that by the time her idol career is over, she won't be able to go back and do it.



I just hope this isn't another one of those "I want out of H!P/my group" ploys or a decision she's going to regret later and then she makes some awkward comeback Konno style.

[Shoujo Q]

Or Makoto style. I still have no clue why she wanted to go study English?



Despite the fact I liked Yuka and I find it sad S/mileage is breaking apart at the seams, I'll still support them as I would any other H!P group. It isn't about the girls for me, it's about the whole package. The music, outfits, concerts, videos. Whatever. As long as it continues, I'll be there. Being a fan of Morning Musume taught me to lick my wounds and keep on going along.

[momoirosaya]

My favorite S/mileage member. My favorite H!P member.

WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON!?!?!?



Literally ruined my whole week. Just sitting here with my mouth open for 5 minutes.



After the new members came in and Saki left, I was feeling a bit meh about S/mileage. I missed 4nin.

I thought, I'll get over it soon...but then Yuuka has to go and graduate. (Ironically I'm wearing my Yuuka S/mileage concert T-shirt right now as well which I use for pajamas :D).



Okay. It's official, after Yuuka graduates, S/mileage will no longer be my favorite H!P group and I will stuck wallow sadly in the shadows of the former S/mileage, crying for the good old days, and then go listen to some AKB fulltime or something, or get back into MM more.



Dawa, Kanyon, and the newbies.

It's not even S/mileage anymore.

Maybe I'll come to like this new S/mileage, but right now, it's just not working for me. :/



Sucks for S/mileage too, losing their most popular member. I imagine that they might lose some popularity now. They are falling apart.

2 members in just 5 months. 3 if you count Fuu-chan.

Oh and her last single has the crappiest title in all of H!P history. Great <img src='http://mm-bbs.org/public/style_emoticon ... /sleep.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='-_-' />



Forever crying/ <img src='http://mm-bbs.org/public/style_emoticon ... ryalot.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':cryalot:' />

[al kusanagi]

Of course Sayu made a huge blog post about her beloved Yuka.



A short blog from Ai.



Maimi chimes in too.



Mano tweeted about it, but no blog.

[Pucchi-Mo]

[quote name='Shoujo Q' timestamp='1319550154' post='111211']

Or Makoto style. I still have no clue why she wanted to go study English?

[/quote]

...beats sitting in the background behind Konno?



Maybe Maeda Yuuka will be like Maeda Yuki and announce graduation from H!P, but nothing actually happens and she stays for a while. <img src='http://mm-bbs.org/public/style_emoticon ... tongue.png' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' /> That was so strange.



H!P, why can't we have nice things...



and keep them?