Ai to graduate from Morning Musume

[Tsujiji]

She will graduate at the end of the Fall 2011 tour, so enjoy your time with her while you can~! <img src='http://mm-bbs.org/public/style_emoticon ... pyeyes.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':suika:' /> I never thought Risa would out live her.



http://www.helloproject.com/news/1101091700_musume.html





Didn't someone call this in the predictions thread?

[Special Needs Tricycle]

Too fast.

[EmEl]

I'm so used to these being swift decisions that I was extremely surprised seeing this post title because, while expected, I didn't think it'd happen this fast. But it seems there's still a lot of Ai time left because the Musume Fall tours end in December. I wonder how many more singles will be graced by her foghorn/beautiful "OH"s. Surely we can't have another album with her before then.



But, um, just her? Risa will outlive the roaches.



Anyway, Ai will certainly still be around in 2012. Just not with the little girls of Morning Musume.

[koolmon]

I expected it. LOL

RIP Morning Musume.

[Tsujiji]

[quote name='Em-El' post='91240' date='Jan 9 2011, 05:35 PM']Anyway, Ai will certainly still be around in 2012. Just not with the little girls of Morning Musume.[/quote]



In my ideal world, this would be done so she could join the old ladies of Afternoon Musume.

[Milly]

Wow, I didn't expect this to be announced so soon. Seems there are still 9 months till the graduation. Takahashi has been center for so long, I can't image what the group will be like without her. Seems like a new era will start.

[showraniy]

Damn. I'm not sure I have THAT much faith in the Kyukkies, UFA...

[EmEl]

As always, thank you for your support.

On January 9, on the stage of the performance at Nakano Sun Plaza, the person herself made the following announcement,

that 5th Generation member Takahashi Ai will graduate from Morning Musume and Hello!Project at this year's Fall Morning Musume Tour.



When there was the announcement that 6th gen member, Kamei Eri, would graduate last year to improve her health,

I gave the advice concerning Takahashi Ai that "Gradually, after this, it would be good for Takahashi to also consider her graduation timing."



It has already become the tenth year since she came in to Morning Musume as a 5th generation member.

Takahashi Ai has been around as the 6th leader for 3 years and 7 months.

The person who has been both a member of Morning Musume for the longest time and the leader for the longest time is Takahashi Ai.

Looking back at it now, I think so, that she has really accomplished her duties admirably for a long time.



(The other graduates and ex-leaders were maybe people whom her head most don't rise up to... but I digress)*

*<yeah, why I am translating when I only have terrible Japanese? Maybe something like "Even though she may feel the most inadequate compared to the other graduates and ex-leaders... but I digress" THANKS, TSUKI, FOR THE HELP>



I've had various discussions with her about these things, and we considered her later activities,

during the New Years performance announced it that because she wanted to graduate during the Fall Morning Musume Tour,

we decided that would hold a full graduation.



Because it will be more than a half-year for this,

from here, the 9th gen members will learn the familiar songs in Morning Musume,

learning the style until they come to the point that they feel it in themselves as members,

they will have their duties from a reliable leader.



While having fun until the end, let's accomplish Morning Musume.



After Takahashi Ai's graduation, her activities will continue to focus on music, coming to the stage and live activities.

Little by little, we'll let you know in detail.



Thus, after Takahashi Ai's graduation, Niigaki Risa from the same 5th generation will inherit the leadership,

in fact, she will become the longest tenured Morning Musume member.



2011/1/9

Morning Musume Producer

Tsunku

Ai's comment

I, Takahashi Ai, am planning on graduating this fall, when we have the Morning Musume Concert Tour,

I will have become graduated from both Morning Musume and Hello!Project.

Because, when it was decided that Kamei Eri, JunJun, and LinLin would graduate,

Tsunku said "Takahashi, you also need to decide your own graduation timing!"

so I was thinking about it.



Because this August will be exactly a full 10 years since joining Morning Musume,

I thought

it would good to graduate during the tour that immediately follows that time!



Until that graduation, there are about nine months, so until then first I think I will do my best as leader so that this new version of Morning Musume will come to a steady form.



I have love for the members who just joined the 9th generation, and I think I want to to tell them many things, everyone please don't worry.

[Ap2000]

[quote name='Special Needs Tricycle' post='91239' date='Jan 9 2011, 09:34 AM']Too fast.[/quote]



Nah, it's ok for her to leave.

She's been leader for a really long time now.

[EmEl]

So, surely Ai by herself can get Yokohama Arena again?

[Tsuki]

I guess this wasn't that unexpected. I'll miss her being that weird quirky one who never really fit in that well.



Fucking Risa though. <img src='http://mm-bbs.org/public/style_emoticon ... cepalm.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':suika:' />



(Also I totally helped EmEl with Tsunku's little side comment above)

[Gerald]

I think this is the final nail in the MM coffin for me, Ai was the last member I really cared about.



I like Risa as a performer and her personality is fine with me, I quite like Sayumi's personality but her singing is, at best, just adequate. Reina, don't like her voice much, personality is OK. Just not enough there to keep me really interested and with Ai going I would be surprised if these three last more than another 12-18 months after she's gone.



Aika......who? (I just had to look her up to see if I had spelt her damn name properly which shows the impact she's had on me). The 9th Generation, I'm sorry but I'm too old to get excited about a bunch of 12-14 year olds even if they are competent performers and without a regular TV show there is fuck-all chance of really seeing their personalities.



My guess is that UFA/Tsunku are rebuilding MM from the ground up in an effort to rebrand them.



Goodbye MM (in nine months), it's been lots of fun and I still have all the old concerts and records to remind me off the great times.

[Special Needs Tricycle]

[quote name='Ap2000' post='91247' date='Jan 9 2011, 04:36 AM'][quote name='Special Needs Tricycle' post='91239' date='Jan 9 2011, 09:34 AM']Too fast.[/quote]



Nah, it's ok for her to leave.

She's been leader for a really long time now.

[/quote]

Not too fast to graduate her, but... too fast to graduate anyone. Right after we had 3 members graduate and auditions? I understand that the graduation itself is like 9 months away, but we've had already had 2 major happenings in the past 30 days. Hold that shit off for another 6 months.



TTM: Are you implying that Takahashi has a personality? Also none of the people who panic after graduation announcements and threaten to quit MM/H!P ever actually do. :> Just sayin.

[Nicky]

Guess he's really renewing the group. I wonder how long Risa, Sayu and Reina will be allowed to stay o_o

[Ap2000]

[quote name='The Turtle Moves' post='91251' date='Jan 9 2011, 12:33 PM']My guess is that UFA/Tsunku are rebuilding MM from the ground up in an effort to rebrand them.[/quote]



Which is exactly what needs to happen.

It's just bad that he didn't do this right after JunLin joined and made them more important figures.

[aine]

[quote name='Ap2000' post='91257' date='Jan 9 2011, 12:41 PM'][quote name='The Turtle Moves' post='91251' date='Jan 9 2011, 12:33 PM']My guess is that UFA/Tsunku are rebuilding MM from the ground up in an effort to rebrand them.[/quote]

Which is exactly what needs to happen.

[/quote]

Word to that. For a long time I was pondering the current rather sad state of MM/H!P, and my conclusion always was that they needed to catch up with the times and/or have a major image and management refresh. I was thinking of putting my thoughts down as a long and boring post to stir some discussion, but the reality acted faster this time.



One could only wish that the re-inventing of the group could happen without losing the long standing beloved members or at least in a gentle and graceful enough passion not to turn off some loyal fans, but nothing is perfect. As much as I can love individual girls, MM is a group and its appeal always was about the group dynamics and it's exciting to see what the future will bring.



I'll miss Ai. <img src='http://mm-bbs.org/public/style_emoticon ... #>/sad.png' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':suika:' />

[Gerald]

[quote name='Special Needs Tricycle' post='91255' date='Jan 9 2011, 12:22 PM'][TTM: Are you implying that Takahashi has a personality?[/quote]

I've never bought into this "Takahashi has no personality" schtick, of course she has. It may not be a in your face type like Yossie or Mikitty but she has always struck me as sweet, intelligent and dedicated to her craft. She often shows an off-beat sense of humour and I think MM will be immeasurably poorer without her.





[quote name='Special Needs Tricycle' post='91255' date='Jan 9 2011, 12:22 PM']Also none of the people who panic after graduation announcements and threaten to quit MM/H!P ever actually do. :> Just sayin.[/quote]

I'm not saying it's a certainty but at the moment I can't see any other outcome but if I'm wrong and I do grow to love the new line-up then I will be the first to admit I got it wrong <img src='http://mm-bbs.org/public/style_emoticon ... /smile.png' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':suika:' />. I guess that's the problem with liking idol groups, the line-up is as important as or perhaps more important than the music.



I can see Scandal being in line for some Turtle love in the future.

[Ap2000]

[quote name='The Turtle Moves' post='91261' date='Jan 9 2011, 02:17 PM']"Takahashi has no personality" schtick[/quote]



To be fair, she said it herself quite often too on shows. "I'm a boring person" etc.

[surasshu]

I think she overstayed her welcome by a good margin (Risa even moreso, but whatever), so I'm not sad to see her go, even if she did become slightly more interesting recently, with her "crazy old lady" thing that she got going on. Love her or hate her though, she and Reina are the only singers MM has right now, not counting the 9th gen members. So they better learn fast, cause Sayu sure ain't gonna learn to sing any better than she does!



She won't actually graduate for quite a while though, so it's kind of interesting that this announcement is made so far in advance (or so it seems compared to others?). I wonder if this is an implicit instruction to the new girls to step up and take a central position. Mizuki and Riho are almost certainly up for it, and Kanon and Erina at least have the spirit and drive. Reina better start singing properly again... <img src='http://mm-bbs.org/public/style_emoticon ... /laugh.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':wheely:' />



As far as a revamp of the MM image, that's exactly what this is and I agree with those that say it was badly needed. But I am definitely anxious about what style they will choose from her on out. If you consider what has been most successful for H!P recently, it certainly isn't some kind of "cool" style, but rather cutesy happy stuff. In fact that has been their most successful stuff throughout. I think if they try to take it in an AKB48-ish direction (like, serious/sexy/dark/cool-style), they will fail.



One style that I think would work quite well for the current group is something like Minimoni in the "Crazy About You" style. It's not "mature", but it is kinda cool, while still being girly and cute. I'd like to see that. A kind of electro-ish style could also be an option, and since there isn't really a Japanese mainstream idol answer to the Hallyu wave style, they could jump into that gap too.



Anyway much is riding on the next single, it better be good TSUNKU. <img src='http://mm-bbs.org/public/style_emoticon ... /frown.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':suika:' />

[Shoujo Q]

My only thought is, why couldn't it be Risa? :< As a fan of Morning Musume you got lulled into a false sense of security after the panda's joined because there was such a long period where there wasn't a graduation or anything. But in reality this is what Morning Musume was before then and this is what Morning Musume should still be. Takahashi, Risa, Reina, Sayumi or Eri, they could have graduated a year or two ago but Tsunku held off. Why? Probably because he wanted to expand but that didn't pan out well so now he's back to his old tricks and trying to freshen up the group to compete with other girl groups that have overtaken H!P as #1.



But Takahashi will do well in stage and television, she's got that going for her and I don't see much of a music career coming out of her. She's already 24 and I can see why Tsunku would want to get her out now while she's still young enough to do something with her life. I'm not bitter, she's been around a long while.



I'll be sad to see old fans go because they can't handle a Musume without Takahashi. I have faith in the Cookies, and I'm sure Tsunku does also or else who wouldn't have Takahashi leaving so soon. I'm sure there will be a lot less of her and maybe even Reina in the new Musume singles but we'll just have to wait and see about that. I wonder if Tsunku will hold more auditions at the end of the year?





So long Takahashi, she wasn't my favorite but she did hold a place in my heart cause of her quirks and she liked my artwork. <img src='http://mm-bbs.org/public/style_emoticon ... #>/wub.png' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':suika:' />

[alita87]

This wasn't unexpected, and she reannounced it at the evening show today. Those that want to leave, just do it now and save the wank I say. I think a lot of the ones wanting to leave are those who got into it after 8th gen joined so just aren't used to seeing these changes. But, this is what Musume has always been. I got into MM because of Yossi, then the first concert I saw live, the afternoon of her graduation. Did I quit, no. I latched onto Aika for a couple of months then Junjun, and now my beloved Junjun has left. So now I support her in whatever she ends up doing and have already written and given over to staff a fanletter to the 9th Gen girls wishing them the best and telling them to stay strong even through any troubles they might have. And I will decide on a favorite by whoever catches my interest the quickest. That is how Musume has always worked.



I am betting that he wanted to talk to Ai about her graduation last year, but then Eri decided on her own that she wanted to pursue skin rehabilitation so Ai was just pushed back a bit. The girl has been there ten years, that is an eternity for a Musume member. The only reason Risa isn't leaving too is that Musume does need at least her and Reina as the main vocals. But I am sure she will go the year after. That is how this works. We support them in the group til they are ready to blossom and fly out on their own.

[Pi Mako]

First: Wow, surprised the decision was made so quickly.



Second: Why couldn't it have been Risa? (Or Sayumi, lawl)



Third: I don't want Reina as lead vocals. I don't like her whiny voice. <img src='http://mm-bbs.org/public/style_emoticon ... #>/sad.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':(' />



Fourth: Are they going to push Riho to make her a super ace and have her be lead vocals as well?



Fifth: Finally. It's about damn time.



This is very interesting news, though, altogether. I'm actually looking forward to see what kind of group Morning Musume will evolve into, now. I feel like for the last five years it's been Ai + Reina (and some girls).

[Suika]

If this announcement were about Risa graduating, things would be too perfectly aligning in our favor for a hopeful H!P 2011. I'm not sad to see Ai go, and I hope it leaves a better opportunity for the newbies to share in line distribution, but good god, RISA as the leader of our revitalized MM? What a cruel twist.

[EmEl]

[quote name='Suika' post='91269' date='Jan 9 2011, 09:21 AM']If this announcement were about Risa graduating, things would be too perfectly aligning in our favor for a hopeful H!P 2011. I'm not sad to see Ai go, and I hope it leaves a better opportunity for the newbies to share in line distribution, but good god, RISA as the leader of our revitalized MM? What a cruel twist.[/quote]

Well, Ai's still gonna be around for essentially all of 2011. Her graduation is more about changing 2012. This is like when baseball teams give up a year of contention and say they're going into rebuilding mode. Ai's gonna be there as the veteran presence to help the rookies mature for their breakout season.



She said 9 months in her statement, but I guess she meant because that's when the Fall concert starts. But since I don't think she'll be graduating on the first show, she's really gonna be around for two more months than that.

[al kusanagi]

No, no, no, fucking NO!



She is only allowed to graduate if she takes goddamned Risa with her.

[Cyrene]

Yes, she's finally leaving! And Risa will be leader? MM-Heaven! In all honesty though, good luck to her. She really needs more personality and I was getting tired of her being center all the time. Bring on the new girls and new MM!

[Vikitty]

[quote name='Ap2000' post='91257' date='Jan 9 2011, 04:41 AM'][quote name='The Turtle Moves' post='91251' date='Jan 9 2011, 12:33 PM']My guess is that UFA/Tsunku are rebuilding MM from the ground up in an effort to rebrand them.[/quote]



Which is exactly what needs to happen.

It's just bad that he didn't do this right after JunLin joined and made them more important figures.

[/quote]

THIS THIS THIS. It was bound to happen eventually. I think the only reason Risa isn't going with her is because it would have been overkill.

[Haru]

What.

What.

What.



...

OH GOD DUCKFACE IS THE LEADER



We're fucked.



ETA - This could probably be a better post.

When I'm not so mindfucked I'll get back with you.



ETA II - Don't know who else, but Saya called it, Usa.



[quote name='Saya' post='89789' date='Dec 23 2010, 10:55 PM']-Ai or Risa graduate at the very end of the year or if not then 2012[/quote]



Fall tour is pretty end of 2011 since they extend into December.

Have all of the graduations been the fall tour? The past two have been, so that's what makes me wonder.

[Mukuro]

It is sad to see Ai go, I mean she's been in MM forever but I do think it is time for her to go. I do hope Tsunku pulls up some 9th gen members into the spotlight. But then again, we have another year to see what Tsunku does.



Ai will be missed. <img src='http://mm-bbs.org/public/style_emoticon ... /heart.png' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':(' />

[jochin]

This means Sayu is staying for at least another year, right? <img src='http://mm-bbs.org/public/style_emoticon ... #>/wub.png' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':(' />