Tamura Meimi to graduate ANGERME & H!P in Spring 2016

[Solarblade]

Announced at their Christmas live today, Meimi is graduating to start from scratch as a singer and also focus on becoming an actress!

[al kusanagi]

Honestly, she is too damn good for Hello Project.

[TicTacAnyone]

I'm fucking sad because she has so much power, so much love for the art she performs.... But she's always been destined for more. She's to being an actress as Riho is to being a dancer. It just hurts. Her performances will be so, so SO sorely missed.

[Noa]

Nooooooooooooo my gen one favorite leaves, now my gen two favorite??? Murota better stay in the damn group for a decade.

[Solarblade]

http://www.helloproject.com/news/4010/

Official confirmation and here's what's written on UP-FRONT's Facebook page:

To everyone who support us
I, Meimi Tamura, will graduate from ANGERME and Hello! Project during 2016 spring.
I have been a Hello! Project idol for 4 years and a half, since I became S/mileage. This year, I have been able to do this hall tour, and perform successfully 2 times as 9 members at the Nippon Budokan. Fukuda Kanon-san also graduated and we have welcomed a new member so this year was really full.
With all of this, I want to follow my own challenge! This feeling became little by little stronger. And during ANGERME’s activities, many people told me they like when I sing, and every time I heard those words, I thought about always singing.
Then, about one of my other dreams… I would like to be a musical actress. After this nice dream realized of becoming a S/mileage member, I would like to have a new start and fulfill this new dream.
I am anxious about some points, but I made this decision thanks to all the fans.
S/mileage grew up as ANGERME. As ANGERME’s member, I have been proud that I performed as a Hello! Project idol.
I will cherish the remaining time I have as an ANGERME’s member and I will continue to try my best harder than ever!
Please continue to support ANGERME, as well as Meimi Tamura!
20th December 2015 ANGERME Meimi Tamura

[momoirosaya]

Man, I'm really disappointed. She's hands down the best vocalist in ANGERME and is one of my favorite H!P members :/

They should have added 2 members for 4th gen. (Also I just hate single member generations, they always look so lonely).

[Elpis]

This is disappointing but I wish Meimi well. Hopefully Moe is good at singing. I hope Angerme wont be struggling too much in the vocal department now that their other strong singer is leaving.

[JoshuaJSlone]

I remember this possibility coming up not long ago over at H!O forums--that if she was really serious about getting into musicals she'd probably be leaving sooner rather than later. I guess full 2nd gen S/mileage won't go longer than 9th gen Morning Musume after all.
 
^And yeah, beyond being a personal favorite of mine this is a big blow to ANGERME. With Kanon gone I thought Meimi would be relied on more, but I guess we might see that being the case for a single single.

[Madara]

Dammit!
 

[Shoujo Q]

If you need me I'll be over in the corner sobbing.


TT_____________TT

[WonderBuono]

[quote="Al Kusanagi"]
Honestly, she is too damn good for Hello Project.
[/quote]
 
This. I can't be sad here because I know that she's got way more potential than she can fulfill in H!P. Plus I've always thought her voice was WAY better fit for musicals than pop.

[Vikitty]

I'M SO SAD.
 
But she's too good for H!P. So it makes sense. 

[kira]

I woke up to this news, and I'm so sad about it (she's been my favourite for a while now), but at the same time, I would love to see her do things more suited to her singing abilities.

[Revangelis]

In a way I'm really sad, but... I'm sure there is something better in store for her than H!P.
 
It's just really sucky for ANGERME to have two good singers leave in such a short period of time...

[Madara]

Three of my favorites leaving in such a short space of time: Kanon, Riho and Meimi. It's times like these that try H!P fans' souls.
 

[yuzuriha]

Obviously my second favorite member leaving my current favorite group is going to make me sad.  but at the same time I'm glad it's from a group where I have so many others to love at the same time, and that it's for a darned good reason.  I am still upset, but trying to look at the bright side. <3  I wish her nothing but the best.

[showraniy]

Argh! I was so happy until I read that she wants to sing in musicals.


She could have a great career in mainstream pop, which I actually listen to, so I'm sad she's going to something I can't survive to save my life. :(


She's a fabulous idol, so I'm sad she's going, but she'll be an even better singer regardless of medium, so I guess I'm happy too. Get it, Meimi!

[Banana]

I'm happy for her, but this might kill my interest in the group.   I hope not, though. We'll see. 
 
Anyways, I also hope we get watch her do whatever she's going to do... and that it doesn't involve too much dancing, lol. 

[aine]

X Sayumi
X Riho
X Meimi
□ Sakura
□ Ayumi
 
Help me.

[JoshuaJSlone]

I'm realizing that with this, ANGERME is finally really really different from S/mileage as it was when I got into them. Until about a month ago, it was still all those 6 members plus some new extras. But soon it will be the case that members from that time make up only half the group.

[Shoujo Q]

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="aine" data-cid="193650" data-time="1450826525">
X Sayumi

X Riho

X Meimi

□ Sakura

□ Ayumi


Help me. </blockquote>


Replace Riho with Fukuda Kanon and Ayumi with Airi and that would be my list too. Though Riho is still a sad loss. She isn't as big a loss for me as if Sakura left.

[JPope]

[quote="aine"]
X Sayumi
X Riho
X Meimi
□ Sakura
□ Ayumi
 
Help me.
[/quote]
 
□ Haruka
□ Masaki
□ Rikako
 
 

[freezingkiss]

Meimi graduating 30 May (source 910 percent on facey - not sure if true but probably)

[Anderei]

It is true. They're having a hall tour and the last day is 5/30 at Budokan.

[Purin-chama]

I might be in Japan for her final concert... Going to see if my friend will go with. Does anyone see when tickets go on sale? I'm Japanese illiterate....   Been also toying with the idea of going to Kanon's if it is the same time frame. 

[kitaoji]

[quote="Myst"]
I might be in Japan for her final concert... Going to see if my friend will go with. Does anyone see when tickets go on sale? I'm Japanese illiterate....   Been also toying with the idea of going to Kanon's if it is the same time frame. 
[/quote]
 
The April concert tickets haven't been listed on the primary channels such as Pia and Lawsons.  April concert tickets go on sale in March, so I'd say start watching around mid to end of March?
 
That said, if you know FC folks, check and see if they've opened it up to FC members.  Those lottery drawings are about 3 months in advance.  Also, I'd try to keep an eye on the member blogs - if you see  ブログ先行 it means they're doing pre-sales via a blog link, and you should jump on that ASAP.  
 
Note: always budget ticket price + 15% for stuff including commission and usage fees and all that good stuff.

[Shoujo Q]

I'm going to miss Meimi so much. :<


BTW I added the concert set-list to a new thread in releases.
 
Here are some pictures.


Maimi came and read a letter.

 
Meimi's graduation dress. She opted away from member colors. 

[DonJuan]

It reminds me of some musical dress. Can't name it though. Maybe it's Meimi's favourite musical?

[JoshuaJSlone]

Nice of everyone to dress to the nines with bowties for the occasion.

[momoirosaya]

I'm going to miss her! I wonder if ANGERME is going to hold another round of auditions (or just toss in some KSS) now since it's getting to the time that 2nd gen is starting to graduate too.