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UPDATE

In light of the graduation of the OG H!P girls, it's was announced to the H!P fan club that they have to now choose which fan club they wish to belong to.

A) Hello! Project (Morning Musume, Berryz, Cute, Mano Erina, Eggs)
B) Matsuura Aya
C) Morning Musume OG (Yossi, Rika, Miki, Abe, Yaguchi, Ogawa, Konno, Yasuda, Nakasawa, Kaori, Tsuji)
D) Melon Kinenbi

We still don't know what's going on with Inaba Atsuko, Maeda Yuki, Mihoshi Erika, and Okada Yu. Rumor has it they'll also be under a new "umbrella".

It was also announced on MKB's blog that they're not breaking up.

So, this basically means that they're keeping "Hello! Project" as the "pure" sector, and allowing the others to do which ever endeavors they so choose under the mature category. So you have to get more memberships and spend more money to follow your favourite members. Many members are angry at this move as it resembles the JOHNNY's like membership and forcing fans to pay more on top of concert tickets, merchandise and CD/DVD releases.

Original Story:

A major shock was announced today on the Hello! Project website. All OG (old generation) members will be graduating from Hello! Project as of March 31st, 2009. This means that they will no longer be participating in any Hello! Project activities.

Many believe that this may be the death of H!P due to the lack of fandom for the younger groups (C-ute, current Morning Musume and BerryZ Kobo).

This could also mean that they will be opening a new branch in UFA, so the girls can do more "adult" entertainment if they so wish.

Members include:

Morning Musume OG:
Nakazawa Yuuko
Iida Kaori
Abe Natsumi
Yasuda Kei
Yaguchi Mari
Ishikawa Rika
Yoshizawa Hitomi
Tsuji Nozomi
Konno Asami
Ogawa Makoto
Fujimoto Miki

Inaba Atsuko
Satoda Mai (Country Musume)
Saito Hitomi (Melon Kinenbi)
Murata Megumi (Melon Kinenbi)
Ohtani Masae (Melon Kinenbi)
Shibata Ayumi (Melon Kinenbi)
Maeda Yuki
Matsuura Aya
Miyoshi Erika
Okada Yui
Ongaku Gatas (presumably, Korenaga Miki, Noto Arisa, Sengoku Minami, Sawada Yuri)

Translation of comments from Hello! Online .

Tsunku's comment

I have an important news to share.

All members of H!P Elder Club, namely Morning Musume OG (Nakazawa Yuuko, Iida Kaori, Abe Natsumi, Yasuda Kei, Yaguchi Mari, Ishikawa Rika, Yoshizawa Hitomi, Tsuji Nozomi, Konno Asami, Ogawa Makoto, Fujimoto Miki), Inaba Atsuko, Satoda Mai(Country Musume), Melon Kinenbi, Maeda Yuki, Matsuura Aya, Miyoshi Erika, Okada Yui and Ongaku Gatas, will be graduating from Hello!Project on 31.3.2009.

Most of theses girls have already graduated from Morning Musume and other groups.
They have been appearing on stage since their teen age.

After 10th year anniversary has passed, they have realized that it is necessary to smash through the stereotypes they have built by now, and find courage to begin a new trip towards their future careers.

Personally, I have big expectations to see their future efforts, and I would like to announce my support for these girls.

I also hope you will keep supporting both current Hello!Project members and the members who are going to graduate.

Hello!project producer Tsunku


Nakazawa Yuuko's comment

Effective from 31.3.2009, H!P Elder Club members will be graduating from Hello!Project.

Since my graduation from Morning Musume in 2001, I have been in charge of leader position in H!P.

H!P has been a place where we have been putting all out efforts into creating and expressing songs and performances.

Now it is time for every member to leave this place and walk on towards the new step, but we will definitely keep putting all our efforts to bring you dreams and excitement.

As for the future of H!P, our juniors (kouhai) will take over the spirit and carry it on. Please give them even bigger support.

Nakazawa Yuuko