Graduation Shock: YuiKaori to Graduate StylipS and My Thoughts

There is one thing about Morning Musume and AKB48 that I have just found I truly appreciate; the graduations within these groups are expected, so as a fan, you kind of mentally prepare yourself for these graduations even if you don't want them, because in these groups it is a written rule; at some point, a member will graduate, and a new one will replace them soon after.

So when it comes to other groups that don't have this system, or never had this system from the beginning, it is shocking when it happens.

... Just like it shocked me when I found out that Ishihara Kaori and Ogura Yui had announced their graduation from StylipS.

I Reading this announcement, I think I went into a state of shock; I was probably being mellow-dramatic about it, but at 5am in the morning, there is not much you can do when you want to scream - so I resorted to crying and rocking back and forth for a few minutes as I talked to Nia on facebook about it, though I doubt I made much progress in trying to construct a decent sentence. Even now, about 45 minutes after reading the news, I am still in a state of shock over it. Disbelief too, but mostly shock and sadness.

I mean, really... this is completely unexpected. Why? Why why why is this happening? A few hours ago I was thinking I was so incredibly happy, and wondering what could happen to make me sad and ruin that happiness. Well, considering I just damn well jinxed myself, I am now completely sad, because YuiKaori are graduating StylipS... so of course I fear for YuiKaori as a duo itself, too.

YuiKaori are, to me, an awesome duo; I love them, and I don't want them to disappear... ever. If I knew that eventually they would leave I think I would be perfectly fine with this development, but because both YuiKaori and StylipS seemed to be stable line-ups, I never prepared myself for a 'graduation' like I did with Morning Musume and AKB48, so knowing that these two are now leaving, especially so suddenly, is extremely saddening and shocking to the system in a way. I feel so put out, like my heart has literally been torn out because they are leaving.

I still don't know what to think if they actually are graduating as YuiKaori as well, because if they are then I might just go into a short, miserable state like I did with Saki and Yuuka when they left S/mileage, which brings me to this point...

This reminds me of when Saki suddenly left S/mileage. Much like the new member announcements, it was sudden and unexpected, and many people did not react well to it. This is, to me, Ogawa Saki graduating all over again. It's unexpected, and it certainly is not welcome (for me). Of course I can't do anything about it, it's their choice to leave, but still... with a group like StylipS, and one like S/mileage before the newbs joined, you kind of expect to see the same faces until the group eventually disbands.

Sadly this obviously isn't the case, not that I want StylipS to disband anyway, but because YuiKaori are leaving, two girls who are a BIG part of Style Cube because of their activity in voice acting and singing, and are the two most recognisable members because of that activity and their past with Hello! Project. Okay, so Noto Arisa also has a good fanbase, but YuiKaori are, from what I know, the most recognisable because of their promotion and anime work.

Of course, considering their popularity, I don't think (or at least I hope) that YuiKaori will leave Style Cube, and especially not their duo unit together, because they certainly are popular and very hard working, and I think that right now Style Cube still needs them because they are still building their company.

So, the reason why they are leaving? Both Yui and Kaori have busy schedules and work loads, so they are leaving StylipS to focus on that. From what I know, Kaori is a University student, whilst Yui is probably in her last year of high school, and considering the fact that they both have a lot of seiyuu work... that could be a reason to leave StylipS. Hopefully it is only StylipS they are leaving though, or I would once again be a wreck and so devastated.

And, whilst I'm writing this post, I had better get this out there: When I saw the title on Tokyohive that 'two members of StylipS' were to graduate, I actually thought, and hoped, that it would be Noto Arisa and Matsunaga Maho. Yes, I like Maho, but when it comes to StylipS, I can only think that the two members who could fully carry the name around and still bring it popularity would be YuiKaori, so to hear that they were the ones graduating... well, I was speechless and shocked as I have already said, and even now I still kind of think that, however selfish that is, but it's true; I really think that StylipS is carried by YuiKaori... though mostly Yui.

I'm still shocked, and I still want to cry. Why wouldn't I? I love StylipS, and I love YuiKaori, and knowing that StylipS will go through the same change that S/mileage did leaves me feeling doubtful for their future. When S/mileage had four members, I loved them, and when they had new members, I embraced them only to be disappointed because their music was a shadow of their former selves, and seeing how StylipS is now, well... yes, I am scared. I think that they might go the same route as S/mileage did when they lost their two best singers, and one of the most recognisable faces.

Much like YuiKaori are to StylipS.

But that doesn't mean the new additions will be bad, because you never know; these new girls they may choose might just be great additions to StylipS and pull them forward, or they might go the S/mileage route and show a more lacklustre side in their singles, you never know. For me, I do hope that the new StylipS girls will be promising and show strength, and give StylipS a new kind of edge...

But I will still be scared for their future.

I am still upset over this, but writing down my thoughts has greatly helped me with the news; I wanted to rage and cry, much like I did after finding out about the graduation, but being able to have a blog to write on has helped me greatly with the news. Really, after writing this much, I feel a lot better with myself and more at ease with the news, though still a little put out.

But all I can do now as a fan and a 3rd party person is to wish YuiKaori luck, and to hope that they won't fade out or disband YuiKaori, and also to hope that the new girls who will be a part of StylipS will be just as wonderful as these two are. Right now though, all I can do is sit back and wait for more announcements to come out, and we will see where we go from there.

Chiima~

PING!!! Idolminded Recommended Reading: April 21st, 2013