Say What!? Sayashi Riho to Graduate Morning Musume '15!

The opinions stated are my own, opinions and thoughts that you do not have to agree with. I don't expect you to follow my line of thought, likewise, do not expect me to follow your line of thought. Don't like what I have to say? Totally fine by me, but please don't expect me to change my way of thinking for your sake. I will listen and form opinions, but I will NOT change how I feel for the sake of keeping others happy. That ain't how I roll.

...

Well I'll be damned o-O

Some editing has been applied to this document as I made a few mistakes that friends have corrected for me <3

(image from UP-FRONT LINK's Facebook page)

On October 29th 2015 (annouced via her blog, my lovely pal Calli of Calli Loves Hello! Project tells me!), it was announced that Sayashi Riho of Morning Musume '15 would graduate from the group on December 31st, however it was also stated that she would not leave Hello! Project.

Reasons for her graduation have been given, with the agency stating that she aims to devote herself to dancing, whilst Riho herself has stated that she wishes to study abroad and to dance. It is her aim to one day come back to the entertainment world, however when is still a mystery for now.

Translations from both the agency and Riho herself have been translated and posted via the official UP-FRONT LINK page, so be sure to check them out as well:

Announcement from UP-FRONT PROMOTION:

"Thank you for your continued support towards Morning Musume。'15.

Today, Riho Sayashi has announced she will graduated from Morning Musume。'15 on December 31st in her blog post.

Riho became a 9th generation member and made her debut with "Majidesuka Suka" in 2011 and continued her carrier until now.
She said she wants to devote herself to her progress in dancing, and she talked about this matter many times. With her consent, we came to this conclusion.

Riho will graduate from Morning Musume。but she will be a Hello! Project's member after the graduation.
Before flying with her own wings, we will watch her with this new challenge.

Until her Morning Musume。'15's graduation as a member, she will continue to perform much more during the current tour and during the other activities.

Please continue to support Morning Musume。'15 and assist Riho Sayashi in the future.

2015/10/29
UP-FRONT PROMOTION Minoru Ohhama"

 Sayashi Riho's Graduation Announcement:

"Thank you for your continued support towards Morning Musume。'15.

I have to make an announcement to all of you.

I, Riho Sayashi,
Will graduate from Morning Musume。 on December 31st of this year.

Since kindergarten, I wanted to take part at the group Morning Musume。 and I became a member when I was 12 years. During 5 years, I started with Tsunku♂-san and continued until now with the support of many staff, with all the Morning Musume。 and Hello! Project members, and more than anything, with the fans.

However, I thought during this year many times about continuing like this in my future life.
As a human alone, I started to think if there were things that I have to experience in order to live strongly?

I have discussed many times with the people of the company, and I decided to graduate after I checked the growth of the 12th generation kohai ("kohai" means "juniors" here) this year.
Concerning the day of my graduation, I had the privilege on deciding the graduation on the last day of the "Morning Musume。'15" on December 31st during the Countdown Live.
Concerning the Morning Musume。's tour, the last performances will be on December 7th and 8th at the Budokan.

I am really sorry for the abrupt news.
I think this is quite a surprise.
But until now, inside of me, it has worried me.
And it has led me to this decision.

From now, I think I want to study abroad and learn more English and dance.
Then with those experiences I will mature much more, and I will try my best to come back as soon as possible.

There are 2 months left until then, but until this moment with all the members I will do everything we have to do for "Morning Musume。'15".

Until December 31st, I want to run through everything with all my power so please continue to support me!

Riho Sayashi"

(You can find the announcements HERE on the official UP-FRONT LINK Facebook page!)

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(image from Hello! Project wikia)

Well, at least y'all can trust that a graduation announcement will get me out of my blogging funk, right?

Okay, so I actually found out about Riho's graduation via a message my darling friend Ash (of The Casual Hello! Project Fan) , and damn, I was really surprised and taken aback by it! I mean, it's not exactly the sort of news one would expect after waking up from a 4 hour nap, right!? It's also not the sort of news I would expect from H!P, not when Fukuda Kanon's graduation is just around the corner...

So, yeah, I was seriously surprised by the news, but I was admittedly not very sad. Actually, I'd be lying if I said there wasn't a part of me that did a happy jig, because there was. I mean, I'm not the biggest Riho fan out there. I appreciate all she does, I think she's a stellar singer and a wonderful performer, but an all around crappy singer. I don't dislike her, but I don't think she's the greatest, either. There are merits to every Idol, and each one has a charm about them that everyone likes. For me, Riho was never my cup of tea, and even if she's graduating, whether I like her or not will not change just because she is leaving. I ain't about that.

But, still... I'm really surprised by the announcement, because it just feels so out of the blue! Then again, I've not been following Morning Musume that much, heck, I haven't even watched their recent PV's, so...
 I'm really surprised, though, but I'm definitely not shedding tears for this announcement.

I know a lot of fans will be upset by this, likewise, a lot of fans will be rather happy with this piece of news. It's half and half, but there is no denying this: Morning Musume '15 will be losing a really talented member of the group. Maybe not a singing talent, but definitely a talent in dancing, as well as a member with a lot of presence.

Again, I am surprised, mostly because I thought Riho would literally wait out leaving Morning Musume until after she gained leadership status. That said, pressure and spotlight can get to you, and after being an ace since the very beginning of her tenure, Riho may feel that enough is enough right now, and that she needs to focus more on her dance career as opposed to her singing career.

And who knows, maybe one day she will be back. Considering she's still going to be a part of Hello! Project even after her graduation, one can only suspect that H!P might give her a career in dance or, and this thought makes me cringe, a solo career. Either way, there's a big chance she will make her comeback after doing whatever she wants, and given she's Sayashi Riho and not Mitsui Aika, I have a feeling H!P would actually utilize Riho's talent and use her once again.
 That, or they'll have another English translator in the H!P line to aid the fans! Wouldn't that would be nice?

I know a lot of her fans are really saddened by this news, but honestly, I'm not, and her graduating does not change how I feel towards her at all. I find her talented, sure, but really, I think it might be a good thing for Morning Musume '15 to have such a big change for the on-coming year of 2016. It means that now, they may just have to promote and give spotlight the other members more than they did beforehand.
 ... Actually, maybe this was the reason why the new single included a Duu x Zukki center!? I mean, seriously, that may be it o-O Holy cow!

No matter what though, I do wish Riho luck in whatever she wishes to pursue in the future. I also hope that, in these last two months within Morning Musume '15, she treasures each moment together with her fellow members and strives for an amazing final concert. I don't doubt one bit that, when her graduation does finally come, she will deliver what may actually be her best performance within the group.

Until next time everyone,
Chiima~

External Links:

Up-Front LINK
Tokyo Girls' Update