Alumni Royalty: Ayase Miho has Successfully Graduated from Houkago Princess

On March 27th 2016, Ayase Miho officially Graduated from Houkago Princess and Universal Music in order to pursue a life outside of the entertainment industry. For many who know of the group and this wonderful girl, there is no doubt that this was a day filled with both smiles and tears.

Mihotan came into HouPri looking sweet and shy, and for me, she just seemed to be a relatively calming member in terms of looks. She did not stand out to me, she was not my favourite, and for a while, I did not really care much for her, because I was in a weird spot with HouPri by the time she came in.

Despite all of that though, she was the one who happened to stand out to me in the end.

I honestly don't know when my love for Mihotan started, but around 2014, I was kind of oshi-ing most HouPri members, with no absolute favourite (though Himari and Saori battled it out for a long while as my ultimate #1's). And then, suddenly, Miho intrigued me. Her twitter was fun to follow, the pictures she put up had me laughing quite a bit sometimes (that mirror picture, for instance. Love it XD), and she seemed pretty sincere. Plus, she and Miran had this incredibly endearing love affair thing going on.

I started to like her more and more, and then without realising it, she became my #1, and stayed that way for a good year.

So of course, when she announced her graduation back in February, it broke my heart. She was the first HouPri member that I was completely nuts about, more than Hitomi ever was

I cried a lot, because this girl is just as important to me as Koharu, Gaki and Ono Erena are. She is my Kami Oshi in HouPri.

Reading her final message to both the other members and fans, I couldn't help but cry even more. This girl is incredible. Sure, she can't sing for toffee, nor is she the best performer within the group. What she has though is persistence. She strived long and hard for a goal, and she reached it, and she never gave up, either.

Despite being the last member of her generation to be promoted, despite watching others leave her side to be promoted, to graduate or through being dismissed, she never once stopped aiming for her goal, and she never gave up on wanting to become a regular member of Houkago Princess.

"For about one year I was a candidate. I began from a small place. 

Initially, I was bad at synchronization and dancing, always at the very end of the row in the back, behind all of the regular students and watching everyone leave or get promoted. 

As a 3rd generation cadet student, there were a lot of frustrating things, and soon there was only me. I felt lonely. 

But I never gave up, because I wanted to give back to everyone who supported and cheered me on. I absolutely did not want to lose.

I felt so much joy when I was promoted to the Regular lineup, and I will never forget that joy. It was a big step for me."

Mihotan is an Idol who not only makes me happy, but also inspires and motivates me. She is sweet, caring and charming, and she is one of the most lovable Idols I have come across. I mean, how can you not want to love this girl? She may not look like much, and she may not have been pushed as much, but she is definitely present, and she is certainly persistent. If she wasn't, then she would not have come as far as she did in Houkago Princess.

For all that she has done, and for being a part of this wonderful group, I feel so happy that she was the one who stood out to me and became my Kami-Oshi within HouPri. It took a while, but it happened, and I adored this girl so much in the short time I realised she was 'the one'.

I am going to miss Mihotan so much, and I am sure everyone else, the other members and her fans, will too. She did everything she could, she moved forward and persisted through all the hardships, found happiness in her time as a member, and finally, she passed and graduated with flying colours, becoming one of the few, rare HouPri Alumni.

"For this last day, I decided with my heart that I should wear this, because it is what I entered Houkago Princess with. So, I wanted to wear it for my last performance. 

Thank you for shining.

Ayase Miho
2016.03.29"

Much Love,
Chiima~

Ayase Miho - The Graduation Appreciation Post

*Due to being abroad from March 19th until the 28th, I have decided that, for Ayase Miho's impending Graduation this month, I will deliver my thoughts and feelings on her earlier than planned. As her official Graduation date is set for the 27th of this very March month, this post will be about 10 days ahead.

No matter where I am within the world though, I will be thinking of Miho no matter what on her graduation day.

Continuing in what has been a long line of Graduation posts starting back in 2012 with Mitsui Aika and Niigaki Risa's graduations from Morning Musume, I bring to you the first Appreciation Post for the year of 2016, as well as the first to feature an Idol who is not from the Hello! Project lineup, but instead a group I hold even closer to my heart.

Here I will share my thoughts and feelings, and reflect on the Idol that is Ayase Miho of Houkago Princess, a girl I love and adore, and someone who I will never forget. Right here, right now, I will think of her and only her, and appreciate all I can, for she is an amazing girl, and deserves to be appreciated like those before her.

So, shall we let the tears flow...

In this giant community of Western Idol Fans, I know all too well that Ayase Miho is one of the lesser known Japanese Idols on the radar. Within Houkago Princess, she is not a front member, nor is she a featured vocalist. She is, however, a beloved member of the group she stands with, and she is kind.

Though she is not known so well in the Western fandom we are a part of, there is no denying that she is loved by those who do know of her.

I love Mihotan, there is no doubt about that. She is my current #1 Idol and a Queen in my eyes, the one Idol I want to look out for over the rest. The thing is, by thinking so highly of her, it makes this post a lot harder to write out; what can I say, what should I write to appreciate this Idol I adore? Honestly, I don't know, because there is so much I want to say for and about her, because she is just so wonderful.

But I also want to cry, because my heart is breaking. I have not felt this sense of devastation and loss with a graduation since... well, since Gaki left MoMusu and Erepyon left the Entertainment world.

It's because Mihotan is my Kamioshi, and within this world abundant with Idols, she is the one I stand above the rest, and when she does finally leave, I know that I will really miss her with all of my heart, because she is just so important to me.

She has been my favourite Idol for well over a year now, entertaining me with her rather placid features yet entertaining twitter picture antics. Her sweet nature was always apparent and charmed me immediately, whilst her obvious 'my pace' nature was cute but fun to watch develop as she grew into being an Idol. In my eyes, she was one of those Idols worth watching, because whilst she did fade into the background for some time in her short career, she soon grew into an Idol with presence and grace that could rival that of the other members, making her pretty amazing in every way possible.

Originally the classic underdog within the Idol world, Mihotan really was a background member until her promotion back in 2013; plain in looks, few outstanding qualities and the last of her generation to be promoted, many would have pegged Mihotan to be one of the many 3rd gen members to drop out before a year was up. Thing is, she didn't leave. She was never kicked out, nor was she suspended. Mihotan stayed, and she has stayed a long time for a HouPri member, all the while going at her own pace and taking everything in her stride.

Not once did she give up on being an Idol. Now, four years strong, she has decided that, at 25 years of age, it is her time to graduate and pursue a new path, one that she will take at her own pace once again.

Mihotan has grown so much since joining HouPri. Sure, her voice isn't that strong (or that pretty), and her dancing is not as great as everyone else's, but what is wonderful about her growth is that she's become a lot more self-assured. Her performances on stage are confident and bright, her charisma on camera is better, and she herself shines in a way that makes you notice her. Sure, she's not the most shining Idol within HouPri, but she still stands out in her own way, and she grabs your attention with her demure looks and sweet disposition.

And then, when she smiles, it's as if the world lights up, because Mihotan smiles with both her eyes and her mouth. In everything she does, she is genuinely happy, and she is always putting in 100%. For me as a fan, that makes her incredible.

I adore this girl so much, I can't even begin with why. She just makes my world a happier place in a way because, when I look at her, when I watch her perform on my HouPri PV's, I feel elated and energised. This relaxed and gentle looking girl, who puts everything into her performance for the fans and her supporters, gives me life. She makes me want to put effort into everything I do and to go forward with a smile. Mihotan, of all the HouPri members, is the one who inspires and encourages me just by being there.

I feel so lucky by just being her fan. Whatever she does, Mihotan succeeds in making me feel so happy whenever I watch or listen to her.

In four short years, Ayase Miho has blossomed. She has become a better performer, and an Idol who truly loves what she does. She creates memories and happiness, pursuing what she enjoys the most with 100% energy and effort. From one of the weakest 3rd generation members who debuted back in 2012, Mihotan has proven herself to be more than we would ever think. Now, she stands tall as one of HouPri's longer running members, a girl who has seen the ups and downs of the Idol world, the pains of multiple graduations and member suspensions, as well as the joys of seeing the fans' smiling faces and coming to know the members she stands beside today.

In these past four years, Ayase Miho has become one of HouPri's loved and recognised. She exceeded in all they gave her, became a regular member and, thankfully, never let the sadness of losing so many members over the past few years deter her. Mihotan stood strong, and finally, she was able to come to the decision herself to graduate with happy memories and a smile on her face.

Mihotan is truly a wonderful Idol, and for these past four years she has brought joy to many. She makes me feel so happy when I look at and watch her, and now, knowing that she has left the Idol group I love, I can't help but feel sad and lost. She is my kamioshi, and she will be for a long time, because Mihotan is someone to appreciate, respect and admire in many ways. She pursued a dream, she lived through the ups and downs of the Idol world, and now, she is ready to leave and pursue other things, ready to go through life at her own pace once again, ready to live through and grow a new dream.

I have cried so much knowing that her graduation is near, because I will miss her so much once she is gone. The thing is, I am also happy that Miho is graduating, because of this; graduation is a chance and a choice that so few within HouPri have experienced before this. With such a bumpy history, one rife in suspensions and dismissals, Ayase Miho is one of those rare few who will leave this group with a formal ceremony, as opposed to a sudden notice announcing her permanent absence.

On March 27th 2016, she will leave Houkago Princess with no regrets and a smile upon her face, and walk down her path towards a new future where she will write her own story, and support Houkago Princess not as a former member, but as a new fan.

I will miss you so much, Mihotan, but I am glad that this is what you wanted for yourself. Being an Idol does not last forever, no, but the memories your fans will have with you, as well as the memories you have created for yourself , will be with you for a life time.

For being a part of Houkago Princess and for becoming our wonderful Idol, I thank you. I don't think you realise just how many people you have made happy, not only in Japan, but in other parts of this world, too.

Walking this Earth at her own pace, Ayase Miho became an Idol who shone just as brightly as those around her. Now, she will continue to walk on at her own pace, but without Houkago Princess to lead her. From here on out, our own My Pace Chairman will live a life that is completely her own, but through it all, I know for sure that she will continue smiling and that she will never give up on whatever she pursues.

She is HouPri's hidden treasure, a member who grew from their hardships and found happiness in all they experienced together. Living with no regrets, Ayase Miho will pass through the school gates and graduate with flying colours.

さようなら 美穂、私はあなたを欠場します。

すべてのハードワークをありがとうございました。

Ayase Miho, Sotsugyou Omedetou! As an Idol or an Ordinary Girl, Please Move Forward at Your Own Pace!

Leaving with Honors: Ayase Miho to Graduate Houkago Princess this March

On January 24th 2016, Ayase Miho made the announcement that, at the end of March this year, she would be graduating from Houkago Princess. Junpaku Antoinette will be her final single.

Ayase Miho, also known as Mihotan, made the announcement during her 25th Birthday live (her Birthday is officially on January 30th). Her reasons for leaving include that, currently, she believes this is the best lineup the group has had since its inception, and that she would like to leave on a high note. She also feels that right now, she would like to pursue something that is not within the entertainment industry.

As well as thanking the fans for their support and asking them to continue supporting her until her final performance, Miho has stated that she made this decision with no regrets, and that in order for Houkago Princess and herself to shine even more, this is the right thing for her to do.

You can find the announcement here.

...

Sigh.

My friend Akeda linked me to this announcement via Twitter, and when I saw the link, even in Japanese, I knew that an announcement was going to be announced. When he said that I would cry when I read it, I knew it was going to be Miho.

I cried. Of course I cried, because for over a year now, Mihotan was the member I wanted to know the most about. She was the member I liked the most.

The thing is, I expected a graduation announcement at some point this year from HouPri, but I don't think Miho was one of the girls I expected it from. Nana or Mayuka, yeah, but Mihotan? Not really. That said, I'm not entirely surprised, either.

This year on January 30th, Mihotan will turn 25, a big number to hit, if you ask me. She's an adult, she has been an adult for a while now, but for three years she has pursued activities within Houkago Princess and experienced the life of an idol, from the hardships to the fun times. She has done a lot since being a part of the group, including being a part of their major debut process.

And now, after 7 singles, a mini album and three years, Miho has decided that she would like to the leave the group with the best lineup it has ever had and pursue other things in her life. It's a big change, and it's one she's going to take with confidence and a smile on her face, because that is what Miho does.
 And of course, she will do it all at her own pace.

I am sad that it is Miho graduating. I would be sad if it was anyone else, too, but I know that this is a part of the Idol package; to graduate and move on, and to allow others a chance at being a part of the Idol group that is Houkago Princess. I just hope that when she does graduate, Miho will leave with the love and adoration she deserves from not only the fans, but the other members as well.

I will miss you dearly, Mihotan, but I am happy to know that you are confident in this choice of yours, and that you are ready to leave on a positive note in HouPri's history. Thank you you, for all you have done, and for all you will achieve.

"And, after my graduation, I will leave my entertainment activities behind and become an ordinary girl." - Miho Ayase, January 24th, 2016

 Until next time everyone. Please, love your Idols, and cherish the time that you have watching over them.

Chiima