Hello! Project Wiki/News/2020

February 28, 2020 - ANGERME member Oota Haruka goes on hiatus

On February 28, it was announced on the official Hello! Project site that ANGERME member Oota Haruka has been suspended from all activities for an indeterminate amount of time due to rule violations. Any information on resumption of activities will follow at a later date.

Oota Haruka apologized on her blog and said that she wishes to reflect on her actions so it may be possible for her to return to her activities in the future.

Source: Hello! Project, Oota Haruka's blog post

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February 27, 2020 - Concerts & Events cancelled due to the virus outbreak

On February 27, it was announced that in consideration of a new policy established by the government to prevent the spread of the coronavirus all concerts and events scheduled for the following 2 weeks would be cancelled.

The cancelled concerts include several dates from Juice=Juice's, ANGERME's live tours and two shows from each Tsubaki Factory's and BEYOOOOONDS's live tours.

This also greatly affects the release of Kobushi Factory's 8th and final single Seishun no Hana / Start Line, for all of its promotion events have been canceled.

In addition, the scheduled FC events of Wada Sakurako, Hirose Ayaka・Inoue Rei & Ogata Risa and Hamaura Ayano were cancelled as well.

March 4 UPDATE: On March 4, an update was announced on Hello! Project's website with more cancelled concerts and events, including four shows from Morning Musume's concert tour and ANGERME's live tour, two shows from Tsubaki Factory's live tour, and two shows from Hello Pro Kenshuusei recitals.

March 6 UPDATE: On March 6, it was annouced that Hello! Project Hina Fes 2020 would be cancelled due to the opening of the Jinguu no Mori Geijutsu Shukusai event being postponed.

March 11 UPDATE: On March 11, a new update was announced on Hello! Project's website with more cancelled concerts, including four shows from Morning Musume '20's concert tour, ANGERME's live tour and Juice=Juice's live tour, two shows from Tsubaki Factory's live tour, the Hello Pro Kenshuusei's recital and Morning Musume '20's dinner show. Together with it it was announced via UP-FC that fanclub birthday events of Takase Kurumi, Haga Akane, Oda Sakura and Kitagawa Rio would be cancelled as well, however, there are plans for those to be rescheduled in the future.

Source: Hello! Project (February 27, March 4, March 6, March 11), UP-FC

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February 10, 2020 - Miyamoto Karin to graduate from Juice=Juice and Hello! Project

On February 10, it was announced that founding member Miyamoto Karin will graduate from Juice=Juice and Hello! Project at the end of Juice=Juice CONCERT TOUR 2020 Haru in order to focus on beginning activities as a solo singer. She had been thinking about her graduation since fall 2018, and was interested in pursuing DIY and interior design. She was also interested in challenging herself to become a solo performer that focuses on both singing and dancing.

It has been over eleven years since Miyamoto joined Hello Pro Egg, and over seven years since Juice=Juice was formed. After her graduation, she is set to begin solo activities in fall 2020, and intends to continue using social media whilst exploring a new lifestyle.

Source: Hello! Project, YouTube

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January 22, 2020 - Murota Mizuki to graduate from ANGERME and Hello! Project

On January 22, it was announced that 3rd generation member Murota Mizuki will be graduating from ANGERME and Hello! Project on March 22 at Hello! Project Hina Fes 2020 ~Hisaichi Fukkou Shien Tohoku wo Genki ni!~ <ANGERME Premium>.

Murota started to talk about graduation towards the end of 2018, and taking in consideration of what she learned, experienced, and cultivated during the years, she decided to study about expressiveness from scratch with intentions of expanding her horizons and trying all sort of things in the future.

In the announcement, it was also stated that Funaki Musubu's graduation, which was originally set for March, has been postponed to the end of ANGERME Live Tour 2020 Fuyu Haru ROCK ON! LOCK ON! to allow Murota to graduate ahead of her.

Source: Hello! Project, ORICON MUSIC

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January 8, 2020 - Kobushi Factory set to disband

On January 8, it was announced that Kobushi Factory will disband on March 30, 2020 with a concert at Tokyo Dome City Hall.

Group leader Hirose Ayaka had been in discussions with the agency about her graduation since early 2019, and after discussions with the group, the other members except Inoue Rei also expressed their desire to pursue a new path. It was eventually decided that the group would disband.

The group is set to release their final single on March 4, 2020. After the disbandment, Inoue will continue to be a member of Hello! Project, while Wada Sakurako will retire from the entertainment industry. The remaining members will continue to be active after graduating from Hello! Project, with Hirose going to enter music college in April to restart activities as a singer from scratch, Nomura Minami will start acting activities, and Hamaura Ayano will start activities as a model and actress.

Source: Hello! Project, natalie

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January 2, 2020 - ANGERME ONLY ONE Audition ~Watashi wo Tsukuru no wa Watashi~ announced

On January 2, during the Hello! Project 2020 Winter HELLO! PROJECT IS [　　　　　] ~side A~ at Nakano Sun Plaza, ANGERME announced that they will hold their first general audition in four years.

The ANGERME ONLY ONE Audition ~Watashi wo Tsukuru no wa Watashi~ in search of 9th generation member(s) will be open for applications from January 11 to February 25. Applicants must be between 11 and 18 years of age.

Source: Hello! Project, Pop'n'Roll, natalie

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