According to a recent entry on Tsunku’s blog Kamei Eri, Jun Jun, and Lin Lin will graduate from Morning Musume and Hello! Project.
Kamei Eri will graduate due to a skin condition problem which she has had for some time and after talking with doctors she has decided to graduate from Morning Musume and Hello! Project to take care of it. Jun Jun and Lin Lin will go into preparatory periods after their graduations to continue their singing and talent careers in China.
To say that I am surprised is an understatement since I didn’t expect to have to worry about graduations until the start of the next tour, but it seems that Tsunku wanted to announce them as soon as possible so that fans could prepare.
Kamei’s reason for graduating is understandable since she wants to take care of her skin condition (according to some fans she has Atopic Dermatitis), and even though it is sad to see her go from Momusu I am glad to see that she is taking her health as a priority.
Jun Jun and Lin Lin on the other hand don’t really have a clear reason for graduating but it seems that Tsunku decided that they will benefit more if they graduated from Momusu and concentrate in singing careers in China, and since he obviously has plans for them already it is somewhat of a consolation to see that they will continue to be active.
I am still shocked at the news since it was somewhat too sudden, but hopefully in the coming days we get more information about the details.
They will graduate at the end of Morning Musume’s Rival Survival concert tour.
I will update with more as soon as I find out.
Tsunku’s Post About Kamei, Jun Jun and Lin Lin Graduating
EDIT: The media has already released more information about the announcement of the graduation of Kamei, Jun Jun and Lin Lin as well as heartbreaking pictures of all the members in tears:
A translation of the official statement that Tsunku made in his blog has also been released:
Big announcement from the Morning Musume。
About the graduation of Eri Kamei, 6th generation member
Eri Kamei came to me several times regarding her health condition. One time, she said to me : “I would like to find the time to cure the atopic dermatitis that I’m suffering from”. Since the time she joined the Morning Musume。, it looks like she was dealing with symptoms like itching and slight skin color changes. She took medication to calm the symptoms down and she also used make-up to cover it but during live concerts, there is a lot of sweat and many outfits to put on, which made her recovery very difficult.
Some may say it is “just a skin problem” but according to doctors, an external problem like skin problem may move to an internal level. It may as well have an impact on her spirit, her mental level. Also, for her, it is a serious thing so she decided to focus on her recovery instead of letting it continue. Eri Kamei will graduate from the Morning Musume。 and the Hello! Project on the last day of the Morning Musume。Autumn 2010 concert tour. As for her activities after that, I intend to discuss with her after her full recovery.
About the graduation of Jun Jun and Lin Lin, 8th generation members (foreign students)
In May 2005, both of them joined the Morning Musume。as foreign students and today, while being skilled singers and entertainers, they also greatly improved their japanese proficiency and they are now grown-up women. This is why I took the decision to graduate both of them at the same time as Eri Kamei on the last day of the Morning Musume。Autumn 2010 concert tour. After graduation, they will enter a period of preparation before focusing on their singers and entertainer career in China.
August 8th 2010
Morning Musume。 Producer
Tsunku♂
Official Translation of Tsunku’s Comments
EDIT 2: Official statements by the girls have been released on Morning Musume’s Myspace blog:
Eri Kamei
As Tsunku♂ said, I will graduate on the last day of the Autumn 2010 Tour from the Morning Musume。 to focus on my health. It is my decision but let me reassure you, my condition is not that serious. I just wanted to focus on my recovery for a while because lately, I was thinking a lot about how I could become a pretty woman. I took this decision with that in mind.
But I really love to do concerts so today and until the Autumn Tour, I am counting on you to sing, dance and have fun with me.
Thank you for your continued support.
Jun Jun
Since I came to Japan, I did and I learned so many things. Thank you so much.
But what really made me happy was to meet all of you, I am so thankful for this.
With this emotion in my heart, I want to make more and more happy memories with you. Until my graduation at the end of Morning Musume。 Autumn Tour, I intend to sing with all my heart.
Thank you for your support until the very last day. Thank you all.
Lin Lin
Since I first joined the Hello! Project Egg and then the Morning Musume。, I was so happy every single day. Of course, I sometimes missed my home but thanks to everyone around me and all of your support, I now feel that Japan and the Hello! Project is like my home.
During the Autumn Tour, I intend to sing with everything I got so I count on your support and I hope to see you there.
Wo Ai Ni.
Here is audio of the announcement:
Video uploaded by: suzukiairii
Hello!SayuNii 