Kikkawa Yuu- Candy PoP LQ Preview Released & Kikkawa Yuu Event Announced

A LQ preview of Kikkawa Yuu’s Candy PoP has been released and Kikka announced that she will be holding an event sometime in January.

Candy PoP was performed by Kikka at last night’s concert as part of her opening act. Candy PoP is also another original song that hasn’t been released by any other H!P group before so I’m just going to say that it’s Kikka’s song. I’d like to say Kikka’s voice is amazing in this song, I think it’s her deep voice that makes the song so unique.

Candy PoP is sort of like a rock-pop, similar to what Buono would have except it doesn’t fall to heavily into rock. It’s a bit more upbeat than Sayonara Namida but it still takes on a serious tone that both of these songs had. It’s hard to explain that but when hearing both songs I can’t picture her having a giant extra happy smile on while singing these songs, she smiles but it’s a different type of smile. The guitar in the background also adds to the serious and mature feel of this song.

Also for everyone who signed up for Kikka’s support site it appears that she sends an email or some sort of message daily and in one of her messages she announced that she will be holding an event sometime during January. It’s surprising to hear that she’s holding an event so soon after she completed her egg training but I’m sure a lot of fans will show up to it.

Here’s what she wrote on her message:

The Hello! Concerts@Nakano Sunplaza that started at New Years the 2nd！
The last one finished!!!!

Many thanks for letting me be the opening act for the concerts
this 2011.♪
I was so nervous that my heart was beating really fast every day！
Thank you for watching warmly over me at my first performance♪
By getting to do this, I was able to realize what I have to improve and work on, and various new things about myself, I’m very happy with this.
I still really have a lot to learn, but with the cheers from the fans as my weapon I will do my absolute best!!!

And here’s an announcement！
Kikkawa You wll have an event in January(´ω｀)!!!!
It’s an event where all fans can take part too. Everyone, please, please come♪
I will send more details in a mail later. Everyone, hold on to your cell pones and wait please★
Yoroshiku onegaishimasu♪

Kikkawa You starts from now
Please everyone, support me♪
Next up, is that we’re going to Nagoya to see everyone, I’m looking forward to it♪

That’s all from Kikka!!!

I’m glad she has a lot of support from the fans and I’m looking forward to other releases from her.

Video uploaded by: cscmax1

Kikka’s Support Page Translation

Takahashi Ai To Graduate From Morning Musume and Hello! Project

Tsunku’s Statement

This is the comment regarding Takahashi Ai’s graduation from Morning Musume

Thank you for your continual support as always.
As announced directly herself on the stage of January 9th’s show at Nakano Sunplaza,
5th generation member, Takahashi Ai will be graduating from both Morning Musume and Hello! Project in Morning Musume’s concert tour this fall.

When the proposal for Kamei Eri’s graduation was made last year,
I told Takahashi Ai, “It’s about time you should consider the timing of your own graduation and what you want to pursuit afterward” as an advice.

The 5th generation members will have joined Morning Musume for 10 years.
Takahashi Ai is the 6th leader and has been in this position for 3 years and 7 months.
Takahashi Ai holds the record for being the longest in the group and the longest to hold the leader position.
Looking back, she has honestly carried the responsibility for all this time.

(In no disrespect to all former members and leaders of the group…excuse me)

I have talked with her about various things, such as her activities afterward
As announced in the new year concert, her graduation will be in Morning Musume’s Autumn concert tour,
this was the right time to make the announcement.

Since there are still more than half a year to go,
the 9th generation members have to familiarize themselves with Morning Musume’s music
and dances, to become self aware that they are part of the group.
Takahashi plans to properly finish her job as leader in the mean time.

Please be looking forward to what will become of Morning Musume.

Takahashi Ai will continue to be active in music, theater, and live events after her graduation.
Details will gradually be released.

Also, after Takahashi Ai’s graduation, Niigaki Risa will assume the leader position of the group,
and become the longest active member of Morning Musume

2011.01.09
Morning Musume Producer
Tsunku

Takahashi Ai’s comment

It has been decided that, I, Takahashi Ai, during Morning Musume’s concert tour this Autumn,
will be graduating from Morning Musume and Hello! Project.
At the time when Kamei Eri, JunJun and LinLin’s graduations were decided,
Tsunku-san told me, “It’s about time Takahashi should think about your own graduation’s timing!”
which has gotten me thinking.

I will have been in Morning Musume for 10 years comes this August,
So I thought it will be a good time! to graduate in the Autumn Morning Musume concert tour.

As there are still around 9 months left, I will do my best as leader until that time to shape up this new Morning Musume.

I will be affectionate to the newly added 9th generation members as I try to teach them various things, everyone please rest assured.

Translation Source: Hello! Online

Takahashi Ai announced at today’s H!P concert that she will graduate from Morning Musume and Hello! Project at the end of the Momusu 2011 Autumn concert tour. An official H!P post and a tweet from Tsunku confirmed the graduation.

After her graduation Takahashi Ai will continue to work around music and live theatre. Niigaki Risa will take her spot as leader of Morning Musume.

Takahashi Ai announcing her graduation

We all knew that Ai-chan’s graduation was the most likely to happen since she has been in Momusu along with Gaki for the longest time out of any other member, but it still is surprising and shocking to find out that she will graduate so soon since she was the leader of the group for so long.

According to what I can make out of the statement Tsunku thought it was a good time for her to graduate since she has been in the group for so long and in a way I have to agree since it seemed like Momusu was basically Ai-chan, but despite that I will miss her a lot in future Momusu singles since she had an incredibly talented voice and was simply the most talented Momusu member there was.

Since she will graduate until the end of the year that gives her plenty of time to be in a few singles while giving fans a chance to attend as many events as possible before she leaves the group, and while it might be a bit too early to announce the graduation it was probably a good idea to do it now rather than wait until the start of the tour since it gives fans a chance to let the news sink in.

I will update the post with translations of the official statements as soon as they are released.

Takahashi Ai will graduate at the end of the Morning Musume 2011 Fall tour (August/October).

Official H!P Post About Takahashi Ai’s Graduation

Takahashi Ai’s Statement

Daily.jp Article

Sanspo Article

Natalie.mu Article

Barks Article

NEWS24 Article

Nikkan Sports Article

Oricon Article

TV Asahi News Article

EDIT: More pictures of the announcement at the concert have been released:

EDIT: Audio of the announcement has also been released:

Video uploaded by: turbos866

As well as a video of the announcement:

Video uploaded by: mmai7s