After a Yesterday's Morning Musume concert, it has been said Niigaki Risa will Graduate from Morning Musume and Hello! project. I feel said knowing Risa has only been leader for about a month and she's going to graduate. She says she's wishes to graduate H!P to become a actress. And to also work on her studies.
It was said she was going to graduate with the Ai Takahashi, But she postponed it because of the new members coming. She said once she graduates she will be able to do many activities she couldn't do when she was in the group.
It has been said that Sayumi will become leader of morning musume and Reina will be sub-leader. And Shimizu Saki , will be H!P's leader. That seems kinda weird, but Saki Shimizu is the 4th oldest person in H!P so it makes sense.
Risa's comment:
I, Niigaki Risa,
will be graduating from Morning Musume。 and Hello！Project with this years Spring tour.
I had been thinking about graduation myself, for about a year, I had thought about graduating with Takahashi Aichan・・・, but with the new members joining and everything, I postponed it just a little bit.
After my Morning Musume。 graduation, I’ll be studying full force in acting; I feel like I want to challenge myself with experiences in theater and dramas that I couldn’t have experienced while I was doing group activities.
But, with these months I have left in Morning Musume。, I’ll be giving it my very best as leader！
２０１２/１/２
Morning Musume。 Leader
Niigaki Risa
Tsunka's comment:
Thank you for always supporting us.
On this day we have an announcement regarding Morning Musume。 ５th generation member “Niigaki Risa”.
Niigaki Risa, on the final performance for the spring tour beginning on 2012/2/18, “Morning Musume。 Concert Tour 2012 Spring ～Ultra Smart～”, will be graduating from Morning Musume。.
As an elementary schooler who loved Morning Musume。 she passed the 5th generation, “Morning Musume。 LOVE Audition ２１”, she was welcomed in her first single released in October of 2001,”Mr.Moonlight～Ai no Big Band～”.
Since then, with constant smiles and cheerfulness, and her never changing “I love Morning Musume。！” title, she’s been a part of them up until now.
As subleader since June of ２００７, she’s supported Takahashi Ai and the group, and after Takahashi’s graduation, she’s continued to support the continuing addition of new members into Morning Musume。 as leader.
For this girl as well, as far back as a year ago, I’ve considered this path at the same time I was considering the timing of Takahashi’s graduation.
Being challenged with songs and ＲＡＰ as well, for several years Niigaki has carried the heart of the groups songs. Our mission was also to be able to pass the torch to Niigaki.
Certainly, there are times when we’ve relied on this girls vitality as well; we entrusted into her leadership the new members who had just joined as well, and so, I’ve searched for the right timing for her graduation.
However, we couldn’t hold back her growth forever and so, even though she herself greatly expressed her sadness over graduating from the Morning Musume。 she loves, with the honor of “Longest enrolled member of Morning Musume。”, and with great significance firming our resolve, we decided that she would graduate on the final day of this year’s Spring tour.
After graduation she hopes to focus on being a singer, being on stage, and acting, including variety work, being able to do a multitude of different activities.
For now, she’ll be making this New Year’s Hello！Project Performancea success, from there until the final day of the Morning Musume。 tour starting after that.
Everyone, until the very end, we wish that you’d please support Niigaki Risa！
And, those of you who are supporting Morning Musume。 as well as all of Hello！Project, please support us as well！
２０１２/１/２
Morning Musume。 Producer
Tsunku♂
Niigaki Risa’s
Risa is to graduate at the end of Morning Musume's spring concert 2012.
I hope fans will continue to support Risa and Morning Musume and the graduation.
