Ogawa Saki's.....graduation!?

Translated by Tokyo hive, source from Hello! Online:

Tsunku's comment.
“Thank you for always supporting Hello! Project and myself.

This is sudden, but I have an announcement for everyone.
Just the other day, I announced five new sub-members for S/mileage,
However, as of August 27th, Ogawa Saki will be graduating from both S/mileage and Hello! Project.

In the beginning of May this year, she informed me,
“I’ve been hesitant for some time, and I’ve discussed it with the staff a few times, but my feelings of wanting to return to a normal junior high student has strengthened, so please let me quit.”

Although she is the youngest of the group, I have relied on her singing skills.

However, right now is the time to be looking towards the future.
As a group, and as an individual member, we need to have a strong desire for improvement.
And as a producer, I decided that holding back a member who is hesitant, and continuing the group with her would not be good for both the member and the group. So I chose to accept Ogawa’s request.

When the group was first formed, I made a public announcement that the unit may increase or decrease in members.
Because there was this case, I hastily announced in June that we would be recruiting new members for S/mileage.
Please forgive me that I wasn’t able to report the details and intentions until now, as there were many terms and conditions concerning the group and the contract.

Again, Ogawa is still an inexperienced student and a minor.
For a working adult, it would be unacceptable to give up their job halfway.
But please take her straightforward feelings into careful consideration, and watch over her warmly.

With that, please continue your favors towards S/mileage.

Please excuse me for reporting through this letter on my own accord.“

Ogawa Saki's comment.
“Thank you for always supporting me.

I, Ogawa Saki will graduate from Hello! Project and S/mileage on August 27th.

After making our major debut last May, I have enjoyed every day as [a part of] S/mileage.
But somewhere in my heart, the real me and my S/mileage self become distant.
I discussed it with the staff a few times, but I was always troubled. I thought that it would be bad for S/mileage if I was hesitant while everyone else was working with all their might, so I decided to return to being a normal girl.

I’m sorry for the last minute announcement.
I do feel sad, but S/mileage’s trademark is to always smile!

I will do my best to finish with a smile until the end of the event on August 27th. The remaining time is short, but please support me!

After I graduate, I want to continue supporting S/mileage with its new members.

Thank you for all of your support until now.“

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Is this serious!?? I was in complete awe with my mouth hanging for a good five minutes.
I'm not the biggest fan of S/mileage or even Saki for this matter but...I feel pretty sad!
I suppose if this is really what she wants then good luck to her and I wish her well.

...So I suppose Tsunku hasn't gone completely senile as I keep claiming haha..
In a way, you can see that maybe the current S/mileage members were always looking sad or reluctant about getting new members because they knew that Saki was going to leave and everything in S/mileage would change. 

This feels like a big blow to them for some reason but we have to look at the positive side to these new changes right?
Changes can be for improvement so please continue to support S/mileage everyone eh?

-RisuTEN

I heard this news this morning, when I was half awake
and as soon as I read it properly I was fully awake!
all I kept thinking was 
WHAAAATTTT?


honestly if they didn't say, Saki wanted to quit herself
then I would fully believe it's Tsunku's doing


it sounds so strange!
is she even going to get a graduation?
why are they mentioning this 3 days before the graduation?
I think that's extremely unfair to fans, Uchouten Love was her last single!


I have to say I'm pretty sad with this news
I wasn't a total fan of her voice, but I could tell there was a lot of potential
and, it sounds like she's been training for more than half her life for this
and she just quits?!
and it wasn't like she got shoved to the back like Maiha
I don't understand her decision
tbh, I think she might regret it
but of course this is her decision and I respect it
and she did start extremely young


S/mileage is going through a looot of dramatic changes
I feel bad for the fans
as well as the other members, who are now like swamped with new members


I wonder if she'll come back later, in another agency
but if it really was for education then it seems unlikely
but as I said before
it's too late notice, can't believe S/mileage is already having a grad ><
UsaTEN

Hello!Project Winter 2011 Solo Stage

Ai

Risa

Sayumi

Aika

Captain

Chinami

Masaa

Miyabi

Yurina

Nakki

Airi

Chisato



Erina

Saki

----------------

these were the ones I found^^

I haven't even watched them all

though from what I've seen I was impressed by Chinami, Sayumi and Masaa

they did better than I'd assume

Captains was very cute

and Risa's is very energetic and entertaining

I thought that Saki sounded like she was shouting most of the song xD;;

though of course my fave is Miyabis

makes me want to get up and sing lol

UsaTEN

Polls! Who do you want to grow their hair really long?

Results

3) Takahashi Ai	11 (18%)
4) Niigaki Risa	9 (15%)
4) Mitsui Aika	9 (15%)
6) Shimizu Saki	5 (8%)
4) Tokunaga Chinami	9 (15%)
2) Yajima Maimi	15 (25%)
1) Hagiwara Mai	23 (38%)
8) Wada Ayaka	2 (3%)
4) Maeda Yuuka	9 (15%)
5) Fukuda Kanon	8 (13%)
7) Ogawa Saki	3 (5%)

Wow I didn't know I could do that... lol

anyways

My, Mai in first place, Hagiwara! xD

I agree she should grow her hair long, I think it'll make her look younger

cause I always forget her age, she looks really mature xD

though I think if I had to just pick one person for this poll, I'd pick Maimi over Mai

Maimi's hair like defined her! She even said it was her charm point

it was so shiny and pretty ><

I was sad when she cut her hair, hope it grows out

Takahashi Ai~

hmm I think I prefer her with shorter hair actually

She looked uber cool in Cinderella Complex

but I think it's prettier when her hair is just past her shoulders

when she was younger long hair suited her more I think

and I dunno, to me it seems really long hair makes her appear shorter now xP

but she can pretty much pull off any hairstyle

4 way tie for fourth!

I agree Risa should grow her hair longer! 

like in shouganai yume oibito, soo pretty

short hair is ok..but longer suits her more I think

For Aika I dunno... I guess I'm just used to seeing her with her short hair

I didn't recognise her with extensions in Shouganai..

but she does look nice there, do I'd say go for it xD

But for Chinami I really love her short hair on her!

well this current hairstyle

not when she was younger

at first I was sad she cut her hair, she looks so pretty with it

but then this bob grew on me, it suits her a lot

aand Yuuka she looks older with short hair, so it's not a bad thing

at first I was all for her short hair, cause she didn't do much with her long hair anyway

but yeah her hair isn't too bad short, but I prefer longer a bit more

Hm I'm not sure I entirely like Kanon's hair now

it's ok..

but I loved her long hair

For me, she'd be higher up this list, when I see old pictures I always think

oh it's her long hair~

Captain!!

I'm not sure about this

yes she looked gorgeous in Heroine ni Narou ka

but her hair atm suits her a lot, it's not so short as before and she can do more stuff with it

but if she did grow her hair really long, I'd probably miss her short hair a bit

but I would still like her long hair, so I guess I don't mind

ok now last two

I dunno for Saki either

but I guess shorter hair really suits her

and Ayaka should definitely grow it long

I really hope she didn't cut it just to copy the others

but then again she might have done it cause she was made to

but when she ties her hair up in the ponytail she always as

she looks like she doesn't have any hair!

why does she always have that hairstyle?

grow your hair! xD

---------------------------------------

woow it's been awhile since I've had a long post

if you've read it all, and enjoyed it, honestly I would hug you xD

I guess when it comes to hair, I always have an opinion (or two)

but yeah sorry to those who wanted to vote for others

Momo was going to be in the poll, but I accidentally closed it without saving, and when I did it again I forgot ><

thoough, I think I like her hair as it is, for now anyways

maybe a biit longer, but not too long

and yes I would loove to see Miyabi with natural long hair too^^

ok next time it's a big one 

I thought, it's always more fun when there's more people to choose from xD

soo it's

Who do you think has the most impressive vocal range?
and I mean like a good wide range, can sing low and high really well,
this isn't who's your favourite singer by the way
so please don't automatically go for your faves^^

since I don't hear everyone from H!P a lot, I'm going to snoop around Youtube

listening to more different members voice
I invite you to do the same^^

thanks for those who voted <3

please vote again~

and for those who didn't vote now! xD

UsaTEN

Polls! Who has the Best Smile?

wow I'm actually quick with this one xD

Winning Smile

Results
Suzuki Airi 50% (62)

Okai Chisato 16% (20)

Tokunaga Chinami 11% (14)

Suzuki Kanon 8% (11)

Takahashi Ai 8% (10)

Mano Erina/Ogawa Saki 2% (3)

Total Votes 123

Airii, yes she does have a lovely smile~ she actually made me want to smile more with teeth in pictures, quite an impact xD

though I feel she's not smiling as much anymore, which is sad, not like she is upset, just her smiles don't show her teeth as much or she poses with a cool expression. I remember her smiling the most in her young Buono days. My favourite Airi smiles are with smiley eyes and a wiiide grin, she looks genuinely happy. Airi you need to smile wider more! xD though for me, she's second in this list

Chisaaato, she smiles often, and hers is the cute eye smile too. Chisa's smiles are happy eyes and mouth  hanging from ear to ear. and I can picture her smiling to herself after she told a joke or laughing at someone else joke.

CHII, you actually say her name with a smile, CHII is the top for me! I actually recognised her for her smiley expression. she has such a cuute smile. aand she's allllways seen with a smile, 99% anyways. nothing beats Chii's happy ^^ eye smile for me

Suzuki Kanon, tbh I still haven't properly registered 9th generation yet, cause I haven't seen them properly performing with Momusu, and I don't see much of them. but I doo notice her grins, so that's why I included her in this. She does smile a lot, and her smile is bright. but I dunno I somehow feel her smile is a bit put on, like she wants to be a smiley person so she forces herself to smile. nonetheless she smiles often.

Aii chann, she often has a smile on her face, probably why she's descrived as lovely, and normally when she laughs its with her smile xD do you notice? her laugh is actually her smile, and her eyes become ^^

xD

Saki I hear is a smiley person, and in S/mileage group shots, it's normally the other three smiling a bit, and Saki's full out smiling xD

and Mano, who can forget her similar CD covers of her smiling, that image is burned into my mind xDD

overall I'd say these seven are the smiliest out of H!P so that's kinda a win itself xD

but the best smile are those whose smiles are the widest, most genuine and looks the cutest.

Thanks for voting!

next poll is Who has the 'Coolest' Character

I doubt anyone in H!P is 100% cool all the time, they're idols afterall they need more different images

but sometimes don't you think, woow xx-chan is sooo cool

question is, who is that person? xD

please vote^^

also I realized the recent poll posts haven't much pictures

so I though I'd picspam a bit to make up for a bit xD

top 3

UsaTEN

Congratulations Airi!!!! Kya~.. kya...

One of the main reasons why Airi became my favourite out of all of the idols was her
SMILE!!
It wasn't just her toothy smile I loved but also her "mm Yummy~" face.
So incredibly cute...
but I definitely love her toothy smile too; she has really cute teeth! They're not perfect but she has like a canine that sticks out or something which is so adorable... she's smiling less toothily now but I wonder if it's because of she's conscious of her teeth or something!?
I'm glad Airi won because she definitely has one of the cutest smiles that always makes me smile when she smiles too~

Even so.... she's not number one for me either.
When I first got to know about Hello! Project, I got Chisato and Chinami veeery mixed up.
Not only did they have short hair in most of their videos back then but also because of the "Chi" and lastly...they both had such beautiful smiles! Because they had smiley eyes to accompany them too. But the way I distinguished them was that one of them definitely had the best smile ever.
That is...of course...
Chinami-chan!!
Chinami has the best smile in the world *o* when she smiles it.. has this healing effect on me and it kinda makes me squeal like a weirdo teehee.
I think she reminds me of my cousin too which is probably why I love Chinami's face so much huh...

Anyway yes! please vote for the coolest character in Hello! Project~
If you feel we've missed anyone out, please feel free to comment!
-Risu

Usaa's Video Corner! 14 ~Fashion Battle

From the Hello!Project Mook

Clothes Battle!

Eri vs Miyabi vs Airi vs Saki

Part One

Part Two

Whose outfit do you like the best?

They were all very nice, I could see jean was the common theme

I thiink I prefer Miyabis, sasuga Berryz Fashion leader~ Saki's is cute too, but I though Saki and Eri there's were more simple

At first I wasn't sure about Airi's but seeing it more, it is nice^^

I haven't watched all of the channel, just this and the Karaoke batter (you should watch that too) cause they appealed to me more first

Next I'd like to see a proper Fashion Battle with the fashion leaders!

From Momusu I hear it's Reina, she's the more fashionable

From Berryz it's Miyabi

From C-ute...it used to be Erika, but now maybe..Nakki..? or Mai maybe

and..I've no idea from Smileage...

Enjoy

UsaTEN