OG (Graduated Members) / M-line Club / M-line Music

[resop2]

For a working mom, the hustle never ends.

[Zunu]

Ichii was in Morning Musume when being in the group meant you were automatically a huge star. She was famous and probably making what seemed at the time a ton of money. It's hard to walk away from that and just start working in an office. At the very least she clearly wants to continue I'm the entertainment industry in some capacity.

Part of the problem is that being famous doesn't pay the bills by itself. You have to have good management who can turn your fame into opportunities.

At the same time I get the feeling she may have burned her bridges on multiple occasions. To me she's always come across as thinking she's better than the others. That could just be my bias -- she's probably my least favorite OG by far. But if it is true, being a snob before makes it hard to go back and ask for favors later. So what choice does she have but to keep trying different things at random and hoping that one of them will propel her back into the limelight?

I still wish her success. Not so much for her but I like to think there's a bit of a halo effect such that her success will redound back upon UF and H!P.

Edit: Also I think things are in some ways better for modern H!P members. First of all, because they're not so famous to begin with, they are more realistic and know their fame will likely be ephemeral. So they do things like applying for college. Second, I think H!P does a better job in general in terms of transitioning them to the nonfamous life. They give them plenty of time to prepare to graduate, they do a better job in helping them avoid major scandals and teen pregnancies.I think the Kago affair was a big wake-up for them in general.

[Celedam]

^ It's not just Kago, it's also Tsuji. The two of them together, and the stark contrast between them, provide a storybook example of the two paths that idols can take in their lives. Kago's story even includes a redemption arc.

Of course there is a big, wide, gray, complicated, adult world in between, but it's difficult to explain that world to a 12-year-old idol wannabe.

Speaking of Tsuji, two words: chocolate toenails.

[Celedam]

Saturday was Ogata's 21st birthday, and her friend surprised her by taking her to a burlesque show…

[resop2]

Just from OHaruana's aura I find it hard to believe that she had not been to a place like that before.

[Celedam]

When you're a super mama-dol, even a pandemic can be an opportunity for family fun…

[Jessi]

It’s really killing me that I don’t know Fujimoto Miki’s newest baby’s name.

[Jessi]

It’s really killing me that I don’t know Fujimoto Miki’s newest baby’s name.

[Tobo_Junny135]

I might be wrong or that’s Kudo Haruka

[Zunu]

How could you be wrong? Her name is featured in the clip and in the video description, where it even calls her an ex-Momusu. Anyway, thanks.

She's been looking kind of glammed up recently but there she looks like her ol' self.