Berryz Koubou have gone on indefinite hiatus as of 3/3

[JonCC]

Gee, I wonder where Arama got the mustard on this one.

Fan reports emphasized that they did not want to use the word “disband”, but all evidence seems to point like they will be disbanding without actually outright saying it.

http://aramajapan.com/news/music/berryz ... sion/4779/

[otaku_blue]

aramajapan is basically hellosayunii. don't take the website seriously.

its an upgraded livejournal blog.

Concert picture:

[randompasserby]

Tsunku's comments are up too on the official site.
http://www.helloproject.com/news/1902/

[BerryzCelebration]

Momoko crying .

[JonCC]

Maasa

As mentioned at the Hello! Project live performance、 we, Berryz Kobo, will enter an 「indefinite suspension of activity」in the spring of next year。

About 1 year ago, us members discussed about the future amongst ourselves。
All of us have now grown up、 and while we mutually respect one another、 after discussing our future, this is the conclusion that we came up with。

http://blog-project.net/sudou-maasa/205539

Looks like they've been contemplating this for a while.

Also..

http://mm-bbs.org/index.php?showtopic=6229

I'd heard about the rumors at Japan Expo, but had dismissed them...
Shows what I know.

[lynnkung]

I thought I'd be out of the fandom when this happen ...

[stam4o]

Not a surprise. This seems to be absolutely a disbandment, yhough they're using the "indefinite hiatus" term just to make things more light for the fandom. Also, I guess it probably has something to do with marketing strategies, the hiatus thing would allow UF to use Berryz Koubou's name as they want for any kind of promotion or just as a remark of the group's history. Also, I think that way it'd be easier to make things like "Berryz Koubou 5-years post-hiatus reunion" and random flash comebacks of the kind, which wouldn't be very problematic with their future lives.
But yeah, it's going to be interesting to see their next moves.

[Shoujo Q]

So... Next spring. Can we have one more American appearance before they go? That'd be nice UF. (I'd say it's not going to happen, but then again Sayumi's bringing Morning Musume over and that was a pipe dream that got a connection.) I actually think all that though depends on a success of MM in NYC of course.

Anyway, didn't see this coming so soon. Like, I was expecting them to announce it at the Budokan concert for more dramatic effect and call it Road to disbandment from there on out.

I'm going to be greedy and ask, please bring some Buono back? I'm also wondering what C-ute have to say about this? I can see them not disbanding, but not staying in H!P for much longer and going the Melon Kinenbi route. It's just going to be so weird not seeing Berryz and C-ute together. My H!P kids are growing up and leaving the nest. I'm so sad guys.

[otaku_blue]

That comedian who's always been faithful to Berryz must be so devastated.

Same with Mizuki and Kanon.

[Mixi]

This is crazy. Berryz were the new group when I got into H!P. I never thought I'd see this day.

I'll be honest, I'd rather see them disband for real. We don't know if they'll stay in H!P, right? It feels like they'll just stick around in H!P indefinitely while doing non-idol stuff because they aren't into it anymore. They, and Aika, are the new Elder Club. I think having a bunch of members on hiatus holds H!P back so it'd be best if they left. Bring on new groups.

What's scary is that °C-ute are next. I predict they'll leave H!P in 2016 when Maimai turns 20 and the group celebrates its 10th anniversary. In their case, they'll probably stay active as a non-idol girl group.

EDIT: I just remembered that a few weeks ago, Berryz were asked what they wanted to do this year and a few girls talked about getting certifications, and nothing about idoling... yeah, they knew BK wouldn't be around and they had to find something in real life.