Kobushi Factory's Fujii Rio has left H!P (7/6/17)

[Amped]

Kobushi Factory leader Hirose Ayaka apologizes about Fujii Rio leaving so suddenly due to contract violation.
http://ameblo.jp/kobushi-factory/entry-12290276806.html

I think it was probably the attitude she was giving lately. She didn't look like she was giving her all and management probably was not happy.

[Celedam]

^ I think her attitude was a symptom, not a cause. Something was happening in her life, and we'll probably never know what.

That being said, yeah, her lack of enthusiasm was pretty clear in recent photos.

[AyuHikaru]

I wonder what happened. She didn't seem super happy lately so it doesn't seem like it was a boyfriend. Smoking/Drinking maybe? She's around the same age Kago got busted for it, so it's possible. Fishing for another company maybe? I hear that's against the rules for some companies while you're still under contract.

Whatever it was it couldn't have been good, she was eventually leaving and they still went "Nah."

[boinsie]

Thank you for always supporting Hello! Project.
This is an abrupt announcement, however,
We are giving notification that, at this time, we have ended our exclusive management contract with Kobushi Factory member Fujii Rio.
It was previously announced on 5/12 that she would graduate with this summer's Hello! Project concert tour,
But afterward, it came to light Fujii was involved in circumstances violating the rules of Hello! Project.

We talked about improvement, but during that time she did not fulfill the agreement,
and we concluded it would be difficult for us to continue in our duty managing her, so
once again, we conferred with her and her parental authority, and during this time it lead to cancellation of her contract.
Regarding this decision, again, we are very disappointed she did not make improvements.

As for Kobushi Factory, their involvement with the Hello! Project concert tour, the movie "JK Ninja Girls", and summer performances and solo lives will go on as planned.
The members will come to grips with this, and continue to face forward with their activities, so
We will continue to support everyone as we advance forward.

To everyone, and those fans who habitually lend their support,
For being bothersome, and once again causing concern, we offer our deepest apologies,
and we hope you continue to support and cooperate with Kobushi Factory.

2017年7月6日

Translation of the announcement at H!O
http://www.hello-online.org/index.php?a ... topic=3052

So the announcement is saying that her contract violations were discovered -after- the grad announcement? So weird to not just sweep this under the table for a month or two... unless they're afraid that whatever it is would come to a head and look bad on them as a company.

[Amped]

So they gave her a bunch of chances to change (most likely her attitude) but she didn't fulfill her end of the agreement. She only hurt herself doing things half heartedly.

[boinsie]

It just feels like "You're not trying hard enough" isn't something they would fire her for, especially when she already has a grad date scheduled.

But all speculation aside, it's unlikely we'll end up learning what happened.

[Amped]

Obviously the media doesn't know the whole story about what rules she violated, but they guess it could be her "motivation to work" was a factor because she her graduation was coming up.
https://www.daily.co.jp/gossip/2017/07/ ... 7395.shtml

In her May statement, she promised "I will work hard with all my strength until graduation, I will make an effort" but she leaves the entertainment industry without fulfilling it.

[Shabranikuduu]

I wonder if part of the reason it took so long (they seem to have given her several chances, and who knows how long this has been a problem) is so that it wouldn't, not necessarily overshadow, but not take away from the positive events that were the graduation of °C-ute and Momoko.

To me, it does sound like an attitude problem, like boinsie said, not trying hard enough, but I also agree that given that she had a graduation date set and in less than 2 months, it's strange that they would fire her. Must have been some problem. It's a shame too, because this was probably just some form of teenage/young adult rebellion/not caring, but the fact that H!P fired her so publicly may be a pretty serious problem in her future professional life, especially as she wants to become a teacher or a nurse.

[Amped]

Kobushi Factory leader Hirose Ayaka apologizes about Fujii Rio leaving so suddenly due to contract violation.
http://ameblo.jp/kobushi-factory/entry-12290276806.html

Good evening everyone。 This is Hirose Ayaka。



Just as was announced on the Hello！ Project Official Site today、

The contract of Kobushi Factory member Fujii Rio has been terminated。



I believe that this sudden announcement must have all of you in disarray。

And I am truly sorry to have a member be removed in
Such a way。

Honestly、 we too are really frustrated。

Essentially、 Fujii was slated to graduate in about ２ months, on the ２nd of September。

After having set on her graduation、 spending what precious little remaining time the ８ of us had without any regrets
Is something that I guess we’ll no longer be able to do。



However、amongst the fans

I think that there are many of you are working hard at your jobs or school、 and not coming to our concerts and events at the moment、

In order to make time closer to Fujii’s graduation。

I truly am sorry

That things have happened in this way、 without you being able to properly bid her farewell。



I think that all of you must be going through all sorts of emotions、

But from now on、 the ７ member Kobushi Factory will shift our gears、

And we’ll give it our all in our activities、 even more than before

So that we’ll be able to bring smiles to all your faces、 and so that lots of people will know about Kobushi Factory。



Starting with the summer Hello！ Project concerts、 and the stage greetings for 「JK Ninja Girls」、

All of our activities from now on will be with the ７ of us。

However、 it won’t change the fact that Rio is a member that’s precious to us、

And that Kobushi Factory was made up of the ８ of us。

I love the ８ member Kobushi Factory。

And that’s why even when it’s just the ７ of us

I’d like to be proud of my love of the Kobushi Factory that we all built up together with Rio。



Right now I will keep my memories and tears to myself、 and run on forward as a ７ member team。



I think that

The people who read this blog are surely people who love Rio。

It’s possible that you haven’t sorted out how you feel、 and can’t move forward。

However、 once you’ve calmed down。

Please come again to watch us。

We love Rio, just as you do。

Up until the time that you come to see us

I’d like to become a group that makes you think ‘I want to support them again。’

It will be the first time for us to stand on-stage at a Hello Project Con
cert as a ７ person Kobushi Factory。

Up until then、 we would like to deliver performances in our own way

Performances that we feel are in a way, flawless。



We hope for you continued support for Kobushi Factory。





At first、 I and the members

Were helped out a lot by Rio。

I am truly grateful to Rio。



From now on, as a friend, I would like to support Rio on her new path。



Thank you very much for reading to the end。



Hirose Ayaka

http://blog-project.net/hirose-ayaka/258834

[Celedam]

I'm going to say it again: I think her attitude was a symptom, not a cause. There are a million possible reasons why she couldn't or wouldn't do her job properly. I speak from experience. So let's maybe try not to treat this like spectator sport. Let's maybe try to remember she's a human being with a life of her own that we know almost nothing about, even more so now that she's out of the business and a private citizen again. Let's maybe try to remember the agency and the media and her fellow members are all saying what they must say because it's required by their culture. Let's maybe try not to be so selfish and arrogant that we simply dump on her from afar for "not trying hard enough" or whatever.