Takahashi Ai has graduated from H!P 9/30.

[iceymoon]

i knoooow. :<
they're either not allowed, or it's a personal request. BUT IT SUCKS. we've gotten photos of everyone else, even like Fukuda Asuka. DD: Eririn, i wonder if she knows how much people miss her.. i wish i had a chance to tell her in person. >< we hope you're healthy and are taking your time recovering. but because so many people love you, maybe posting in a blog would make them happy..? even though you're not good at keeping up with blogs, even just photos would be okay~!

edit:

it's over, Aichan is graduated. Gaki is leader.


卒業おめでとう

[riversong]

Maybe we'll get some blog pics if she goes backstage like they usually do?

[iceymoon]

</3

[riversong]

Aw, Aika. What a trooper. A bit worrying that she's still out of commission, though.

[Sohee]

Aichan T_________________T

[Menno]

I just came back from the concert. I'd been to more enjoyable concerts, but the impressive graduation made up for not knowing and not liking 75% of the songs.

So I'm glad I decided to actually go to the concert, even if I'm not a fan of Morning Musume or Takahashi Ai. And the seat at the last row of the 1st ring wasn't that bad either, although the stage was far away I could see all over the hall. All the yellow glowsticks together was a fantastic sight.

I also met Erilaz before the concert, I think it was the 1st time for me meeting someone from JPM (I met plenty of people from H!O). After the concert it was dark and so freaking busy that I couldn't find him or any of the other English speaking gaijin fans (I did spot some French guys, but they don't seem to be too eager to communicate with the English speaking fan base).

But anyway, the whole graduation was impressive.

[AyuHikaru]

Taka

You were my first, and longest, favorite. I'll miss you in MM forever

[erilaz]

^^ It was great meeting you, Menno!

After the show I ran into a couple of guys from the group we were hanging out with and headed to the station with them. I was on the train with KD all the way to my final station.

Are you going to the Global Festa in Hibiya Park tomorrow afternoon? It'll be Gakisan's first event as leader. Hope to see you there!

Anyway, I agree with Menno more or less about the concert itself. I mean, being at a Morning Musume concert is always great fun, but this one wasn't anything more special than that, apart from the graduation.

Spoilered per request:

Spoiler: show

Tears came to my eyes twice: (1) When Aika came out on her crutches, and (2) AiGaki during the graduation ceremony. It was also very sweet when Aichan pushed Aika's wheelchair onstage for "Tomo" (or was it "Namidacchi"?).

Another interesting tidbit: Sanma-san was at the show, in the front row of the upper level (1st floor), and he had a yellow glowstick in hand.

[Menno]

I'm not going to Hibiya park tomorrow, I'll be in Omiya for the S/mileage events. I got to see them 1 more time before I leave on Sunday.

Sanma-san wasn't the only one at the concert, I saw enough H!P members sitting behind him. They all left just before Ai-chan came on stage for the last time. We will probably see some blog posts pretty soon.

[iceymoon]

according to reports (not sure if by witnesses or from blogs and stuff), people present included..

Sanma Akashiya, Yanagihara Kanako

Former Morning Musume members: Fujimoto Miki, Maki Goto, Yoshizawa Hitomi, Nozomi Tsuji, Kamei Eri, Ogawa Makoto

S/mileage Members: Fukuda Kanon, Maeda Yuuka,

Kikkawa Yuu

Other: Katou Noriko, Asada Miyoko, Tenryu Genichiro, Teruhide Takahashi, Matsumura Kunihiro
The AKB girl is Rino Sashihara