In a bizarre turn of events, Mari Yaguchi has quit Morning Musume as of today. It was announced today that Yaguchi will be leaving the group, with Yoshizawa Hitomi replacing her as leader. Reports suggest that tabloid images of Yaguchi and her boyfriend are set to be published in "Friday" magazine.
News of the announcement as well as a comment by Yaguchi can be found on the Hello! Project website.
http://www.helloproject.com/newslist/050414-1.html
In her comments, Mari apologizes to her supportive fans and asks her fans to look favorably on her. Commenting on the scandal, Yaguchi states that she cannot continue in the current situation and has decided to take responsibility and quit Morning Musume.
Full Version: Mari Yaguchi Leaves Morning Musume!
So, what was the scandal?
It has to be more than being seen with her boyfriend. That's not exciting enough.
It has to be more than being seen with her boyfriend. That's not exciting enough.
Her boyfriend's name is Lyle Lovett…
Uhh..sure it is.
What the hell?!? Boyfriend?!?
I'll still support her... I always thought that guy she's with was a nice guy...
I'll still support her... I always thought that guy she's with was a nice guy...
That's just crazy. I was just thinking today at work about how momusu would be a lot weaker when Mari left.
....Yes I think about these things at work.
Ugh, just ugh. HP has just been rocked with too much scandal lately. I bet you it's not really that scandalous, either. I just have to know what happened to make some sort of sound judgment. Right now that makes me upset. >.>
....Yes I think about these things at work.
Ugh, just ugh. HP has just been rocked with too much scandal lately. I bet you it's not really that scandalous, either. I just have to know what happened to make some sort of sound judgment. Right now that makes me upset. >.>
So the boy is Oguri Shun, best know for his roles in the dramas Summer Snow and GTO.
Scandalous photograph!
Scandalous photograph!
QUOTE(codichan @ Apr 14 2005, 03:09 PM)
That's just crazy. I was just thinking today at work about how momusu would be a lot weaker when Mari left.
....Yes I think about these things at work.
....Yes I think about these things at work.
Right there with you Codi. I think about that stuff all the time too.
Yeah, and as far as I'm concerned Yaguchi's departure from Mini Moni was the beginning of then end for them. They never recovered from that.
Either way, I hope she still says in the business!
Hey, that's Uchi, the blonde dude from Gokusen.
I plan on watching Gokusen to see how he plays as a 'cool' kid. Both series I mentioned above had him play wussy boys.
Her boyfriend's name is Lyle Lovett…
image removed
Procyin's Note: Enough!
image removed
Procyin's Note: Enough!
Nooooooo!
I'm sure the "scandal" was that she had a boyfriend. She probably isn't supposed to have one, or else all of the horny male fans will be less interested in the group.
Pour Mari. She was one of the best things about MoMusu. She'll probably be buried now, but I really hope not.
The Love Machine curse has claimed its final victim. *shakes fist in air*
I'm sure the "scandal" was that she had a boyfriend. She probably isn't supposed to have one, or else all of the horny male fans will be less interested in the group.
Pour Mari. She was one of the best things about MoMusu. She'll probably be buried now, but I really hope not.
The Love Machine curse has claimed its final victim. *shakes fist in air*
I'm gonna go eat my depression off... Actually, I think I've coped with the news quite well.
So if the Love Machine curse is complete, what's next? I say the whole group dies!
So if the Love Machine curse is complete, what's next? I say the whole group dies!
just like Mini Moni....
It IS a band of "singers". I think life will go on.
QUOTE(dunlap @ Apr 15 2005, 12:03 AM)
So if the Love Machine curse is complete, what's next? I say the whole group dies!
Now to come up with the creative scenario in which this happens...
From Mainchi Shimbun
QUOTE
Leader of all-girl pop group Morning Musume quits
Mari Yaguchi, leader of the all-girl J-pop group Morning Musume, left the group on Thursday to concentrate on a solo career, the 22-year announced.
Her move was spurred by a photograph and article appearing in the April 15 issue of the weekly magazine "Friday," describing her relationship with an actor.
Officials at the entertainment office to which she belongs said she had reported that she had been interviewed, and had applied to leave the group. She explained her decision in an online message.
"I think I've betrayed myself as an idol. I've lost the qualification to lead the other members of Morning Musume, " she said. Yaguchi has pulled out of the current concert tour and will reportedly start a solo career.
The new leader of Morning Musume will be 20-year-old Hitomi Yoshizawa. (Mainichi Shimbun, Japan, April 15, 2005
Mari Yaguchi, leader of the all-girl J-pop group Morning Musume, left the group on Thursday to concentrate on a solo career, the 22-year announced.
Her move was spurred by a photograph and article appearing in the April 15 issue of the weekly magazine "Friday," describing her relationship with an actor.
Officials at the entertainment office to which she belongs said she had reported that she had been interviewed, and had applied to leave the group. She explained her decision in an online message.
"I think I've betrayed myself as an idol. I've lost the qualification to lead the other members of Morning Musume, " she said. Yaguchi has pulled out of the current concert tour and will reportedly start a solo career.
The new leader of Morning Musume will be 20-year-old Hitomi Yoshizawa. (Mainichi Shimbun, Japan, April 15, 2005
Scandal scandal!
More from Mainichi:
QUOTE
Scandal-stained Morning Musume dominate lowbrow headlines
Mari Yaguchi's scandalous departure from top group Morning Musume dominated Monday morning sports newspaper headlines in Tokyo.
Mainichi Shimbun
Yaguchi suddenly left the group last week after the scandal sheet Friday
caught her on camera in a late-night tryst with an actor.
Morning Musume, one of Japan's top pop units and currently on a national
tour, played its first show without its leader Yaguchi in suburban Tokyo on
Sunday night,
Yaguchi's departure means that Morning Musume's formation and songs have required major adjustments. This resulted in the group rehearsing for four hours before Sunday's show at the Shimin Kaikan in Hachioji, twice as long as it would normally practice.
Morning Musume were 30 minutes late starting the show. When the all-girl
group finally emerged on stage, Yaguchi's replacement as leader, Hitomi Yoshizawa, promptly apologized.
"Yaguchi-san is not here for today's concert. I'm really sorry," she told
fans. None of the mass-market dailies reported any adverse response to
Yoshizawa's apology.
Inside the venue, it seemed references to Yaguchi were as muted as possible. Merchandise vendors stripped their shelves of any reference to the 22-year-old singer.
It was a different story outside the hall, however.
Fans slept outside the venue overnight to buy tickets to Sunday's show.
Eventually, about 1,000 people missed out on getting in, according to Sankei Sports and Sports Hochi. These fans immediately started a petition to
reinstate Yaguchi to the group.
Daily Sports reported that Morning Musume would continue on its national
tour as planned until the scheduled final concert on May 7. It also reported
that the petition to reinstate Yaguchi had already secured the signatures of
2,500 fans and that the list would grow.
Sankei Sports said that one fan had begged that Yaguchi be restored to the group so that she could leave it on her own terms.
Interest in the case remains as observers await a comment from Yaguchi orher management.
Top headlines from other sports newspapers included:
SPORTS NIPPON -- Seiko Matsuda to produce first photo collection in 16
years. Kishin Shinoyama to take shots. Can we expect sexy shots from the
43-year-old?
SPORTS HOCHI -- Japan's oldest movie director, 93-year-old Kaneto Shindo.
"What's life worth without work?" He s till feels like he's 22.
DAILY SPORTS -- "I'm sorry," says Morning Musume. Concert apology over
Yaguchi's departure. 2,500 fans sign petition for reinstatement.
NIKKAN SPORTS -- Fuji and Horie head toward settlement. Livedoor to sell all
Nippon Broadcasting shares to Fuji.
SANKEI SPORTS -- 1,000 fans miss out on tickets. Don't want Yaguchi to quit.
Apology offered in first concert since Yaguchi's departure.
(Mainichi Interactive, Japan, April 18, 2005)
Mari Yaguchi's scandalous departure from top group Morning Musume dominated Monday morning sports newspaper headlines in Tokyo.
Mainichi Shimbun
Yaguchi suddenly left the group last week after the scandal sheet Friday
caught her on camera in a late-night tryst with an actor.
Morning Musume, one of Japan's top pop units and currently on a national
tour, played its first show without its leader Yaguchi in suburban Tokyo on
Sunday night,
Yaguchi's departure means that Morning Musume's formation and songs have required major adjustments. This resulted in the group rehearsing for four hours before Sunday's show at the Shimin Kaikan in Hachioji, twice as long as it would normally practice.
Morning Musume were 30 minutes late starting the show. When the all-girl
group finally emerged on stage, Yaguchi's replacement as leader, Hitomi Yoshizawa, promptly apologized.
"Yaguchi-san is not here for today's concert. I'm really sorry," she told
fans. None of the mass-market dailies reported any adverse response to
Yoshizawa's apology.
Inside the venue, it seemed references to Yaguchi were as muted as possible. Merchandise vendors stripped their shelves of any reference to the 22-year-old singer.
It was a different story outside the hall, however.
Fans slept outside the venue overnight to buy tickets to Sunday's show.
Eventually, about 1,000 people missed out on getting in, according to Sankei Sports and Sports Hochi. These fans immediately started a petition to
reinstate Yaguchi to the group.
Daily Sports reported that Morning Musume would continue on its national
tour as planned until the scheduled final concert on May 7. It also reported
that the petition to reinstate Yaguchi had already secured the signatures of
2,500 fans and that the list would grow.
Sankei Sports said that one fan had begged that Yaguchi be restored to the group so that she could leave it on her own terms.
Interest in the case remains as observers await a comment from Yaguchi orher management.
Top headlines from other sports newspapers included:
SPORTS NIPPON -- Seiko Matsuda to produce first photo collection in 16
years. Kishin Shinoyama to take shots. Can we expect sexy shots from the
43-year-old?
SPORTS HOCHI -- Japan's oldest movie director, 93-year-old Kaneto Shindo.
"What's life worth without work?" He s till feels like he's 22.
DAILY SPORTS -- "I'm sorry," says Morning Musume. Concert apology over
Yaguchi's departure. 2,500 fans sign petition for reinstatement.
NIKKAN SPORTS -- Fuji and Horie head toward settlement. Livedoor to sell all
Nippon Broadcasting shares to Fuji.
SANKEI SPORTS -- 1,000 fans miss out on tickets. Don't want Yaguchi to quit.
Apology offered in first concert since Yaguchi's departure.
(Mainichi Interactive, Japan, April 18, 2005)
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