Hello! Project Wiki/News/2023

;December 21, 2023 - Sasaki Rikako to graduate from ANGERME and Hello! Project
:On December 21, it was announced that 3rd generation member Sasaki Rikako will be graduating from ANGERME and Hello! Project at the end of the group's upcoming spring concert tour in 2024.
:Setting boundaries in her activities as a group member, Sasaki wants to take a new challenge in her life by challenging herself what she can do and how far she can go on her own. With this, she came to the decision to graduate from ANGERME and Hello! Project at the end of the group's upcoming spring concert tour.
:Sasaki initially joined Hello! Project on March 1, 2013 as a sole 18th generation member of Hello Pro Kenshuusei, being introduced at the Hello! Pro Kenshuusei Happyoukai 2013 ~3gatsu no Nama Tamago Show!~ event on March 31. On October 4, 2014, Sasaki was announced to be selected to join S/mileage as a 3rd generation member alongside fellow Hello Pro Kenshuusei members Murota Mizuki and Aikawa Maho.
:Source: Hello! Project
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;November 29, 2023 - Fukumura Mizuki graduates from Morning Musume '23 and Hello! Project; Ikuta Erina to succeed as new leader and Oda Sakura as new sub-leader
:On November 29, the Morning Musume '23 Concert Tour Aki "Neverending Shine Show ~Sanctuary~" Fukumura Mizuki Sotsugyou Special was held at Yokohama Arena, where 9th generation member and leader Fukumura Mizuki graduated from Morning Musume '23 and Hello! Project.
:Fukumura initially joined Hello! Project on June 22, 2008 as a 4th generation member of Hello Pro Egg. In 2010, she participated of the Morning Musume 9ki Audition, in hope to join the 9th generation of Morning Musume, but she was then told by Tsunku that she failed the third round. On January 2, 2011, with the announcement of the winners of the audition, Tsunku made a surprise announcement that Fukumura had actually passed the 9th generation audition, joining the group alongside Ikuta Erina, Sayashi Riho, and Suzuki Kanon. On May 21, 2013, she was appointed sub-leader of the group alongside Iikubo Haruna. On November 27, 2014, following Michishige Sayumi's graduation, she was promoted to leader of Morning Musume. On December 31, 2016, with the announcement that Wada Ayaka would succeed Yajima Maimi as the 6th leader of Hello! Project, it was also announced that Fukumura would become a sub-leader once Wada becomes the leader. On June 19, 2019, following Wada's graduation, Fukumura became the 7th leader of Hello! Project. On December 27, 2022, Fukumura announced her graduation from Morning Musume and Hello! Project.
:Fukumura stayed on Morning Musume for more than 12 years, with 9 of those years serving as the group's ninth leader, and she currently holds the tenure of the longest serving member of Hello! Project with more than 15 years as a member (including the training period as a Hello Pro Egg trainee).
:A few days earlier, on November 25, it was announced at the last regular concert of the autumn tour that Ikuta Erina would be succeeding Fukumura as Morning Musume's 10th leader, and Oda Sakura would be succeeding Ikuta as a new sub-leader alongside current sub-leader Ishida Ayumi.
:After her graduation, Fukumura plans on continuing her entertainment activities after a period of preparation.
:Source: ORICON NEWS
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;November 6, 2023 - Yamagishi Riko and Kishimoto Yumeno graduates from Tsubaki Factory and Hello! Project; Niinuma Kisora to succeed as new leader
:On November 6, the Tsubaki Factory Concert Tour 2023 Aki Atarayo ~Yamagishi Riko ・ Kishimoto Yumeno Sotsugyou Special~ Akatsuki was held at Nippon Budokan, where founding members Yamagishi Riko and Kishimoto Yumeno graduated from Tsubaki Factory and Hello! Project.
:Yamagishi and Kishimoto initially joined Hello! Project as members of Hello Pro Kenshuusei, with Yamagishi joining on June 17, 2012 as a 16th generation member, and Kishimoto joining on November 20, 2012 as a 17th generation member. On April 29, 2015, both members were selected to debut in a new unit named Tsubaki Factory alongside Ogata Risa, Niinuma Kisora, Tanimoto Ami, and Asakura Kiki. On August 8, 2015, Yamagishi was appointed as leader of the group. On April 13, 2023, both members announced their joint graduation from Tsubaki Factory and Hello! Project.
:A few days earlier, on October 29, it was announced at the last regular concert of the autumn tour that Niinuma would be succeeding Yamagishi as Tsubaki Factory's second leader, while Tanimoto would remain as sub-leader.
:After their graduations, Yamagishi plans on pursuing a career as an actress, and Kishimoto plans on continuing her singing activities as a soloist while expressing herself in other areas as well. A day later, the graduation songs of both Yamagishi and Kishimoto, "Kacchoii Uta" and "BE", were released digitally.
:Source: Pop'n'Roll, Hello! Project
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;August 16, 2023 - Uemura Akari to graduate from Juice=Juice and Hello! Project
:On August 16, it was announced that Uemura Akari will be graduating from Juice=Juice and Hello! Project at the end of the group's upcoming spring concert tour in 2024.
:Uemura has been a member of Juice=Juice since its formation and is currently acting as the leader, but with the group currently celebrating its 10th anniversary, she expressed to complete it as a milestone and then move on to a new career path and has decided to graduate from the group after their spring concert tour in 2024.
:Uemura initially joined Hello! Project on March 16, 2012 as a 14th generation member of Hello Pro Kenshuusei. On February 3, 2013, Uemura was announced to be debuting in a new unit named Juice=Juice alongside Miyamoto Karin, Kanazawa Tomoko, Miyazaki Yuka, Takagi Sayuki and Otsuka Aina. On November 24, 2021, with the graduation of Kanazawa, Uemura was announced to be succeeding her as the group's third leader, as well becoming the last original member active in the group.
:Source: Hello! Project
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;June 21, 2023 - Takeuchi Akari graduates from ANGERME and Hello! Project; Kamikokuryo Moe to succeed as new leader
:On June 21, the ANGERME CONCERT 2023 BIG LOVE Takeuchi Akari FINAL LIVE "ANGERME Yori Ai wo Komete" was held at Yokohama Arena, where 2nd generation member and leader Takeuchi Akari graduated from ANGERME and Hello! Project.
:Takeuchi initially joined Hello! Project on June 22, 2008 as a 4th generation member of Hello Pro Egg. In 2011, she auditioned to become a member of S/mileage and made it in as a sub-member alongside Nakanishi Kana, Tamura Meimi, Kosuga Fuyuka, and fellow Hello Pro Egg member Katsuta Rina. On October 16 of the same year, she was announced as an official 2nd generation member of the group alongside Nakanishi, Katsuta and Tamura. On November 15, 2015, she was appointed sub-leader of ANGERME alongside Nakanishi. On June 19, 2019, with Wada Ayaka's graduation, she was promoted to leader of the group. On December 20, 2022, she announced her graduation from ANGERME and Hello! Project.
:A few days earlier, on June 11, it was announced at the group's concert as part of the Sayonara Nakano Sunplaza Ongakusai festival, that Kamikokuryo Moe would be succeeding Takeuchi as ANGERME's third leader, while Kawamura Ayano would remain as sub-leader.
:After her graduation, Takeuchi plans on mastering calligraphy, as she has obtained the qualification of "Seisho Shihan" (a fifth-degree associate in calligraphy) and currently aiming to become a fifth-degree professor, while continuing her entertainment activities.
:Source: ORICON MUSIC
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;May 23, 2023 - New members of Morning Musume '23, ANGERME, Juice=Juice, Hello Pro Kenshuusei Unit '23, a new Hello! Project group and a new audition announced
:On May 23, it was announced at the Hello! Project website the new additions of Morning Musume '23, ANGERME, Juice=Juice and Hello Pro Kenshuusei Unit '23. A footage of the new members announcements will be revealed in a special episode of Hello! Project Station on May 24, and on the May 29 episode of Hello Dream. 
:The new members who joined Morning Musume '23 are Inoue Haruka and Yumigeta Ako, which were the winners of the Morning Musume 25 Shuunen Kinen Shin Member Audition -Asu wo Tsukuru no wa Kimi-, the new members who joined ANGERME are the Hello Pro Kenshuusei members Shimoitani Yukiho and Goto Hana, and the new member who joined Juice=Juice is Hello Pro Kenshuusei member Kawashima Mifu. Kawashima will be formally introduced to the public at the Juice=Juice 10th ANNIVERSARY CONCERT TOUR ~10th Juice at BUDOKAN~ on May 29, Shimoitani and Goto will be introduced at ANGERME's concert as part of the Sayonara Nakano Sunplaza Ongakusai festival on June 11, and Inoue and Yumigeta will be introduced at the Morning Musume '23 25th ANNIVERSARY CONCERT TOUR ~glad quarter-century~ at Nippon Budokan on June 26.
:It was also announced that a new Hello! Project group is planned to debut in 2024, with the Hello Pro Kenshuusei Unit '23 members being confirmed in the group. It was also revealed that Yoshida Hinoha and Kamimura Rena were added to the unit, therefore being also part of the new group's line-up. 
:In addition, a new Hello! Project audition titled Hello! Project 25 Shuunen Kinen Shin Member Audition is planned to be held in the second half of 2023. Details of the audition will be revealed at a later date once it is decided.
:Source: Hello! Project
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;April 13, 2023 - Yamagishi Riko and Kishimoto Yumeno to graduate from Tsubaki Factory and Hello! Project
:On April 13, it was announced that Yamagishi Riko and Kishimoto Yumeno will be graduating from Tsubaki Factory and Hello! Project at the end of the group's upcoming fall concert tour in 2023.
:Yamagishi wants to pursue a career as an actress, which she wanted to challenge as she will turn 25 years old in November of this year. Kishimoto wants to continue her activities as a soloist, and shared that she wanted to express herself in various ways other than being a singer and also try other areas such as writing, speaking, fashion, fitness, etc.
:Yamagishi and Kishimoto initially joined Hello! Project as members of Hello Pro Kenshuusei, with Yamagishi joining on June 17, 2012 as a 16th generation member, and Kishimoto joining on November 20, 2012 as a 17th generation member. On April 29, 2015, both members were selected to debut in a new unit named Tsubaki Factory alongside Ogata Risa, Niinuma Kisora, Tanimoto Ami, and Asakura Kiki. On August 8, 2015, Yamagishi was appointed as leader of the group.
:The exact timing of their graduation will be announced as soon as it is decided.
:Source: Hello! Project
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;April 2, 2023 - Asakura Kiki graduates from Tsubaki Factory and Hello! Project
:On April 2, the Hello! Project Hina Fes 2023 "Tsubaki Factory Premium ~Asakura Kiki Sotsugyou Special~" was held at Makuhari Messe Exhibition Hall 4, where founding member Asakura Kiki graduated from Tsubaki Factory and Hello! Project.
:Asakura initially joined Hello! Project on November 18, 2014 as a 22nd generation member of Hello Pro Kenshuusei. On April 29, 2015, she was selected to debut in a new unit named Tsubaki Factory alongside five other girls. On September 7, 2022, she announced her graduation from Tsubaki Factory and Hello! Project at her 2022 birthday event.
:After her graduation, Asakura plans to attend a veterinary school starting in the same month while balancing her solo activities in the entertainment industry. Shortly after her graduation, she released her graduation song "You're My Friend feat. KIKI", a cover of Buono!'s song "You're My Friend" in which she performed at the concert, on April 3.
:Source: Pop'n'Roll
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Category:2023