Hello! Project Wiki/News/2020

;December 28, 2020 - Ogata Risa leaves Tsubaki Factory and Hello! Project
:On December 28, it was announced through Hello! Project's website that Ogata Risa has decided to leave Tsubaki Factory and Hello! Project.
:On October 8, Ogata was suspended from all activities for an indeterminate amount of time due to rule violations. It was discovered that she had been using a secret social media account to privately post rants and complaints, many of them being about the other Tsubaki Factory members. Ogata admitted to using social media as a vent diary that no one was meant to see, and she clarified that while she did own the account, her posts were influenced by emotions, and many of them are not actually true. Ogata subsequently offered to have her activities suspended for the time being to reflect on her immature behavior.
:During this time of reflection she thought about what she had done and what she would do in the future. However, when she thought about Tsubaki Factory's future, she realized that she was not in a place to return to the group even if she wanted to as she was feeling inconvenienced due to her past actions. Ogata also expressed that this was the best decision she could make giving the circumstances. While she reflected on her life and her future, she has decided to remain in the entertainment industry, knowing that it would be a start from a negative place.
:She will leave Tsubaki Factory and Hello! Project, but will remain signed under and her future activities will be announced as soon as decided. 
:Source: Hello! Project
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;December 27, 2020 - Fukumura Mizuki and Yokoyama Reina test negative for COVID-19
:On December 25, it was announced that Fukumura Mizuki and Yokoyama Reina had both come into contact with Iikubo Haruna at a radio program. Iikubo had tested positive for coronavirus on December 24, and is currently receiving medical treatment at a hospital. Due to their close contact, Fukumura and Yokoyama had both taken an antigen test and a PCR test, and were complying with quarantine measures as they awaited the results. Both of them show no signs of symptoms, and are in good health.
:On December 27, it was announced that they had both tested negative for coronavirus, but would continue to individually quarantine at home as a precaution to prevent the spread of the virus. As a result, they would subsequently be absent from release events for Junjou Evidence / Gyuu Saretai Dake na no ni and other year-end activities until further notice.
:On December 29, it was announced that Fukumura and Yokoyama would return to activities on December 30 after consulting with the health center.
:Source: Hello! Project, Morning Musume 13ki・14ki Official Blog, Morning Musume Qki Official Blog
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;December 10, 2020 - Miyamoto Karin graduates from Juice=Juice and Hello! Project
:On December 10, Miyamoto Karin graduated from Juice=Juice and Hello! Project at the Juice=Juice Concert 2020 ~Tsudzuiteiku STORY~ Miyamoto Karin Sotsugyou Special in Nippon Budokan.
:She first joined as member of Hello Pro Egg in November 2008 as a winner of the UP-FRONT Egg Audition. In February 2013, she was selected to debut in a new unit named Juice=Juice alongside five other girls. On February 10, 2020, Miyamoto announced through Hello! Project Station that she would graduate from the group and Hello! Project at the end of their spring concert tour. Although, on April 21, the tour was ultimately cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic and her graduation was postponed.
:Miyamoto will begin activities as a soloist after graduating, with her first announced activity being the Hello! Project Year-End Party 2020 ~GOOD BYE & HELLO!~ concert on December 31, where she will appear as a guest artist of the part 3.
:Source: Pop'n'Roll
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;December 9, 2020 - Funaki Musubu graduates from ANGERME and Hello! Project
:On December 9, Funaki Musubu graduated from ANGERME and Hello! Project at the ANGERME Concert 2020 ~Kishotenketsu~ Funaki Musubu Sotsugyou Special in Nippon Budokan.
:She first joined Hello Pro Kenshuusei in September 2013 as part of the 20th generation. Funaki was later promoted as a member of Country Girls in November 2015. In June 2017, Country Girls started a new concurrent system after Tsugunaga Momoko's graduation and Funaki joined ANGERME as part of the 6th generation on June 26. In October 2019, Country Girls announced that all current members of the group would be graduating on December 26, with the group activities being suspended indefinitely. With the announcement, Funaki revealed that she would be also graduating from ANGERME and Hello! Project in March 2020 to study dancing. Although, her graduation was postponed two times: in January 2020, her graduation was postponed to June 12 in order to Murota Mizuki graduate ahead of her, and on April 21, her graduation was postponed again due to the situation of the COVID-19 pandemic in Japan at that time.
:After her graduation, she will be also leaving sometime this month and her future plans are currently undecided.
:Source: Nikkan Sports
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;November 4, 2020 - Two new members join Hello Pro Kenshuusei
:On November 4, it was announced that Arisawa Ichika and Ishiyama Sakura had joined Hello Pro Kenshuusei as new trainees. They will be introduced together on December 19 at Hello! Project Kenshuusei Happyoukai 2020 12gatsu ~Hikari~.
:Both Arisawa and Ishiyama took part in the ANGERME ONLY ONE Audition ~Watashi wo Tsukuru no wa Watashi~, and made it to the finals, but were not chosen to join the group.
:Source: Hello! Project
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;November 2, 2020 - ANGERME's 9th generation members announced
:On November 2, it was announced in a special stream on ANGERME's official YouTube channel the 9th generation members of the group: Matsumoto Wakana and Kawana Rin, who were the winners of the ANGERME ONLY ONE Audition ~Watashi wo Tsukuru no wa Watashi~, and Tamenaga Shion from Hello Pro Kenshuusei. In the announcement, it was also revealed the member colors for each member: white for Matsumoto, green for Kawana and pink for Tamenaga.
:The new members are scheduled to make their first performance with the group at ANGERME Concert 2020 ~Kishotenketsu~ Funaki Musubu Sotsugyou Special on December 9 in Nippon Budokan. More contents of the ONLY ONE Audition will also be revealed in the future.
:Source: Hello! Project, ANGERME's YouTube Channel
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;October 23, 2020 - Funaki Musubu and Miyamoto Karin graduation concerts decided
:On October 23, it was announced that the official dates for Funaki Musubu and Miyamoto Karin's graduations from Hello! Project have officially been set. Funaki Musubu's graduation from ANGERME and Hello! Project has been postponed to December 9, 2020 during the ANGERME Concert 2020 ~Kishotenketsu~ Funaki Musubu Sotsugyou Special one-day concert at Nippon Budokan. Likewise, Miyamoto Karin's graduation from Juice=Juice and Hello! Project has been postponed to December 10, 2020 during the Juice=Juice Concert 2020 ~Tsudzuiteiku STORY~ Miyamoto Karin Sotsugyou Special one-day concert at Nippon Budokan.
:Source: Hello! Project (Funaki Musubu, Miyamoto Karin)
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;October 13, 2020 - Oota Haruka withdraws from ANGERME, but announces plans to return to Hello! Project
:On October 13, it was announced on the official Hello! Project site that Oota Haruka has chosen to withdraw from ANGERME, but will remain in Hello! Project. She was suspended from activities since February due to rule violations, and after reflecting on her behavior, she and the agency both came to an agreement that she needed to start again from scratch to properly improve upon her lack of professionalism as an idol. As a result, it was decided that she would leave ANGERME, but remain in Hello! Project to take daily lessons. It will be announced when she has decided to restart full activities in the future. 
:Source: Hello! Project
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;October 8, 2020 - Tsubaki Factory member Ogata Risa goes on hiatus
:On October 8, it was announced on the official Hello! Project site that Tsubaki Factory member Ogata Risa has been suspended from all activities for an indeterminate amount of time due to rule violations. It was discovered that she had been using a secret social media account to privately post rants and complaints, many of them being about the other Tsubaki Factory members. Ogata admitted to using social media as a vent diary that no one was meant to see, and she clarified that while she did own the account, her posts were influenced by emotions, and many of them are not actually true. Ogata subsequently and offered to have her activities suspended for the time being to reflect on her immature behavior.
:Ogata's individual online release events through WithLIVE for "Dansha-ISM / Ima Nanji?" have been cancelled as a result, and tickets will be refunded.
:Source: Hello! Project (Suspension, Release Event Cancellation)
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;August 21, 2020 - Hello! Project announces an autumn concert tour
:On August 21, due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, it was decided that instead of the annual autumn concert tours held by the individual groups, Hello! Project would hold their first ever autumn concert tour, Hello! Project 2020 ~The Ballad~ from September 19, 2020 to November 1, 2020. 
:Much like Hello! Project 2020 Summer COVERS ~The Ballad~, concerts will feature the members performing solo covers of J-Pop ballads by artists outside of Hello! Project. Every stop of the tour will also feature a different selection of members performing. In compliance with government policy, cheering, crowding, and closeness in the venue are prohibited, the venues will be filled to 50% capacity, and wearing masks will be required to enter.
:Source: Hello! Project
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;June 28, 2020 - Nishimura Karin's training activities are suspended due to her physical condition
:On June 28, it was announced that Nishimura Karin was going on hiatus. She had been taken to a hospital due to her poor physical condition, and the doctor diagnosed her with orthostatic intolerance. As a result, she was ordered to rest and not participate in strenuous activities.
:Source: Hello! Project
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;June 15, 2020 - Hello! Project announces plan for summer concerts
:On June 15, after months of concerts and events being cancelled due to the coronavirus, announced their plans for the annual summer concerts.
:Unlike previous years, the Hello! Project 2020 Summer concerts will feature the members performing solo covers of J-Pop ballads by artists outside of Hello! Project. In compliance with government policy, cheering, crowding, and closeness in the venue are prohibited, the venues will be filled to 50% capacity, and wearing masks will be required to enter.
:They made the decision to hold the concerts despite the pandemic due to the members' desire to stand on stage as soon as possible.
:June 23 UPDATE: On June 23, UP-FRONT PROMOTION made the decision to go on with the plans and properly announced the tour. With the announcement, it was also revealed a setlist of songs the members are scheduled to perform.
:June 30 UPDATE: On June 30, 16 additional concerts of the tour were announced, extending the tour until August 23.
:Source: Hello! Project (6/15, 6/23)
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;June 2, 2020 - ANGERME's audition process resumes
:On June 2, it was announced that the third round of ANGERME ONLY ONE Audition ~Watashi wo Tsukuru no wa Watashi~ would be proceeding, and those who moved on would be contacted by mail.
:The second round has previously ended on April 17, but the third round was postponed due to the to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
:June 25 UPDATE: On June 25, it was announced that the third round will officially be resumed now that the final coronavirus restrictions banning travel between prefectures have been lifted.
:Source: 6/25 Update
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;April 21, 2020 - Funaki Musubu and Miyamoto Karin graduations get postponed due to the pandemic & June concerts cancelled
:On April 21, it was announced that Funaki Musubu and Miyamoto Karin's graduations set for June 2020 would be postponed to a later date due to the coronavirus pandemic. Both stated that they wanted to graduate in front of an audience, and thus made the decision to postpone their graduations.
:It was also announced that all June concerts and events were cancelled due to the pandemic.
:June 2 UPDATE: It was announced in early June that most of previously resheduled concert for summer were also cancelled.
:July 3 UPDATE: It was announced in early July that the last of the previously rescheduled concerts for the summer, specifically for the ANGERME Live Tour 2020 Fuyu Haru ROCK ON! LOCK ON!, were cancelled.
:Source: Hello! Project (concerts, graduations, 6/2 Update, July 3 Update)
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;April 1, 2020 - Inoue Rei joins Juice=Juice as a new member and will officially begin activities after Miyamoto Karin's graduation
:On April 1, during Juice=Juice's live stream of "Pop Music / Suki tte Itte yo" release mini live event on YouTube, leader Kanazawa Tomoko announced that former Kobushi Factory member Inoue Rei will be joining Juice=Juice.
:In a letter read by Kanazawa, Inoue commented that she still has to learn and work hard on some things that she needs to improve more on, and hoped that her dreams will come true as a member of Juice=Juice.
:Inoue will start full-fledged activities in the group following Miyamoto Karin's graduation in 2020.
:Source: Hello! Project, YouTube, ORICON MUSIC
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;March 30, 2020 - Kobushi Factory disbands
:On March 30, Kobushi Factory Live 2020 ~The Final Ring!~ took place at Tokyo Dome City Hall, where Hirose Ayaka, Nomura Minami, Hamaura Ayano and Wada Sakurako have graduated from Hello! Project in order to pursue other paths, while Inoue Rei is the only one to remain in H!P.
:Kobushi Factory started their activities as 8 member group in January 2015, and had been active for 5 years. After losing three members in 2017, they focused more on harmonising and performing at least one a cappella song during their concerts.
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;March 27, 2020 - Further updates on Concert & Events cancellation due to the coronavirus
:On March 27, it was announced that the April 4 and 5 shows from Tsubaki Factory's and BEYOOOOONDS' live tours would be cancelled. It was also announced that several concerts from Morning Musume '20, ANGERME, Juice=Juice, Tsubaki Factory and BEYOOOOONDS' live tours that got cancelled were rescheduled for around May to August.
:March 30 UPDATE: On March 30, it was announced via UP-FC that fanclub birthday events of Kishimoto Yumeno and Takagi Sayuki would be cancelled with plans to be rescheduled in the future.
:April 6 UPDATE: On April 6, it was announced that all the April date concerts would be cancelled as well. In addition the musical Arabeyooooonds Nights was announced to be postponed to October.
:April 13 UPDATE: On April 13, it was announced that the DVD and Blu-ray releases of Morning Musume '19 Concert Tour Aki ~KOKORO&KARADA~, LIVE BEYOOOOOND1St and Suzuki Airi LIVE PARTY No Live, No Life? concerts were postponed to May 20, 2020 due to the government's declaration of emergency following the spread of the coronavirus getting worse.
:April 14 UPDATE: On April 14, it was announced that all concerts in May would be also cancelled, including those who were early re-sheduled for that month. Sato Masaki and Dambara Ruru's birthday events were also cancelled as well.
:Source: Hello! Project (3/27 - cancellation, rescheduling, 4/6 - concerts, musical, 4/13, 4/14), UP-FC (3/30, 4/14)
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;March 22, 2020 - Murota Mizuki graduates from ANGERME and Hello! Project
:On March 22, Murota Mizuki graduated from ANGERME and Hello! Project in the live broadcast of Hello! Project Hina Fes 2020 from Makuhari Messe Exhibition Hall 3, which has been held without the audience
:Murota joined ANGERME in late 2014 as a 3rd generation member and she has stayed in the group for over five years. After her graduation she still remained under UP-FRONT PROMOTION.
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;February 28, 2020 - ANGERME member Oota Haruka goes on hiatus
:On February 28, it was announced on the official Hello! Project site that ANGERME member Oota Haruka has been suspended from all activities for an indeterminate amount of time due to rule violations. Any information on resumption of activities will follow at a later date.
:Oota Haruka apologized on her blog and said that she wishes to reflect on her actions so it may be possible for her to return to her activities in the future.
:Source: Hello! Project, Oota Haruka's blog post
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;February 27, 2020 - Concerts & Events cancelled due to the virus outbreak
:On February 27, it was announced that in consideration of a new policy established by the government to prevent the spread of the coronavirus all concerts and events scheduled for the following 2 weeks would be cancelled.
:The cancelled concerts include several dates from Juice=Juice's, ANGERME's live tours and two shows from each Tsubaki Factory's and BEYOOOOONDS's live tours.
:This also greatly affects the release of Kobushi Factory's 8th and final single Seishun no Hana / Start Line, for all of its promotion events have been canceled.
:In addition, the scheduled FC events of Wada Sakurako, Hirose Ayaka・Inoue Rei & Ogata Risa and Hamaura Ayano were cancelled as well.
: March 4 UPDATE: On March 4, an update was announced on Hello! Project's website with more cancelled concerts and events, including four shows from Morning Musume's concert tour and ANGERME's live tour, two shows from Tsubaki Factory's live tour, and two shows from Hello Pro Kenshuusei recitals.
: March 6 UPDATE: On March 6, it was announced that Hello! Project Hina Fes 2020 would be cancelled due to the opening of the Jinguu no Mori Geijutsu Shukusai event being postponed.
: March 11 UPDATE: On March 11, a new update was announced on Hello! Project's website with more cancelled concerts, including four shows from Morning Musume '20's concert tour, ANGERME's live tour and Juice=Juice's live tour, two shows from Tsubaki Factory's live tour, the Hello Pro Kenshuusei's recital and Morning Musume '20's dinner show. Together with it it was announced via UP-FC that fanclub birthday events of Takase Kurumi, Haga Akane, Oda Sakura and Kitagawa Rio would be cancelled as well, however, there are plans for those to be rescheduled in the future.
: March 12 UPDATE: On March 12, it was announced that three previously cancelled concerts from Hello! Project Hina Fes 2020 would be held but without audience, being broadcasted live.
: March 23 UPDATE: On March 23, it was announced that the Kobushi Factory Live 2020 ~The Final Ring!~ would be held without audience, being broadcasted live.
: March 26 UPDATE: On March 26, it was announced that release events for Juice=Juice's 13th single have been cancelled.
:Source: Hello! Project (2/27, 3/4, 3/6, 3/11, 3/12, 3/23, 3/26), UP-FC
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;February 10, 2020 - Miyamoto Karin to graduate from Juice=Juice and Hello! Project
:On February 10, it was announced that founding member Miyamoto Karin will graduate from Juice=Juice and Hello! Project at the end of Juice=Juice CONCERT TOUR 2020 Haru in order to focus on beginning activities as a solo singer. She had been thinking about her graduation since fall 2018, and was interested in pursuing DIY and interior design. She was also interested in challenging herself to become a solo performer that focuses on both singing and dancing.
:It has been over eleven years since Miyamoto joined Hello Pro Egg, and over seven years since Juice=Juice was formed. After her graduation, she is set to begin solo activities in fall 2020, and intends to continue using social media whilst exploring a new lifestyle.
:Source: Hello! Project, YouTube
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;January 22, 2020 - Murota Mizuki to graduate from ANGERME and Hello! Project
:On January 22, it was announced that 3rd generation member Murota Mizuki will be graduating from ANGERME and Hello! Project on March 22 at Hello! Project Hina Fes 2020 ~Hisaichi Fukkou Shien Tohoku wo Genki ni!~ <ANGERME Premium>.
:Murota started to talk about graduation towards the end of 2018, and taking in consideration of what she learned, experienced, and cultivated during the years, she decided to study about expressiveness from scratch with intentions of expanding her horizons and trying all sort of things in the future.
:In the announcement, it was also stated that Funaki Musubu's graduation, which was originally set for March, has been postponed to the end of ANGERME Live Tour 2020 Fuyu Haru ROCK ON! LOCK ON! to allow Murota to graduate ahead of her.
:Source: Hello! Project, ORICON MUSIC
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;January 8, 2020 - Kobushi Factory set to disband
:On January 8, it was announced that Kobushi Factory will disband on March 30, 2020 with a concert at Tokyo Dome City Hall.
:Group leader Hirose Ayaka had been in discussions with the agency about her graduation since early 2019, and after discussions with the group, the other members except Inoue Rei also expressed their desire to pursue a new path. It was eventually decided that the group would disband.
:The group is set to release their final single on March 4, 2020. After the disbandment, Inoue will continue to be a member of Hello! Project, while Wada Sakurako will retire from the entertainment industry. The remaining members will continue to be active after graduating from Hello! Project, with Hirose going to enter music college in April to restart activities as a singer from scratch, Nomura Minami will start acting activities, and Hamaura Ayano will start activities as a model and actress.
:Source: Hello! Project, natalie
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;January 2, 2020 - ANGERME ONLY ONE Audition ~Watashi wo Tsukuru no wa Watashi~ announced
:On January 2, during the Hello! Project 2020 Winter HELLO! PROJECT IS [　　　　　] ~side A~ at Nakano Sun Plaza, ANGERME announced that they will hold their first general audition in four years.
:The ANGERME ONLY ONE Audition ~Watashi wo Tsukuru no wa Watashi~ in search of 9th generation member(s) will be open for applications from January 11 to February 25. Applicants must be between 11 and 18 years of age.
:Source: Hello! Project, Pop'n'Roll, natalie
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Category:2020