[HOT] Kamei Eri, Jun Jun, and Lin Lin Officially Graduate From H!P and Morning Musume

 

Today, December 15, 6th generation member Kamei Eri and 8th generation members Jun Jun and Lin Lin officially graduated from Hello! Project and Morning Musume after a performance at Yokohama Arena.

The post is really long since it features about 70+ images from the live broadcast, so I decided to put the full post after the break:

Here is the tracklist for the event:

Yume Miru 15 – S/mileage
MC
Onaji Jikyuu de Hataraku Tomodachi no Bijin Mama – S/mileage
Souda! We’re Alive
Hand Made City
VTR
Appare Kaiten Zushi!
MC
Nakidasu Kamo Shirenai yo
Onna ga Medatte naze Ikenai
Tsuyoki de ikouze!
MC – Kamei, Michishige, Tanaka
Solo Medley
- Watashi No Miryoku Ni Kizukanai Donkan Na Hito – Aika (Jun+Lin backdancers)
- Kira Kira Fuyu no Shiny G – Tanaka Reina
- Its You – Sayumi (Aichan, Kamei backdancers)
- Genki Pika Pika
- Aisaresugiru Koto wa nai no yo
Nanchatte Renai
Ooki Hitomi – Kamei, Michishige, Tanaka
Yuugure Sakusen Kaigi – Niigaki Risa
Supping to Namida – Takahashi Ai
MC – Lin Lin
Watarasebashi – Lin Lin
MC – Jun Jun
Furusato – Jun Jun
MC – Kamei Eri
Haru Beautiful Everyday – Kamei Eri
Seishun Collection
Kimagure Princess
Odore! Morning Curry
3,2,1 Breakin’ Out
Guru Guru Jump
MC
Tomo

 

Encore
Onna to Otoko no Lullaby Game
MC – Final messages from members to Kamei, Jun Jun, and Lin Lin
Ame no Furanai Hoshi de wa Aisenai Darou?
Ai Araba It’s All Right
Namidacchi

And a few pictures from 2ch:

The pictures above are a clear indicator of how well and alive Momusu is since there was literally a sea of people waiting to go inside, and I am really happy to see that our fears of the arena being half empty were false since the many fan pictures of the arena suggest that it was full (even the top rows seem to be full) of fans supporting Kamei, Jun Jun, Lin Lin, and all of Momusu in their final moments as 8-nin.

As we all know the event was announced to be broadcast in 3D live, but since it was done through a pay-per-view channel that requires 3D TV and equipment not many fans could enjoy it firsthand.

Thankfully fans from Japan have been uploading pictures from the event online so that fans all over the world can join in to support Momusu (the first two images below are how the broadcast was done to get the 3D effect, but the rest have been edited).

From what I can see the concert so far looks amazing since Momusu are performing with their best energy, the stage has effects (as you can see from the image with the fire above), and fans are jumping and supporting Momusu, which is exactly what I hoped the concert would be like since it seems like a perfect way to support them.

Since this is the final concert of the tour we got to see a slightly different setlist, and that definitely includes the goodbye messages and solo songs which were done not at the end but in the middle of the setlist, which was somewhat strange since they are usually done at the end.

Here are a few shots of each member reading their letter and performing their solo song:

Lin Lin sang Matsuura Aya’s “Watarasebashi”

Jun Jun sang Morning Musume’s “Furusato”

Kamei Eri sang “Haru Beautiful Everyday”

As each member read their letter and sang their song the hall illuminated with their member colors, aqua (green?) for Lin Lin, blue for Jun Jun, and orange for Kamei, which is the perfect way for fans to show their support for each member since they perform on stage solo while singing to a sea of fans with glow sticks with their member color.

Apart from that they each wore an impressive outfit: Lin Lin’s puffy white dress, Jun Jun’s rose red dress, and Kamei Eri’s “Christmas Queen” dress, which all looked unique and a perfect way for them to stand out in this special day.

Later on while they performed Tomo snow started to fall, which added a beautiful touch to the song:

Finally, the time has come for the graduation messages from each one of the members to Kamei Eri, Jun Jun, and Lin Lin, here are just a few of the many pictures:

Mitsui, Reina, Sayu, Risa, and Ai (in reverse seniority order) each gave Jun Jun, Lin Lin, and Kamei a final message as well as a bouquet of flowers, and while there were different ways that each member reacted they were all basically the same: sadness and tears upon seeing their fellow members as Momusu members for the last time.

I’m glad that each member gave three bouquets of flowers for each one of the graduating members since it makes the goodbye a bit more special, and since they performed Ai Araba It’s All Right as their final group song while holding each other it was a special way of showing of their unity as a group for their last performance.

After the performance all of the members lined up and said a message to fans:

And they performed Namidacchi to end the concert which resulted in an amazing end to the concert:

With a final bow from Kamei Eri, Jun Jun, and Lin Lin the concert ends and 8-nin Momusu exits the stage for the last time, and while this is a sad moment for everyone this is a brand new start for Momusu, Kamei, Jun Jun, and Lin Lin’s future and while it may be uncertain they count with the support of thousands of fans at the concert, in Japan, and around the world.

A few final words about the graduation, it may be true that this is a sad moment but this is what Momusu is all about: a rotating lineup with members coming and going, and even though that may be true each member leaves but they are not forgotten, so Kamei Eri, Jun Jun, and Lin Lin, you have left your mark in Momusu history and will be remembered as great members with unique talents and personalities.

Kamei, you were among my first favorite members from the group and years after you continue to be one of my favorite members since your cute personality is one of the best I have seen from all members in UFA.

It is sad to see that you are leaving Momusu, but this decision is yours and most of your fans understand that it is for your health, but since you have said that you want to return as soon as you get better it does give us fans a glimmer of hope that we will once again get to see you perform and laugh along with all H!P members and fans.

I might have honestly not been a big Jun Jun fan but I really liked her personality and the way she fit in with other members since everyone enjoyed her company and her underused but talented voice, and while we have no idea when we will get to see her perform again I am looking forward to finding out since she was, and will always be, a talented and cute member of Momusu history.

Lin Lin was and will continue to be among the most talented members in Momusu since her voice was one of the most impressing and beautiful I have heard in my life, and while there haven’t been that many songs that show of her voice I am glad that the few parts she did get to sing she did so perfectly.

She was one of the most underused members and with her leaving there will be a gap that will be hard to fill, and I honestly feel very sad to see her go since she had a lot of potential.

Despite that, I wish Lin Lin the best of luck in her future career since she does have the talent and looks to become one of the best singers if she is given the chance, so hopefully we soon get to hear how great her solo career is going since she will be succesful without a doubt.

Kamei, Jun Jun, and Lin Lin, you were among the most impressive members that added a unique touch to the group with your personalities, and while today might be a sad day for all fans it is also a chance for you to be among the highlight of the group for once since you each deserved the spotlight.

The future is uncertain but it’s safe to say that fans will continue to support you for years to come, so hopefully we soon get to hear good news of your future solo careers.

Momusu might become 5-nin after today but for many fans it will always be the great 8-nin Momusu with diverse personalities and talents, so that being said I wish the best of luck to each of you in your future careers and I look forward to reporting more of your future plans and supporting you as well.

Thank You and Good Luck Kamei Eri, Jun Jun, and Lin Lin!

GANBATTE IKIMASSHOI!!!

EDIT: Since the images were updated almost instantly there are almost no reports at the moment from official media sources, but I will update this post later with message translations, news reports, and other posts about the graduation.

p_pythagoras_p’s Photo Stream of the Concert