Important Announcement Regarding S/mileage
Thank you for always supporting S/mileage.
We have an important announcement regarding S/mileage’s Ogawa Saki.
On August 27th at the live event for “Uchouten LOVE” at Nagoya Higashibetsuin Hall, Ogawa Saki will graduate from S/mileage and Hello! Project.
- Hello! Project
Comment from Tsunku♂
I sincerely thank you for always supporting Hello! Project as well as myself, Tsunku♂.
This is sudden, but I have an announcement for everyone.
Although we just made an announcement the other day of the five winners who will become sub-members, on August 27th Ogawa Saki will graduate from S/mileage and Hello! Project.
At the beginning of May this year, she made an official request, saying “I’ve been struggling with this for a little while and I have asked the staff for advice many times, but my desire to return to being a normal middle school student has become strong, so please allow me to quit.”
She is the youngest, but I had complete faith in her singing talent.
However, there was what comes next to think of,
as well as the strong desire to improve as a group and as individuals,
and as a producer I decided that it would not be good for the current members or the group to continue it’s activities while looking out for a troubled member,
so I accepted Ogawa’s request.
When the group first formed I announced that it would be a unit with fluctuating members, and because of this matter I hurriedly announced the search for S/mileage members in June.
Because of various parties connected with herself and the group, as well as the terms and conditions of her contract, I could not disclose the details or her intent until today. Please forgive me.
Furthermore, she is still an inexperienced student and a minor.
It might be unforgiveable for a working adult to abandon their job halfway through,
but I am hoping that you will please take into consideration her frank feelings and somehow watch over her warmly.
To all of the fans, I hope you please continue to support S/mileage for a long time.
Heisei year 23, August 24th,
S/mileage Producer
Tsunku♂
Comment from Ogawa Saki
Thank you for always supporting me.
I, Ogawa Saki, will graduate from Hello! Project and S/mileage on August 27, 2011.
Since our major debut in May of last year, I have had fun every day as a part of S/mileage.
However, somewhere in my heart I felt that my true self and my S/mileage self were vastly different.
I asked the staff for advice many times, and worried about it for a long time, but I felt that it wasn’t good for S/mileage for me to be uncertain while the other members were working very hard and facing forward, so I decided to return to being a normal girl.
I am sorry that the announcement became so last minute.
I feel sad, but S/mileage’s trademark is our constant smiles!
I will give it my all and finish the event on 8/27 with a smile, and though my time left is short, please support me!
After I graduate the new members will join, and I would like to continue to cheer on the powered up S/mileage.
Thank you for all of your support up until now.
2011/8/24
S/mileage Ogawa Saki
Byebye-ty
