Eri Kamei, Junjun, and Linlin to Graduate After the Fall 2010 Morning Musume Concerts

6th generation member Kamei Eri, and 8th Generation members Junjun and Linlin from China are to graduate after the Fall concert. As the last one wasn’t hurtful enough, we are going to have three graduate after the concert. I was very shocked to hear about this news and somehow questioned this move by Tsunku.

Now, from reading the English translation of the blog entry, Kamei had been suffering atopic dermatitis (eczema as it is commonly known as), which can be covered up by medicine or foundation, but it seems it had either gotten worst or it has gotten to a point where medical treatment was needed to solve this problem permanently. As I have been a fan for a while, I haven’t heard of this condition on Kamei and was initially surprised but for all who don’t know about it:

Acute Dermatitis or Eczema is a chronic skin disorder that involves scaly and itchy rashes. Some symptoms are blisters with oozing and crusting, dry, leathery skin, and skin discoloration. (Google Health https://health.google.com/health/ref/Eczema)

So, it is usually caused from sweating and other known conditions as they do a lot of clothing changes during concerts and what not. Kamei has been the backbone to Morning Musume since she debuted in 2003 with Tanaka Reina, Michishige Sayumi, and Fujimoto Miki. I feel torn that such a member will be leaving and to hear about her health, I hope she can do something beneficial, and don’t let the condition win over her.

As for Junjun and Linlin, they were vastly underrated in the group and they tend to be overshadowed by the rest of the group and their singing in “Ame no Furanai Hoshi de wa Aisenai Darō?” in Chinese was incredible and to hear that they didn’t have the chance to be upfront is saddening and an opportunity to shine in another light.

I am surely not blaming Tsunku but I think it wasn’t a great idea to have them in the group if the end was going to be like this. However, I think Jun trying to push against all odds to win over people will be sorely missed. The plan is to make them go back to China and perform to win back the fans as Ice Cream Musume was lackluster with their efforts.

The good news seems to be a 9th generation audition to fill in those spots and I am hoping for 3 or 4 to be added. Their last audition was in 2006 with Mitsui Aika being the lone addition and with the hope of change, I want to see personalities like Rika, determination like Konkon and Koha, maybe a narcissist like Sayu to compete against.

In conclusion, I am quite shocked and saddened by such sudden news and the hope is probably to see what is it in the end. This is a turning point for them to see what the new talent has and the efforts of Ai and Risa to maintain the shift of these past two years.

Tsunku’s blog entry

Thnx to Dai at JPH!P for the English.