Saki-O next in line as °C-ute’s Kanna retires?

It’s happened to many famous Japanese idol singers. Mari Yaguchi in 2005. Megumi Murakami in 2006. Ai Kago in 2006 and again in 2007. Miki Fujimoto later in 2007.

 

It’s all about boyfriends, forbidden in most contracts signed by singers with Hello! Project, including flagship group Morning Musume, which just finished a highly successful first-ever U.S. visit at Anime Expo 2009.

 

And now it might well have been Kanna Arihara’s turn.

 

This one really hurts because Kanna was at the top of her game with °C-ute when she left in February ostensibly because of a "bunion" on her toe. She always added the physicality needed in an ensemble that was otherwise very much a finesse band, with the exception of leader Maimi, the world’s best dancer.

 

°C-ute will function very well with the six remaining members – the group’s two most recent singles are zesty and salable – but if Tsunku♂ is on his toes he should consider elevating up-and-comer Saki Ogawa into that seventh slot. Saki-O is already a crackerjack pro as an Egg, and her enthusiasm meshes well with °C-ute's overachievers.

 

Kanna is a great kid and will have a great life, but her days with °C-ute are over. The official announcement came this week on Hello! Project’s blog. Word has it that the bad toe contributed to her early retirement, but she also had a boyfriend scandal brewing, a circumstance historically not tolerated by Hello! Project management.

 

Her association with a male companion was "outed" in a Japanese fan magazine with photos. But even so, it might simply be a case of Kanna just stepping aside, as Hello! Project's website states, returning to be "just a normal girl." Who really knows?

 

Fans have observed that, perhaps, forbidding such fraternization seems overly harsh. But the rule does make sense. There is no doubt that openly allowing boyfriends would place the all-female song-and-dance troupes in an awkward position with media outlets, would interfere with rehearsal and performance schedules and cause unnecessary, and avoidable, friction between members.

 

No ensemble is immune. Both Chinami and Miyabi of Berryz Kobo have had brushes with this problem in the recent past. But Berryz is on a roll now, and is rocking the idol world with super singles and electric concerts, and their own invasion of Korea. Miyabi is also a major player in Buono! along with Berryz mate Momoko and Suzuki of °C-ute . 

 

In any event, Kanna was a good one. She will be missed. Take care, Kanna, and best regards always. And Saki-O: Are you ready for the big time?

 

This is Rad♂ signing off – for now.