Fukumura Mizuki has graduated from Morning Musume。on November 29 2023.
I wasn't able to go there, but I watched the live from home. I'm sure the atmosphere was all the more melancholy there, but I had a lot of feelings of my own and it's been difficult to verbalise them so far. Here's my preface. You can see group perform's level when members go on stage more than 20 times to do concerts in a year.
If you have 3 concerts at Budokan as the final concerts, even if you don't cut corners on the other shows, of course you will be fired up on the last day. Same thing for the first day of a tour ; you feel more nervous and anxious than you thought you would, so you put in a lot of effort. And in the middle of a long tour, of course there is a "down".
With this, you can feel "Wasn't I good enough during the middle of tour ?" but that's not really the case. Those conerts aren't usually been made into an official DVD, but watching those recordings is still an interesting discovery. That's what I've done by myself in the past.
Even the performances that I remember as being "casual", they're actually very relaxed ; everything feels natural and the concert goes on smoothly and without major trouble. Even songs with serious lyrics such as "Single Bed" or "My Babe Kimi Ga Nemuru Made".
Now, let's talk about Morning Musume。'23 Concert Tour Aki "Neverending Shine Show 〜Sanctuary〜" when Fukumura Mizuki got her sotsugyou.
It was a very special day for all the members: DVD recording, a live broadcast, and new members in the group as well. And, of course, Fukumura was leaving the group. The fans are like "I wonder who's coming to watch!" and "Is anything special happening!", it's full of a sense and very important for fans to being in the foreground of the hall. It's even more difficult and anxious for members!
This performance began in such tension. Even with being at home and watching the live broadcast, I could feel that spirit. If I were there, I would have become a father, saying things like "Keep calm", "Don't get worked up", "Sing after every breath", "Don't stop the rhythm", "Don't be moved", "Don't cry", "Keep the MC short", "Don't laugh too much"... I was so into it, I was sweating my hands as I watched the screen.
Well, it was indeed a special day, so I won't go into the details of the day, I'll just go on.
As this is the last concert of the tour, it's not something that members have just finished rehearsing the day before. Each performance is a movement that has been drilled into their bodies throughout the tour and that their bodies remember. Then, even though members are fired up and tense, their bodies are still moving naturally. They didn't discovered the songs the day before; they know each of them, each a performances has been practised for months, it's powerful. They feel like they believe in themselves.
Now I'll talk about each member's performance. I know the two new members had just joined the group, but they fit in better than I imagined.
Yumigeta Ako
The way she stands on stage is amazing (maybe thanks to her stage exp). She's tall so we can notice her easily. I don't want anyone else to take her place as the "super younger sister". Such a pure period won't come back in the future so I want her to cherish it.
Inoue Haruka
When she first joined, I feel like she was putting herself behind a lot but suddenly a switch seemed to flip and she became an "interesting girl". Maybe it's because she's from the Kansai. It seems like her relationships with the members improves at the same time as she manages to find her true personality.
She didn't has many solo lines yet, but the way she sings is full of confidence and enjoyment, and she really stands out well. If she shows herself more imposing, I think she will become a much more prominent type in the future.
Sakurai Rio
It's always great to see new members, but as soon as she joined and was a little sister, she became a big sister fast with her kohai. Lately, I've noticed she wants to turn voluntarily as a MC. She's curious and likes to learn new things about her group mates.
I think Sakurai is already living up to expectations (both from my point of view and from that of her fans) but from her own point of view, I'm sure she's thinking "More! I want to do more!". I don't think she's the type to be satisfied with herself that easily.
That kind of ambition is very important. But, Sakurai, don't be in a hurry. You're catching up at the speed you're going. Take your time, don't rush, and don't make careless mistakes. I'm sure you'll feel depressed if you make a mistake. I want you to enjoy the moment.
Yamazaki Mei
I miss her "Panda" thing lately. She has a good rise in my voice, which makes her stand out better in song. Since she become more confident in her singing, her facial expressions also changes.
I miss her "Panda" thing lately. She has a good rise in my voice, which makes her stand out better in song. Since she become more confident in her singing, her facial expressions also changes.
When you have more space in your expression, you also express yourself more in your singing. When you get used to it, you start aiming for becoming more professional. For the moment, there are various times to see her smiling, and it's nice that they don't seem to be forced.
Okamura Homare
Lately, she became more Morning Musume-like. I think she is a safe bet for old Morning Musume。fans. I want her to keep going forward like this, without overreacting or trying to fit in with anyone else.
If she compares herself with someone else, she will end up pulling her that way. Instead, she should just grow as she's now. That's what makes Okamura unique. Don't hurry and keep going.
Kitagawa Rio
She created her own world. Three of 15ki joined at the same time ; she may be a kind of an older sister, she's brave and cool. Her singing voice is stable and her dancing is strong. I like the way she is keen on the work done and concentrates on the smallest details.
I'm a bit impressed by this world view that overflows from her, because it's not something you can aim to create. Members who joined before Yokoyama have become great professional, and 15ki could also if they break their barriers just a little bit more. Just a little bit more.
Yokoyama Reina
She's inspires me the word "respect'. Every tourー or rather, every time, she succeed to show us a new Yokoyama. Is she brimful? Is she a rock star? Is she a fairy tale? Is she playful? She does it all, whether she's MCing, singing or doing anything else.
She's so majestic that even when they're on stage with a big crowd, you can't help but notice her. A previous Morning Musume。era would have let her perform "interesting solo parts" to attract attention, but she comes this far without that. When you look at her career, she has developed her own self. Her "blinking" gesture is good for sparkling in the sense that it catches the eye.
Haga Akane
She has more space today to express herself. Her face expression has suddenly become kinder lately. Haga's gentle side, which hasn't been seen in the past members, was fully expressed in her "expression" and "support" on stage that day.
Naturally, both her voice and dance's rhythm have also changed, I can sense that she can now afford it. Why is that! Did something happen? (lol). Maybe she has a lot of free time and discovered many things last year. Please cherish this leeway and absorb various things.
Makino Maria
Maybe I've said this so many times now, but she makes me feel like she's a "professional". She awlays get over the situation perfectly, and the final result will always be "Lovely!".
She's not egoist or narcissist or anything like that, but she's like Ultraman: landing in a position that exceeds expectations, solving the problem, leaving. Hm. Expression is difficult.
Even when she's on variety shows, I feel safe watching her, she's so "professional".
Nonaka Miki
I have a lot of trust in her. I feel like new members can relate to her very much. My impression of her is : "she's a member who wasn't in Hello Project until now...".
I feel a gap between her "looks" and her "reality"! Am I the only one who feels something like that? I don't think it's just her looks, but her reality that has earned her so much trust. As someone who makes artworks, I really trust Nonaka.
Oda Sakura
She has a good voice, pitch, rythm, and have good instincts. She's the type of members that you never want them to leave any "leeway". She sings with a constant sense of tension... she looks so great as a Morning Musume。member.
Oda, I hope you will never get bored with yourself and Morning Musume。neither. I want you to research more and more, and keep going deeper and deeper with yourself. I don't want you to become someone who does "because it has to be that way".
That's why Oda is one of the member I look the most, her dance and rhythm in detail. I want her to learn as much as she can, and then pass it on to her kohai.
Ishida Ayumi
I didn't expect Ishida to look so much like a teacher. In the past, she was tiny and looked like a little animal, but now she is an idol who looks best in a jersey in Japan. What do you think of such a title?
Being a Morning Musume。for a long time is not an easy task anyway. Of course members like this has many talents, like dance or sing, or even cuteness. But I think she's still going strong because she always fulfil more important factors than that.
I hope she will keep het "teacher" position, but don't settle for a safe position, break through one more barrier as a dancer and enter the next stage. I have high expectations for her.
Ikuta Erina
As the new leader, I really hope that she will "start a revolution".
How many years have she been in Morning Musume。now!? Has there ever been a leader in the past who still stands in such a pure position? It's rare to find someone who has been with us for such a long time not only as a leader but also as a member and never gets bored like this.
Since Morning Musume。is a group that has always evolved, Ikuta herself is one of many forms of the group. It's just the way it is. At the beginning of this note, I talked about "tension" and "spirit", but does Ikuta have those things? Whether she answers "yes" or "no", I always wonder whatt she really thinks.
She's the best leader who makes us think about the true meaning of her words.
Fukumura Mizuki
Congratulations! You're finally on your own.
On this day, Fukumura felt nervous at the start, but she started to calm down after. I'd like to take a peek into what was going on in her head at that moment but that's a world only Fukumura herself can understand.
Maybe it was like she was walking on a rope in a blank world, trying to piece together all the things she has trained for. Anyway, after a few songs, her face changed. She showed many faces; some smiling, some thinking, some as if they were delivering a message to their fans.There was no weird moments of overflowing emotion, but rather a sense of "fun".
The sense of unity from "Neverending Shine" to "One・Two・Three(23 Ver.)" was amazing. It may have only been a few minutes, but I felt like I was in the zone where the members and fans were united.
The sense of unity from "Neverending Shine" to "One・Two・Three(23 Ver.)" was amazing. It may have only been a few minutes, but I felt like I was in the zone where the members and fans were united.
I don't think I can clearly talk about the graduation ceremony yet. I mean it's just for the fans and the members. So I won't write anything here either, but it was a day that was neither long nor short, but a perfect mass of "professionalism".
I'm sure that if any other idols saw this live performance, it will have some kind of influence on their future.
Thank you! Everyone, let's watch it again carefully~.
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