Today, the current ace of Morning Musume, Sayashi Riho, graduates.
The news is really sad for me as she is my oshimen of the group and has been since her arrival almost five years ago.
I remember watching the auditions that snowy winter in 2010 on Holiday in Ottawa and sitting in bed watching the blurry live stream and thinking, "Wow, she is cute and dances well!" And now, she is graduating in a few hours...
In 2009, my first oshimen of the group, Kusumi Koharu, graduated. Until Riho joined, no other girl could replace her as my favourite. Seeing Riho in the audition, I was impressed by her dancing and her confidence. She would eventually also get the red colour that Koharu had before her. Though most were generally impressed with Riho and her talents, the word ace was thrown around which had garnered her a lot of dislike. Though she was undoubtedly the new Morning Musume ace, especially starting from 123, the stress from that title seems to have led to a quicker graduation.
The morning I woke up and read the news in my Twitter feed, I saw people talking about a Morning Musume graduation announcement and I had assumed Iikubo..? Maybe Mizuki? But I saw Riho's name and my heart dropped. Ever since Koharu's graduation, not another graduation announcement has made me feel like crying like Riho's. It just felt too soon, so sudden. She will have only been in the group for five years and I hadn't felt she hit her full potential.
As the news sunk in, I realize this is her choice and she ultimately knows what is best for her.
Though, in the end, I'm not sure how to feel about Morning Musume. I have a feeling I may sink into the type of fan I was in 2010 where I observe the group but I'm not as big a fan I once was. Maybe another Koharu/Riho will debut in the group in the future, but for now, I can't just force myself to pick another oshimen. It will be hard to watch them for awhile since I will be missing Riho's presence in the group. I don't blame other's for being excited for her departure since this will ultimately lead to a new Momusu era. It will be very different. But for me, it will only be bittersweet.
Riho is a talented, confident girl and her future looks bright even without Morning Musume. Whatever path she chooses, whether to return to a normal life, a job behind the scenes, or coming back as an entertainer; I will support her in whatever she does. As long as she is happy in her life and her decisions, that makes me a very happy fan.
りほりほ大好き
ひゃっっほーい♪( ´θ｀)ノ～
