2016: The year of change

Hello!Project never stays the same. I don't think there ever was a year were everything stayed as it was. Groups change, they add or lose members, groups come and go. So much can change in one year. Let's have a short look at the biggest changes of the year, member and group wise!

Country Girls' 2nd generation debuts

Country Girls added their 2nd generation in 2015, but they debutted this year! Yanagawa Nanami and Funaki Musubu were announced as 2nd gen on Country Girls' first anniversary and became full members of the group during the Hello!Pro winter concerts of 2016. Their debut single was Boogie Woogie Love/ Koi wa Magnet/ Ranrarun~Anata ni Muchuu~.

Kamikokuryou Moe debuts in ANGERME

In 2015, ANGERME also decided to add members and after their "new member" auditions Kamikokuryou Moe is announced as sole 4th gen member. Kamiko first auditioned for Morning Musume, but failed. She debuts in 2016 with the single Tsugitsugi Zokuzoku/Itoshima Distance/ Koi Nara Tokku ni Hajimateru.

First ANGERME single without founding member Fukuda Kanon

In 2015, Fukuda Kanon decided to graduate from ANGERME to become a lyricist. Fukuda Kanon is one of the founding member of S/mileage and ANGERME,which marks Tsugitsugi Zoku Zoku (etc.) as the first single to not feature her in the history of this group. 

First year without Berryz Koubou since their formation

Berryz Koubou officially went on Haitus in 2015, meaning 2016 is the first full year without Berryz Koubou. The group had been part of Hello!Project eversince their formation in 2004.

Graduation of Tamura Meimi

2016 also marks the year of ANGERME's first graduation of a 2nd generation member. Tamura Meimi graduated to become a musical actress. Tsugitsugi Zokuzoku was her last single, which makes Umaku Ikenai/ Ai no Tame (etc.)/ Wasurete Ageru the first single without Meimei since september 2011's Tachiagirl. 

Graduation of Suzuki Kanon

After the sudden graduation of Sayashi Riho, 9th generation member Suzuki Kanon also announced her graduation. Joining at the beginning of 2011, Suzuki graduated after more than 5 years of being a member. This marks Sexy Cat no Enzetsu/Mukidashi de Mukiatte/ Sou Janai as the first single without Suzuki since Maji desu ka SKA.

Addition and debut of Kasahara Momona

With only a few months of being a member, Kamiko became a senpai to Kasahara Momona. Kassa was announced as the sole 5th generation member of ANGERME during the Summer Tour of Hello!Project. Kassa didn't only join ANGERME that day, but also started her activities that same day. Kassa joined without an official audition for the group. She made her debut in ANGERME's 22nd single Umaku Ikenai (etc.). 

Health problem and Graduation of Inaba Manaka

Around april Country Girls announced Inaba Manaka would be absent due to health issues. Manakan has atsma and it was acting up due to her preforming a lot. She would be resting for the time being and rejoin Country Girls after the summer tour. Sadly in august it was announced Manakan decided to graduate as her health wasn't improving the way she hoped it would. Manakan has only been part of Country Girls for 1,5 years, making Boogie Woogie Love/ Koi wa Magnet/ Ranrarun ~Anata ni Muchuu~ her last single and Dou Datte Ii no/Namida no Request the first single without her since their debut. 

New member for Tsubaki Factory

Tsubaki Factory announced their new member in august. Ono Mizuho, Onoda Saori and Akiyama Mao became Tsubaki Factory's unofficial second generation. This also means that Tsubaki Factory became the only Kenshuusei group to add members before their debut. 

Tsubaki Factory announced their Major Debut

Shortly after the addition of the new member, Hello!Pro advisor Shimizu Saki announced the Major Debut of Tsubaki Factory. The major debut will happen in 2017. This means that the new members will have their official single debut on their first major single, while the 6 original members released several indies singles and a mini album. 

C-ute announced their disbandment

Possibly one of the biggest things to happen this year to Hello!Project was the announcement by     C-ute. After many years as a group, the members decided they wanted to go their own way, which means that the group will disband. They will disband in Spring of 2017 in Saitama Super Arena. The H!P summer tour of 2016 was also announced as their last Hello!Pro tour. 

Tsugunaga Momoko announced her graduation

Another big announcement was the graduation announcement made by Tsugunaga Momoko. Momoko has been the Playing Manager of Country Girls ever since they were formed back in 2014. Back then Momoko already announced she would only stay with the group as long as she saw needed, which she thought would be about two to three years. Momoko will graduated in July of 2017, which makes her the last Hello!Pro Kid to leave.

Morning Musume hold their 13th generation auditions twice

Morning Musume searched for new members twice this year. Sadly both ended without any winners and it was announced winners would be picked from Hello!Pro Kenshuusei.

Morning Musume addes their 13th generation

In December we finally got our 13th generation. Kaga Kaede and Yokoyama Reina joined Morning Musume and will debut in 2017. They form the first generation with two members and with only members from Hello!Pro Kenshuusei. Yokoyama Reina, however, failed the first 13th generation auditions, so it's debatable if she wasn't suppose to join in the first place.

And last, not really Hello!Project anymore, but let's just add it:

Michishige Sayumi announces her return

Two years after het graduation, Michishige Sayumi announced she will be returning to showbizz. She hasn't really announced what she will be doing, but it will all become more clear in the spring of 2017. In the meanwhile she has become more active on her blog again and she will be joining M-Line fanclub next year.

What was your favorite thing that happend this year? Which new members are your favorites and which graduation still brings you tears?