Pop idol group Morning Musume said goodbye to one of its few surviving original members yesterday. The Hello! Project concert at the Yokohama Arena was the final appearance as an MM member for Abe Natsumi (22). Younger member Tsuji Nozomi (16) was so overcome by the situation that she collapsed. Thanking the 12,000 fans for their support over the last six and a half years, “Natchi” asked for them to help make her solo career just as successful. As perhaps the most popular member of the group, her future success is all but guaranteed.
• Yesterday, Watanabe Ken (43) didn’t manage to become the first Japanese actor to win a Golden Globe award, for Best Supporting actor in “The Last Samurai.” The award went to Tim Robbins for his role in “Mystic River.”