Ogawa Makoto (18) is the latest starlet to graduate from Morning Musume. She made her last appearance in the musical “Ribbon no Kishi” (Princess Knight) at the Koma Theater in Shinjuku yesterday. She gave a special performance of the song “Aozora ga Itsumademo Tsuzukuyouna Mirai de Are!” from the group’s new album “Rainbow 7”. The other members of the group then presented her with bouquets as she looked back on her five years with Momus. She was a second-year junior high school student when she and three others joined in 2001. One of the others was Konno Asami (19), who graduated in July. They released 19 singles in that five-year span. Ogawa is going to study abroad, but plans to remain with the Hello! Project group and rejoin them after her return to Japan.
• Announcer Zemba Takako (31) is to become the main “sub-caster” on the TBS news show “Tsukushi Tetsuya NEWS23” from September. Zemba quit NHK in March and will replace fellow ex-NHK announcer Kusano Michiyo (39) on the show from September 25. Other new additions include “reporter/caster” Yamamoto Mona (30), who moves from Asahi Hoso, and former TBS “sportscaster” Takano Takahiro (26).
• Talento Mister Chin (42) and his wife Aimi have had their first baby. The couple married in February and were expecting the baby at the end of September. But both mother and child are said to be doing well.