The Groove Music Life

So Koharu Kusumi is leaving Morning Musume in December. It is a shocking and somewhat sad development. Her departure will end what has to be a record for longest intact lineup of Morning Musume ever (and the only Morning Musume lineup to record two studio albums – Cover You and Platinum 9 Disc – and be depicted on two different compilations – 2007’s ALL SINGLES COMPLETE and next month’s forthcoming B-sides collection – without a personnel change).

As much of a shock as it is, I am not upset, save for the momentary realization that my chance to see the band perform while she was in it is now gone (although, thanks to Kd Potter, ex of Iro Iro Aru Sa, I have a T-shirt from the summer 2009 Wonderful Hearts tour!). I was a fan of Morning Musume before Koharu joined the band, I remained a fan then, and I will remain a fan now. I did not hate Koharu like some bloggers did (even her supporters, like my colleague Vee, admit that Koharu was too easy of a target), and I found her three Kirarin Revolution “solo” albums to be some of the most twisted pop music ever released. Her intention to pursue a modeling career means that while we will still see her in the public eye, we won’t get to hear a more mature Koharu Kusumi making more serious pop records (well, more serious than her “solo” back catalog, anyway).

In a way, maybe we should have seen it coming. Maki Goto, like Koharu before her, had embarked on a solo career while she was still in Morning Musume, and she left after a short time period – only a couple of years – to pursue a solo career full time. So in a way, there is a precedent of sorts.

Does it affect the band? Not negatively. Quite honestly, there hasn’t been a personnel change in Morning Musume’s entire 12-years-and-counting history that has negatively impacted the band. There are still eight strong voices in the band; No doubt Koharu’s parts in all of her MoMusu songs will be shared amongst the other members (for example, Reina Tanaka might pick up Koha’s closing lines in the pre-choruses of “Egao YES Nude”). Talk of 9th generation auditions continues (although it would not be surprising if Tsunku turned around and tapped a Hello! Project Egg or two to add to the MoMusu lineup sometime late this year or early next year).

If there is any real advantage to Koharu’s departure, besides giving Morning Musume a fresh start (something every departure and addition to the group does), it is this: The temptation to lump Morning Musume in with anime, especially when promoting them outside of Japan, is gone. Now they can get fully back to what they always was, is and always shall be: a musical group.

Ganbare, Koharu. And rock on, Morning Musume.