Morning Musume Minus 2

Morning Musume is losing KONNO Asami and OGAWA Makoto, according to the Hello ! Project website. Both 18 year-olds were part of the group’s fifth generation, inaugurated in 2001.

KONNO Asami will have her sotsugyo (term used for member departures) during the Hello ! Project Concert on July 23rd, at the Kokuritsu Yoyogi Kyogi-jo Dai Ichi Taiiku-kan. She will then begin studying to pass her university entrance exams.

OGAWA Makoto will leave in August, to go study abroad.

No news on if solo projects are in the works.