This day has come and Berryz Kobo has gone on indefinite hiatus. The words 'indefinite hiatus' do sound much better than what we know to be the truth, that the group has ended, as the girls move on to the next stage of their lives. Though it did not make watching their final concert feel less heartbreaking when they reached the end and there was no avoiding how final it was.
It would seem heartless to be mad at the girls for deciding to break up the group. They spent most of their youth and over a decade of their lives to being idols and if they want to try something else then they undoubtedly deserve that chance. And I look forward to hearing about how they are doing post-Berryz.
I know personally I can at least find comfort in the fact that I can at least easily follow Tsugunaga Momoko, as I have already fallen in love with her new group, Country Girls. Watching her work with the young girls and know that she can share her experience with some of the fresh faces that are set to leave their own mark makes me so happy. It is these kinds of bonds that have gotten me into Hello! Project more as a whole. Plus she still has popularity on variety programs so being in a position to continue with such work is a boon to her and H!P.
Of course Shimizu Saki and Tokunaga Chinami are sticking around H!P in advisory roles, with Saki already getting to start with helping to name the newest H!P group, Kobushi Factory. Chinami has brought up that she will also have a special project to do with her role in the near future. But it is nice to know that all the new groups will be able to have a couple of veterans around to help them out.
Sudo Maasa will be a playing manager of Engeki Joshibu, which is H!P's stage acting branch. So fans can see her acting on stage as she also helps with the productions that it puts on. So it is more of a role like Momoko's just not tied to a single H!P group and she will probably be sticking with it for much longer.
Kumai Yurina has announced that she wants to go into modeling but mostly wants to focus on her education so she can earn her degree at university. I do not think anyone is surprised with Yurina wanting to go into modeling. With her height it seems natural but I am happy to hear that she wants to get her degree first and foremost, as juggling being an idol with university is not something many female idols try to do and it would seem like a waste to go through that trouble just to leave it unfinished.
Sugaya Risako has announced wanting to take a break after Berryz ends, so whatever her next step after that is still a mystery. Though seeing as she has spent over half her life as an idol I think it is very understandable that she would want to take some time to reflect on things before deciding what path she wants to take for her future.
Natsuyaki Miyabi was the last to disclose her plans for the future. While she plans on taking a break for a while afterwards she has said that she wants to continue on being a singer. Of course she wants to learn more about fashion, which is one of her passions, as well. But I think a lot of fans, myself included, are quite happy to hear that another Berryz member is not quite ready to stop performing on stage, even if it may be a while for something to happen with that.
With the future for each girl known the hiatus does not seem as scary as a fan. It is still sad to see something end but there looks to be a lot of new beginnings that will come of that. And it will be interesting to see where those beginnings take these girls.
Berryz will always hold a special place in my heart. Even if they never do anything as a group ever again they still have plenty they have done already to treasure and still bring joy. I know watching all their PVs I was able to gain a greater appreciation of the group and I am so glad I did. And I am glad to have been able to do so before they went on indefinite hiatus and not some point afterwards. Berryz is truly something special and I am glad that their legacy will live on with some of the members deciding to stay around H!P to help the next generation of girls who are starting their idol careers.
Berryz Kobo has undoubtedly left a mark in Hello!Project that is not going to go away anytime soon and that is a legacy the members and their fans can all be proud of. So no matter what this ending is called it can be considered as much as a beginning as the girls start new paths in their lives.
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