Welcome back!
The title is very straight forward so let me explain about former Japanese Idols. The one person I really wanted to talk about is:
SUZUKI AIRI
Suzuki Airi is going to release her 4th studio album next week, which includes some of her viral hits like Saikyo no Oshi. It is her first album under Sony, and it seems like the whole album will be on Spotify etc. Compared to Hello Project, that is pretty amazing and I hope many people will be able to listen to her music.
She has probably the best Singing career out of former H!P Idols right now and I am so so happy for her. It is great to still see her on stage with that beautiful voice of hers and making amazing songs.
This is a more recent haul of Airi stuff. Aside from her second album, it includes her very Idol like cover of UTB. And her lipstick, which is actually pretty amazing!!! I am really happy about her releases and it makes me look forward to see what she is going to do in the future and I hope she gets promoted even more.
One goal of mine is to go to a solo concert of hers. Still hoping she might come to Europe one day.
Former Idols
There are so many different paths, and whether it is being a singer, an actress, a model, a Youtuber or leaving the entertainment industry completely, like Mayuyu and Momochi.
Bein an actress in Dramas or Musicals seems to be one of the most common work choice for former Idols.
A lot of former Idols find joy in concentrating on family life and raising kids like Sugaya Risako. And Tsuji and Konno having a battle as to who can have the most kids.
Wada Ayaka is creating art and posting about feminism.
Sashihara Rino is a famous Idol Producer and is challenging the entertainment industry by being transparent about a lot of issues. Of course she is not perfect, but I believe she is such an important figure in the recent Idol industry.
Or, they try to be an Idol again in a different group!
Every path is okay!
As long as they are happy, I am happy as well. When my favourite Idols graduated I used to feel a little detached from them, but now I can embrace them after as well. I am happy that I still get to cheer them on in a different way, and I am actually a little glad about some more distance.
I am older now, I graduated University and I started a new job recently, so I have learned more about different aspects of life. Idols still give me a lot of support in life, but it is actually the graduated ones that give me the most encouragement now. They make me want to be brave and take on new challenges.
But of course it makes me also appreciate current Idols in a different way. I may never have another Oshi that I like as much as I did a decade ago, but the groups and the music are still drawing me back again and again.
To conclude it all, I am definitely feeling how graduation is a new start!
ゴールは新たなスタートライン！
(KOBUSHI FACTORY)