Maimi shares her reaction to Berryz Koubou’s announcement in her August 3rd update “Berryz Koubou.“. Full translation below.

Good morning.
It’s Maimi.

Today is Berryz Koubou’s Kumai Yurina-chan’s birthday!

Happy 21st birthday, Kumai-chan!

I’m always soothed by Kumai-chan, who is gentle and moves at her own pace no matter the situation!

And then, even when she’s just standing her beauty and coolness is fascinating!

Please remain a cool and cute Kumai-chan when you’re 21 too!

Once again, happy birthday!

 

Regarding the group that Kumai-chan belongs to, Berryz Koubou,

 

I think there’s already a lot of people who know,

but at yesterday’s Hello! Project concert,

Berryz Koubou announced that they’d cease activities next spring.

Everybody in Berryz Koubou said
“We wanted to tell ℃-ute ourselves.”,

and we were able to hear the announcement from them directly.

It brought back a lot of memories, and I couldn’t stop crying…

 

Before we passed the Hello! Project Kids audition in 2002, I met the members at the audition venue.

I never thought our relationship that started then would continue for this long.

I couldn’t imagine what everyone would be like 12 years later and I never thought that far before,

but we started off not knowing left from right,
and we felt countless emotions together, like anxiety and nervousness, frustration, happiness, fun, sense of accomplishment…

We climbed over many walls,

and I’ve been able to watch the members from up close for 12 years.

It’s really amazing that I could feel that Berryz Koubou were next to us as a matter of course.

The other members’ crying faces, angry faces, and laughing faces immediately come to mind…

I know their younger selves very well…

I have a lot of memories…

They’ve been people who I’ve been working hard together with since I was 10-years-old, so I really can’t believe it and I still can’t think about it.

It makes me really, really, really, really lonely, and I still want to be together with them,

but for us, who have known only showbiz since we were children, it takes amazing courage to be willing to step into something new.

I’m sure they’re filled with worry and anxiety.

Even still, nothing will shake the resolve of Berryz Koubou,

and more than anything,
it’s their life!
You only live once!
So we should walk the paths we’ve chosen without regret.

When I think about it,
the fact that the members think about our future like this shows that we’ve become adults…

Yesterday,
I felt a heaviness in my heart that I’ve never felt before.

I was afraid the moment of the announcement.

For us, Berryz Koubou are people we can’t thank enough,

and they are precious people who I really love.

They’re a group that has always given us motivation.

So that I can see them off with a smile while saying
“Everyone in Berryz Koubou who has kept running for 12 years,
well done!”,

I want to fill the time until spring with more and more memories,
and express my gratitude for them.

I’m cheering for everyone’s future from the bottom of my heart!

Because even if we all go separate ways, the memories and bonds we’ve made these 12 years will never fade.

Everyone in Berryz Koubou,
absolutely be happy!!