Ogawa Saki's Graduation

Yesterday, Ogawa Saki officially graduated from S/mileage and Hello! Project after wrappping her last performance, and giving her final messages to the fans. The hall was lit up with a sea of green glowsticks, as the fans gave Saki a sentimental yet cheerful send off.

The members of S/mileage were clearly upset, but they did their best to maintain a smile, and Saki herself remained strong, proving herself to be the cheerful and bubbly character that she's always been fondly known as.

With that, S/mileage is now an 8 member group, following the departure of Saki. But the fans aren't about to forget her!

We proudly present to you, and in Saki's honour, the completed mosaic of the Sakichy Smile Campaign.

A total of 82 fans sent in their smiles, to mark their warm support for Saki! 82 is an impressive number of fans, when there was such a short time left until her graduation.

So to the great fans who smiled one more time for Saki, thank you very much for participating!

We hope that Saki will have a great future from now on.

A message from Admin Ran:

Saki GANBARE!
She's my most favorite S/mileage member.. and the one who brought me to S/mileage.. Her talent fascinates me.. and I think she's so awesome. She's one of my Top 5 favorite idols.. :)
After knowing that she'll be graduating, it really gave me a total shock that I never felt before. I never thought that it'll happen in a very short time.
Well, since it's for her studies and it's her decision.. I will totally support her. I'm going to miss her so much! Goodluck, and you'll always be in our hearts..

MARIANE

And a message from me on behalf of everyone else:

Sakichy Power forever!
I want Saki to enjoy her life as much as possible from now on, and as Airi says, eat lots of her favourite food. I'm sure Saki won't regret the long time she's been with S/mileage and the other eggs, because the love she has for everyone is so clear and natural to everyone.

Saki's like the sunshine; always full of energy and bright smiles. She brings a smile to everyone's faces, and she never stops being cheerful. I love her voice, and her talent in singing is amazing. Saki, you'll always be one of the best voices in H!P, even though you're so young!

But it's because you're still so young that you have to consider what you want to do in life, right? Whatever other reasons there may be, I believe you've made the right decision, and you'll do your best in whatever you do.

Thank you for all the memories and the smiles you've brought to us, so here's a smile for you too.

Sakichy, BYE BYE MATA NE!

Saki will forever be a part of S/mileage!

Sakichy Smile Campaign

As everyone knows, our beloved Ogawa Saki of S/mileage is leaving in three days time. Saturday will be her last public appearance as a member of S/mileage, and then we won't have much of a chance to see her anymore.

Saki isn't even going to have a special graduation concert or event, and she's too special to let go just like that!

So because of that, we're creating the Sakichy Smile Campaign.

It's inspired from the 10,000 Smile Campaign S/mileage had to do as challenge for their debut, and they managed to pull it off with over 16,000 smiles! S/mileage will always work hard, and we want to work hard too for Saki's and their sake.

Please send in a photo of your smiling face, as a 150x200 pixels jpeg file. Send off Saki with your brightest smile, to show your support!

Email your photo to sugoiidolkiss@yahoo.com with your well wishes for Saki if you want!

The deadline for sending in your smiles is 12PM Japan Time, Saturday 27 August. The smiles will be compiled into a mosaic just for Saki, and we'll let you know how many people sent in their smiles!

Please support this campaign for Saki, and continue to support her forever!

Sakitty will graduate from S/mileage and Hello! Project!!!

I know how everyone got surprised by this sad and also sudden news! I was about to sleep when I saw this news on Sakitty's blog....... As I read down on her blog using my translator, I wasn't sleepy anymore... At first I thought it was some kind of sick joke or something........... So I went to H!P's official site to confirm this and there was the confirmation that I did not want to see! It's already bad enough for H!P this year because of Ai-chan's graduation but now Sakitty too... Below is the translation of the news from "takamaruyo.net".

This is an important announcement concerning S/mileage.

Thanks for always supporting S/mileage.

We have an important announcement about S/mileage’s Ogawa Saki.
Following the Uchouten LOVE Live Event on August 27th at Higashi Betsuin Hall in Nagoya, Ogawa Saki will be graduating from S/mileage and Hello! Project.

Comment from Tsunku

Thank you gratefully for your continual support of Hello! Project and myself.

Let’s get right to the announcement I want to tell you.
From S/mileage, who has recently gained 5 sub-members, Ogawa Saki will be graduating from S/mileage and subsequently from Hello! Project.

Early in May this year
“Earlier, I have been contemplating and consolidating with staffs, about returning to being a normal middle school student. I feel very strongly about this, please let me quit.”
she has made this request.

Even being the youngest in the group, I have entrusted her with her singing skills.
However, now, from here on and out, as a group and each member individually, their strong desires to improve persist. Even as a producer, it’s not in the best interest of the group and members to continue to force a member in doubt to endure more group activities, therefore Ogawa’s request has been accepted.

It was officially announced at first that this unit’s member might increase or decrease,
it was due this is reason that an urgent S/mileage member audition was held in June this year.
Due to various conditions of the group, herself and other parties involved, as well as terms and conditions on contract, it was not until today that this information about her could be reported, please accept my apologizes.

Also, she is still an immature student.
A working adult would understand that abandoning work half way is an inexcusable act,
but please consider her straight and strong feelings, and watch over her with your warm and love.

Therefore, all fans, please take care of S/mileage which is still in its infant stage.

For this hasty written letter as a report, please excuse me

2011/08/24
S/mileage Producer
Tsunku

Comment from Ogawa Saki

Thank you for always supporting me.

As of August 27th 2011 I, Ogawa Saki, will graduate from S/mileage as well as Hello! Project.

Since our major debut last year in May, I have enjoyed every single day as part of S/mileage.

However, somewhere down in my heart, I felt there was a gap between myself and the S/mileage me. I have talked it over with the staff many times and have been constantly worrying about it, and with everyone working their hardest to move forward and myself still uncertain of things, I decided that it was not in the best interest of S/mileage and I will return to being just a normal girl.

I apologize for the last minute announcement.

While there may be feelings of sadness, S/mileage will always be a group with it’s trademark smile!

I’ll be working my hardest to end with a smile until my last event on 8/27, I know there isn’t a lot of time left but I hope you can support me!

The new members will power up S/mileage after I graduate so I hope you’ll continue to support them.

Thank you very much for all your support up til now.

2011/08/24
S/mileage Ogawa Saki

I gathered some of her pictures to easy our pain and sadness a little bit...... Please enjoy..

I wish Sakitty the best in her future endeavors.

Sources:

Official H!P Site
Official Sakitty's Blog

takamaruyo.net

Long Time No News! S/mileage Portion

1. 4th Single "Shortcut" Profile Pictures

S/mileage 4th single entitled "Shortcut" profile pictures has been released. The outfits are all flowery, and their S/mileage badge will never be removed from their outfit. I love their cute poses, such as Saki's and Kanon, I love both of them. 

2. 4th single’s Regular edition B-side titled Otome Pasta ni Kandou



uploaded by: 5fs9
The melody of this song suits the S/mileage image. A cheerful cute song seems to suit them always, just like now. Hope their future songs will be just like this cheerful one.


3.S/mileage – “Short Cut” HQ Covers

Regular

Limited A

Limited B

Limited C

Limited D

4. S/mileage – “Short Cut” PV

Uploaded by: S/mileage

Sources:

Official H!P Page for S/mileage

natalie.mu article with the covers

S/mileage Won the Best New Artist Award

S/mileage won the category of Best New Artist at the 52nd Japan Record Awards. 

I'm so glad to hear that they reached this great achievement so far. Since they just had their major debut last May, and now reached this great award. Well, I can say that they really deserve this award, since they accomplished many things, including in releasing 3 singles, an album too, featuring in many various of shows, finished up their very own first concert tour, and won the new artist award along with everyone (ICONIQ, Madoka Kikuchi, and SNSD) It'll be no wonder they'll be the one who'll win this award. 

Congratulations to S/mileage for reaching this great achievement. Hopefully they'll keep our hearts beat with their wonderful songs.

CONGRATULATIONS ONCE AGAIN!

There's a video uploaded in YT, but I had a little bit of difficulties in inserting it in this entry, so I'll just give you guys the link. It is the video after they received the award and perform their first major single "Yume Miru Fifteen". Here's the link

Sources:

Kashiwagi38

Daily Sports Online

Edit:

I found a video where they announced who won the award, at the same time the S/mileage received the award and performed their 1st major single Yume Miru Fifteen.

uploaded by: 61fullerene