Goto Maki - Shotgun Graduation

Look what God dropped on me just when I am coming back to blog... ^_^

OK... Let me get my head straight...

Goto Yuuki (Goto Maki's brother) was arrested for a theft. He became a suspect of a crime job in July this year, for stealing of 80 bundles of electric cables belonging to a construction site, worth 1 million yen, in Edokawa, Tokyo. Whilst trying to transport the goods out in a rental truck, someone spotted the act, called the cops and the gang fled, leaving the cargo behind. Apparently it was a repeated crime.

Gomaki, subsequently, announced her graduation (or should I say resignation) from Hello! Project. The fact was made official by UFA themselves, and Tsunku sents his best wishes and support to her in his blog.

Gomaki blogged about her graduation. But only snippets were in the news. The webmaster of Gomaki's blog has banned my country's IP, and due to heavy traffic the site was constantly inaccessible. Fortunately, I managed to acquire it using a feed reader.

Goto Maki's confession from her blog

大切なお知らせ
from 後藤真希オフィシャルブログ by ごとうまき
私は、昨日10月28日をもちまして、ハロー！プロジェクトを卒業しました。
いきなりの発表でごめんなさい。

13歳のときに、モーニング娘。に加入して今年で9年目を迎えました。
いろんな出会いや感動が私を成長させてくれました。

その中で、自分が本当にやりたいことを少しずつ思い描くようになってきて。
今一度、じっくり自分と向き合う時間を作りたいと思い、卒業を決めました。

これから先のことは、まだわからないけれど、後藤真希にしかできないことの追求、自分の音楽性について見つめ直していく中で、いろんなことを吸収し、自分の力に変えて行き、今より前へ確実に進んでいきたいと思っています。

みんなに、なんて言えばいいんだろうって、ずっと悩んでいました。
みんながいてくれたから、私は今、ここに居られるし、笑顔でいられる。
その感謝の気持ちを言葉でうまく表せなくて。
本当に、本当にありがとう。

これからも、みんなと一緒にいたいんです。
みんなが、私の支えだから。
ハローの一員としてではなく、後藤真希として、自分らしく、頑張っていきます。
これからも後藤真希を、ずっと見守っていてください。

Roughly translated (Cos i don't have time now, but we get the general idea)

Important Announcement by Gomaki
Yesterday, I graduated from Hello! Project on 28th October. Sorry for the sudden announcement. From the time I joined Morning Musume, this has been my 9th year (in showbiz). I have grown up through many emotional encounters.
In the middle of it, little by little I am able to picture the things that I really wanted to do. I've decided to graduate, so that I can once more create my own time carefully.
Although, I do not know what will happen from now on, but I will pursue the things that only 'Goto Maki' can do, reevaluate my music style, absorb many things, change things with my own means, and move forward in a stable way.
I was going "What should I say to everyone?", and have been troubled about it. Because of everyone, I am here and you can be smiling. I cannot express in words how thankful I am. Thank you, thank you very much.
From now on, I still want to be with you all, because you are what supports me. I will give my best, not as a member of H!P, but as Goto Maki, as myself.
Please watch over me, Goto Maki from now on.

Stories are about that Gomaki's leaving was planned earlier. But "how early?" I ask. Last year, beginning of this year.... or at July, where the crime was reported?

... And so Yuuki steals some cables, Gomaki gets the boot?!

Unfortunate coincidence? Or fear of crime association?




I need more catching up. Anyone can cue me in on this?