On Tuesday, Hello! Project held a New Year's concert at the Nakano Sun Plaza in Tokyo. During the concert, it was announced that Morning Musume leader Hitomi Yoshizawa will be graduating from the group in the spring. Her graduation will take place on May 6 at the Saitama Super Arena, the last concert of Morning Musume's spring tour.

Fellow member Miki Fujimoto will succeed Yoshizawa as the group's leader.