#yoshino koichi

An important announcement

As always, we appreciate your support for Choutokkyuu.

We apologize for the sudden news, but it has been decided that Kouichi will be leaving the group.

He has been active as a back vocal for Choutokkyuu since 2011, but after having discussions with him about what he would like to do in the future and taking everything into consideration, his goals were different from what the group wanted to achieve, and so we arrived at the decision to let him stop his activities as a member of Choutokkyuu.

To all the 8Gousha, we deeply apologize for the sudden announcement.

Although Choutokkyuu and Kouichi will now be walking separate paths, Choutokkyuu will not halt their activities and will still be chasing after their dreams with all the 8Gousha, running along the rails to their dreams with even more challenges to face.

As to when Kouichi will be leaving the group, we have yet to finalize everything, but at this current point in time, in regards to already finished shoots, it will be the 7 of them appearing.
Furthermore, as for the already announced 1st single for 2018, the 6 members will still be releasing it as planned.
Concerning the 2018 spring arena tour, it will be the 6 members performing.

Please keep on supporting Choutokkyuu and Kouichi.

January 16, 2018
Stardust Staff

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Choutokkyuu has consisted of cars 1-8, and until now, all 7 of us have been aiming for our dream to perform at Tokyo Dome with the 8Gousha.
Nevertheless, I deeply regret that we have to inform all of the 8Gousha of this news on such short notice.

I always wanted to keep on running with all of the members. However, there was really nothing I could do.
Thinking of what all the 8Gousha are feeling really hurts my heart, and I feel like it could burst open with all these regrets that I have.

Having someone leave was not what I would have wanted.
Choutokkyuu will become 6, and all of you 8Gousha can take 10 minutes to let out all of your feelings on the matter.
However, for Kouichi, and for the 6 of us, please try and understand this unavoidable matter.

Choutokkyuu has become us 6 and the 8Gousha, and we will still be running towards our dream of performing at Tokyo Dome.
I still wanna keep on running with Kouichi’s feelings in mind, too. So to all the 8Gousha out there, I’d really appreciate it if you would support both Kouichi and us 6. Please treat Choutokkyuu well.

January 16, 2018
Choutokkyuu Leader Ryouga