(the) Road to the Deep East

Bon-Bon Blanco, the idol group used to shine as Perfume as today in early this century, finally announced the leave of conga player, Izumi's leave, officially.

The official fan club of Bon-Bon Blanco, TEAM B3 had already sent the letter to the club members to notify the leave of Izumi since last week. Meanwhile, the maracas player Mako also posted the entry to suggest the leave of Izumi on her Web diary on last Monday, but it was deleted soon. So, fans are worrying about what is going on actually for few days. And now, finally, her leave was confirmed on their official Web site.

http://www.b3tv.info/izumi/

According to the announcement, it doesn't mean disbanding of the group, and it looks Bon-Bon Blanco will continue as 4-member group, and the official site also announces that members and staffs will make every effort to prepare the next concert from Bon-Bon Blanco.

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I can't call myself Bon-Bon Blanco fan anymore, but when I recall the memory made while I was devoting 10% of my life to this group, I can't help shedding tears. Every time I goes to the show, she was very friendly, and talkative. She might be just ridiculing an ossan otaku who appears n every time they have show in this country, but I can't forget her smile when she waved back to me when I visited a concert held at a very rural place and saw the members off. Even if I won't listen to B3 again, I will never.

Why did she leave?

The official site just explain it's because of 'difference of future course'(方向性の違い). It's unfamiliar words among idol Pop world, where educational or personal reasons are moe popular, but it's very common phrase when some rock bands explain the reason of disbanding. I remember Ellegarden used this words recently. It's a sad news, but it's good that she graduated the group as such, just like an artist.

Some evil persons rumor that she got pregnant, or was discovered her secret part time job at Kyabakura. I don't believe, but it's sure she was not motivated recently. Every member is keeping a Web diary on their blog by turns, but Izumi sometimes forgot her turn.

Objectively, it may be a good choice for her life, though. As far as my memory is concerned, she is junior at a university. She is not a girl anymore, and job searching starts from this grade in Japan, so it means she has the chance to quit the show business and become common people as a university graduate. Objectively again, the road to success as a professional Conga player who doesn't belong to any record companies must be narrow and tough.So if she doesn't want, it's a good timing to quit here. And I believe this woman who could endure for 6 years as a member of unfortunate Bon-Bon Blanco can do better in her next career, even if she will just become a housewife.

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It's still a danger of Bon-Bon Blanco as musician, though. Who can substitute for her? Some may say other percussionists can cover-up her music instrument, but all songs from Bon-Bon Blanco are designed for 1 vocal + 4 percussionists. Other member can't play two instruments together.

And it's sure there won't be any other 20 year-old women in this world who can play this unique instrument as well as Izumi and can endure the pressure from otakus at handshake event. Then they can use karaoke track of Conga, but the show becomes a kind of fake one then, and their music will just keep being an idol music, never the one from genuine musicians.

Bon-Bon Blanco's music and style was very unique and hence attractive, but when a piece of puzzle was lost, they have to have more serious problem than other bands. As an ex-fan, I just wish the members left will overcome this toughest situation, somehow, somewhere.