Sena Jun retirement announcement

...is anyone really surprised?

I have mixed feelings on this one.  I feel like Asako overstayed her time and I hated the fact that the company never gave her a new partner after Mihoko, but there are also performances of hers that I really love (Ernest and Love and Me and My Girl, namely).  Also, I got into fandom in January of 2007.  From the top stars of that time, only Mizu is left o.O

Whew, what a crazy year for retirements.

Off topic, but need some help

So I posted a web hosting question on my real life journal, cherrytop.  Unfortunately that journal is mostly for my friends from high school and college, many of whom go nowhere near LiveJournal these days.

If any of you know anything about webhosting, would you mind looking at my question here?  I need help deciding on a web hosting plan for my company's website.

Many thanks!

Now back to your regularly scheduled sequins.
 

Is this turning into some kind of trend?

Similar to Tani, Asako will also have a dinner show pre-retirement (although this one is happening before rehearsals start).  I guess Hankyu is trying to squeeze everything they can out of her? 

It's great for her fans that she's getting one more before she leaves, but poor Asako must be exhausted.

Also starring are Ai-chan, Otoki Sunao, and Touka Yurino.  I'm a little terrified that this means something.

Honestly, I think it's more likely than not that Ai-chan will retire.  The company as of late has not been kind to older star track musumeyaku.  But nothing can be said for sure around here, so it's probably not worth getting worked up about until I actually hear something.  (Although someone other than Ai-chan becoming the next tsuki musumeyaku top would be a very bad sign). 

Then again, if she played Sophie in Elisabeth, maybe it's a sign that they're moving her towards upperclassmen roles?