Hello! Project OG Kigi Asakura has announced the release of her “2027 Wall Calendar” along with a release commemoration event, sparking discussion on 5ch’s Hello! Project board. The calendar is expected to be A2 size and priced at nearly 5,000 yen, prompting surprised reactions over the price hike, with posters recalling “these used to cost around 2,000 yen.” While bookstore perks include the calendar being handed to fans personally by Asakura and cheki (instant photo) sessions, the official site doesn’t specify whether there will be a handshake event or spell out other details, leaving fans to speculate. The calendar is also drawing attention as part of Asakura’s comeback activities after she left the entertainment industry to work as a pet groomer.
What people said
1AnonymousSep 4, 2026 12:00
2026.9.4
NEWS
NEW
4AnonymousSep 4, 2026 12:04
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/HRTA7kYaUAIZoK6.jpg
5AnonymousSep 4, 2026 12:05
The outfits get skimpier with each passing month
6AnonymousSep 4, 2026 12:06
Wait, calendars cost this much now?
8AnonymousSep 4, 2026 12:08
So she's at least sticking around through all of 2027?
12AnonymousSep 4, 2026 12:10
Re: #8
Well, she went out of her way to make a comeback — she's not gonna quit that easily.
9AnonymousSep 4, 2026 12:09
Missed her bar-event appearance because of work, guess I'll go to this one
10AnonymousSep 4, 2026 12:09
How many calendars is she gonna put out lol
13AnonymousSep 4, 2026 12:10
Wait, no Uemura this time?
38AnonymousSep 4, 2026 12:27
Re: #13
They're holding a photobook event right during the pre-order window for January-start calendars, so this probably isn't a January-start one. If anything, it'd be an April 2027-start calendar.
19AnonymousSep 4, 2026 12:14
The sample photos are way too plain
28AnonymousSep 4, 2026 12:19
Re: #19
Yeah, I thought so too. Could use something a bit more enticing to actually make people want to buy it.
21AnonymousSep 4, 2026 12:15
Asakura's clearly more of an agency favorite than Fukumura. She's bound to go solo.
27AnonymousSep 4, 2026 12:19
Everyone in the Hagoromo group gets a signature — that's the system (Hagoromo being their talent agency)
29AnonymousSep 4, 2026 12:19
Idol and celebrity calendars used to go for like 2,000 yen. Even that felt pricey back then, but almost 5,000 yen now? That's straight-up a rip-off.
31AnonymousSep 4, 2026 12:21
Can't believe she actually went through with this. There's no going back to being a groomer after this.
32AnonymousSep 4, 2026 12:23
Nah, nobody's more of a favorite than Fukumura. Among the OGs it's probably Fukumura, Inaba, Jokura, then Asakura in that order.
33AnonymousSep 4, 2026 12:23
I get it for a photobook, but a release event for a calendar?
36AnonymousSep 4, 2026 12:26
Re: #33
I feel like Karin did something like a meet-and-greet handout event too.
34AnonymousSep 4, 2026 12:24
It says event details are on each store's website, but nowhere actually spells out what's happening. It'd be pretty bad if this turns out to just be a handout session.
35AnonymousSep 4, 2026 12:24
It's pricier than Ami Touma's photobook, which has an event around the same time in Shibuya.
37AnonymousSep 4, 2026 12:27
The perks are listed right on the website though.
39AnonymousSep 4, 2026 12:27
Are calendars usually more expensive than photobooks? I mean, I can expect good content for that price, right?
40AnonymousSep 4, 2026 12:28
Tokyo, Osaka, AND online? That's huge — she's clearly a popular member.
41AnonymousSep 4, 2026 12:28
No cheki (instant photo) perk? Without backup from Tsubaki Factory fans, this could get rough.
42AnonymousSep 4, 2026 12:29
I wonder if there'll be handshakes like the "Riko Riko" event did?
43AnonymousSep 4, 2026 12:29
Wait, why did she quit being a groomer again?
45AnonymousSep 4, 2026 12:30
Re: #43
Because she wanted to get back into showbiz.
44AnonymousSep 4, 2026 12:30
There is a cheki (instant photo) option.
50AnonymousSep 4, 2026 12:31
Re: #44
Thanks, confirmed.
46AnonymousSep 4, 2026 12:30
Well, it's A2 size after all. I'd be mad if it were B5 lol
47AnonymousSep 4, 2026 12:30
Then why'd she quit showbiz in the first place?
49AnonymousSep 4, 2026 12:31
Online comes with a signature + livestream event
For bookstores, here's the breakdown:
◆1-copy ticket
・1 calendar handed to you personally by her
◆3-copy ticket
・1 calendar handed to you personally by her
・2 additional calendars
・1 solo cheki photo
・1 event-limited photo card (Osaka venue exclusive design)
◆5-copy ticket
・1 calendar handed to you personally by her
・4 additional calendars
・1 two-shot cheki photo
・1 solo cheki photo
53AnonymousSep 4, 2026 12:32
・Title: Karin Miyamoto 2027 Wall Calendar
・Specs: A2 size, 9 pages (includes 2 bonus pages)
・Price: ¥4,565 (¥4,150 before tax)
54AnonymousSep 4, 2026 12:32
It's confirmed there's a yukata on the February page, so no swimsuit shot.
62AnonymousSep 4, 2026 12:39
Karin
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/HP9uQt-bEAA0DH2.jpg
Rikako
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/HQNrSrdaIAEMktD.jpg
Kiki-chan
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/HRTA7kYaUAIZoK6.jpg
Background and Key Points
Kigi Asakura is a former Morning Musume. member who once left the entertainment industry to work as a pet groomer before making a comeback. In the thread, a post asking “why did she quit being a groomer?” was answered with “because she wanted to get back into showbiz” — context worth spelling out for readers unfamiliar with her history. On the topic of the calendar’s price, many commenters compared it to Karin Miyamoto’s 2027 calendar (A2 size, 9 pages, ¥4,565 tax included), with plenty of surprise expressed over how prices have climbed from what they recall as roughly 2,000 yen in the past. It’s worth noting that the bookstore perks (cheki photo sessions, autograph events, etc.) are based solely on what’s currently listed on the official site, and details like whether there will be a handshake event remain unconfirmed, fueling ongoing speculation. Comments ranking Asakura’s standing as an agency “favorite” are unsubstantiated personal opinion and shouldn’t be read as fact.
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