In a surprising turn of events, Honda Hitomi, who once graced the stage as a member of IZ*ONE and AKB48, has decided to part ways with her agency in Japan. "I'm ready for new adventures," she declared.

The news broke out on May 1st when Mama&Son, her agency, made an official announcement on their website. They confirmed that their exclusive contract with Honda Hitomi had come to an end.

Mama&Son expressed, "As of the end of April 2024, we've officially parted ways with Honda Hitomi. She expressed a desire to embark on a new journey, and we respected her decision, leading to the termination of our contract."

They continued, "Though our time together was brief, we're sincerely grateful for the journey we shared. We hope you continue to show your unwavering support for Honda Hitomi."

Honda Hitomi first stepped into the limelight as part of AKB48 Team 8 in 2014. However, she announced her graduation from the team in August of the previous year.

At the time, she shared, "I want to explore various opportunities in the future and discover my potential." It seems like this is just the beginning of a new chapter for her!

Source[1]

BTS member Jimin made history at the 2024 MAMA AWARDS, becoming the first solo artist ever to win the prestigious Visa Fan’s Choice of the Year award.

On November 22, Jimin was honored with the Fan’s Choice of the Year award at the 2024 MAMA AWARDS JAPAN, held at the Kyocera Dome in Osaka, Japan. This marks a huge milestone in his career, especially considering his ongoing military service.

Jimin made history as the first solo artist to win the Fan’s Choice of the Year award, a category that BTS had dominated for six years since its debut in 2018.

In addition to this achievement, Jimin also took home the Fan’s Choice Grand Prize, making him a two-time winner at this year’s awards.

Although Jimin couldn't attend the ceremony due to his military service, his name was met with loud cheers from fans when announced.

His incredible win continues to prove his global influence as a solo artist. Jimin had also won Best Male Artist at the 2023 MAMA AWARDS, marking back-to-back wins at the event.

The MAMA AWARDS praised Jimin for his groundbreaking achievements, saying, “As the first K-pop solo artist to reach 4 billion streams and set the longest-running #1 record for a Korean artist, Jimin has proven his influence as a world-class artist and global pop star.”

Jimin's win also made him the first solo artist to claim a grand prize at the MAMA AWARDS in 10 years, with his achievement sparking excitement worldwide.

On X (formerly Twitter), the hashtag “CONGRATULATIONS JIMIN” topped the trends, while “우리지민이상받았네” (Our Jimin Got the Award) reached the #1 spot in Korea.

Jimin’s ongoing success continues to shine even during his military service. He was also recently named Best K-pop at the 2024 MTV Europe Music Awards and continues to be recognized for his charitable efforts, including a recent donation of 100 million KRW to the National Defense Soldier and Veteran Love Fund.

Source: [1]