Editing Morning Musume (section)

===2006: Asami Konno and Makoto Ogawa's graduation===
On January 16, 2006, it was announced that Morning Musume had won a Kanagawa Image Up Award in recognition of Hello! Project's support of an anti-pollution campaign. Yoshizawa, Fujimoto, and Takahashi represented the group to accept the award.<ref>{{cite web | url= http://hl20.dinaserver.com/hosting/ikimasshoi.com/wordpress/index.php/archives/190 | title= Ikimasshoi }}{{dead link|date=February 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.mainichi-msn.co.jp/chihou/kanagawa/news/20060117ddlk14040296000c.html|title=MSN Mainichi Interactive|language=ja}}{{Dead link|date=May 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

In February, the group released their seventh studio album, ''[[Rainbow 7]]''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.up-front-works.jp/discography/zetima/29/a_14/index.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070224151304/http://www.up-front-works.jp/discography/zetima/29/a_14/index.html|url-status=dead|title=Up-Front Works Discography – Rainbow 7|archive-date=February 24, 2007}}</ref> It was the first album for Kusumi and the last for Konno and Ogawa. The album features "[[The Manpower!!!]]", "[[Osaka Koi no Uta]]", "[[Iroppoi Jirettai]]", and "[[Chokkan 2: Nogashita Sakana wa Ōkiizo!]]" (in a remixed form). Kaori Iida, Rika Ishikawa and Mari Yaguchi are not credited anywhere in the liner notes although their vocals appear. Three of the songs on the album are performed by smaller clusters of several group members, and are credited in the liner notes to the featured members involved, rather than to the entire group.

In March 2006, "[[Sexy Boy: Soyokaze ni Yorisotte]]" was released. It featured an easy-to-learn dance and a [[Para Para|parapara]] style. It was considered to be a relative success.

On April 28, 2006, it was announced by Tsunku from his official website that fifth-generation members Asami Konno and Makoto Ogawa would be leaving the group. Konno graduated on July 23, 2006, to attend university and Ogawa left on August 27, 2006, to study English abroad. Both left Morning Musume, but only Konno left Hello! Project entirely; Ogawa intended to return after completing her studies. However, as of 2007, Konno returned to Hello! Project to join the new group [[Ongaku Gatas]], making it the first time ever that a girl who left Hello! Project actually returned. Ogawa, on the other hand, returned in June 2008 by appearing on an episode of Morning Musume's television show [[Haromoni@]].

Konno and Ogawa's last single was "[[Ambitious! Yashinteki de Ii Jan]]",<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.up-front-works.jp/discography/zetima/29/s_38/index.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070303105601/http://www.up-front-works.jp/discography/zetima/29/s_38/index.html|url-status=dead|title=Up-Front Works Discography – Ambitious! Yashinteki de Ii Jan|archive-date=March 3, 2007}}</ref> which, yet again, featured a [[Para Para|parapara]] type arrangement, with a rock 'n' roll flair. It was the group's 30th single, and a limited-edition CD of all past 30 singles mixed into a thirteen-minute track was included on the first pressing. Unfortunately, sales did not meet the hype, and Ambitious! clocked in as Morning Musume's lowest-selling single yet.

In mid-2006, the group performed the musical ''[[Ribbon no Kishi]]''. Ai Takahashi took the main role; the secondary role was played by alternating members. There was also a mini-concert at the end of each performance, which served as Ogawa's real "leaving concert"—the Wonderful Hearts 2006 concert was initially intended for Konno's departure only, although Ogawa wore a special outfit and read her leaving comments as well. As for ''Ribbon no Kishi'', an album with a selection of songs was released: ''[[Ribbon no Kishi The Musical Song Selection]]''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.up-front-works.jp/discography/zetima/29/a_15/index.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070224005303/http://www.up-front-works.jp/discography/zetima/29/a_15/index.html|url-status=dead|title=Up-Front Works Discography – Ribbon no Kishi The Musical Song Selection|archive-date=February 24, 2007}}</ref>

In mid-2006, Tsunku announced the audition for the eighth generation, called ''Morning Musume Happy 8 Audition''. The audition started on August 27, 2006, and ended in Tokyo on October 22, 2006. On December 10, 2006's [[Hello! Morning]], it was announced that the only new member was [[Aika Mitsui]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.tsunku.net/comments03.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070205050816/http://www.tsunku.net/comments03.htm|url-status=dead|title=つんく♂オフィシャルコメント<!-- Bot generated title -->|archive-date=February 5, 2007}}</ref> The show had a piece of audition footage each week leading up to December 10, 2006.

The last single release in 2006 was "[[Aruiteru]]",<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.up-front-works.jp/discography/zetima/29/s_41/index.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070302114904/http://www.up-front-works.jp/discography/zetima/29/s_41/index.html|url-status=dead|title=Up-Front Works Discography – Aruiteru|archive-date=March 2, 2007}}</ref> which was a huge hit. It was the first single at the number one spot after 3½ years (their last number one hit being "[[As for One Day]]".) The song's lyrics were credited for its success, with lines like "''walking, you're not alone because everyone's here with you, praying for peace''".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.barks.jp/news/?id=1000028066|title=いじめに悩む中高生へ モーニング娘。新曲「歩いてる」を聴いて生きよ！|website=BARKS|date=November 13, 2006|access-date=March 7, 2019|archive-date=March 20, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180320170918/https://www.barks.jp/news/?id=1000028066|url-status=live}}</ref> It was a bit of a turn from the hyperactive singles the group had been releasing. Tsunku's group, [[Sharan Q]], also made a rock cover of this song.

Their first mini-album, ''[[7.5 Fuyu Fuyu Morning Musume Mini!]]'',<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.up-front-works.jp/discography/zetima/29/a_16/index.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070224150418/http://www.up-front-works.jp/discography/zetima/29/a_16/index.html|url-status=dead|title=Up-Front Works Discography – 7.5 Fuyu Fuyu Morning Musume Mini!|archive-date=February 24, 2007}}</ref> was released in December. It featured five tracks by solo and/or smaller combinations of group members. It also featured the single "[[Aruiteru]]".