Editing Morning Musume (section)

=== 2004: Nozomi Tsuji and Ai Kago's graduation ===
In January 2004, Natsumi Abe (known as "the face of Morning Musume" to the general public) left to pursue a soloist career. Her last single was "[[Ai Araba It's All Right]]",<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.up-front-works.jp/discography/zetima/29/s_22/index.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070302095417/http://www.up-front-works.jp/discography/zetima/29/s_22/index.html|url-status=dead|title=Up-Front Works Discography – Ai Araba It's All Right|archive-date=March 2, 2007}}</ref> Morning Musume's last song to sell more than 100,000 copies until '[[One Two Three / The Matenrou Show]]'. "Ai Araba It's All Right" had uplifting lyrics and a cheery dance sequence.

The group soon released another single, "[[Roman: My Dear Boy]]".<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.up-front-works.jp/discography/zetima/29/s_23/index.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070302095345/http://www.up-front-works.jp/discography/zetima/29/s_23/index.html|url-status=dead|title=Up-Front Works Discography – Roman: My Dear Boy|archive-date=March 2, 2007}}</ref> The song showcased an almost rock flavor and centered its lyrics around offering "a dance" to a boy. This was followed by their twenty-third single, "[[Joshi Kashimashi Monogatari]]",<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.up-front-works.jp/discography/zetima/29/s_24/index.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070302095809/http://www.up-front-works.jp/discography/zetima/29/s_24/index.html|url-status=dead|title=Up-Front Works Discography – Joshi Kashimashi Monogatari|archive-date=March 2, 2007}}</ref> which is unique in that it was actually about the Morning Musume girls themselves—each member got a verse about their personality. This song would later be remade several times as "Joshi Kashimashi Monogatari 2" and "Joshi Kashimashi Monogatari 3", included in their sixth and seventh album respectively. This single also marked the leaving of fourth-generation members Nozomi Tsuji and Ai Kago in August, to focus on "[[W (group)|W]]", their new duo group.

In April 2004, Rika Ishikawa was caught in a rare scandal, as an audio recording revealed her saying of the group's fans at a show, "look at them. Grownups screaming like that! I can't believe it. So stupid!" <ref name="JPTimes" />

In mid-2004, Morning Musume's second best-of album, ''[[Best! Morning Musume 2]]''<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.up-front-works.jp/discography/zetima/29/a_12/index.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070224125903/http://www.up-front-works.jp/discography/zetima/29/a_12/index.html|url-status=dead|title=Up-Front Works Discography – Best! Morning Musume 2|archive-date=February 24, 2007}}</ref> was released and featured "Yah! Aishitai" as the only new track. It had a lukewarm reception at best, compared to their first best-of compilation.

Auditions for the seventh generation (named "Lucky 7" to commemorate the seventh generation, the seventh year of Morning Musume, and seven audition sites across Japan) were held in various Japan cities in late 2004, resulting in six finalists. However, on January 9, 2005, Tsunku surprised everyone by announcing that no one in the Lucky 7 audition would be added to Morning Musume, citing that he had set his expectations extra-high this year in hopes of finding an "ace". This was the first time an audition had ended with no new members.

In November 2004, Morning Musume released "[[Namida ga Tomaranai Hōkago]]",<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.up-front-works.jp/discography/zetima/29/s_25/index.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070302114820/http://www.up-front-works.jp/discography/zetima/29/s_25/index.html|url-status=dead|title=Up-Front Works Discography – Namida ga Tomaranai Hōkago|archive-date=March 2, 2007}}</ref> a ballad that featured Asami Konno, Miki Fujimoto, Sayumi Michishige, and Rika Ishikawa.

Following this single ''[[Early Single Box|Morning Musume Early Single Box]]''<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.up-front-works.jp/discography/zetima/29/s_26/index.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070929105457/http://www.up-front-works.jp/discography/zetima/29/s_26/index.html|url-status=dead|title=Up-Front Works Discography – Morning Musume Early Single Box|archive-date=September 29, 2007}}</ref> was released. It was a 9-CD set containing their first eight singles with a bonus track on each one, as well as a karaoke CD of some of their more popular tunes from the early years.

Finally, at the end of 2004, the group's yearly album was released. Their sixth studio album, named ''[[Ai no Dai 6 Kan]]'',<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.up-front-works.jp/discography/zetima/29/a_13/index.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070222173233/http://www.up-front-works.jp/discography/zetima/29/a_13/index.html|url-status=dead|title=Up-Front Works Discography – Ai no Dai 6 Kan|archive-date=February 22, 2007}}</ref> hit stores in December. It contained three singles: "[[Roman: My Dear Boy]]", "[[Joshi Kashimashi Monogatari]]", and "[[Namida ga Tomaranai Hōkago]]". This was Ai Kago, Nozomi Tsuji, Kaori Iida, Mari Yaguchi, and Rika Ishikawa's last credited studio album.