How To Take A Major, Risky Step In Your Career… (Stuck in a Pagoda with Motoko Aoyama)
Goto Maki to graduate from Hello! Project [Update 1] (Totally Hello! Project)
Goto Maki Graduating (Laura’s Blog)
Without You, My Dear Gocchin (yossha yossha YOSSHA!)
Goto Maki has left H!P!!!!! (hello! girl)
Good-Bye Goto Maki! (H!P Sauce)

The first few reactions in our corner of the Jpop blogosphere are up.

Our own CJ notes that Maki’s track record works in her favor, and thinks that Yuuki’s legal problems is probably just a ruse. TH!P notes that rumors had been floating a while and that it explains the cancellation of her eighteenth single and her omission from the Winter 2008 H!P concert. After some reflection, Laura thinks this is a good move for Gocchin and hopes the label switch will boost her popularity.

Yoshimi swears to remain a loyal Gocchin fan wherever that takes her. Arashi is having a hard time believing this was over creative differences, and gives her reasons why. And Sarah muses that she could be moving to TNX or Nice Girl Project.