were the surprise guests at the Dai 7kai AKB48 Kouhaku Taikou Utagassen and performed "One・Two・Three". HKT48's Sashihara Rino then joined them on stage for "Utakata Saturday Night!" and their Sashining Musume song "Get you!".[93][94]

On December 11, Kudo Haruka graduated at Nippon Budokan.[95]

For the second night of Fuji TV's 2017 FNS Kayousai on December 13, Morning Musume '17 performed "Jealousy Jealousy" and a collaboration with Kato Hifumi, a retired pro shogi player nicknamed "Hifumin" who has been a popular guest on variety shows.[96][97] The five original members also performed "Ai no Tane (20th Anniversary Ver.)" live together for the first time in 18 years.[98]

2018 Edit

On January 1, Morning Musume '17 became Morning Musume '18.

On January 28, Morning Musume '18 released the digital single "Hana ga Saku Taiyou Abite".

From February"Oto no VR", which will deliver 360° video and audio content for smartphones, starting with a video of Morning Musume '18 singing "I WISH".[102][103] That following evening, Morning Musume '18 performed in the second part of the SKY PerfecTV! Ongakusai 2018 alongside Tsubaki Factory.[104]

On March 27, it was announced that 12th generation member Ogata Haruna would graduate from Morning Musume '18 and Hello! Project at the end of their spring tour.[105]

On June 13, Morning Musume '18 released their 65th single and Ogata Haruna's last, "Are you Happy? / A gonna".

On June 20, Ogata graduated at Nippon Budokan.[106]

On June 27, Morning Musume '18 performed "Are you Happy?" and a group of eight Morning Musume OG members performed a special medley in the TV Tokyo Music Festival 2018.[107][108] Morning Musume