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NEWS: Former BABYMETAL Member Yui Mizuno Ends Contract with Music Label




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SigTheSauceMan



Joined: 13 Jun 2016
Posts: 37
PostPosted: Wed Oct 01, 2025 2:48 pm Reply with quote
To add some background: Following the final show of BABYMETAL's Kyodai Kitsune Matsuri (Big Fox Festival) Tour on October 15, 2017, Yui disappeared without any notice to BABYMETAL, the fans, or anyone else. BABYMETAL would continue in Yui's absence, performing their LEGEND S: BAPTISM XX and 2018 World Tour as a duo.

The reason for Yui's absence would remain unknown until October 19, 2018, when she finally provided an update: She had been absent from performing due to health reasons, and had initially wished to return, but ultimately decided that she would not be returning to BABYMETAL, and instead wished to pursue a solo career.

Beginning with their next show on October 23, 2018, BABYMETAL enlisted a revolving lineup of backup dancers (the "Avengers") to fill Yui's position when necessary for certain songs. On August 4, 2019, Momoko Okazaki would be added to the Avengers' roster, remaining among BABYMETAL's backup dancers until becoming the official new third member on April 1, 2023.

Between the October 19, 2018 update and this latest update, Yui's condition and whereabouts were completely unknown, without a single social media post or public sighting.

As for what led to Yui's sudden and mysterious absence, many fans point to an on-stage accident Yui had in 2014, at their first Budokan performance.

In 2014, BABYMETAL performed at the Nippon Budokan for the first time, holding a two-night show on March 1st and 2nd, dubbed the "Red Night" and "Black Night" respectively.

Towards the end of the first night's set, during the performance of "Headbanger!!," at the song's middle section, Yui and Moa were running around the stage's outer runways when Yui suddenly disappeared. She had fallen from an elevated platform and remained missing from the stage for the remainder of the song. Her absence was immediately noticed by Suzuka, who was unaware what happened and was visibly worried, constantly searching the stage for her while continuing to perform. Yui returned to the stage for the next and final song of the night, seemingly fine, and performed as usual the following night (with Suzuka noticeably keeping much more of an eye on Yui the whole show).

Note: Edited for clarity and detail.

Last edited by SigTheSauceMan on Fri Oct 03, 2025 6:29 pm; edited 2 times in total
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BlueAlf



Joined: 02 Jan 2017
Posts: 1768
PostPosted: Thu Oct 02, 2025 12:22 am Reply with quote
SigTheSauceMan wrote:
To add some background: In late-2017, Yui suddenly disappeared from BABYMETAL with no advance notice to anyone. She remained MIA for months until a social media post indicated she was stepping away for "medical reasons" and was also wishing to pursue a solo career.

Eight years would pass with zero indication of Yui's condition, and no solo career, either.

In 2014, at the first night of BABYMETAL's two-night Budokan performance, Yui had an accident on-stage where she fell from an elevated platform during the performance of "Headbanger!!" and was missing for the second half of the song. She returned to the stage for the next and final song of the night, and performed as usual the second night.

However, it is believed Yui suffered a severe back/spinal injury that first night, and kept it concealed for the next three years until she couldn't keep it 100% concealed anymore.

Of note is that in Yui's final performance, she appears to be wearing a back brace under her costume, and noticeably could not match Moa's choreography.


Thanks for providing context.

I really feel bad for her. Hopefully she at least stays healthy from now on.
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