ウツセミ (Utsusemi) will be losing their guitarist 智 (Tomo) after the gig on the 26th of April. Here is the official announcement about the fact:

To all those who have been continually supporting us,

As of the gig on 26th April, it has come to the fact that the guitarist Tomo will be withdrawing from the band.
We sincerely apologise for this being a sudden announcement via our website.
After seriously dicussing this within all the members, by taking Tomo’s thoughts and feelings into consideration, it came to this result.
Although there are not may lives left with the current members, we will try our very best by gathering our efforts together as one.

We hope you continue to support us.

All members of Utsusemi

The members have posted individual comments regarding Tomo’s decisions as well:

Tomo’s Comment:

I’m sorry for the sudden announcement. It has been decided that I will withdraw from Utsusemi. You’re limited to what you can express through words to your own convenience, and because of this reason I thought that my views and feelings towards the band would conflict with the other band members, and so it came to the conclusion that I would leave [the band].

When all members decided to depend our lives on it [the band],
I felt that I shouldn’t be easygoing and be doing this because I found it fun or relaxing.

Although there are a lot of things to ponder about, as things stand, I have no other choice.

It has been just under a year since we formed [the band], and though it was only a short period of doing activities for 6 months, but I am very grateful to have met with the other members and played guitar in Utsusemi.

Although there are not many gigs left [before I leave], I want to be sure I will make these gigs great so that I won’t regret playing guitar in Utsusemi.

It may have been a short period, but I want to deeply thank the fans who have supported us, the members and those involved.

H・BrahmaN’s Comment:

Though this is sudden, it has been decided that our guitarist 智 will be leaving ウツセミ. His reasons for leaving are of his own convenience, meaning that it has become impossible for him to continue with ウツセミ.
I realise that “leaving of his own convenience” sounds rather vague, but I would like to refrain from specifying any details.

However, having to explain this personally; my interpretation of “leaving of his own convenience” is that 智 has chosen to love his family rather than to love himself.

I do not know how the other members interpreted this or how they came about being understanding [towards him].

On top of all members accepting Tomo’s withdrawal from Utsusemi, this declaration has been made.

It has been just under a year since we formed. It has been just under 6 months before we became active [on the music scene]. It may have been only a fraction of an even smaller fraction of Tomo’s time [life], but the other members, probably Tomo himself and I will treasure the fact that we were able to have had the same dream, played music and spent time with him.

We have only but a small and limited time with Tomo left, but I would like us to keep having the same dream until the very end.

I do hope you will continue to support us.

Shunsuke’s Comment:

When I first heard Tomo’s announcement I was so shocked that a part of me didn’t want to believe it was true.
But after hearing more details from Tomo I have been able to come to an understanding.

We may have shocked those who know of Utsusemi and those who came and saw us [at our gigs].

But I would like to make each gig left with Tomo as enjoyable as possible!

I would like everyone who will come and see Utsusemi to have that same [enjoyable] feeling!

Kyohei’s Comment:

First of all, I’m sorry that this has been such a sudden announcement.

It has been just under a year since meeting Tomo and starting a band with him.

I have experienced happy times, fun times and sad times with these members.

I will respect the decision that Tomo made after long pondering about it, and I would like to see him off with a warm heart.

There is but a small number of gigs left, and only a small amount of time left that we can spend together.

I will give it my all until the 26th April!

Source: OHP

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