After just a few weeks have passed... I finally bring myself to make a comment here. Thank you for those who already acknowledged this sad event and paid tribute to Rina-san. Ebichu is one of my go-to groups when I need a light lift. Since this news, I have watched every one of their blu-ray lives that I have, always paying attention to the great job done by Rina even though she has not been my Ebichu oshi. She is going to be really missed, and I hope the rest of the members will be able to pull it together in some time to come, and continue in memory of their friend and co-worker. It is going to be tough! But being an idol is a tough gig at any time, and these girls have the guts to do it I think.
There are some... I don't know what to say... strange coincidences in their repertoire, and maybe a couple of songs will be too tough to ever perform again. Those would be Oh my ghost! which has a zombie theme... that was the one that was hardest to watch in the lives I watched... and also the recent new single Sudden Death... that is the weirdest coincidence of all in regard to timing, but I think nothing spooky about that, it is just weird and unfortunate timing.
I will continue to love and support Ebichu as long as they exist, and will miss Rina greatly, even more now that she is gone. Finally, I feel deeply for her parents most of all, since she was an only child, and as a parent myself of an only child, I can slightly imagine the awful impact her loss will have on them. I hope they can be strong and survive on the memories of their beautiful daughter and all her short life brought in joy to so many of her fans.