Chances for Kago Ai's Return to Showbiz

Another news that I have missed out... It's about Kago Ai. It's been a long time since I wrote something about her.

If you haven't noticed. I have prevented myself from calling Kago with the showbiz name "Aibon" or "Kago-chan" because essentially, that is her showbiz brand, and she is not in it at the moment. Figured that it will be more appropriate for me to address her as a person, as Kago Ai. But that's just me, you do not have to agree with me, you may call her whatever way you're comfortable with.

Here I found a news clip that showed some newscasters analysing the development of Kago Ai and her exile from the entertainment scene due to her reckless behavior.



The news corner starts of by stating that Kago has been terminated from her agency UFA for 7 months already, and further mentioned that reportedly Kago had stayed in Nara for some time after her termination, and afterwards have lived in Hawaii with some relatives, before finally settling down in New York with you-know-who. As much as I love the idea that the "important announcement" on next week's Haromoni would be about her return to showbiz, but after the past frustrations I decided to remain realistic this time. The panel and analysers however decided to shed some positive views on Kago's case this time.

Then the analyser began to explain the possibilities and reasoning of Kago's comeback.
1) Kago provides her family consisting of her divorced mother, 3 siblings (7 yrs old brother, 6 yrs old sister, 2 yrs old brother). She has to work to support her family, and it would be truly difficult for her to work as an OL (office lady) at this time (after being in showbiz for so long), therefore she has no choice but to return to showbiz.

2) Kago deserves another chance. Although she has to pay the price of smoking underage, there are others who have done even worse things but still able to return to showbiz. Furthermore, her smoking did not really cause harm or hurt anyone. One panel mentions that it was not right of her to smoke because of her status as an idol.
The lady panel presents that Kago. like Goto Maki, although still an adolescent she had to work as an "adult" in showbiz for a long time ever since she was 12 years old. And because she is forced to be like an adult (even though she was not) with no one to depend on and be herself, probably she has been looking for a way to release her (suppressed) true self, and found that opportunity with a 35 year old man. The lady panel hopes that Kago is able to make choices for herself in the future, because people will depend on her, and she may break down under pressure again.
The 3rd panel supports the idea of Kago's comeback, though he is concerned about the media and paparazzi who have been working too hard to haunt and expose Kago.

3) Kago turns 20 years old February next year, the legal age in Japan, and it would be a good timing for her comeback. And there are many ways she can do so, even if it meant that she has start from scratch by going into a Kansai-limited circuit (because her hometown Nara is in the Kansai region of Japan), and she can do this while she decides how she wants to shape her career path.


I am contented with this news broadcast, because at least it's not about bashing Kago left and right about what she had done. What I think, is that if Kago does come back, chances are that it will not be with Hello! Project/UFA. The top guns at UFA are known to be ruthlessly strict about maintaining their rules. But I do wish Kago a good "afterlife" from showbiz, and that she live well and healthy...

Peace ^_^
>> Read the rest of this article

Sooooo.... Goto Maki IS somehow... "involved"...

My PC is resurrected. Good.
But I have to reformat the hard disk. Bad.
Managed to salvage most of my "important data". Good.
But I have reinstall the drivers and softwares. Bad.
Managed to connect to internet and surf freely. Good.
But discovered more bad news on Goto Maki/Yuuki saga........ DAMN BAD.

As I just managed to revive my ancient machine, now was the only time I managed to crawl the net undeterred... and found more information that I have missed for the past week. I still haven't browsed around other blogs and forums enough, and most of you probably have known about these news, but I need to record it in this blog, just for... archiving purposes.

What I found out is that Goto Maki's brother, Yuuki will be prosecuted for a theft crime, involving cables. But what I missed out is how Gomaki is involved in the whole situation - it is said that Gomaki's lover happened to be Yuuki's partner in crime.

As noted by a commenter, Hello!Online has information that Goto Maki will quitting showbiz altogether. Other than that, the existence of a boyfriend. Of course I have no way of verifying it, cos I'm not in Japan. But take note - the info came from ever reliable and credible H!O.

The bit from the FLASH Magazine - the official site does make note of the headline scoop of discovering Gomaki's boyfriend and his involvement in the crime, additionally other sources notes it too. It was just as H!O reported, word for word. However, the latter source questions the credibility of the scoop, because it was sourced from eye-witnesses consisting of "close friends" and "neighbours".

And apparently, stemming from Yuuki's theft crime, there were... oh, how should I say... "whispers" that not only Gomaki's boyfriend (separated) was arrested..... Gomaki was also named. Lots of hecklers in Japan also seem to be riding on this ... "whisper", since Gomaki DID say "sorry for causing trouble for other (H!P) members". Probably they assumed from that statement Gomaki indirectly admitted her involvement?

Personally, I don't think Gomaki is financially troubled nor desperate for money. I'm thinking somebody must have misread "Goto Yuuki" as "Goto Maki" and coupled with the photographs in the papers and news sites, the fact became twisted as it passes from one person to another. However, I cannot comprehend how her brother's crime can become her burden and "cause trouble" to her fellow H!P members, but I can only sum it as being another one of Hello! Project's "Idol tradition".

H!O has given the heads-up for all of us on Gomaki's supposed departure from showbiz. I'm only waiting for the other news sites to confirm it to make it official. There's still hope for her rebound though. At the very least, that I do believe.

後藤真希の恋人は「ユウキ銅線窃盗団」メンバー、フラッシュが報道。

Web posted at: 2007/11/07 05:06
Written by コ○助
このエントリーを含むはてなブックマーク

かつて「EE JUMP」のメンバーとして芸能界に身を置いたこともある、後藤真希の弟・ユウキ（後藤祐樹）が逮捕されたのは10月20日のこと。自ら「銅線窃盗団」を率い、転売目的で100万円相当の銅線を工事現場から盗んでいたという事実に、その一報を聞いた誰もが耳を疑ったなり。派手な芸能界から転落していく「元芸能人」が犯罪に手を染めるケースはあるにはあるなりが、モーニング娘。の中核メンバーだった後藤真希の弟であり、それなりに売れた「EE JUMP」のメンバーという抜群の知名度を誇る「元芸能人」の犯罪は、相当な衝撃をもって受け止められたなりよね。

あれから2週間ほどが経過し、この話題自体は沈静化の様相を見せていたなりが、現在発売中の「フラッシュ」がさらなる衝撃の事実を報じているなりよ。後藤真希が「ユウキ銅線窃盗団」のメンバーの1人と恋仲にあったと、2人で写ったプリクラ写真や、湯上がり姿のプライベート写真と共に伝えているなりね。簡単に要点をまとめておくと。

・後藤真希の「恋人」とされるのは、19歳の「ユウキ銅線窃盗団」メンバー（定時高校生）。
・出会いは2005年のユウキの結婚式。後藤真希からのアプローチですぐに交際が始まった。ユウキと「恋人」は子どもの頃からの親友同士。
・毎回のように「恋人」をコンサートの最前列や楽屋にも呼んでいた。
・2006年頃に破局の危機を迎えたが、しばらくしてまた会うようになり、ごく最近まで交際は続いていた。
・後藤真希が全額負担して改築した「ゴマキ御殿」は窃盗団のたまり場だった。

いずれの情報も「地元の住人」や「親しい友人」などのコメントを下敷きにしたもので、信憑性のほどは分からないなりが、もしこれが事実だとすれば、後藤真希は弟と「恋人」（もしくは元恋人）が同時に逮捕されるという、二重の辛い現実と向き合うことになったわけなり。「ユウキ逮捕」が報じられたあと、後藤真希は関係者やほかのメンバーに迷惑をかけるとの理由でハロープロジェクトを辞めているなりが、弟だけでなく、「恋人」の逮捕が明るみになったときのための予防線を張っていた……との見方もできなくはないなりよ。

ハロープロジェクトを辞めた直後、10月29日付けのオフィシャルブログでは「これから先のことは、まだわからないけれど、後藤真希にしかできないことの追求、自分の音楽性について見つめ直していく中で、いろんなことを吸収し、自分の力に変えて行き、今より前へ確実に進んでいきたいと思っています」とコメントしていたなりが、今回の「フラッシュ」の報道で、活動再開に暗雲が立ちこめてきたと見る向きも強いなり。果たして後藤真希の今後は如何に。

[Source]
>> Read the rest of this article

Goto Yuuki Prosecuted... But where does Goto Maki fit in?

I'm still fresh from following this news compared to the rest of the world, having returning only recently. But where does Goto Maki fit in her brother Goto Yuuki's theft crime?

It's now official that Goto Yuuki have plead guilty for the crime of stealing cables from a construction company and will be prosecuted, his reason - "I needed money". (~A~) Bleh...
[Source]

I'm still puzzled on how Gomaki come into the picture, I mean, how is she associated with her brother's mishaps. How come she is quitting Hello! Project at this time? Please, please, please don't tell me that she is actually involved in her brother's crime. On a dramatic scenario (but least likely methinks), perhaps Gomaki had pleaded her agency (UFA) to help her brother or she quits. But the puzzle still doesn't fit.

Because if Gomaki does want to leave H!P to plan her own life and musical path, she can very well negotiate peacefully with UFA. (Unless somebody upstairs in UFA doesn't want to release her, of course). With regards to her release contract, I wonder what further stipulations is involved. Many fans think that she may move on to Avex rightaway, but what if... just what if Gomaki's release contract stipulates that she may not perform under any other labels until the termination of her previous employment period? Such a thing IS possible if the contracts says so. Unless her next agency decides to overrule that clause (with some cash and conditions), will Gomaki face a long "holiday"? Seriously, I hope she's not in trouble or something... cos' there seems to be an outbreak of "acute-gastroenteritis" lately.

On the contrary, Yuuki's ex-partner in EE JUMP, Sonim, is doing quite well, having recently formed a duo unit with TV talent and model Osawa Akane. The unit is called "tomboy" and their first single "Super Star" is a cover of Korean group Jewelry 2005 hit of the same name. They're doing so good that the single has been chosen as the closing theme for a TV Tokyo variety show Sukibara, recomended to national karaoke companies, and "tomboy" will also debut Utaban. [Source]





Just ranting round... cos I'm still trying to resurrect my PC, but to no avail. And i'm in a blue, blue mood....
>> Read the rest of this article

Goto Maki - Shotgun Graduation

Look what God dropped on me just when I am coming back to blog... ^_^

OK... Let me get my head straight...

Goto Yuuki (Goto Maki's brother) was arrested for a theft. He became a suspect of a crime job in July this year, for stealing of 80 bundles of electric cables belonging to a construction site, worth 1 million yen, in Edokawa, Tokyo. Whilst trying to transport the goods out in a rental truck, someone spotted the act, called the cops and the gang fled, leaving the cargo behind. Apparently it was a repeated crime.

Gomaki, subsequently, announced her graduation (or should I say resignation) from Hello! Project. The fact was made official by UFA themselves, and Tsunku sents his best wishes and support to her in his blog.

Gomaki blogged about her graduation. But only snippets were in the news. The webmaster of Gomaki's blog has banned my country's IP, and due to heavy traffic the site was constantly inaccessible. Fortunately, I managed to acquire it using a feed reader.

Goto Maki's confession from her blog

大切なお知らせ
from 後藤真希オフィシャルブログ by ごとうまき
私は、昨日10月28日をもちまして、ハロー！プロジェクトを卒業しました。
いきなりの発表でごめんなさい。

13歳のときに、モーニング娘。に加入して今年で9年目を迎えました。
いろんな出会いや感動が私を成長させてくれました。

その中で、自分が本当にやりたいことを少しずつ思い描くようになってきて。
今一度、じっくり自分と向き合う時間を作りたいと思い、卒業を決めました。

これから先のことは、まだわからないけれど、後藤真希にしかできないことの追求、自分の音楽性について見つめ直していく中で、いろんなことを吸収し、自分の力に変えて行き、今より前へ確実に進んでいきたいと思っています。

みんなに、なんて言えばいいんだろうって、ずっと悩んでいました。
みんながいてくれたから、私は今、ここに居られるし、笑顔でいられる。
その感謝の気持ちを言葉でうまく表せなくて。
本当に、本当にありがとう。

これからも、みんなと一緒にいたいんです。
みんなが、私の支えだから。
ハローの一員としてではなく、後藤真希として、自分らしく、頑張っていきます。
これからも後藤真希を、ずっと見守っていてください。

Roughly translated (Cos i don't have time now, but we get the general idea)

Important Announcement by Gomaki
Yesterday, I graduated from Hello! Project on 28th October. Sorry for the sudden announcement. From the time I joined Morning Musume, this has been my 9th year (in showbiz). I have grown up through many emotional encounters.
In the middle of it, little by little I am able to picture the things that I really wanted to do. I've decided to graduate, so that I can once more create my own time carefully.
Although, I do not know what will happen from now on, but I will pursue the things that only 'Goto Maki' can do, reevaluate my music style, absorb many things, change things with my own means, and move forward in a stable way.
I was going "What should I say to everyone?", and have been troubled about it. Because of everyone, I am here and you can be smiling. I cannot express in words how thankful I am. Thank you, thank you very much.
From now on, I still want to be with you all, because you are what supports me. I will give my best, not as a member of H!P, but as Goto Maki, as myself.
Please watch over me, Goto Maki from now on.

Stories are about that Gomaki's leaving was planned earlier. But "how early?" I ask. Last year, beginning of this year.... or at July, where the crime was reported?

... And so Yuuki steals some cables, Gomaki gets the boot?!

Unfortunate coincidence? Or fear of crime association?




I need more catching up. Anyone can cue me in on this?
>> Read the rest of this article

The Gotos in trouble, and Gomaki graduates from H!P

Eh?! This alert came in last night, and I have hardly unpacked my stuff. Goto Maki graduates from Hello! Project?! Not only that, her brother was involved in some kind of theft crime?!

Funny, cos i was reading about Gomaki's graduation from Momusu from an magazine published last month...

God, I need time to take this all in...

2007/10/29-10:21 後藤真希、「ハロプロ」卒業
　歌手の後藤真希（２２）が、２８日のコンサートツアーを最後に、所属する女性アイドル集団「ハロー！プロジェクト」を卒業することになった。所属事務所が同日発表するとともに、後藤もコンサートの最後でファンに自ら報告した。
　後藤は１９９９年、ハロプロの中心的存在であるグループ「モーニング娘。」の第３期メンバーとして歌手デビュー。２００２年にグループを卒業してからも、ハロプロの一員として活動してきた。しかし今月、実弟が窃盗の疑いで警視庁に逮捕されたことなどをきっかけに、事務所と話し合った結果、ハロプロから離れることを決めた。ソロ活動は今後も続けるという。
　後藤は事務所を通じて、次の通りコメントを発表した。
　この度は弟の祐樹がお騒がせをして大変申し訳ございません。
　これから先のことは、まだわかりませんが自分にしかできないことの追求、自分の音楽性について見つめ直していく中で、色んなことを吸収し、自分の力に変えていき、今より前へ確実に進んで行きたいと思っています。
　ハロー！プロジェクトは卒業しますが、後藤真希として自分らしく頑張っていきますので、今後とも応援宜しくお願い致します。（原文のまま）

Source


From Hello! Project site. Source

後藤真希　ハロー！プロジェクト卒業に関するお知らせ

平成19年10月28日の「後藤真希LIVE TOUR 2007 G- Emotion II 〜How to use　SEXY〜」最終公演をもちまして、後藤真希はハロー！プロジェクトを卒業することとなりました。
後藤真希は平成11年9月モーニング娘。第3期メンバーとして加入。その後、モーニング娘。の活動と平行しソロ活動を開始。平成14年にはモーニング娘。を卒業し、歌手のみならず、ハロー！プロジェクトの一員としてドラマ、CM、ミュージカル等で幅広い活動を行ってまいりましたが、今後の活動に関し事務所と本人とで話し合った結果、今回の事件で他のハロー！プロジェクトメンバーへ迷惑がかかるのではないかと気にかけていたこと、また活動の方向性の違いにより、ハロー！プロジェクトを卒業することを決めました。
尚、ハロー！プロジェクト卒業後も、ソロ活動は続けて参ります。

＜後藤真希コメント＞
私は、昨日10月28日をもちまして、ハロー！プロジェクトを卒業しました。
いきなりの発表でごめんなさい。

13歳のときに、モーニング娘。に加入して今年で9年目を迎えました。
いろんな出会いや感動が私を成長させてくれました。
その中で、自分が本当にやりたいことを少しずつ思い描くようになってきて。
今一度、じっくり自分と向き合う時間を作りたいと思い、卒業を決めました。

これから先のことは、まだわからないけれど後藤真希にしかできないことの追求、自分の音楽性について見つめ直していく中で、いろんなことを吸収し、自分の力に変えて行き、今より前へ確実に進んでいきたいと思っています。
みんなに、なんて言えばいいんだろうって、ずっと悩んでいました。
みんながいてくれたから、私は今、ここに居られるし、笑顔でいられる。
その感謝の気持ちを言葉でうまく表せなくて。
本当に、本当にありがとう。

これからも、みんなと一緒にいたいんです。
みんなが、私の支えだから。
ハローの一員としてではなく、後藤真希として、自分らしく、頑張っていきます。

これからも後藤真希を、ずっと見守っていてください。

From Tsunku's Blog. Source

本日は晴天なり
テーマ：ブログ
晴れやね。

晴れは気持ちいい。

気持ちの良い生誕祭になりそうです。


いろんな人生のスタートになりそうな感じ。


さて、人生のスタートにはいろいろありますね。
後藤真希も新たな人生の門出を決心したようです。


思えば１３歳でオーディションを受けて、この世界に入って、
９年の日々。

いろんな作品を作ってきました。


後藤真希と言うアーティストは想像力を掻き立させてくれました。
そして、いろんな作品を世に送り出すことが出来ました。


男の子以上にに大胆な部分と、ものすご～くメルヘンチックな部分、
冷静だな～って思わされたり、盛り上がってるねぇ～て
思わされたり。

ま、いろんな表情があるからこそ、
いろんな作品を作ることが出来たんだと思います。


そんな後藤真希が
ハロー！プロジェクトの卒業を決心いたしました。


今回の決心は、
また、新たな後藤真希から生まれる作品と出会うきっかけと
なるべく決心だと感じています。


ほんま、これからも応援してるわな。
ひとまずはご苦労さんでした。そして、今日からもファイト！

>> Read the rest of this article

Bokura ga Ikiru My Asia, Juunen Ai - Lyrics, Romaji and Translation

By popular demand, here are the lyrics, romaji and translation for Morning Musume A-Team's Bokura ga Ikiru My Asia and Juunen Ai. Nihongo lyrics taken from actual CD leaflet.

Nihongo lyrics typed out using NJStar Communicator. Also used my old dictionary to help me with the translations too. (well, I'm not that perfect yet, ya know~~ ^_^ )

UPDATE 31-01-2007:
Updated the translation for Juunen Ai from some inputs by anon commenter, but not without some modification. Further corrections and proof read by the lovely chu3nii for Bokura ga Ikiru My ASIA and Juunen Ai translations. (Thanks so much!)


*********************************************************

Bokura ga Ikiru MY ASIA - 僕らが生きる MY ASIA
Music/Lyrics: Tsunku
Arrangement, Programming and Guitar: Takahashi Yuichi
Chorus: CHINO

Nihongo:

同じ夜空の
星を見上げた
遥か遠くに思い寄せ
まだ知らぬ友に会えそうだ
シルクロード進もう

共に励まし 共に讃えて
共に心を通わせ
家族のように 生きいけるさ
絆もきっと出来るさ

万年行き交う この道に
すべての希望が詰まってる
万年誰かに伝えてく
不思議な魅惑 MY ASIA
僕らが生きる MY ASIA

恋に黄昏
海を見渡す
こんな近くに歴史もある
同じような顔に見えても
同じ人はいない

夢を数えて 涙に変わり
季節がまた流れてく
家族の言葉 大人になって
なんだか胸に轟く

万年行き交う この道が
すべての笑顔の始まりで
万年待ってた この時を
愛し合おうよ MY ASIA
僕らが生きる MY ASIA

万年行き交う この道が
すべての笑顔の始まりで
万年待ってた この時を
愛し合おうよ MY ASIA
僕らが生きる MY ASIA

Romaji:

onaji yozora no
hoshi wo miage ta
haruka tooku ni omoi yose
mada shiranu tomo ni ae sou da
shirukuroodo susumou

tomo ni hagemashi     tomo ni tatae te
tomo ni kokoro wo kayowa se
kazoku no you ni     iki te ikeru sa
kizuna mo kitto dekiru sa

man nen yukikau     kono michi ni
subete no kibou ga tsumatteru
man nen dareka ni tsutae te ku
fushigi na miwaku     MY ASIA
bokura ga ikiru     MY ASIA

koi ni tasogare
umi wo miwatasu
konna chikaku ni rekishi mo aru
onaji you na kao ni mie te mo
onaji hito wa i nai

yume o kazoe te     namida ni kawari
kisetsu ga mata nagare te ku
kazoku no kotoba     otona ni natte
nanda ka mune ni todoroku

man nen yukikau     kono michi ga
subete no egao no hajimari de
man nen matte ta     kono toki wo
ai shi aou yo     MY ASIA
bokura ga ikiru     MY ASIA

man nen yukikau     kono michi ga
subete no egao no hajimari de
man nen matte ta     kono toki wo
ai shi aou yo     MY ASIA
bokura ga ikiru     MY ASIA

Translation:

Looking up at the same starry night
Sending my thoughts to the far distance
possibly meeting friends that you never met
moving on along the silk road

Together encouraging and praising each other
Together linking our hearts
Living together like a family
Surely a bond will form

In this crossing roads of ten thousand years
Uniting our hopes together
Convey it to someone for ten thousand years
My Asia, a strange fascination
My Asia, where we live...

Love in dusk
Looking around the ocean
We do had a history nearby here
Even if there are people who look similar
there are no people who are the same

When counting dreams, change to tears
the seasons have switched again
Somehow, words from family roars in your heart
when you become an adult

This crossing roads of ten thousand years
is the beginning of all smiling faces
At this time after waiting for ten thousand years
My Asia, let's love
My Asia, where we live...

This crossing roads of ten thousand years
is the beginning of all smiling faces
At this time after waiting for ten thousand years
My Asia, let's love
My Asia, where we live...

*********************************************************

Note: I think Juunen Ai is not supposed to make much sense, because Tsunku is trying to fit references to all the titles of Morning Musume singles in the lyrics. (of course, he failed to do so in the end... heh!)Read this post if you don't know what I mean. So go ahead and try to spot them Morning Musume song references in this song. \(^o^)/


Juunen Ai - 十年愛
Music/Lyrics: Tsunku
Arrangement, Programming and Guitar: Takahashi Yuichi
Chorus: Takeuchi Hiroaki, Tsunku

Nihongo:

会いに来てよ
十年経っても同じように
会いに来てよ
つべこべ言わずに来てよ

雨が降っても会いたいし
お天気良い日は尚うれしい
たまの浮気は許すけど
純情見せてよね

いつも此処で 貴方
待つわ 貴方
いつも此処で 歌を
唄っていますから 鳴呼

愛の機械
十年経ってもステキだわ

朝のコーヒー
ずいぶん昔の話

平和になれと歩いてる
どこにも行かないここにいる
そうね うちらは生きている
愛を下さいな

大阪女 浪漫
Wow Wow Wow Yeah Yeah Yeah
愛があらば It's All Right
まるで シャボン玉 鳴呼

恋のダンスしましょ
直感 マンパワー
ハッピーサマーウェディング
全部は入らない
十年おめでとう

Romaji:

ai ni kite yo
juunen tatte mo onaji you ni
ai ni kite yo
tsubekobe iwa zu ni kite yo

ame ga futte mo aitai shi
otenki yoi hi ha nao ureshi
tama no uwaki wa yurusu kedo
junjou misete yo ne

itsumo koko de     anata
matsu wa     anata
itsumo koko de     uta wo
utatte imasu kara     Ahh

ai no kikai
juunen tatte mo suteki da wa

asa no koohii
zuibun mukashi no hanashi

heiwa ni nare to aruiteru
doko ni mo yuka nai koko ni iru
soune     uchira ha ikiteiru
ai wo kudasai na

osaka onna     roman
Wow Wow Wow Yeah Yeah Yeah
Ai ga araba It's all right
marude     shabondama     Ahh

koi no dansu shimashou
chokkan     Manpawaa
happii samaa uedingu
zenbu ha hairanai

juunen omedetou

Translation:

Come and see me
just like always even after 10 years
Come and see me
Stop complaining and just come see me

Even if it's raining, I still want to meet you
If the weather is good, it will be more delightful
Although I can forgive an occasional unfaithfulness
show me your naiveness/innocence

We will be right here
waiting for you
Because we will always
be singing here.... Ahh


love machine
still sounds cute even after ten years
morning coffee
now that's really an old story


Longing for peace, we are walking ahead
Always will be here, not going anywhere
that's right, we're alive
oh, please give me love

Osaka women are romantic
Wow Wow Wow Yeah Yeah Yeah
It's all right if you have love
just like a soap bubble ... Ahh

Let's do the dance of love
Instinct, Manpower
Happy Summer Wedding
Can't include them all

Happy 10th anniversary

Enjoy! Peace ^_^
>> Read the rest of this article

Bokura ga Ikiru My Asia - PV Review

So I managed to download the PV from Hello! Online. My god,... the number of times I played the video has got to be the same as the times I played the song itself, if not more.

All the girls are strikingly beautiful, all in my favourite colour blue. Bamboo shoots, paper sheet windows, galls of water, lotus flowers... everything East Asian. Credit the editors for doing a great job on the presentation. The focus are still the girls, themselves. Iida Kaori - High dress cut, gorgeously sexy. Abe Natsumi - Womanly, but still cute. Goto Maki - Voluptuous, superstar quality. Niigaki Risa - Adult-like, sweet and beautiful. Kusumi Koharu - Refreshing, absolutely cute.


I haven't gone to the store yet, because of my busy schedule. I hope it's not all sold out yet.

It's late over here. So I'll update this post with the rest of the review with the screenshots later.
>> Read the rest of this article

Momusu A-Team B-Side Single ~Juunen Ai~

Moving on!
Now, there many next most anticipated event and story within the Hello! Project family. Among them are graduations, new shows and new releases.... just like always.

Morning Musume 10th Anniversary Team (A-Team) single will be released next week on the 24th January. The news that the A-Team are "special supporters" for Dralion is true. I haven't watched their shows before, but I've heard good things about them. "Bokura ga Ikiru, My Asia", will also be the theme tune for Dralion.

However, I don't think the single "Bokura ga ikiru My Asia" is specifically written for Dralion. But the A-Team are supporters nonetheless, not surprising if they promote the song along with Dralion, to draw more attention to the single as part of their promotion strategies.


Anyway, I managed to get a hold of the B-side song of the single, 十年愛 or "Juunen Ai", which means "Love of 10 years".

Have a listen here. Found it from Musume.it.

It's different. Think "Joshi Kashimashi Monogatari" but this time listing the Momusu singles.

At first listen, the song seemed like a regular pop song. Bit of farucca, tango, and swing... kind of like Kaorin's solo works. But it's OK for a B-side. Until it reaches the verse after the 1st chorus. Then things started sound a little funny...

Japanese lyrics

愛の機械
十年たっても素敵だわ
朝のコヒ-
ずいぶん昔の話

Romaji

Ai no kikai
juunen tatte mo suteki da wa
asa no kohii
zuibun mukashi no hanashi

... for those who know Japanese would probably have got the joke at this point. :)
If not, here's what it translates to:

Love Machine
still sounds cute even after ten years
Morning Coffee
now that's really an old story

Ai no kikai
- direct translation from Love Machine
(Ai = Love, Kikai = Machine)

Asa no kohii
- direct translation from Morning Coffee
(Asa = Morning, kohii = Coffee)

After that, the references become more and more obvious. Like "Aruiteru", "Koko ni Iruzee" etc. Especially this one...

osaka onna no roman
wow wow wow yeah yeah yeah
ai ga araba it's all right
marude shabondama

The last verse was pretty obvious :D

koi no dance shimashou
chokkan... manpower
happy summer wedding
... zenbu hairanai~~

And here's what it means...

Let's do the dance of love
Instinct, Manpower
Happy Summer Wedding
... Can't include them all~~

... Haha! that really cracked me up! :D

I spotted 12 of other song titles from this song, how about you?

It's funny how Tsunku tries to fit the single titles into the song but somehow trying to make it make sense lyrically. :) Now THIS is a proper 10th anniversary celebration song, and I enjoyed it very much. Long time fans or any fan who can recall past Momusu songs may find it amusing and entertaining.

This is such a cool single, A-side for the world, B-side for the existing fans. When the single comes out next week, I'll go get it off the shelf.

I wanted to post the full lyrics here but it's not finished yet. And I couldn't make out certain parts in the first verse and bridge.

EDIT: Ahhh~~!!! I give up!
Sorry I really can't make out some words on the first verse and bridge say/mean... and I don't want to mislead anyone who may take it for real. I guess I still need more studying to do.
SooooOOOOooo, I'll go for getting it off the shelf. Too much work. The rough draft is still hidden here. Will use it later for comparison purposes.
>> Read the rest of this article

Morning Musume 10th Anniversary Single - Preview

Sounds like a short radio rip. I wish I live in Japan.

Uploaded it to an uploader. Get it here.

I like this song. Reminiscence of "Sakura Mankai", lots of string instruments, befitting of "Asia" theme. The song structure and arrangement sounds like the mainstream Canto-pop/Mando-pop that I am so familiar with. Somehow, also reminds me of SMAP's "Lionheart". Much like an "Aruiteru" Asia-version.

However, the theme and concept sounded more like "Morning Musume celebrating Asia" rather than "celebrating 10 years of Morning Musume". Anyways, the PV looks promising, I'll be looking forward to it.

Sing along if you like.

Romaji:

Onaji yozora no hoshi o mi ageta
Haruka tooku ni omoi yose
Mada shiranu tomo ni ae souna
shiruku roodo susumou

tomo ni hake mashi, tomo ni nakaete
tomo ni kokoro o kayo se
kazoku no you ni ikite yukeru sa
kizuna mo kitto dekiru sa

man nen yuki kau kono michi ni
subete no kibou ga tsumatteru
man nen dareka ni tsutaete ku
fushigi na miwaku My Asia
bokura ga ikiru My Asia

Japanese:

同じ夜空の星を見上げた【久住】
遥か遠くに想い寄せ【安倍】
まだ知らぬ友に会えそうな【後藤】
シルクロード進もう【飯田・新垣】

共に励まし【安倍】　共に称えて【飯田】
共に心を通わせ【久住】
家族のように生きてゆけるさ【新垣】
絆もきっと出来るさ【新垣】

万年行き交うこの道に
全ての希望が詰まってる
万年誰かに伝えてく
不思議な魅惑　MY ASIA【全員】
僕らが生きるMY ASIA【久住】

Translation:

Looking up at the same starry night
Sending my thoughts to the far distance
Like meeting friends that you never met
Moving forward in the silk road

Together encouraging and praising each other
Together linking our hearts
Living together like a family
Surely a bond will form

In this crossing roads of ten thousand years
Uniting our hopes together
Convey it to someone for ten thousand years
My Asia, a strange fascination
My Asia, where we live...

Thanks to source from WHG
>> Read the rest of this article

Morning Musume 10th Anniversary Single - Title and Jacket

Note: This post has been long overdue, but due to the recent earthquake have damaged our network connections in East Asia, and I have been unable to go online without experiencing slowness or zero connectivity. So right now, I will be having difficulty updating my blogs until the connection has been fully restored. I hope the earthquake victims are doing OK...

The official title of Morning Musume 10th Anniversary Celebration Single is:

僕らが生きる　ＭＹ　ＡＳＩＡ
Bokura ga ikiru MY ASIA ( Literally meaning "We're Alive My Asia" or "My Asia, Where We Live" )

Here are the jacket images:



The positioning are as follows:
Niigaki Risa, Goto Maki, Abe Natsumi, Kusumi Koharu, Iida Kaori

I must say that the whole image of the group is fantastic. The blue theme, long flowing hair...etc. Delighted to see Niigaki Risa finally getting to share the spotlight in a shuffle with other big stars of Hello! Project.


Tsunku has mentioned before, after the selection of the new 8th member in Morning Musume Happy 8 Audition, and after the setup of his new company TNX, that he aims for Asia as next market. And with what I see in the single's jacket photo, I think it's pretty good so far. Heh, the motivation for world domination has always been in the hearts of any ambitious Japanese, eh?

There were many speculations on how this team was formed. As recently highlighted by commenter it is to represent the original 5 Momusu members, by matching the age.

Abe Natsumi / Iida Kaori ===> Nakazawa Yuko
Goto Maki ===> Ishiguro Aya
Kusumi Koharu ===> Fukuda Asuka
Niigaki Risa ===> Abe Natsumi / Iida Kaori

Back to basics? Reintroducing Morning Musume to the world?

[ Will update this portion later. ]



I am definitely looking forward for this single, and see how it turns out. If in fact, it is going back to the basics and following the style of the original members, I'm expecting some harmonizing bits. The jacket photo suggests that it may be an fast-tempo song, but then again, it may turn out to be another "Aruiteru", where the photos and the song doesn't have to relate.

So, we'll just wait and see...


Related Posts:
Morning Musume 10th Anniversary Team Lineup... Bleh~~
Morning Musume 10th Anniversary Celebration... but what about Aibon?

Sources:
Up Front Works
Witch Hunting Girlscouts
tvstation.jp
>> Read the rest of this article

Morning Musume 10th Anniversary Team Lineup.... Bleh~~

[ UPDATED 09-12-2006 3:27AM ]
The lineup for the Morning Musume 10th Anniversary Special Unit for 24th January 2007 has been announced a few days ago. And they are :

*drumroll*
Iida Kaori
Abe Natsumi
Goto Maki
Kusumi Koharu

..... and that's it.
*twang* *blappp* (cymbals cracks and snare drum breaks)

I was going "WHAT??" over the announcement. Only four of them? Why?

If it was the Ace Team, .... OK, so Nacchi was the first Momusu Ace, and then came second gen ace Gocchin, and third gen ace Koharu... then why Kaorin is in?

If it was Good Singers Team ... Kaorin rocks anytime, Nacchi goes without saying, Gocchin is OK.... then why Koharu is in?

Plus, 3 of them are graduated members. What? Ai-chan not good enough as an Ace? What about Mikitty? And Golden Age girl, and now-leader Yossie?

I seriously don't get why the lineup is such. Though I can understand why they didn't want to have the whole Momusu army (past and present) to form the unit. (Because they have already done that in last year's Kohaku show, and mentioned that it was supposed to be the once-in-a-lifetime event)

Apologies to all Koharu fans, but I really don't see why she should be in that group. It's reminds me of DEF DIVA, supposedly an elite songstress unit, comprising of nice singing divas. So we have Matsuura Aya, Goto Maki, Abe Natsumi... but Ishikawa Rika?
I just don't see how Koharu can cope with the other 3 legends, in terms of singing.

I'm sorry but I'm totally disappointed. The fact I don't get to see Ishiguro Aya or Ichii Sayaka come back. And the fact that lineup does not comprise of Momusu girls that have defined, supported and built the Momusu legacy that we know. It's the 10th anniversary, shouldn't the group be something commemorable? Why does UFA have to build another popularity crutch for Koharu again?

OK, if UFA won't do it, then I will pick my own ultimate 10th anniversary team for myself here:

One from every generation -
Abe Natsumi, Mari Yaguchi, Goto Maki, Yoshizawa Hitomi, Takahashi Ai, Fujimoto Miki. OK, Kusumi Koharu also.

NOW that's better, yes? Ayappe and Ka-san is not in it, but it's better than the 4.


*sigh*

Source Here
Source from Ikimasshoi

=======================

EDIT:

Just found out, that apparently Niigaki Risa is added to the 10th Anniversary Team Lineup. Source from Neowing and WHG. However... Oricon didn't say anything about that. I'm so confused... are they going to keep adding members to it every week, until all members are in? Double Bleh~~~! This is not going to end...
>> Read the rest of this article

Goto Maki's Celeb Blog

Hello! Online has started something very interesting. Now these extraordinary guys at HPS translation team have gone and started a section that will constantly translate Goto Maki's celeb blog, and will update the Hello!Journal.



For those of you guys who don't know japanese but wanted to know what she's up to these days, go to Hello!Online and view it there. Oh, and sign up while you're there.

For those who do know japanese, visit her official blog here: http://blog.gotomaki.net/ and her official site here: http://www.gotomaki.net/.

There has been a norm for celebrities to keep a blog for the fans to view. It's a simple and effective way of promoting themselves and self-appeal to the fans out there dying to know their daily thoughts. Goto Maki is not the first. Utada Hikaru had started one long time ago. There are many others, like Santos Anna (Bon Bon Blanco), Asuka Hinoi (Hinoi Team), Shokotan, even AV Idol legend Sora Aoi. Happy reading!
>> Read the rest of this article