You'll get a chance!

Morning Musume's 35th single, Mikan

Here we have a nice and natural look for MM's newest single. At first when I heard the title I thought it was for once going to be a ballad. XD I know right? What chances are that. Lol. After I heard the radio rip I wasn't wowed immediately. It sounded like an ordinary album track or b-side. After I saw the promo images and pvs, it changed my mind completely. No wonder they call a PV, promotional video. It helps. ^-^


Their cloths in the covers and promos are really relaxing on the eyes. For once I think that EVERYONE looks decent. Ai looks really mature. Risa looks graceful. Eri looks like she's back to 15 again. XD

Sayumi's dress and colors reminds me of Saki of C-ute's latest outfit. Reina looks pretty much the same. She's fashionable and photogenic. Does anyone else think that Airi's light green dress and Koharu's light green sweatshirt/dress is a sign. XD Both are aces in their groups and wearing similar colors and styles. Maybe I'm overthinking. ;]

Aika looks so down to earth and looks so natural. Jun Jun still has that awkward poses and smile. She's still new and I'm liking her more. ^-^ Lin Lin has her cutie face on with a cute pose. Her colors remind me of a bumblebee. Hehe~

On with the PV:


First off, their costumes are really cool. They stand out a lot and look pretty normal for a singer's costume. I think that with these costumes or the photoshoot cloths they may actually get to appear on TV a bit more. Music Station would never let MM wear the ONSA costumes on TV. It would distract everyone. XD I remember that they use to wear normal cloths and then changed with the performance, but that was years ago I think.



I like the pairings within the song and PV. Putting Aika next to Koharu was smart. She got more exposure there from Koharu. ^-^ I was beginning to worry that Aika was being hidden from everyone since JJ and LL took her thunder. Then you see Aika again with JJ and Ai. Smart again. I really like Aika and hate to see her in the shadows.


The CG backgrounds made the song even livlier than it did with just the radio rip. It was cute how they added a "Mikan" (orange) in the background. It was nice to see so many different angles and scenes. They're on top of the world! :o Their eyes on the closeups are really cool. Nice light effect. Made them shine even more.



Their dance is really jumpy. That's the only word I can think of right now. XD It's a good song to dance to for fun. Especially for kids. Wota's may get a "kick" out of this. A lot of people are thinking that the dance is a bit cheesy, but hey think about the song and it's beat. It works. It gets the crowd going.

Of course I have to talk about the baby pictures. They made the PV more personal then just a "PV". They put a bit of themselves into it and had a fun time. I bet a lot of other fans liked it because they found out or learned something new about their fave members. Reina always had curly hair. Risa looks the same from even a child. Same with LL. Eri was too cute. Aika's smile from then was already shining. And so on.

Overall I think this is one of the best PVs in years. It's so fun and it didn't blind the fans. Everyone looked fantastic and looked like they had fun. It seems like they put a lot of thought to this PV. Who ever thought of the pictures needs a raise. :D There were a lot of angles in the PV too. Usually we get 3-4 with same background and such. It's going to be some performance in this years's Kouhaku Uta Gassen.

OH YEAH! Why didn't they tell us that Ayaka was in MM?! Jk. It's hard not to imagine Lin Lin as Ayaka.

Random stuff I thought people might be interested in knowing:
Johnny's NewS recently released an album. One of their songs was arranged by Suzuki "Daichi" Hideyuki.
C-ute is nominated for Best New Artist at Best Hit Kayousai 2007.
Heike Michiyo gave birth to her first baby on Novemeber 1st. Congrats!
>> Read the rest of this article

Is Korea ready for another girl group?

If you follow Korean music like I do, you must know that this year many new boy groups and girl groups appeared. Fierce rivalry already appeared before they even debuted and now with the year almost ended I look and see if there’s room for Korea. I would like to take the newest girl group and compare them with Morning Musume.



So Nyuh Shi Dae (Girl’s Generation)
Members: 9
Time since debut: August 2, 2007
Company: SM Entertainment
Age Range: 16-18

All 9 girls have trained separately for quite a few years. One of the members has actually trained 7 years before her debut. Almost all the members have done dramas, commercials, and modeling jobs individually. (Still are.) One member can speak Chinese and two members grew up in America and are able to speak in fluent English. Also, another member have debuted in Japan before and ironically participated in ASAYAN's "Korea Japan Ultra Idol Duo Audition". They are most likely going to get compared to this group because of the number of members.

These girls have loads of experience that I’m betting the Morning Musume girls never had done. Well, maybe the newer girls. You might say that Morning Musume will kill them instantly since they have so much history, but look at the girls. There is a language barrier. It’ll be harder to get close to the fans that love them so much there. You might also say that they aren’t competition at all. Who knows? What’s your opinion and how do you think Morning Musume will come over to Asia? What ways can they do to make them stand out. Music wise, not like events like they had recently.

This is more of 'if's' if they ever debut in Korea.


So Nyuh Shi Dae Debut MV:

Other links:
[ 1 ] [ 2 ] [ 3 ] [ 4 ]
>> Read the rest of this article

New Co-Blogger with HNPH

It gives me great pleasure to announce that HNPH is welcoming its first co-blogger -> anna. She has her own style and opinion, very much different from mine, which I think will be a breath of fresh air.
So please be kind to her, and give your best support.

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

HNPH, Lost Months - Prologue and H!P Incidents Flashback

Here's to catch up on old(er) news while I was on a break, I do feel that I need to comment on some of the happenings. Not all of them of course, life goes on, and I'm sure there are more incidents to come.



Commenter anna provided a list for me to look into. Some I know, some I didn't. These I do not know ...

- forming of duet Kira☆Pika, Kusumi Koharu and Hagiwara Mai
(^_^)b~~ Yay! Maimai!!

- Aibon's MOM going nude
(o_o;) Good Lord... please have mercy on me eyes...

- Athena & Robikerottsu, formed with Gaki-san, Mittsi, Sato and Saki
(^o^)/~~~ YAY!! Gaki-san!

- Formation of group 'Buono!', formed with Momoko, Miyabi and Airi
(^_^)/ That's great! Though it seemed like 2nd 'Aa!' with Momoko replacing Reina...

-Berryz and C-ute's recent success
(^_^)? Nice!!... but what is it? Sales? Concert attendance record?

- Melon Kinenbi's infamous PV
(o_o)? What happened...? Did they strip off their clothes?

- Tsunku Jr./NG Project
(O_O;)! WHAT?! So it was true?!

- THE Possible graduated from H!P Eggs
(^_^) Aww.... I was gettin' ready to warm up to them. Wait... they'll still be around, right?



On the negative note, the word "scandal" takes on a wider scope by now, so it will called 'Incidents' from now on. Look at what incidents we have so far ->

- Yoshizawa Hitomi's brother died in vehicular accident.
- Kago Ai discovered working intern, caught smoking again, spent the night in onsen trip with old guy... and subsequently fired.
- Hello Morning has transformed to HaroMoni, changes in concept and style.
- 2 Chinese girls accepted to Morning Musume as "exchange students"
- Tsuji Nozomi got sick and dropped out from theater, later discovered that she was actually pregnant, got married with the father of the baby. Currently on a break till baby is born. It was said that the two were introduced to each other through Yaguchi Mari, though they denied of this.
- Shortly after being appointed as Momusu leader, Fujimoto Miki discovered to be in a relationship with a comedian, and subsequently fir-... err I mean, resigned from Morning Musume. Later, rumours surfaced that Fujimoto and her guy were introduced to each other by Konno Asami in her birthday party.
- Konno Asami returns to Hello! Project to join Gatas futsal and musical group

The above stuff that ones I covered, here are some things what happened during my break.

- Iida Kaori got pregnant and married the baby's father - an acquaintance of Tsunku.
- Abe Natsumi got driver license, promoted traffic safety. but soon after ran down a motorcycle in an accident.

And of course the latest news about Goto Maki ->
- Goto Maki got sick and dropped off from concert tour and afterwards rumoured to be pregnant (after Tsuji's case, 'acute-gastroenteritis' is another word for pregnancy ^_^ ). Then her brother got caught committing crime stealing cables, then Gomaki subsequently announced her resignation. [Edited 12:11 p.m.]


Then, found more stuff from the ever-resourceful WHG. Things like:

- Ex-member of Momusu, Ishiguro Aya divorced, husband Shinya wanted to reform LUNA SEA.
- Low attendance in H!P summer concert in Saitama Super Arena
- The A-Team (Morning Musume 10th Anniversary Team), was jeered in live promos. In Oricon chart, A-Team's 2nd single lost to AKB48 by double sales.
- Gatas music group lost to PERFUME in Oricon chart.

I have no way of confirming these sightings and stats, though. Sales figures prolly retrieved from Oricon which is, of course, not really accurate.

Welp... *stretching arms and cracking knuckles*
... time to go to work!

*Commencing search-and-blog mode* (^_^)v


>> 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

Hello... long time no see.... ^_^

Hi there~~~ Long time no see....... ^_^

Sorry for no updates and for not informing. But I've been darn busy these days. Guess I should have put up a notice or something but I cannot even find the time to do that.
....... well, that's half the truth really. (^_-) Some of you guys prolly caught me hanging round da 'Tube watching vids.

I've been meaning to find time to come back and post. But work, family and my newfound marital status have caught up to me, that I barely had time to rest. Many thanks to all those who have sent me messages and emails. I'll try my best to answer them all.

Truthfully, other than the busy schedules and chores, one of the reasons that delayed my coming back is the stoppage of other blogs. Apparently this is also like a season of marriages, scandals, kaisans.... AND blogging roadblocks. I love to blog, but I love some competition also. Although I hate to admit it, Some Boys! Blog had been one of those that I consider a friendly rival. Haha! (^o^)/ I hope they come back soon, as I do myself.

Still, this break gave me excellent time to catch up with the Jpop side of things. I realised how much I've been missing, being in the H!P world most of my past few years. It feels great to get connected to my roots. In fact, in addition to coming back to HNPH and my personal blog, I have been thinking of doing a Jpop blog too! ....... Kinda crazy, but we'll see how it goes.

ALSO.... there's a new venture for me and a partner overseas coming up. So stay tuned, and please give your best support... as always. (^_^)v

Thanks for reading and checking back!



p.s.
However, I'm off to a company trip to Bangkok tomorrow night. So I'll be back after that... hehe~~~! (^_-)
Kentaro-san, I owe you TWO omiyage this time.... ^_^
>> Read the rest of this article