Hyun Young Covers "Renai Revolution 21"

This was on the news yesterday, I had first thought it was a joke. ^_^

Korean actress/singer Hyun Young (or Hyeon Yeong), currently a popular regular on Korean variety show Heroine 6, is probably best known for her movie and drama works back in 2005, most notably "My Wife is a Gangster 3". News has it that she has released her 2nd single and it is a cover of Morning Musume's year 2000 hit single Renai Revolution 21. It's called "연애혁명" but I don't know how pronounce it in Hangul, but the translator says that it meant "Love Revolution". Same thing, eh? ^_^

Extra newsbit: Hyunn Young's first single "Sister's Dream" was also cover song, of "Dragostea din tei" (the "Numa Numa" Song) by O-Zone.

This will be the first time a song from Morning Musume have been covered in Korean. Apparently, Tsunku himself was asked to check on the lyrics beforehand. This single is due to be released tomorrow on the 30th, but reportedly have received pre-orders of 30,000 copies already, not counting physical stores. Man, that's crazy!

There has been talks as to whether Hyun Young has any plans to break in to the Japanese market. Her agency SR Media & Entertainment responded that "It is still to early for that", but added "However, it is a fact that there are many preparations being done, like learning the Japanese language, in order to advance to the Japan or Asian market".

Are there similarities? I don't understand Korean, so I do not know how the lyrics are like. (Can anyone who understands Korean please help us out?) The PV is outrageous but is also funny. Lots of CGs and effects. There were some references to Hello! Project acts in terms of costume. See below:

Hyeon Yeong in two different costumes from the PV.

Hello! Project Summer Shuffle Units 3 Nin Matsuri and Odoru 11.

There is a familiar choreography in the PV at the chorus "Wow-woah Wow-woah Wow-woah Love Revolutiooonnn~~". Look closely, and you will see some 3 Nin Matsuri "Chuu Natsu Party" dance as well,..... including Tanaka Reina's trademark "pistol and a wink". ^_^


Seems like everyone wants to dance , mash and mix with Renai Revolution 21!

This is not the first time Korea has covered Japanese songs, but I find myself siding with the original because... well, mostly it's because I came into contact to the original first, and have listened to it for the n-th time in so many years. (Who doesn't? ^_^)

Make no mistake about it, Hyeon Yeong is one fine lady. I just don't see why her agency decided that she has to "copy" another musical act for releasing a single, while having the intention of breaking in the Japanese audience at the same time.

But then again I guess we could say the same back in the shuffle unit days when the guys in UFW put Abe Natsumi in a yellow one piece, a long wig, dance like a Loch Ness Monster while singing a Japanese Ondo song....... and they still think she's hot. ^_^

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

The PV


Sources:
Source from innolife.net
Images copyright of SR MEDIA & ENTERTAINMENT (Seoul) taken from
asahi.com
Source from Drama Wiki on Hyun Young
Source from Wikipedia on Hyun Young
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Niigaki Risa featured on Friday tabloid

No... not in a scandal or anything. ^_^

The Friday tabloid features upcoming photobooks frequently. Last week's issue has a Niigaki Risa 3rd solo photo album "Isshun" column on page 9. And here's how it looked like:



[ Translated inset texts coming up ]

And here are more pics:






Gaki-san is still as thin as ever but looking great. I know a lot of girls who would kill to have a figure like hers.

Also, she's been having that wavy hairdo for some time now, which makes me to wonder if that is currently the latest trend amongst youngsters in Japan.
The PB is shot in Okinawa so we may see lots of Gaki-san bikini shots, and "wet-shots". A must-have!

(Heh! I'm definitely showing the Gaki-san fanboy side of me lately. ^_^)



And finally, one observation:


As you can see, Kamei Eri had used the SAME bikini on her photobook.

Either the photographers recycle their models' clothes often, or the GAKI*KAME combination pair are so intimate that they don't mind sharing their bikinis and undies. Woohoo~~~! ^_^
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'Iron Maiden' Miki on Young Town Doyoubi

Do you tune in to Young Town Doyoubi? It's a radio show navigated by veteran comedians Akashiya Sanma and Murakami Shouji, featuring regulars Fujimoto Miki and Takahashi Ai (Ai-chan has been with the show for 4 years, while Miki 3 years). Thinking that Mikitty will not show up for this week's show because of her scandal? Think again. Mikitty showed great guts and DID show up for the show and endured long lectures from the fatherly veteran Sanma-san. AND she is not repentant at all!

But don't take my word for it. If you are interested, download the broadcast if you have an account with H!O, or read the summary .

Ah, I hear my "Download complete" alert there... Excuse me while I take a listen at the show now, will come back and write my opinion.
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Up Front Group To Be Listed Company On Stock Exchange?!

With all these scandal news flying about, it' so easy to miss out on other things that are going on in the Hello! Project world, especially the brighter news. I feel sorry for not covering Abe Natsumi's recent theater work and Viyuuden's boobs... err... I mean, their latest single. ^_^

Anyways, here's an intriguing news - word is out that Up Front Group, which Hello! Project is managed under, may be preparing to be a listed company in the stock market, as reported in the article published by Nikkan Gendai and covered by Yahoo! News.

It is stated in that same article, that up till March 2004 there were approximately 30 companies under the UFG holding company, many of which are not entertainment showbiz related. Perhaps UFG is doing a business remodelling in order to qualify itself to be listed in the stock market. By March 2006 UFG earns a gross profit of 138 hundred million yen and the company expanded its net worth to 257 hundred million yen. Recently, the company have invested heavily on the real estate sector. According to a personnel of a credit research company, it is noted that it is one of the options that a company can use to get listed.

If UFG succeeds in attaining a spot at the Tokyo Stock Exchange, it will be the 4th entertainment business related company to be listed, the others being HoriPuro, Yoshimoto Kogyo Co. Ltd and Amuse Inc..

Here comes the interesting part of the article - Assuming that UFG has set its sights to get listed, every single movement it makes will be noted. It is likely that the company may want to reduce the severity of the many recent scandalous incidents. Namely, Kago Ai smoking scandal and her termination thereafter, and Tsuji Nozomi's shotgun marriage incident.

On the 9th of this month, UFG have reportedly spent over 100 million yen to promote the company image in 3 national papers.

.

So finally I understand the mystery behind the news spread picture above. And supposing that this article means what it said, that UFG would be more interested in protecting its business interests and keep the scandals down, then I am well prepared to assume that Mikitty will escape this scandal safely. Unless of course, she says something stupid or do something crazy... like getting pregnant or something.

But somehow... I feel as if something's not right......
>> Read the rest of this article

Fujimoto Miki - Shouji Tomoharu Scandal Acknowledged by News and Their Agencies

Good morning, everyone. I am, of course, at work so I shall be brief.

Last night... well, wee hours in the morning actually... my Email-pal from Japan bought the Friday magazine from the convenience store, and took the pains to type out the full texts of the article. Would have scanned it as well, but it was late and needed shower & rest. I didn't post it then, but here it is now:

フライデー テキスト全文 25-05-2007

新緑の香りが漂い始めた５月上旬の夜。東京・恵比寿にあるオシャレな岩盤浴サロンから一組のカップルが出てきた。
ひと汗かいたばかりとあって、二人は実にサッパリとした顔をしている。
先に階段を下りてくる男性は白いシャツにジーンズ。数歩後ろを歩く女性は、グレーのジャケットにジーンズ、ハンチング帽を目深にかぶっている。
ともに帽子やメガネで顔を隠しているが、その整った顔立ちは隠しきれていない。
男性はイケメン芸人として女性にも人気が高い『品川庄司』の庄司智治（３１）、女性は『モーニング娘。』の新リーダー・ミキティこと藤本美貴（２２）である。
’９５年に結成されたお笑いコンビ『品川庄司』は、冠番組こそないものの。レギュラー出演が多く”ひな壇芸人”として確固たる地位を築いている。
鍛え上げられたスリムマッチョな肉体をテレビでたびたび披露し、立ち居地右側でツッコミを担当しているほうが庄司。所属する吉本興業の月刊誌で
毎年発表している男前ランキングでは、’０２年から連続で上位にランキングしている。

一方のミキティは、『モー娘。』第３回追加オーディションをきっかけに芸能界入り。’０２年にソロデビューし、翌年に『モー娘。』の第５代リーダーに就任し、ハロプロの屋台骨として最注目アイドルの地位を築いている。また所属事務所が作っているフットサルチームでも副キャプテンを務めるなど、活発なキャラクターも魅力の一つだ。

第一線で活躍するトップアイドルと人気お笑い芸人が、二人きりで岩盤浴デート-----心穏やかではないファンの方もいるのではないか。では、この日の二人の様子を詳しくお伝えしよう。
庄司は４ＷＤのアメ車をミキティの自宅マンション近くに路上駐車し、彼女の部屋を訪ねていた。夜９時頃、庄司の車に乗ってでかけた二人は、恵比寿にある和風ダイニングバーに入っていった。
約２時間の食事を終え、店から出てきた庄司は、一人で車に乗り込み発進してしまう。これでお別れと思いきや、車は５０ｍほど走ったところで停車。
少し送れて店を出たミキティは、携帯電話を手にして辺りをキョロキョロと見渡し、庄司の車のほうへ向かった。彼女がすばやく乗り込んだのは、助手席ではなく後部座席。店は恵比寿駅からほど近い場所にあり、人通りも多い。人目が気になって同時に助手席に乗り込むのをためらったのだろう。
そして、二人は彼女の自宅マンションへと帰って行った。
夕食も済んでこれからまったり・・・・！？と思いきや、１時間も経たないうちに二人は再び外出。車を路上駐車させると、岩盤浴サロンのしたにあるコンビニへと入っていった。
庄司はＡＴＭでお金を下ろし「先に行ってて」とばかりに、彼女に岩盤浴店の会員カードを手渡す。ミキティが先にコンビニを出ると、彼は読み物と女性ファッション誌を買い、２階に向かった。

そして深夜０時を回った頃、揃って店を後にしたのが、冒頭の場面だ。
この後、二人の乗った車は、庄司のマンションへと滑り込んで行った。
この日は、奇しくも元『モー娘。』の辻希美（１９）の”妊娠＆結婚”がスポーツしにスッパ抜かれた日。辻ちゃんのオメデタ報道のウラでミキティもしっかり”お相手”を見つけていたようだ。
ミキティが庄司の家を訪れるのはこの日が初めてではない。コンサートツアー中の４月下旬の夜には、タクシーに乗ってハンチング帽＆ジーンズ姿で庄司宅を訪れた。
翌日、今度はほとんど同じファッションにマスクまで装着して登場。さらに次の日には、鍵を片手にエントランスを慣れた様子でくぐり・・・・と、”３夜連続”の逢瀬も目撃された。近くのコンビニで、お弁当を買って庄司の部屋を訪れたり、仕事現場から直接タクシーを飛ばして来たこともあった。そうまでして、カレの元に通っているミキティ。庄司への思いの強さがうかがい知れる。
一方の庄司は、出演中のバラエティ番組『リンカーン』（ＴＢＳ系）で、理想のキスシーンを演出＆主演。相手役の女優候補として、篠原涼子や相武紗季、栗山千秋らの名前を挙げた。もちろん、その中にミキティの名前があるはずがない。が、番組の企画とはいえ、結局、有森也実とのキスシーンを実現させた庄司、
そしてミキティの心中やいかに-----。
こうなると、ミキティを独り占めしている庄司に話を聞かせてもらいたい。『ルミネ・theよしもと』に出演後、車に乗って戻った庄司に声をかけた。
----フライデーです。藤本美貴さんとの交際についておうかがいしたいのですが。
警戒してこちらをうかがっていた庄司は、本誌がミキティの名前を出した瞬間、目を見開いてフリーズ。しばらくして「あの・・・・・・事務所に聞いてください。」と絞り出すように声を発した。
----本気で交際されているんですよね？
と尋ねても、顔をこわばらせたまま無言で車に乗り込み走り去っていった。
２６日からは、松浦亜弥とのユニット『ＧＡＭ（ギャム）』のコンサートツアーが始まるミキティ。キュートで元気印な幸せスマイルを見せ続けてください！！

Very interesting read indeed. It's the same as what we saw in the scans that is probably widely circulated by now. The NewsFeed at H!O have more videos and stuff updated. So please check it out.

This morning, the many new press covered the scandal.



From Japan-Zone Entertainment News

The first reported romance for new Morning Musume leader Fujimoto Miki (22) is none other than comedian Shoji Tomoharu (31). "Mikitty" has been spotted several times spending the night at Shoji's Tokyo apartment by weekly gossip magazine "Friday", who published the photos in today's issue. Friends say they have been dating since at least last autumn.

Other Japanese press:
Sankei Sports
Tokyo Sports
Chunichi Sports
Sponichi Annex

Will Mikitty get kicked out of Morning Musume?
Will she resign from leadership and Momusu, just like Yaguchi Mari?
Is Mikitty taking from past scandal examples, because she wants to quit Morning Musume?
Again, how will UFA handle this matter?
What is it in comedians that hot girls like so much anyway?

Frankly, I agree with my buddy in Japan -> I don't think Mikitty will get into too much trouble. I'm guessing that UFA will just let the matter slide and the news to cool down, the old trick of "If we don't talk about it, we can pretend it never happened". Matsuura Aya was Friday'd once before, almost similar elements - bought stuff at the convenience store, stayed over-night, photos taken... etc. There was an uproar then, but who talks about it now?

Sure, Ayaya may have some leniency being a solo artist and all, whereas Mikitty is in Morning Musume, where such things are a big no-no. BUT if nothing severe happens to Mikitty, we can probably safely say that the way UFA handles their talents are different now. For now, we'll see if Mikitty will be put on a language course overseas or not - meaning that she will be put on some kind of hiatus, she can't be walking the streets with HaroMoni@ given the current situation, right?
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Fujimoto Miki Scandal - More News Clips

Finally, WHG server was not accessible in the day until a while ago, and here's what they found.


EDIT: This clip from Nikkan Sports.

... However, the relationship between Fujimoto and Shouji is still shallow at this time, apparently the office will see to the matter in a stern manner in order to deal with the situation of the two smoothly. The office of both parties have not given further comments...

And found more from the 2ch BBS...



AND there's an update on the H!O NewsFeed.

Is this the end of the road for Mikitty?

I'm going to bed now. When I wake up... I hope it's all a bad dream.
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H!P HNPH News - Yasuda Kei in Theater and Tsuji Gives Sugiura a Go-Ahead

Yasuda Kei Promotes Her Latest Theater Work

There were many comment given by various celebrities regarding Tsuji's case. Even Hello! Project's own Yasuda Kei. Yasuda appeared for a press conference in Osaka, promoting her latest theater work in "Youkihi no Kanbouyaku" ~ 楊貴妃の漢方薬 where a tragic life story of Yang Kwei Fei, the concubine of the last emperor of Tang Dynasty in China. The play will be performed in HEP HALL in Osaka until the 29th this month. When asked, Yasuda commented about Tsuji, by saying that she didn't think Tsuji would surpass her (by getting married). Furthermore adding that although Tsuji have to apologise for the trouble caused in her work, Yasuda hopes that everyone, as previously said by Tsuji herself, to "watch over Tsuji warmly".



Tsuji Nozomi Gives Permission to Sugiura Taiyou to be Gay!

Don't be scared, I'll explain. ^_^

Tsuji Nozomi have recently appeared on the news again. Tsuji's husband (Gah... I can't believe I've just typed 'HUSBAND' there T^T ) Sugiura Taiyou attended the private screening of the movie "Academy" that he also a part of. This movie is a production directed by Gavin Young. In short, it tells the story of trials and tribulations of a few aspiring dancers when joining AAA (that's "Australia Art Academy", not the other AAA ^_^). The movie will open in theaters on 2nd of June. Here's the interesting part - Sugiura plays the part of a gay student falling in love with a fellow male classmate. Tsuji's comment as quoted by Sugiura -> "Since it's a guy, it's OK. I'll allow it.". Sugiura added that everyone should catch the movie and see the "boy's lifestyle" as presented in the movie.

Oh, another thing.... Leah Dizon, who guest stars in the movie was also at the event, and she presented Sugiura a bouquet, which he accepted with smiles. Maybe being gay is OK, but THAT's a No-No!

Endnote: I almost mistyped the post title... Use your dirtiest imagination and you will know what I mean. ^_^
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