I'm afraid I got rather screen cap happy for this, but it was hard not to. I probably won't have another entry this image heavy until the next countdown.
What better way to start the year than with the annual Johnny's Countdown where you can see just about every Johnny's debuted artist perform together on the same stage. I know it makes this fangirl happy to see them all together. The only Johnny's artists you won't see performing for this special concert are , SMAP, and anyone under the age of 18 as it is against Japanese law for those under 18 years of age to work after midnight. And as the Countdown is to celebrate the New Year and goes at least a good hour after midnight that usually counts the under 18 Johnny's talents out. But it just may be for the best as with all Johnny's groups that do perform at the Countdown it is a rather full stage that is bound to get even more crowded as Hey! Say! JUMP members grow up and new groups are debuted.
This year the Countdown is MCed by Arashi, who have had a great year in 2007. The other groups participating were News, Tokio, V6, Tackey & Tsubasa, KAT-TUN, Kanjani8 and Kinki Kids.
As I mentioned before those under 18 can't perform at the Countdown, which is all the members of Hey! Say! JUMP. But they weren't completely left out of the Countdown as they got to watch it from the crowd and got an introduction as well as had clips from an earlier performance of their debut single 'Ultra Music Power' and their debut concert from December 22nd. I'm really looking forward to the next Countdown as four of the ten Hey! Say! JUMP members, Yabu, Takaki, Inoo and Yaotome, will be 18 and will be able to participate on stage with the other debuted groups.
There do seem to be more Juniors that are 18 and over this year. I've only seen the 2003-2004 Countdown before this one and it had more female back dancers and very few Juniors participating. The female back dancers don't show up much for this Countdown, though they are there, which is just weird to see as I'm so used to the Juniors being the only back dancers to the Johnny's concerts. And I was able to recognize some of the Kis-My-Ft2 members as well as Yamashita Shoon. I was very glad to see Shoon as with Hey! Say! JUMP's debut he is my favorite Junior. I think he was only second to Ikuta Toma for Junior with the most screen time for the broadcast. I really hope it bodes well and he will remain active with Johnny's this year even though he's currently without a group.
And while I'm fangirling over my favorites, Tegoshi and Shigeaki from News were so much love. Tegoshi sounded great throughout the whole concert and he was definitely one of the more energetic member of News for this. And Shigeaki really doesn't have to do much for me to love him. He just looked great though I wish he interacted with everyone a bit more, but he's always come off as being rather reserved so I wasn't too surprised he didn't. Junnosuke from KAT-TUN though was the usual ball of energy he is. I miss the blinding blond hair but I like the light brown hair he has now too.
And now that I'm done with that fangirling I will be moving on. One thing that really stood out for me while watching the Countdown is that it really was the older groups that seemed to shine as they looked like they were having the most fun and were the most playful. Especially Nagase from Tokio and Koichi from Kinki Kids.
Nagase also seems to like sharing the love as he gave Koichi a New Year's kiss and had a tendency to get up close to whoever he was singing with. My fangirl mind, which is in no way in touch with reality, can't help but think Tegoshi might have wanted him to give him some love too which is why he was calling for his 'Makki' with such a distraught face. XD
Of course the younger groups had fun moments too, like Arashi and News singing together. As well as Jun from Arashi, acting so goofily happy when he was singing with Kamenashi from KAT-TUN. I found Yu from Kanjani8 cute too. And of course what's a KAT-TUN performance without them bringing on the sexy looks. Plus Ikuta Toma actually got to sing. I wonder if Johnny's will have him sing more in 2008 and maybe actually show up on Shounen Club again.
And I'm always amazed to see so many of the Johnny's acts together on stage. I swear one day I'm going to have to make it to a Countdown concert so I be amazed in person at them all. Though I have a feeling I won't be able to afford to do so until Ryutarou from Hey! Say! JUMP can perform in it. XD;;
I had to laugh when they brought out the dragon for those born in the year of the Rat. Because I instantly recognized it as the one from the Hey! Say! JUMP concert. Jun was in charge of talking to each of the guys on the dragon to talk about their New Year's wish and he was so hyper about it.
Then like all good things the 2007-2008 Countdown came to a close with each group giving their New Year's wishes and final acts of silliness. Had to wonder if Tackey & Tsubasa needed a room or something as Tsubasa was glued to Tackey's side. XD Right before the sponsor names start popping up we get Ohno sporting some 'stylish' 2008 glasses. XD
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