Saturday, December 31, 2016

Good-bye SMAP

At this time SMAP is officially no more. I really do not know how to feel about this. I was never more than a casual fan of the group but there is still a pain in my heart from knowing their time as a group has come to an end. Perhaps if things ended on a better note it would be easier to take. Or at least I would have less uneasy feelings about it. But at least I got to see the love the fans have for the group as they tried to find a way to say good-bye to them.

There is a certain amount of pride I cannot help but feel knowing that their best selling single, Sekai ni Hitotsu dake no Hana, has reached a new milestone as it crossed the 3 million units sold mark in this year. And it was thanks to the fans of the group that have doing everything they can to keep the single in the Oricon rankings as well as trying to reach that goal. It was truly amazing to see that happen in this past year.

It just seems like quite the shame the group could not at least perform in concert one final time as a farewell to those dedicated fans. Or at least a final performance on one of the usual year end shows they had been on. But their final performance on the final episode of SMAP X SMAP was a nice enough finish though it still feels like they went out on a whimper instead of the bang I am sure many fans were hoping for.

As for me, I still feel like I am in shock at the very idea and SMAP is no more. They always seemed to be there and trying to think of a future without them feels off. Even watching the end of year programs this year felt a bit emptier without them. In time I may get used to it but I doubt I will stop missing them anytime soon. And I just consider myself a casual fan, so I cannot imagine what the more hardcore SMAP fans must be feeling.

No matter how it ended SMAP left their mark on the Japanese entertainment industry. They have left plenty of memories as a group from their programs and their music that are not going to be forgotten anytime soon. For me, Kono Toki, Kitto Yume Jyanai to this day remains my favorite SMAP song and I still listen to it frequently. It is one of those songs that I get strength from and I will always be grateful to SMAP for it.

I wish success for the members as they continue on with their solo careers and hope that they continue to bring the smiles and joy to people as they did as a group.

So thank you SMAP, for everything.


April 2016 Marvel Collector Corps unboxing

Unboxing the Civil War themed box from Funko's Marvel Collector Corps.


Monday, December 26, 2016

NEWS' EMMA

Since I have some free time with the holiday weekend I am going to try to catch up on things. On the top of the list is of course NEWS. They still remain my favorite Johnny's group and thankfully they are already set to release a new single in the coming year.

The single will be titled EMMA and will be released on February 8th, 2017. It will be the theme song for the Fuji TV drama series Kirawareru Yuki, which Kato Shigeaki will be appearing in. There will be three editions, two limited and the usual regular edition.

The limited edition A will come with the title track, the B-side Snow Dance and a DVD with the music video and making of feature.


The limited edition B will have the same two tracks as the LE A as well as Sakura Girl and I ZA NA I ZU KI.


The regular edition will have the title track, Snow Dance and a still untitled song included as well as the karaoke versions of all three songs.


CDJapan is selling all three versions as a bundle set. If you pre-order the single that way you will be insured that you will get the first press bonus that will come with each copy of the single, a clear folder. There are three different types that each come with a version of the single.



I pre-ordered my copies the moment I learned about the single, and even ordered my first piece of Yuri!!! on Ice merchandise while in the process. I am basically broke until I get paid next but I never want to risk not being able to get the limited editions of a NEWS single if I can help it.

Honestly I am really excited about the re-release of songs if they are indeed re-recorded. Though honestly it would be so awkward if they were not, but Johnny's is cheap so I will keep some reservations until I find reliable information to confirm if they are re-recordings.

But honestly re-recordings feel long overdue for NEWS. They have such a big back catalog of songs from the pre-4nin days and it is not like the current group has avoided performing those songs. And of course there is going to be differences with only four members to have lines. Especially a song like I NA KA I ZU KI which came out in NEWS' 8nin days. And Sakura Girl has special meaning for the group as it was revealed by Tegoshi Yuya that his father, who passed away in 2015, had told him that was his favorite song. So I see it being one that continues to be performed at concerts for some time to come.

Without the potential of re-recorded songs though I would be looking forward to this release as I am always happy for a new NEWS release. And I am glad to have something to look forward to already in 2017, outside of it no longer being 2016.

Wednesday, December 14, 2016

Busaiku lives!

It has been announced that the Kis-My-Ft2 sub-unit Busaiku will be releasing their fourth single on January 4th, 2017. The single features the title track Michishirube, which the four members of the sub-unit wrote themselves.

The limited Type A comes with a DVD with the PV for the song as well as a making of documentary.


The limited Type B also comes with a DVD with a Busaiku documentary.


The regular edition is just a CD, but comes with a bonus track, which is a remix of the title song.



Honestly I have been a bit worried about Kisumai for a while now. This year was the 5th anniversary of their debut and yet nothing was really done for it. Though that in itself is not overly worrying as other groups have not really celebrated that anniversary, such as Kanjani8 and Hey! Say! JUMP. But coupled with the slow down with releases from the usual schedule I am stuck wondering what Johnny's plans for the future of the group.

While this is not the Kisumai release that I really am hoping for I am still quite happy to see that Busaiku is continuing on. It really is a good platform for the members of the unit to promote themselves, even if it is in a comedic light. And honestly considering what has been going on with the agency I thought with the scrapped album for the group it was going to be ended. So I am pleasantly surprised to see that it has not after all.

Sunday, December 11, 2016

Catching up with Taguchi Junnosuke

Taguchi Junnosuke has been my favorite KAT-TUN member since I learned about the group. While his departure from them and the Johnny's & Associates agency earlier this year was heart breaking he was the main reason I still had an interest in the group. Not that I dislike the group or its members, but Junno was the only one that kept my attention over the years. So I was happy to have him resurface later with his own website and then the announcement of a solo CD release.

HERO / Junnosuke Taguchi  HERO / Junnosuke Taguchi  HERO / Junnosuke Taguchi

Even before Junno announced leaving KAT-TUN I wondered what he would do if he left. Mostly because it always felt that he may eventually get fed up about hiding his relationship to his longtime girlfriend and want to marry. I always assumed something related to dance, as that is one of his strengths. This solo career is not too far off from that guess. It makes sense as this is what he has been doing since his teenage years and he did not continue his education so he does not have that to fall back on. I doubt he plans to have major success but as long as it profitable for him it makes sense for him to continue with it.

I have gotten the Type A limited edition of the single, Hero, so far and enjoy it. It is clear that he is lacking the kind of backing he got with Johnny's but I enjoy the songs and plan on picking up the other editions, as each one has a bonus B-side unique to it. And I am a complete sucker for getting bonus tracks.

On another note, I can understand KAT-TUN fans still feeling angry at his departure. While it seemed like he was trying hard to leave on the best terms possible (waiting for his contract to end, talking with group members beforehand and announcing it ahead of time so the group could fulfill their obligations) it still has placed the group's future into doubt. The very fact they are currently in an indefinite hiatus is constant proof of that. Hopefully there will be some resolution to that in the near future as it can only make fans worry when the silence continues. Something that as a NEWS fan I know too well. I can only hope KAT-TUN fans have a similar happy ending waiting for them.

But I remain a Junno fan and I am interested in seeing what he does now that he is on his own.

Friday, December 2, 2016

Catching up with Chu-Z

In the months of inactivity on my end Chu-Z has had a couple of things happen that are worth noting, even if belatedly.


First they have announced the addition of two new members to the group, bringing the size of the group up to seven. The new members are MAYU (with the black hair piece) and Honomi (with the white hair piece).

They have also recently released a new single. The single is title Mada Kimi ga Suki de and has three editions. Each edition has the same three song tracks, the title song and two B-sides, MEOW! and Keep Me Out of Heaven. The single came out on November 23rd.

The Type A limited edition comes with a DVD that has the PV for the title song as well as a back stage documentary.



The Type B limited edition also comes with a DVD but has different contents on it. It has performances from a concert the group did at Akasaka BLITZ.



Then the regular edition is just the CD with a different cover than the over two and of course cheaper.



I have unfortunately fallen quite behind with following just about all J-pop acts so I still need to pick up the new single. I definitely will as Chu-Z has yet to disappoint me and I want to see and hear the group with the new members.

Saturday, November 26, 2016

What I'm Watching ... Fall 2016 anime

Been thinking about doing a post like this for months honestly but kept delaying it, mostly not happy with the timing. But I am done with making excuses not to and will go ahead and do a brief list of series I am watching this season and a couple of thoughts about them.

Yuri!!! on Ice
If you follow me on twitter you know I am watching this series, Yuri!!! on Ice. I love this series and I know I will be going back to rewatch it time and time again like my other all time favorites. The story telling is top notch, the characters so genuine and the art can be simply breathtaking. Every time Yuuri does one of his programs I find myself getting completely absorbed in it as each time something new is brought out. Also I love that the relationship between Yuuri and Viktor feels so natural as it is progressing and does not feel like fujoshi-bait but simply a deepening relationship between two people that both happen to be male.

This series is easily my favorite of the season.

As a Uta no Prince-sama fan there was no way I would not watch this latest season of the anime series. The new series director they got for this season has been doing a great job of showcasing the characters despite who massive the cast has gotten.

That said it definitely feels like this season is about refreshing things by going over back stories to give them some progression for STARISH and having QUARTET NIGHT actually show how they function as a unit. Not to mention give a brief introduction for the members of HEAVEN. This is easily one of the strongest seasons for the series and worth checking out.

Kiss Him, Not Me was not a series I thought I would like from the series set up summary. I still think the set up for the series is iffy but the rest of the series is so charming I am willing to overlook it.

With the main character being a fujoshi there is plenty that I can relate to, except for having a reverse harem. But as a romantic comedy it is quite fun and all the characters get a decent amount of development. It also handles tropes rather well so a few that tend to be cringe worthy in other shoujo series are easier to handle.

Touken Ranbu - Hanamaru is my fluff series for the season. Which means I tend to fall behind with it until I just need to watch something that I can turn my brain off while watching. The series is basically cute guys doing cute things with some sword battles thrown in every once in a while. So a nice eye candy series. Also it helps clue me in a bit to one of Kiss Him, Not Me's jokes as this series is spoofed a bit in that.

Usually a series like Magical Girl Raising Project is not my cup of tea but I am glad I decided to give the series a chance. I like the designs and the characters and while death matches are not the usual plots that interest me there is enough on with what I do like about the series.

It also helps that there does seem to be a larger mystery going on and some nice twists that keep it from feeling stale. Even though I know there are a couple of character deaths that are bound to be upsetting I still want to keep watching to the end to figure out what is going on and who all will end up surviving.

Another series that I decided to try even though it is out of my usual interest is Girlish Number. It has an interesting outlook of the anime industry as it has a jaded tinge to it all. In fact the main character may be aiming to become a top voice actress but she hardly is the "give it your all" type. Of course it is still a romanticized version of the industry, it just left the rose colored glasses off.


My standards for short form (the 3-15 minute episode series) shows are rather low, which is basically a good part of why I am still watching Gakuen Handsome. I do like the tongue and cheek humor it has spoofing BL anime and the novelty of trying to get over the fact someone thought a show with such "quality" animation should exist.

The only reason I am continuing with Kiitaru's yokai picture dairy is because the episodes are so short. It is a pity as I liked the first episode and there are a couple others that I like but others just fall flat for me. Or basically when it focuses on being cute I enjoy it but when it strays from that I do not care for it.


There are a few series I still plan on watching eventually from this season: Flip Flappers, Izetta: The Last Witch and Magic-Kyun! Renaissance. But I have not had the time to start them and they may join the massive list of series I need to watch at some point.

Wednesday, November 9, 2016

On the election results (09NOV2016)

I can now say I know what having my heart completely broken feels like. As 47% of American voters just broke mine.

After a day of travel I could not stay awake to hear the election results so I went to sleep last night praying for the best. When I awoke to the news this morning I wished I had remained sleeping. Or perhaps I was still asleep and this would be revealed to be a nightmare.

Since then I have cried, felt paralyzed with fear, fruitlessly worried, felt rage well up and various other emotions of fear and loathing. But throughout that roller-coaster of emotions a tiny spark of hope found a way to be born and even grow. Until it won out over all the rest. As that is what hope does. It wins.

This is far from the end. The future is more uncertain and unknown than what we humans would like to believe. This may be a dark day but it is not the final day. Light can and will shine again even though the darkness will return as well. But those dark days can be outnumbered if we work together to bring back the light and make this just a bump in the road.

While some may look to 2020 to do so, I will argue that 2018 is just as important. The 2018 elections for the House and Congress can help put the brakes on things at least if the Democrats can take control of them. It may not stop all the damage but it can at least minimize it for two years. Then in 2020 the focus can shift to stopping a re-election.  

I can only hope the Democrats can find a stronger candidate. Though depending on how the future unfolds it may not be that hard.

And even before all of that there is plenty that can be done. As much as others will wish otherwise we cannot be silenced. We can still point out injustice when it occurs and stand up for it. We can still love and accept each other despite differences in gender, race, religious views, backgrounds and even political beliefs. We can protest unjust laws and in the words of Senator John Lewis make "good trouble."

Of course it will not be easy. Doing the right thing is sometimes the hardest thing to do. Especially when the results are not immediate. But stubbornness can be a virtue at times, and history is made by the persistent.

Personally I am usually one to avoid conflict. My anxiety disorder has helped give me plenty of practice with that. But I fear my silence on expressing my personal beliefs is doing more harm than good. So I am vowing to speak up more and to stand openly on my beliefs. I no longer want to be seen as complacent in the face of injustice and want to give what strength I have to the other voices fighting against it.

I am proudly a feminist that wants to see equality for all genders. I have suffered with anxiety and at times depression that came with suicidal thoughts. Since I was able to reach out and get the help I needed to deal with those I want to support others suffering from mental health issues, to let them know there is help. As a veteran of the U.S. Army I want to help my fellow vets by helping the general public know that they are actual people that gain more for being seen as such and not hoisted onto nationalistic pedestals. And I want to be a better ally to minorities by being more supportive of the causes they are fighting for. As it is my firm belief that everyone deserves the right to dignity and respect.

I love this country that I call home. As far from perfect it is I still believe in it. While this election reminded us of how ugly it can get it did not erase how great it can be. We were able to catch glimpses of that with President Obama and this set back does not have to derail it all. Not as long as there are people willing to stand up and do the right thing.

As the saying goes "What doesn't kill you only makes you stronger." And since I am still breathing, stronger is what I am going to be.

Wednesday, October 19, 2016

17DEC2015 CDJapan

Sorry for the sudden and unexpected hiatus. I want to start working towards catching up again starting with my final unboxing video for 2015, which is Uta no Prince-sama full. 


Friday, September 9, 2016

Kis-My-Ft2 - Kis-My-World RE/LE A/LE B album

Limited Edition A
Artist: Kis-My-Ft2
Title: Kis-My-World
Release date: 01 July 2015
Type: album
Version: RE, LE A & LE B

Limited Edition B
Packaging: The limited editions both sport a similar style with their packaging but still keep things different.

The regular edition changes things up with more standard packaging. It is a digipak and not the usual jewel case. It has a clear slip cover to help keep the digipak closed as it simply folds out with one panel having the CD, one holding the booklet and the other has artwork on it similar to what is on the covers of the limited editions. The booklet has the lyrics in the front half while the back half has individual shots of each member of the group.

Track Listing:

1. “4th” overture
The past overtures at the start of Kisumai’s albums have been instrumentals so this one changes things up by having a narration to it. It is narrated in English by what sounds like a native English speaker and honestly is a bit hokey. It basically talks about the lack of love in the world and how Kisumai hopes to change that by making people feel good with their music so hopefully they will spread the joy in their lives. Either way the music in this ends as a nice segue to the promotional track for the album.

2. Brand New World

3. Kiss Damashii

4. Another Future

5. FOLLOW

6. Kimi ni Aeru kara

7. if

8. Wanderful (Fujigaya Taisuke & Yokoo Wataru duet)

9. BE LOVE(Tamamori Yuta & Miyata Toshiya duet)

10. Double Up (Nikaido Takashi & Senga Kento duet)

11. Akashi (Fujigaya Taisuke & Kitayama Hiromitsu duet)

12. Shake Body!!

13. Perfect World

14. Thank You Jyan!

15. KISS & PEACE

16. Dokidoki de YEEEAAAHHH!!(RE only)

17. Halley (RE only)

Disc 2 (LE 1)

Disc 2 (LE 2)

Overall:

Friday, September 2, 2016

Maji Love Revolutions - STARISH CD review

Title: Maji Love Revolutions
Artists: STARISH
Release date: 8 April 2015
Version: n/a

Packaging:

I like who dynamic the cover looks with at least half of the guys defying gravity and in freefall. Everyone looks great and are easily visible so it does not give the feeling of anyone getting shafted. And I like the touch of having each letter of STARISH’s name be in the color of the matching group member.

Inside the foldout jacket are the lyrics for the two songs on the single. What I really like about it is that each line is noted on who sings it so it is easy to figure out solo, duo and trio lines.

The back CD jacket reuses the artwork from the cover but rearranges the guys to form an oval around the track listing and the usual label writing. Usually I do not care for reused art but at least they did something different with it and it works out rather well.

Track listing:

1. マジLOVEレボリューションズ (Maji Love Revolutions)
Like the previous OP theme for the Utapri anime series, Maji Love 2000%, Revolutions incorporates bits of the two other theme songs. So if it sounds familiar to them it is meant to.

2. サンキュ (Thank You)

3. マジLOVEレボリューションズ (Maji Love Revolutions) (instrumental)

4. サンキュ (Thank You) (instrumental)

Overall:

Monday, August 29, 2016

Morning Musume '15 - Oh my wish! / Sukatto My Heart / Imasugu Tobikomu Yuki RE single

Artist: Morning Musume '15
Title: Oh my wish! / Sukatto My Heart / Imasugu Tobikomu Yuki
Release date:  19 August 2015
Type: single
Version: RE


Packaging: Like most Hello! Project regular editions the packaging is rather basic. A thin jewel case with a front jacket/booklet but nothing for the back but a view of the CD itself. I picked this version of the regular edition as I liked the outfits they are wearing and knew I would be happy with whatever card I would get with it as a first press bonus.

As far as covers go this is not bad. A bit bland with the girls just standing or sitting as they stare into the camera but honestly with a group as big as Morning Musume '15 is this works well in getting all the members on the cover. I do like Oda Sakura's pose, as it seems a bit dynamic compared with most of the others.

Track Listing:

1. Oh my wish!
Now this feels like a step towards a new start for the group. The usual leads are changed up a bit with this song though the style is in line with recent previous singles. This is the usual EDM-pop sound the group has been using for their releases and outside of the vocal change ups there is not too much that stands out. There are a few spoken lines in the middle though that is an exception to this and it seems to work as a break in the song with sounding too out of place.

2. Sukatto My Heart
I absolutely love this song. It is a nice break away from the sound the group has had for the past few years and is the kind of energetic song that I just adore. It has nice catchy hooks and I love the use of brass instruments in it, as they give it a bit of a jazzy sound to it. It has that little bit of edge sprinkled in that I adore and it is easily one of my favorite songs from the group in recent years.

3. Imasugu Tobikomu Yuki
A slightly slower song than the other two but not exactly a slow song. The chorus takes things up a notch as the rest of the song moves at a slower pace. I do like the violin break near the middle of the song and it makes me wish there was more of it and other traditional instruments used in the song. I think this song would sound wonderful if the electronic beats were replaced with them.

4. Oh my wish! (Instrumental)
5. Sukatto My Heart (Instrumental)
6. Imasugu Tobikomu Yuki (Instrumental)


Overall:
This was the single I was waiting for when the 12th Gen were announced and comes as a breath of fresh air. Even though the group is still mostly staying in the same lane it has been in there is finally some signs of them branching out and honestly those are the true gems on this single.

One of the things I loved about Morning Musume as I was getting into the group was the change in sound through the years and I have been looking forward to where it was going to move to next. I feel like I got a small sample of it with this single and hope that the next couple of releases will not let me down.

Saturday, August 20, 2016

Uta no Prince-sama Best Guys

Since I did this for Love Live it only felt right to do this for the idol game that started it all for me.

 My best guy for STARISH is Aijima Cecil. He is such a precious child and I love how he seems to exist on a completely different level than the rest of the group. Which should be no surprise as he starts out being cursed to be stuck in the form of a cat. And he's also an actual prince. But I love his whimsical attitude and the way he plays off the other members of the group.

I have no clear second favorite of the group. Instead it rotates between Shinomiya Natsuki, Ichinose Tokiya and Ittoki Otoya.

For Quartet Night Kurosaki Ranmaru is the top of my list. I admit originally just the fact that he had a rock sound attached to his songs was what interested me at first but his back story and character won me over completely. And I love that despite having a prickly demure he can still get flustered at times and seems to be still be trusting.

I really have no other from the group that I like more than the rest. Kotobuki Reiji comes the closest but he's a distant second at best.

I am looking forward to the next season of the anime series to be properly introduced to STARISH's rival group HEAVENS and see if I end up with a favorite from them.

Thursday, August 18, 2016

Buono! Returns!

Long before I got into Hello! Project I was already a Buono! fan. The group had the right pop-rock mix to their songs that I loved and while I did not get into any other H!P groups at first now that I have I appreciate the group even more.

Buono! Buono!

After Berryz Kobo announced their indefinite hiatus the fate of the group was up in the air with two of the members belonging to that group. But it was announced that the group would make something of a come back this year with a concert at Nippon Budokan on August 25th.


On September 21st they will release a DVD single that will be a double A-side. The two songs that will be included are Sorashido ~Nene~ and Rock no Seichi. The latter is an answer song to the group's song Rock no Kami-sama.



I am of course beyond excited about this news. I really was not sure what the future for Buono! was even though I hoped they would at least perform again at some point as all the members of the group are still at least with Up-Front. Of course a new release was not something I was expecting but I am so stoked for it. I already love the first track, Sorashido -Nene- from what I have heard of it.

I just hope that we will not have to wait so long for another music release for the group. Yet I know I will wait for however long it takes for it.

Sunday, August 14, 2016

Utada Hikaru's Fantome

Utada Hikaru is back and I could not be any happier. She was the first J-pop artist I fell in love with and I still love her music to this day. So I cannot wait to have her upcoming album, Fantome, as a part of my collection to listen to. Until then I will have to settle with taking in all the information I can about the release. Thankfully there is finally an album title and track listing to go with the September 28th release date.


1.  道 (Michi)
2.  俺の彼女 (Ore no Kanojo)
3.  花束を君に (Hanataba wo Kimi ni)
4.  二時間だけのバカンス (Nijikan dake no Vacation)
5.  人魚 (Ningyo)
6.  ともだち (Tomodachi)
7.  真夏の通り雨 (Manatsu no Tooriame)
8.  荒野の狼 (Kouya no Ookami)
9.  忘却 (Boukyaku)
10.  人生最高の日 (Jinsei Saikou no Hi)
11.  桜流し (Sakura Nagashi)


The album is said to reflect her thoughts and emotions with her grief over losing her mother as well as becoming a mother herself. Because of this I have the expectation that this will be one of her most personal and emotional albums yet.

While the album is not naturally a favorite of mine I can see why it was chosen as it has that ethereal look to it that fits the title of the album, which is the French word for "phantom". That and Hikki tends to go simple with her album covers so it hardly breaks away from that.

A selfish part of me wishes that the track listing was longer but in the end I am certain I will be happy with what was included. Especially if there is another song that I love as much as Sakura Nagashi on the album.

I am definitely ordering a physical copy of the album but will most likely buy the digital version as well. With my finances still being on the tight side of things I will have to order it with other CDs I want to pre-order so I am not sure when I will end up having the physical CD. So the moment it is up on the US iTunes store I am buying it. Hikki is one the artists I listen to that I will gladly double dip for with a release no matter what.


Fantome / Utada Hikaru
Utada Hikaru

Saturday, August 13, 2016

SMAP to disband

Realistically I knew it had to happen some day, and with the scare earlier in the year the news should not be a surprise, but it still is. SMAP just feels like they have always been around and will remain so. But they have in the end been yet another loss 2016 is bearing.

Since the members are staying with Johnny's to continue on as individual talents there does not seem like there will be much change. They do not do much as a group these days but it will be hard not to see them as SMAP. It is a brand they have built for themselves that has lasted through thick and thin before and it will be difficult to break away from.

Overall I still feel a bit shocked that this is actually happening. I am glad that there is proper forewarning as the group does not actually disband until December 31st, 2016. And the fact they decided that if they were to stop activities it was best to just disband than go on hiatus. I agree with that sentiment as a disbandment is a definite thing and some ways easier to deal with than a hiatus that leaves fans in a limbo on whether or not they should keep their hopes up of a return or worry that the hiatus will just end up in disbandment. I just hope the group is given a proper send off and not let to just suddenly end.

While I was never a big fan of the group I did like them and admired them which is probably why this is hitting me hard. It will be strange to go into 2017 without SMAP. Though it will be interesting to see how this is going to affect Johnny's & Associates and if this is just the start of the older groups from the agency deciding to call it quits.

Tuesday, August 9, 2016

Wading through the tomato sea: LLSIF tiering

About a couple of days after the latest Love Live School Idol Festival event began I decided that I was going to tier for it. Of course trying for T1 is above what I feel I can accomplish and honestly being in T2 is just as good for me as I mainly want the second copy to idolize the card.

I still do not feel quite recovered but at least I can say that I was successful. And I even managed to get some sleep that night. But my arms feel tired from the constant grinding for several nights in a row and I am quite happy to not have to worry about letting LP go to waste.
Tiering was not the only goal I succeeded in as I finally was able to completely clear all the event point prizes for the first time. It was a big help to get those loveca from the prizes as I ended up not having to get into the loveca I am trying to save up to scout for the dancer set.

I am quite happy to have this Umi honestly. She may not be a favorite character but I much prefer her idolized version over her non-idolized version. And one of my favorite sets is the dancer set and her outfit here is the same theme and looks just as lovely.

But Maki is the true prize and I love this card so much. Both versions of it, and with 4.0 I can enjoy both with this whenever I want. I still end up smiling just thinking about having this card and all teh soreness and tiredness feels worth it.

The only events I want to even think about tiering that I know are coming up are the Rin token event and the first two challenge fests that of course feature Maki and Rin. Other than that I want to take it easy with tiers outside of making sure to get into T3 for the ones like the upcoming Chika/Riko token event so I can at least get one copy of each event card.

Sunday, August 7, 2016

Country Girls lose their Dancing Queen

It has been announced that Inaba Manaka has graduated from Country Girls. She has been on hiatus since April because of issues with asthma and has come to the decision that she will not be able to recover to return to the group. She does still want to find a way to continue working as an idol and will at least be staying with Hello! Project to figure out how to do that.

Official announcement (Japanese)



It is heartbreaking to hear that another member of Country Girls will be leaving the group. Manaka always had an air about her that she loved being an idol so this had to have been a hard decision for her to make. At least there is some hope with the fact that she is working to find a way to continue on post-CG. So hopefully that means she will not be disappearing and we will see her at least once and a while in relation to the rest of H!P and UFP.

I am certain if she could she would have had some kind of formal graduation from the group. But from the sounds of it her health just is not with her at the moment. I hope she gets better soon and finds a reliable way to deal with her asthma so she can get back to doing what she loves.

That all said I am so grateful that she was a part of Country Girls. I do not follow the H!P trainees so everyone, outside of Tsugunaga Momoko of course, was a fresh face to me. Despite being one of the older members Manaka looked adorable. Following the group I got to see her love for being an idol shine through as well as her talent in dancing. She will definitely be missed and I am certain I will be still looking for her in the group for a while even though I know she is gone.

I wish her the best of luck in her recovery and forging the new path she has decided to take.

Thursday, August 4, 2016

Love Live Best Girls

μ BEST GIRLS

Nishikino Maki
When I got into the series it was through the game so I knew nothing about the girls when I started. So I decided to just go with the character that had the same blood type as me, seeing as it is not very common. It worked out better than I had hoped as Maki was the only one with AB blood type and was the character I completely fell in love with.

I have a soft spot for characters that care much more than they show and I loved the fact that she was the composer of the group. And the gap of her being so super serious and refusing to believe in things that have no scientific basis yet still believing in Santa Claus at her age is adorable. 


Hoshizora Rin
Honestly I did not pay much attention to Rin until watching the second season of the anime. But that was basically all the characters outside of Maki. In the second season though Rin got her chance to shine as it delved deeper into her character and her hang up about not seeing herself who can be feminine. And it is something I can relate to. I may not be sporty like Rin but growing up I was interested in things that would be considered boyish and was always more comfortable in jeans and a T-shirt than anything "girly". So I found myself easily identifying with Rin and enjoyed seeing her accept her want to be seen as cute without having to give up who she is.

It also helps that Rin is just an adorable bundle of energy, which may be a complete contrast with how I am but that does not stop her her from being cute. Also I love cats, so she has that going for her as well.


AQOURS BEST GIRLS

Ohara Mari
Again there was the initial draw to Mari as being the AB of her group like it was with Maki. But the characters quickly began to show differences once you looked at personalities. I also liked the idea that she is a heavy metal fan as I would love to see her rocking out to something like Babymetal.

Finally seeing her in the anime though I know she has completely won my heart and will be my Aqours best girl. In the first episode she is featured in you can see that she has layers, a fun and seemingly whimsical personality with a hidden depth to it that you see a glimpse of when she is watching Aqours perform for the first time. Every time she is on screen my eyes are drawn to her as I wait to see and learn more about her.



I have yet to settle on another girl like I have with Mari for Aqours. I like Sakurauchi Riko, Matsuura Kanaan and Kunikida Hanamaru quite a bit so far but the ranking of those three keep changing for me and Kurosawa Dia pops into the mix every now and then. Perhaps by the end of the first season I will have a better idea, until then I just love them all.

Wednesday, August 3, 2016

Photokatsu - A picture worth a thousand words of cute

As I mentioned in an earlier post I have picked up playing Photo Katsu, the mobile game for the Ai Katsu series. I honestly have seen nothing of the anime series for this franchise and decided to give the game a try because it was cute and another idol rhythm game.


This is actually my second try at the game. The first time I just could not get into it, but I am glad I gave it another shot. It felt easier to get into this time around and I got to make it to my first 10+1 scout that gave me what looks to be a lucky draw as I managed to get a PR (Premium Rare), which is the highest card level in the game.


Since then I managed to do another scout and got luckier still with getting two PRs. That said my poor Cute team is languishing behind the other attribute teams as while I only have PRs for Pop and Cool my Sexy team at least has a couple of SRs.


Having the game play be rather different than the other rhythm games I play is something I actually enjoy. Figuring out the system and what all I can do helps keep me engaged and I feel so happy when I figure something out or discover something new.


The art style is on the simple side but thanks to that the quality of the cards is steady so it is hard to come across a card that is aesthetically unpleasant. In fact the PRs tend to be on the beautiful side of things and already I am in love with some of the few I have seen.


Overall this game is just cute which of course is one of my major weaknesses. And it is a game that I do not feel pressured into playing constantly. Sure doing well in the events would be nice but I do not feel too heartbroken if I miss out on some of the higher prizes. And since I am still figuring things out staying on the easier levels is a comfort.

So this game is staying around on my phone this time. It is a good source of cute and is a game I can let myself relax with.

Tuesday, August 2, 2016

My nice little place in idol hell

When I got into Japanese idols back in 2007 I had thought I was in heaven, but getting into the app rhythm games I have come to see it was actually hell. But it is sparkly hell with lots of cute and pretty so I am rather comfy here.


I have been expanding a bit with the idol games I play, though have only a couple I play regularly. Those games are Love Live School Idol Festival and Idolish7. And then I have AiKatsu and IChu that I mostly log into daily but do not always play. I am still waiting anxiously for the Uta no Prince-sama Shining Live app game to launch. That one is a must for me and will probably join the former two as being one I play regularly. 

But I am enjoying Aqours with Love Live Sunshine so that franchise has me for this next generation of characters. Though I have gone down to just playing the EN version of the game as playing JP as well was burning me out. Thankfully the EN servers are rushing to catch up some with JP so it will not be as much as a wait to get to Aqours in the game.

Hoping Idolish7 gets an anime adaption at some point. I find I have gotten into the story far more than I thought I would. And I do like all the tweaks to the game they have being doing as it all has helped it become more engaging.

AiKatsu is just cute and since it is aimed at a younger audience than the others has furigana that makes reading text easier.

And IChu is mostly played as one of the voice actors was the vocalist of the visual kei band I liked. Would probably play it more if the circular motion of the icons did not strain my eyes so much after a while.

Looking forward to Utapri's next anime season. So glad the usual two year break is not happening for it and I am interested in learning more about HEAVENS. But I really want to start playing Shining Live so I can get a daily fix of Utapri.


I am not nearly into Johnny's as I had been for years. I still have acts I love, NEWS, Kis-My-Ft2, TOKIO and Nakayama Yuma. I still do have interest in A.B.C-Z, but not the funds to stay up with their releases. And I feel like I want to get back into Hey! Say! JUMP, but until they start releasing songs that grab my attention again I probably will not. With the Juniors SixTONES are really the only ones keeping my interest. If/When they debut I do not see myself following the Juniors much at all outside of Shounen Club. 


After getting into Hello!Project via Morning Musume a couple of years ago I have settled on which groups I am interested in following. Morning Musume of course is one of those groups with ANGERME and Country Girls being on that list. I do enjoy Kobushi Factory's releases so they are a potential addition to the list. Just right now my budget for time and money does not allow to add them.


Still loving Chu-Z and cheering them on to reach their goal of a Budokan concert. I am with them until the end no matter what. 


And that about wraps up where I am with my idol interests. No matter how I look at it there is no escaping this hell anytime soon, but it is not like I want to.

Monday, August 1, 2016

Uta no Prince-sama - Maji Love 2000% - Idol Song Tokiya Ichinose CD review

Title: Uta no Prince-sama Maji Love 2000% Idol Song Ichinose Tokiya
Artists: Ichinose Tokiya (Miyano Mamoru)
Release date: 12 June 2013
Version: n/a

Packaging: Like the rest of the series the packaging is pretty basic. The artwork matches the rest though of course Tokiya is the focus of it. This still remains my favorite cover set out of the three released so far by a lot. I really hope they come up with an interesting idea like this for a future series of CD single releases.

Track listing:

1. CRYSTAL TIME
I am such a sucker for songs that start off softly to then launch into a more uptempo beat like this one. It has a great build up and lets Miyano's voice shine, which fits well with the character of Tokiya as unlike the rest of the cast his instrument is just his voice. This is a really solid pop song with some nice instrumental flourishes mixed in that add to the driving beat the song picks up when it picks up speed.

2. Independence
As much as I like the first track it is not my favorite on this single, in fact Independence is one of my favorite songs from the franchise. It is more of a dance flavored pop song with a sexy vibe to it that Miyano's voice matches so well. The chorus has a catchiness to it that helps make it memorable have it stand out and the little bits of autotune it has in it is used in just the right amount and the right ways to be a welcome added element and not a distraction.

3. CRYSTAL TIME (instrumental)
4. Independence (instrumental)


Overall: I love this single. It is one of my favorites from the franchise because the songs just come off as being in the top tier of Uta no Prince-sama. While Tokiya is not my favorite character of the series, though he ranks up near the top, I always look forward to his solo songs the most as they rarely disappoint. And this single definitely has a couple of his best songs.

Sunday, July 31, 2016

Late Summer Blast!

I have been working this past month or so to getting things together to get this blog active once more. I decided in the end that August will be a big kick off month for that with a new post at least every other day and then September will go to what my planned schedule is to be going forward.

So thank you all that have been patiently waiting for something from me for this blog. I am finally reaching a point in my life where things are feeling stable for the most part. That stability is letting me truly get everything together so I can reach my future goals. Continuing to run this blog is a part of those goals and I am aiming to getting this on a stable schedule once more.

Sunday, July 17, 2016

ANGERME is 9 once more

Kasahara Momona, front and center.
Nine seems to be the lucky number for ANGERME as it was announced yesterday that the group will be adding a new member, Kasahara Momona.

Momona was a Kenshuusei with Hello! Project before being selected to join ANGERME. One can only assume this has been in the planning for a while as she is already performing with the group instead of having the usual grace period of a couple of months to train up before doing so.

It is interesting to see that this is yet another single member generation, but it should work out as Kamikokuryou Moe now has someone who is relatively new the group.


Honestly I have fallen a behind with keeping up with H!P in general but this announcement is pulling me back into things. I do enjoy ANGERME and as heartbroken as I was with Tamura Meimi graduating I still like the group. They seem to be shaping up to be really strong performers, especially with the new additions, and I look forward to seeing where they are going to go in the future.

Sunday, July 3, 2016

Taking on Time Travel

Catching up with news for NEWS they have a new single coming out this month on the 13th.

It will be the theme song for the Japanese drama series, Toki o Kakeru Shoujo (The Girl Who Leapt Through Time), that will air in the 2016 summer drama season. Kato Shigeaki will have a role in the drama as a teacher.

Anime News Network article (English)


The single comes in three versions and the A-side is titled Koi wo Shiranai Kimi e.

The limited edition has the title track, a B-side titled Smile and a DVD that has the PV on it.


The regular edition is just a CD that has the two tracks the LE does as well as two bonus B-sides and the karaoke track of the title song.


The third version is a bundle of the two versions with some bonus extras exclusive to it. The exclusives are a box to hold the CDs as well as a bonus DVD that has the making of footage for the PV on it.


And even though there is a bundle version CDJapan has a bundle available for each of the three versions, for those fans that need a copy of each.



I made sure to get a copy of the third version when it became available since LEs with NEWS do tend to be pretty limited in quantity. Not to mention it seemed like a no brainer seeing that it is basically the RE and LE bundled together with some extras.

It's if effort would have hurt.

While I am excited for a new single from the group I really wish they would do something about their covers. Up to Chumu Chumu they were fine but the four headshots slapped on an uninspired background is quickly getting stale. Especially when their music videos continue to look good.

Wednesday, June 15, 2016

NEWS - Chumu Chumu LE A/LE B/RE single

Limited Edition A
Artist: NEWS
Title: Chumu Chumu
Release date: 24 June 2015
Type: single
Version: LE A/LE B/RE

Limited Edition B
Packaging: The release is pretty similar to their previous single KAGUYA and the packaging is basically the same. The regular edition is in a thin jewel case so there is only the front cover which doubles as the CD jacket. The only image of NEWS used is on the cover and the rest uses the images of the rug patterns used on the covers for the pages which have the lyrics and credits for the CD.

The limited edition type A continues to keep things simple with the usual jewel case and the only image of the group members being on the cover.

The type b limited edition though is the one with the packaging that comes off as premium compared to the other ones. The cover booklet has the group picture of the group on the cover as well as a group picture in the booklet. There are also solo shots for all the members in the booklet as well. The bonus item for this edition is a set of four cards with solo shots of each member on them.

Track Listing:

1. Chumu Chumu
Honestly I cannot get into this song. I was really hoping to enjoy it as I really loved the single before it but Chumu Chumu does nothing for me. It goes for an Indian influence, which is not bad in itself, but only seems to use generic Indian musical sounds with the most interesting parts of the song being basic Japanese pop, which is mostly the chorus. The only part that the Indian music is used in an interesting way is the music break past the midway point of the song. I am overall just disappointed with this.

2. Nichi wa Mata Noboru
After the disappointment with the title track I am quite glad this song is on this single as a B-side for all the versions. Love the instruments used in the song, especially how it opens up with the song with the strings, and move into the chorus where the song soars. It is a solid song and fits well with NEWS’ usual group sound, as they seem to be moving in the direction of using classical instruments with some of their newer songs. That said the song itself is best left a B-side as it does not really have a hook to keep it in your head for long but it is a nice listen.

3. Megalomania
This is an exclusive B-side for the limited edition type B of the single. While the RE B-sides are more on the relaxing side this song has plenty of energy, with the chorus being the most energetic section of the song. This is a more techno/dance track with a nice driving beat that goes throughout the song. I love how it opens up with a haunting sound that comes and goes throughout the track. I feel that really helps make the song standout. Outside of that it is a solid track that follows the usual build and break down of pop songs and generally a nice listen.

3. Sweet Martini
The first bonus B-side exclusive to the regular edition of the single. It is one of their “cool and sexy” songs that they do from time to time. I love the chill vibe it has going on throughout and the chorus is the kind that will stick with you throughout the day. I actually like the use of autotune in this song, it is used smartly to work as an element of the song that is never overdone and the different modulations used give it a dynamic sound.

4. Sasabune
The other B-side that is exclusive to the regular edition and is ballad. Of course Tegoshi Yuya and Masuda Takahisa shine with their vocals in this song but Koyama Keiichiro and Kato Shigeaki are not shafted but definitely get the lines that do not require as much vocal work as the other two. But that only helps the song as it keeps everyone sounding good which for a ballad is pretty important as the vocals are a key element to them. That said Sasabune is a song I see getting lost within the group’s discography after their next album. They have plenty of ballads already and there are others that actually stand out unlike this one, which is nice but forgettable.

5. Chumu Chumu (original karaoke)

Regular Edition
DVD track listing:

This PV feels like they want to continue in the same vein as KAGUYA but not getting the director back for it. But it still works out as the India theme lets them bring in a lot of color with both sets and costumes.

There are also nice little touches for fans of the group to take notice of, like the use of member colors with solo shots. And the solo shots were dynamic, from having the close ups as the members rode a conveyor off screen to give the look of movement to them dancing in front of a curtain..

 The dance is really energetic and like the song itself takes inspiration from India. The screen caps really do it no justice and while I was not won over by the song itself the PV helped make up for it, especially the dance parts that even worked in back dancers.

The making of feature is a treat to watch from just watching NEWS interact with each other. They are given the opportunity to just talk about the PV and song as a group. You can tell the members have no trouble being at ease with each other as they joke around from time to time.

One of the things I really liked about this making of is that there is more of the behind the scenes footage shown with the members discussing things with the production crew. It helps show how involved the members are with their work.

As the dance is an important element of the PV we get quite a bit of footage of the guys working with dance choreographers on the set to get the moves down.

And of course it follows the entire filming so we get to see the guys watching the footage as it is being filmed and get their thoughts about it.


Overall:

While I did not like Chumu Chumu as much as KAGUYA there is still plenty from the release that made it a worthwhile single to get as a NEWS fan. The B-sides are solid and the PV is fun to watch with a style similar to KAGUYA's without being a complete carbon copy of it. I just wish the title track was a stronger song.

That said, I can still say that I feel confident in the direction NEWS is going as a quartet and look forward to future releases.