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.

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.

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.

Sorashido - Nene - [DVD+CD]

Buono!

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.

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 [SHM-CD]

Utada Hikaru

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.