Japan's Queen of Hip-Pop to retire

While the news came out yesterday I really can only start to accept it now. I may not stan Amuro Namie as I do Utada Hikaru but she is one of my favorite Japanese pop stars. So thinking that I only have one more new album to look forward to is rather heartbreaking.

To sum it up, Namie announced in a letter to her fans that she plans to retire September 16th of 2018. (Arama article) That date will be the 25th anniversary of her debut. Until then she is still going to tour like usual and release one last album.

I cannot fault her for wanting to retire. She has been in the industry since she was a teenager and over half her life already so this is hardly something she decided on a whim. And deciding to end it on her 25th anniversary seems like a nice end cap to this chapter in her life. Her legacy is set in place and she is not going to be forgotten anytime soon and will likely remain an inspiration for plenty of up and coming artists for many years to come.

That all said I am going to miss looking forward to new material from Namie. Yet there is so much out there I can enjoy and catch up on that she will still be on heavy rotation in my usual playlists. And until September 16th comes I am going to enjoy all I can of her new material and hope international fans are able to be some part of her farewell on that date.

Shining Live, Shining Life

So Uta no Prince-sama Shining Live launched with no warning and basically is my life now. Or at least has become my top game that I put most of my time and effort into.

Honestly I was worried that the game would not be as enjoyable as I hoped it to be but that worry was in vain as I love this game. And not just because of the franchise. Klab went a different direction with it than what they have done with Love Live School Idol Festival and really put together something that is different enough from other games to stand apart but remains simple enough that it is easy to get into. 

As of now the first event is over and the next will be starting in a few days and the first card set is out with the second to have the second half to be released in about a week or so. Patterns are falling into place and it looks like no one will have to wait too long for best boy to show up as a UR between two sets being released every month and then the events having a UR you can get from them. 

All Cecil team before event.

I have been enjoying myself with it. I can proudly say that I have all the Cecil cards that have been released so far as best boy seems to love me back. That and I am having more luck with this game than any other gacha game I have ever played. But there is no way I will complain as I loved this franchise well before getting into this side of idol hell.

The only issues I see at the moment is that there is a level cap currently, for level 100, and that unless you are a very casual fan then by now you should have gone through all the story content and have unlocked all the songs currently available. But most of that boils down to the fact that this is still a rather new game and they are bound to change with time.  

I may get more in-depth with the game in future posts. I have really fallen in love with this game. So much so I am getting into the fandom instead of just sticking to my little corner of it. I still keep hoping that the fandom grows, which this game should help with especially when the WW/EN version comes out.