Posts

Former Coconuts Musume and Hello!Project member Kimura Ayaka (stage name Nagate Ayaka, now Tanihara Ayaka I guess) has married Tanihara Hideto, a profesional golfer. Translation of article abouve courtesy of Hello!Online:

 "My pushing succeeded" Tanihara marries 25-year-old reimported talent, and former Petit Moni, Ayaka.

H!O has also translated the Nikkon Sports article:

Golfer Tanihara Has Married Ayaka

On July 14, it was made public that popular pro golfer Tanihara Hideto (29) had married actor and talent Ayaka Nagate (26) from groups such as "Petit Moni" and "Coconuts Musume".

After a half-year relationship, their marriage was registered on July 8, and when they have time off, a ceremony and reception are planned. On July 17, Tanihara will make his third consecutive appearance at the British Open and will take Nagate with him. With the support of his new wife, he hopes to beat his 5th place finish in 2006 and to win the Japan Tour.

 

Obviously, this must be the real reason Ayaka has left H!P. Which begs the question: why did she leave because she was dating while Iida Kaori and Tsuji Nozomi were pregnant and got married and they're still in Hello!Project.

It could be the same reason Fujimoto Miki resigned from Morning Musume: she felt she shouldn't stay because she was breaking the rules. I guess Ayaka just joined a new agency to make it look less suspicious?

Anyway, I think I'm going to watch the British Open xD The camera always focuses on a family member, I hope I get a gimpse of Ayaka. <3

Alright, so, I apoligize for not getting things in on time. Last week was hectic. But here you go!

 

 

Morning Musume will be releasing their concert tour DVD Morning Musume Concert Tour 2008 Haru ~Single Daizenshuu~ and Dohhh UP! has a preveiw of it. The DVD will be released July 30.

Buono!'s fourth single, Gachinko de Ikou, was played on a new episode of Shugo Chara. The single will be released August 20.

 

C-ute's 6th single, Edo no Temari Uta II, will be released July 30. I like how the song sounds Japanese, and incase you're wondering, the title roughly translates to "The Edo Period Handball Song II". They sing alot abot Japan's history in the song. Below is the tracklist and covers, plus a better look at the costumes, which really aren't that bad.

1) Edo no Temari Uta II

2) Wasuretaikunai Natsu

3) Edo no Temari Uta II (Instrumental)

 

 

 

 

So, iTunes still doesn't have Berryz Kobo's 17th single, Yuke Yuke Monkey Dance, but I have faith in them. They'll get it soon. =]

But since they don't have it, I downloaded it to listen to until I can buy it.

 

And just as a side note, they got #3 on the Oricon charts for the first day!

 

Yuke Yuke Monkey Dance

So, when I first heard the title I was just like... well, I wasn't thinking anything because I was so surprised. I mean, why would they sing a song about monkeys? Monkeys fling poo at eachother.

But when I heard the preveiw of the song all my worries were erased. Tsunku has finally noticed that the fans want up-beat songs, like Jingisukan. And actually, this song is very Jingisukan-esque.

Its pure silliness, but its so catchy. I love the intro with the guy speaking and the oriental music. While most people are hating the way "dance" is pronounced, I love it. I can't imagine them saying it with the typical Japanese pronounciation.

There is one thing that I do not like about this sugar-coated single. Its the carnival-themed instrumental break. I hate clowns. I hate them. And this is what the break reminds me of. Not to mention carnivals are loud and crowded, the two things that trigger my panic attacks.

I'm happy more members *cough*Maasa*cough* got to share the limelight with Risako & Miyabi. While she remains the main vocals, Chinami and Maasa both have a very fair ammount of lines. And as mentioned by MorningBerryz, Yurina's voice is as smooth and natural as strawberry yogurt.

Chinami's "BANZAI!" may very well be the best moment in J-pop history. Mari's "sexy beam" is a very close second. A very very close second xD 

 

Maji Good Chance Summer

So the song begins with Risako answering her mother on the phone. And umm... am I the only person who has noticed that she has a slight sith going on? Or something along those lines. She just talks weird.

 

Lordy, let Risako get into a scandal and have to leave to pursue her studies. There are plenty of Eggs more talented than her, singing and dancing wise. D=<

But anyway. The song is a typical pop song, and it certainly deserves being the B-side. It isn't the least bit catchy and Risako's monologue ruins it.

It looks like everyone has a solo line here and there, except Maasa.

MAAAAAAASSAAA~~ D'=

So, nothing much really to say about the B-side except that its boring.

 

 

 

Overall, I love this release. The awesomeness of the instrumental kind of balances out with the nightmare-enducing carnival-themed instrumental break.

 

A-

 

Why? Because they rock. I haven't logged onto my iTunes store account in a few months (because why would you when you have no money?) but today I wanted to see if they got Yuke Yuke Monkey Dance and it looks like iTunes has updated their H!P collection. I'm going to make a list of the artists and if they have the full disography (ALL albums and singles as of July 9, 2008) or not.

Abe Natsumi:

Full discography (including single with Yajima Maimi).

Athena & Robikerottsu:

Full discography.

Berryz Kobo:

Full discography EXCEPT Yuke Yuke Monkey Dance.

C-ute:

Full discography. (including indies)

GAM:

Thanks!

Kira Pika:

Full discograhpy.

Maeda Yuki:

Ai Ai Daiko, Tokyo Kirigirsu

Matsuura Aya:

Full discography.

Melon Kinenbi:

Charisma Kirei; Onegai Miwaku no Target; Melon Juice.

Milky Way:

Full discography.

Morning Musume:

Full discography.

Morning Musume Tanjou 10nen Kinentai:

Full discograhpy.

Nakazawa Yuko:

Danna Sama

Ongaku Gatas:

Full disocgraphy.

Tsukishima Kirari starring Kusumi Koharu:

Chance!, Kirarin Land

v-yu-den:

Jaja Uma Paradise; Nanni mo Iwazu ni I LOVE YOU; v-yu-den Single Best 9, Vol. 1 Omake Tsuki.

 

Yeah, so, I really love iTunes right now. I mean, they have all 8 of Morning Musume's albums. All. Eight. Of. Them.

 

 If you decide to buy these songs, keep in mind that iTunes messes up all the romaji. For God's sake they spell Sansan GOGO as Sunsun Gogo.

Your best chance to find these on iTunes is to use Power Search and just use J-pop. You'll find a big long list of all the J-pop artists in alphabetical order. Matsuura Aya and v-yu-den is writted in the Japanese characters.

 

 

 

If anyone hasn't seen the making of for Yuke Yuke Monkey Dance, you should, because it's really cute x3

Chinami's English is cute.

And I need to think of a better adjective than cute.

Lovely outfit preveiws of C-ute's upcoming single Edo no Temari Uta II. I'm not sure where they're from. Oh God why!?

 

I'm guessing the costume designers were drunk. Scratch that. They were drunk.

 

NakaSaki totally looks like Magibon. And that dress/blob thing makes her look like a lemon.

 

Erika's outfit is cute though.

 

The single is set to be released July 30.

Here in the US, its Independence Day. And no, I'm not going to make this a history lecture. Instead I'm going to spam with a whole bunch of Coconuts Musume, because they rock.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

C-ute's 6th single will be titled Edo no Temari Uta II and will be released July 30.

 

 

Takahashi Ai and Niigaki Risa will appear in the TV drama Hitmaker Aku Yuu Monogatari. While the drama is about music righter Aku Yuu (who passed away last year), they will play the popular 70/80's pop duo Pink Lady, Takahashi playing Mie and Niigaki playing Kei.

W covered a few of their songs, including Southpaw.

Takahashi and Niigaki will perform the song Pepper Kaibu in the drama which will air August 1st.

 

Footage from the C-ute vs. Berryz Kobo battle concert. The C-ute version DVD will be released July 9 and the Berryz version July 16.

 

Berryz Kobo will released the Single V for Yuke Yuke Monkey Dance July 23. Above is the cover.

Oh. Oh please no.

OK, so yeah. The PV for Kusumi Koharu's 5th solo single Pa Pancake came out yesterday. The single will be released July 16.

And I hate it.

The God of all things good just threw up.

 

OK, so the PV starts out kinda like Koi Kana with the whole "dancing on TV" thing. Actually, I hate to admit it, but the instrumental intro is quite nice.

But the keleidascope thing. OMG ( O _____ o ) Wayyy too many Koharu's.

So she's dancing infront of this blindingly yellow background that kinda looks like its supposed to be a garden scene but no one really has TV's and lights in their garden. It actually reminds me alot of Chance! just because of all the random stuff laying around.

And why in the world is she pointing at the pancakes and acting like she's never eaten any in her life? I mean seriously, is syrup really that interesting? I mean seriously. If it were me, I'd glop syrup all over it and just eat it. I bet by the time she actually eats the pancakes, they'll be all soggy from the syrup and cold. 

OK, and how come its so hard to pull a wagon full of stuffed animals? Oh, I'm sorry, gardening equipment.

I understand that this is for a children's anime, but, how old is she? 15? I mean, will she keep doing this when she's 18? Kirarin Revolution can't go on that long, can it?

Its almost hard to remember this song is about pancakes. Would it really be that hard for them to film this inside a Waffle House or IHOP? Do they even have those in Japan? But really, I can just imagine her wearing a cute little apron, and instead of "eating" the pancakes infront of that disgusting yellow, there could be a nice little cafe backdrop. And then the dance shot can be her dancing ontop of a table.

 

So, overall I really do not like this release. Of course, my opinions could be a little biased as the people who got me into H!P are anti-Koharu.

YesAsia was the only place where I could find this DVD. It was Yaguchi Mari's Mini Moni graduation concert from way back in the beginning of time. It only has a few performances and then interveiws with the members.

 

 

<--- Front Cover

 

              

 

                         Back Cover ---->

 

 

 

 

The DVD starts with some early footage, and the creation of Mini Moni. This it the "old Mini Moni".

 

And the "new Mini Moni"! I like old better because my darling Yaguchi is in it <3

 

Then it shows the line of people waiting to see the concert. They are all little kids and their mothers.

 

 FINALLY! The concert starts with Mini Moni Jankenpyon!

 

The first MC is rather interesting. See that thing Yaguchi is holding? Its a little camera. And so now we know what the girls see at concerts.

 

Mini Moni Telephone Ring Ring Ring!

 

I was watching Mika in this whole performance, because she seemed to have alot of trouble getting out the fake cell phone, make-up compact, and whatever other props are required for this song. To the right you can see her trying to get the compact out of her backpack. Once she does get it out, she abandons the backpack and keeps everything in her pockets for the rest of the performance.

 

When Minihamuzu comes out, all the kids go wild.

 

Too cute x3

 

And during Minihamuzu Ai no Uta they actually get off the stage and into the crowd! Something you would never see at a H!P concert these days. It was really cute actually, Tsuji was playing with some of the kids.

 

 

AI~N

 

Remember these kids? While the girls drank imaginary tea at a table on the other side of the stage, some cosplayers performed Mini Moni dances.

 

 

 

 

And then its Yaguchi's graduation ceremony =[

 

Don't cry Mari D'=

 

Everything was going fine but when one of the fans came up to the stage and started reading a short message to her, the waterworks came on.

 

 

 

She was given two photo albums, probably full of Mini Moni pictures and the message the kid read to her.

 

And thus the new Mini Moni is born!

 

But don't forget Yaguchi =3

 

 

Another lovely new Mini Moni costume set! Yaguchi doesn't have a matching one though.

 

Rock n Roll Kenchoushouzaichi ~Obaechai na Series~

 

 

Genki Jirushi no Oomori

 

Now, tell me whats different about the following two pictures:

 

Yes, thats right, Risako is doing the wrong pose. Now, usually, I wouldn't make such a big deal but I really don't like Risako.

 

And to end the concert... Gocchin comes onto the stage? Wow. Its just so hard to remember she's with Avex now...

She performs Uwasa no SEXY GUY for a crowd of 4-8 year olds. Woot.

AND LOOK! She has a character too!

 

 

 

And thats really all that was in the DVD, minus a few "character version" PVs and interveiws. Overall, this DVD was definatly worth the $41.