Ever wonder how to get that tie on just right?..or just the proper way of wearing seifuku♥ which comes in many styles~*? From socks to sailor tops to skirts from plaid to solid colors and everything cute and in between, a very special and adorable~♥ idol will teach you all that you need to know about wearing seifuku properly and she demonstrates it all in the most cute and adorable fashion~*, sort of like being in the changing room…..while educational~y cute for us girls maybe there should be no boys allowed for this post I wonder? Seifuku♥101 coming soon (*´∀｀)！
(edit: Now posted, search seifuku or click on “seifuku♥” in categories.)
Earlier this month I posed the question that if you had the chance~* to play producer with any idol♥ from any group/soloist being available, which 7 idols would you choose to create your very own idol dream♥group? Six idol dream♥group entries were created and now it’s up to you to decide which dream idol group here you think would be the best…no doubt all have such amazing idols included in them but only one can be declared the winner~* ＾ ＾。
The group who receives the most votes will win a newly sealed copy of Oshima Yuko’s “Yuko no arienai nichijou”, with the deadline for voting being September 12th midnight.
..sorry too late!!! :P…okay I made sure that the bloodier side is facing down XD!..no don't worry it's not a period related accident!!! (。ーωー。)。。。
..but rather here my ongoing sinus infection keeps bleeding and my upper teeth to the right side still feels like I have a cavity although I explained my embarrassing time visiting the dentist before XD! So now with the exact same symptoms I'm thinking surely it must be another nasal infection and not a cavity!!
Anyway those tissues aren't as bloody as the last time but usually with the warmth in the shower a lot of that gook (solid forms of blood) comes out……behind my eyes still hurts a bit and I'm still having that now random cough which doesn't seem to want to leave me either =(. And now I've grossed you out totally sorry (ノロ≦。)！！！
If I feel any better tomorrow I'll post something much less yucky I promise (*>ω<)！！！
Well if crashing servers to creating unprecedented ordering rules for their new releases is any indication, then the answer is Arashi♥.
And it's something that I think most fans have realized till now even before this evidence. I mean, if you're a fan of Arashi I'm sure you can so relate to the immediate panic and frenzy of worrying about missing out on a new Arashi single LE whenever notifications are sent out!! For me they almost always arrive late @ night (HST) or even in the dreamy~* (I'm still sleeping) morning hours which means like @ 1 a.m. or 2 a.m. (_´Д｀)ノ~~。。。。but then immediately you're up!!!!!!!..you read the name Arashi in a new release e~mail and you know that time is of the essence (゜ロ゜ノ)ノ！！！！。。meaning literally that if you hit the snooze button just one more time after you've received your Arashi new release notice you indeed may risk the dark possibility of missing out completely on pre~orders!!!! Which so feels like (ノロ≦。)！！！Ｘ 10！！！！
And it's now been a few years that it's been like this. Exactly like this every time Arashi has any sort of LE…..and just imagine if there were a LE release of Nino boxers being sold….just imagine the frenzy!!!!!!! Or would that just be me (*´艸`)？
Well in any case Cdjapan has just e~mailed notices to all of us (the Arashi in love♥♥♥!) and it's both eye~opening and alarming news that we've been given just this morning! You see an entirely new and exclusive procedure has begun now with all of Arashi LE releases where first there is a limit to only one copy per customer being allowed in pre~order (and thank goodness!!!! I mean if you've ever missed out on a LE and then had to search auctions hoping to win a copy @ a then inflated bidding price you can sympathize as you'll see the same seller names over and over again with multiple auctions for the very same Arashi LE single release….so you know this hording has been going on for ages…since the dark ages like when you paid $40 for single which should have cost just $16 =( )…so thank goodness for this type of limitation on pre~ordering for all or our sakes (人∀`*)。 Secondly there is the admission that Arashi has repeatedly in the past caused Cdjapan's server to crash (・o・)！！！！！。。and I quote:
"because our server was overwhelmed each time as
so many people worldwide as well as in Japan rushed over to CDJapan
and our Japanese website in order to preorder the Limited Edition."
Cdjapan goes on to say that even with upgrades to their server this type of Arashi fan mayhem still couldn't be resolved as it would still crash so now they've taken a pre~emptive measure where first only subscribers to Cdjapan will be notified first of any Arashi LE and not even their website will have any such information initially as to help to prevent further server crashes….and these notifications are exclusive as Cdjapan says that even by searching their site this Arashi LE information couldn't be found as the links were the only active pre~ordering devices @ that time prior to a site~wide listing…amazing!
To really seal this notion of who's most popular in Japan the following two quotes say all that is needed…..
"By the way, there are greater number of people subscribed than the
number of the Limited Edition that the record company is able to provide."
So not even JS can provide enough LE copies for all of Arashi's fans???!!!! (・o・)！！！！So inevitably some fans will have to go without being able to own some of Arashi's releases?! My jaw hit the floor when I read that and even given that Cdjapan is just one major distributor of music releases in Japan, I still think it speaks volumes and volumes as when has anyone ever heard of such a thing ever being stated about an artist/group's releases? Server crashes? Not enough CDs to go around? Limitations on ordering?
And then to finish things off they say…..
"Please note that Arashi is the only artist that we would handle this way."
'Only artist.'
Most popular Johnny's group?…most popular group?..arguments over.
Arashi (*´∀｀)♥。
I'm guessing that no doubt everyone has heard in entirety Arashi's latest album release "Boku no miteiru fukei" (first pressing is sold out but the album still can be ordered here~*)..so I thought I'd just share the LE's photo scans here from their 60 page booklet~♥……gorgeous!!, hot!!..stylish!! sexy*!!..it's Arashi♥.
(edit: all audio files which were lost during my move from Vox to WordPress have been re~uploaded to this post. If there are any other older posts dated before September 12th, 2010 (originally “Vox” posts) in which you’d like to hear or see the audio/video clips for please leave a request in the top page tab titled “Requests.”)
Getting my very first taste of what could be Japan’s currently most aggressive all girl band! Four Osaka high school students with a garage~band aura? That was enough to pull me in and now after a little over one week of listening, “Temptation Box” is quickly becoming one of my favorite albums and where to begin?..there’s so much to say!
While it may be unlikely that we’ll ever see another female band out of Japan with the depth and full~circle variety of Princess Princess, SCANDAL has got to simply be one of the very best and well~rounded all girl rock/pop bands coming out of Japan today~. Firstly there is their undeniable musicianship~* which demands both attention and appreciation through the experiencing of their unique brand of music. With such varied styles and an edge in diversity which sparkles from tight and super~charged progressive to jangly~psychedelic to punk~y to sweet~ly layered harmonies….you can readily hear an array of influences encompassing 60’s, 80’s, 90’s pop/rock. SCANDAL also has a hand in the writing of the majority of their lyrics, either co~writing or writing them in entirety with the exception of just one track on this album and speaking of lyrics a major player in how SCANDAL’s sound works so well in a somewhat unique fashion is that each band member shares in the (“lead”) vocals in both solo and ensemble arrangements and they’re heard seamlessly in each song from track to track really giving SCANDAL such an identity of their own~. And with Haruna, Mami, Tomomi and Rina having such distinctly different voices think Bangles (in the sense of vocal uniqueness), although again here through perfect vocal arrangements their voices aren’t heard as overpowering leads for the most part on any given track, but rather as an “ensemble” being allowed to lend solo vocal flavors in essence giving each song a most colorful and lively personality verses a one~vocal show~.
And technically? Impressive~!!, as the musicianship of the girls in SCANDAL speak…or rather play~* for themselves!
While there’s also a DVD edition available which has a tour digest I opted for the photo book edition as just the thought of a full sized shashinshuu♥ was most enticing and the 116 page full color photo book doesn’t disappoint!! Does SCANDAL have sex* appeal? Ippai! ippai!..and it’s really the cherry~* atop it all as these girls are amazing!!!! I scanned a bit later below 20 of my favorite images from the photo book and I can’t stress enough of how beautifully, vividly~colorfully and stylishly it was all shot! It really could have sold as a stand alone photo book no doubt!
Of course I should suggest a few song recommendations♥ but honestly before I do there’s no filler here as “Temptation Box” is as solid as an album comes so these are rather song choices to grab you instantaneously, yep SCANDAL sure has that effect!
~songs to entice you readily~
“Aitai” (♥♥♥♥♥!)
“Hello!Hello!” (maybe the best track on the album!)
“Taiyou to kimi ga egaku story” (♥! ♥! this song!)
“Houkago 1 H” (reminds me of Chara~♥)
“Hi-Hi-Hi” (kicks!!!!!!!)
“Namida no regret” (does SCANDAL ballad? U~n♥)
…….also tracks 9, 3…..12! Mmm..the entire album rocks~ (*≧▽≦)♪！！
Welcome to the cute, kakkoii, vivid girl’s world of SCANDAL! Can you say album~of~the~year…could be mine! Photo book scans below the audio tracks…gorgeous! gorgeous! ↓↓↓↓～♥
Well it's not exactly like those Doublemint ads with the twins but it's amusing to find out that there are not one, but two Maimai's inhabiting the J~music world =D! And if you remember the scare (・д・`*)！！。。from a few years ago when there was a second coming of Mikitty and fans were really upset and divided about that whole thing but luckily the real Mikitty eventually stood up!
And perhaps I wouldn't be even thinking about Doublemint gum today had I been able to long ago shed my tendency to hang on to nicknames like forever even in light of a new one arriving…..like with Gomaki~♥. You see she's still mostly Gomaki to me and I guess it's sort of because that nickname reminds me of sushi~♥ so I refuse to let go of it even though I've later tried to call Gomaki –> Gocchin. Love sushi o(*´∀｀)o゛♥♥♥！So now with C~ute's Maimai and ex~AKB Maimai perhaps I should've moved onto calling C~ute's Maimai –> Hagitty, but like with Gomaki~♥ and sushi~♥ it's Maimai being Maimai just seeming right but now that I've discovered another Maimai something's gotta give right? There's the possible "different" spelling of C~ute's Maimai as "Maimai" and ex AKB Maimai as "Mai Mai" but still I'd be saying "Mai~Mai/MaiMai" so is there really any distinction there lol? 😛
So logically the decision would come down to just who is the original Maimai? Well C~ute's Maimai debuted with C~ute in……2005 but ex~AKB Maimai also debuted as an original member of AKB that very same year XD! And on what exact day and precise time did C~ute's Maimai become "Maimai" and at what exact moment did ex~AKB Maimai become nicknamed "Maimai?" Oh mai my that's quite a dilemma (。ーωー。)笑。
I'm catching up with ex~AKB Maimai during her second solo single release~* titled "Aitte nandaho~" / "Gomen ne darlin ♥" and the mood is very very festive with bright horn arrangements with the latter bringing on a ska rush~! I'm still a bit teetering on Maimai's vocals here just a bit with the title track as it sounds a bit over~pushed in particular during the chorus section but if you love aggressive vocals Maimai is surely capable although I'm much more leaning towards the coupling with track "Gomen ne darlin" as being better suited to her range and style~.
With Avex presenting Maimai we're assured of a most complete production as "Aitte nandaho~" takes to a beach barbecue complete with love triangle…no that would be a love pentagon plot ongoing as everyone seems to be attracted to someone else and well Maimai just wants the hot guy……..but what's with that…..
..giant piece of meat which looks rather like it belongs on one Fred Flinstone's eye after he's been socked and Wilma tries to heal him (・д・`*)！。。I don't know….um maybe she's hoping that this guy's into a girl who can handle a great giant piece of meat*? (。ーωー。)笑 ！Please forget I ever said that…..and we are speaking of beef the kind that once went "Moooo.." and nothing else I promise :P! The DVD also includes making of footage as well as a "dance shot.." version of the pv~♥.
With Acchan already with so many pbs it's hard to imagine that this will be Takamina's very first photo book! Scheduled to be released on September 22nd you can pre~order "Takamina":
Something I've noticed about so many AKB books is that they're priced very fan~friendly♥! Most are within the 980 yen ~ 1800 yen range with the majority on the lower side of this price range =). Also love the term "mook" (magazine styled~book) ＾ ＾。
This is the first cold I think I’ve ever caught during the Summer (*>ω<)！。。I mean when it comes to the Wintertime I’m a walking cliche for catching colds but just never during the Summer. And you know it’s bad (luckily not strep!!) when not only does your throat hurt from endless~coughing but also your eyes hurt from a headache which feels like it’s behind them and even all of your upper teeth hurt no doubt because of your sinuses being so out of whack!
That reminds me of something funny….as I once went to the dentist because I thought I had a toothache across the entire right side of my mouth and when I told him this he was surprised that so many teeth could feel this way at the same time and especially since I’ve never had any cavities (in my adult teeth only of course XD!)…..so he took an x~ray and I know he wanted to laugh as he told me that I wasn’t suffering from a toothache but rather that I had a nasal infection which I was somehow totally unaware of (・д・`*)！！
This is terrible because it’s just so humid and hot here!..and yet I have to keep from the temptation of turning on the fan as it will upset my nose/throat condition @ the moment. So now I’ve got prescription strength cough medication which says not to exceed more than 2 teaspoons, 4 x /day although yesterday I so wanted to drink the entire bottle because I just couldn’t stop coughing (*>ω<)！！Now listening to Scandal♪。。。。as my sense of taste is gone too now :/.
And the most sexy* and vivid images of AKB’s newest single “Heavy Rotation” are the direct result of one of the world’s most celebrated and recognized photographer/visionaries in Ninagawa Mika~* who lent her directing talents as well here resulting in what perhaps could be the cutest/sexiest* idol♥pv ever???..I think so ー(*≧∀≦)ノ！！！。。♥！！And I think it says a lot that a woman directed this pv….and does sexy* sell? Well sure it does as has been doing such for like forever? And idols♥ come in different genres as well…gravure, pure, the “U” class so nothing wrong with a mixture I think (*´∀｀)。And omg! both jackets are not only sparkly~* but so so gorgeous inside, front and back (scanned a bit later below).
Although both covers speak volumes for themselves don’t be fooled into thinking this release is limited to only this appeal as it truly has something for everyone, and I mean that truly literally as you’ll see in the upcoming descriptions/videos of extras that “Heavy Rotation” is so much a complete idol experience not only by touching upon vastly different genres as they’re quite a lot of surprises~* too herein!
So as AKB continues to push the envelop in idol♥music & variety t.v., as aforementioned it’s so not just the sexy~* aspect which commands attention to the release “Heavy Rotation”..(however before I go any further my dearest~♥ Yuko is the center here for the very first time and she’s just headlined in taking sexy* to an all new level!!)..as in whole, “Heavy Rotation”, if you purchased both <–A & B editions goes completely 60’s/70’s retro complete with a studio audience..stage..props and even the girls taking to the hairstyles and wardrobe of those days~ in “Namida no seesaw game” (amazingly creative!) while “Yasai Sisters” produces the most squeeza~dorable♥ drink campaign/promotion for Kagome vegetable drinks complete with the girls dressed up in full veggie~gear!!…and “Lucky Seven” asks the question: what can be better than AKB pirates?? Well through a most eye~catching production the constantly moving/changing props & backgrounds provide a most stage play~like and seamless look for “Lucky Seven”, this single truly has it all! And each of the four songs are very much unique with just one thing in common…..catchy melodies♪ (*≧▽≦)♪！！！ So just how awesome~* is “Heavy Rotation?”….let’s start with some of the most creative extras ever!!
..beginning with the two~part “Dai 2kai AKB48 sousenkyo document eizou” you get a behind the scenes look @ everything “senbatsu” from how the girls campaign for themselves for fan votes all the way up to the most tense and suspenseful revealing of the final results…..so so many tears of happiness and the embrace between two senbatsu girls Yuko and Acchan afterward、。。(人∀`*)♥！！Pt. 2 of this document (included on type B version’s DVD) continues onto documenting the songs’ recordings/ pv making (a bit of Undergirls pv making!) Yuko’s winning “senbatsu” and subsequently the “center” for “Heavy Rotation” as well as director comments~!
(sigh…) must take a moment for Acchan’s natural beauty (*´∀｀)♥！！。。。
Next is also a two~part extra where first, remember those cute claymation~like figures of AKB where they’re promoting the candy “Puccho?” Well taking matters into their own hands the AKB48Cho! girls have a starring role going from candy promotion to stop~motion life!!!…with an entire pv version of “Heavy Rotation!!” This was so unexpected, just brilliantly funny!!…and um apparently AKB48Cho! are well……edible too (・o・)？！
The adventures of AKB48Cho! continue (included on type B single’s DVD) with “AKB48Cho! no short concho 7 renpatsu!”….and does anyone watch “Robot Chicken?” It’s simply hilarious and out of this world with so so many pop culture references that will crack you up…(^q^)! So AKB48Cho! are doing like a Robot~Chicken sort of thingy here where these wacky short skits are put together all in classic stop~motion animation~. I especially cracked up @ the whole “AKEBI” short where the girls feel a bit threatened by a a new…um ‘group’ taking liberties with their group name as well as the “strap” short….so funny
(。ーωー。)笑！Oh and when the director is trying to get sexy* poses out of “cho! forms that was too great!
The third and final extra “Issho ni kore ichi! eizou” is also featured on both type A & type B’s DVD and here the girls are promoting Kagome’s veggie~drinks in the cutest of ways!..as each member involved with the promotion does a short promo~clip where they’re offering “you” a Kagome drink as well~♥ So who has the cutest promo~clip?….too difficult to decide っo(*´∀｀)o！！
(I’ve been noticing some distortion in the video tracks here and I’ll have to re~check the audio settings
when I reformat videos to fit here on Vox….so until then please listen to the audio tracks which I’ve just added next to the four video clips in this post…I apologize so much for the distortion.)
(I’ve been noticing some distortion in the video tracks here and I’ll have to re~check the audio settings
when I reformat videos to fit here on Vox….so until then please listen to the audio tracks which I’ve just added next to the four video clips in this post…I apologize so much for the distortion.)
(I’ve been noticing some distortion in the video tracks here and I’ll have to re~check the audio settings
when I reformat videos to fit here on Vox….so until then please listen to the audio tracks which I’ve just added next to the four video clips in this post…I apologize so much for the distortion.)
Rare is it that we are graced with such open beauty, expression and talent….all so effortless and relatable and yet so moving and tragic in its poignancy...
Karasawa Toshiaki, one of Japan’s most celebrated actors whose career has long been a staple of Asian cinema has a wonderful gem from yesteryear that I’d love to share here~…..and like so many other prominent figures in Japan’s entertainment industry, diversity and one’s willingness & interest to delve into and explore longstanding personal passions or perhaps just to experience a career outside of one’s main forte can lead to the often unexpected and ultimately wonderful...
Some of the most prominent idols of yesteryear went on to become accomplished musicians & songwriters which is something that for the most part, today’s idols are perhaps still striving to accomplish. Two of my favorites~♥~ that come to mind readily are Moritaka Chisato and Tanimura Yumi both of whom actually shed the idol tag quite early...
If you know the series “Furuhata Ninzaburo (was a top rated show in Japan) and you’ve ever watched the drama series “Hitotsu yane no shita” this’ll be mega~funny…(^q^)! And Kimutaku is uncanny~* here…how he captures the acting tendencies of one Tamura Masakazu also a most popular and accomplished actor in Japan. Not only does Kimutaku vocalize to a tee Tamura~san’s voice and all of his speaking nuances from his odd pauses and elongated vowels but he also emulates his posture and idiosyncrasies like how he often taps at his forehead while in thought~….plus check out the hair!!!!!! as the hair itself is a character here =D!! In a nutshell the character Tamura~san plays is Japan’s answer to America’s “Columbo” character made famous by Peter Faulk and in this special SmapxSmap skit the premise for the murder/mystery is set in an endearing drama of the 90’s in “Hitotsu yane no shita” creating a most hilarious merging of shows into one...
Surely a lot of scrutiny would go into anyone naming whom they consider to be perhaps the greatest vocalist they’ve had the pleasure of listening to over years of being a music lover and most definitely it’s an absolutely subjective outcome for each individual’s taste. Not an easy task by any means but for me personally while there are so many seemingly countless accomplished vocalists from generations past till present one name keeps coming to mind each and every time I hear him sing♪♪…
By 1997 Amuro Namie's music career was reaching new peaks~* during her “can you celebrate?” period and while many perhaps dreamed to reach her level of talent and success, one aspiring artist sought and found true emulation in her style~ling...
A magical marriage in music and stage presence took place on this night as legendary singer Ishii Tatsuya who’s best known for his larger than earth personality+ larger than (your group!) group Kome Kome Club + a larger than life voice to back all that up 200% and then some~!!!…took the stage accompanied by the most talented and beautiful Matsu Takako all on a most special engagement on Music Fair...
While Norikochan is deep in thought above thinking about her future……I thought I’d share a bit of her musical♪♪ career and early idol side. =)
Shiina Noriko began appearing in numerous idol publications including UTB and Weekly Young Magazine in the late 90′s leading up to her honor of being named Fuji Television’s “Visual Queen of the Year” in 2001. But unlike previous years which featured only a single winner, 2001 would present four idols being named to this popular title…….but I always felt that Norikochan *shined* the most of the four that were chosen that year and she would prove to be very worthy of the Visual Queen award as she ventured into additional modeling, t.v. dramas and yes~! music!!
One of the first J-Pop artist’ voices that I fell in love with belongs to Mochida Maki and there’s just something so aesthetically *pure* and *beautiful* in Mochida Maki’s voice….in fact I’ll go as far as to say it’s one of the most *pure* voices that I’ve encountered in J-Pop over the years and that holds true till this day~.
Fukuyama Masaharu♥ has long been one of Japan’s most beloved~* icons and constant figures as both a most accomplished musician and actor~…..his talents reach even further though as he writes, produces and has also charmed~* in the likes of radio and stage~.
I honestly haven’t been this moved and impressed by a solo artists’ release in ages and while Acchan has steadily and surely endeared herself to me there’s always that singular moment when you fully realize just how much and liken it to a coronation of one of your most favorite of idols~♥...
What’s better than idol♥ bowling? Getting idols to dish the dirt on one another in pressure moments while they bowl and to think these select 24 girls thought they were just going plain bowling and it’s quite surprising how many reveal this to be their very first time throwing that oversized gumball with three holes down a slippery lane in search of pins...
I’ve been in a sort of an anime* mood recently and so I thought I’d feature an older Vox post here @ WordPress and in terms of a J~pop idol♥ who better to exemplify an “anime” voice than CoCo’s Miura♥Rieko ＾ ＾。
Qlair, a wonderful part of the legendary Otomejuku idol phenomenon and a great testament to Momusu & H!P’s longevity can be really further appreciated when you examine other idol groups which boomed from the late 80′s into the mid 90′s, many of which held tenures lasting no more than 5 years and often times far shorter than that. What the numbers don’t share though is the high quality of the music produced in these sometimes brief J-Pop careers and Qlair is a great example of just that...
It’s funny how the very initial aesthetics are obvious when it comes to accessorizing as a single cute~♥ hair bow atop is a constant and a fashion statement must!! Mmm but when you really dig a bit “deeper”….Blossom and Takamina….Takamina and Blossom….Blossom and Takamina….Takamina and Blossom…..and soon you can’t tell the two apart or you just feel a bit zany like I do at times :P.
And what’s so different about “Kimi wa, boku no mono” is that it isn’t shot in your typical “idol” way and what I mean by that is that it’s not chaptered into camera seducing♥ segments but rather “Kimi, wa boku no mono” is presented very much like a documentary instead and it’s very warm and candidly~revealing of how production goes on a day~to~day basis~....
Ever ponder what life would be like residing beside Mayuyu♥ post~idol♥ dating into her late 30’s?…or just how often you’ll be “surprised~*” to see omelet rice upon your dining table day or night? Well, wonder no longer as the always experience packed singles presented by the incomparable AKB team have produced a debut single very much worthy of the one~and~only cutest resident nezumi~♥!! You see her voice has always been as preciously adorable as *~animemaki~*...
The stage set up and atmosphere is most intimate and free of any frills or distractions making the music and C~ute’s duo up front and center and while I’ve longed for in the past to see much more musicianship amongst idols as the extra presence of instruments coupled with these all too often hidden talents we know so many of our favorite idols possess, when taken to stage adds an immeasurable dimension to their presence and I believe that to their appeal as well. The presence of a live band versus a recording, then too makes these real~live events even more enjoyable both musically and visually as the nuances of musical improvisation and re~arrangements to familiar songs gives the audience entirely new moods and twists to the set lists breathing an endless possibility for both your eyes and ears. Here the underlying musical theme of sweet~folk~pop takes the reigns on this set list which includes...
I have to start with Final Fantasy VIII. It’s has by far my favorite FF theme song with “Eyes on Me.” Not necessarily the best of the series game wise but I sure really did ♥ it playing for hours into days into weeks. ^ ^ The storyline was no doubt engaging and the characters really grew on you in time in such a real way but it’s this theme song “Eyes on Me” which wins me over unanimously. I had actually never heard Faye Wong sing before playing this game but...
While I think most everyone has either seen or worn seifuku♥ wouldn’t it be cute and sexy* to be able to witness the variations in style and the dressing and undressing of a most adorable idol~♥ as if you were her mirror on the wall~? Um…for educational purposes only of course :P!
For the most accomplished of bands a thorough excursion through their bodies of work is necessary to fully understand & appreciate their accomplishments….for theirs’ is a tapestry on which rare greatness has gone full circle...
Matsu Takako recently released~* a special edition concert DVD set for her “Time for music” 2010 tour and this two disc set includes 19 awesome performances with some very familiar faces as her tour band accompanies her onstage with Shibata Toshibumi on keyboard, Sahashi Yoshiyuki on guitar, Yamamoto Takuo on sax, Kawauchi Keishi on bass, Ogasawara Takumi on drums & the lovely~♥ Matsu Takako performing on keyboards and of course as the lead vocalist~! Wonderfully jazzy arrangements are heard throughout the concert which mainly features the touring~album “Time for music” however there are also quite a few nostalgic j~pop gems too from Matsu Takako’s past release catalog even going back to her very debut single “Ashita, haru ga kitara” which is performed in an amazing new light with a much jazzed up arrangement...
Dating back to 1988, Tanimura Yumi has amassed quite a music collection over the years and even as far back as the early nineties she was already active in writing her own lyrics and music on select tracks. I was so happy to see Ayaya get a chance to showcase her vocals on a Tanimura Yumi composition…well not one but two actually...
~Every scene..a single brush stroke upon the canvas.
Films to savor, for film making of this beauty and depth and scale don’t grace us very often..and the fates truly lie in ways of the wind.
I couldn’t recommend two films any more than the John Woo directed epics “Red Clliff” and “Red Cliff II” and if grading on a ☆ scale these films receive 10 out of 10☆’ｓ。
Every now and then we’re graced with something so unique and special in music♪♪～, artists that move us with their melodies…relate to us with their lyrics and capture us with their hearts~. Sakai Izumi debuted as the lead vocalist for the group Zard in 1991 and for over a decade and a half her powerful vocals would resonate beautifully over 45 single releases and 20 albums (including compilations & tributes)…..she’s truly an artist that has left us too soon~...
Now @ 28 Fukada Kyoko has reached iconic heights as an idol who’s captivated and entertained in the vast opportunistic world of Japanese media where it’s most common for a talent to explore everything from modeling to television to movies and beyond~. Fukakyon♥ was born on November 2nd, 1982 and has remained with a single management agency (HORIPRO) since her early teens when she first began appearing regularly as either a cover~girl or featured girl in numerous idol magazine publications, then most notably with her early Bomb magazine appearances. Her acting career also began early in her mid teens and although Fukakyon is primarily known as a drama/t.v. actress having appeared in an impressive number of dramas which now total over 40 to date she also has a modest but noteworthy movie resume which includes standout performances first, in the dark realism of an idol’s world brought to screen in the 2002 film “Doll’s which mixes dark short stories and the 2004 cinematic~masterpiece “Shimotsuma Monogatari”...
This post is dedicated in the loving memory of my Grandmother♥.
I’ve been wanting to write this post for some time now…as my grandmother on my father’s side was pure Okinawan so this post holds a special meaning for me personally…I hope you enjoy it. ^-^ The lovely Kuninaka Ryoko (Kuninaka Ryouko) was born in Okinawa in June of 1979 and the first time that I saw her was...
Every now and then you come across an artist and individual so amazingly talented and endearing that you do the inevitable…..for me that means going on an instant shopping spree!…(^q^)..where I purchase as many releases as I can find in one swoop~! A seiyuu’s craft is dependant on her/his ability to project emotions, character and just about any nuance imaginable through their vocals as their onscreen personas are brought to life in ways that only a select few born with such *magical* pipes can achieve and excel with~*. I first heard Hirano Aya’s singing voice...
In a musical era where AkiP has brought attention and overwhelming success back to purely~styled J~pop compositions and an approach as well as a product which resonates all that reflects upon Japan’s uniqueness…a purity which over the years has been blurred by outside influences of hip~hop…r&b…euro~pop..and Ameri~pop to name just a few~. Ichikawa Yui in hindsight may have been just a few years too early as she ventured from model/actress into music, too early for the old~school resurgence which is topping the Japanese music charts of today~ and in a lot of ways I think she’s been one of J~pop’s much more underappreciated artists of the millenium~.
Born of Okinawan decent, Ueto Aya’s very first sparked~* interest in the entertainment industry at age 13 as she gained recognition in her very first beauty contest entry~…however much like Fukakyon, Ayachan’s time spent in the idol♥world was brief and was only explored early in her career~. A springboard into numerous successful endeavors~* which have flourished to this day…however before venturing any further I thought it’d be appropriate to first “meet” one of Japan’s most endeared and successful talents~o(*´∀｀)o゛♥...
It’s so amazing to watch Kimutaku, Shingo, Goro, and Tsuyoshi (aka “rice eye”…well that’s what my mom calls him because she can never remember his name… :P ) cook up delicious and amazing gourmet meals!!! I mean they really can cook!!! And not just simple dishes but rather...
Getting my very first taste of what could be Japan’s currently most aggressive all girl band! Four Osaka high school students with a garage~band aura? That was enough to pull me in and now after a little over one week of listening, “Temptation Box” is quickly becoming one of my favorite albums and where to begin?..there’s so much to say!
In preparation for my very first trip to LA and with the one mission in mind of acquiring autographs from AKB48 and Mano Erina that and of course attending a great concert and film event!, surely I needed to have some sort of memorabilia, photos or just something for them to sign, so....
For a somewhat more informative and structured post on Tanimura Yumi see latter posts (also "featured" below)….as today is all about performances and visuals~♥. Tanimura Yumi’s vocals are so immaculate and she makes it look so effortless in concert…..Yumi~chan really embodies all that is possible for any idol who aspires to a much more involved career, one that will leave a lasting impression for years to come. As noted previously Tanimura Yumi’s career went from pure “idol” to songwriter/lyric composer really early in her career and she’s so accomplished on the piano making her concerts appear at times more like recitals in a sense. Her vocal control and range is breathtaking also as will be seen in the following live clips but her pvs are so cute as well~! ^ ^...
Fun fact about Japanese watermelons or “suika” are that they’re much more round than their counterpart American ones so you know what that means right??….they’re great for bowling of course and remember if they drift towards the left they’re not quite ready to eat however if they barrow towards the gutter on the right side then they’re perfectly~* ready to dig into っo(*´∀｀)o! Sorry I just totally made that ↑↑ up just now (._.;)…anyway...
Okamoto Mayo, a most accomplished musician/ singer who’s been active since the mid 90’s debuted with a most distinguished achievement as her debut single “Tomorrow” topped the Oricon Charts at #1…released on May 10th, 1995 it was also a tie~in theme song to the drama series “Second Chance.” Her discography over the years includes 20 singles and 16 original albums in addition to compilations and numerous visual releases from pvs to live concerts. With a most recognizable style and a vocal prowess capable of the sweetest of highs with a range and nuance projected through heartfelt emotions and touch with outstanding control it’s still not her most impressive ingredient stemming from her now long reaching resume in music~...
SCANDAL, I think still the coolest and most impressive~musician oriented all female Japanese rock band since Princess Princess and I love that this album isn’t single~dominated as there are so many new songs here!! Love the entire album top to bottom but I particularly have a soft spot for “Bright” and “HARUKAZE”…♥!...
Like countless others have done so before and since, Nakama Yukie’s rise to becoming one of Japan’s most celebrated actresses/celebrities passed through the gates of idol career, gravure model as well as a venture into a music career…the latter being my initial focus here...
~Simply gorgeous♥, and it’s so much of what you’d envision of a production circled around one of Taiwan’s most popular, *sexiest* and successful models also turned actress and singer～ ＾ ＾。
So a couple of days ago my best and closest girl friend~ Couscous who’s admittedly cute~♥ and yummy♥ beyond words announces to me out “out~of~the~blue”….’I think you’re a vaginatarian.’ What exactly is a vaginatarian?...
With HM@ ratings down and the all new “Berikyuu” show on the horizon bringing the promise of something great, I’ve been trying to think of a few ways in which HM@ could improve their show! :P Starting with…
Well Augusta is upon us again…..and yet I know not much about golf technique and I once “scored” a 35 on that ugh!!! volcano~like miniature golf hole….I mean seriously who invented that thing?? (ノロ≦。)！！！
Back on May 14, 2000 Amuro Namie performed for the very first time in the U.S. and it occurred right here in Hawaii! With substantial financial backing and 2 years of planning this monumental concert took place at Oahu’s famous landmark, the Waikiki Shell....
Sooo what to do in the whee early morning hours??? Watch Dragon Half!
This is so much one of my most favorite animes ever!! I can’t even begin to tell you how much it continues to crack me up no matter how many times I’ve watched it! XD
Feeling tired (_´Д｀)ノ。。of your same old wardrobe? Want to feel the euphoria~* of custom idol♥gear? ………(゜∀゜)………。 …but low on cash$? Well now there’s a way~ to get a~hold of rare concert merchandise.. ..and its free!!!! っo(*´∀｀)o! …
There’s a great possibility that you’ve watched this one too! And there are those special dramas which further draw and endear themselves to the viewer and a few weeks ago I found myself again reliving the drama “Long Vacation” as I’ve watched it quite a few times since its broadcast =) and it’s most wonderful that till this day it hasn’t fallen ill to that sense of ‘dated’ or stuck in an era as great love/ relationship stories can be truly timeless,…when of course the storytelling and development of characters is at a premium in writing and talents respectfully...
1. The opening credits reflects so much of the show’s personality and is one of the cutest ever!! One of J-Pop’s finest, Arashi presents you the main theme song…here hit play while I ramble for a little while…
“Sword of Desperation” (“Hisshiken torisashi”) portrays the life of Sanzaemon Kanemi (Toyokawa Etsushi), a highly skilled swordsman appointed as chief protector to his lord...
In a span of approximately 55 minutes Kamei treats us to some of her inner most thoughts while on location in scenic Okinawa. Whenever I see any footage or photos of Okinawa it just has such a warm and small town feel to their community and their architecture is always so amazing to see~! Unlike any of its predecessors, in large “20 Dreams” is a personal recollection which delves into a much more intimate look into an idol’s aspirations, hopes and dreams as the title suggests and where other previous releases may have only scratched the surface, Kamei’s narrative throughout covers anything from simple aspects such as hair color, dream bedroom & home design and fellow members to much deeper thoughts of family memories, specific childhood events, and future speculation. And throughout it’s all delivered with cute sincerity and more than any other member in Momusu, Kamei possesses the uncanny ability to incorporate the most adorable random and honest laughter that I’ve ever seen...
あっ！すごいかわいく～♥！！かわいく～♥！！！
Harugon, Nacchan, Rabutan, Ayarin & Mayuyu continue to be the cutest~* of units!…and I’m just listening to their 6th single I know so late XD! While I so adore Mayuyu’s vocals and we’ve had plenty till now with her solo songs~♥, but the more I hear Rabutan’s voice the more she’s beginning to become my favorite vocal in the group =)……and while watching the making of she just sounded so anime~like saying “gyu♥!” each time, like the cutest cutest cutest character you can imagine っo(*´∀｀)o！！
Firstly, I wasn’t ever sure if I would see the day in which SPEED’s all time record sales for an all girl group would be broken and not by a slim margin by any means as AKB48 has eclipsed this record (reaching in excess of 826,000 copies sold) which has stood for I think…over a decade now?..and if there were any single which was worthy of such an achievement surely “Beginner” is deservingly so~. At the top of the Oricon this past week, AKB48 has also eclipsed omg!!! even Arashi’s~♥ used to be leading single’s sales plateau for the year for a single release :O and from the outside one may wonder why this single in particular?..and why now?
Do you crave more girl♥power in your life?
Or do you *secretly*….or maybe not so *secretly* ♥ watching very attractive actresses kick some serious butt on screen?!!
Have you grown tired of watching girls bake madeleines in the kitchen all day while the men get to drive the car?
Hmm…if you answered yes to any of the questions above then “so close” may be just for you~. (￣▽￣)
In collaboration with Aquaplus, Dream Tech has created a beautiful 1/6 scale pvc statue of Kousaka Tamaki who is one of several featured characters in the popular Japanese “renai” (aka dating simulation) game “To Heart 2.” This series has gone from Playstation2 to pc and has since become an anime and manga series in Japan...
Uminii’s newest visual release~* arrived and having gone from seeing her much earlier photographs from “Ao no corridor” initially to now “Umikaze”, she’s matured so much in so little time and she’s simply breAthtaking in this release...
While looking @ my bottle of shampoo a few days ago it got me thinking about the full~bodied model/idol♥…(yup I’m weird that way =P) and how it’s nice to see measurements and not have to ask the question possibly coined by L.A.~ians many moons ago: ‘do u think those R real (・c_・;)？？？
Shortly after the January 21st announcement during AKBb48’s “Request Hour Set List Best 100” the pre~orders went up for Akip’s latest unit interestingly named “Not yet” and such is the venue of favor these days for announcing graduations, debuts and other sometimes jaw~dropping bombshells upon unsuspecting fans’ heads~. Happily this time it’s the birth of a new foursome...
In late ’97 a flash of J-Pop goodness appeared on Japan’s horizon in the form of a most unlikely group of members…in a time when “idol” groups were just about to break free from their brief hiatus of unpopularity there came a group comprised of 2 comedians and a very very cute Taiwanese model...
