The 2009 IW Awards have been tabulated. Thanks to everyone who participated. And of course thank you to all of the writers we cover, without whom International Wota would not exist. You can see the 2009 award results here.
Utada Hikaru’s 5th stop on her Flesh 2010 tour was in Las Vegas, and Greg of Selective Hearing flew down to experience one of Hikki’s rare American appearances. He gives a detailed account of the experience – from waiting in the monstrous line, to the opening act, to the concert itself and his final thoughts.
I love how going to live shows raises your interest in songs which simply didn’t hold your interest when listening to the studio recording. This happened to me with Morning Musume’s Resonant Blue at Anime Expo last year, and for Greg it happened with Hikki’s Kremlin Dusk.
Kremlin Dusk was a song I initially disliked but after watching her rock that song out I don’t have such a strong dislike for it anymore. In fact I kind of like it now.
This was Greg’s first non-idol related Japanese music experience and he has nothing but rave reviews for Hikki’s performance. From what I could gather, the remaining tour dates are sold out, but if you can get your hands on a ticket, Greg highly recommends that you snatch up the opportunity to see her live.
Recent scuttlebutt regarding the 9th generation of Morning Musume has raised the ire or Tsukiki. Specifically, she is fed with the talk of H!P Egg and former Milky Way member Kikkawa Yuu joining the group. And she is committed to settling the matter right now!
Tsukiki addresses some of the most popular arguments. Experience, age factor and the ever-popular comparisons/criticisms of Mitsui Aika are covered. To me the commentary regarding Mittsi was the most poignant since she has been getting a lot of flack from the fans as of late. And I agree with Tsukiki that she doesn’t necessarily deserve the criticism much of the time. As far as whether or not Yuu should be considered for a shot in the “big show”, I don’t know. I like her a lot, but it occurs to me that Kitahara Sayaka seemed to grab a lot more attention in Milky Way. So why doesn’t she deserve the chance?
Tsukiki has stated a position. Do you agree or disagree?
I think Vee has tapped into exactly why I love Girl’s Generation so much. The are all freakin’ gorgeous! The songs are cool and all. Fun and catchy K-pop always works. But the key is the MVs. Watching these girls dance, gyrate and fool around is like manna from heaven!
With that thought in mind Vee presents a plethora of screenshots from their latest video. And since this is a Pink Wota post, I wonder if there will be any snarky commentary along the way? (Hehe!) For those who have seen it, I’m sure you will agree that “eyecandy” doesn’t even begin to describe the hawtness going on. I love TaeYeon, but in this video I have a new appreciation for Tiffany too!
Okada Yui, former Hello! Project and Biyuuden member has opened an official twitter account, along with Up Front Kansai – the agency managing Yui and pop group SI*NA. Ado has the links to the accounts so you can follow the most talented former member of Biyuuden. (Heh, I was picturing Lita/Sailor Jupiter from the North American dub of Sailor Moon as I typed that…. And also Ewan McGregor in Moulin Rouge for some reason… I think I’m messed up. XD)
Morningtime’s quite happy about the news and has some Yui picspam to go with the link to the account.
I was so happy to see this post! I absolutely adore CinDy. She is such a great idol, and a great leader among all of those AKB48 Team B lolis! Silver Rain gives a complete and well detailed bio on one of AKB’s original members, who has the sole distinction of being a member of three different teams throughout her history with the group. Team A, Team B, and now SDN48. S.R. includes a touching story on how Kazumi came to her attention while watching the NHK and JCB Hall concert discs.
And for those who like plenty of eyecandy, there are over 100 pics of CinDy in various T.V. appearances, concert performances and occasional PV cameos. She is so cute, and has such a fun personality. Thank you to Silver Rain, I’m sure CinDy would be proud!
I think after seeing this blog everyone will now know the AKB48 Theater chant. Now I need someone to name their blog after the other chant. (Hehe)
Hakushu hosts this site, which has been going steady since November. What got my attention was the picset post he recently did of the AKB48 Theater. And it looks like those pics are relatively recent because the old theater shop in the background looks closed up. But this site isn’t limited to AKB. Quite a few idol acts are covered, including Buono!, Morning Musume, Idoling!!! and evidently Hakushu is a big fan of SNSD. Yep, it looks like the two of us think alike
Yes, it’s safe to say I love this blog already. So check it out, and put it in your RSS reader!
Let’s begin the week with a plethora of cute pics. We start with the girls of Perfume modeling various hairstyles for a magazine spread. I must say that they look younger than ever in these pics. I know they are college age, but I have always experienced Perfume as older than they actually are. Also note that Kira Kira Anni is the new site belonging to Anni of Sweet Japan.
Next up Langdon has me humming the opening theme from ‘Kill Bill’ with these promo pics from Mano Erina’s new television drama. I swear Manoeri is one of the few people in the world who can still manage to look cute holding an automatic pistol!
Indigoburulove has double eyecandy installment in her ‘bikini pic of the week’ series. One problem, where is Oshima Yuko’s bikini? It looks like she is wearing nothing but a few strategically placed bubbles…and of course a smile Very sexy! The second half of the post contains some homemade game cards featuring former C-ute member Umeda Erika. I know I have seen cards like that before, but I have no idea what the game is called. Does that make me a nerd? Or not a nerd? I don’t know.
Finally Heiwa and Ange have posted some of the cutest pictures of Miyazawa Sae I have ever seen. After seeing her “male” roles in Majisuka Gakuen and Infinity, it is refreshing to see the Genking in such a feminine outfit. I felt myself exclaiming the exact same phrase as the girls when I saw these pics…
J has posted a group of photos from “Girls Pop Next”, an exhibition of up and coming pop acts in Shinagawa Tokyo. Incidentally, it was held at the hotel I usually stay at. Damn! Why wasn’t I there?
Among the groups performing were SDN48, Momoiro Clover, HAPPY! STYLE and Nakano Fujoshi Sisters. The leaders of each group took a group photo as well. So for anyone (like me) who enjoys seeing AKB and H!P members posing together, there are two pics of Noto Arisa with Noro Kayo.
These are all groups I enjoy, especially SDN48. So I’m excited to see them all getting this deserved exposure!
Morningtime has got some eyecandy for us in the form of screencaps. I really recommend that you all download this video. I mean, usually when OG and MoMusu are on a television program together, certain things become known that was not definitely known before, but had been suspected… There are a lot of surprises in this episode, and Morningtime has certainly capped all the good parts. CHECK IT OUT, YO.
K Bites reports today that on the latest episode of Star King, some members of SNSD, Super Junior, and SHINee were getting into fights with each other! But not the kind that will lead to lawsuits, the one that will leave all of us wishing we had large amounts of pudding and jello on hand! SNSD’s Seohyun and Sooyoung face off in a very intense battle with tons of wrestling, and I’m proud to say that my baby is FIERCE. Next off, Minho plays DIRTY, Eunhyuk and Eeteuk make the cutest pillowfighters ever, and Minho gets beat by a girl! The hugest shock is not the fact that pillowfighting is a sport, but that this professional(?) pillowfighter actually rejected Minho! Does she not realize that there are 23907237123 fangirls, including me, screaming right now because she was just all over my favorite member of SHINee? BAWWW.
Ado has the cover for Kamei Eri’s latest photobook, and he’s quite impressed with how incredible she looks. However, on my first glance I had a completely opposite reaction from him. Is it just me, or is that one seriously creepy look on the face of Morning Musume’s resident turtle? Judge for yourselves (and let me know what you think…).
Utada Hikaru’s 5th stop on her Flesh 2010 tour was in Las Vegas, and Greg of Selective Hearing flew down to experience one of Hikki’s rare American appearances. He gives a detailed account of the experience – from waiting in the monstrous line, to the opening act, to the concert itself and his final thoughts.
Now, how to celebrate Cake Day… I’ll have to outdo...
