May 21 2012
Recent Stuff
Hello again blog!
So it’s been a while. One reason is that Gaki graduating has kind of bummed me out, but mostly I’ve just been busy with other things. I like having this blog around if I want to write something, but I don’t really want to feel “obligated” to update it regularly.
Anyway, some pretty important thing have happened with MM recently, so let’s look at the group now and their future prospects.
1. Gaki-san graduates. My favorite member graduating is bittersweet for me. On the one hand, she’s been in the group forever and it feels like it’s time. On the other, bwaaaaaaaaaaa Gaki-saaaaaaan don’t leave!!! =( It seems that she had a nice send-off though. I really hope she just doesn’t disappear off the face of the earth now.
2. Aika graduates. It’s no secret that she was my least favorite current group member, so I’m sort of glad this happened… but I don’t really like the way it happened. My personal feelings aside, having such a rushed and last minute graduation shoe-horned in before Gaki’s doesn’t feel like a proper send-off. From the footage I’ve seen, the concert and the fans were very much all about Risa. Aika leaving felt like an afterthought.
3. Who do I support now?? I’ve thought about this, and I just don’t know who’s shirt color/ glowsticks I will sport next time I make it to a MM concert in Japan. I like a lot of the current girls, but I don’t overwhelmingly like one over the rest like I did with Gaki-san. Do I go for a member that tops my list, or maybe pick one of the less popular members that I like to show that she has support out there? I mean, I like Riho, Reina, and Sayumi, but they easily carry the majority of fans now (I saw a sea of red out there at pictures from other concerts), so supporting one of them almost feels redundant. Maybe I should go for Haruka…or Kanon…or Eripon? I just don’t know. It occurs to me that there has always been at least one girl in MM that I didn’t like much (Koharu, Makoto, Aika, Eri sometimes) but now there really isn’t a single girl I don’t like.
4. The Future. One of the main things that brought me back to this blog is the recent appearances of MM (mostly 9th/10th gen) and Fairies on Nakai (from SMAP)’s talk show. Finally, after years of MM coming off as polite and subdued (AKA boring) during the period of Ai-chan leadership, the new members are bringing back the genki, funny, youthful craziness that MM used to be known for! Don’t get me wrong, I love the 9nin MM dearly, and they were great in concert, but as a group they kind of sucked at TV appearances. This new MM generation is easily stealing the attention from Fairies, and seems to be making an impression on Nakai as well. Kanon and Eripon in particular are stand-outs. They’re not afraid to act over-the-top and goofy! Mizuki, while less “funny” is also not afraid to speak up and seems to be taking a natural leadership role with the new members.
Here’s the most recent segment:
And of course, there’s the announcement of 11th gen auditions. I for one am excited! I like MM as a 10+ member group. They’re at their best when there is a good mix of different looks, personalities, ages, and talents. I’ve been quite pleased with the results of the last two auditions, so I have high hopes for this one as well (no Mogis or Satsukis please!!). Again, back in the old days of MM there used to be auditions every year or so (1st through 5th generation all occurred in consecutive years). While this may seem sudden, it’s actually in keeping with the era when MM was shining their brightest.
In summary, while current MM is not the group I personally grew to know and love during my time in Japan anymore, they are starting to come much closer to the group they used to be when they were at the height of popularity, and I think that is a very good move.
~Celestia~
[...] Recent Stuff – Bikkuri Project The great changes in Morning Musume have stirred awake the H!P blogging legend. And as always, Celestia has a lot of interesting opinions and insights. [...]
I am SOOOOOOO excited for the 11th gen audtions!!!
And I kind of liked Aika, I am going to miss her.
After JunJun left I have had trouble trying to find a favourite as well.
I love this group and I love the new members
but there hasn’t been enough exposure (With subtitles) for me to connect with a current member
Its a battle between Sayumi, Eripon, Masaki and Haruna
I have always dislike Reina up until the last few weeks
I am starting to like her, and my dislike for haruka is waning as well
So I don’t dislike anyone at the moment either.
GOOD GOD, I thought you had died!!! I am so glad you’re ok!!!
I come here from time to time to see if you’ve updated. You are one of the finest “voices” out there in H!P Blogdom and I miss reading your take on all things H!P.
I agree just about 100% on all your feelings about Momusu’s new look. I LOVE the new girls and actually, while I understand the importance of keeping Reina and Sayu (sales, being Senpais, too many recant grads etc) I look forward tot he day when they are no longer there and there is NO ONE attached to Momusu’s “Golden Era” and it’s all 9th Gen and on.
These girls are fantastic and at just a little over a year (9th Gen) and just under a year for 10th Gen, they are already making a mark and leaving an impression, I am so excited to watch them grow into their voices and characters, Momusu has life again!!
Haruku is my fave now followed closely by ERipon, Masaki and Daishi.
The only place we differ is in our feelings about Aika. I adore her. But to each his/her own. I also understand and believe the reasons given for the quick grad for her. It was unfortunate to be shoehorned with Gaki, but to wait was bad too. It had to be done.
They waited as long as possible for her to heal properly and the doc finally said in April permanent damage could be done if she continued to dance so, better than leaving everyone hanging any longer she did the right thing for her health and took being overshadowed at the Grad. Hopefully she stays on to teach and mentor as I think that was actually her strong suit.
*Haruka* doh.