Archives for the ‘Noteworthy’ Category
Recommended reading. I never watched the 8th generation auditions for Morning Musume, but from what I can gather from anna’s article, Ayami Masuda was a fan favourite. Well, for those of you who routed for her, it looks like you’ll be seeing a bit more of her for anna reports that she has signed on with Avex.
anna makes an interesting comparison of Koda Kumi and Goto Maki from the 3rd generation auditions. In a few years, it’d be interesting to take a look at where Aika’s career is in comparison to Ayami’s.
maiZe • May 9th, 2008
Avex Trax, Blogs, Hello! Project, Noteworthy, Recommended • No Comments
Shanghai concert & World Expo 2010 (HNPH)
First! (Some Boys! Blog)
Morning Musume to Perform in Shanghai (Just Another H!P Blog)
Morning Musume to perform in Shanghai in June (Tokyograph)
Recommended reading. This is pretty big news, as it’s been confirmed that Morning Musume will be performing in Shanghai on June 28. They are the first Japanese artists in a series of concerts meant to celebrate the 2010 Expo / World’s Fair. All the above posts have the general details. Anna of HNPH has a rough translation from several members regarding this event and their participation. And Nyago of SB!B takes note of their costumes when the event was announced, which were modified versions of their Mikan outfits.
Ray • Apr 30th, 2008
Blogs, Hello! Project, News, Noteworthy, Recommended • No Comments
To add to this busy week in Hello! Project news, Tokyograph reports that producer Tsunku and his wife Kanako are now parents of twins–one boy and one girl.
Congratulations!
pengie • Apr 30th, 2008
Blogs, Hello! Project, News, Noteworthy • 2 Comments
The Hello! Project official site has the latest news: Ayaka, the last remaining member of Coconuts Musume, is graduating from H!P. I can’t read too much of the details, but she’s already graduated- it’s already April 30th in Japan. Really, it’s not like she did that much in H!P anyway…but it’s sad to see another member leave.
IndigoSkies • Apr 29th, 2008
Hello! Project, Noteworthy, Official Sites, Recommended • 11 Comments
Ongaku Gatas Loses Another Member
Some Boys! Blog has news of Ongaku Gatas losing yet another member, Mutou Mika. Check out the link for more information. First they lose Mano Erina to a solo career and now this. I don’t know how popular Mutou is (I haven’t followed Ongaku Gatas that closely), but it can’t be good to lose two members within the span of a few months.
maiZe • Apr 27th, 2008
Blogs, Hello! Project, Noteworthy, Recommended • 4 Comments
L’Arc Paris concert to be broadcast live in theaters
From Tokyograph: L’Arc en Ciel’s forthcoming concert debut in Paris is apparently a major milestone for the band, so much so that they’re going to give their home country’s fans a chance to witness the event in select movie theatres as well as buy merchandise from the same concert. The only caveat is that, thanks to the time difference between France and Japan, the theatre simulcast will be occurring at the decidedly un-rock-and-roll hour of 10 AM.
CJ Marsicano • Apr 27th, 2008
Concerts, News, Noteworthy, Rock • No Comments
Perfume announces first Budokan shows in November
From Tokyograph: No sooner does Perfume kick off their first tour since the release of GAME, than they announce that they’ll be performing two shows on their own at Budokan in November, the historic sumo venue that has also been a legendary music venue in Japan since the Beatles performed there in 1964. “On their own”, of course meaning that they’ll be the only act on the bill, not singing acapella.
CJ Marsicano • Apr 27th, 2008
Blogs, News, Noteworthy • No Comments
Ai Kago to appear in Hong Kong film
Tokyograph has the news that Ai Kago will be in a Hong Kong movie. With a lot of blogs following and contemplating her next steps, this comes as a little unexpected (at least to me). There’s no word on the film or her role in it and I’m going to assume that it isn’t a big role. Nevertheless, it’ll be interesting to see where this goes.
Although with details being so vague, I can hold out hope that this Hong Kong film will be directed by Edison Chen.
broomhead • Apr 23rd, 2008
News, Noteworthy, Pop Idols, Recommended • No Comments
Recommended reading. Celestia is happy to pass along info on the third KAT-TUN album. But Queen of Pirates? So does this just confirm that they’re all, you know, ring pirates?
Ray • Apr 23rd, 2008
Blogs, Johnny's, Noteworthy, Recommended • No Comments
Recommended reading. Santos is ecstatic about Perfume hitting the #1 spot for the week on the Oricon Album Charts. He notes this is the first techno album to do so in almost a quarter century; in more immediate terms, this is also the first girl group to have a weekly #1 album in some time, as well. With any luck, we’ll see a resurgence of popularity in quality idol girlpop with this trio leading the way.
Ray • Apr 22nd, 2008
Blogs, Noteworthy, Pop Idols, Recommended • No Comments
Recommended reading. Our very own celestia has created an interesting looking game. She’s taken Hello! Project song titles and has put them undercover. Your mission: to determine who’s who… Or rather, what’s what. There are a total of 50 songs up for decoding, and to make things more interesting, celestia has put a prize up for grabs!
The grand prize is $30 to YesAsia.com to spend as you see fit. If anyone can get all of them, I’ll be extremely impressed and make it $60
I am up for this challenge! I completed Kawaiirrhea’s H!P puzzle for free. With a prize up for grabs, I’m so there! 
maiZe • Apr 19th, 2008
Blogs, Hello! Project, Noteworthy, Recommended • No Comments
Anime North brings Halko Momoi to Toronto (Tokyograph)
Anime North to Host Voice Actress/Singer Halko Momoi (Anime News Network)
There are a few Intl Wota contributors around the Toronto area who have been wondering for some time now about the guests for Anime North and when they would be announced. Well Tokyograph via Anime News Network reports that Halko will be a guest at the convention.
broomhead • Apr 18th, 2008
Blogs, Noteworthy, Pop Idols, Recommended • No Comments
It’ll take some time before this project get its legs underneath it. However, please bear with it. The winner of this week’s Entry of the Week comes from Raid My Minibar for Not only is he bitchy, he gives advice too! The snarky and comedic tone of the post were presented in a unique way - under the guise of an advice column. Raid’s opinions on the matters shine through even if he is writing as someone else. Junjun complaining about the show’s lack of (quality) activity is the same as Raid making this complaint. It is essentially a fun read that deserves extra praise.
broomhead • Apr 17th, 2008
Blog Entry of the Week, Noteworthy, Recommended • No Comments
We are pleased to announce a new weekly feature for International Wota - the Entry of the Week. As the name implies, every week the Intl Wota staff will select an entry that we feel deserves extra recognition. All entries covered on Intl Wota during the select week will be eligible. It will not be necessary to nominate yours or others’ entries.
The purpose of this project is to promote entries that we feel are of high quality. That being said, entries chosen will not be required to meet a certain length or grammatical criteria. Quality entries can come in all different styles. Ideally, winning entries will showcase all the different styles of the blogs covered on Intl Wota.
Winning entries will be announced midweek.
broomhead • Apr 13th, 2008
Blogs, Noteworthy, Recommended • No Comments
Hello!Pro Kansai Debuts as SI☆NA (Some Boys! Blog)
H!P Kansai no Longer Trainees (Just Another H!P Blog)
Recommended reading. Taking a cue from the considerably more successful Johnny’s collective, Hello!Pro Kansai are now an official unit whose name is taken from the first initial of each member. Their actual activities - music releases and touring, for example - are apparently undetermined.
Ray • Apr 12th, 2008
Blogs, Hello! Project, Noteworthy, Recommended • 2 Comments
Viz Shows Kilari, Monster, Nana at Global TV Trade Con (Anime News Network)
Viz Media Showcasing ‘Kilari,’ ‘Nana’ Anime (ICv2 News)
Recommended reading. The Kirarin Revolution anime, which features Morning Musume’s Kusumi Koharu as the main character, has been licensed for distribution in the US by Viz Media. This is pretty big news, and it has the possibility of raising Morning Musume’s popularity here in America. The title has apparently been changed to “Kilari”. Keep in mind, however, that as it says in the news articles, this doesn’t necessarily mean that it will actually be released here- but if it’s licensed, I’d say the chances are pretty high.
IndigoSkies • Apr 9th, 2008
News, Noteworthy, Recommended • 20 Comments
Ayaya to star in musical featuring Mariya Takeuchi songs
Coming in from Tokyograph. Good for Aya. But pretty soon girls will be auditioning to join H!P in order to get in musicals.
broomhead • Apr 9th, 2008
Hello! Project, News, Noteworthy, Recommended • No Comments
Artists announced for “hide memorial summit”
Recommended reading. This is a huge two-day event with an incredible line-up of performers that include X Japan (of course), Luna Sea, Dir en grey, D’espairsRay, Mucc, T.M. Revolution, Phantasmagoria, Versailles, Spread Beaver, and DJ Ozma.
Wait a second - DJ Ozma? If Show is there, he should be performing with freakin’ Kishidan!
Anyway, this is shaping up to be the major jrock event of the year. Which I’m sure is what Yoshiki intended.
Ray • Apr 8th, 2008
Blogs, Noteworthy, Recommended, Rock • No Comments
Morning Musume Concert in Korea (HNPH)
Morning Musume Concert in Korea (Just Another H!P Blog)
Morning Musume in Korea 2008 (LOVE Tantei)
Recommended reading. This is pretty big news, as the long-threatened Asian Invasion of Momusu is finally becoming more tangible. Anna and Jin break the news at HNPH, Just Another has show information, and Love Tantei thinks of ways to actually attend the show but is nevertheless happy for this development no matter what.
Ray • Apr 8th, 2008
Blogs, Hello! Project, Noteworthy, Recommended • No Comments
Kago Ai’s 1st Interview in 2 Years (Some! Boys Blog)
Long Time no See, Aibon (Just Another H!P Blog)
Look, it’s KAGO! (Aoi♥Usagi)
Just a few weeks after the 1 year anniversary of the termination of Kago Ai’s contract with Up-Front Agency, Kago is back with her first interview in 2 years. It looks like the interview will be broken into 6 parts.
Some Boys! and Just Another H!P Blog have links to the interview.
Aoi♥Usagi. on the other hand, contemplates what it is about idols that makes them so appealing to others.
I don’t know that this interview signifies, but if this marks Kago’s first step towards a return to the entertainment industry, many fans will be ecstatic.
maiZe • Apr 6th, 2008
Blogs, Noteworthy, Recommended • No Comments
X Japan announces concert at Madison Square Garden (Tokyograph)
X Japan in the US, Paris (Heroin(e)’s blog )
September Calendar - X-Japan in New York (ZB’s A-Z)
Recommended reading. Yoshiki can now collapse over his drum kit and then get mugged! Seriously, this is incredibly huge news, given the stature and legacy of X Japan and the venue where they’re performing. I’m sure there’ll be more news on this as it develops.
Ray • Apr 4th, 2008
Blogs, Noteworthy, Recommended, Rock • 1 Comment
Bennie K - Best of Bestest (1st best of album)
Recommended reading. The first Best collection from this popular and extremely talented duo, this will be a great jumping-on point for those who are curious about Yuki and Cico but haven’t tried them out yet. Our own AnyGroove has the tracklisting for both the album and the DVD, and it’s coming out later this month!
It looks like their two most recent full-length albums, the excellent The World and the phenomenal / should-not-miss Japan-arhythm, are both well-represented, but why isn’t “A Love Story” on the CD, at least? Doesn’t matter. Buy this buy this buy this. All of you. You won’t regret it.
Ray • Apr 2nd, 2008
Blogs, Noteworthy, Recommended • No Comments
Gomaki Ganbare Day (Some Boys! Blog)
GOMAKI GANBARE
Recommended reading. Some Boys! has announced a new website started by one of their readers, Iceymoon. This website, GOMAKI GANBARE is set on organizing H!P and Maki Goto fans to gather and show their support for Maki as she seems to be setting up for a comeback into the entertainment industry with her popping up in LA. Here’s a quick rundown of the aims of the day taken from Some Boys!:
The two primary aims of GG Day are:
1. To use this opportunity as a way to find other fans in our areas; the H!P community thus far does not have any large-scale organized gatherings, which is unfortunate seeing as how fans tend to be big fans and so we’d have a lot to talk about and do together.
2. To get the news of this day to Goto Maki herself; this way we have the opportunity to demonstrate to her how fans outside of Japan (and other Asian countries which have had a chance to show their support) can pull together and do something special in her name, because we love and support her (and on a larger scale, show how us fans can get together to support those we care about, be it Gomaki, other H!P artists, or J-artists in general).
The official day of this gathering has been set for April 12th, but various locations can hold it on a different day depending on peoples availability. The website has information on how to set up a gathering in your city. Unfortunately, I already know that I won’t be able to participate in the festivities, but this sounds like a lot of fun. Note that April 12th is also the same day as Hitomi Yoshizawa and Airi Suzuki’s birthday, so this gathering will have even more to celebrate on that day.
maiZe • Apr 2nd, 2008
Blogs, Fan Sites, Hello! Project, Noteworthy, Recommended • No Comments
Happy! Style: New Group with H!P Members (Some Boys! Blog)
New Unit:Happy! Style (Totally Hello! Project)
Recommended reading. The Eggs continue to break out, as Nocchi fronts this new unit which includes a bunch of H!P Kansai and two new trainees. While they’re part of UFA, there isn’t any confirmation yet that they’re part of H!P proper.
Ray • Mar 31st, 2008
Blogs, Hello! Project, Noteworthy, Recommended • No Comments
Avex announces compilation, drama project to celebrate 20th anniversary
Recommended reading. Avex has very elaborate plans to celebrate their twentieth anniversary, including a 200-song compilation and a series of short dramas starring Avex artists and based on 100 of the compilation songs. Definitely something worth getting excited about.
Ray • Mar 31st, 2008
Avex Trax, Blogs, Noteworthy, Recommended • No Comments
Surge of J-pop in the West gains notice
We have been surfing on it now for ages (at least I am) but is there any chance that the rest of the western world could learn to love J-pop & -rock? This debate whether Japanese popular music & culture could hit a big time in America has been on for a while and now Radicalpatriot makes his return to this subject. He refers to article published in Daily Yomiuri Online and notices recent J-activity in US club circuit.
For me US is far away and I can only talk about Finnish scene. Knowing Japanese popular culture is evidently fast growing trend here in my home country. Japanese alt.pop & rock bands are doing gigs quite often here in Helsinki, anime & manga are in and recently we have got even Finnish language manga & J-pop magazines.
zush • Mar 30th, 2008
Blogs, Hello! Project, Noteworthy • No Comments
Sharam Q to celebrate 20th anniversary at Budokan
Recommended reading. Tsunku, Makoto, and the others are planning a big concert in December to celebrate two decades together. (Well, this past decade has mostly been spent making money off of teenage girls…) It’s predicted that Morning Musume will be part of the festivities, though there’s no word on that just yet.
Ray • Mar 29th, 2008
Blogs, Hello! Project, Noteworthy, Recommended, Rock • No Comments
JAM Project to make US debut at Otakon
Recommended reading. Otakon revealed their big musical guest this year, which apparently has been in the top four of requested guests for several years.
Ray • Mar 29th, 2008
Blogs, Noteworthy, Recommended • No Comments
Recommended reading. I haven’t been following this group or their show, but they’re going from nine members to eighteen. Whether that’s a sign of their growing strength or growing desperation, I’d really like to know. At any rate, H!P and AKB48 now have a new girl gang to contend with.
Ray • Mar 28th, 2008
Blogs, Noteworthy, Pop Idols, Recommended • No Comments
Morning Musume’s Tanaka Reina and Macha Macha in Onegai My Melody (HNPH)
Tanaka Reina Stars in Sanrio Anime (Some Boys! Blog)
Tanaka Reina to Star in New Anime (Just Another H!P Blog)
Recommended reading. Reina and Macha Macha are the stars of the upcoming Onegai My Melody series, further plunging Hello! Project down seiyuu career tracks as almost half of Morning Musume are now doing voice work for cartoons.
This may mean that Reina will get to sing the theme - perhaps a duet with Macha Macha? - and better position H!P for appearances on the U.S. anime con circuit. It’d be ironic if Morning Musume become famous in the States, not as “that singing group”, but as “that seiyuu collective” by fans who discover Koha and company through their shows.
Ray • Mar 28th, 2008
Blogs, Hello! Project, Noteworthy, Recommended • 2 Comments
Highly recommended reading. A year ago yesterday marked the day when one of H!P’s most beloved idols was booted off the island. Many were shocked, for after a year of waiting and seemingly on verge of a comeback, Aibon got involved in a second major scandal and was subsequently released from her contract.
Our own broomhead uses this one year anniversary to analyze the relationship between fan and idol. He writes a beautiful piece on the trust and communication that must be present between an idol and fan for an idol to continue successfully (and how he disagrees with the expectations placed on idols).
broomhead delves into the fantasy of the idol persona versus the reality of the real life girl, and how fine the dividing line truly is. Thus, fans are constantly on edge, awaiting the next scandal that may send their favourite idol into the land of obscurity. He gives the example of C-ute’s Megumi Murakami, whose scandal was of a much smaller scale (at least in my opinion), but still resulted in her leaving H!P to “focus on her studies and lead a private life”.
In the end, he salutes Aibon, mourning her premature departure from H!P and extending an open invitation for her to return. I’m sure many Aibon fans have the same sentiment. This is definitely not one to miss.
maiZe • Mar 27th, 2008
Blogs, Hello! Project, Noteworthy, Recommended • No Comments
Shokotan to perform at AX 2008
In July, Shoko Nakagawa is gonna be at Anime Expo in Los Angeles. Full details to be found at Anime Expo’s site.
broomhead • Mar 26th, 2008
News, Noteworthy, Pop Idols, Recommended • No Comments
Goto Maki Re-Opens Official Blog (Some Boys! Blog)
Some H!P News (Musume, Buono!, and Goto OH MY!) (Strawberrie)
Recommended reading. Some Boys! report that Goto Maki has updated her official blog! They provide a link to her official blog.
Strawberrie comments on this breaking news, as well as on other notable H!P news announced today.
Unfortunately, I can’t read Japanese, but it seems Maki’s currently in Los Angeles, California. I wonder what else she says in her blog, and if this resurfacing foreshadows her return to the music industry. Hmm.. I can’t really tag her under Hello! Project now, can I? That feels strange…
maiZe • Mar 25th, 2008
Blogs, Noteworthy, Recommended • 1 Comment
Avril Lavigne writes for Puffy
This is an interesting development, as Lavigne co-writes “All Because of You”. Maybe Avril fans will become interested in Puffy, as well as vice-versa.
Ray • Mar 25th, 2008
Blogs, Noteworthy • 4 Comments
From our own jinryuichi at HNPH, word that Tsunku’s wife is expected to give birth to their first child this May. You see, THIS is the kind of secretiveness one expects from the adults in H!P…
Ray • Mar 24th, 2008
Blogs, Hello! Project, Noteworthy, Recommended • 7 Comments
Musume 2008 Haru Concert Setlist ~UPDATED~ (Strawberrie)
Morning Musume Spring Concert Setlist (Resonant Blue - a la Nusumenai Houseki)
My thoughts on the Morning Musume spring concert setlist (Resonant Blue - a la IndigoSkies)
Recommended reading. Well, it definitely makes it more interesting when a write-up contains two blogs of the same name. However, what matters is the content, and here we have reports of the setlist of Morning Musume’s spring concert. I’ll let you all have the pleasure of reading the list (I’m quite excited for it myself), but one thing to note from Strawberrie:
☆ In Roman, Niigaki got Miki’s lines.
The Risa fangirl in me is absolutely ecstatic!
maiZe • Mar 22nd, 2008
Blogs, Hello! Project, Noteworthy, Recommended • No Comments
http://jp.youtube.com/watch?v=cTMoAGmS694
http://jp.youtube.com/watch?v=-hDakLvfASE
http://sv2.st-kamomo.com/hello/dat/ufa29488.73024.jpg
http://sv2.st-kamomo.com/hello/dat/ufa29494.80121.jpg
http://sv2.st-kamomo.com/hello/dat/ufa29493.65938.jpg
Mindblowing!
* st-kamomo uploader stores files only briefly and so in a sense is one of the most beautifully realised uploaders aiding disscusions while remaining ephemeral.
craig • Mar 20th, 2008
News, Noteworthy • No Comments
Intl Wota Press
Intl Wota Samizdat
These have been in the planning for months, and we’re announcing it now to start the second year of Intl Wota off on the right foot.
Ray • Mar 18th, 2008
Noteworthy • No Comments
Here they are!
Ray • Mar 18th, 2008
Blogs, Noteworthy • No Comments
Just so I sound like a nagging parent: today’s the last day to vote for the Intl Wota Awards! Nominee list is here and voting instructions are here. Also, if you wanna help celebrate Intl Wota’s first anniversary with baked goods, here are the details to Cake Day.
Ray • Mar 16th, 2008
Blogs, Noteworthy • No Comments
Perfume’s first regular show on NTV
Recommended reading. Their conquering of the geinou world continues, as the girls will host their own late night show.
Ray • Mar 14th, 2008
Blogs, Noteworthy, Pop Idols, Recommended • No Comments
http://imepita.jp/20080314/058050
http://imepita.jp/20080314/061020
http://imepita.jp/20080314/062800
http://imepita.jp/20080314/032010
I’m freaking out!
*gasps*
craig • Mar 13th, 2008
Noteworthy • 1 Comment
March 18 will mark the one year anniversary of Intl Wota - here’s the very first post that went up.
To celebrate, some of us are going to take a picture of a cake or cupcake or muffin or some other baked good and post it on our respective blogs. We invite you to join in - just find some random baked good, write a message such as “Happy Birthday International Wota and Many Happy Returns In The Blogosphere For Years And Years To Come” on it in icing (or maybe just put the letters IW on it with some M&Ms), snap a pic, and share with the world! Let us know if you do this, so we can link to you that day.
And on a personal note, March 17 is my wife’s birthday. It truly sucks when every year your birthday results in dozens of drunken brawls, traffic snarls, and hundreds of upset gays and lesbians.
Ray • Mar 13th, 2008
Blogs, Noteworthy, Recommended • 6 Comments
disc review: despairs ray | “mirror” (2008)
Recommended reading. Go reports that Despairs Ray is currently touring America and a U.S. version of their album Mirror comes out next week. He shares a review of the album, including a description of the U.S. version, and lists the twenty-five shows scheduled across the country. This is looking like the biggest J-music event of the year so far.
Also, Go shares a nifty idea - and hey, I have a cute young daughter, too! So if you don’t use my Amazon code when shopping there, I’ll… um… not let Haruna watch Shihono Ryo videos with me anymore! Wait, I don’t have an Amazon code. Okay, use Go’s instead.
Ray • Mar 12th, 2008
Blogs, Noteworthy, Recommended, Rock • No Comments
Intl Wota Awards 2007 Nominees
Voting for the awards was supposed to end yesterday, but since we got off to a late start, you can stll vote until Sunday, March 16. Instructions can be found here. Everyone subscribed to Intl Wota is encouraged to vote, except maybe the spammers whose IPs I block.
The winners will still be announced on March 18.
Ray • Mar 12th, 2008
Blogs, Noteworthy, Recommended • No Comments
As some of you may have already noticed, a handful of regularly linked wordpress.com-hosted Hello! Project and/or jpop blogs have been shut down without notice due to “Terms of Service violations.” At this point in time, if you are running a blog with content stored on wordpress.com, the International Wota staff highly recommend that you back up your posts to avoid the loss of data in the event of a sudden shutdown. So far, the blog removals appear to be limited mostly to media-heavy websites, but it is far better to be safe than sorry in this case.
If your blog has already been shut down, please use the wordpress.com contact page linked below to get in touch with staff to ask about your content. Unfortunately, when blogs are removed for ToS violations, it is not likely that they can even be partially restored. It doesn’t hurt to ask, though.
If you do not know how to perform a backup, please see this wordpress.com FAQ: Is everything being backed up? (opens in new window). This FAQ page offers instructions on performing a blog backup to XML (which can be imported to other websites).
Contact Support (opens in new window)
Everyone at International Wota wishes all wordpress.com bloggers the best of luck and hopes for the safety and security of their blog data, both now and in the future. If there is anything that we can do to help, or anything in this post that can be clarified, please notify us in the comments of this post.
pengie • Mar 7th, 2008
News, Noteworthy, Recommended • 2 Comments
Yes!~ (Aoi♥Usagi)
Milky Way Revolution (Strawberrie)
Milky Way and the Galaxy Girl (Morning Meteora)
MilkyWay is Kusumi, Kikkawa & Kitahara (Some Boys! Blog)
New H!P unit revealed: Milky Way (Tokyograph)
Milky Way Revealed (Totally Hello! Project)
Recommended reading. So Milky Way is indeed a new anime-related unit, featuring Kusumi Koharu and Eggs Kikkawa Yuu and Kitahara Sayaka. Much of the initial response has been quite positive, and SB!B explains who plays what character.
Ray • Mar 3rd, 2008
Blogs, Hello! Project, Noteworthy • 3 Comments
Morning Musume, Takarazuka team up for “Cinderella” musical (Tokyograph)
Cinderella the Musical (Totally Hello! Project)
Cinderalla The Musical (What Kio Says: Hello! Project Much?)
Recommended reading. The Takarazuka Revue and Morning Musume team up for a new theatrical project, with more Takarazuka performers being involved.
Ray • Mar 2nd, 2008
Blogs, Hello! Project, News, Noteworthy • 1 Comment
ハロー！プロジェクトからのお知らせ (Hello!Project Official Site)
Mano Erina Promoted to Soloist (What Kio Says: Hello! Project Much?)
Recommended reading. I love Manoeri as eyecandy, but wasn’t at all prepared for this development.
I have to honestly ask: is she that good a singer, or is it her image and growing fan base that’s driving this?
Ray • Mar 2nd, 2008
Blogs, Hello! Project, News, Noteworthy • 10 Comments
“Dschinghis Khan”: The Strategic Use of PVs and The Rebellion Against Education
The H!P Kids Are Alright 1: Ray
Another new beginning for the man I secretly call my Hawaiian father, although dont tell him that. Oh s***! Anyway, the new layout is easier to navigate, and altogether better looking. You can read up on the introduction here.
Two entries to start off this conception of sorts. The most recent post is littered with half-baked analogies - for the greater good of humour - and some typical quality humour Ray exhaust’s from his usual eloquent writing. Mix in the topic of Berryz Koubou, their “Dschinghis Khan” single and the hidden, or intended motivation behind the PV and you have quite a blend. Some interesting theories arise, besides a thorough breakdown of the PV, including anti-educational messages. It’s great to see Chinami shining in the video, as she’s my joint favourite Berryz along with long face. So if you can stick through the long, screen captured write-up reminiscent of Ray’s ‘Cult of Pop’ days, you’ll come out satisfied. Some analysis, sure, and there’s even teasing with deeper meanings, but a lot of the power of this post derives from Ray’s good awareness of humour, and how to merge it with the details of the chosen topic.
The second post introduces an interesting roundtable idea, where Ray will ask selected bloggers to tackle a topic of his choice. It’s certainly encouraging in terms of building on, or trying to build a community out of you lot. The topic revolves around the idea of fronting Berryz Koubou and C-ute as H!P’s two mainstays, whilst Momusu take a back seat. Basically, the idea of ‘cycling’ the talent and the nurturing and handling of it. You’ll need to really go through Ray’s thoughts to come to your own conclusions, obviously. Some, I’m sure, will be against some of what’s written, whilst many I feel will be onboard. I have a few reservations myself, but the point about Momusu working with the members they have, ending the idea of new generations - at least for awhile - to stabalize the internal boat is something I’m totally onboard with. Anyway, I’m interested to see where the chosen bloggers can take this thing.
wu-san • Mar 1st, 2008
Blogs, Hello! Project, Johnny's, News, Noteworthy • No Comments