Just imagine it…
Posted in Hello!Project, Personal, Polls, Q&A on August 5th, 2010 5:36 by HenkkaTags: s/mileage, tsunku
Tsunku with a beard. Imagine.
That’s what the poll this time is about. Would Tsunku look silly wearing a beard? Or would he absolutely rock it? If so, what kind would suit him best? A snazzy goatee? What about a full beard adorning his sexy man-face? Or would a Hitler moustache be more up Tsunku’s alley? You tell me! If you feel that your beard knowledge is a bit limited, check out this blog of a man who’s on a very admirable mission of trying to grow every different type of beard there is!
In the mean time, here’s a good history lesson on facial hair:
Some past polls.
Well, the first poll’s results are pretty unsurprising. As expected, it looks like many of you have yet to delve into the world of Ringo. That’s alright. Just get to it sooner rather than later! And yeah, S/mileage‘s debut song was pretty goddamn awesome, and the second one might just be even better! I definitely thought “Yume Miru 15sai” to be on par with Frank Lapidus‘ chest hair.
Finally, some burning Formspring questions answered by yours truly. Some Q’s were quite funny. Thanks to everyone who bothered to ask anything, feel free to keep ‘em coming!
Category: music
Q: So you hate Buono!, Hangry & Angry and even C-ute. Is there anyone in H!P you like anymore?
Ohh, good question! Now that you mention it, H!P has been kinda lackluster to me lately. I’m a big fan of Manoeri but “Onegai Dakara…” promises to be shitty. “Onna ga Medatte” was subpar, too. Yeah… H!P is consistantly disappointing me lately.
With that said, I am looking forward to S/mileage‘s debut. I’m feeling good about Manoeri otherwise too, I’m confident that “Onegai Dakara…” was just a fluke. Oh, and Berryz have been solid lately! I dig everything they’ve come up with in recent times.
Update: obviously this one was answered quite a while ago. Yeah, “Onegai Dakara…” was shit, my previous confidence of Manoeri is gone as her next one promises to be shit too, “Seishun Collection” was shit, “Campus Life” was super shit, and now with “Maji Bomber!!” even Berryz have jumped the bandwagon of overflowing shit. But not all is lost! For the first time in who knows when, C-ute’s new single “Dance de Bakoon!” is sounding really cool. S/mileage was awesome with “Yume Miru 15sai” as you’ve read above. I pre-ordered their second one, too, after hearing how fun it is.
Q: How awesomely angry is Berryz Koubou’s Otakebi Boy WAO! song? I don’t know about the guitar solo, but the drum track is a fast-paced piece of epic.
“Otakebi Boy WAO!” is indeed awesome like you said. Those cool thunder sound effects and stuff in the PV make it even more bad ass.
Q: do you think you will always love idols?
No, I don’t believe I will. I’ve had plenty of experiences in the past where I’ve said “I’ll always love group X!” or “Y will always be my favorite band!” and it’s never worked out that way. Idols/idol music is most likely no different. I’ve stopped making those kinds of empty promises to myself because it’s pointless. There’ll be some other type of music that’ll steal my interest and that’s alright.
Q: Hey, just discovered your blog. Love it! Now I know of the wonder of Tokyo Jihen. Have you heard of Fonogenico? They’re a jazz/ballad type band from Japan with an awesome woman lead singer. Check them out. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pPqIIUtsH8s
Hey thanks a lot! Feedback such as yours makes having the blog worth it for me. I’m very glad if that post inspired you to check ‘em out, Shiina and Tokyo Jihen are definitely my top music addictions lately! I wasn’t familiar with Fonogenico, but the song you linked sounds quite pleasant, I’ll have to investigate them further. Thanks for the rec!
Q: This isn’t a question, but I urge you to check out the band Mass Of The Fermenting Dregs. I know, crazy name. IT doesn’t matter! They’re awesome. A girl bassist/vocalist and a girl guitarist. They have stand in drummers now since their original drummer, R… (question cuts off)
I’m familiar with them. Sorry to disappoint, don’t really dig them… can’t win ‘em all!
Q: I see your blog about metal and Jpop, do you enjoy any other genres?
Sure. Aside from metal and J-music… My main fandom before was prog rock (the more 70′s and Italian it got, the better!) and I never really “grew out” of it, though I don’t listen to it as much these days. Recently I’m getting very into hip hop, especially what some might call “jazz hop” in the vein of Nujabes. My fave band of all time is The Beatles so that obviously also lends itself to me appreciating other fine things in pop and rock. I think that covers the most important bits.
Q: How much blues do you jam? I heard this little piece of genius and thought of your guitar solo ranking (even though they don’t sound so bluesy now that I go back and listen to them XD): http://superfan2009.com/2009/01/30/blues-knows-no-age/
Not very much at all, but coincidentally I was just recently introduced to Robert Johnson and his stuff is just crazy addictive. I love it! I ought to check out more of especially the delta blues scene.
Q: what song(s) moves you to tears?
Not one does without the help of alcohol. I’m a manly man. That last sentence is a lie.
Q: What is your favorite song and/or album released so far this year?
As far as J-albums go, my top 3 so far is probably…
1. 9mm Parabellum Bullet – “Revolutionary”
2. Tokyo Jihen – “Sports“
3. aiko – “BABY”
Q: favorite album in the world? EVER!!!
Going to go for either “Sgt. Pepper” by The Beatles or “Blackwater Park” by Opeth.
Q: how great was Tuska?
Very. Her, friends, great bands and too much alcohol. Magical weekend.
Category: alcohol
Q: So bottle of rum and vodka placed in front of you which do you pick up first?
Vodka! Not sure I’d even touch the rum. Vodka has always been my number one fave since I started drinking.
Q: If you could go karaoke with anyone who and why? what song?
I’d go with Aya Matsuura and Tsunku. We could sing through discographies of both Ayaya and Sharan Q while consuming a ridiculous amount of alcohol. It’d be fantastic. Afterwards, me and Tsunku would end up in a love hotel.
Q: Shall we go for beer or Martini’s? I drink both. :D
I don’t drink either but, hell, if you’re buying I’m not going to complain!
Q: Okay how would you feel about a Vodka and tonic?
I had to stop reading at the “vodka” part due to uncontrollable drooling. Let’s go already!
Q: how many glasses of vodka, till your ready to be taken advantage of?
The proper question would be, “How many glasses of vodka until I start taking advantage of others?”
The answer is “Not many.”
Q: So, with the alcohol and the taking advantage. Would i have a chance at taking advantage of you or would i fail miserably?
Well, I mean sure, slip some date rape drug in my drink and it should work out. But I don’t understand… where’s the fun in taking advantage of someone without female parts?
Category: pervy
Q: girls with long legs or girls with a tight bottom? (by wu)
Leave it to wu to ask the things that actually matter! I don’t really have a preference, but I do like my girls to not be overly tall (a partner taller than me would be a no-no) so maybe I’ll go with the tight bottom. I’ll tell you a secret though: I’m more of a boobs man rather than an ass man.
Q: Who’s an ass man? Don’t get me wrong, ass is nice, but tits are where it’s at, amirite?!
Right on. I knew plenty of ass men and it confuses me! I agree, ass is nice, but there’s something quite comforting about a nice chest.
Q: What if a woman’s boobies were where her ass was, and her ass was were he boobies were…wait…what? (by wu)
You bring up a good point here wu. Basically there’s a little bit of both boobs man and ass man in all of us, because asses are like tits. Just like there’s two tits, two halves also make up a bum. Anything less than that just feels half-assed. See what I did there?
Q: massive dd size tits or little a’s??
Unexpected as it may sound coming from a chest man… little A’s! The best size really is the kind that fits the palm of your hand. Anything more than that is just showing off.
Q: Ever have Cyber sex? or does that sound weird to you?
Nah, no interest. I’m good with the old-fashioned way.
Category: language
Q: sometimes you’re tweeting in japanese, are you fluent? how long have you been learning? any tips?
If this is in response to one of my latest tweets, that was just alcohol and me pasting song lyrics!
I do like to learn Japanese but I’m by no means close to fluent. Not sure how long I’d say I’ve been learning. I guess I got “serious” around early 2009 when I started using smart.fm and the Genki books, but I haven’t used the two in ages now and only made it to around chapter five-ish with Genki. You could say I started learning as early as mid-2005 when I started watching anime. While at that point I wasn’t interested in learning Japanese, that’s when I first began hearing the language — which is also how I learned English (that is to say, constantly hearing it in English-language movies, TV shows, music and so on).
As of late, I’m mainly learning by watching drama and other Japanese TV without subtitles. That’s definitely my favorite way. H!P radio shows, mixi and Skype are fun as well. For my kanji studies, I use Anki. The Japanese girlfriend who refuses to speak to me in English helps, too.
I’d say I’m alright at listening comprehension, somewhat passable at speaking (on the good days) and — thanks to my laughable kanji knowledge — absolutely shit at reading and writing. Tips? I’m not the right person to ask… there’s lots of sites out there by people much more qualified who can help you. One thing I’ll say is, just do what works for you and keep at it. がんばるぞー！
Q: how hard would it be to learn Finnish?
I found a link with some sort of difficulty ratings for native English speakers. Apparently it’s not even supposed to be super hard!
I’d have to say though that I think it’s a bit silly to worry about that kinda thing really. Shit, you already learned one language if you’re reading this, how hard can it be to learn another? If there’s a language you want to learn, just get started, keep at it diligently, and eventually you’ll find that you don’t suck at it nearly as much as you used to. And it’ll feel good.
Tsunku is clearly a Van Dyke man. It’s got that “Star Trek evil twin” vibe that will inspire the members of Morning Musume to crush their rivals by any means necessary. “Jun-jun’s fist” will be a phrase to strike terror into the hearts of AKB48, not simply the most plausible answer to most of those stupid Pocket Morning questions.
-j
ALL I’M GOING TO SAY IS, AWWWWWWWWWWWWWW YOU AND YUMI!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ^___________^
@J Greely: A Van Dyke huh? Hahaha. It just might work for him, that tough guy look. Speaking of Pocket Morning, they should ask them about Tsunku-beard, too. They ought to hire me to think up those Q’s.
@Jo: Shut up Jo! There’s no “awwwwwww” to be found here!
Nah nah. I choosed the last option, but if Tsunku is going, and is willing to grow a beard he must go with the Friendly Mutton Chops. He would look like, really fuckin’ badass, and I would surely sleep with him, aside the fact I’m a really straight one motherfucker. Then again, I would totally sleep with him without a beard.
Those would fit Tsunku like a glove! I’d like to see him with those, too. And I wouldn’t worry about wanting to sleep with the man even if you are straight. Tsunku — making heterosexual men second-guess their sexual orientation since, um, Sharan Q.
I think this picture supports my vote for a Van Dyke.
-j
Hahaha, it absolutely does!
Aw I wanted to go to Tuska but none of us had any money! We missed Ziltoid….. :-( And regarding the “Who the hell is that guy?!” picture, all I will say is, Tenso?
I’ll try and reply to this coherently, but Aldi has had an Asian special week and I’m totally digging this Tsingtao beer..
I found a video clip for for Dance be Bakoon and it looks really ace.. unfortunately C-ute has now been scarred due to Shock! and now all people associate C-ute with is Airi and band. Shame because I have a feeling they will suddenly start to get awesome again but no one will take them seriously any more.. oh yeah I did a Google search for Dance de Bakoon and found this god-awful picture.. seriously I think Mai is on drugs, otherwise WTF is with her face lately?? I know she looked permanently stoned since Tokikikikiko Junjo but man..
http://sayunii.files.wordpress.com/2010/06/img20100629133459554.jpg
*and an unrelated question, did she totally have eyelid surgery when C-ute started? Seriously, look at her eyes.*
Maimi pretty as usual. I like Maimi.
I almost went to see Hangry and Angry in Camden Town but again, I couldn’t afford it.
Maji Bomber is a very weak single, the single should have been their B-side “Moon Power” because that one rocks arse. It’s a darn site more interesting than that Buonoesque single. I hope H!P isn’t starting to get samey…… Anyway I recently got Berryz 6th album and it’s so goddamn ace it pisses all over C-ute’s Shocking 5th.
I like S/mileage. They’re so cute but I have no idea why the fangirls call Ayaka Beauty-chan. I think Kannon will be the most successful of the band followed by Saki.
Lastly, I was looking on Kanna’s blog and my Chrome browser translated her blog as “Secrets of Cannibis”. Awesome.
Am I alone in liking Maji Bomber? :P
I hate S/mileage, I think the only one with enough talent to fill a little toe is Saki.
Mano’s new single sounds quite cool and twenty times better than her last half decent single which I can’t even remember the name of.
However, I do agree that Dance de Bakoon is quite cool :P
Oh wow, Eri, LinLin and JunJun are leaving MM..
I wonder if the new audition will actually bring in any talent. These days, a new girl would get more career options by joining Idoling!!! than Morning Musume.
-j
@Nightfaery: Should’ve come! Great Tuska this year, absolutely amazing lineup. :) H&A too, you shouldn’t have missed ‘em!
Ahh, another one of ‘em drunken comments I take it? Love it!!
Oh man… C-ute getting awesome again? I’d love that. They’ve sucked awfully since so long, I don’t even remember when they last released a single that was actually even half-worthwhile. Dance de Bakoon is a step in the right direction though for sure. And yeah, if only it would’ve been the crack/potatohead Maimai to go instead of Kanna…
Now that Buono seems to be over (happiness!) aside from this last upcoming tour, I really hope Berryz isn’t going to be handed the Buonoesque songs. I forgive Maji Bomber in light of so many previous singles in a row being kickass. But just this once. No more!
Doesn’t everything piss all over Shocking 5th?!
And I agree about Kanon being the highlight of S/mileage! — or “Kannon” as you put it. Drunken typo or not, that’s the way it should be spelled.
@Krv: With Maji Bomber It’s probably not just you… but it probably is just you who hates S/mileage! I don’t see how anyone can, really! How do you do it? How can you hate them after seeing Kanon’s adorable face? Don’t you think the songs are pretty sweet as well? And it’s definitely not just Saki’s little toe — you’re forgetting about Yuuka’s mole!
@Nightfaery (again): Yes. What an absolute crock of shit.
@J Greely: Who knows… but it’d be much appreciated. I swear, no matter how much I love the man, if Tsunku ends up bringing in a 9th generation consisting of three or four new Mitsuis… *shakes fist*
When I heard about the latest purge, I found myself wishing he’d kept Eri and the pandas and kicked the other five out. After all these years, there’s really nothing new they can do with the old-timers except wait for the inevitable scandal photos, and they’ve never really bothered doing anything with Mitsui.
I wouldn’t be surprised if the 9th-gen audition ends up a total bust, and he just pulls a few girls out of other groups.
-j
Well the reasons are: Eri has a bad skin condition which they have tried to tame but the make-up, constant change of costume and sweat has simply exacerbated the problem and it’s become unbearable. And I can relate because I have a similar skin condition. You should have seen her neck at the report they had.
As for LinLin and JunJun (Pandas? Awwww :D): they apparently have a decent music career in China and they are returning to continue that career.
I’m not surprised they are leaving, after all MM has an incredibly fickle lineup. I think they have more previous members than they do current members!!
I’m wondering who will be the next H!P kid to leave. My guess is Maimi because and I think she’ll be an actress. Then C-ute will have no choice but to take on some Eggs or suck Tsunku’s cock to get some work.
Maimai will stay because it’s sod’s law. I wanted Kanna to stay too.
I’d be more surprised if Maiha returns to Berryz, I think Tsunku spread that rumour?
Let’s just say that I don’t have a lot of faith in the official explanations for most of the “graduations”. Eri’s Too Sweet DVD is currently #74 in idol DVDs on Amazon Japan, and the matching photobook is at #80. Yes, she has a health problem that will sideline her for a while, but this really feels more like a contract buyout with a year out of the spotlight between agencies. Sort of like Kanna announcing her new photobook and DVD almost exactly one year after officially leaving H!P…
(my wishful thinking was unrelated to why they were booted from the group; I just think it’s way past time to give Ai, Risa, Reina, and Sayumi career options that aren’t tied to the MM image. Eri and the pandas would have made a solid core for a reinvigorated MM, and the new members wouldn’t have been crushed under the weight of 36 years of seniority)
-j
I see what you mean, J, but I guess there would be a point where they would get so damn bored of being with H!P and want to move on (Erika, Koharu, Maiha). After all, I’m guessing a few of them are completely loyal to their contract and would want to get laid without the worry of getting into trouble! Although guessing who that would be.. that’s kinda hard.. Momo and Potatoface? I’ve recently changed my mind about Megumi and now I reckon she was sick of her privacy being invaded and wanted out.
And it raises the question too; has MM had it’s day and should Tsunku create a new band? How about merge them with C-ute and make a superawesomeTsunkuband?
It would be really creepy if they all stayed in H!P until they were like ninety or something. But hey it may make Potato Head look a little prettier and sing a little better.
By the way, how much surgery has Tsunku had? He looks a little creepy. He’s definitely had eyelid surgery..
Shoot me I’m double posting. :D But I have to.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ubLgiC8Vm2o
This. Is. Freaking. Awesome. And Potato doesn’t sound half bad either!
Yep. I just knew it’d be the shit from the first sample I heard. Best C-ute single in who knows when.
Shame about what happened to Nakky, I hope that doesn’t mean she will be leaving soon..
She’s apparently dislocated her hip and will be out of action for several months.
De ja vu?
So, Tsunku, myself, and probably your mom have all grown beards waiting for something new from your blog. Come on…anything?
Sorry to keep you waiting, clocutron! I don’t really have an excuse for myself… I’ve just been more serious about Japanese learning since the last time I posted. I’m a slow-as-hell writer, so it can be difficult to justify spending seven hours writing a post when instead I could be doing something super exciting like, you know, learning new kanji.*
With that said, though, I know better than to call this the end of the blog — I’ve already made that mistake once and I won’t make it again. Sooner or later, I’m sure I’ll get that old itch to post again.
* = Sarcasm. Learning new kanji is about as exciting as being hit by a car. Two thousand times.
Just giving you a hard time. Glad to hear you’re working on Japanese more lately – wish I could say I’ve been doing something that productive. I’ve been listening to j-pop and going to work so I can buy more j-pop…kind of an endless cycle.
Nothing wrong with that! “Productive” or not, whatever makes you happy I say.