..::Tortured by the Book::..
..::Fell for Her::..

amyrulez watches his first Haromoni@ episode and shares his thoughts on it. I think he picked a great episode to start off with (or maybe it was just random luck), for this is the episode where Eri tries to throw a book over her shoulder into a its resting place between books already lined up. Even I’VE watched this episode, and I don’t watch HM@ that often. XD

Up next, he lets us know that recently, he has become smitten with C-ute’s Maimi. Really now, can anyone blame him? Maimi’s pretty awesome! So, to commemorate the occasion, he shares a load of Maimi eyecandy. Enjoy!

Happy Sweet Sixteen Miya ! (Berryz Kobo International)
..::Precious Piece of the Past::.. (Eternal ~♥~)
HAPPY 16th BIRTHDAY MIYABI!!!! (Last Forever)
NATSUYAKI MIYABI’S 16th Birthday!!! (Sazaki’s H!P Weblog)
My Birthday + Site Update (Sora to Kujira)

Oops, I’m a few days late on this. It was Natsuyaki Miyabi’s birthday on August 25, and several bloggers sent out their well-wishes.

zush of Berry Kobo International finishes his countdown by sharing more photos. He lit some candles and watched the Berryz Koubou DVD Magazine Volume 8. Hope you had a good time zush.

amyrulez of Eternal ~♥~ embeds a video of Aa’s “First Kiss” and made a birthday card for Miya.

maiZe of Last Forever finishes her countdown with a song dedicated to Miyabi. She made up her own Miya-centric lyrics to “Kiss! Kiss! Kiss!” and even sings it for us. That’s dedication!

Jin of Sora to Kujira shared a birthday with Miyabi.

sazaki of Sazaki’s H!P Weblog also sends out well-wishes to Miyabi.

Buono! And Their New Kick-Ass Single, Gachinko de Ikou!” (CK’s H!P Blog)
..::Is This the End of Buono!::.. (Eternal ~♥~)
Gachinko de Ikou! (Shanimuni Paradise)

Recommended reading. CK has noticed that recently, H!P PVs have been appearing much closer to the actual release date of the single than they had been earlier in the year. I had actually been wondering what was taking the PV so long to come out before it appeared on Dohhhup! CK wasn’t originally too taken to this PV, but after a few plays, it grew on him, though he definitely seems to enjoy the song itself much more than the PV.

amyrulez of Eternal ~♥~ is liking the single, though he is does miss the mellow interlude found in previous Buono! releases. He enjoys the PV quite a bit, loving the more serious side of Airi, the constant bubbly Momoko and the perfection that is Miya (got that right! XD). However, I must say that I’m quite jealous that amyrulez can’t remember the last time he was bitten by a moqsuito. I was bitten more than 5 times just yesterday…

Tsukiki of Shanimuni Paraside has a new favourite Buono! PV. She likes the games, the dance and that there’s an actual band in this one. I understand that in ‘Kiss! Kiss! Kiss!’ they were just pretending to play, the ‘Honto no Jibun’ PV had a live band… The live band has been mentioned in a few of these reviews, and it just seems like ‘Honto no Jibun’ just keeps being overlooked. Tsukiki goes on to compliment how amazing the girls look in this video and how Momoko is acceptable to her in this video. I’d have to agree with her and say that it is Berryz that is keeping Momoko filled with helium. I don’t quite understand why they won’t let her sing normally in Berryz releases.

A more serious blogging survey. (Go go! Cutie Party)
SUP MISA SURVEY. (Renai Revolution 21)
..::The Serious Survey on Joke-Hate-Post::.. (Eternal ~♥~)
hajimete no BLOG SU… okay, seriously, that title is getting old. (hajimete no ROCK CONCERT.)

Misa has a survey about criticizing idols for us and these blogs have replied.

Wendy of Renai Revolution 21 feels that criticizing idols is okay, and she would like idols to know her opinions of them.

Amyrulez of Eternal ~♥~ does not often make fun of idols, but would like a certain idol to know his opinion of her.

Lastly, pengie of hajimete no ROCK CONCERT offers her thoughts on the subject by explaining the gray area between hating an idol and joking about an idol.

The scandal of Arihara (Slasha’s Tatami Mat)
Obligatory Kanna Post (°Absol-ute °C-ute)
On unexpected developments II. (Otingocni’s blog)
Arihara Kanna Scandal (Let’s Laugh! Hello Project)
Arihara Kanna Scandal possibly? (Nekocafe’s World!)
More and More DRAMA!! (What Kio Says: Hello Project Much?)
..::HA! HA! HA!::.. (Eternal ~♥~)

Recommended reading. A new scandal is upon us, though from what I can gather, not much has happened since news of this scandal hit a few days ago. However, that hasn’t stopped bloggers from sharing their thoughts on the fate of the Little Egg That Could*.

Slasha gives us rundown of the story and hypothesizes on the actions that UFA may take in regards to this news. In the midst of this scandal, he also found… a birthday cake for Kanna? I’m not sure, but it’s a cake of some sort (maybe a “GANBARE!!” cake) surrounded by Kanna photo’s galore. It’s quite impressive to look at.

Amimi of Absol-ute C-ute gets on the ‘must comment on scandal’ band wagon, particularly because this scandal has to do with a C-ute member. Amimi doesn’t feel optimistic in regards to Kanna’s future in H!P, and while Kanna isn’t her favourite member, she feels an projected sense of loyalty for Kanna due to her friendship with Airi.

Otingocni isn’t highly concerned about Kanna’s fate, whichever way it goes. However, I don’t think that if Kanna did get booted that it would mean any more lines for Chisato, seeing as Kanna hardly gets any lines as it is…

Beth of Let’s Laugh! Hello Project is quite surprised to see Kanna in a scandal. She’s hoping since nothing happened with Miyabi, Kanna will be safe as well.

Nekocafe is calling 2008 the year of romance for the H!P girls and Johnny’s Jr boys. Nekocafe also reasons that UFA has to understand that at this age, these girls will be interested in boys, and Kanna’s interaction here was pretty innocent… And of course a not so subtle jab at my favourite H!P Kid’s scandal which a little bit less innocent.

Kio feels that Miyabi’s incident was much worse and isn’t worried about Kanna’s future. However, she got highly upset over something that a tabloid writer wrote… I don’t quite get what was upsetting about the statement. Maybe I need to get the context which that statement was said in for me to get what was so offensive about it.

Amyrulez of Eternal is not worried in the bit… But not in the way you’d think. His is the only blog that I’ve read that seems to be looking forward to the possibility of Kanna being expelled.

Edo no Temari Uta II PV (H!P Fangirling like Nobody’s Business)
Edo no Temari Uta II is Better Than the Title (°Absol-ute °C-ute)
Let’s play handball (Shiny Days)
Edo no Temari Uta II (Kira Kira Bomb)
..::Too Bad It’s Too Short::.. (Eternal ~♥~)

Recommended reading. More bloggers have something to say regarding C-ute’s latest PV!

DJ_MaiMai of H!P Fangirling feels that C-ute is showing off some of their best stuff in this PV. Personally, I don’t get the problem with Chisato’s shoulder things. I think they add character to her outfit. XD But, Berryz as C-ute’s backup dancers? At a concert, maybe… And they’d switch off for each other. But in a single’s PV? Berryz did that back in the day for W, but they have seniority over C-ute. If anyone’s going to be doing back-up dancing in a PV, C-ute would be doing it for Berryz.

Despite her worry over the title of the song, Amimi of Absol-ute C-ute was happy to have her fears unfounded with the release of this single. In addition to the customary thoughts on the outfits, dance, etc., Amimi has and interesting interpretation of what the line distribution could mean… COuld it possibly foreshadow future leads for C-ute?

Charmy of Shiny Days is liking both the song and PV, but is a little disappointed that a certain H!P member is not featured on the background vocals.

Valentine of Kira Kira Bomb has one of the few reviews that I’ve read that isn’t impressed with the single. That’s not to say that she hates it, but it definitely hasn’t left much of an impression with her. She gives her reasoning as well as a final verdict. My favourite line is the last line in her review… I love the uncertainty in her question/comment.

-NEEDS MOAR TSUNKU?!

amyrulez of Eternal ~♥~ has a lengthy and indepth review of the single. He enjoyed the PV so much it brought him to tears. All of the girls were able to impress him in this release, which he seemed throughly surprised by. And it looks like he’s one of the few who likes Chisato’s pointy shoulder bits on her kimono.

..::She’s So Hot, She Burns My Eyes::..

Recommended ogling. amyrulez has some of my favourite kind of eyecandy… Maimi eyecandy! She He starts off with some Hawaiian flavoured shots, then goes into battle concert photos! What’s not to like?

Happy Birthday Massa Sudo! (Wotaku Now!)
Happy Awesome Day! (Shiny Days)
..::Sneaked In for A Birthday Wish::.. (Eternal ~♥~)
Happy Sweet 16, Maasa! (Aoi♥Usagi)

Today (well, it’s already passed in Japan, but in some parts of the world, it’s still today) is Sudou Maasa’s birthday and she’s got a lot of people wishing her well for the big One-Six.

THere’s Maasa eyecandy galore (and awesome silly Maasa in Charmy of Shiny Days’ post) in each of these posts, and Shirow of Wotaku Now! even got Maasa a cake! It looks so tasty! Now I want some cake… XD

..::*GASP*::..

Altho there’s something silly about this and maybe there’s a statement about underpromotion with this group, but Amy does not seem to be alone in her lateness. Many are slow to realize that Yossy, Konno and Rika are in a new group (even huge fans of the three) and that the group is pretty great. (Not everyone shares the opinion of their greatness, but I can settle for them knowing the group exists at least, and still not everybody does.)

So, I kinda like when this happens, and I hope it happens to more people.

Before…IT’S TOO LATE. Just kidding. (I hope.)

..::Turn Your Head, Recollect The Past◊J-music survey::.. (Eternal ~♥~)
Cutie Party Survey…And A Tribute to Kyu (CK’s H!P Blog)

Eternal ~♥~ and CK’s H!P Blog send their answers to Misa’s survey.

Gocchin joins Avex; Slasha not surprised (Slasha’s Tatami Mat)
Gomaki signed to Avex (Shanimuni Paradise)
Avex’s newest diva, Maki Goto (Update: Video) (HNPH)
Things Are Looking Up (Hello!Blog)
Well, I Guess I’m Back! (And so is Gocchin) (H!P Wonderland)
..::Goto+Avex=Vouge::.. (Eternal ~♥~)
[lol avex] Welcome back, Gomaki! (Pink Wota)

Slasha looks at the jump to Avex. It is tough to take her evidence (dancing and voice lessons?) as concrete proof that Maki was going to Avex, but it does appear that was a part of Maki’s plans.

Tsukiki at Shanimuni Paradise is another blogger who sees the next stage of Maki’s career being like Koda Kumi.

Anna from HNPH has pretty much accumulated all the images, videos and news links related to this story. If anyone was looking for the story in full, here is the place to find it.

Paul Thomas has a very thought-provoking response. Most of the reactions have assumed that Maki has made the move from H!P to Avex to work a more mature style. However, Paul points out that other H!P members have had mature songs in the past. Perhaps it was the potential of finding new audiences by leaving the stigma of H!P and joining Avex that motivated Maki? I don’t think that is something we can figure out by guessing, but it is worth considering.

HPObsession returns to H!P Wonderland to coincide with Maki’s return to the entertainment industry. I like the idea that HPO suggestions, that Maki had outgrown H!P by Suppin to Namida, and not Glass no Pumps as one would expect.

amyrulez doesn’t mind the switch from H!P to Avex, but is not thrilled with the appearance. At least around these parts, this is definitely not the most prevalent view. However, it is not too surprising that some would feel this way, as sexy first-cute second images are rare in H!P.

Vee says what we all know about Avex.

..::The Beauty is Echoing::.. (Eternal ~♥~)
Mano Piano (H!P Fangirling like Nobody’s Business)
真野恵里菜　ファーストソロシングルリリース！！=) (MorningBerryz)
Tsunku shows us his cute pianist (Wotaku Now!)

amyrulez had never heard of Manoeri! How is that possible? Well, this problem has been solved and amyrulez looks towards her single.

Dj_MaiMai goes over the news.

When I saw the entry title for this MorningBerryz’s entry in my RSS Feeds, I really didn’t know what to expect. Well ok, I saw in the preview that it was going to be about Manoeri. But a part of me was hoping that I’d open it and see Jimmy Johnson in some sort of Engrish t-shirts. Instead, MorningBerryz has an enthusiastic entry about Manoeri’s future.

Meanwhile, Shirow’s entry title is sure to make all of us dirty minds giggle. But Shirow also wonders what route Manoeri is gonna take. Will she be more like Koharu or more like Risako? I always love bringing up the past, where the question that Shirow asked would have been “will she be more like Ayaya or Gocchin?” There’s also videos of Junjun in this entry. Hear that? Videos of Junjun, so go.