Get your Hangry & Angry lunch box before it’s too late!

MB is excited about the debut release of Hangry & Angry, and has preview photos of the extravagant packaging of the limited edition.  And I agree, it looks a lot like those metal lunch boxes that were popular around…jeez, I’m guessing thirty years ago???  Yeah, I remember those.  I think my favorite was my Land of the Lost lunch box!

But seriously, I’m glad everyone is getting excited about this release.  And I guess to a lot of collectors it is cool to have special packaging.  Frankly, I find it annoying mainly because it causes a storage problem.  The most annoying CD in my rack is Ayaya’s Kiseki no Kaori Dance in that weird metal can.  And there is nothing more frustrating than trying to take a CD out of a can while driving!

But I guess if you are decorating the mantel or something this will be pretty cool.  Anyhow, the CD releases next week.  So if you are looking to get this edition, you might want to preorder it soon!

Hangry & Angry to get simultaneous U.S. release

Via Tokyograph.  Okay, we knew a lot of this already.  Yossie and Rika, aka Hangry & Angry are set to release a new mini album in less than two weeks.  There will be a special “limited edition” version released in Japan only, and a regular version is slated for U.S. release.  Additionally, Japanfiles will have the album available for digital download.  We knew all of that.  But the big revelation comes at the end of the article…

“Hangry & Angry will perform their first live show in Shibuya on November 28, with SHAZNA’s Izam taking on the role of their performance producer. In 2009, they are planning an international campaign in Japan, Europe, and the U.S.”

If this is confirmed news, this is huge!  I know many of you (us) will be rejoicing if this comes to pass.  And this thought just came to me…With this news, BoA’s U.S. release, and the earlier report about AKB48’s English language website, maybe all of our collective efforts are accomplishing something after all.  Noteworthy (you bet it is!)

Hello! Project -Official Site-
Elder Club members to graduate from Hello! Project (Hello!Online)
Hello! Project’s Elder Club members to graduate (Tokyograph)

Wow.

As of March 31, 2009, all the members of the Hello! Project Elder Club–including popular soloists Matsuura Aya, Abe Natsumi, and Fujimoto Miki, as well as full groups like Melon Kinenbi and Ongaku Gatas–will graduate from the H!P umbrella. So if your favorite soloist isn’t in Morning Musume, Berryz Koubou, or C-ute, or an H!P Egg, they’re probably leaving. H!O has a full translation of the list, Tokyograph brings the essentials to the table, and you can of course read the original announcement on the H!P website.

There’s no word yet on whether or not any of the graduating members will be moving to a new record label, TNX or otherwise, or even continuing their careers as idols. The lack of information is actually somewhat disheartening, and you have to wonder if this giant graduation is actually a giant firing. I’m certain that nearly everyone reading this has a favorite idol on this list, and you have to wonder what’s going to happen to them now that their future within H!P has gone from uncertain to … nonexistent. And even if you aren’t a fan of these idols… it is a sad day for them, not just their fans, and you have to wonder how they are taking it.

Take this whole thing as you will, but this is a startling announcement that leaves the future of many, many young women, as well as the entire body of Hello! Project, unclear. Obviously not all of these idols were getting a lot of attention, instead being constantly passed over in favor of the bigger flagship groups, but I don’t think many people really expected a mass departure like this to happen.

All I can say is wow. It’s a sad day for a lot of fans, and an even sadder day for a lot of idols.

Hangry & Angry…? (Shanimuni Paradise)
HARAJUKU FAIL (Morning☆Kuri)
HANGRY & ANGRY - new unit! (Resonant Blue)
Hangry & Angry New Unit! (Hello!Girl)
HANGRY & ANGRY! (SUPER HAPPY GENKI HYPERFORCE GO!)

Reactions are pouring in for Hello! Project’s newest unit, HANGRY&ANGRY, composed of fourth generation Morning Musume members Yoshizawa Hitomi and Ishikawa Rika! Some fans are shocked and dismayed at this new unit while others are ecstatic about their daring new style. While I personally have mixed feelings about this unit, I’m also interested in the way this unit has managed to immediately polarize our bloggers’ opinions!

First off, Tsukiki of Shanimuni Paradise and Kuri of Morning☆Kuri already don’t think this unit is a good idea! Tsukiki generally loves the parts of this unit (Yossie, lolita, and H!P), she doesn’t want to see them all mushed together. She doesn’t think this style will fit well with the rest of H!P’s style and doesn’t think HANGRY&ANGRY will be taken seriously. Kuri, on the other hand, was very excited for an IshiYoshi unit, but thinks their style is kind of fail. She likes their new song, Kill Me Kiss Me, and the fact that it’s Charmy and Yossie, but not much beside that.

Secondly, our supportive bloggers! IndigoSkies from Resonant Blue thinks this unit is really cool and quite different from anything else H!P has done, but in a good way. However, she does think some parts of this new unit (namely the clothing and hair) are going a bit overboard. Hello!Girl is pleasantly surprised at our new dynamic duo and absolutely loves the song and everything about it. She also explains to us the differences between HANGRY&ANGRY’s style and real goth-loli style, which I found interesting. Last but not least, superhappygenki thinks this new unit is awesome. She loves the song and style they’re portraying. She also wonders if we’ll be able to see another IshiYoshi kiss in their upcoming PV, based on some pictures we’ve seen of HANGRY&ANGRY, something I personally wouldn’t mind seeing!

H!P Turns to Visual Kei!  (Hello!Musume)
Say hello to Hangry & Angry  (Wotaku Now!)
Kill Me Kiss Me Thrills Me  (The J-Pex)
Kill Me, Kiss Me: HANGRY & ANGRY…grr  (Stardust)

This is unbelievably cool, and quite a different direction for UFA to be taking.  According to Nakane of Hello! Musume, Hangry & Angry are a new unit working in conjunction with a Harajuku fashion store of the same name.  Their first “mini-album” will be released mid-November.  And in what I believe is an unprecedented move by H!P, they have set up an official MySpace site featuring the first single!

Shirow finds this unit interesting, but wonders if this is going to be a long term group.  And as much as he likes Yossie and Rika, he doesn’t feel the “gothic-lolita” style really fits them.  Pex sees this as the closest UFA will ever get to Henkka’s Killer Bitch Unit!  And Mars really likes the new single!  Everyone has posted photos (which I think look awesome), the song, and a link to the offical MySpace site.

Personally, I really applaud them for making this type of move.  It a much more contemporary sound, and it shows that UFA is willing to take chances with their image in order to stay successful.  The songs kicks ass, and the girls look great!  Maybe it strays away from the “virgin-pure image” H!P likes to portray.  But what’s wrong with that?  I don’t have a problem with it.  I wonder what our own Pengie thinks of this group?

Costume Hall of Shame: Next Time, Hire a Professional
Resonant Live Set List
More Happy Egg News

Celestia brings back her Costume Hall of Shame segment - although it might be a one off - and it looks like the snark hasn’t failed on Celestia just yet. Whilst I actually like gomaki’s get-up, or just being able to make out gomaki’s hot figure, the others are worth Celestia’s cheeky-toned time.

An earlier entry sees Celestia giving us the setlist for Morning Musume’s upcoming Resonant Live concert, and it’s lovely to see Lemon Iro to Milk Tea in the mix. It’s one of my favourite H!P songs of all time, and the 6th gen shine in it, even beloved Sayu. It’s her song in my opinion. Celestia tags each song with some of her thoughts too.

And lastly we have Celestia’s thoughts on H!P’s new egg unit Shugo Chara Egg!, at least I think that’s the groups name - I dont keep up anymore. Anyway Celestia briefly goes over the members of the unit and what she thinks of them thus far, and what they have to offer.

Rika Ishikawa – Another 4th Gen giant

Madara has been bitten by the Rika bug, going through anything he can get his hands on that features Rika. I definitely know how that can be, seeing as Rika was my favourite H!P member for quite some time when I first discovered H!P.

He’s been going through everything from Hello Morning, to Country Musume, to Tanpopo (*sooo much love for this group*) and of course Biyuuden and Ongaku Gatas. Unlike Madara, I’d have to say 2nd generation Tanpopo was my favourite line-up. I mean, how can you go wrong with Rika, Aibon, Mari and Kaori? It didn’t help that 3rd generation Tanpopo only released one single, which didn’t really allow us to see what that combination of girls could produce.

I guess you could say that Rika is one of the love her or hate her girls of Hello! Project. Madara and I are obivously on the love her side. Which side are you on?

Member #10 (Shibata Ayumi)
Member #11 (Sotoda Mai)
Member #12 (Miyoshi Erika)
Member #13 (Ishikawa Rika)
Member #14 (Fujimoto Miki)

Okesuna is coming down toward the end of this long running series of Idol Profiles. In this set we get two MoMusu heavyweights and three (IMO) under-appreciated members. As usual we get plenty of eyecandy, and I love the “appearance considering age” and “reminds me of” categories. Charmy and Mikitty get extremely loving writeups, but the other three were not so fortunate. Especially Sotoda Mai, who has Okesuna wondering…

“Didn’t the rest of Country Musume graduate? I don’t mean to be an asshole, but why not her?”

OUCH!!!

Random stuff and Nonsense

Morningtime has a fun, light hearted post covering all sorts of things relating to Hello! Project. It seems morningtime has had a lot of time on their hands, and you can see it with the opening question “which MM member is most likely to hit someone?” What really got me was that the question had multiple answers, depending on the situation. That set the stage for quite an amusing read.

I just have to comment on that one photo of Satoda Mai. Is it just me, or does she look really old there?

Do you guys like me yet?

Recommended ogling!!!  Usa-chan has noticed that the current world financial crisis’ may be connected with with a current readership draught at Aoi♥Usagi.  The solution?  Plenty of busty eyecandy!!!  This might be the best set of H!P photos I have ever seen!  Konno, Rika, Nacchi and Gocchin look like they are auditioning for a Russ Meyer film!  Total win!

So enjoy the view.  Just don’t hurt yourself!

And look who’s coming to town next…
The “Tsunku for a day” experiment results…

MorningBerryz informs us that Rika Ishikawa will be in Hawaii in late November, suggesting that it could mean another Hawaii-inspired DVD realise for the ex-momusu and Biyuuden idol. A scan of the flier is also included for you to scrutinise over.

An earlier post has the poll results for MorningBerryz’s so you wake up one morning and you’re Tsunku for a day segment, and anyone who’s been following it will be eager to see the results of the dream units created through reader’s votes. MB gives us some details about the poll results - a popularity contest of sorts - and then goes on to tell us what he thinks of the units, and how they’d work or not work. I’m in love with the dream girl unit where some of my favourite Idols are all bunched together. Move over Momusu! And yes, I’m being deadly serious. Recommended reading for all you H!P fans out there.

New H!P unit announced!

Henkka is using his new blog site to get in touch with his inner metalhead.  And if this post is any indication of things to come, be afraid…Be very afraid.

Now I don’t want to give too much away, but this is one group I would prefer to see on DVD than in person.  In fact, I’m not sure I could stomach the DVD.  Mikitty, Yuko, and Charmy chasing Wota around the arena with knives and chainsaws while singing?  Actually that could be a great movie script!  Or the cannibalistic trio could merely show up on stage with their latest boyfriends, and all of the Wota would simply kill themselves.  Whatever it takes, right?

And the rumour is their first single will be a cover of “Manopiano” (Scream!!!)

Yo-Yo Girl Cop released on dvd in UK 22 September 2008

Morningtime has news for UK Hello! Project fans. Matsuura Aya’s (and Biyuuden’s) movie Sukeban Deka is going to be released in the UK this September. It’s been out in North America for a little while already, but I didn’t realize that until fairly recently… I have my North American copy, which I got for $10 from the local bookstore. Pretty awesome deal if you ask me.

Christmas sets from Morning Musume Sakuragumi/ Otomegumi.

MorningBerryz recently got some holiday sets from Yahoo Japan Auctions, and I think these new sets are quite fitting seeing as he recently did a post on the amazing Morning Musume subgroup Sakura Gumi. Here, he has the 2003 holiday sets of both Sakura and Otome Gumi.

Like MB, I’m loving these photos to death because of the Hello! snowperson. I loved the H!P Kids snowperson photos and there are almost as awesome (really, how can you beat the cuteness of the H!P kids when they first joined H!P? XD). However, I must say that I am highly amused with a few of these shots because the angle at which the some of the girls hold the snowperson hides the “o” in Hello! making it look like they’re holding stuffed toys with the word “Hell!” sprawled across the front (ie. Gaki [slightly], Eri, Ayaka, Tsuji [slightly], Sayumi [slightly] and Reina).

Got H!P gifs? #1
H!P Opinions of a Metalhead - Podcast #5

Henkka has some stellar animated gifs: Maimi invites you to check her age on wiki again, while a sexy chubby Yossy beckons, cutie Risa cutes and happy Abe threatens to eat us all.

He’s got another podcast too, where he talks about compulsory army service, massara black jeans and a deepening of his devotion to providing wupleasure. Plus fanservice!

C-ute’s “Edo no temari uta II” blends Japan’s past and present.
Morning Musume “Love” calendar 2003…a look back. (continued)
HM@ 8/3/08- “The one where Kamei throws the book 1 million times & Mittsi’s snack knowledge tested.”
Berryz工房 tops C-ute by slim margin

Recommended reading/ogling. MorningBerryz got C-ute’s latest single a little while ago and shares all the wonderful extras as well as goes over a wonderful review of the single and the”b-side”, which he feels is good enough to be an a-side. He ends off the post with a nice rundown of why he likes each girl as he shows off the alternate jacket covers that come with the LE version.

Up next, MorningBerryz comes back with the next installment of his look back on Morning Musume calendars. Here he shares the 2003 edition. This year’s calendar was filled with white, and I’d have to say my favourite shot was the September/October photo with Yossy and Rika, 2 of my favourite Morning Musume girls.

Then MorningBerryz goes over the Aug 3 episode of Haromoni@, and it’s one of the episodes that I’ve actually watched. The GakiKamei segment is awesome in this episode… At least I thought so, as did MB. I guess it depends on how much frustration and repetition amuses you. Well, it amuses ME greatly, thus the non-stop love for Eri here.

And finally, MB posted the results to his Berryz Koubou vs. C-ute poll… Can you guess who won? I just have to say that I love the special appearance at the bottom of the post… So cute!

A look back at…the 2001 fanclub singles.

aiwish472 reviews the Morning Musume Solo Fanclub Special CD. She looks at the tracks from each member, particularly enjoying the ones from Goto Maki, Yoshizawa Hitomi and Ishikawa Rika.

Morning Musume calendar 2001…a look back. (continued)
久住小春最新写真集。。。小春日記。(PB WARS ep. III..Has Koha joined the darkside?!)
Morning Musume calendar 2002…a look back. (continued)

Recommended ogling. MorningBerryz continues his look at some old Morning Musume calendars. The 2001 calendar featured the 4th generation members for the first time. I’d have to say that my favourite shot from this calendar is the January photo with Yuko and Rika. They look the most relaxed and happy in their photo. The warmth in their expressions is definitely heart warming for the winter months.

Up next, MB goes through Koha’s latest photobook, and he was also surprised with the sexy Koharu portrayed here. Though, he gives some evidence of Koharu heading in this direction from back in 2006… Thong shot on Musume Dokyu, anyone? .. XD Going through this post was my first time going through her whole photobook, and I still have to say I’m amazed that this PB goes from the sexy black outfit to the pink, balloons and puffy hair…

And finally, MB has Momusu’s 2002 calendar to share. Here we have a café themed calendar, and the 5th generation’s introduction in Momusu calendars. I’d have to say the gokkie page would have to be my favourite one within these photos.. They’re such cute little newbies, I can’t help it!

Yo-Yo Girl Cop (Sukeban Deka) Movie Review

Recommended reading. Pex has a nicely detailed summary and analysis of Matsuura Aya’s movie, Sukeban Deka. Charmy recommended this movie, to Pex, and after an initial reluctance to watch it, Rika in fishnet stocking eventually tipped the scales.

I know that not everyone enjoyed this movie, but I have to agree with Pex’s overall breakdown. Aya and the Biyuuden girls were all pretty impressive to me in this movie, and I highly enjoyed it.

There’s a song in that getup

Okay, so I made up a word… Sue me. XD Our wu-san has posted a UFA photo of Ishikawa Rika posing with the majority of her costumes from Morning Musume PVs. The only missing PV costumes that Rika was involved in are “The Manpower!!!” and “Osaka Koi no Uta”. That’s sad, seeing as the costumes for “The Manpower!!!” are some of my favourites.

Biyudensetsu (hajimete no ROCK CONCERT)
Biyuden : Disbands (Hello!Musume)
Goodbye v-u-den (HNPH)
The End of v-u-den (I WISH;;)
V-u-den Disband (Let’s Laugh! Hello Project)
A sandwiched farewell to Biyuuden (OH NOES! Magi-Kat’s rambling again!) (Magi-Kat presents “Morning Meteora”)
Why I’m Missing Biyuuden (Midori’s J-pop Overanalyzations)
Biyuuden- Nannimo iwazu ni I LOVE YOU pv (Morningtime)
Bye Bye V-U-DEN♥ (Nekocafe’s World!)
Never Forget (Shanimuni Paradise)

v-u-den disbanded over the weekend. There were lots of reactions and I apologize that they are so late on reaching IW. Some bloggers took it as an opportunity to revisit what they loved about the group; while others expressed frustration over the breakup. Most people showed concern about what the future holds for Miyoshi Erika and Okada Yui. Meanwhile, nearly everyone - some begrudgingly - are of the belief that Rika’s career will not be affected too dramatically by v-u-den breaking up.

“That sucks!”

Recommended reading and lulzing. This is a (generally) fun and lighthearted read about the “occupational hazards” of being a member of the Hello! Project.

Usa-chan has a pointy remark directed at C-ute’s Maimi, talk of curses, Linlin (really now… this joke has been embraced by so many people… XD), and a few more pitfalls in regards to beings part of the H!P empire. However, I must say, the number one hazard has them all beat (which is probably why it’s #1). It definitely had me cracking up. Definitely not to be missed!

Elder Club 2008 - The ladies are at their peak!

Recommended reading. Madara shares his own unique take on the Elder Club concert DVD from the four-disc set. I especially like how he takes issue with the opening number of “Joshi Kashimashi” in maid uniforms - he finds it beneath the ladies’ dignity. I’m left thinking, “Since when has being an idol had ANYTHING to do with dignity?”

The hair styles of Hello! Project
Up! Front Agency creates phsycopath
Two years of waiting for . . Ogawa Makoto

Actually Sakura Ichigo says she likes music from classical to heavy metal but in her blog there seem to be focus mostly on H!P artists. She has posted already three entries in June and they all are worth of checking.

I’ve never kept my eye on Hello! Project girls coiffure so it’s quite interesting to read SI’s remarks on those ever changing hair styles of various girls. Well, I must admit that there are TWO girls whose hair style changes I know very well and also those are mentioned in SI’s post.

In her second blog entry Sakura Ichigo talks about some evident things related to this so-called-Miya-scandal. SI is disappointed that those kissing scenes are even called as scandal. She makes a good point when saying:

“It is ethically wrong to fire a person because of their love interest. That kind of paragraph should be erased from their contract. It’s discrimination towards women. Girls should have basic human rights.”

Can’t agree more.

Lastly SI feels happy because Makoto is back to business and she wonders what kind of role H!P is offering for Mako now. Is Ongaku Gatas a good option? I think it could be. And I also hope that Makoto is going to be regular member in haromoni@ again.

Morning Musume, Berryz and V-u-den Visual Screens

Tom (I just realized I’ve been calling him Paul, when his nickname is Tom XD… Sorry about that Tom!) shares info about more H!P visual screens which are available for purchase. Looks like Berryz, C-ute and Morning Musume aren’t the only H!P groups to get the screens, for Biyuuden gets their turn in their final single outfits. It seems that there are also group visual screens out.