Ai Kago diagnosed with possible Meniere’s disease

Via Tokyograph.  Kago Ai reported on her blog that she may suffer from Meniere’s disease, which is a disorder affecting the inner ear.  Here is a definition…

Meniere’s disease is a condition characterized by recurring vertigo (dizziness), hearing loss, and tinnitus (a roaring, buzzing or ringing sound in the ears).

While it isn’t considered a serious health risk, it can affect your everyday life.  It ultimately impairs a persons sense of balance and their overall hearing.  So once again lets all send our best wishes Kago’s way, and hope that this condition will have little bearing on her achieving her hopes and dreams!

Ai Kago aiming for high school?

Kago Ai was on a tv show this past weekend where she mentioned she want to pass her high school exams and possibly go on to university. It’s been quite a few years, but I still remember seeing a clip from her Morning Musume days where Kago and Tsuji were backstage rushing to complete their some homework, and Kago (or was it Tsuji?) swearing a the cast of crew for commenting on their procrastination.

It’s nice to see that the runner up in Morning Musume’s Bakajo Kimatsu Test is taking an interest in her studies.

Kago’s Cigarette Magic!

Mars first question, “Hilariously charming or tastelessly tacky?” refers to the cover, which has Kago flying across the Tokyo skyline on a cigarette ala Samantha Stevens.  I dunno, but I’m kind of with Mars on this one.  It seems a little tacky.  But the embedded video preview, which features Kago chasing underage smokers around the city in a nurses outfit is utter hilarity.  Especially when people realize it is Kago confronting them.

Mars isn’t sure if this is the best way to tackle Kago’s smoky past.  It seems a little too “tongue-in-cheek”.  But one thing is for sure, that preview made both of us want to see more!

Kago Ai to release DVD through Avex

Ok, it’s not a recording contract, but Kago Ai announced on her blog that she will be releasing a DVD through Avex. Hello! Online provides a little more information, including a website on Avex to promote the DVD. It’ll be interesting to see if she officially signs with Avex to release music sometime in the future.

(Oh, and Misa says she called it.)

Details of Ai Kago’s solo plans revealed (Tokyograph)
Kago Ai Official Blog: Translations 2008.10.10 - 2008.10.15 (+ bonus) (Hello!Online)

Former Morning Musume and W member Kago Ai is officially going for a solo singing career, working on either a single mini album with four tracks or as many as four separate mini albums, depending on which source you read. Tokyograph has the basic news, mentioning Kago’s involvement with penning the lyrics, while Hello!Online offers a translated interview originally published on Daily Sports Online (here). The interview is pretty interesting, and it’s mentioned that she was asked directly about the possibility of reforming W, to which she replied with a cheerful “no” and cute pun. So it looks like the possibility of a Tsuji-Kago duo is gone, for now, but it seems that Kago is confident enough to stand on her own two feet… and that seems to be for the best.

I wish her the best of luck and can’t wait to hear her sing again!

Aibon: Rockin’ Out!
Ai Kicks Off Drama Debut

First up, Mars has news of a new commercial for Kago Ai. It looks like she’s promoting an auction site for motor vehicles. Mars has a link to an Oricon article and shares photos from the the article. Kago’s looking quite cute in the photos. (I hope the title doesn’t confuse anyone. I know that Kago is no longer part of H!P, but you can’t deny her place as part of the best generation of Morning Musume).

Next up, we get a glance at what 5th gen member and current Morning Musume leader, Takahashi Ai, is up to. It seems filming for Aichan’s upcoming drama has started and Mars has some photos from behind the scenes.

So I like H!P…but WHY?

Ashi is relatively new to IW.  In this introspective post she contemplates why, or more appropriately who makes her a fan of Hello! Project.  Instead of counting down her Top 5, she has started at the top with the adorable Kago Ai.  Ashi, who currently resides in Osaka, talks about what to her makes Kago great then AND now. 

And as another huge Kago supporter I couldn’t agree more!

Today’s Releases (2008-08-25)  (Totally Hello! Project)

Totally Hello! Project brings us news of the release of Aibon’s new book, Kago Ai LIVE ~Kago Ai no Miseinen Hakusho~  Aibon describes it as a book for young people contemplating their present and future.  For what it’s worth, I personally still adore Kago as much as ever, and hope that this, and any other future projects are a huge success.

So what is the chance that Aibon will be releasing a translated version for all of her new California friends?  I am really not in the mood to learn Kanji!

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).

モーニング娘。さくら組, 永遠に。。。

Recommended reading. MorningBerryz discusses what it was about Morning Musume’s temporary subunit, Sakura Gumi, that so tickled his fancy. The lineup, the song choice, the image… For him, it was all near perfection. If you haven’t given this group a listen to before, I must say they’re definitely worth giving a shot. MB has the PVs and well as live performances of the group’s two singles available for viewing. The pink kimonos they wore in the Sakura Mankai PV remain one of my favourite H!P PV costumes for they are absolutely beautiful. And I must say that Risa biting her hair is so cute!

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!

HNPH
Real Life, Net Life… Aibon Life and Idol Life

…and more so than just the typical self-examination. (Especially that’s been going on lately.) Jinryuichi talks about life’s demands on his time keeping him away from stuff he still cares about and in some cases finding he cares about certain things less. On top on this, server problems have closed the HNPH site, so he’s doing most of his talking from the old Blogspot.

He mentions Kago’s blog ultimately being an inspiration after thinking he didn’t care much about her anymore since she was no longer an idol. She’s an interesting case and I love her blog because she had said in interviews that she was forced into being her idol personna somewhat, but when you read her blog, she seems like the same old Aibon you always (thought) you knew. This is interesting to me that she was previously unhappy forcing herself to act like herself basically. This maybe is an example for everyone to think about. (But not too much!)

Kago Ai Comeback in Full Swing

It looks like Kago has quite a few things on her todo list and Totally Hello! Project has the details. She’s got an upcoming book and a bunch of television interviews to promote it. On top of that, she’s already lined up a second movie role. This girl definitely has her eye on the prize.

Kago returns to TV on “Sanma no Manma”

TokyoGraph reports that Kago Ai will appear on “Sanma no Manma” - a popular talk/variety show. This will be her first TV appearance since her revival back in April.

What’s Idol? pt. 1: …what?
What’s Idol? pt. 2: ghost pun

Jim apparently has been contemplating the idol world and it looks like he is starting a new series to go over what he thinks of it. By presenting statements that he has made in the past, you get an idea of where he wants to go with this series. Personally, I just wish he linked back, if applicable, to where he made these statements. As they currently are, they are pretty broad things to say.

The second post is a great read and I highly recommend it to all. He goes over when he believes Morning Musume started to shift from “singing group” to “idol group.” I really like distinction between “going to work” and “life is work” that Jim makes. I really don’t have too much more of a response though. Jim’s style of writing is different from mine, but I find myself nodding in agreement with most of what he says, and that’s about it. However, I’m interested to see where Jim takes this from here, if he does.

Kago Ai Smokes Again

Recommended reading. snts weighs in on former Hello! Project member Kago Ai’s recent blog admission that she recently smoked while filming for a movie in Hong Kong. (If you’re not familiar with the “scandal,” Kago was kicked out of H!P after pictures of her smoking were published in a tabloid. She was not yet legally old enough to smoke.) snts advises Kago to live as she likes without apologizing to fans on a constant basis, but still ends his post on a wry note.

Memorable Snippets: Part 6 - Todd Mika & Kago Ai “Sonna banana!”

Our own maiZe brings us the next instalment of her memorable snippets spot, this time concerning minimoni and their attempts to pull off memorable fruit gags. The clip included is taken from a 2004 H!M episode, and its never a dull moment when you’ve got Nono and Aibon about.

Pictures of Kago Ai when at airport

For the time being if you scroll on that site there are some pictures of what I am assuming was Kago’s arrival in Hong Kong.  Also further down there seems to be a picture of her in her movie costume!

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.