Today was all about connecting with the idols...

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After an amazing Friday I had a HUGE Saturday planned.  I had a ticket to each of the performances of AKB48's Infinity at Theater G-Rosso.  After that I planned on heading to Akihabara to see SDN48's show one last time on the theater monitors.  Given the time parameters, there wouldn't be any time to rest.  So I would be spending over 8 hours at the Tokyo Dome complex, then straight to the Don Quijote.  I swear this trip is going to do me in!!!

I love that you can still watch the AKB48 show even if you haven't won a ticket.  Probably the biggest thing i will miss when I head back to the states is the awesome girls from SDN48 and their terrific stage.  So even if I didn't have a ticket to last night's show, I had to watch it one last time.  BTW, I love the theater-style screen and improved sound system in the cafe.  It enhances the experience outside a great deal.  I couldn't wait to see all of my favorite songs one last time, although by the time I made it there it was past the opening MCs and on to the unit songs.  So I missed Black Boy.  Good thing I have the Budokan box version to make me feel better.

I waited for the end of the show, standing with members of the Chen Qu birthday committee.  They asked if I could help by watching their stuff while they collected all of the glowsticks from the show.  Finally Hiro and most of the other guys I have been hanging out with came out of the theater, and it was time for "High Touch"  Just to note, I was fully aware this may be the last time I see Meetan on this trip...

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As I made my way through the line CinDy stopped me again and grabbed my hand.  I thought I heard her say this on Sunday, but now I am sure.  As she took my hand she said "I love you".  WHAT!!!!!!!   CinDy loves me?  WOW!!!  Actually I imagine she is saying that she loves that I am a fan.  But OMG, that was shocking.  Hmmm, maybe she does really love me?  Sorry Meetan, you weren't quick enough.  Meetan was two girls after CinDy.  Remember I wrote fan letters to Meetan and Chisaki on Thursday.  Whenever I send Meetan a letter i always sign it with a drawing of my license plate.  That paid off in spades because when I got to Ohori instead of "high-fiving" me she grabbed my hand and held it tightly.  Then she shook it back and forth while smiling and thanking me!!!  That was soooooooooo great!!!  A few girls later came Chisaki, and she grabbed my hand with both of hers and gave me a huge smile. I could tell she was reacting to my birthday card/fan letter. 

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So the fan letters were one of the best ideas i have had on this trip.  Both of my favorite girls were totally appreciative.  I am so happy!  Nonti was at the end of the line, and I paused in front of her to say "Arigatou Nonti"  Since I sort of skipped past her on the previous events, I was glad to finally give her good focus as I really like her!

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Why the hell are there hundreds of cosplayers hanging around?  Is this the Giants/Cosplay HQ?  They were everywhere!  Just standing around and taking pictures of one another.  I took refuge in the Baseball cafe for an overpriced sandwich and beer.

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Theater G-Rosso is pretty neat!  They were playing the PV for "River" and the CM for Infinity on the wall.  i went in early because i saw they were selling the program with bonus pics outside.  I figured I would buy two programs so I could get pics for each cast.  There were 6 sets available, and only one of the Sayaka/Takamina sets were sold out.  So I picked the ones I wanted and went on my merry way.

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Thirty minutes before showtime the doors opened, so I headed in to find my seat.  I was eighth row just right of center.  It was perfect because the stage is two-tiered and this had me at perfect eye level for the upper part of the set.  Finally it was showtime!

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I am not going to do a full review of the story, but focus more on the girls performances.  You have to remember my Japanese comprehension is not very good.  So it was nice to read a full review and synopsis on Stage48 by Rui before I went.  It's actually a simple story...

It opens hundreds of years ago, on Maria's dying day.  Flash forward to present day, and Ruka the vampire has been living in eternal heartache because he misses Maria.  But she has been reborn as a young catholic schoolgirl.  Maria hangs out with her friends who are on the high school dance team.  Until one day she is attacked by street toughs.  But as they threaten her with a knife out comes Ruka to save her by casting an evil spell over the guys.  And the courtship begins.  At first maria doesn't understand what is going on, but she is mesmerized by the "Blue Rose" (hehe) given to her by Ruka.  Her friends are concerned, especially Ai (Iwasa Misaki) and Eri (Nakatsuka Tomomi) and after meeting the vampire hunters they follow Maria into the forest to Ruka's castle.  Meanwhile Maria's love for Ruka grows.

After an intermission the four girls with smaller parts, along with Tanamin and Nakayan who play Ruka's maids sing Honehone Waltz, and then the maids do a few quick jokes before Act II begins. The rest of the play is mainly about Maria's struggle to choose what's more important to her, the acceptance of her friends or her love for Ruka.  It is also Ruka's struggle to come to terms with what it means to truly love someone.  (anyone hear a Sting song in the background as I type that?)  Not to mention the vampire hunters are hot on Ruka's trail...

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As far as the character of Maria is concerned, I struggled to decide who I liked better in the role.  But after thinking about it for a long time I would have to give Yukirin the slight edge.  It wasn't that Takamina didn't do a great job.  She was wonderful.  And she pulled off the femininity and fragility of Maria very well.  It's just that Yuki is more of what I imagined the character of Maria to be like.

And then there was Iwasa Misaki...ZOMG!  She is absolutely incredible in this!!!  Wasamin was really the third star of this behind the main characters, and she played her intense senpai character perfectly!  She was also up front in most of the songs, and sang beautifully.  Oh, and there is one scene that is supposed to take place in Shibuya where they sing "109".  Wasamin comes out in a short black skirt, with a fedora and red wig and looked soooooo cute!  This girl is going to be a star once we get the shuffles.

*And it has been decided...  After the shuffles, I have two favorite members, both in SDN.  So I will need an AKB Oshimen.  And after much contemplation, Wasamin wins!!!

Nakatsuka Tomomi was also very good playing the "sweet and caring" friend of Maria.  it was nice to see some of these girls get a moment to shine.  And they were both excellent actresses.  Same with Nacchi, who played Maria's more "flirty" friend"

Tanamin and Nakayan as the maids were so adorable!!!  Those blonde wigs they were wearing with the maid cosplay was great!  I don't know where the following pic came from (it was given to me by Hina from no akb no life) but it is so cute!

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I was conflicted for the second show.  I wanted to see Sayaka to see if she would remember me from New York.  But again, I had so many favorite members in supporting parts.  Would I choose Tanamin?  Haachan?  and now Nakayan was a dark horse!  but alas i stuck with the original plan.  When i got up to her she gave me her patented "surprised" look.  "Konba....oh, hello!"  the way she looked at me I was sure she remembered me.  So I said "New Yorku" to her as well.  She replied in English "You are from New York?"  Oops, I switched gears and told her she was wonderful in the show and it was great to see her again.  As I left she glanced back at me with a quizzical look as I walked to the exit.  So maybe she remembered our convo at NYAF when I told her I would be coming to see Infinity.  In any case, Sayaka was totally gracious as always!

By the way, the Sae/Yuki performances was their last of the run.  Sae got a little sentimental during the closing "thank you's'.  So if there is a DVD (why wouldn't there be?) I am guessing that was the taping.  There were quite a few cameras in the place.

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So there ya go.  An exhausting day.  But one filled with idol love!  But as tiring as the day sounds (it was) I had an awesome time every step of the way.  I am taking a little rest this morning.  but in just a few hours I am off to Nakano to see Morning Musume.  I'm sure it will be great!

CK in Tokyo
    

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And I thought today would be a humdrum day.  Boy was I wrong!  the day started with my visit to Odaiba that I spoke about in the previous post.  And for evening entertainment my AKB friends advised me that AKB48 Team K's Umeda Ayaka makes a weekly appearance at Tokyo Tower as a DJ.  So after a short rest I headed to Hamamatsuchō, and my long walk to Tokyo Tower!

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This was another excellent suggestion!  I had been to Tokyo  Tower before, but I had never gone up to the observatory.  It costs about 800 yen, and you go up about 150 meters to a two-story panoramic observation deck, complete with a restaurant, gift shop, and Club 333.  That is where Umechan would be appearing.

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BTW, Christmas is in full force in Tokyo already.  Ayaka, along with Kobayashi Kana and Oku Manami attended the official Tower holiday festival the other day.  So like Akihabara and my hotel, the tower is already set for the holidays!

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Umechan was just sitting at a table reading notes as the engineer spun songs.  It was a really nice selection that fit the mood of the place really well.  Sort of a romantic, but cool set of music.  And Ayaka has an extremely soothing speaking voice.  It created the perfect atmosphere for the romantic setting.  Here are a couple of pics from the mid-span of Tokyo Tower...

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What a romantic place.  My favorite view was the one of Odaiba where you could see the ferris wheel there changing color in a carnival of lights.  Unfortunately it was to far away to show in the picture.  Oh I wish i had a girl with me.  Well, I had Umechan.  But that doesn't really count, does it?  There were about 10-20 fans standing by the DJ table while I was there.  At one point she kept glancing at me.  I couldn't tell if she was thinking "This guy is an AKB fan?"  or maybe it was "Who is this weirdo that is watching the show?"  In either case, I had enough atmosphere for one night, so I headed to the elevators. 

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EDIT:  I found out later that my friend Hiro had sent her a message on her blog that day to look for me at the event.  And since I was the only non-Japanese I could see hanging out in the vicinity of Club 333, that must have been why she kept looking my way.  Had I only known!

When you leave they don't let you all the way down, but instead let you off on the 4th floor.  That way you have to pass through the mall and all of it's shops and restaurants to get out of the place.  I was already thinking about food as I hadn't eaten a morsel since that "Jambalaya" I had in Odaiba.  So when I turned the corner the answer to my hunger pangs were right in front of me...

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After that i headed back to Shinagawa and my hotel.  For a day that started out as nothing, I sure had an awesome time!  I went to the land of Idoling!!! in the morning.  Saw Umechan's live appearance at Tokyo Tower, And then topped it off with a slice from the restaurant chain that Buono! made famous to international fans!!!

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Yes, it was awesome.  Now I just need to rest up for my big day tomorrow.  Seeing Infinity twice.  Wish me luck!

CK in Tokyo

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It is already Christmas in Akihabara!  Actually I don't have much to report for day 5, although I did see AKB48 Team Kenkyuusei on Wednesday night.  But I will report on that in another post.  Hey, I didn't promise this stuff would all be in chronological order!  So I am going to work backwards a bit.  Beginning with today, which isn't over.

I didn't have anything planned that was J-pop related today.  So I deferred to my AKB brethren for advice on what to do with the day.  It didn't necessarily need to be associated with AKB, or Idols at all for that matter.  I was merely looking for something fun to do.  And they had recommended Odaiba.

Odaiba?  Oh yeah, that's supposed to be a fun place.  I had never been there before.  And how could i forget it?  After all, it is the mystical land of...

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Wow, that is such a cool structure!  But first I wanted to go check out that miniature Statue of Liberty they have.  This is also where that giant Gundam used to be.  But it is gone now.  The general area around the Fuji television building is filled with shopping malls, restaurants and amusement attractions.  I had lunch in this cute little tex-mex restaurant that was supposed to be like a silver mine.  500 yen for the Japanese version of Jambalaya and all the soda you can drink.

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After lunch I did a little exploring and found the store that sells Idoling!!! goods.  The only problem was that the selection for my favorite member, Erika Yazawa was kinda "picked over".  So I ended up with a T-shirt.  They had another T-shirt design that was much cooler, but there were none in my size for Erika.  I checked Asahi Nao too, but no luck.  Oh well.  It was still a cool little excursion.

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It is still mid-afternoon at the time of this writing, so I may end up doing something tonight.  The tentative plan is to head to Tokyo Tower, as the Tokyo Tower girl makes regular Friday night appearances.  And of course the Tokyo Tower girl is none other than AKB48's Umeda Ayaka!

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Warning #1) Long post is long!  Warning #2) Hide your eyes kiddies, this is an SDN review!  I will do my best to keep it as clean as possible.

Okay, I think it's time I do an experience post since I have seen five shows over the past week.  And for this entry I'll focus on my new favorite Team...SDN!!!!!  But first a couple of observations...

The theater is a lot more crowded lately, and the demographic is indeed getting younger.  At first this didn't bother me although I have been hearing a few curmudgeonly comments from some of the older fans.  On the surface having a younger fanbase will ensure long-term success.  But one big problem is that most of them can't afford the higher ticket items AKB is selling.  So on Sunday when they released the monthly (former gaccha) photos  and the Budokan box, the line for the pics was 3-4 blocks long, but you could walk right in and buy a dvd set with no wait whatsoever!  the second thing is they have turned the cafe/lobby into a pic-trading heaven.  It was like that before, but never on the level I am seeing now.  It's like the new fans have replaced Pokemon with AKB.  It was funny, when i bought my calendar they all swooped down on me to see what "extra" BLT I got, and they all scoffed when I pulled out Amina!  Oh, and with the heavier pic-trading comes a lot more female fans.  But back on topic...

At this point I have seen five shows, yet none of them have been for Teams A, K or B.  in fact, B isn't performing for my entire trip.  And you know what?  I'm not disappointed.  Because I have a new favorite team, which would make sense since Meetan is my Oshimen.  So three wins for SDN is a total victory, as far as I'm concerned.

I won all three shows via renban with my buddy Hiro.  we sat in Enpou for two of those shows, and the one show we were in the lottery our group got called 2nd to last...Ugghhh.  I never have good lottery karma!  In fifteen theater shows i have never been closer than 4th row far left.

BTW, if you want to follow along you can find previews of all of the songs here on their official site

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Gotta love the sexy overture, fits the team well.  The pre-show welcome was done last night by Chen Qu.  I love listening to her talk, as she has the same intonations and "spacey' personality as JunJun for Morning Musume.  Saturday Night Party: Team White appears looking exactly like Wonder Girls' "Nobody" MV, complete with the antique mic stands.  They are all gorgeous, especially Misa Okochi and Chen.  But after a while I am captivated by Chisaki Hatakeyama.  There is just something about this girl that makes her really special.  Since last night was Chaki's birthday show, the audience went nuts when she started singing.

Never begins with Team Red, but White joins in on the first chorus.  Chaki just flies across the stage!  At that point my adulation for her rose to the next level!  The moment I saw Megu I was pissed at whoever the photographer was who took the official site pics.  A lot of these girls are much much cuter than those pics indicate.  They do a little "rap" as part of the verse which is really cute.  And watching Nonti do her solo line just confirmed that SDN is where she belongs!

Black Boy is just plain awesome.  Now all three colors are onstage, and that means Meetan!!!!  This is the song I voted for in the Setlist 2010 elections.  Although now i would consider it my 3rd fave.  But it just filled with energy and attitude.  Those of you who have seen the Budokan version got a hint of it.  You have to see it in the theater...intense!  BTW, I spent most of my energy cheering for Meetan, Chaki, Chen-chuu and Sayanee.

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Last night's opening MC was the first chapter in the Chisaki cry-fest.  And as I was noticing Meetan she had a strange look on her face.  I wasn't sure what it was about and wondered if she might not be feeling well.  Then again, she is always an emotional rollercoaster (hehe).  But I would find out what was up a little later (I think).  The cheers for Chisaki were intense, and she was unsuccessfully fighting back the tears,

Yuuwaku no Garter:  Damn these costumes are sexy.  They are the ones represented in their logo.  But what you don't see is how skimpy the undershorts are.  there is a point in the song where they bend over and sort of lift up their skirts, and Yukarin...wow!!!  I think you know what I am getting at.  Last night Chisaki subbed for Yukarin, and I has in heaven yet again!  But the song is typical "sexy J-pop"  The song ends with the line "I wanna be your pleasure toy!"  That is so sexy.  Speaking of sexy...

I'm Sure is where this Stage gets even more R-rated.  Is just great, a totally seductive verse into an intense rocking chorus.  And the girls dance is like a dirtier version of Oshi/Meshi, if you can imagine that.  And then ZOMG!!!  On the last verse Kana lies down on the stage and Misa mounts her as they sing the end of the song.  It is incredible!

All In wasn't one of my favorite songs, but it was fun rooting for Chen and Sayanee.  The audience goes crazy for Nonti.  One other thing, Reiko is a great singer!  And once again, she looks much hawter than her site pic suggests.

Finally Meetan's unit!  Jajauma Lady:  Although the first show I saw had Nachu leading the unit.  The dance on the chorus, the way they sort of "paw" at the audience is sooo cute!  Are they suppose to be horses or something?  Meetan gets a lot of solo time here, so I got to do plenty of screaming!  The end of the song features Meetan chasing Chisaki around the stage with the whip.  (hehe)  And during last night's show the birthday committee passed out glowsticks for Chaki's birthday to be used for this song.

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Nachu/Meetan MC is awesome!!!!  BTW, I love Nachu, she is so great!  She is all about comedy!  She has a different dialect, and she also speaks with a lisp.  I love that!  Last night i think she was saying something about her pants running up her butt.  But the funniest was on Sunday when she was asking Meetan how her legs felt, and when Meetan would give this sexy answer Nachu would smack her in the quad!  Don't hurt Meetan!  I also think it is hysterical that the audience likes to call her "Natsuko", and she always reacts to it.  They end with an "audience participation" chant for...

Ganbarina is full of energy.  And it is one of those "hand gesture" songs the audience has a lot of fun with.  Some of the girls do acrobatics during the musical portion, and the crowd "whoops and wows"

Futsuu no Anata is also one of my favorite songs.  Hiro mentioned to me that the lyrics are particularly suggestive.  That's hawt!  If you listen to the preview on the official site you will get an idea of how sexy this song is.  At one point toward the end of the song where the music slows down half the team closes their eyes and leans forward like they are waiting for a kiss.  It is soooooo adorable.  I wanted to just run up there and oblige them, especially since Meetan and Chaki were among that group.

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Best by: Sexy costumes, I never noticed before what a tiny waist Meetan has.  By the time this song came around the first time I watched this stage, I was sold.  This is the best Stage I have ever seen!

They do a VTR while the girls get ready for the last song of the main set.  One member gets 3 minutes to entertain you.  It was usually something sexy or funny.  Like the first show i saw had Nachu in the hallway with a rubber hammer, banging on the girls' pics and saying funny things about them...NATSUKO!!!!

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Aisareru Tame ni, the "glowstick" song!  Kinda like AKB Sanjou, the girls all have green glowsticks (as well as the audience) and they spell out love during the chorus with us following along.  this is the one SDN ballad, and it is pretty.  Even if it reminds me of Procol Harum's Whiter Shade of Pale

Last night's encore chant was simply "Chaki, Chaki, Chaki, Chaki" it was intense, and it never let up!

Kodoka na Runner is as fast paced as the title suggests.  It has a long musical interlude in the middle where the "fire, cyber, diver" chant goes, followed by the Japanese version, followed by a third version of the chant which I had never heard before.  But it was great!

Touhikou is most memorable to me for Chen singing her solo lines in Chinese.  Actually they are more like spoken word.  The short kimono's they wear are the same one's they wear during the post show "high touch"  It's a pretty song.

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In the final MC last night Chaki got a tremendous ovation, which caused her to cry harder and harder the longer it went.  She is beyond adorable, and I am now declaring her my 2nd favorite member besides Meetan.  In fact I was compelled to write her a fan letter for her birthday.  But then i started to feel like I was betraying Ohori a little bit so I wrote her one too, and delivered them both last night.  Speaking of Ohori, she was the next MC after Chaki.  When she stepped forward she had a strange look on her face which caused everyone to laugh.  But then she started crying too!  I think at first everyone thought she was playacting, including the other girls.  But then she kept apologizing and something about being affected by Chisaki's reaction to the ovation.  So it was totally real.  Meetan is so great!!!  In fact i noticed in all three shows the girls make constant references to her in MC's.  She is definitely one that the other members look up to.  It speaks volumes to what a great idol she actually is.  And what was this about Meetan treating Serina like a servant???  After the MC the girls rip off the Kimonos into a really sexy costume for...

Vampire Keikaku:  here it is.  this is my favorite SDN song for so many reasons.  The girls all get a moment up front, so you get one last chance to scream for your favorite.  But it is the dance routine that makes it so special.  On each chorus half the Team lies down on the stage as it rises in the air and they do hip thrusts.  Wow, blatant sexual suggestion!!!  Another awesome R-rated moment.  And toward the end they all pair off for a "bite"  (Vampire song, remember?)  Meetan was so cute when she bit Kohara.  But when she paired off with Yukarin on Sunday she actually kissed her...AWESOME!!!  A heartwarming song to end the show.

It was a birthday show.  And what would a birthday be without cake?  As Nachu rolled out the cake the Chisaki faucet re-commenced.  And after a chorus of "Happy Birthday" the streamers and confetti flew out.  It was too much for Chaki, she just lost it.  So cute!!!

The first show i saw was on Halloween, so instead of "High-Touch" they had "Trick-or-Treat", which meant you could go up to the girl of your choice and get Halloween candy.  I hadn't totally fallen for Chisaki yet, so I chose Sayanee since I saw her in New York, and she speaks English.  She tried to talk to me about NYAF, but then the security guys pushed me away.  Hehe

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For those who don't know, at the end of each show the girls line up in the hallway.  As you leave they all give you a "high-five" and Arigatou.  I believe they do this for every show.  On Sunday for "high touch" Hiro and I planned to get me stuck in front of Meetan.  As I went down the line of girls giving high-fives the first girl to "sugoi" at my gaijin-ness was CinDy who grabbed my hand with both of hers.  Chisaki did the same.  But then our plan began to unravel when I got to Nachu, who was committed to having me learn her hand gesture.  It caused me to back up the line.  When the staff pushed me it made me fly right past Nonti and Yukarin.  but I stopped myself at Meetan long enough to make eye contact.  And Hiro had told her i was her California fan with the AKB car plates.  So she grabbed my hand and gave me a big "Arigatou".  Last night went a lot smoother, and Nachu got a kick out of the fact that I knew her hand gesture this time.  After ogling Meetan I made sure to give Chaki a big "Otanjoubi Omedettou!"  I'll never wash my hand again!

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Yes, now I have another autographed Meetan B.L.T.  I can't say enough about how much I love this stage!  The songs are great, and the dancing is on an entirely different level of anything I have ever seen an idol group do.  The entire concept is ingenious!  And the "high touch" at the end is just flat out great.  Getting to meet all of the members at the end of the show?  How amazing!  And since i stand out a bit it makes it even more special.

I had to check myself last night to make sure I wasn't falling for Chisaki at the expense of Meetan.  But when they were both on stage together my focus remained with Ohori.  There really isn't a bad song in the setlist, but my top 5 are...

1. Vampire Keikaku
2. Futsuu no Anata
3. Black Boy
4. I'm Sure
5. Jajauma Lady (had to include Meetan/Chisaki unit!)

So there ya go.  Chen's birthday show is on Saturday night.  The Chen birthday committee let me write a message on their birthday card!  I am not going as I am seeing Infinity that night.  but I plan to go to the theater after to watch the show on the monitors.  And that means one more "high touch".  Yayyy!

Okay, I still have tons going on this weekend, including AKB Infinity on Saturday and Morning Musume on Sunday.  So this trip is far from over.  Until then...

CK in Tokyo

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Finally a post that is focused on Hello! Project.  But first...

I love that all of the idol groups seem to be omnipresent around Japan.  I was walking through a department store yesterday and they had Kimagure Princess playing in the store's audio system.  I was LOLing at that.  And on the JR trains I have seen a video ad for some website featuring Idoling!!!, and a promotion for Kojima Haruna's upcoming photobook.  But what I really love are the billboards!

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The first one I noticed was this ad for Pino featuring Perfume at Tamachi station.  I haven't big as big a fan of them as some others, but I love the ad.  Really cute!  The next one is a little dark because I took it in bad weather at night...

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I was walking to dinner with some friends in Ueno, and I grabbed this pick quickly as they weren't interested in hunting for Idol stuff.  But that is AKB48's Fujie Reina and Chikano Rina promoting...ice cream???  I think that is what it's for, I'm not sure.  Finally...

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I think the funniest thing about this Manoeri ad is that it is right next to the AKB48 theater!  (hehe)

Okay, I finally got to do something H!P related other than hunting for pics at the H!P stores.  I was a little bit disappointed because I tried to strategize the day so I could see both AKB48 and Berryz Kobo.  But the AKB48 email system screwed me up by sending me a phantom message hinting that I won a show, then it turned out I didn't.  Some sort of glitch in the system.  Whatever, I was kinda tired yesterday, so two shows would have definitely wiped me out!  But I made it to Tokyo Koseinenkin Keikan in plenty of time, bought my Maasa shirt and photoset, and I was ready for action!

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As I got to my thirteenth row seat i was a little bit further to the left than i thought I was going to be.  That's okay, I was still in front of the stage.  The best gauge is whether I am paying more attention to the monitors or the girls on stage, and I was definitely focused on the live action.  Scanning the audience, most of the people around me were either Risako or Momo fans.  Although there seemed to be a good mix of all the girls different colors.  I would say the least represented color there was for Captain, but I did have a Saki fan right in front of me.  A girl, and her wotagei-ing was as intense as anyone's!  behind me was another girl in Yurina colors, to my left was a Miyabi fan, and to my delight another Maasa fan sat down on my right!

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After Madayade and Munasawagi Scarlet, they did a cute little skit (starring Maasa again, see a pattern forming here?) and went into Chinami's solo.  As high a voice she has, I was a bit surprised she was having trouble hitting the high notes.  So I was slightly disappointed, unlike the next two "unit songs".  I especially like Helation Summer.  But one of the coolest performances of the night was the "beatbox" version of Dschingis Khan.  In fact I will go as far as saying that this version is better than the original.  Chinami and Captain voiced the percussion parts, with Miyabi doing the bass.  It is really cool!

And for those of you who know the setlist and were wondering, Momoko did an excellent job with Very Beauty.  She is just a fantastic performer, and makes it look easy the entire show.  The next great moment came in Special Generation.  Huh?  I usually complain about that song being overplayed.  But the Sea Breem cosplay costumes were hilarious.  And they kept wearing them during Nigiyaki na Fuyu, which I had never heard before.  I loved it!!!

I was excited about the "special medley" because it had so many great songs in it.  I only wish they had done more of Kiche Desse.  And unlike what it says on H!O, it was Momo on the Xylophone for this show,  But Maasa carried it onto the stage.  Hehe, Maasa is strong!  Suhada Pichi Pichi was another great performance, especially by the fans.  For some reason my hangover came back during Monkey Dance.  I dunno, maybe it was the song itself.  I quickly felt better once they started singing Rival.  And for the encore...

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BTW, what is it the fans say during the encore chant for Berryz?  "Berryz something or other"  Whatever it is, I thought it was cool, just like the "Berryz saiko!" chant after the show.  Clap was a nice song to end with.

Keep in mind that I watch the show with "Maasa colored glasses" on, but I thought she was absolutely sensational.  She is a totally different performer from when i saw Berryz Kobo live last year.  The only bummer is that she seems to be taking the leadership role away from Captain, who barely said a word throughout the show.  I was also impressed with Risako.  Her singing has gotten much better, and she was always smiling when I watched her.  I think she is becoming slightly less self-conscious, which may have been her problem before.  And Momo is always great!  Miyabi is a great singer, but she just doesn't stand out to me for some reason.  So at the end of the day I adore Maasa even more than before, and Riichan takes a huge leap in my BK pecking order.  Who'da thunk it?  Oh, and the coolest part...at the end of the show the guy to my right shook my hand as he was glad to meet another Maasa fanatic.  Partners in battle!!!

So there ya go, Berryz are great.  My next H!P review will be Morning Musume this Sunday.  That will surely be an awesome show!  between then and now i have more AKB fun in store, and you never know what surprises might pop up.  I will leave you with another pic of my latest infatuation, the adorable Chisaki Hatakeyama from SDN48.  I have also been checking out her Ameba blog, very nice!

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CK in Tokyo

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This can be filed in the "Don't tell Meetan" section, ssshhhhhhh!

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It is always great when you can find something fresh and new to get excited about in the J-pop/Idol world.  For me that is SDN48.  I knew I would love this group the moment they announced it.  And I haven't read one person say they are any less than great.  And since my favorite Idol Ohori Megumi was absent from the first performance I got to see in person, it gave me a chance to focus on the rest of the team.  And the idol I found to be most captivating was Hatakeyama Chisaki.  Since I have made that declaration my buddy Hiro quickly supplied me with plenty of Chaki pics from earlier in her idol career.  So without further delay, here is the premiere installment of Chaki Picspam!!!

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She is so cute!  I love that diminutive, yet built figure.  She is one of the best dancers in SDN48.  Her singing is top notch, and she has incredible stage presence. 

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Chaki commands your attention every time she hits the stage.  It is no surprise that she is quite often front and center during most of the songs.  I adore this girl so much, and I am proud to put her alongside Meetan as one of my favorite idols!  Actually, I don't think Meetan would be too jealous as she is in love with Chisaki too.  Didn't she recently say that she wanted to "eat her"?  Me too Megumi...me too!

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Tomorrow is her 21st Birthday.  There will be a Birthday show for Chakii on Thursday night, and I have won a ticket to the show...awesome!  I will be cheering for Meetan and Chaki with all my might!!!

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CK in Tokyo
(btw, a HUGE thank you to Hiro for all of the great pics!) 

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Wow did it get cold last tonight!  I was out to dinner and shopping with some friends in Ueno, and all of a sudden this frigid wind and icy rain hit the area.  Of course my warmest clothes were back at the hotel, so I got to shiver my way through the evening,  The "good" news was we were all equally under-dressed and cold as hell, so i didn't feel alone in my discomfort.  Hopefully things will warm up a bit tomorrow when I see Berryz Kobo in Shinjuku.

I have traditionally purchased my Hello! Project tickets through a deputy service before I arrive in the country.  The good thing about that was 1) I assured myself of being able to see shows before I set foot in the Japan.  And 2) I didn't have to go through the hassle of figuring out how to get tickets on my own.  The problem was that I was paying outrageous amounts of money for mediocre tickets, and rarely getting close enough for a little face time with the idols.  But that all changed on my last trip in May, and it is continuing with this trip.

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The fact is that H!P tickets are readily available at the reseller shops throughout Tokyo.  It is an easy process, they have all of the tickets in glass cases with the section, row and price.  You simply grab a salesperson and point to the ticket you want...and that's it!  Today at Gorakudoh they had tons of tickets for Berryz, MoMusu, Arashi, AKB Infinity, you name it!  And the fact is I paid the same price for a great seat as I did for a mediocre seat through a deputy service.  My friend Arden always told me this was the way to go, and Celestia confirmed it.  This is why my seats have gotten a heck of a lot better on my last two trips.

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Since I had no concerts to see today, I spent the day doing a little shopping.  And I found some amazing stuff, and a few cool deals...

In a way I feel like a surfer giving away the best surf spot.  But I think everyone knows about Trio2 by now.  This shop is an absolute Wota heaven!  Just imagine a store dedicated to all things J-pop, specializing in AKB48, Hello! Project, Idoling!!! and the like.  That is Trio2 in Nakano.  They have a huge supply of pics, just about every idol mag you can imagine, and tons of used DVDs and PBs.  And anyone who was purchased used stuff in Japan can tell you, "used is new!"  BTW, what the heck are these outfits in the window of the H!P Store Harajuku?

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Suffice it to say i have spent far too much money already on this trip.  I had anticipated this problem, and brought more Yen than ever before.  I knew I had to pay cash for all of my concert tickets this time around, and I also knew I was going to be buying the new AKB48 7-disc Sokaku Matsuri behemoth.  That thing was majorly expensive.  But it has 6 different concerts, a "making of disc", a huge photobook and a great picbinder with pics.  I was ecstatic because my random pics included Meetan...and Tanamin!  But the greatest find was at Trio2.

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I should be used to this, as it was hinted on the package.  But as I opened my copy of Yazawa Erika's photobook something immediately caught my eye....

It was autographed!!!!!

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Isn't that awesome?  I totally adore this girl, although I have never seen Idoling!!! in person before.  It also came with a nice little picset.  Yazawa is the epitome of idol awesomeness.  there is a ton of other stuff I want to buy, but I am pacing myself.  Aww shucks, who am I kidding?

This just might be the greatest experience I have ever had as an idol fan.  I had the chance to see SDN48 for a second time this weekend.  And it just confirmed that what they are doing is taking the entire idol concept to an entirely new level.  Their first stage is nothing less than sensational.  The music is great, and the dancing is superb.  And ever since the first show, I can't stop thinking about...

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Hatakeyama Chisaki:  CHAKIIIIIII!!!!!  This girl is an amazing idol!  I believe she is the 2nd youngest in the unit, but she stars throughout the entire stage.  She apparently had a nice gravure career before joinging SDN.  And I know Ray will love her because she looks a lot like Koike Rina.  And the coolest thing is it is her birthday this week, and I have won a ticket for her birthday show!  Oh, and don't tell Meetan, I wrote Chisaki a fan letter!

One of the coolest traditions of SDN shows is the post concert "High Touch".  After every performance the girls line up in the hallway, and you get to "high five" them as you leave the theater.  You can also get a few brief words in with them if you really quick about it.  And you know what this means.......

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NATSUKO!!!!!

Nachu is sooo funny!!!  When I got up to her she decided she wanted to teach me her "hand gesture"., which is like a combination of the Hawaiian Shaka Sign and the Vulcan "live long and prosper".  I kept fumbling with it, and in the meantime I started to hold up the line.  Then one of the staff pushed me, which made me fly right by Sato Yukari and Noro Kayo.  But I was able to stop my momentum at Meetan.  Luckily Hiro had said to her that I was right behind him, so she gave me a big smile and "arigatou" as she grabbed my hand instead of slapping it.  But I didn't want to get pushed twice, so I kept moving to the end of the line.  That's okay, I am going to see SDN48 again on Thursday night, so I will have another chance to say hello to Megumi, and this time I will hopefully make eye contact with Nonti and Yukarin.

I am slightly hungover today from a bad combination of Suntory Hi-Ball's and Chu-Hi Strong.  But I should recover in time for Berryz tonight.  13th row center...awesome!!!!!

CK in Tokyo

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Yes, I am back in Japan, but it was "touch and go" for a while...

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I am sure this is going to be another awesome trip.  But the way it started made me a little unsure.  So if you will indulge me for a moment, I need to lament.  Beginning with Friday morning when I slept through my alarm, and woke up when I should have already been en-route to the airport!!!  That was an even bigger issue considering the major bridge between my house and SFO has been closed for the last 5 days.  Getting a taxi was just as hard, as the entire transportation system is in total breakdown.  But I made it to the train, and made it to the airport on time.  However, in my haste a forgot to pack a few important items...oh well!

My flight left on-time, which was important since I had a show to go to my first night in town.  It was a nice flight up until about 1500 miles outside of Tokyo, where we hit MAJOR turbulence.  It was the roughest flight I have ever been on.  they even had to suspend the meal service because it was too dangerous for the crew to stand up.  Then the plane was late because we had to sit in a holding pattern for 30 minutes due to Narita Traffic.  Then the luggage was late for some unknown reason.  And then...traffic into Tokyo was horrible, it took almost two hours to get to my hotel.  All in all it took almost 3 1/2 hours from landing to hotel check-in, sheesh!  The good news was that I still had time to make the show!  But I digress...

This is my fourth trip to Japan in less than two years.  People always find it remarkable how many shows and events I am able to see.  There is a bit of a strategy to it, although it doesn't leave me a lot of time to explore the many other wonderful things about this country.  That's okay, one day I will have time to do all of that stuff.  But I come here with a specific purpose.  So since AKB48's schedule is usually a last minute thing, I try to come when there are multiple Hello! Project events going on, and schedule my trip around that.  As a result this trip is shaping up to be just as hectic as the last one, concert-wise!

Morning Musume:  Going to the evening show on 11/8.  According to Celestia, we have 5th row seats.  Awesome!!!!!
Berryz Kobo:  Planning on going to the 11/3 evening show in Shinjuku, but I don't have a ticket yet.  That is my quest for today and tomorrow.  Find a berryz ticket!
AKB Infinity:  AKB48's new play!!!  I have 7th row for both performances on Saturday the 7th.  That means I will get to see both casts, Sayaka/Takamina and Sae/Yukirin.
SKE48;  I have one last chance to win tickets for Wednesday 11/4.  If i win it will be my first visit to Nagoya!
AKB48:  So far i have won three shows, today for Team Kenkyuusei, Tuesday Team A matinee and Wednesday Team Kenkyuusei again.  I will need to cancel that win if I win for SKE48.
SDN48:  This is what I wanted to see more than anything else while I am visiting.  The new "adults only" team from the world of AKB.  I have won twice so far.  Once for tonight...and once for last night.  Yes, THAT was the show I was in such a hurry to see, and i made it.  SDN48 on Halloween night!!!!

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After the show, the girls all went into the lobby each with a basket of candy.  As you left you got to pick a member and go up to her station for Trick-or-Treat, she then gave you candy and you could talk to her for a few moments.  Since Meetan wasn't there I had to pick someone else.  I thought about going to Chisaki because she is sooo adorable, but I ultimately went with Sayaka Kondo since she speaks English.  She was excited that I came all the way from the US to see them, and then just as we started to talk about NYAF the theater manager ushered me away,  My time was up!!!  But the entire experience was great, and I can't wait for tonight's show!!!

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Meetan Ameba Pigg fans!!!!!  If you are familiar with Ameba Pigg, that is the little virtual world where all of the Ameba bloggers hang out and chat.  And they get to create little characters that walk around in the rooms.  I love Ohori Megumi's Ameba Pigg character...kawaii!!!!

Alright, so there is lots to do today,  Hopefully this trip will have enough new and unique adventures, so it's not like i am just re-hashing my last trip.  Until tomorrow...

CK in California

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Next week will be my fourth trip to Japan in 21 months.  I have been to over 20 separate concerts during those trips.  But as many shows as I have seen, I have still never had the chance to see one of my favorite groups in person.  And that is Idoling!!!

I kind of got a late start with them because 10 they are still relatively new, and 2) my first impression of them wasn't too positive.  It took me a while to warm up to them.  But when I finally took the time to really see what they were about, I fell for them hard.  That said, I have never seen any of their concert performances.  So I was really excited when Silverbolt hooked me up with their latest live show at Hibiya Open Concert Hall.  However, I was honestly a bit apprehensive about watching this,  As much as I love Idoling!!!, the few "live" clips I have seen have not impressed me.

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Wow, what a neat venue!  I would love to see a show there.  Oh yeah, if you scan the audience (the camera does this a lot) you might notice the lack of females.  It took me three viewing to spot one woman in the audience.  She may have been the only one there (hehe!)

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The opening set had some of my favorite songs.  And what is this?  A live band?  I have always wondered what today's Hello! Project artists would be like with a live band.  I think it makes a nice addition to the show.  And if you have ever seen any of Matsuura Aya's concert DVD's (and old MoMusu for that matter) you'll know that it adds an extra element of entertainment to the show.  But back to the music...

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I just love Soushuku-kei Carnival!  The musical style is exactly what I love about this group.  And Tokimeki DREAMing!!! is so pretty!  The girls look very cute in these cheerleader get ups.  Is the singing a bit off-key at times?  Yes it is, but I am finally get that Idoling!!! is about a lot more than singing.  Another way to look at this is that they do ALL of their singing live.  I don't think ANY other idol ensemble does that.  So the girls deserve some kudos for "putting themselves out there" the way they do.  The predominantly upbeat set was a great start to the show!

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If I can backtrack a bit, the opening VTR was kind of a cross between Battle Royale and the NA*GA*RA PV, with the girls escaping from an island prison.  So the next segment of the show included their TV emcee Hidetomo Masuno giving a "dossier" on each member.  He's a pretty funny guy, and I love that he has that same "Moe Howard, John Denver, Pete Rose" hairstyle shared by Makoto of Sharam Q fame.  Anyway, after each set of intros they performed a "unit" song...

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Houkago Telepathy is one of my favorite Idoling!!! B-sides.  And now is as good a time as any to declare my crush of #15 Asahi Nao,  She is soooooooo adorable!  I was somewhat surprised that the only performance from the winter shuffles was the FuriFuri Idoling!!! song.  Then again, most of the girls from NA*GA*RA have graduated, and Hannin wa Anata Desu<3 is probably the best of the other three.

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I usually don't love ballads, but "U" is really pretty.  Not to throw my fave under the bus, but someone was singing off-key throughout this song.  And unless I miss my guess, I am pretty sure it was Yazawa.  Oh no!  Yazawa can't sing?  Actually, she sings a solo line toward the end that wasn't bad.  But c'mon girl.  I never thought in a million years I would accuse Erika of being "flat"!

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On the other hand, Endo Mai proves what a great singer she is in Like a Shooting Star!  Fonchi isn't bad either.  I love her "lolli" voice!  So just like other idol acts, they have their strong singers, then they have the girls there for "other reasons".

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AKB48 has done it...Buono! has "sorta" done it, same with THE Possible.  It's pretty cool when an idol can play a musical instrument.  And here they form a 5-piece musical group to perform their classic Lemon Drop  Endo on Bass?  Man, she is like a "5-tool" player!  And she was really playing some cool bass lines.  You could tell Kamawura Yui wasn't nearly as experienced on the guitar, that's okay.  But no one was sexier than Yokoyama Rurika on drums!  Yeah, it was slightly slower paced than usual.  But the effort was great!

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Lots of songs benefit from live performances.  And I must admit I usually skip Royal Milk Girl when I am listening to Petit Petit.  But here it is an awesome performance, possibly the best of the night!  This song is right out of "Grease", "American Graffiti"...take your pic.  I love the "Idols at the sock hop" feel.  And who doesn't like a guy in a dog suit?

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I had never heard Love Magic Fever before watching this concert, it is from their new unit Puyo Puyo Idoling!!!  It sounds like something Shugo Chara Egg might perform.  In other words this song is perfect for an anime theme.  Very cute, and it features Erika AND Nao.  I'm in heaven!  But poor Ami Kikuchi, her voice became raspier and raspier as the show progressed! :(

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In fact, for anyone just getting into Idoling!!! I would recommend this four song set as a great example of what the group is like live.  Oh, and I never knew Snow Celebration was their most popular single.  Really?  I love the PV, as it is possibly the only music video in history to incorporate Olympic Curling.  It's a pretty song!

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Nobody, Yatta!!!

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This concert was great for so many reasons.  First of all, I like the fact that a lot of the members get considerable face time.  Endo Mai and Tonooka Erika are definitely the frontgirls, and deservedly so.  They also seem to be pushing Morita Suzuka.  And since she reminds me a lot of H!P's Maeda Yuuka, that isn't a bad thing.  I have already mentioned many times that their collective performing ablility is much improved from a year ago.  And having a live band grooving behind them helped a lot with the general synergy.  It made me really want to be part of that "sausage fest" of an audience!!!

So yes, This concert is totally worth the purchase!  But beware, you might become an Idoling!!! fan!  And please spare me the "I don't have enough room in my fandom for another idol group" bullshit...

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For me, there can NEVER be enough cute idols in my life!!!

CK in California

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Kprinc

CK in California
(inspired by...you know who!)

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There has been much to keep up with in the idol world lately.  And to tell you the truth I have been a little "out of it".  Starting with work and then the trip to New York Anime Fest, I have been lacking in rest.  It is something I hope to rectify in the coming weeks as my trip looming trip to Japan will surely be anything but restful.

Of all the singles coming out in the next few weeks, I find myself most attracted to the singles being released on Pony Canyon.  To me it seems like all of their artists produce music that is a lot of fun while having a guitar-driven musical edge.  I don't mind the similarities because I really like the style.  On the surface, two of my favorite groups may seem completely different.  But upon close listen you will hear a lot more similarities.  They are both awesome in their own way. And they are Hello Project's Buono! and AKB48's Watarirouka Hashirtai.

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They haven't announced the release date for Buono's Bravo ☆ Bravo, but a preview was featured on the most recent episode of Shugo Chara...

This is classic Buono!  Listening to the music itself it is hard to believe this is idol music, let alone Hello! Project idols.  But that is why I love them so much.  It is the one group within the H!P collective that repeatedly pushes the envelope.  This song is a perfect cross between My Boy and Kiss x3.  And chicks with guitars always kick ass!

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Then you have Watarirouka Hashirtai.  It's easy to say that they are completely different from Buono!  They are younger, and their music doesn't "rock out" quite as much as Buono!  Both groups capitalize equally on their lolli cuteness.  But ultimately it is the music that I find equally appealing because it has the same "fun" sound that Buono! possesses.  And it should also be noted that Pony Canyon also produces Idoling!!!  And a lot of their tracks have this same style.  But back to WH...

Kanpeki Guu no ne is their third single.  It releases while I am in Japan next month.  I loved their first two releases, and to me this one is just as good.  Like Buono!, none of the girls are among my favorites in their respective idol stables.  But collectively they make a great unit.  Although I am quickly growing an affection for Lovetan.  She has the cutest dimples...

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So this is really a message to the Buono! fans among the H!P faithful.  I know some of you have this inexplicable fear/disdain/whatever of non-H!P idol acts.  But I really think you will like Watarirouka Hashirtai (and Idoling!!! for that matter) if you give them a serious listen.  They are as adorable as any idol ensemble out there right now.

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And kudos to Pony Canyon!  Keep doing what you're doing, and I'll keep breaking out the Visa card!!!

CK in California  

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