It's too bad that Ohori Megumi is born in August, because so many of my favorite idols celebrate their birthdays in mid-fall. And I am proud to celebrate the birthday of one particular Idoling!!! member who captivated me from the moment I saw her...
So what better way to celebrate than with a mini-picspam of Erika looking totally hawt and showing off one (actually two) of the biggest reasons why she is such a great idol!!!
As much as it is a big part of her appeal, Erika has a lot more to offer than what sits on her chest. She is one of the funniest idols in the business. Her quick wit and playfulness go a long way in making her a must watch member on Idoling's television program...
During my recent visit to Odaiba I couldn't get over the fact that I
was treading in "Yazawa's neigborhood". One of these days I will finally get a chance to see Idoling!!!, and my favorite girl Yazawa live. Until then I will just have to collect as much of her stuff as possible.
CK in California
It's good to take freedom of speech. It's because they want to say anything without using profanity.
It's really bad about violating social networking sites' policies and guidelines (such as threats of violence/death, disruptive behavior, trolling, use of profanity...), you know. That's mean. They can ban anyone's IP address permanently. And they could get anyone who is uses the internet in trouble. Really.
So I have to take freedom of speech, instead of being violent. The song "Rihanna - Unfaithful" has the word "gun" in the lyrics. It should be "I might as well take a watergun and spray it to his shin, get it over with". Also, "James Blunt - You're Beautiful" has the F-word in the lyrics (should be "flying high"). You may have read this: a fake Canon blogger resists legal threat since Canon's lawyers try to shut down a Canon parody blog, which is run by the wordpress.com URL. I had no other choice but remove the inappropriate words (all my drawings are clean right now, except the first ones back when I was 17 was the katana, then the light saber, a futuristic weapon from Star Wars, and a bullwhip, inspired by the fictional adventurer Indiana Jones). but the "arrow-in-a-apple", that's fine, but no weaponry will be in the drawings, weaponry is just violent.)
I know that I have "IP address issues" due to the Chuck Taylor incident, but the Chuck Taylors will be replaced with Levi's Red Tab shoes. So I have decided to move to Rahway, New Jersey. Most retail stores (Target, Wal-Mart, Best Buy, any retail store that sells video games/DVDs/music), have a strict rated-M game policy, which the rated-M games are not to be sold to persons under 17, also the TV-14/TV-MA DVDs, the rated-R movies, and the music CDs that have the "Parental Advisory" label.
First I have to focus on saving money for Tokyo (need a job first, because anyone who is not 21 can only get part-time jobs!), then I save money for a house.
Everyone should take freedom of speech.
The two Momusu photo sets are absolutely gorgeous~ and I especially love Gakki and Kamei's! and Junjun's and Aichan's and Reinachan's and....hm I love~ them all。。。(。ーωー。)♪♪～ *Thank you* so much for my very first Hangry & Angry photo set~ ＼(^o^)／☆。。Yossi and Rikachan look so wickedly great~! A~h the Momusu in USA event shirt might appear a bit strange above but it's because it's folded over in one corner and I'm really hesitant to actually wear it as I'm thinking of it as more of a collector's item~ (^-^*)。I love the mirrored logo...so *pretty* ne~!
I imagine that everyone who attended the expo must own these but I scanned them anyway just below...just click on any individual photo card image for a larger image size~.....
Paul-kun was so *sweet* to also include the CD of a Chinese artist that he's really fallen in love with recently~ as he's always experiencing so much new music♪♪～ I think~! (￣▽￣)♥ I've been listening♪～♪♪～♪♪～一日中～！ヽ(。´▽`。)ノ。。！I only own one other Chinese pop album from awhile back by Sandy Lam although she's singing in mostly English so today's listening♪ was so much a new experience for me~....the artist is "Rainie" pronounced ”レイにー。ヤン” as her full name~. This is a Japanese release but all tracks are sung in Chinese which is really so sweet♥ with it's softness and *swishy*♥ pronunciations ＾ ＾。
Rainie's album is titled "Dokodemo Door" (as translated into Japanese~) and includes 10 tracks and an additional DVD with seven of her music♥videos~!! It's sometimes a bit rare when an entire album plays through so catchy~ and "Dokodemo Door" does just that so much~!!
Below I've chosen two very different music videos which have nearly polar opposite musical arrangements to accompany them in hopes of *sharing* a wider scope of her music both visually/musically and both are from the included DVD~ which is purely awesome~!!! One is a most sweet♥ contemporary pop ballad while the second pv has a so awesome break in the middle sandwiched between all of the high energy *cuteness*!!! Both pvs have an amazing production behind them and they're so truly unique and so so creative....you'll see what I'm speaking of when you click below to play~! ↓↓
At first I was thinking I would include my most favorite♥ songs here but then her entire album is so *amazing*!! so instead I included the first eight tracks of "Dokodemo Door" and they're just below the pvs~....kiite ne~! o(*´∀｀)o゛ (all song titles are in their Japanese translated forms~)
Rainie Yang's CD+DVD release album can be ordered here at Cdjapan.
AKB48 continues to have many articles and picture features in UTB which has been a growing trend in these pages and (more ♥ for CK ne~!) they're really taking the idol group genre to chart topping heights in both position as well as sales~! Takusan~! AKB features in this issue!!! with both solo and group pictorials/articles on AKB48's Oshima Yuko & Maeda Atsuko, SKE48's Matsui Rena & Mukaida Manatsu as well as an AKB48 feature and a mini group named ”く～のね4”。。seifuku♥ so *kawaii*~!! ＾ ＾
H!P who's been a mainstay in UTB also has *cute* features on Maimai with additional off shots not included in her 1st solo shashinshuu~, an upcoming preview of Riichan's new shashinshuu always so *adorable* ne~! and Maimichan's♥ ongoing photo feature continues towards the back of this issue with what I think is possibly her most *kawaii* photo shoot to date for UTB~! ＼(^o^)／☆
The extras which in the past has included pull out posters, clear files and a most impressive DVD in each issue...now published every other month~ are randomly inserted photo trading cards and you'll receive with each issue a chance for one out of three possible sets~! This month I received set "A" and for the most part your favorite♥ idols are divided up pretty well within these card sets so for instance if you're a fan of either H!P or AKB48?SKE48 you'll receive at least one member in your set no matter if it's A, B or C~ ＾ ＾。
In addition...in the middle variety features section there's more on S/mileage with member profiles so you can learn their personalities much better, a solo shashinshuu article with Riichan♥ where she reflects on her previous pb releases~ and Nakki & Airiin preview C-ute's upcoming "best of" album which has a tentative release date of November 18th~!
Okay~! before I lull you into sleep ( 」´０｀)」Zzzzzzz with any more of my talk~…(^q^) here are those aforementioned article's scans.....I'm beginning with Maimichan's♥ as I think it's the most *wonderful* pictorial in this issue and really she's just so so *adorable* here as she portrays daily activity *moments*~ from waking to playing to sleepy time here's Maimichan in "Days" vol.5 up first.....
I have made it back to California, but not before my traditional last-minute dash into Shibuya to find the newest releases to take home with me. I had three items on my shopping list. Fortunately I found two of the three, the only elusive product being Kojima Haruna's new photobook. "Sold Outo" was the response I usually got. I guess that is good news for Kojiharu, but bad news for CK...
Yes, I added the new CD/DVDs from Berryz Kobo and Watarirouka Hashirtai. Each one had multiple versions to choose from. Since I am not a big believer in buying multiple versions of the same CD, I chose version A for Watarirouka because it had the girls on the cover as opposed to the associated anime. For Berryz I chose the Watashi no Mirai no Danna-sama cover since I prefer that song to Ryuusei Boy. I always like to see what the big push items are at the stores on Tuesday. In front of Tsutaya was a booth with a girl carnival-barking for the new Mr. Children.
In front of Tower Records was a display for the new Otsuka Ai. When I walked into the store a familiar song was playing. But I am embarrassed to say I didn't know who it was. I was wracking my brain and finally asked the clerk who pointed me to Ai's CD. That's it, it is Sakuranbo!!!
I was torn whether or not to invest another 4000 yen on her new CD, which was a "best of" Instead I decided to pick up the old cd/dvd single. I headed back to Shinagawa for one last meal in Japan and my shuttle to Narita Airport. I always get choked up when I leave Japan. I'm not exactly sure why at this point as I visit often enough. I'm sure I will be back in the next six months or so. I think it's just that I am so happy while I'm there. It's like "This is where I belong!" Going back to California is such a letdown.
At risk of sounding like a broken record, this is the best trip I have ever been on in my life. I know I have said that on every trip I have gone on. But if you read my day to day activities you would have to agree this one was pretty special. Per usual I squeezed a ton of fun into 11 days. Again I found new areas to visit and new activities to do...
I saw 9 concerts/events, which is one less than my last trip...
SDN48 was the greatest find I had while in Japan. I saw them three times, and watched a fourth show on the AKB48 Cafe Monitors.
AKB48 Team Kenkyuusei: I managed to win two AKB48 shows, although they were for the "research students" I was slightly disappointed I got shut out on Teams A and K (Team B never performed) But Team RS has lots of cool girls in it, and they performed B4, Idol no Yoake which is the current stage I have seen the least. I did watch one Team A show in the cafe.
AKB Infinity: I am so thankful that I got to see both versions of this super play. My seats were great, and it gave me a chance to explore the amazing Tokyo Dome complex, complete with it's stadiums, shops and amusement parks. My only regret is at the end of the day I should have gone to meet Tanabe Miku instead of Sayaka. Oh well, next time!
Berryz Kobo: This show was so much better to me than the Berikore show I saw last year. My seats had something to do with it. But give the girls credit, they were on fire that night and it was a super setlist. And Maasa, oh baby!
Morning Musume: All I can say is Reina's Birthday show...awesome! I have to be honest, I have been getting a little bored with MoMusu as of late. I'm not sure how that will manifest itself in the future. But I am glad I got to see my favorite wonky-girl celebrate her birthday, and it was one last chance to see Koharu perform. Plus I always have a great time when I am with Celestia!
In addition to concerts I got to visit some great places and eat some amazing food. My visit to Tokyo Tower was amazing. The view from up there is incredible, especially while listening to to soothing DJ stylings of AKB48's Umeda Ayaka. I loved having manja dinner with my new friends in Ueno. Odaiba was tons of fun, hopefully they will have more Yazawa collectibles at the Idoling!!! store when I return...
DVDs
AKB48 Budokan Box Set
AKB48 Team K 4th Stage
AKB48 Team K 3rd Stage
Ohori Megumi Pre-AKB Gravure DVD
Erika Yazawa "Yazapai School" DVD
CDs
AKB48 Team A 5th Stage
AKB48 Team K 5th Stage
AKB48 Team B 4th Stage
AKB48 Team A 2nd Stage
AKB48 Team A 3rd Stage
AKB48 "River" Reg. Version
AKB48 "River" Theater Version (x2)
AKB48 "Iiwake Maybe" Theater Version
AKB48 "Namida Surprise" Theater Version
AKB48 "Sakura no Hanabiratachi" Original Version
Watarirouka Hashirtai "Ganpeki Guu no ne" Ltd Version A
Berryz Kobo "Ryuusei Boy" Ltd. Danna Sama-Version
Morning Musume "Kimagure Princess" Ltd. Closeup Vers.
Otsuka Ai "Sakuranbo" Ltd. Version
Idoling!!! "Kokuhaku" Ltd. Version
PBs
SKE48 Complete Book
Erika Yazawa "7ban Second Yazawa" (autographed)
Idol T-shirts
AKB48 NHK 2008 AKB-SKE
Idoling Yazawa #7
Berryz Kobo Fall 09 Tour "Maasa" (w/ Bandana)
Tanaka Reina 20th Birthday T-shirt (w/ wristband)
Misc.
AKB Infinity Playbill (x2)
AKB48 2010 Calendar (x2)
Ohori Megumi Biographical Book (Autographed w/ 2 personal pics)
Nissin Soup Mugs w/ AKB Autographs (x3, Tomochin, Tomo-mi, and Myao)
Ohori Megumi Ameba Pigg Uchiwa (2 versions)
Hatakeyama Chisaki Futsal Uchiwa (autographed)
Assorted Magazines and Newspapers Featuring AKB48
Then you have the pics. This is dangerous territory for me. I have never been much of a pic collector. But I have found people have given me so many that I have started to develop a collection anyway. Most of these were given to me as gifts, and many of them come with the DVDs and Calendars. But I also found myself purchasing a few on my own...Oh no!!!
Pics
Iwasa Misaki x2
Tanabe Miku x2
Komori Mika x1
Ishida Haruka x1
Ohori Megumi x12 (1 autographed)
Infinity Cast A (2 pics)
Infinity Cast B (2 pics)
Akimoto Sayaka "Infinity"
Iwasa Misaki "Infinity"
Tanaka Reina (3 sets of 2)
Sudo Maasa (2 sets of 2)
Takahashi Ai (1 set of 2)
AKB October Team A (1 set of 5)
AKB October Team K (2 sets of 5)
AKB48 Budokan Set (5 pics)
AKB48 Calendar Set (6 pics)
Errr, that makes 62 pics in total. No, I'm not a collector of pics. Really I'm not. You believe me, don't you?
Most of the AKB48 fans have always said to me that the handshake events are the best thing about AKB. And now I think I see why. What made this trip so extra-special was that I got closer to some of my favorite idols than ever before. Most of you know my favorite idol in the world is AKB48's Ohori Megumi. And to be able to "high-five" her three times. And each time it was a warmer experience because she then knew who I was. Seeing some of the AKB girls reaction to my being a fan, like Urano Kazumi, Iwasa Misaki and Nakaya Sayaka was awesome! And the fact that Hatakeyama Chisaki was wondering why I wasn't at her promotional futsal event just made me even sorrier I couldn't attend. I had never seen Chisaki before, and in just a few days she rocketed to the top of my idol pecking order. That's how incredible she is!
At the end of the day I am just a happier person when I am in Japan. I keep hearing the echoes of my friends "You are here often enough, why don't you just move here", "You should have an easy time finding work here". Obviously it would be different if I lived there. Life can't just be about seeing concerts and buying stuff. But the fact is that I have been home for slightly more than 24 hours, and I am already counting the days until my return....Sigh
Pardon me while I go check the flight prices
CK in California
Neighborhood
Explore friends, family, friends & family, or entire neighborhood.
Links from my Neighborhood
Ada XD's *lovely*~ Aichan♥ dedicated blog~!! Mite ne!! ＾ ＾
With news of Patrick Swayze's death Monday night after a ...
CK & CJ Marsicano's most *wonderful" Meetan fan site~! Ev...
Very very *cute* and fun blog♥ by ladybird~. ＾ ＾
Artist/group/miscellaneous ...
The little link which used to sit atop this page is now h...
