Mina's Random Tidbits!

Here is the deal, I feel bad for not posting in a while but I have been busy with midterms, tests, and essays so. . . yeah.  There are a lot of things I want to talk about and I have been collecting PVs and previews that I want to review, but you'll probably have to wait till next weekend.  Things are still a bit crazy here with the budget, Scott Walker, the election (there will probably be a recall).  Another young AKB48 member just graduated.  I'll just take some stuff I don't mind cutting down.

AKB48's 21st Single translates to "Everyday, Headband", LOL.  Did anyone think of glee when they heard that?  "What is your favorite song?  -My headband.  What are all those songs about? Headbands." The preview is posted above.  At first I was quite disappointed, but then I downloaded the preview to see if it would grow on me.  Two things can test my true feelings for a song: the PV and or randomly listening to it.  What I discovered was when it came on I would become infectiously cheerful and would want to dance along.  I am interested how they will interpret this into PV form.  I was thinking they would do something similar to Namida no Seesaw Game.  Now if anyone complains about this be too idol~ly then I am going to virtually smack them in the face.  Not because they are an idol group, but because they recently released a song that doesn't fall into the typical idol genre: love or working hard.

I am currently taking a Japanese Culture and Civilization class for my major and we just finished the book: Art of Edo Japan (written by Christine Guth).  I could of did an essay like post with this, but screw it.  The context is that Guth is talking about Kabuki in Osaka mostly relating to woodblock prints (pg. 136).

"Clubs [of theatre devotees] developed elaborate clapping techniques to applaud their hero, especially when he made his first appearance of the season; they wore special garments in the actor's favorite colors or emblazoned with his crest; and assumed financial responsibility for their decoration and repairs to the theater where "their" actor performed.  This system of private patronage was essential to the flowering of Kabuki theater in Osaka and to the development of its autonomous printmaking tradition."

WTF Johnny?
So I bought my first Arashi CD, and I was super excited about it.  The limited edition sold out on CD Japan in a matter of hours, so I bought the RE because I like to support the artists and it came with one extra coupling track.  When I got it, it was a let down.  The RE CD is a pretty cheap looking thing.  It looked like they printed out the cover on some slightly firmer paper and put it in a plastic CD case you buy when you make someone a mix CD.  WTF Johnny!  I am not going to buy a RE CD from them ever again.  I recommend you do the same.


I hope to do couple of posts soon:
Glee - The American Interpretation of Idols
Mass PV Reviews
A Japanese Culture and Civ. Essay

AKB48 and Plastic Surgery + Other Topics

This subject, specially in the case of Tomomi Itano, came up quite a while back, but I didn't post anything on the matter.  I thought the post on Tokyohive settled the matter, but I became frustrated recently when seeing videos suggesting she did as well as comments.  This is nothing unusual.  Pretty much any asian celebrities' name can be typed into google and it will suggest to add plastic surgery.  I know that I can't help what other people of the internet say, but I wish they would at least try to have some integrity when they accuse someone of getting work done (at least seeing better evidence than a picture from before and after puberty).  It probably just ignorance because if you were familiar enough with AKB48 you would know that cosmetic surgery would be impossible to pull off without being noticed.  But, even more so after the director of the beauty clinic "Takasu Clinic", Takasu Mikiya argued the unlikeliness of the rumors:

“The members of AKB are currently at the peak of their popularity and they wouldn’t have the spare time for such a procedure. In Tomochin’s case, the down time would take up to three to six months. People like them rather use eye tape and eye pieces to freely change the appearance of their eyes to a certain degree, e.g. double eyelids. Many people always think of plastic surgery first when seeing double eyelids, but that is a common mistake.”

Further, he stated, “It’s not just Tomochin. On the Internet there are a lot of rumors involving members of AKB48 and plastic surgery, especially Maeda Atsuko, Shinoda Mariko, Kojima Haruna, Minegishi Minami, and Watanabe Mayu. I don’t think any of those girls have gone under the knife. Most of them debuted in their early teens and it’s natural for them that certain features, such as their eyes and nose, change over time. Moreover, their faces become a lot thinner over the years, and they started to use more make-up than before. There is no need to say that they also started to use things such as eye tape."

I am a huge fan of Japanese dramas. さいきん、「大切なことはすべて君がおしえてくれた」に興味が有ります。However, when it comes to the also popular Korean dramas. . . fan. . . not so much.  I've mostly come to enjoy Korean films, like Thirst.  But in terms of mainstream films that have a closer resemblance to dramas, I've only found one that I enjoyed: 100 Pounds of Beauty.  When I attempted to make a switch to Korean dramas, because there are so many popular ones available that I've never seen, I started with Boys Before Flowers (because I enjoyed the Japanese version).  While the cast is good-looking (plastic surgery jk! / Korean guys can be a bit too pretty for me), I found the acting intolerable.  I'm not one to get boggled down with the technique of acting, as long as I find it enjoyable I don't mind, but for Korean dramas, acting is what kills it.  (Wow, I feel like I put a lot of commas in sentences.)  Japanese dramas, mostly (romantic) comedies, can be overacted and I find that is resembles anime.  It is charming, funny, and sometimes so outlandish that it is cracky.  In contrast, Korean dramas take it to a point so far that I find it difficult to sit through more than ten minutes.  Mainstream, Korean dramas may just not be my cup of tea.  If you have any recommendations I would appreciate it.

As most of you know by now, Team B's Manami Oku will be graduating sometime this spring (around April).  There have been a handful of trainees who have been promoted, but have yet to be placed in a team.  I believe that, since an actual spot opened up, that Akimoto will replace Oku with one.  My pick is Shiori Nakamata (18) who often performs with Team B and has been accepted into economics department of Waseda University.  She recently appeared in an episode of AKBingo!.  I know, I am bypassing my new trainee favorite: Miorin.  She isn't a full-fledged member yet anyway, and has become a regular on AKBingo! and a favorite of her senpai (specifically the Team A font-girls).  Shiori isn't the only AKB48 member attending a university at the moment, which makes me proud.  Who do you think will get the spot, or who do you desire to be added to Team B?

C-ute has openly talked about their new sexier image.  I am happy to see the changes.  At the moment I am tempted to talk about how much Hello Project is sucking at promoting their groups, but I'll stop myself.
C-ute is in a really good place in terms of members, so I hope they can push it.  Other young idol units like Momoiro Clover and SKE48 are experiencing ever increasing sales and popularity; Momoclo is appearing on Shabekuri 007.  There has been a recent boom in interest in idols in Japan, so it is an ideal time to implement a surge.

When is Acchan just going to go solo already?  I've mentioned my new interest in Seiko Matsuda, who Acchan reminds me of. Although, I think Acchan would prefer to focus on acting versus a solo artist career and Akimoto probably wouldn't want to let her go.

It also seems that AKB48 graduate, Oshima Mai, is experiencing problems at Avex.  After releasing two singles she has seemingly disappeared.  Considering the interest in AKB48, I would think that Avex would at least to try to promote her more.  Since they don't seem to care about pushing her, Mai Mai should appeal to Akimoto to let her join SDN48.  She was quite popular in AKB48 and she is talented.

Oku Manami(AKB48) Announces Graduation

Oku Manami's graduation message from the AKB48 official blog, translated by loveandcoffee@stage48:

Today I have a sudden announcement.

This time, Oku Manami will graduate from AKB48.

I joined AKB48 when I was 10, and without knowing anything, I’ve always done my best with what I was told to do.

There haven’t only been good things, but I have made myself a lot of good memories.

And more than anything, I have been able to come all the way so far thanks first to Akimoto-sensei, then to all the staff, and especially thanks to the support of my fans.

Being in AKB48 for 5 years I’ve met a lot of people and I’ve been able to experience many things.

Without understanding a thing, I’ve just struggled my way to here but somewhere inside my heart, the desire for the

“student life”

I haven’t been able to experience grew bigger and bigger, and the days I spent worrying “What do I really want to do?” have been really hard.

As I stayed in AKB while feeling so half-hearted I felt guilty towards the people who supported me, and after thinking many times and asking many times for staff’s advice, I decided to graduate in order to pursue my new dream: advance with my studies.

For 5 years, I have given you a lot of hard times and made you worry…

But all the time, I don’t know how to say it, but I’ve always been so thankful to all the people who supported me.

Thank you very much.

I think the last time I will be able to meet you is the April handshake event.

I will announce the details of my graduation as soon as they’ve been decided.

Then, there’s just a little time before my graduation, but please keep supporting me.

Here is her profile and some trivia for those not too familiar with her:
Oku Manami (奥真奈美)
Nickname: Maachan (まーちゃん), Manamana (まなまな)
Birthdate: November 22nd, 1995 (15)
Birthplace: Tokyo, Japan
Team: B
Height: 153.5 cm (5'0")
Bust: 81 cm
Waist: 60 cm
Hips: 87 cm
Agency: office48 (AKB48's agency)

Singles:
-Hone Hone Waltz (Honegumi from AKB48)
-BINGO!
-Kimi no Koto ga Suki dakara (Under Girls)
-Katatsumuri (solo)
-Nusumareta Kuchibiru (Under Girls)
-Boku Dake no Value (Under Girls)
-Love Jump (Team B)
-Guuzen no Juujirou (Under Girls)

Stage Units:
-Team K 1st Stage : Classmate
-Team K 2nd Stage : Ame no Doubutsuen
-Team K 3rd Stage : Honehone Waltz
-Himawari-gumi 1st Stage : IDOL nante yobanaide (2nd Unit)
-Himawari-gumi 2nd Stage : Tonari no Banana (2nd Unit)
-Team K 4th Stage : Hatsukoi Dorobou
-Team K 5th Stage: Ai no Iro
-Team B 5th Stage: Hatsukoi yo, Konnichiwa

Trivia:
-She is half Japanese and half Italian

-Was an original member of Team K

-Joined AKB48 at age 10

-Says "I'm sorry" often.
-Good friends with Noro Kayo.
-A favorite of Megumi Ohori (original Team K who was transferred to SDN48)
-Used to often practice dancing with Umeda Ayaka and Noro Kayo at the backstage.
-Her favorite actress is Ayase Haruka.
-She is very friendly at the backstage while reserved on the stage, but recently she has improved.
-Was known to stare awkwardly during performances.
-Likes scary stories even if that will make her cry.
-Seems close with Ono Erena since their audition.
-Was transferred from Team K to Team B in 2009.
-Akimoto, the producer of AKB48, in an article referred to her as a future ace
-Played a lolita yankee in the first season of Majisuka Gakuen

Thoughts and Feelings:
I can't be upset by the idea of her leaving to focus on her education, especially since she is getting to the age where classes are more important and taxing.  Education is important to me and I respect idols who try to do both, especially attending college.  It must have been getting very difficult for Maachan when she is shy, no longer has the full support of Team K, and going through this at a young age.  I imagine having Team K there for support helped her before, so the shuffle must be rough.  While I think Team B suits her personality, if you consider what is best for her, she would of gotten along better with Team K.  I like shy idols because I like a variety of personalities, and they tend not to be stuck up but instead sweet.

Wow, did I just get really depressed in a short amount of time.  I figured graduations would be coming up because those sorts of things tend to surface around concerts, but I didn't see Maachan coming.  She is so young and Akimoto adores her.  Maachan never got ranked so high by fans, but Akimoto always put her in the Under Girls group.  She also was selected to release a solo single for an anime, so I believe Akimoto saw potential and talent in her.  I do hope she returns to showbiz later, because I know from personal experience that as you get older (in the right environment) you can really build up your self confidence.  I also liked the fact that she wasn't thin because having different body types in influential groups is a good thing for girls to see.  She might drop the weight after graduating, like Kago Ai, because some of it may come from stress.  (She was adorable on my dates with her on the PSP game; I guess I'll have to pick her next time.)  I just want her to come back.  I'll add some videos after the jump.