Some of the Most Perfect of the Most Perfect

This post is to commemorate two important things, my love for AKB48 and my desire to avoid doing homework.

It goes without saying that I would eagerly obey any command of any member of AKB48 as they are perfect and their wishes are perfect, but the following ladies are even more perfect as they have touched my miserable existence and elevated me to a truly human and spiritual life.

5. Fuije Reina. I became enamored with Fuije Reina when she made eye contact with me, smiled, and waved back, as I smiled and waved at her during the tragicly dull question session at Anime Expo. It was so good to learn from her that she felt Akimoto Sayaka would make the best Prime Minister of Japan. I was not deserving of the honor of having her smile and wave to me, but I am thankful for the grace she had bestowed upon me by recognizing my existence. It is my fondest hope to give my life for Fuije Reina.















4. Miyazawa Sae. I am a big fan of Miyazawa Sae because she does the most to challenge gender stereotypes in AKB48, which already does a great deal to challenge gender roles in their works. Miyazawa Sae was absolutely amazing as the lovestruck Genking, devoted in her love to Atsuko. It is my fondest wish to give my life to help Miyazawa Sae be the most handsome of idols.





3. Matsui Rena. I know little about Matsui Rena. She has graced the songs of many an AKB48 single, but more importantly she portrayed Gekikara in Majisuka Gakuen. When I saw Gekikara I knew Majisuka Gakuen was my favorite drama. While Gekikara is only fictional, I want few things more than to be killed by her. It is my fondest hope to have the blood spattered giggling face of Matsui Rena be the last thing I ever see on this Earth.










2. Akimoto Sayaka. Akimoto Sayaka is energetic, powerful, and intends to use the military to seize control of Japan and form a military alliance with the United States. I met Ms. Akimoto at Anime Expo in Los Angeles and she kindly shared her plan with me. I am certain her regime will bring sanity and stability to a violent and chaotic world. I have faith that the armies of the world will bow down before her power, recognizing her divine mission to rule us all. It is my fondest hope to give my life in the service of Akimoto's Imperial regime.















1. Watanabe Mayu. Watanabe Mayu is the most perfect of the best and beautiful creations in the universe. I fell completely in love with Watanabe Mayu while watching her portray Nezumi in Majisuka Gakuen. Though I will likely never have the honor of cowering in the presence of her divine beauty, I hope that Mayuyu is more than a little like Nezumi in real life- manipulative, brilliant, beautiful, and evil. It is my fondest hope to give my life in the service of Mayuyu's schemes.

C-ute PV Preview and Full Morning Musume PV

会いたいロンリークリスマス

Hello Project should really needs to improve their promotions, but I think most people know that already.  It looks like we will get the same basic close up and group shots, kind of like Arashi's last couple of promotional videos.  To be honest, I think that is way too boring.  This is only a preview so there is a chance that there is a storyline or dance shot.  I thought we would see a dance shot in the preview because the track is fast enough for it.  While I am not impressed in terms of PV, I love the song.  Here check it out:

*:--☆--:*:--☆:*:--☆--:*:--☆--:

I've posted this already, but it was after the jump so I thought I would post it above now that the release date is approaching.  I'm sorry I haven't been keeping up with everything, but I just finished my second round of midterms for this semester (I had one today and Thursday). 

My opinion hasn't changed much since I reviewed the preview.  I like the song, but I still think it sounds similar to stuff they've released before.  I usually don't care about such things; it is only when I am bored or unimpressed.  I did come up a theory that makes the dance shot costumes a little less painful.  You know the fairy tale the The Prince and the Pauper?  I was thinking those cheap dresses were meant to symbolize the pauper.  The other good news is that everyone gets at least one solo line, however Takahashi and Reina still hog the majority.  Now I don't understand the background sets for the dance shot, but that is more so true with the close up shots.  Are they in an emo, crazy facility?  Now back to the dance shot sets.  I guess the PV isn't that interesting on its own so they decided to randomly mix up the background.  My favorites are the black room with the stadium lights and then the white room with the grey boxes.  So all in all, the PV is still okay and so is the song.

Arashi's Hatenai Sora PV Review

[The PV Has Been Deleted From YouTube]
Wasn't the single before this one also a ballad where they just stood around and sang.  Personally, I just kept on laughing the whole time.  All I'm doing is watching their facial expressions and them trying to keep it interesting to watch.  The song is pretty, but I have a short attention span so I am kind of bored.  I'm not a fan of just staring at an idol for long periods of time.  The sets are really beautiful and go with the song.  The clothes are okay, sure better than what Morning Musume is wearing, but one thing.  What did you put on Aiba!  He looks like he is wearing torn up women's clothing.  On top of that they were like lets just throw you in some sneakers.  What!  Why?  I don't even argue reason when it comes to idols.  I'm going to watch some Hana Yori Dango now. . . but first this:
[Also Deleted]

The Pains and Joys of Voting

I voted twice in the past week. One vote made me feel dirty and as if I compromised my moral principles. For the other, I voted for a song about teen girls proclaiming their school uniforms are getting in the way of learning about adult love. I felt good about this second vote- not like I had compromised important values.

AKB48 placed in their initial run of 'Beginner' ballots for their annual elections for best song. This was my first opportunity to vote in such an election and it was a difficult choice. I was deeply torn between voting for one of the two Majisuka Gakuen related songs or Seifuku ga Jama wo Suru (制服が邪魔をする). I have to say I did not put much thought into my final decision. I was much too excited to be voting in a pop culture event in far away Japan. It was great that IXA Ready-First On! provided me with the information I needed to vote over the internets. (Found here. Voting continues for some time yet.)

On Tuesday, I almost didn't bother to vote in the US midterm elections. Statistically, my one vote has little chance of making any difference. I also absolutely hate how the moronic pundits try to read some significance into the votes of the US public. The political class makes me sick to my stomach. The only class more vile in the world is the capitalist class that buys the politicians and pays for the political campaigns with the moronic press that covers them. I voted for one of the parties, and it made me feel gross. I only voted for them because there is a significant chance things will be marginally worse if the other idiots get back into power. The entire business makes a good red blooded AKB48 loving anarcho-syndicalist feminist like myself feel dirty and compromised.


Voting for Seifuku ga Jama wo Suru, by sharp contrast, was exciting and fun. Majisuka Rock 'n' Roll was my first favorite AKB48 song, but I was quickly enticed by the bold sexuality of a group of teen girls singing about their uniform getting in the way of their quest for adult love. I think the song is mostly harmless fun that successfully plays to the fantasies of some young women and many more lonely older men. The dance is also pretty kewl. But more important than that- it was just awesome to vote in an official AKB48 election.

Many deeply mistaken people conflate the wage slavery of capitalism with democracy. While limited consumer choice does exist in a market economy dominated by the commands of capitalists, there are moments of enjoyment and beauty, even for those of us looking for a more human existence. AKB48 has a peculiar relation with their fans. Certainly there is more involvement with the fans through such polling, and the theater in Akihabara, at least in the early years, provided a higher level of democratic participation for the fans, but at its heart AKB48 management remains another top down dictatorship controlled by capital. AKB48 shows that capitalism can be marginally more or less democratic, so long as capital is still ultimately in control.


While voting in an AKB48 election was much more wholesome and enjoyable than choking back the vomit to vote in US elections, the underlying structure of both systems is the same. Capital first selects the limited choices (candidates or songs, as the case may be) before the masses are permitted to participate. And if, by some miracle, the outcome of the election does not sufficiently uphold the interests of capital, those that retain the real power in a capitalist system will act to remedy the situation.

I don't mean to be a negative Nelly. No rational economy would have created AKB48 and we are deeply blessed that such a horrific system produced such divine beauty. So, while we live in a world dominated by the interests of capital, at least we can enjoy AKB48 singing about their uniforms getting in the way.

Todd's Clarification: AKB48 are perfect and can do no wrong.

While I respect Mina's position- as mistaken as it may be, I thought I should try to be just as clear as my good host.


AKB48 are perfect. They can do no wrong. Never has a more divine and wondrous creation ever graced this Earth. AKB48 may test their fans, but in the end these tests were always for the best. We fans grow and learn from these experiences and become better people for them. AKB48 do not necessarily give us all what we want, but in their infinite and divine wisdom, AKB48 give us what we need.


To be clear, this is not bias but simple objective fact. I fully understand that many may be lost in anger, hate, and misery, but these are self imposed hells. I have faith, and AKB48 know, that if you only opened up your heart to the love and beauty of AKB48 you too will recognize this fact of their perfection and divine mission.

AKB48 are not just gods to me, but they are gods for all of us. Set aside your false idols for AKB48. They have been sent to deliver us from the misery and hells of human creation. AKB48 can bless your existence, just as they have blessed mine. My posts are never critical of AKB48 but only seek to further explore and understand their divine presence and the part AKB48 play in the workings of the universe.


If you do not love and devote yourself to the beauty and light of AKB48 as I have, I am sorry for your loss and suffering. Please open your heart to love and beauty and let their divine perfection bless your existence.

Mina's Clarification: AKB48 isn't Perfect & I still Love H!P

(I feel like I am a teacher right now.)  Whenever I get a comment I assume that they are other people out there with the same thoughts that don't comment.  I recently got a comment where I felt like I wasn't being understood.  I'm not saying it is anyone else's fault.  It is probably my fault because my use of the English is pretty pathetic and I have trouble expressing my feelings and thoughts on paper (technically a computer screen).  One comment I got was about how biased I was.  So let's start clarifying that issue:

This is a blog, which I consider a place appropriate to be biased.  I am not a news site.  The point here is to express my personal views.  I try to be very honest, mostly because I think it makes my posts more entertaining.  In no way is AKB48 gods to me.  I don't say bad things about H!P because I see them as rivals or because I like AKB48 better.  I'm surprised that I ever receive those comments because I tend to voice my hatred of idol fan rivalries.  My first favorite idol group was Morning Musume.  Yes, now my favorite idol group is AKB48.  However, that doesn't mean I dislike Morning Musume now.  Never do I intend to put Hello Project down.  Most of my criticism for H!P comes out of frustration that they are not as awesome, in my mind, as they were before I got into idols.  It is also because their competition, also from my opinion, is shining more brightly than they are.  But again, this is mostly Tsunku's and their management's fault because the girls have no control over the issues that I am criticizing.

So first point, yes I am biased.  I know that.  I was the news editor of my high school newspaper and I never wrote for the opinion section because I preferred writing unbiased, interesting news pieces.  I'll let you know when I am trying to be unbiased (which is likely going to be never).  Second point is that I want Morning Musume to be amazing.  I don't hate them.  I don't dislike Hello Project in general.  All I am is a frustrated fan who wants to be impressed like I've been in the past and keeps being disappointed.  The reason why I ever compare fandoms is because that is usually what everyone else is talking about.  I'm sorry for continuing a narrative that I myself is not too fond of, but I also want to keep my readers informed.  My recent comparison of Morning Musume and SKE48 was mostly me being frustrated with unrealistic H!P fans.  I want other H!P fans to be just as frustrated as I am.  Morning Musume was everywhere and were great when they were releasing their 40th single, but what about now.  It isn't just because AKB48 is the new group.  There are legitimate reasons why AKB48 is popular right now and Morning Musume is not.  I am not putting them down.  I want them to fight back (funny how I am listening to Beginner right now).  I want it to be a hard thing (lol insert dirty joke here) to choose between the two!  (Or I want to see Berryz or C-ute to take their turn at being the most popular idol group out there.)  If I say I don't like their song. . . it is because I don't like the song.  It has no relation to the group who releases (unless it is something that sounds recycled).

My third point that I'll make now, which I mentioned before, is that AKB48 is not god to me.  If you read my posts about AKB48 you should notice/ know that I criticize AKB48.  It has done me wrong, they can do wrong!  I hated what AKB48 did with their Beginner PV.  I hated when my favorite member barely got any screentime during the last senbatsu single PV, as well as Beginner.  I'm sorry that this is turning into a rant, which I didn't mean to.  I just feel strongly that people are getting the wrong idea of who I am and what I believe.  This is especially hard for me to hear considering I don't see myself at all as someone who is only an AKB fan.  (I thought some eye candy would lighten things up. Morning Musume's new PV after the jump.)

Morning Musume's 44th Single + PV Preview

女と男のララバイゲーム

Okay DUDE, where went those awesome concert costumes!  Those looked amazing!  I even bought a poster and an ochiwa (fan) from that concert set.  I've had some harsh criticism for Morning Musume (which has more to do with the management and producers than the group as a whole) in the past, and it is going to continue!  In one of my latest posts where I talked about my thoughts about what should be done to save Morning Musume I got the comment that they shouldn't act younger than they are.  Well yeah I agree, but do you see what they are wearing!  Either you act your age or change the group so that you are more youthful!  These may be one of the worst single costumes for this group EVER.  What are you five?  The song doesn't match either.  Now the close up shots look better (but Niigaki's dress kind of looks like she has a hairy chest LOL.)  That is the biggest problem here, but it is not the only thing.  This song sounds similar to the same stuff they've been releasing for years now, and those have not been doing that well.  This is the graduation single for Kamei and the Pandas and they aren't even highlighted at all.  It sounds like most of the solo lines are going to Takahashi and Reina (AGAIN).  The Pandas are on opposite ends of the formation like all their other past singles.  Kamei is also off center.  I mean come on!  (Aika's hair still looks like crap!)

I still like the song, but to be honest I am not going to buy it unless it is on iTunes (and I already have an iTunes giftcard).  I am also a little bit giddy that Shige has beat out Niigaki in position.  The one thing that I believe is that I don't even think Morning Musume is going to beat SKE48 with a graduation single.  Did you see SKE48's single PV?  Not to mention they've released the full PVs for all but one of the five songs that will be released for this single.  SKE48 has also been earning higher sales figures than Morning Musume for their last couple of singles (and it is only their fourth single being released).  It will be a challenge at this point.  Here is the information for each version of this single:

Onna to otoko no Lullaby Game Limited Edition w/ DVD  [Type A]
1600yen
1. Onna to Otoko no Lullaby Game
2. Aisaresugiru Koto wa Nainoyo
3. Onna to Otoko no Lullaby Game (Instrumental)
Each first press copy of this single comes with a photo as an external bonus.

Onna to otoko no Lullaby Game Limited Edition w/ DVD [Type B]
1600yen
Info is the same as the previous version.

Onna to otoko no Lullaby Game Limited Edition w/ DVD [Type C]
1600yen
Info is the same as the previous versions.

Onna to otoko no Lullaby Game [Regular Edition]
1000yen
First Press Already Sold Out (HOLY SH*T)
Okay (goes off to check the first press for SKE48's single), I was about to say that Morning Musume has a chance but all of the first press is sold out for both limited edition versions of SKE48's single except for one copy of Type B.