Okay, that's a lot better than what I feared. In fact, this is pretty big lol.
I welcome Hana with open arms. No weird age gap, someone who already knows the stage.

Shiori confirmed that we'll get more members though. Considering Hana came from a different audition? Was scouted? Whatever, I do ...

Tbf they haven't debuted a 12yo in some time and the last really young ones did suffer quite a bit (Akane literally said her first few years were hell and no fun, Duu was the most frail member for some years, Zukki got hit by puberty like a truck). I would have also preferred an older member, but ...

Not sure. The OG Biyo auditions (the 2024 one) only accepted high schoolers, and none of the current KSS are in high school yet (Chihiro would have been, but just left a few days ago). However, the current H!P audition only accepts girls not older than in their first year of high school.
If they ...

For BEYOOOOONDS... oof. Not feeling it. Biyo was the perfect group for me. Of course it shows us that enough girls don't plan on going elsewhere anytime soon, and it's better than taking them and adding them to existing groups (hope they have learned from that). But once again we lose the original ...

I guess the groups don't really need back fillers at the moment. Bit sad to see her leave, but I also didn't need her to debut in any group.

JPope wrote: Sun May 10, 2026 4:27 pm I had to laugh reading DJ’s post after sending mine, and seeing many of the same reactions, lol.

Great minds think alike! LOL

^I'm also disappointed that Kishida didn't get anything, but I wonder if they just wanted to skip the youngest additions.
Personally I also wonder if she would have been a sure pick for MM's newest generation had she been a year or two older. I wouldn't mind them throwing her into the next ...

Ready to watch the test and give my impressions! (Scrolled past the results real fast not to get spoiled lol)

1. Sakamoto Aoi (13, 37th gen) - Rock no Teigi (Tanaka Reina)
Singing a Reina song if you're not Reina is always going be weird. But Aoi is doing well. Misses a few notes and her song is ...

Mappira Datte Ba sounds really good. I also like FireWorks, it's quite beautiful. Probably one of my favourite singles this year.

^And because she gets to keep her last name! As expected from her lol.

And yay, Kanon! I knew it was her, but it's still so nice to see her face. Maybe we can get a full 9th gen picture again in the future now?

...and another thing that happened today: Goto Maki's house caught fire. Fortunately ...

People keep telling me that's Miki, but... I don't see her that way, sadly, and I don't expect her to remain in the group for that much longer.


Mei, Ako and Haruka are all better than Miki, and Homa is better than people think.

This. I feel like most of the fandom has realized that Miki will ...

Apparently the members also learned about Maria's grad no earlier than this April - just a few days before us. She's going to graduate at Budokan, but they basically always do Budokan nowadays, so it's nothing planned.
I do wonder I she'll get a center song, considering how rushed this is.

MC ("A weird corner has started with no members on stage?
Using AI for a Special Project
Create an original local song by inputting words chosen by the members into an AI.
* Special Project is called : ONLY ONE SONG
For this project, the nine members will input keywords that came to mind for the ...

I'll be fine with it if 18th gen becomes as legendary as 9th gen.

Huh. Huh?
Maria announcing her graduation is not surprising, but announcing it for this spring is. Apparently even Oda was surprised that she'd have to say goodbye to Maria instead of the other way around, so it was not part of a long time plan (like Akane or a somewhat-planned-health-related-early ...

Best case is Up Front knows how to use that money for the next few years lol!

Oh yeah, I used to have a Bollywood phase lol. But with Japan it's the whole 1001 nights thing they're really in love with which I find a bit funny.

The Japanese fascination with "orientalism" needs to be studied, lol.

Pretty ok. The verses are quite slow, the chorus sticks out. Won't be my favourite Anju single I assume.

Just announced at the HinaFes Tsubaki-Biyo Premium: Momohime to return for Spring tour.

https://twitter.com/BEYOOOOONDS_/status/2034875739368300701


YAY! YIPPIEH! I was almost certain she'd leave after March, but I'm so glad she came back.

Also congrats to Meisa. Good pick. Now we only need ...

I wonder if her graduation announcement took a lot of pressure from her, she really seems a lot happier.

Also at Yoko Ari! Woo!

Very likely. I wonder if they'll keep them as one generation (6th/8th gen style) or make two generations.

I feel like they don't do public announcements like this anymore (neither additions nor graduations), but hey, I'd be up for it!

Does anyone know if the box is reset for each group, or is it completely filled and emptied a little bit by each group? Because Biyo getting three solos is... odd. :lol: My first reaction was "Oh, this was set up to feature Biyo in their final Hina Fes," but it's probably just wild chance.
I ...

They're finally showing a bit of character lol. Rena is surprisingly bad at expressions for being their allegedly most popular member.
Loved Hana here. But Misery was better haha.

But I agree... there's not too much about them that really pulls me in atm. The singing/performance is not good enough ...

I think we haven't even mentioned it here yet, but we're having a Solo Fes again this year! This saturday, February 28. It's probably going to be around 6 hours long :w00t: It's already been recorded and will run on TV Asahi Channel 1/SKY PerfecTV! On Demand.

https://static.wikia.nocookie.net ...

Again, if MM could release a single without Sato fucking Masaki, any group can.

Not directly related, but Yamada Shinya, drummer of the band LUNA SEA and the husband of Ishiguro Aya, passed away after battleing cancer at 56 years.

https://twitter.com/LUNASEAOFFICIAL/status/2025604912604950967

Directly OG-related and also quite devastating: Kobayashi Azusa (OG Country ...

If she really did "only" grooming then the pay was probably a lot worse than her idol pay too, lol.

But yeah, looking forward to what she'll do. I can't see her as a singing soloist though. Maybe more what Ayumi does? Or Riko? ...or Takechan?

Wouldn't be surprised if they make it part of the next single, I think Secret Summer is also out without a real release yet.
But yeah, agree. Not that catchy. Falls more into the awkward-girl-style that Tsubaki used to do indeed.