Risa's Graduating!

[Enmiz]

[quote name='rob' timestamp='1326172169' post='115773']

[quote name='Al Kusanagi' timestamp='1326083453' post='115691']

Aika says "Hi."



And Sayu is going nowhere as long as the group still exists for at least another 3 years.

[/quote]



The fact that at the time of me writing that post I GENUINELY had forgotten about Aika just says everything about her, Whether she is there or not nobody ever notices, she could graduated tomorrow and nobody would notice.



but hey good job Kikka didn't join Momusu right tsunku? <img src='http://mm-bbs.org/public/style_emoticon ... kumad1.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':umad:' />

[/quote]



It's probably better for Kikka's sake that she didn't make it. Her most recent single is pretty decent. She probably could have done some good for Momosu, though. Stupid Tsunku.



I don't think Aika would have been missed if she had just never returned. She could be an honorary member and show her duck face every once in a... no. Just about never.



Sayu annoys me, but I agree with you. I don't think she's going anywhere. I wish Reina would, though. She kinda has Voldemort nose going on. :/ Freaky.

[YuuakuRisa]

Niigaki Risa is one of my favorites but in all honesty I saw this coming. I think it is time for her to move on to bigger things. She



has outgrown Morning Musume and with the 9th Gen steadily yet surely growing and improving I think it's time for them to get more of the



spotlight. I can't wait to see more of the 10th gen, especially Kuduu and Haruna. I think Haruna can be amazing in a few years.



Although I am going to miss her I'm not as upset as I thought I would be. It's time and how Niigaki spoke on stage on the 2nd leads me to



believe she is ready as well. 10+ years is a long time.

[rallyleo]

After thinking about it for a bit, I think I understand Risa's decision a lot better:



I'm the oldest member of my current dance company. I'm 20 years old, and there are only a few others that are about 18 and 19. The rest are a bunch of little kids around the 13-17 age group. I mainly get to dance with those that are only a year or two my junior, but as of late (beginning with our Christmas performances), the company has constantly been sticking me in the middle of the youngest kids there. Adding insult to injury, the songs they have that particular group dance to are pretty much %1000x worse than Pyoko Pyoko Ultra - ultra cutesy and childish. It makes sense when they do it, but it just looks embarassing for the sole 20 year old.

It's very lonely. The generational gap, while seemingly small, is painfully obvious. They all love me, but there isn't a whole lot of incentive for camaraderie on my end. The performances lack any shred of challenge or excitement and my best friend in the company (the second oldest) left a few months ago, so it has become a lot less fun.

Needless to say, I have decided to leave my dance company this week! <img src='http://mm-bbs.org/public/style_emoticon ... nceman.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':danceman:' />



Point of this story: I'm the Risa of my company - so I understand her a lot more than I initially realized ! <img src='http://mm-bbs.org/public/style_emoticon ... lesson.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':lesson:' />

[rob]

Out of interest what dance group are you a member of?

[rallyleo]

It's just one of the supposedly better companies in my state (New Mexico) called "On Stage Perfoming Arts Center" in association with the university here. It's fun stuff, but the lady currently running it has gone senile and has been making some Tsunku-worthy decisions as of late. <img src='http://mm-bbs.org/public/style_emoticon ... nfused.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' />

[rob]

I see, please don't mention tsunku and decisions, it gives me sara related nightmares.



YES I'm still pissed about Sara. <img src='http://mm-bbs.org/public/style_emoticon ... /noway.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':noway:' />

[BonkyuAsh]

I'm still pissed about Sara too. We could of had her instead of Ayumi(I really don't see the hype in her, we don't need a second Riho.)

I kind of don't like the fact that all the MM girls are graduating both MM and H!P. I'd love to see them make other groups after they graduate like V-U-Den or W, even some solo artist activities. Because all the OG's do besides DMM is variety and stage plays, and that's just boring :/.

[rob]

I agree, I don't see why they can't make a more adult-orientated hip-pop style thing, akin to Korean pop groups, not my kind of thing but I don't see why they can't do it.



I should see if I can find someone to make me a Sara appreciation fan club signature... <img src='http://mm-bbs.org/public/style_emoticon ... nceman.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':danceman:' />

[JPope]

[quote name='rob' timestamp='1326172169' post='115773']

[quote name='Al Kusanagi' timestamp='1326083453' post='115691']

Aika says "Hi."



And Sayu is going nowhere as long as the group still exists for at least another 3 years.

[/quote]



The fact that at the time of me writing that post I GENUINELY had forgotten about Aika just says everything about her, Whether she is there or not nobody ever notices, she could graduated tomorrow and nobody would notice.



but hey good job Kikka didn't join Momusu right tsunku? <img src='http://mm-bbs.org/public/style_emoticon ... kumad1.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':umad:' />

[/quote]



Yep, wouldn't want to let too much actual talent into the group. Someone should post a possible current lineup of MM including all of the girls who were rejected and went on to become popular in other groups/projects.

[rob]

If someone did that I think it would possibly be the greatest group in Jpop history.



If you include Karin and Sara of course <img src='http://mm-bbs.org/public/style_emoticon ... nceman.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':danceman:' />

[Ap2000]

[quote name='rob' timestamp='1326356570' post='115957']



Sara

[/quote]



Could you post pics/info of this Sara ?

I don't remember her.

[rob]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=pl ... Vcs#t=416s



Sara <img src='http://mm-bbs.org/public/style_emoticon ... ryalot.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':cryalot:' />

[tsukinobyouin]

[quote name='JPope' timestamp='1326346180' post='115937']

Yep, wouldn't want to let too much actual talent into the group. Someone should post a possible current lineup of MM including all of the girls who were rejected and went on to become popular in other groups/projects.

[/quote]



The alternate universe is both a wonderful and terrifying place.







I should have given them all beards and sashes.



Please note that the 8th gen seems to be the biggest source of fail. I couldn't fit all the people who went on to fairly successful careers.

[Enmiz]

I had no clue that some of those girls tried out for MM. Maybe they were too talented? Part of Tsunku's thing is molding the girls into becoming his vision of an idol or helping them develop as an idol or some such, correct?

[rob]

You mean how he took the runners up of a talent contest and made them the most popular girl group?



Interesting theory, "Tsunku doesn't pick the obviously talented girls AKA KARIN AND SARA :dammit:for his groups because he thinks girls who are slightly less talented will be more popular"



<img src='http://mm-bbs.org/public/style_emoticon ... wheely.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':wheely:' />

[Shoujo Q]

Risa's having her graduation at Budokan on 5/18. One night only. Or whenever 18:00 is. I don't know the fancy military time.



Of course trying to find a legit source is like trying to find where Tsunku put his manhood.



H!O was where I found it, but they just like to announce stuff without sourcing it. Jplop, love you guys and your sourcing.

[freezingkiss]

^ Dude, military time is just minus 12 hours. X_____x. So 6 o clock.

[rob]

I always preferred am and pm, so much simpler!

[tsukinobyouin]

[quote name='Enmiz' timestamp='1326946801' post='116667']

I had no clue that some of those girls tried out for MM. Maybe they were too talented? Part of Tsunku's thing is molding the girls into becoming his vision of an idol or helping them develop as an idol or some such, correct?

[/quote]



The idea has always been that Morning Musume members are supposed to be "girls next door." In theory, people identify with them and like them more because they seem like your sister, your best friend, or that cute girl in your class. Tsunku would try to pick girls who are pretty or cute, but not supermodel gorgeous. Girls who could sing somewhere between decent and pretty good, but not fantastic. Girls who had some sort of interesting personality quirk. The marketing approach is that more fans will like this type of girl because she seems attainable. If you just happened to run into her, she could be your best friend or your girlfriend. Not like those fancy shiny diva stars that are way up on a pedastol. The other idea behind Morning Musume is that it's an idol factory. The girls grow up with the group and are developed into idols, as you said. Of course all of this "vision" is fairly clear in the 1-4th gens, and then things get...blurry.



But if you take Koda Kumi, she auditioned at the same time as Goto Maki. Aren't you glad they picked Maki? <img src='http://mm-bbs.org/public/style_emoticon ... /laugh.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':lol:' /> Koda Kumi is talented for sure, but I feel like she never would have fit into the group. Perhaps her personality would have developed differently if she'd been in the group, but she seems like someone who would have felt very stifled by the idol world and would have left early on anyway.



P.S. Rob - As much as we want Karin in MM (or doing SOMETHING), when I was making that graphic I realized...I'm not sure that she ever actually tried out. We know she was *allowed* to audition for both S/mileage and MM, but I don't recall seeing any footage or info about her in the MM auditions. I would have liked for Tsunku to have pulled her anyway, but maybe she didn't want to be in MM.



As for Risa, I hope the Budoukan news is true. She deserves a nice graduation after they made her wait around and surpass the 10 years that Ai got so much hype for.

[Gerald]

What about Rina Takeda, wasn't she a 7th Gen tryout?

[al kusanagi]

If Rina made it into MM, the world have far less kicked asses, and that's a sad thing.

[Gerald]

[quote name='Al Kusanagi' timestamp='1326990170' post='116730']

If Rina made it into MM, the world have far less kicked asses, and that's a sad thing.

[/quote]

Agreed, but it would have made TV programmes where MM apperared with AKB48 a whole new world of interesting.

[JPope]

[quote name='rob' timestamp='1326947557' post='116671']

You mean how he took the runners up of a talent contest and made them the most popular girl group?



[/quote]



Did Tsunku reject any contestants that were clearly better than any of the six finalist of the Sharan Q audition?

[rob]

of... the what...??



I meant how Michiyo Heike bombed and yet the "losers" went on and continue to have a successful career.

[Enmiz]

[quote name='TnB' timestamp='1326981117' post='116715']

The idea has always been that Morning Musume members are supposed to be "girls next door." In theory, people identify with them and like them more because they seem like your sister, your best friend, or that cute girl in your class. Tsunku would try to pick girls who are pretty or cute, but not supermodel gorgeous. Girls who could sing somewhere between decent and pretty good, but not fantastic. Girls who had some sort of interesting personality quirk. The marketing approach is that more fans will like this type of girl because she seems attainable. If you just happened to run into her, she could be your best friend or your girlfriend. Not like those fancy shiny diva stars that are way up on a pedastol. The other idea behind Morning Musume is that it's an idol factory. The girls grow up with the group and are developed into idols, as you said. Of course all of this "vision" is fairly clear in the 1-4th gens, and then things get...blurry.



[/quote]

Gotcha! Thanks for the clarification. I was never sure of anything past the idol creation thing. I'm pretty glad he picked Maki, too. She was always fun to watch and I like her recent stuff before her hiatus.

[Ap2000]

[quote name='rob' timestamp='1327121649' post='116939']



of... the what...??



I meant how Michiyo Heike bombed and yet the "losers" went on and continue to have a successful career.

[/quote]



The girls audition as singer(s) for the group Sharan Q.

It's the group Tsunku got big with.

[rob]

I know who Sharan Q were... I didn't realize the girls were auditioning to be a member of Sharan Q though!!

[Madara]

[quote name='rob' timestamp='1327409016' post='117229']

I know who Sharan Q were... I didn't realize the girls were auditioning to be a member of Sharan Q though!!

[/quote]



Yes, the winner was going to be the vocalist for Sharan Q. Michiyo Heike won...but never became the vocalist for Sharan Q. She's a fine singer, too, but, alas, became just a footnote in J-pop history. One of the saddest aspects of this ongoing saga.

[Shoujo Q]

How the hell did this thread become the catch all for all things Musume related? I don't know where to even begin to separate this thread into it's proper places. Risa Graduation/ New Morning Musume Single



What are you doing to me!? Watch me now as I try and split this thread properly. Someone owes me a cookie.

[JPope]

[quote name='rob' timestamp='1327409016' post='117229']

I know who Sharan Q were... I didn't realize the girls were auditioning to be a member of Sharan Q though!!

[/quote]



Crazy, right? Can you imagine Nacchi or Johnson fronting Sharan Q?