Hello!Spam :: 2023 ~Dancing, Singing, Exciting!~

[AquaChan]

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Madara" data-cid="217587" data-time="1558878966">My friend Josh Mosby was at the Angerme concert in Chiba that had the earthquake and the announcement of Take-chan as new leader. Were you there? A friend from Quebec, Millie Ishidawa, was at that concert also. Do you know either of them?</blockquote>
I think I know her! She's in a cover idol group right?

[Madara]

[quote="AquaChan"]
 
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Madara" data-cid="217587" data-time="1558878966">
My friend Josh Mosby was at the Angerme concert in Chiba that had the earthquake and the announcement of Take-chan as new leader. Were you there? A friend from Quebec, Millie Ishidawa, was at that concert also. Do you know either of them?
</blockquote>


I think I know her! She's in a cover idol group right?
 
[/quote]
 
Yes. The group has "Ice Cream" in their name, I think.

[Mugi]

I watched a the Kenshuusei video in the new J=J member thread and Matsubara Yuriya is the cutest thing ever! Plus she can kinda sing too.  I hope the training the give will help her get better cause shes awesome! (This is the right thread for this kind of post right?) 

[Shoujo Q]

^Yes this is the right thread. 
 
As much as I hate the idol system of additions and graduations I can't help but enjoy it in the end. It's like the 5 stages of Grief but I call it the 5 Stages of Idols. 
Shock (Because It's Unexpected), Anger (Because Why are you Ruining a Good Thing?), Speculating(Who are they going to pick?), Understanding(Why did they pick HER?), Acceptance(I guess they aren't so bad, why are they graduating already?). Sometimes it's a long road to Acceptance.   

 

[Madara]

I asked this on Facebook but was hoping for more of an answer than I got.
 
In the Hello! Project Winter 2019 concert, I was confronted with three new girls I had to identify and remember. They are part of Beyooooonds, but have their own little number where one of them plays “Mugen Climax” on the keyboard, while the other two dance. They are listed on Generasia as the “Hello! Project “Only You” Audition Winners”: Miyo Hirai, Utano Satoyoshi, Honoka Kobayashi.
 
Questions:
How long will they be listed that way? What will they be called in the future? Will they get their own unit name like the others in Beyooooonds have?  Or will they be moved into another group, either new or already existing? Just curious.
 
Here's the answer I got on FB:
If H!P management is going to name them, i'd expect it sometime before their major debut in August. Wouldn't surprise me if they don't get any name at all and just go by BEYOOOOONDS.
 

 

 
 
For the record, Honoka’s keyboard skills so far seem to surpass those of past H!P piano/keyboard players Erina Mano and Asahi Tasaki. I wish they’d allow her to do much longer pieces in future concerts.

[DonJuan]

We don't know anything yet. They're not in CHICA#TETSU or Ame no Mor, and they're unlikely to debut outside of Beyooooonds. Either they're going to be a unit like the two mentioned, and get a name, or they'll just stay in limbo in Beyooooonds.

[Madara]

I did a tribute to Ayaka on my blog. I use mostly shots I've compiled over the years and I discuss my changing feelings about her over the years. I also bring up the whole "Racist-chan" controversy. If I got anything wrong, please let me know and I'll change it. Thanks.
 
https://madarasjpopblog.wordpress.com/2019/06/20/ayaka-wada-tribute-to-an-era/
 

[JPope]

Henkka has been translating all of the Morning Musume 20th Anniversary Official Book Interviews over at Wota In Translation, and I just got around to reading Sakura's interview. I gotta say, she comes off as an insufferable pill. Here are a couple choice nuggets:
 
 
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote">
There are some members who see the group as a place where they just want everyone to be friendly with each other and have fun working together, and then there are other members like me who see the other members as work colleagues — I’m more focused on trust and respect rather than just being friendly.
</blockquote>
 
 
 
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote">
I do sometimes feel like what’s important for us right now, when it comes to our songs, is not to constantly trying to stand out and be all unique ... Sure, personality is important as well, but what we should be trying to learn from our seniors right now is their competency in things like Morning Musume’s etiquette, use of language, greetings, conduct
</blockquote>
 
 
I can imagine Farrah's head exploding reading that second one. Mine totally exploded (I got better).
 
 
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote">
I’m sure I have weak spots even now that I’m unable to see for myself, but Tsunku♂ would definitely be able to point them out to me.
</blockquote>
 
 
Here's a weak spot, Sakura: lighten the fuck up.
 
By contrast, check out Maa's interview. The interview with Sato made me like her even more. Oda's made me like her a lot less.
 

[Anderei]

I don’t think viewing her job as a job makes her a pill. The other members are her coworkers and thinking of them as that before friends doesn’t really make her insufferable to me? And I think her second statement is just a very Japanese way of looking at things.

[al kusanagi]

He also just put up the interview with Duu today.
 
It's adorable that her dad was an old school MM wota. And, man, that interview shows just how much of a little badass she was.

[JPope]

[quote="Anderei"]
I don’t think viewing her job as a job makes her a pill. The other members are her coworkers and thinking of them as that before friends doesn’t really make her insufferable to me? And I think her second statement is just a very Japanese way of looking at things.
[/quote]
 
There's more in that interview that informs my opinion. She comes off as the kid you "forget" to invite to the party because you want it to be fun.

[WonderBuono]

She reminds me a little of myself. I wouldn’t want to go to your party, either.


Having a serious personality is not a flaw, neither is being more care-free like Maa-chan. They’re just different. Sakura says that herself. If she was talking bad about other people wanting to have fun then THAT would be insufferable. But as Anderei said, viewing her job as a job? Nothing wrong with that.

[JPope]

My parties are awesome.

[Madara]

So I read all three interviews. Maa-chan is the most wonderful human being in the world right now. 'Nuff said. Duu just confirms her freaking awesomeness.
 
Sakura seems to take herself a little too seriously, but that doesn't make me love her any less. She's one of the hardest working members and one of the group's top performers. And watching her interactions with fans in New York last November, including my own one-on-one encounter with her, made for some very happy memories. When she came back with Kaga to the DJ booth playing MM songs and the two started dancing for us, it was the most beautiful gift she could give us. And then they brought Mizuki and Ayumi back with them a second time to continue it. She clearly loves the fans. 

[Mukuro]

I couldn't find a post on it, but H!P girls have started to get their own Instagrams! I don't quite know the system behind why some girls have them while others don't, someone mentioned it may be based on how active they are on their blogs.


Morning Musume

<a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='https://instagram.com/ayumi_ishida.offi ... uvs1q7m5ph' class="bbc_url" title="External link">https://instagram.com/ayumi_ishida.offi ... 1q7m5ph</a>

<a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='https://instagram.com/miki_nonaka.offic ... c8f3o84378' class="bbc_url" title="External link">https://instagram.com/miki_nonaka.offic ... 3o84378</a>

<a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='https://instagram.com/maria_makino.offi ... tcalmvfezw' class="bbc_url" title="External link">https://instagram.com/maria_makino.offi ... lmvfezw</a>

<a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='https://instagram.com/mizuki_fukumura.o ... acvk6tppi3' class="bbc_url" title="External link">https://instagram.com/mizuki_fukumura.o ... k6tppi3</a>


Country Girls

<a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='https://instagram.com/risa_yamaki.offic ... 73ys5nzedr' class="bbc_url" title="External link">https://instagram.com/risa_yamaki.offic ... s5nzedr</a>


Juice=Juice


<a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='https://instagram.com/karin_miyamoto.of ... vtdz7t1jba' class="bbc_url" title="External link">https://instagram.com/karin_miyamoto.of ... z7t1jba</a>

<a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='https://instagram.com/akari_uemura.offi ... swdehuoewz' class="bbc_url" title="External link">https://instagram.com/akari_uemura.offi ... ehuoewz</a>

<a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='https://instagram.com/sayuki_takagi.off ... 2zrcqcc4wd' class="bbc_url" title="External link">https://instagram.com/sayuki_takagi.off ... cqcc4wd</a>

<a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='https://instagram.com/tomoko_kanazawa.o ... 9ayqxz49lt' class="bbc_url" title="External link">https://instagram.com/tomoko_kanazawa.o ... qxz49lt</a>



None for angerme, kobushi, tsubaki, or beyonds members yet.

[DonJuan]

As everybody knows I'm not big on Ikuta, but the styling for her birthday event goods caught my eye:
 


 
Back to the 2000s. If you'd shown me these and I didn't know anything about MM except for them debuting members every few years I would've said she'd be in the group in 2006 or something.
/edit: Just posted this to say: I like it. I like girls somewhat getting out of that "long black straight hair / shorter black straight hair" and "OL clothes" style that's been so prominent in the last few years. However seeing that Ikuta is somewhat experimenting with styles makes me think of a graduation announcement coming soon, like when Haruna grew her bangs out and dyed her hair before her graduation.
Then again, Ikuta has always been more on the experimenting side of current MM.

[WonderBuono]

She’s real cute but I always find a little weird when adults wear those schoolgirl resembling outfits.

[Zoe]

... are those socks really back in style?

[momoirosaya]

She’s cosplaying as a gyaru guys

[JPope]

The two-thumbs-down heart is kinda funny to me, in that it comes across like she's saying "LOL, I love how much better I am than you, loser!"

[TicTacAnyone]

Her face looks like Okai with that hair styling O_O

[aine]

Looks like she raided Reina's closet.

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Zoe" data-cid="218020" data-time="1562334766">
... are those socks really back in style?</blockquote>
They never went out of style in my world!

[DonJuan]

[quote="Saya"]
She’s cosplaying as a gyaru guys
[/quote]
 
I still love it.

[JPope]

[quote="aine"]
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Zoe" data-cid="218020" data-time="1562334766">
... are those socks really back in style?
</blockquote>
They never went out of style in my world!
 
[/quote]
 
My man.

[Anderei]

[quote="aine"]
Looks like she raided Reina's closet.
 
 
[/quote]
 
In the year 2019 this might not be a good thing!

[WonderBuono]

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="JPope" data-cid="218022" data-time="1562341839">
The two-thumbs-down heart is kinda funny to me, in that it comes across like she's saying "LOL, I love how much better I am than you, loser!"</blockquote>


Or a message to the wota: “you guys are losers but this is how I make money so thanks!”

[Shoujo Q]

Seeing my her goods just confirms the fact she has an on and off button when it comes to her expressions and she’s usually got herself in the off position. Unless that’s her sexy mature look in which case it just comes off as bitchy and so done with the idol thing. But then she does something like this and it just makes you confused.

[DonJuan]

She definitely has a RBF.

[Madara]

A total of 12 current H!P performers, not counting Kenshuusei, were born in 1999, which means 12 members turn 20 this year. Ayano Kawamura turned 20 yesterday and four others preceded her this year, with another seven to turn 20 before the end of the year. I believe this makes 1999 the year with the most H!P births and 2019 the year where the most members reached the age of 20. All groups are represented except for Country Girls.
 
Reina Ichioka:                         February 25, 1999
Sakura Oda                            March 12, 1999

Kurumi Takase:                       March 16, 1999
Masaki Sato:                           May 7, 1999
Ayano Kawamura:                  July 7, 1999
Ayaka Hirose:                         August 4, 1999
Miki Nonaka:                           October 7, 1999
Kisora Niinuma:                      October 20, 1999
Moe Kamikokuryo:                 October 24, 1999
Ami Tanimoto:                        November 16, 1999
Kaede Kaga:                          November 30, 1999
Miyo Hirai                               December 11, 1999

[DonJuan]

I wanted to confirm your thesis and looked for a list of all H!P birthdays by year - and fortunately, the Wikia really has one: https://helloproject.fandom.com/wiki/List:Members_by_Age. Granted, it also lists producers, song writers etc., but I tried to filter out all debuted H!P members (as in, no producers, no Eggs/KSS).
To be fair I had to do a few adjustments. Are UUG debuted members? I mean they never debuted under H!P. But The Possible/Ciao Bella Cinquetti did? What about Gatas Brilhantes or Ongaku Gatas? You know what... I gotta split it up. Mid-2000s H!P is confusing
 
Number of H!P members by year:
 
1972: 1
1973: 1
1974: 1
1976: 1
1977: 2
1978: 2
1979: 3
1980: 4
1981: 6
1982: 3
1983: 6
1984: 6 (+1 Egg)
1985: 4 (+3 Gatas Brilhantes, 1 of them being in Ongaku Gatas)
1986: 2 (+1 Gatas Brilhantes)
1987: 5
1988: 5 (+1 Gatas Brilhantes/Ongaku Gatas)
1989: 4 (+1 Gatas Brilhantes, +1 The Possible)
1990: 1 (+2 Gatas Brilhantes, +1 Egg)
1991: 6 (+2 Eggs, +1 Gatas Brilhantes, +1 The Possible, +1 UUG)
1992: 11 (+1 UF soloist, +1 Gatas Brilhantes, +3 Eggs, +1 UUG, +2 The Possible
1993: 3 (+2 The Possible, +1 Gatas Brilhantes, +3 Eggs, +1 UUG
1994: 9 (+2 Eggs)
1995: 2 (+2 UUG, +1 KSS, +1 Korean KSS)
1996: 4 (+1 UUG, +3 Eggs)
1997: 8 (+1 UUG, +4 KSS/Eggs)
1998: 10 (+3 KSS)
1999: 16 (+7 KSS)
2000: 13 (+2 KSS)
2001: 7 (+4 KSS)
2002: 8 (+4 KSS)
2003: 4 (+4 KSS)
2004: 5 (+10 KSS)
2005: 4 (+4 KSS)
2008: (2 KSS)
 
So yes, 1999 is the year with the most H!P births. You already mentioned those that are still active, but here are some already graduated members:
 
Ogata Haruna (February 15)
Fujii Rio (March 4)
Aikawa Maho (March 26)
Kudo Haruka (October 27)
 
1999 really was an amazing year. By the way, LOVE Machine, Memory Seishun no Hikari AND Gatamekira were also released that year