Although maybe Mitsui’s true relative is really in the east end of London?

Apparently Berryz Kobo have been struggling for money and have had to start doing somewhat seedier gigs…

I did think that guy was going to mount her and ride her to a finish but apparently not. And weirdly HE DOES LOOK LIKE FRANKIE DETTORI! O-O

Part-way through a performance Niigaki Risa turns to the audience with an “it’s good here isn’t it” look on her face…

Scientists have invented a new pair of glasses that allow the wearer to see things the way Tsugunaga Momoko does…

Idol gene splicing takes a step forward with the creation of Tsuji Notomi…

Since Ai-chan graduated Sayu is left a little lonely at concerts…

Niigaki Risa has finally had enough of those ‘boring Risa’ comments…

There’s panic behind the scenes at UFA during the Hello! Project Winter 2012 concerts as Ikuta Erina is kidnapped. To keep it quiet management decide to replace her with a lookalike…

…That looks NOTHING LIKE HER!

Predictions that the world will end in 2012 become more believable as a pic of Mitsui Aika looking almost okay (at least from the neck down) emerges…

And finally scientists also invent a new pair of glasses that allow the wearer to see things the way Kusumi Koharu does…

Rather than spectacles they will be called cracktacles.

That look is so damn hot! Well at least the hair is if not the lipstick. Although if the lipstick is smeared due to kissing then…^^

Anyway a quick bit of picspam to celebrate Junjun’s 24th year…

She may be 24 but she can pass for younger!

Junjun is probably checking out pics of Shimizu.

Peace!

Err…lick? ^^

Let’s smile…and do some other stuff too. Nom!

Junjun enjoying being solo and centre stage. Two things that pretty much never happened in Morning Musume. She’s probably wondering why there aren’t six or seven Japanese girls and Linlin to the left of her.

Mmm…leggy.

Mmm…flexible. ^^

Mmm…sucky.

I like the way she is leaning forward. Junjun is so damn gorgeous.

Boys and bananas. What more could a girl want?

I met Junjun in Paris and even though I’d just spoken briefly to Ai-chan (who is of course my idol Queen) I was still struck by how beautiful Junjun was. I had to stand there for a while waiting for Junjun to sign my photo (something that happily if a little uncomfortably seemed to take ages as Hexi was getting Linlin to sign a huge calendar page and it was using up all the desk space). While waiting I felt such warmth for her. I really do admire Junjun so much. The effort it must have took to be in Morning Musume. Being in a foreign country, learning a foreign language and all the hard work an idol has to do anyway, it can’t have been easy. But Junjun made it look easy. She was great. Always the most entertaining on tv shows and so unique. I still miss her presence in Momusu even now. Junjun may no longer be in Morning Musume or even in Japan but she’ll forever be in my idol-loving heart! I hope she has lots of success back in her native China and I hope all her fans outside of China can continue to see her efforts and continue to support her. Happy belated birthday!

Do an impression of your top…

A rare pic of an idol with a family member. Here is Mitsui with her mum. Her mum is cuter!

Seperated at birth?

After Supergran, Supergirl and of course Superman here comes Supermare…

Chinami is worried that Maimi has forgotten they have an audience…

AKB fans come out yet again in defence of the Heavy Rotation pv…

When asked “Who do you think you were in your previous life?” Mitsui tells it like it is…

Meanwhile when faced with the same question…

And to the question “tell us your recommended hygiene?”

…
Well you can lead a horse to water but you can’t make it drink.

Nakanishi Kana arrested after spate of Christmas bank robberies…

Concerns about purity of jpop as S/mileage go gangster…

“Is this your leggy jpop group? It’d be a shame if anything happened to it”.

Following her graduation fears grow for Yuuka’s health as she starts to turn into Kago Ai…

Meimi is attacked by Van Helsing with some garlic and a cross…

Meanwhile when asked where they would like to spend their spare time the majority of  men (and several women) chose…

And that’s this post finished with. Cheers for reading…

Kono Chikyuu no Heiwa wo Honki de Negatterun da yo! – Morning Musume 16% (24 votes)

Kiss me Aishiteru – C-ute 11.33% (17 votes)

Uchouten LOVE – S/mileage 10.67% (16 votes)

Maji desu ka Ska! – Morning Musume 8.67% (13 votes)

Only you – Morning Musume 8.67% (13 votes)

Kare to Issho ni Omise ga Shitai – Morning Musume 8% (12 votes)

Please Minisuka Post Woman – S/mileage 5.33% (8 votes)

Konna Watashi de Yokattara – Kikkawa Yuu 5.33% (8 votes)

Busu ni Naranai Tetsugaku – Hello! Project Mobekimasu 4.67% (7 votes)

Zassou no Uta – Buono! 3.33% (5 votes)

Ai no Dangan – Berryz Kobo 3.33% (5 votes)

Sekai ichi HAPPY na Onna no ko – C-ute 2.67% (4 votes)

Heroine ni Narou ka! – Berryz Kobo 2% (3 votes)

Natsu Dakara! – Buono 2% (3 votes)

My Days for You – Mano Erina 2% (3 votes)

Momoiro Sparkling – C-ute 1.33% (2 votes)

Tachiagaaru – S/mileage 1.33% (2 votes)

Seishun no Serenade – Mano Erina 0.67% (1 votes)

Amazuppai Haru ni Sakura Saku – Berryz Kobo x C-ute 0.67% (1 votes)

Koi ni Booing! Boo! – S/mileage 0.67% (1 votes)

Kikkake wa YOU! – Kikkawa Yuu 0.67% (1 votes)

Hapirapi ~Sunrise~ – Kikkawa Yuu 0.67% (1 votes)

Aa, Yo ga Akeru – Berryz Kobo 0% (0 votes)

Shortcut – S/mileage 0% (0 votes)

Makeruna Wasshoi – Bekimasu 0% (0 votes)

Total Votes: 150
Anyway as usual I disagree entirely. My own personal top ten were…

10. At ten it’s Hello! Project MoBeKiMaSu with Busu ni Naranai Tetsugaku. It’s great to see all of H!P together and while the song is certainly no All For One & One For All it’s still a solid single.

9. At nine is Smileage with the catchy and entertainingky silly and genki Koi ni Booing Buu. Nobody did silly, genki, catchy songs as well as S/mileage. It’s been a disappointing year for them and losing two members doesn’t help much either (especially when replaced with a vampire and some boring idol wannabes) but this song is a perfect snapshot of what S/muleage were all about.

8.Talking of disappointing years at number eight it’s Buono with Zassou no Uta. A good single from a bad mini-album. But at least Buono are continuing and Paris is the place to be next year. It’s a pity I won’t be there then. >< Anyway this single at least gives hope that they can find their direction again and give us some more excellent music. I’d like to see theor old backing group back with them though.

7. It was a quiet year for the wonderful, talented and beautiful Mano-chan but she did give us the lovely My Days For You. I hope the announcement of a new single out in the new year means she will be back to abundantly releasing great singles every few months come 2012. Until then there is this beauty.

6. One very overlooked song this year, perhaps understandably so, is BeKimaSu’s Makeruna Wasshoi. It’s great though. In a lot of ways it reminds me of  Momusu’s Chokkan 2. I’d love to see a pv for it. Anyway here’s an audio version for you to enjoy.

5. It was a great year for C-ute. It’s a pity not many people noticed though. Anyway at five it’s Kiss Me Aishiteru. A more mature song from the five c-uties.It’s reminiscent of something like Namida no Iro in terms of direction if not tune. That’s a great direction to be going in although personally I love the genki songs more. However I’d hate to lose one type of song or the other and indeed why should I have to? This is great and I hope they do more songs like it in the future. I also hope they continue to give us happy, youthful bursts of pop too though.

4. At four it’s C-ute again with the criminally overlooked Sekai ichi HAPPY na Onna no ko. You are probably thinking “THAT song? WHY?” Just watch them performing it live. Get caught up in the wonderful exuberance of it all. This song is GREAT!

And here is the pv too.

4 & 3. Fourth to second place were a tough choice for me. They were all singles by the back-to-their-best Momusu. In the end in fourth place I chose Kono Chikyuu no Heiwa wo Honki de Negatterun da yo! In third place Kare to Issho ni Omise ga Shitai. They go so well together mind you so it’s quite fitting that this double A-side shouldn’t be split up by anything else. Anyway Momusu’s final single with Ai-chan at the helm was brilliant. Both these two songs and Ai-chan’s solo were up there with the best Momusu have ever done. A great and fitting end to the Queen’s reign. God save the Queen! She is a human being…I think. Although possibly she is an angel actually. ^^

2. At number two a song that would be worthy of the number one spot any year. 2011 saw the end of the reign of Queen Ai-chan but she finished her final year with some great singles. Top of which was the wonderful Maji Desu ka Suka! It’s fair to say my favourite songs this year were catchy and upbeat. This debut single for the kyuukies was certainly that. Also it had equal line distribution too which always makes me happy. A group of idols should all get their chance to shine and these eight members (minus the woof woof) certainly did here. One of Momusu’s best singles any year!

1. My number one can only be C-ute’s Momoiro Sparkling. This song never fails to make me feel so happy. I have listened to this more than anything else this year. It’s just so genki! A wonderful, cute, happy, upbeat song. Four minutes of peachy perfect pop princesses. ^^ I love this song so much! Hello! Project gives so much happiness to people all over the world. C-ute and co I thank you from the bottom of my heart.

If it’s not too late to do so I wish everyone a very merry Christmas and a happy and prosperous 2012!

Cuteness overload. I like the way she often finds suitable cloths to wear too like with this Ai-chan number…

And with this performance of The Peace!

She can also act out the whole idol schtick too…

Adorable. I hope one day she gets to become an idol. If it’s with H!P then it’s future will be in safe hands…well feet. You can check out her blog here.

Meanwhile a quick mention to my favourite UK-based Youtube dancer. Abbie. I find her enthusiasm and ability to play the part so well really cute. Sadly she doesn’t cover H!P stuff too often but here is her dancing to C-ute’s Massara Blue Jeans. She’s also good at editing her vids. She puts a lot of effort in and should be supported!

Finally another Youtube dancer who I tip for great things is this one…

Personally I think she’s wonderful. I hope she manages to find a career for herself outside the tube.

Ah Your near namesake Meimi. Yes. Yes she is.

Looking at the older generation who do you admire the most?

Jesus.

Evil?

You get a panic attack and start to cry? I mean her facial expressions could give a serial killer nightmares. Every pose is pure undiluted EVIIIIIL.

Yeah she’s a natural.

What goals do you have in your personal life?

Ah Paris. The city of love^^

I’ve had some interesting dreams regarding you. Will you be my friend?

Well ignore that. Now onto your future and obviously you are a top idol and have a great future in the entertainment industry still ahead of you. So with that in mind your record company has asked me to ask you this…

Please stop crying. Maybe it’s just a joke.

Okay finally it’s a custom of these interviews for the interviewer and the interviewee to get it on together. This is why I’ve never interviewed Mitsui. So what do you say?

Result! ^^ Okay but first go and get changed into something sexy, cute and undeniably Japanese…

Hell yeah!

Okay now Maimi is going to let us listen in to her private thoughts. This is an exciting once in a lifetime chance to hear the innermost workings of an idols brain. I can’t wait!

So Maimi has gone to a ‘hotel’…

Ah that’s good of you. As opposed to what? Stamping your feet and demanding attention?

Well go inside if you are scared of insects.

Err do idols mainly just think about insects? Come on cheer up. You are on holiday.

Shut up! No insects will appear!

They don’t count!

Still doesn’t count!

Well that’s just silly. Right I’m stopping listening!

Berryz Koubou Pocket Morning Berryz Q&A

Niigaki Risa – Just made leader and is in until pushed. Seems unlikely Tsunku will push anytime soon. Especially given that there is no sub-leader. Odds: 66/1

Michishige Sayumi – Snubbed for sub-leader duties and with a lively tv career. She says she loves Momusu but is it this Momusu? Odds: 16/1

Tanaka Reina – Very popular member of Momusu and has a lot of lines in their songs. But could all the salty drinks she swallows in car parks and truck stops be damaging her voice? Odds: 16/1

Mitsui Aika – Unlikely to be caught up in a scandal unless it involves being photographed sniffing male dogs arses. Yet brings very little to the group other than unwitting comedy. Recent injury problems are also a concern…or a source of joy depending on your opinion. Odds: 12/1

Fukumura Mizuki – Very little is known about this ninth gen member. Could be a dark horse. Is she secretly harbouring urges to study more? Does she have a sore foot problem that will take a year to heal before allowing her to become a low-rent model? Does she have a skin problem that allows her a way out? One to watch. Odds: 33/1

Ikuta Erina – The best Kyuukie member has a regular spot on Oha Star alongside Kusumi Koharu. Unless Koha’s influence sways her from the right path her future in Momusu should be secure. Mind you maybe she has become addicted to Koha’s crack? I know I would be addicted to Koha’s crack if she’d just let me at it. ^^Odds: 100/1

Sayashi Riho – The most popular ninth gen member but also clearly a dead-eyed serial killer. How long before her secret is exposed? Definitely in the running. Odds: 20/1

Suzuki Kanon – The most humorous of the newer members means Suzuki will always stand out in tv programmes just like Junjun did. So she has another few years of obscurity at the back to go through before she leaves. Odds: 100/1

Iikubo Haruna – Reportedly had a boyfriend before joining Momusu as one of the Juuniors. Could she be pregnant? Odds: 33/1

Ishida Ayumi – Having only just joined she is unlikely to have a reason to leave just yet. It normally takes at least a year or so for disillusionment to kick in. Odds: 100/1

Sato Masaki – The same can be said for this member but she is also pretty and so should get plenty of work within H!P. Will be there for a while. Odds: 200/1

Kudou Haruka – On the face of it the tenth generation are unlikely to leave anytime soon as they only joined a month ago. However also on the face of it Haruka could be a little boy in disguise. Is that the sound of an oncoming scandal? Odds: 33/1

Shimizu Saki – The chances of most of the Berryz being involved in a scandal or wanting to leave to persue a life less boring are pretty long. However with falling sales maybe Tsunku will see the opportunity to give them all the chop? A possibility. Odds: 40/1

Tsugunaga Momoko – Being batshit insane Momoko will probably stay in Berryz forever. She is the only member to have a personality and so is likely to continue as a figurehead for the group. Odds: 100/1

Tokunaga Chinami – Once said (in English) that she is Miyabi’s girlfriend. Even that scandal in the works diudn’t affect her career though. No she continued to not have one. Unlikely to go unless pushed. But a push is still a possible outcome. Odds: 40/1

Sudou Maasa – The heavyweight of the group is unlikely to be caught in a scandal and Tsunku would be hard pressed to push her. He’d need help from several burly men. An unlikely graduee. Odds: 66/1

Natsuyaki Miyabi – The throat is hoarse but she is still a popular member of both Berryz and Buono. However maybe she preferred it when Buono were good and didn’t sound like a cross between Avril Latrine, some bland R’n'B group and some electro knobheads? Could disillusionment be setting in? Also we all know she had that boyfriend once. The whiff of scandal is still in the air. Probably the favourite to leave amongst the Berryz members. Odds: 16/1

Kumai Yurina – Might become a basketball player or something. Or maybe a model? There’s a chance. Odds: 40/1

Sugaya Risako – The most popular member. Has more fans than Maasa has had hot dinners…and cold ones…and snacks. However may have had more boy idols as well. There’s a chance. Odds: 33/1

Yajima Maimi – The eyes wide shut smiley member with the great legs is a fine idol. Even with falling sales her star just continues to shine. An unlikely next member to go. Odds: 100/1

Nakajima Saki – The cutest of the cute but also has one of the weaker voices. Could be tears all round if she decides to do an Umeda…or a Kanna…or a Megumi. This group has prior form. One to watch. Odds: 33/1

Suzuki Airi – The most popular member in C-ute and one of the most popular members in H!P. So Tsunku will probably push her out soon. DANGER! Odds: 5/1

Okai Chisato – The cute Youtube dancer has also been making a fine career as a backing singer. However her sister left the Eggs and resentment and hurt family pride could be bubbling beneath the surface. A live chance. Odds: 33/1

Hagiwara Mai – Some people predict the world will end in December 2012 so maybe Mai will leave the planet before then to return to her kind?Odds: 40/1

Mano Erina – This cute and sexy solo singer is currently being challenged by Kikkawa Yuu/You. Can she handle the pressure? Probably. Odds: 200/1

Wada Ayaka – Shit your pants and head for the hills if your favourite is a S/mileage member. Ever since spooky Tamura Meimi joined the group weird things have been happening. It’s Halloween in less than a week. Anything could happen! Odds: 3/1

Fukuda Kanon – A passing resemblance to Kago Ai could hint at a dark underbelly and a career in shit films and tawdry photobooks that say “look at me. I’m all grown up and look a total slut. Aren’t I great?” However in reality she’s more likely to leave just because…well it’s all going a bit Pete Tong isn’t it? Odds: 4/1

Nakanishi Kana – On the face of it this new S/miley member would seem an unlikey early departure just because she has only just arrived. However a curse is on S/mileage so she must be a favourite. Odds: 6/1

Takeuchi Akari – Should be the safest of the S/mileage members as her cousin is Yajima Maimi and she can kick vampire arse. Curses and Meimi should hold no fears. Odds: 200/1

Katsuta Rina – She has a neck and she’s closest in age to Meimi. UH-OH! Odds: 6/1

Tamura Meimi – The Hex could find things hotting up if the staff at a concert venue put garlic in the meals. Alternatively with Halloween around the corner perhaps she will be caught cavorting with a witch in a scandal? A spooky longshot. Odds: 25/1

Kikkawa Yuu – YouYuu has only recently made her solo debut and has the full force of  H!P’s promotional staff behind her (although it’s just one bloke and he only works Tuesdays). Her future seems secure. Odds: 200/1

Odds at-a-glance

Wada Ayaka 3/1

Fukuda Kanon 4/1

Suzuki Airi 5/1

Nakanishi Kana 6/1

Katsuta Rina 6/1

Mitsui Aika 12/1

Michishige Sayumi 16/1

Tanaka Reina 16/1

Natsuyaki Miyabi 16/1

Sayashi Riho 20/1

Tamura Meimi 25/1

Sugaya Risako 33/1

Nakajima Saki 33/1

Okai Chisato 33/1

Fukumura Mizuki 33/1

Iikubo Haruna 33/1

Kudou Haruka 33/1

Shimizu Saki 40/1

Tokunaga Chinami 40/1

Kumai Yurina 40/1

Hagiwara Mai 40/1

Niigaki Risa 66/1

Sudou Maasa 66/1

Tsugunaga Momoko 100/1

Yajima Maimi 100/1

Ikuta Erina 100/1

Suzuki Kanon 100/1

Ishida Ayumi 100/1

Mano Erina 200/1

Kikkawa Yuu 200/1

Sato Masaki 200/1

Takeuchi Akari 200/1

Well I hope that Yuuka gets to do whatever it is she wants to in life. I wish her all the best and thank her for the entertainment that she brought. As for my interest in S/mileage I think that’s the Last Rites performed and the grave dug. Okay I like Wada and I quite like Maimi’s cousin whose name always escapes me but the others I find instantly forgettable. Well except for Meimi who is instantly terrifying. Frankly I’d rather Tsunku had just used Eggs. Now if he’s replaced Saki with Tanabe Nanami and Yuuka with Miyamoto Karin that would have been great but it wasn’t to be.

Here is a newspaper article about the graduation. Here is another one but this one is funnier as there seem to be some random people dressed up as Love Machine era Momusu at the bottom of the page? Here is a picture of a grave…

Rest in peace F/rownage.

Finally here are some pics of a delicious and adorable idol. Thank you Yuuka. You were the best S/miley of all! Good luck in your graduation!

Goodbye Moley. You’ll be missed!