Midori’s Neighborhood

As cute and *cuddly~*...H!P's girl~next door is, it was just a matter of time before she got the call from Hello♥Kitty~ to collaborate on a single release♪～。

Manoeri's 5th major single release was again presented in multiple versions~ with the extras being available with her type A & B CD singles~....both include an additional DVD with type A giving you "Dance Shot Ver." of the title track while type B includes her "Buranko Ver." pv~. Her accompanying pv DVD single includes in addition to the original version of her pv~, a "Close Up Ver."

"Love & Peace = Paradise" brings upon us a first for H!P as it's their very first to be kitten~ized as track 2 features much more in the way of ~meow~ meows in addition to Manoeri's already *furry~* vocals♥ (*´∀｀*)...now just who is Hello♥Kitty?..I mean vocally....??? (・c_・;)？Surely it's not Tsunku singing back~up here as he often does on select Momusu~ releases (。ーωー。)♪♪。。。


Mano Erina's "Love & Peace = Paradise" can be ordered here at Cdjapan.

Mano Erina's "Love & Peace = Paradise" can be ordered here at YesAsia.

Mano Erina's "Love & Peace = Paradise" can be ordered here at HMV Japan.


The styling is very much Chrismas~y♥like with *cozy~* and fluffy wardrobes in white o(*´∀｀)o゛and although this single isn't actually a holiday~ song it makes up so much for this by continuing Manoeri's brand~* of cute & most catchy♥ J-Pop (*´∀｀*) It however doesn't quite have the flair and attraction of some of her previous singles..and in particular "Hajimete no keiken" and "Sekai wa summer party" which I thought were most outstanding~ songs♪♪～ capturing such a *pure* sound of J-Pop~ ＾　＾。

うわ～わわわ～っ(・o・)！！！。。。the coupling with track "18sai no kisetsu" has a very "Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da"~!!! sort of rhythm going on~?!!! わぁーいo(*´∀｀)o゛♥ The melody itself though is somewhat nursery rhyme sounding I think?.....wait,..

....

........Manoeri is Hello♥Kitty~! (人∀`*)。。。

*Happily~* Manoeri continues to be backed~up by Hello!Project Eggs♥....although these Eggs are most accomplished now and really perhaps deserving of being graduated from that title?....a~h! it's really almost like having S/mileage with Manoeri on the very same stage in these releases~ ＾　＾！ Please enjoy~* the music videos っo(*´∀｀)o!。。。

In addition to the original and "Close Up Ver." pvs on the pv DVD single~, there's also a look behind the scenes including the jacket photo shoot and pv making of for a running time of 19:47~. What I found most entertaining were the fun and candid *moments~* between Manoeri and the Eggs♥....and now as they've been together for quite some time, there's a special bond and closeness o(*´∀｀)o゛ that you can really feel in these scenes~...

...and ending on an amusing note~...I think it's so *cute* and maybe slightly odd how Yukarin♥'s attention seems to waver a bit during on camera conversations~ and interviews~…(^q^)! It's not in the way she's responding as she's very attentive this way....but her eyes seem to wander elsewhere all the while as she's still speaking to the camera~ (*´∀｀*)♥！

~There seems to be much debate on which side to take as the "Twilight" saga unfolds before us from beloved novels to the silver screen~....Team Edward♥ vs. Team Jacob♥ the debate rages on~!!!! Hmm..do you prefer your guy to be warm and furry or cold and and like a love magnet~?! (・c_・;)？

.....so.

...another such "hot" (。ーωー。) topic got me thinking today~…(^q^)!

What about Team....

Hangry vs. Team Angry?!!!! (・д・`*)

Surely we must first delve into each camps♥ strong and attractive points ne~＾　＾！

Campaigning~ campaigning~~~!!!!

Okay where was I?

(・c_・;)？。。。。。。。

。。oh right~ sorry Edward was distracting me...(*´∀｀*)

no I meant Jacob...(*´∀｀*)

no Ja~Edward~!! (゜ロ゜ノ)ノ

。。。。。okay, I'm okay~  ・゜・(ノД`)・゜・。really~!…(^q^)!

Now let's look at some constructive and most "meaningful" points on the behalf of both parties..

> Hangry can probably beat up Angry!

> Angry may out~cute Hangry in a photo shoot!

> Hangry may lock up Angry in a chest before any said photo shoot can occur!

> Angry has more Lolli♥ fans!

> Hangry has more goth fans!

> Angry has a *cuddly* voice!

> Hangry has a scarier plushy!

> Angry looks scarier holding her plushy!


> Hangry has a much more powerful voice!

> Angry looks scarier holding her plushy!

> Hangry wears wicked eyeliner!

> Angry looks scarier holding her plushy!

~Okay! I think we've covered most arguing points~ (。ーωー。 )♪～。。hmm...sort of? (*´艸`)

....and here's a little unscientific (￣▽￣) poll:



If you'd like to win Hangry & Angry's "Sadistic Dance" RE CD....entering is easy~! Please vote in the poll and say here briefly (or not so briefly! (*´∀｀*) ) why either Hangry or Angry's Team *tickles* your fancy a bit more~ o(*´∀｀)o゛♥

Deadline for all entries is December 27th~ ＾　＾。

To listen to Hangry & Angry's "Sadistic Dance" album please click~ here ＾　＾！

~It's Hirano♥Aya's very first music video clip compilation!!! ＼(^o^)／☆ 10 original version videos total...but in addition this DVD also features 7 bonus clips including a remix version of "Love★Gun" & "MonStAR" as well as "making of" clips for "Love★Gun", "NEOPHILIA", "MonStAR", "Unnamed world" and "RIOT GIRL!!" for 75 minutes in total of Ayachan♥ awesomeness~ & extreme *cuteness~*!

Although the video clips linked here in an older post have since gone kaput~ (;´□｀) you can still listen♪ to mp3's and see her shashinshuu photos~♥ ＾　＾。

Hirano Aya's "Music Clip Collection Vol.1" can be ordered here at Cdjapan.

Hirano Aya's "Music Clip Collection Vol.1" can be ordered here at YesAsia.

~Released on September 9th of this year, every Ayachan♥ music video from her debut single~ "Bouken desho desho?" up to "Super Driver" are included and while numerous of these pvs were not previously commercially available (some were first press extras on her singles~) for me it was the very first time seeing quite a few of them~! っo(*´∀｀)o!

....so without further ado here are five most *adorable* & supercharged *genki~* video clips from a most amazing seiyuu~ who does it all~!! ＾　＾

~What I love so much about all of Ayachan's♥ pvs is that they're all deeply original with their designs and choreography~. Every visual is enlightening and it's even amusing to hear Ayachan♥ comment in her making of clips of just how tired she's become after such energetic shooting~!!...in some clips she's just bouncing every~which way! And I soooo *adore* the props and sets~ used as Ayachan♥ goes from speed~racer...to a refrigerator with canned mushroom soup in it?!!!…(^q^) with a band in her living room~, drawings come to *life~*! as well as a shopping♥bag so large that Ayachan♥ simply fits into it entirely~ (・o・)！

~Please enjoy o(*´∀｀)o゛♥ her videos~ as they're all so so *cute~*! Ne~ isn't this why we love♥ Japanese Pop so much?...no where else but Japan will you see such *adorable* images~ ＾　＾。

I can't even begin to emphasize how *cute~* she is in this pv~ omg!!!! ヽ(。´▽`。)ノ。。！

.....and here where it all began for me...the awesome theme for "Haruhi...", "Bouken desho desho?" Ayachan♥ looks so different here~!

...now that's one really large shopping♥bag~! o(*´∀｀)o゛

2 DVDs!!!!..22 performances!!!....156 minutes!!!! It's Mr.Children!!!! my most favorite♥ band in the world's recently released concert DVD "Tour 2009 Shumatsu no confidence songs"~!!!! To say that I was *gushing*** with excitement on its arrival may still be an understatement~ ヽ(。´▽`。)ノ。。！！as this is already my most favorite♥ concert release of the year~ ＼(^o^)／☆！！！I think they're the most *wonderful*..*amazing*..*catchy*..band in the world~♥......oh and there's also The Beatles~♥!…(^q^)!

For a bit of a memory lane~ look into Mr.Children, please click~ here ＾　＾。

Mr.Children's "Shumatsu no confidence songs" concert DVD can be ordered here at Cdjapan.

Mr.Children's "Shumatsu no confidence songs" concert DVD can be ordered here at YesAsia.

Mr.Children's "Shumatsu no confidence songs" concert DVD can be ordered here at HMV Japan.

Mr.Children has often presented us with some of the most unique album art designs っo(*´∀｀)o!。。and this DVD has a really really imaginative vision of a musical♪ island paradise...just take a look and find all of the ordinary and not so ordinary components which comprise the cover artwork~ which comes complete with guitar bridge, koi oasis, microphone tower, keyboard stairs, speaker buildings, mushroom slide, coffee mug/ disco ball tower, volcano, deer and the details go on and on......oh~ and if you look a bit closer "Mr.Children" is also spelled out ingeniously in all of the island commotion across the lower half of the island~!

It's so *cool~y* detailed and intricate that found myself gazing at it for quite awhile....until okay~! it's time to watch the concert already~! (人∀`*)

In addition to the most *awesome* cover artwork~ there's also a large fold out style poster which doubles as the concert's liner notes on its reverse side~ ＾　＾。

This concert was filmed at Japan's legendary Budoukan~!...and what really makes Mr.Children's♥ lives so so *special~* aside from their of course most awesome songs♪～ is how much they improvise and re~arrange so many of their songs o(*´∀｀)o゛！And with a full arsenal of most amazing and talented musicians they're able to re~create and often times re~invent Sakurai~san's musical♪♪～ masterpieces which can take twists and major turns from what you're used to hearing on their albums~..truly so many surprise improvisations and entirely new intros/interludes within their songs....always so refreshing~ always so breathtaking just being able to witness how much they put into all of their live appearances~!

Before heading into six favorite♥ performances which I've included below and speaking of amazing intros into songs, here's one of my most favorite♥ special intros which appears on Mr.Children's "Home Tour 2007-in the field-"...which I still like to call it their "turtle♥bunny" DVD~ o(*´∀｀)o゛♥

Just below ↓↓↓ Mr.Children's performance of their beautiful ballad "Shirushi" begins with an acoustic intro.....so amazingly~amazingly~!! *sweet~!!! (*´∀｀*)♥♥♥

~Just love how Sakurai'~san's acoustic solo blends seamlessly into the group's live performance as the video with Sakurai~san sitting under a tree heads straight into the heart of the song~♥ ………(゜∀゜)………。

I so needed to begin with "HANABI!!!" It's my favorite♥ song from Mr.Children's 2007 album release.."Supermarket Fantasy" (which is heavily supported here on this concert DVD~ (*´∀｀*) ) after some inner debate & struggle ( `_)乂(_' )。。。(・o・)！as at first I couldn't decide between "HANABI" or "Esora"..both such *awesome* songs~!!!! ~♥~!!!!


Here's just a tiny bit of those special intros which I earlier mentioned~...and here Sakurai~san sooooo genki♥ and *energetic~*!!!! The original pv~ for "Esora" is so so *cute* too~!...I'm sad that YouTube ate it...(;´□｀)


~Just imagine.......the *feeling* of having written a song♪..selling over 1.9 million copies..winning the prestigious song of the year award~!!..and having your song♪ then serenaded by an entire audience filling Nippon Budoukan~ ＾　＾。For Mr.Children that most beloved song♪ and fan favorite♥ is "innocent world" and it's now a long time running tradition for Sakurai~san to ask the audience to sing entire verses & chorus parts and as they've resonated throughout arenas across Japan~ so it's also heard here~.......gives me goosebumps~!!!! just listening (人∀`*)♥♥♥

~Simply, one of Mr.Children's *cutest* songs♪ (*´∀｀*)♥ The style here is very reminiscent of early Mr.Children releases~...especially the *tinkering* of what I think is a xylophone?...the bars you tap with a tiny mallet..＾　＾。


~*Warm* and mesmerizing~ melody♪......and listen for the sweet* lead in from the middle interlude back to the chorus~ (*´∀｀*)♥♥♥


~Extremely cool guitar riffs~!....and Tahara Kenichi~san's guitar *tone* here is ………(゜∀゜)………。♥！！The build~up to the chorus too....one of Mr.Children's best~ ＾　＾。

Not even gloomy~overcast weather could dampen Riichan's spirits~ for her already 4th shashinshuu release titled "Risou."

Riichan also remains as the youngest H!P member to have released a solo pb~ and here in her fourth effort her image is being touted as a bit more mature...through wardrobe as well as the overall styling employed throughout~ "Risou."

True to her nature~ an open playfulness appears in numerous shots....that being mixed with *sexy~* at times...and that house which opens the photo book is so so surreal~looking (・o・)！！It's so odd and tiny looking and I imagine it could be made out of gingerbread....somewhere in a parallel universe~ ＾　＾。

A~h! ever since reading CK♥'s take on those....omg! 'flying nun' photos which I've held back from seeing until now......I've been quite apprehensive of them~...and they are quite quite...(・c_・;)？puzzling??? as to why the wardrobe director chose those for Riichan to wear~! So, my one promise* here~ definitely no 'flying nun' photos in this entire post anywhere~ っo(*´∀｀)o!♥♥♥

And on that final note.....I've scanned 37 of my favorite♥ photos from "Risou", so many *kawaii* ones to choose from~ (*´∀｀*)！！。。followed by just a few screencaps~ from the accompanying 20 minute "making of" DVD...some of which has a bit of a haze happening in it~. Was it the weather??...or perhaps a *fuzzy* camera lens?? ＾　＾。。。。。

Sugaya Risako's shashinshuu can be ordered here at Amazon Japan.

Sugaya Risako's "Risou" shashinshuu can be ordered here at YesAsia.

B.L.T.....? bacon, lettuce &...no~! It's "Beautiful Lady & Television~"…(^q^) It's Japan's version of TV Guide only that this publication is solely focused on highlighting programs for you to watch which feature B.L♥~! っo(*´∀｀)o!

The latest issue which arrived in convenience stores~ on November 24th has a little feature on AKB and if you're really new to them as I am then this feature is really quite informative~ ＾　＾。 I'm seeing that it's actually the third part in their 3 part series which began two months ago~ so I'm just catching the tail end here but this feature~ being member/unit profiles it's still most wonderful to see~!

The scans may look really *fuzzy* right now~ but if you click on each one twice to display them on a clear white background screen and then a third time using the tiny magnifying glass which will then be your mouse pointer on screen.....they enlarge quite well and all of the text is then clear enough to read~♥ (*´∀｀*)。I just noticed that my hair was on the scanner...gomen nasai~ (*´艸`)！

~Near the center top of the first page above...there's a tiny legend for all of the information on each of the girls and translated it reads: 1= Birthdate  2= Shusshin ("hometown")  3= Shinchou ("height")  4= "Three sizes"....and really I'm not seeing these measurements for the girls here and it's rather a gravure♥ thing to have them displayed which would explain it, although from reading CK♥'s recent live report on SDN48 they surely do sound "gravure♥!!!!" (・o・) to me!!!!! I wonder how many girls do measure themselves this way??...."B, W, H"  (・c_・;)？A friend and I measured each other recently which resulted in me having a bit of body envy!!! (;´□｀)...however that's for an entirely different post~ (。ーωー。)♪！ 5= Seiza ("Constellation")  6= Ketsuekigata ("Blood type")...something which is really important for couples in Japan wanting to get married....even more so than anywhere else I think as favorable matches of blood types is highly regarded there~ ＾　＾。 7= Shozokujimusho ("the office in which they belong to...")  8= Fan letter no atesaki ("Fan letter address").

I love that even AKB's units are featured here~.....really helps the clueless ??? in me to understand more~ (*´∀｀*)。

Mano♥Santa immediately caught my eye~! too and it being the holiday♥season...one can never have too much holiday~attire on their blog~ o(*´∀｀)o゛～♥。。。。。。

....great big giant *fuzzy* phone~....want!!

I'm now really convinced that Tsunku's been giving all of his best compositions♪♪～ to S/mileage and Mano♥eri of late...

..just as with S/mileage's previous two indies releases~ "aMa no Jaku" and "Asu wa date nano ni imasugu koega kikitai", "Sukichan" embodies everything that addictive & *cute* J-Pop so much should~! Music♪♪ which lifts the spirit~＼(^o^)／♥ with melodies that entice the ears and hold prisoner your very~ sugary soul~ into addicted bliss~ ヾ(＾∇＾)♥♥♥

Previous *gushing*~ ヽ(。´▽`。)ノ。。！！on S/mileage's first two indies singles~ can be found here ＾　＾。

From *cute* and catchy~ instrumentation to The Beatles going Baroquee ♪ S/mileage is fast becoming one of H!P's best produced groups...and this all coming from four most talented Eggs~. S/mileage are: Wada Ayaka, Maeda Yuuka, Fukuda Kanon & Ogawa Saki~ ＾　＾。

  Always so impressive are the girl's ensemble vocals which have driven their chorus lines~ and with each member's voice holding distinctly unique qualities~ so much of their personalities are gradually being spread throughout the generous solo portions being offered up by their perfectly choreographed vocal lines~. While "Sukichan" is much more a straightforward J-Pop song and especially when compared side by side to their previous two releases~ it still comes fully equipped with those alluring pre~chorus & chorus hooks♥ which have made S/mileage such an irresistible group thus far~ o(*´∀｀)o゛。







Watching the "making of" footage really gives you a sense of how developed each member of S/mileage are as idols and that being despite this being their indies debut together~...and my greatest *wish* for this unit? Please Tsunku keep S/mileage a true~ J♥Pop group for as long as possible as there is oh so much out there already in terms of J-Hip Hop, J-Dance as well as J-R&B~ ＾　＾。 As it's their type of brand of *pure* J♥Pop in which I so enjoy~ listening to っo(*´∀｀)o! I *adore* their closeness to one another and you can see their bonds so well developed even at this early stage~.









I so love♥!! their outfits in their second single~ (*´∀｀*)....would this be a pinkish expression of frilly renaissance lolly? (^-^*)♥ I find that the side to side panning of the camera~ really accentuates the dance so much and this one reminds me so every fondly♥ of second gen. Tanpopo~ as Tsunku delivers J♥Beatles~ o(*´∀｀)o゛。

And finishing on a so so amusing note~…(^q^)! more than half of the "making of" footage for "Asu wa date nano ni imasugu koe ga kikitai" is occupied by members of S/mileage dishing *secrets* about one another with a highlight being the always so *adorable* Yuukachan hearing from afar such a *moment* and declaring those whispers all~ "lies"...hmm 'lies?' I wonder?? (。ーωー。)。。。

Hm..but more than anything I find myself *wishing* for one of these very oversized and oh~so fuzzy phones! ………(゜∀゜)………。♥♥♥

And I love how they can be an absolute "direct" line to your friends~ and no one else...

.....and so funny when one falls off the wall~ on accident....

..whether choreographed or not...

.....it's definitely a *keeper~*! ＼(^o^)／☆

~Today (December 3rd, 2009) is a most *special* day for MorningBerryz～(人∀`*)♥！！！ (~post will remain under "Mano♥Subway"....newer posts can be seen below ↓↓↓) A~h (._.;) okay I was having a bit of trouble with the title~...and how to say it here・゜・(ノД`)・゜・。

~Today I'm so very humbled o(*´∀｀)o゛to be thanked in Spencer Peet's idol/gravure idol article in the latest issue of "Neo" Magazine~!!! This began awhile back when I was first contacted by Mr. Spencer Peet in regards to his writing of an article which would present a most well covered and explanatory~ understanding of the idol/gravure idol genre and how it relates so much to Japan's culture and its inner workings~. Here Mr. Spencer Peet has produced a most *wonderful* article which sheds so much light on the genre in explaining it's place in society, the fan♥base and how it can potentially lead to other most *dreamed* of careers~ in the entertainment industry...he writes so articulately~ ＾　＾。

~At the end of the article I'm mentioned by Mr. Spencer Peet as a "* special thank you~*" o(*´∀｀)o゛....if possible please look for the latest issue of "Neo" magazine ＾　＾！It is a UK publication and some places in London mentioned by Paul Thomas @ Hello!Blog are also noted in this article. よろしくお願いします～！っo(*´∀｀)o!

~To be mentioned in a magazine....a~h me so undeserving I wonder?...and yet so humbled and *happy*~! *Thank you* so much Mr. Spencer Peet~! 今日は～。。。本とに本とに嬉しいです！！！(*´艸`)♥♥♥

The original files sent to me were so very large...and yet they shrink down so much when placed here~ (・д・`*)！。。。

To be able to see article very clearly please *click~* twice on each one to isolate the image of the article onto a clear white screen background....and your mouse pointer~ on your screen should then show a tiny magnifying glass which you can then use to enlarge in order to be able to read Spencer Peet's article with just one more *click~*! o(*´∀｀)o゛♥♥♥