My Love/Hate Affair with Technology [plus poll winners and Idol thoughts]

TechnoMANIA and Me

Yep that's me. Sayaka 2012 poster calendar in the background yooeeh

Ever since I started with Tumblr and got back into using social media eg; Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, my creativity has taken such a dive. I feel like if I was living in a time before computers my brain would be as active as Noel Fielding on crack, but being so easily distracted by so many different programs at once turns my mind into a big lump of moosh.

I love talking about idols and Japan, and even just rambling on about fitness, food and other things but I have to try and stay focused. In the new year I'd like to make this blog more personal, there will still be plenty of idol talk but it will also be about me and my thoughts. If I don't put them out there and force myself to write I will turn into another social media zombie just like everyone else, and that'd be damn sad.

Smartphones do not help either. I thought to myself 'I won't get addicted' - but of course I did and now I am just 1/100 people checking their phones on the train instead of reading a book or writing in a diary. This I dislike and would like to start some sort of weaning program in the new year. I love my phone and it is extremely handy but I do not want it to become like a third hand to me or something.

Before I started a writing course I thought writing might be something I want to do in the future, it still is but I need to have free rein over my work and not be bound by assignments forcing me to come up with a topic. This is why what I am actually doing is such a good idea, Commerce and Japanese, one of my friends keeps coming up with commerce as a generic degree but I think he means communications. Either way he doesn't realise that getting tertiary education is so important to me.

At this rate, I will now have two degrees before I turn 30 and then I can maybe start on a Masters or MBA depending on what I want to do. I feel, in my situation, the more education I can get, the better.

Here's to the New Year!

Back to Idols!

The winner of the last release round poll was Gingham Check with 5 votes, second was Kiss Datte Hidarikiki with 4 votes, and Virginity and Hashire! Bicycle both with four. Please vote on the new release round!

Graduations have been happening so much lately and now two beloved members of AKB48, second generation's Yuka Masuda and Tomomi Kasai, are leaving. Yuka got caught up in an apparent 'scandal' but it seemed like maybe she was looking for an exit anyway. I have no idea if DiVA will continue but I hope they do in some way as I really love them as a vocal group.

Tomo~omi announced her graduation at the AKB48 Kouhaku song battle, luckily with hers we are getting a solo single and a photobook, so I think perhaps she has thought about this for a long time. I'm still extremely sad that both of them are leaving, the second generation is looking very sparse these days.

Morning Musume's new single covers have been released and they are atrocious. I could do better photo editing myself and I only have gimp. *cue laughter* hey!

Type B Limited, the only decent one, albeit its simplicity. :/

check them all out here

The only good thing I seem to notice about these covers is that everyone gets a go at being in front, which is nice. Maybe now Reina is leaving they will have the chance to distribute lines better, although lets face it, Hello! Project have never been great at that! This is also the first single where Sakura Oda gets a look in, so hopefully she lifts MM to a new level. The members likeability rate is at a high so I'd love to see them actually getting good songs/designs/costumes once in a while.

The idol boom seems like it may have hit it's peak, now with all the former Team 4/KKS members being pushed in AKB48, 2013 might be a big year for graduations, so prepare yourself if you're a fan of any members who have been there a while. Tokyo Girls Style and FLOWER/E-girls are still going strong though so maybe it's time to switch focus to the newer, fresher and more musically-focused groups. Or just ride the wave like we always do and enjoy it! Idols are more addictive and pumping out more music than ever and there's loads to choose from with a personality for every fan. Let's support our favourite idols in 2013 too!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from Ichigogo!

[PS: There will be more giveaways in 2013 :D]

February Release Month!

February Love!



After being rocked by scandal earlier this year, I hope that the ...48 groups and H!P and all the other idols have a very stable 2012!
This month is a CRAZY month for releases, we had a taste at the end of January with a lot of new stuff like Kumi's 10th album, Momusu's 48th single and SKE48's fantastic 8th single. February seems a huge release month, perhaps because everyone is recovering from Christmas and finally has money again? Unless you're a student in the southern hemisphere, then you are about to become very broke as it's the start of the new school year!

This month we have:


Give Me Five - AKB48


The song where the senbatsu (chosen unfortunately, not voted for, so be prepared for a big lack of Sayaka, Yuka, etc) have all learned to play instruments. A few days ago it was revealed that this had maybe been plagiarized from a classical piece, and was being investigated. They do sound similar and I really hope that nothing bad happens and it's not pushed back, as the pre-order versions have already sold out on all the major websites.

The song is really catchy but I wouldn't say it's the best Sakura single I have heard (Five is the amount of petals a Sakura blossom has, so that's where the title comes from) - I was hoping for something like Sakura no Shiori or Sakura Ki ni Narou, but perhaps that's why it's not like either of these. Aki-P loves a surprise, and this was certainly a good one! They have all worked really hard to make the instrumental sound surprisingly good for only a few months practice. I'm sure it will sell really well and they will get yet another record broken!

Next up:


Mujin Eki - Misaki Iwasa


What a beautiful release this is. I knew hardly anything about Misaki Iwasa (or Wasamin) before this release. I knew she was a stunner after seeing her in Watarirouka Hashiritai 7, but I never realized she was this talented, and she's only 17 too. I wasn't originally going to order this (how many times I've said that I don't even know...) but it's just too awesome not to have as a physical copy. Such a clear voice and a beautiful song. Enka suits her so much and I hope this won't be just a one off, and she will have many more solo outings. Unfortunately most of the PV's available are either previews or mini-versions, but I am sure once all of them are released it will be slightly easier to find full versions on youtube or youku.

Next is:


Junjou U-19 - NMB48


This is a GREAT release, with the couplings being just as good as the A-side. Also, Sayaka's solo song, which we are all hotly anticipating, as she is a gem of a find in the idol world. This song is 'Innocence U-19' - with the juxtaposition that they are all acting positively badass in the video clip. 'They aren't innocent at all!' you may cry, yes that's right, they will kick your ass, and it will hurt. This is the single where NMB are going to come into their own. Hopefully we will see them separated from the other ...48 groups and doing some promotion of their own, standing on their own two feet. I've bought this, and I'm looking forward to seeing the sparkliness of this release on the big screen!


Next:

Synchro Tokimeki - Mayu Watanabe


Full PV! Watch it quick before it gets taken down. If it already has, I'm sorry. ;_;
This is a super cute PV and an adorable song, yet her voice is super nasal here and I don't really think she suits solo releases, she definitely works better in a group. That said, she's a great actress and the 4 persona's she portrays in this video clip are all awesome. This is the theme song to her drama, and if it goes well, perhaps they will give her differently themed songs as well? I'd love to see her tackle a slower song, as her voice seems to strain when it goes too fast.


Next:

Chotto Mate Kudasai! - S/mileage


The only H!P act still worth listening to in my opinion have released yet another adorable song. First one without Yuuka Maeda but it seems they can still hold their own quite strongly. This has quite an old school sound to it that really works. Their voices collectively have come down an octave, so I can finally appreciate their songs. I wish they'd spent like, 50 more dollars on better outfits that look less like smocks though. :/ S/mileage cannot afford any more graduations, so I hope 2012 is a more stable year for them.


Next:


Guru Guru Curtain - Nogizaka46


Thanks Charlotte!

The 'rivals' to AKB48 have their first single coming out on the 22nd. It is adorable, it sounds like Onyanko Club, the costumes are hideous, it will probably reach Number 1. But let's get something straight, you are not AKB's rivals yet. Work for 6 years to get famous, with blood, sweat and tears and a load of graduations and then come back to me. Considering they have performed at AKB's concerts, I cannot consider them rivals just yet. The video above has a few CM's but you can very clearly hear the song in the background. I think good stable PV previews should be out in a few days.

Last Minute Addition!


Sakura Regret - Flower


Flower's second single's preview has come out, and the preorder links have finally come up on YesAsia. Their first single limited edition is already sold out so buying this is an investment if you love FLOWER. I think they are the most entertaining out of all the E-Girls. This song sounds great from the mini-preview above. It comes out on February 29th!



Very looking forward to all of these! Which are you looking forward to? Either these or anyone else who is releasing in February! There are a lot of them!



THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR 10,000 VIEWS! I LOVE YOU ALL!