Shuukan Yoro! Vol 11

Polls: The winner was Tanaka Reina with 194 votes so congratulations to her! Kumai Yurina came in second with 107 votes and Tokunaga Chinami came in third with 91 votes.

Next week I will probably just start mixing all of the members of H!P together for the polls, and I will probably include Momusu, Berryz, C-ute, Mano Erina, S/mileage, and maybe Ice Creamusume and Hello! Pro Egg’s too if I can find more pictures of them.

Continuing the Morning Musume VS Berryz Koubou series we have this week:

Michishige Sayumi VS Lin Lin VS Tsugunaga Momoko

Please vote!

Reviews: The Hello! Store USA first purchase review is up! It came out longer than expected so if anyone likes to read thorough reviews then you will probably like it.

I took a break after writing the H!SU review since I forgot I had to write something for a class that week, so I will start to work on the other reviews that are left to do as soon as possible.

In order to finish the Kimagure Princess review fast I will start writing the review with the rips over at H!O, so all that will be left to do is take the picture and write the review on that.

I will update with more as it is done on the review page.

Shuukan Yoro: It’s the 1st day in Sugaya Risako’s week about the fantasy world.

The episode for today features Sugaya Risako teaching us about witches. Most of the episode is full of Risako’s cute mistakes like forgetting what she was saying, hitting her microphone, and making up answers to the questions the other students have.

I really recommend this episode since it is among the cutest episodes I have seen in Yorosen, mostly because of Risako’s nervousness presenting the class.

Happy Halloween!

Tsuji Nozomi – “NonPiece” Book Cover Released

The cover for Tsuji Nozomi’s upcoming book titled NonPiece has been released. The book’s table of content’s has also been detailed:

Prologue
Chapter01 Cooking【料理】きょうのごはん・杉浦家の愛情レシピ・キャラ弁にチャレンジ・おつまみ他
Chapter02 Family【家族】きょうの希空たん・夫婦円満の秘訣他
Chapter03 Fashion【おしゃれ】きょうのファッション・小物紹介・ヘア＆メイク他
Chapter04 Works【仕事】
Chapter05 Houseworks【家事】洗濯・節約他
Chapter06 Blog【ブログ】
Chapter07 Drill【家事検定テスト】
Epilogue

I really like the cover since it does a good job of showing us the mature (still big bow-wearing) Tsuji we all know, and a clear view of her wedding ring which is a great way to show her happy marriage on the cover. The cover also has a picture of (most of) Noa, her daughter, and even though she doesn’t show her face it is great to see that she was included with her mom.

For the most part the book looks great, there are clear references to her fashion career and her family, and their is even a chapter about her blog which sounds interesting.

The book looks like a great read, so I strongly encourage those who can read Japanese to buy a copy when it is released in November (according to the site).

Rakuten Page With Tsuji Nozomi’s “NonPiece” Book

S/mileage’s 3rd Indie Single Announced

S/mileage’s 3rd indie single, title currently unknown, has been announced. Although it hasn’t been announced formally a video of S/mileage recording the single has been released.

The preview gives us a good idea of the single, and so far it sounds amazing. The sound is upbeat and it has a slight Buono sound to it because of the guitars, and in the preview we get to hear a line from each of the members, which all sound incredible.

I have to admit that I didn’t like their last single “Asu wa Deeto na no ni Ima Sugu Koe ga Kikitai” that much, but I will definitely be looking forward to this single and the PV, which will hopefully be as great as the song.

The release date is currently unknown.

C-ute – Cutie Circuit 2009 ~C-ute no Hi~ DVD Cover Released

The cover for C-ute’s Cutie Circuit 2009 ~C-ute Day~ DVD has been released on the official H!P site. This is the second to last appearance of Umeda Erika as a member of C-ute in a concert.

The cover looks incredible, I’m glad to see that UFA finally stopped making the covers with the pictures in boxes on top of bright colors and instead tried to make a great cover with decent effects. The members are placed in a lineup formation with Suzuki (not surprisingly) in the middle with the members lined up to her side.

The effects on the cover are great since they get the attention of those who are looking at it, and even though most of the members (who aren’t Yajima, Suzuki or Maimai) are somehow less noticeable it is great to see that they are still in the front.

The release date is set for 11/25.

Official H!P Site Page For C-ute’s Cutie Circuit 2009 ~C-ute Day~

Inaba Atsuko’s Contract With UFA Has Ended

Thank you for always giving Inaba Atsuko your support.

From October 30, Inaba Atsuko’s contract with Up Front Agency has expired.

Since her debut in April 1999 in “Taiyo & Ciscomoon (later T&C Bomber)”, she has been busy working as a talent with our company, taking part in Hello Project activities, concerts, stage plays, and more, but now, after she consulted with management about her future direction, it has been decided to discontinue her contract for now.

We hope that all her fans can understand this decision that came from her.

[From Inaba Atsuko to the fans]

Thank you so much for all of your support.

I now have some information to give you all.

I’ve been active in show business for 16 years now, and I’ve now decided I want to change my viewpoint and see the world from a different angle.

So making use of all the experiences I’ve built up in the past, from November I’ll be moving on with the support of the company.

I want to work hard to make this new start, learn a lot, experience new think, and grow further.

So I hope you’ll all watch over me kindly from now on.

I know we’ll meet again, and I look forward to that time.

Inaba Atsuko
October 30

Source: Official H!P Announcement
Translation: SparklingMelrosePool and Kuno @ H!O

It was announced today, 10/30, that Inaba Atsuko’s contract with UFA has ended. According to the official announcement she want’s to see the world from another angle.

She was the last remaining member of Taiyou & Ciscomoon, so officially the entire group has graduated from UFA. It is sad to see a member of UFA leave, especially a founding member of H!P, but Inaba Atsuko rarely got to do any work apart from Taiyou & Ciscomoon so I’m glad to see that she is trying to do something else apart from MC’ing a concert.

Hopefully we get to hear some new from her someday in the future, but for now I guess she want’s a normal life or try another path in her career.

The best of luck Inaba Atsuko!

Official H!P Announcement About Inaba’s Contract

Buono – “Bravo Bravo” Tracklist Released

1. Bravo☆Bravo
2. Winter Story
3. Bravo☆Bravo(Instrumental)
4. Winter Story(Instrumental)

Source: Official Buono Site

The tracklist for Buono’s 9th single titled Bravo☆Bravo has been released on the discography page on their official site. The single will include 4 tracks – the A and B-side and the instrumentals to both songs.

“Winter Story” seems kind of fitting for the time of the release date, so hopefully they can make the song sound a bit like a Christmas song they can perform on their tour. They seem to be hurrying to release information since normally we would get a tracklist some time later, so hopefully the PV will be released soon.

The release date for the single is set for 12/16.

H!P Releases October 28

• C-ute – Alo Hello! (DVD)   CDJapan HMV
• C-ute – Alo-Hello! (PB+DVD)  YesAsia CDJapan HMV
• Hello! Project – Yorosen Vol 3 (DVD)   CDJapan YesAsia HMV
• Hello! Project – Yorosen Vol 4 (DVD)   CDJapan YesAsia HMV
• Morning Musume – Kimagure Princess (Single)   CDJapan HMV YesAsia
• Morning Musume – Kimagure Princess (Single+DVD) (Limited A)   CDJapan HMV YesAsia
• Morning Musume – Kimagure Princess (Single+DVD) (Limited B)   CDJapan HMV YesAsia
• Morning Musume – Kimagure Princess (Single) (Limited C)   CDJapan HMV YesAsia

8 releases today, C-ute’s Alo Hello DVD and PB, two Yorosen DVD’s, and 4 versions of Morning Musume’s 41st single:

C-ute – Alo-Hello!: C-ute’s first Alo-Hello and the first DVD to not include Erika since her graduation. It was kind of surprising to see that the youngest H!P Kids group would be the one to appear in a bikini on both the cover and the DVD, since Berryz Koubou also had an Alo-Hello but spent most of the time in shorts and shirts.

The DVD cover kind of echoes the Berryz Koubou cover since it features them in casual summer clothes smiling at the camera, and the logo is big and easily noticeable so fans of the group will have no trouble looking for the DVD. The PB cover is straight and simple – C-ute in a 5-nin formation in bikini while smiling at the camera, and for the most part this looks great.

A subbing group is probably hard at work on subbing this DVD so hopefully that will be up soon. Meanwhile I will base my idea of the DVD on the preview which was released some days ago, and since it is just an overview I will probably change my mind when I see the video for myself. For the most part it was really interesting to see C-ute acting naturally while playing in the water and having competitions, the only small problem I could have is that there is no sign of a theme.

Like most Alo-Hello’s there is a section where the members will have to buy gifts for the viewers and using their somewhat low English skills they manage to do so, and in my opinion this is probably one of the best parts of the DVD, among others.

The PB that will also be sold today features pictures from the trip with all of the members in bikini’s, so if you are a fan of Chisato or Nakky and you wanted them to have a PB, then this might be the closest it can get for now:

For the most part I was impressed at how the PB came out, and even though I’m not a big fan of Nakky or Chisa (I like them, but not as much as other members) I have to agree with the many requests for a PB for them.

Overall I would recommend it greatly for fans of C-ute since it is their first Alo-Hello after all, and from what I have seen they have done a great job.

Yorosen! Vol 3 &4: Hello! Project’s program which features one member from Morning Musume, Berryz Koubou, or C-ute teaching the others about a particular subject for a week (5 5-min episodes).

From what I have seen there are three lessons on each DVD plus a special movie, so you are getting your money’s worth when you buy the DVD.

I would probably recommend it to fans who haven’t seen the series, since it features the episodes in the best way possible, no commercial and no cuts to find the following lesson for a particular member.

Morning Musume – Kimagure Princess: Morning Musume’s 41st single, debuted on the Oricon in 3rd place. Tsunku decided to try a slightly more upbeat sound but still keep the new grown up image of Morning Musume in the song, and Kimagure Princess was the result.

The song is similar to Kusumi’s Balalaika, but it features more grown up lyrics, and for the most part it was a great change from their current grown up ballad sound, which might explain the somewhat low sales for the first day sales (coupled with the fact that there wasn’t that much promotion since there was a concert tour). The PV was amazing since it featured enough solo time for all of the members and a great location which suited the song well.

The B-side is also an upbeat ballad, but this time instead of “Balalaika” instruments it has techno sounds, which make for a unique song. I will review it more in depth in a review I’m doing, but for now I have to admit I really liked the single.

Overall I would recommend it to fans of Morning Musume fans, mostly because it is Koha’s last single and because it is an amazing song with an amazing PV. Hopefully the single sells constantly well during the following weeks with the promotion the girls have ahead of them (Music Fighter, Music Japan, etc).

Next release date is 11/4 with the DVD for Hello! Project’s “~Hello! Chanpuru~ ” concert tour, Mano Erina’s drama series in DVD and the Single V for Morning Musume’s “Kimagure Princess”.

Buono – “Bravo Bravo” Release Date Announced

The release date for Buono’s 9th single titled Bravo Bravo has been revealed to be 12/16.

I’m glad to see that we are finally getting some information about the single, since we didn’t have any other info apart from the PV preview and the title. I have no idea why they revealed it until now, but it might have to do with the girls getting sick or the Buono tour in December, but either way it is great to have a confirmation that the single is going to be released.

The release date for the single is set for 12/16, and the release date for the Single V is 12/22.

Normal Edition “Bravo Bravo” on Neowing

Limited Edition “Bravo Bravo” on Neowing

Single V for “Bravo Bravo” on Neowing

2009 Hello! Project Shinjin Kouen November ~Yokohama FIRE!~ Setlist Released

1. Guru Guru JUMP – All except S/mileage
2. Asu wa Deeto na no ni, Ima Sugu Koe ga Kikitai – All
MC1
3. Chu! Natsu PARTY – Takeuchi Akari, Miyamoto Karin, Kaneko Rie
4. Seishun Custard – Furukawa Konatsu, Kitahara Sayaka
5. Semi – Saho Akari
6. Yaruki! IT’S EASY – Sengoku Minami, Kikkawa Yuu, Furukawa Konatsu, Sainen Mia, Mori Saki
MC2
7. Watashi no Tamago – Saho Akari, Maeda Irori, Fukumura Mizuki (Shugo Chara Egg!)
8. Soku Dakishimete – Kikkawa Yuu, Mori Saki, Kitahara Sayaka, Takeuchi Akari
9. LOVE & PEACE! Hero ga Yattekita – Sengoku Minami, Kikkawa Yuu, Furukawa Konatsu, Sainen Mia, Mori Saki, Kitahara Sayaka, Komine Momoka, Saho Akari, Okai Asuna, Sekine Azusa, Fukumura Mizuki, Maeda Irori, Kaneko Rie, Arai Manami, Takeuchi Akari, Miyamoto Karin, Satou Ayano, Hirano Tomomi, Katsuta Rina
MC3
10. Suki-chan – S/mileage
MC4
11. aMa no Jaku – S/mileage
12. Zettai Tokeru Mondai X = <3 – Mori Saki, Takeuchi Akari
13. JUMP! – Sengoku Minami, Furukawa Konatsu, Sainen Mia, Kitahara Sayaka, Saho Akari, Miyamoto Karin, Katsuta Rina
MC5
14. Performance (Dance)
MC6
15. Aozora ga Itsumademo Tsuzuku You na Mirai de Are! – All

Source: Official ~Yokohama FIRE~ Site

The official setlist has been revealed for the 2009 Hello! Project Shinjin Kouen November ~Yokohama FIRE!~ concerts.

The singers will most likely be periodically revealed like last time with their previous concert Yokohama HOP, and the full singer list will probably be updated in full some weeks before the concert.

There are also 3 songs which haven’t revealed yet, and most likely they will be revealed in a similar way as the performers of the songs.

The setlist looks great and well rounded, especially with two S/mileage songs and two new Morning Musume songs from their recent album Platinum 9 DISC.

For the most part I like the set list, Guru Guru JUMP is a great concert opening song since it’s really upbeat and the two S/mileage songs are a great way to prepare the girls for future concert performances as a group.

I will update the list periodically with the artist list as they are revealed.

Official Hello! Project Shinjin Kouen 2009 Yokohama FIRE Website

Ishikawa Rika 10th Solo PB And Solo DVD Announced

A new solo DVD and PB have been announced for Ishikawa Rika on the Shinseido Shopping Site. The title for both the PB and the solo DVD haven’t been released.

This will be her 10th solo PB, a tie with Takahashi Ai who also has 10 solo PB’s. I’m excited to see what kind of PB they will release, since she has been really active with HANGRY & ANGRY lately, so hopefully they include some great photos.

The release date for her solo DVD is set for 1/6/2010, and the release date for her PB hasn’t been specified but it will be around late December.

Shinseido Shopping Site For Ishikawa Rika’s Solo DVD