In wota fashion, I was wearing orange shorts and had an assortment of orange glow sticks to support my dear Chinami. Not much, but gotta represent.

In the concert hall itself, at 3:00 my seat was all the way in the back. I thought this was going to be a problem, but even from there the view was great. With that said, at the 6:30 show, my seat was much closer and so I enjoyed it all the more. You’d be pretty hard pressed to get me excited about almost anything, but sit me down in front of a group of young laughing, dancing, singing Japanese girls and well, on my own, I’ll go crazy. And as wrong as that may sound, it is what it is, lol.

An interestingly mixed selection of H!P songs started the concert before the girls hit the stage. With the lights being put through their paces, the mix got you pumped for what was to come.

The opening song was my favorite from Morning Musume’s Platinum 9 DISC, Guru Guru JUMP, performed by the whole gang. When all of H!P is saying JUMP, how can one resist; much jumping did ensue. And with that done, sans S/milage, next up was Berryz Koubou’s Piriri to Yukou!. An oldie, but a goodie, and fun to dance to.

S/mileage was first after the Intro/MC with aMa no Jaku followed by Omakase Guardian by Guardians 4. These ones were a little bit harder to dance to, but still fun.

Minimoni Jankenpyon! Fun song and fun to dance to. I’ve not listened to a lot of minimoni but with this revamp, I’m really liking it. Jankenpyon is one I’ve heard before, but not really payed much attention to. Props to LinLin, and their outfits were pretty cool too.

On the first performance of Mano’s Sekai Wa Summer Party, I think Erina, messed up a little bit, but was alright on the second go round. There are a few points in the instrumental to this song that sounded a bit off, or maybe too strong. Anyway, with S/mileage dancing in the background, this was another that I could get into.

C-ute’s Shochuu Omimai Moshiagemasu, I wasn’t too much a fan of the song, nor the PV… but the live performance was great.

Seishun Bus Guide has a pretty cool dance, and so I feel pretty cool dancing along to Berryz Kobo’s latest single.

Nanchatte Renai and Shouganai Yume Oibito by Morning Musume; good stuff. With MM on the stage, I think I watched Koharu the most, she’s just fun and… I don’t know. One thing I did catch myself doing whenever Reina was on the big screen was checking out her eyes, they’re so captivating, or maybe amusing is a better word, haha. I don’t know, I like how they’re offset and crosseyed or whatever. Ehh…, LOL. I’m going to have to redo my MM rankings.

Aa! and Pucchimoni V’s new songs were great. In Aa!’s case, I’m definitely liking the sound after being disappointed by the on the Champloo album. In Pucchimoni V, Erina, I don’t know… I think she messes up again.

Moving on to Reina’s solo, she did a excellent job. She was followed Tanpopo#. Yurina seemed like she kinda didn’t fit with the sound of this group, dunno. My Boy was awesome, as is to be expected of Buono!. And then we get some more jumping with C-ute’s JUMP preformed by all.

Ai’s solo… I like the song, but… yawn? I would have liked to see LinLin do her thing, but whatever. Maybe the placement after JUMP and a MC made it seem dull. Again, I like the song and she has a great voice, it just didn’t fit.

v-u-den… Risako, Sayumi and JunJun carry out mic stands as they come onto the stage. There’s just something about their stage presence in this song that is so, bad… in a good way. Risako in her opening solo is really owning the mic and is very into it. Then when the additional instrumental comes in, you cannot help but be pumped. Later on you have JunJun on the ground doing some wicked air guitar, rushing back to the other side of the stage and jamming some more. This was my favorite song on the Champloo album and seeing it live is so much better. The first performance of the song, I could really tell that the crowd loved it, they were really into it.

ZYX-α and High-King do their thing, and then High-King comes on with Cinderella\Complex. That was a bit unexpected, but very much welcome. The dance is one you can really get into.

In the MC here, I just want to point out that Koharu is really fun to watch. Even if I have no idea what she’s saying, she is really playful in a very amusing way.

Special Generation plays and the crowd is really into it. Another Berryz oldie but a goodie. At the end here, Maimi steps out between the Berryz, decked out in white, saying her opening lines from Tokaikko Junjou. The contrast looks cool and is a great transition.

Resonant Blue finishes up the group songs and this one was again, really fun to dance to.

Ending things is Sono Bamen de Bibiccha Ikenai jan!, Koko ni Iruzee and after a quick MC, Aozora ga Itsumademo Tsuzuku Youna Mirai de Are! Tho I wasn’t familiar with the last song, it was a good end to an awesome concert.

So yeah, I definitely enjoyed doing the whole wota thing. Chants, claps, jumping, dancing, singing, the whole nine yards. Will really have to look into making this happen more often.

H!P Poll 2009

My ten are packed with the Kids of course, with Berryz and °C-ute filling the top spots. I’ve got my thoughts on them detailed in my rankings posts if you’re interested.

Ne~e? Matsuura Aya has always been a favorite of mine. She was one of, if not the first H!P act that I had heard or seen. I’ve always enjoyed some of her earlier works, and while I believe that some of her more recent stuff isn’t as good, I love it all the same. Also, can’t forget GAM. The combo of Aya and Fujimoto Miki really worked.

Abe Natsumi, was introduced to me when she did the duet with Maimi early last year. Through a bit of searching I found Koi no Telephone Goal and a few others that I’ve enjoyed. Seeing her in some of the older Morning Musume songs and shows, she’s not only cute, but fun. With SALT5, DEF.DIVA and Nochiura Natsumi she’s also done some enjoyable work. She’s also one of the few in H!P who are around my age, haha.

Yoshizawa Hitomi was a hit during her English lessons. Really played up the tom boy role with the Musumes and has always been cool with Gatas and Hangry & Angry. Her personality has always stood out to me, and that earns her a spot in my tops.

Mmm Berryz. Please excuse any ramblings, incoherentness or the like, but man, I love me some Berryz if you couldn’t tell. My reintroduction to Hello! Project was at the hands of Berryz Koubou. Gag 100kaibun Aishite Kudasai specifically had me hooked with the cute upbeat sound. Then the dance shot version of the song, something I had never really seen before. As I was watching, I was overloaded with cute.

Berryz Koubou

My continued exploration into this group of 7 unearthed a wide variety of songs, all with equal parts cute and addictiveness. There’s something about the extremely adorable that just sits right with me. Eventually this lead me into my exploration of all of Hello! Project, of which I am a fairly big fan today.

A recent conversation came up while I was out one night in which the subject of Japanese music was stirred. It was then when I came to realize, well after being explicitly told, that Japanese music has literally changed my life. Around the time I started into Japanese music, I also started looking more and more into Japanese culture in general. It was something that I wanted to experience first hand but some of those experiences required, or rather, would be more easily attainable if I went through the education route. I somewhat chronicle that on my other blog. So I’m in school now, aiming for a Bachelors Degree in International Studies. More recently, I’ve left my job of five years, so that I can more easily focus on this.

Anyway, music was the catalyst. I’ve not really been into the music scene at all before I discovered Japanese music. Japanese music, culture, society, &c is one of the few things I’m really passionate about. Berryz is a big part of that.

Favorite Songs

Darling I LOVE YOU (Berryz Koubou ver.)
Kono Yubi Tomare!
CLAP!

Other Favorites (Singles)

21ji Made no Cinderella
Dakishimete Dakishimete
Dschinghis Khan
Gag 100kaibun Aishite Kudasai
MADAYADE
Yuke Yuke Monkey Dance

Honorable Mentions

Warera! Berryz Kamen
Special Generation (Eccentric Remix)

The Girls

Chinami

1. Chinami

Are there words to describe it? I’m not too sure, but I’ll give it my best shot. When she smiles I smile, a big grin flashes across my face. In general, when other people are happy, it makes me happy. Chii tho, has something special. There’s an extra bit of excitement that overcomes me whenever she is on screen.

When Chii speaks it strikes me with an overwhelming sense of cuteness. Her voice, the pitch, is high but not enough to be annoying. When she sings, the cuteness also radiates through, enticing what little bit of emotion that I do have, where as I’m otherwise in a fairly emotionless state. She’s not the best singer, but when she’s letting it out, it almost melts me.

On stage, Chii always seems to be genki and full of energy. Her moves are sharp and fun, always a great deal of fun to watch. Not the best dancer, but you can tell she puts the effort into making the group look good. She doesn’t get many lines in the songs, I guess she has to put that effort somewhere.

All of that, and I know it’s just a facade. The whole idol thing is really. But the prepped package is part of being a Wota, and that’s why I enjoy it so much.

She’s got the cute tomboy look with the short hair, and looks just as dazzling with it long. And… I guess I can’t go without saying something about her legs (-_-)’. Hmm, I just said all I’m going to say about that I think, lol. Chii is at the maximum of cute, what more needs to be said?

I realize I’m fanboing to a certain degree. But the adorableness that is Chii, it has inundated and captured me. Let me stop as this truly and surely could be, a most embarrassing idolization for the entire world to see.

Maasa

2. Maasa

Number two in the trio of Berryz underdogs. Massive Maasa ain’t so massive anymore, but she’s still the same Maasa down inside. Maasa has jumped up one spot in my rankings, and that’s partially due to her performance as Berryz Kamen Leader. Red for the win. She displays a lot pf personality so she’s cool to watch. She’s got a nice deepish singing voice as well. When she talks, she’s got an adorable lisp going on, tho it’s not as noticeable as perhaps it was early in the Berryz days. Also when talking, her mouth… it fascinates me. I’m not sure how to describe it exactly, but it’s very cute. It’s just one of things that makes her stand out.

Captain

3. Captain

Saki time, break it down. Do, do do, do doo. That was me doing a little jig if you couldn’t tell. Captain is so much fun with her energetic dance moves. It’s that and her position in High-King that really got me to notice her. Her forced looking smiles early on were a bit of a put off, but she has seemed to become more comfortable and natural now. She’s still a bit reserved but she makes up for that on the dance floor.

Momoko

4. Momoko

Momo is like, the perfect idol. A perfectness that creates a sense that you probably either love her or hate her for it. Her squeaky voice can be fun and entertaining, but she can also reel it in and produce something simply delightful. Her trademark pinkies up, and skipping around playfully, it’s amusing, just as an idol should be. As she furiously blinks her eyes when she’s mad or irritated, you really get to feel her emotion, without feeling threatened. It’s the little traits like these that make Momo so appealing.

Miyabi

5. Miyabi

Personally, I think she has the best voice among all of the Kids. I might even say that I enjoy her voice the most out of all of Hello! Project. Whenever she’s singing, her voice usually stands out, and I think it’s great. In addition to being a great singer, she can also dance. Miya is fairly well rounded and talented idol, but in a sea of Berryz, it takes a bit more than that to stand out for me.

Kumai

6. Kumai

Since my last Berryz ranking, Yurina has dropped quite considerably from where she was at first. From two, she is now in the sixth spot for the same reasons why Captain was here before, she’s gotten a bit boring. She’s tall… and that’s about it. Well, she does have one of the better voices in the group, but that doesn’t make up for it, to pass all of the other interesting personalities she’s competing with. It might have been her paring with Chinami that first got me to notice her, they’ve been put together quite a few times and I’ve found her often enjoyable when doing so. She’s just lost her spark. I will say tho, she does look good in the Dakishimete PV.

Risako

9. Risako

There aren’t any Wonderful Hearts that I activly dislike, but Risako is someone I don’t not like. Wait, did that make any sense… I’m sorry Rii, I know you mean well. (T_T). Of the Berryz, she is the one with the “I know you think I’m something and I know I’m something” thing. I’m just having a hard time figuring out what that something is. She is cute and she does have an alright voice sometimes, but there’s something to her that bugs me. Maybe it’s her little pouty faces and failed attempts at seriousness and cool that comes across in PVs and concerts. There also seems to be a lack of effort in about everything I see her do. Buhhhh, I know they’re pushing her hard and she’s under a lot of stress and pressure, and she is the youngest of the Berryz, but in the end she still manages to annoy me for whatever reason. I just feel bad for not not disliking her. Maybe it’s my love for Berryz as a whole that makes it so hard. And I mean, just look at that picture, what is that face… what is that something she’s trying to convey.

Buono!

Group together the best voices of the Kids along with some interesting personalities and you get the awesomeness that is Buono! And don’t forget the rockish aura. Buono!’s unique rock style on both the instrumental and somewhat in their clothing style is just great. It really adds an interesting dimension to the group while also giving them a grand stage presense.

Tied to the Shugo Chara anime, I’m wondering what their future holds. They’ve recently been pushed back a bit by Shugo Chara Egg!. Even so, that hasn’t affected their music, so I hope to see them stick around.

Favorite Songs

Rottara Rottara

Other Favorites (Singles)

co・no・mi・chi
Renai♥Rider

Honorable Mentions

Kiss!Kiss!Kiss!
Minna Daisuki
I NEED YOU
Gachinko de Ikou!
Goal
Lady Panther

The Girls

Momoko

1. Momoko

I’ve said before, there’s always one of them in a group. This time, it’s Momo who takes the ““I know you think I’m cute and I know I’m cute” role. In this case however, she’s won me over, yeah, she’s kinda cute. In Renai♥Rider she’s riding the little tricycle, while the others are on their nifty motorcycles. Also in Renai♥Rider, she’s go that little solo with the ukulele, awesomely cute. Then in Kiss!Kiss!Kiss! again with the kiddy stuff, she gets stuck reading a baby book, while the others are reading, uh, real books. I was apprehensive about being trapped by this little cuteness trick they were pulling, but in the end, I’ve fallen for it. The little Leader of Buono! has earned her position. Her drumming thing in the band also seems to fit. I get the picture of a spoiled brat who likes to smash and bang on stuff until she gets her way, totally fits.

Airi

2. Airi

Cute Airi is cute. Initially she felt a little out of place when interacting with the two Berryz members, was kind of weird at times. It didn’t take long for everything to click however, and now she just seems like one of the team. In Buono! as in °C-ute, Airi is really able to flex her idol muscle, by not only being a great singer, but being generally good or otherwise entertaining at whatever she’s doing.

Miyabi

3. Miyabi

So, Buono! is made up of two little girls and this woman. Woman, indeed. Even when acting childish and playful, she’s still got this air of womanness. Or, she’s motherly or something, haha. Because of that, she is fairly distinct in her mannerisms. It’s always fun to see how she’ll react in certain situations. Anyway, glad to have her here, Buono! wouldn’t be the same with any other combination of Kids.