I wanted to say thank you to everyone that has commented since the earthquake happened. It means a lot that you have taken the time to do so.
I want to give a site news update, while I can.
I don`t know when music news will start again on this site .To be honest the nation is only thinking about rescue , survival , and the television is only showing every second of the rescue operations ,casualties and important needed news ,regular programming stopped the second the earthquake happened . If you read what I wrote yesterday, my mind is not thinking of music right now, idols or my own.
There is nothing music related to report, the nation is only thinking about rescue and survival. Concerns on CD release delays, Oricon rankings, sales figures, etc are all misplaced thoughts, because no one is thinking about that now, only rescue and survival.
Concerns instead should be on the missing, concerns should be on Sendai`s Dorothy Little Happy - only two members out of five have reached out to their fans. There are many problems in Sendai right now.
For now Japan is a much different place then it was a few days ago, there are many difficult days ahead
This site will move forward as the nation moves forward, I just don`t know when that will be.
I ask you for patience and understanding for now, and let us walk forward together each day one step at a time, taking what the day gives.
If this situation wasn't bad enough a new Earthquake has hit .This new Earthquake was in Nagano-Niigata Prefectures measuring upper 6 on the Japanese seismic intensity scale of 7 in Nagano Prefecture, lower 6 in Niigata .
The focus of the predawn quake was at a depth of 10 kilometers. Nagano police said they have not received any immediate reports of major damage.
Note-the photo is from the Sendai quake after the Tsunami
This is not an idol news. The north of Japan has been hit by a massive 8.9 magnitude earthquake and has devastated much of Sendai. Two 30 feet tsunamis have hit Sendai badly. Areas nearby are also feeling the shake of the earthquake, including the our editor's home, Gaki, in Chiba.
My fingers are shaking while typing this. Please help pray for Gaki, all the Japanese affected there, if not for your idols also. Thanks in advance. May God bless them all.
Watch this space, just in case we have update for you.
[update 2] I'm on Google Talk chat with Gaki now, he's telling about things going on round his place. He's also terrified, as I am scared for him too. Civil defense are checking out every homes now, and to give safety warnings. This is the worst quake Japan has seen in years.... Please continue your prayers.
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[update 3]
Apparently surrounding Pacific areas of Japan need to be wary also. So guys please take great precaution. Chanting, I pray it's okay over there for you too.
The Australian Science Centre has sent out a couple of expert comments.
Kevin McCue is a seismologist and adjunct professor at CQUniversity. He is based in Canberra.
Quote This is the largest earthquake known in Japan. There have been seven earthquakes in Japan over magnitude 8 since 1891.
In 1923 in the great Kanto earthquake which measured 7.9, 147,000 people died so our expectation is that many people will be killed and there will be extensive damage. Fortunately for Tokyo it’s a bit further north than the great Kanto earthquake was, which means the damage in Tokyo is likely to be much less.
A Pacific wide tsunami has been generated, so that will be impacting other countries in the north Pacific in the coming hours.
Gaki: they Said Tokyo bay area is ok ,just fires and traffic issues , but to stay away from the beaches and listen to warnings 2.5 hrs Tsunami will hit hawaii 1036 gmt Philippines 1049gmt Indonesia looking at Chiba tv hang on Sent at 4:40 PM on Friday Gaki: Chiba TV biggest worry is the fire and waves ,aftershocks hang on sirens
Is Ray still in Hawaii?
============= [update 7]
Hawaii has ordered the evacuation of low-lying coastal areas, officials on the US Pacific island state said.
If Ray is still in Hawaii, I pray he's okay too.
============= [update 8] May lose connection to Gaki soon, because his place might be shutting off phones and power to shift services.
Strange... Gaki and I were talking about how cool the indie idols are in Sendai... then only minutes later, buildings are shaking...
============= [update 9 10 minutes ago] from a tweeet of MM Manager => モーニング娘。全員無事ですっ‼ みなさんも、余震続いてますから気をつけてくださいね‼‼
trans. Morning Musume girls are safe. Dorothy Little Happy last tweeted 2 hours ago... powers must be cut in Sendai by now. I hope they're okay too. If you guys have followed twitters of your idols, go check them out. pronto! Affilia Saga girls are okay. Tanaka Reina is okay too.
The newest AKB48 Sub unit DiVA released a short radio teaser for their debut single “Tsuki no Uragawa“on Sayaka and Sae`s radio program “Ukkari Channel“.
DiVA will debut with their first single on April 27 through Avex Trax
On this evening Bijo Gaku the 9th gen shoot their first PV .Risa and Riho watch in stunned amusement as Kanon eats. For their first PV 9th gen did very well and looked like veterans.
Erina needs to smile some when she dances, Kanon don`t take off running around excitedly when the director is talking, lol .Is there anything that girl won't smile about, lol
Sayu maybe the self declared #1 cute idol, and Fuku-chan the princess [Sayu`s words], but Kanon will not be out smiled by any idol, lol.She`s turned it on and is going at full speed.
Also don`t get comfortable with Risa`s hair as after the video was filmed she changed it to black.
When is a video to much and not enough at the same time? When your SDN48 .SDN48 are back with a new release that will go head to head with Morning Musume and the 9th gen on March 23.
“Ai, Juseyo”! Has everything that you would expect in and SDN48 PV, you have SDN48, long bathtub scenes, shadow dance scenes that are pure “undressed” fan services teases. When you move past the fan service this is good song. Seeing how idols are built on fan service and not song quality at times ,it is going to be very hard for SDN48 to not take the top spot opening sales day.
Like the warning label at the start of the PV says, “If you use this product over a long time, you may be attracted to this product. Please be careful “
With “Ai, Juseyo”! SDN48 leaves no doubts that they are the Queens of sexiness in the 48 family.
AKB48`s little sisters [in performance yrs] SKE48 has followed in the high heels of their big sisters by taking the top spot in the Oricon Daily sales chart by a wide margin.
SKE48’s “BANZAI Venus” took the #1 position in the Oricon Daily Singles chart by selling 163,208 copies on their first day of release. When you look at the second and third places, it becomes clear how one-sided and impressive this was for SKE48.
NYC’s “Yume Tamago” was number two with sales of 52,785 and Momoiro Clover’s “Mirai Bowl” was next at 18,307 matching almost their first week totals for “Pinky Jones“.
While it is fair to say that some of their success is due to being in the 48 family, the truth is the song is just a better song. It also helps when you invite fans and townspeople to be in the video, the results will always show in sales.
With the success of AKB48, many idol acts have emerged to try to emulate the success, or at least take advantage of the idol boom to boost themselves. One of these idol acts is Dorothy Little Happy.
Dorothy Little Happy belongs to a genre in what we call "Local Idol". Japan is made up of many prefectures, such as Kanto, Hokkaido, Kanagawa etc. Local idols are idol groups that base their activities within the boundaries of their local hometown prefectures only and does not go beyond it. Most of these acts never even go major but are content with their achievements and fame around their hometown. AKB48 was originally a Kanto region based idol but now have surpassed that to national recognition. Dorothy Little Happy is a Sendai region local idol but now is bracing to go major soon with Avex as its record label.
Dorothy Little Happy was formed in February 2010, named and produced by musician Sakamoto Satoru. The inspiration for the name obviously came from the main character Dorothy of "The Wizard of Oz", in which the producer wishes the girls to be like Dorothy, where he said "with her kindness and bravery bringing little happiness to everyone". The members in Dorothy Little Happy (DLH from here on) were picked from other units of their agency Step1.
DLH is made of 5 girls and works like EXILE and Happiness - two main vocalists with other back dancers. In August 2010, DLH released their debut single "Jump", and had appeared in few TV shows as well. Unfortunately one of the two vocalist, MICHIYO, was graduated from the group in November 2010 citing that she wants to focus on her studies. Another dancer was brought in to join the group. Other members has since then occasionally took on the mic as vocalist on some songs. The current line-up:
(From left)
RUUNA Dancer, 14 yrs
KOUMI Dancer 14 yrs (Replaced MICHIYO)
KANA Dancer and Leader, 16 yrs
MARI Vocals, 15 yrs
MIMORI Dancer, 14 yrs
Recently the producers have added more dancers to the team, and named Team Dorothy. They occasionally will perform as back dancers on some songs during the live shows. They are YURI, NANASE, NONOKA, REINA & AYUMI. Now, DLH is preparing to for their major debut on 16th March 2011 with avex trax with a mini album entitled "Demo Sayonara".
These girls in Dorothy Little Happy are super adorable, that both Gaki and I took to them almost instantly. Just when I thought the Morning Musume 9th gens were the funniest & cutest thing now, just watching them acting natural in the self-appeal video was just pure heart. On top of that, they sure can dance. Since they will be affiliated with avex, I am expecting them to be closer to Jpop in future works.
If you are looking for an alternative idol loving other than your usual mainstream stuff, Dorothy Little Happy is the way to go.
DLH- Jump
DLH - Miteite Angel
DLH doing self-appeal video, with self-introduction, funny impressions, gags, tongue twisters.... ending with a dance performance.
Avex has released an interesting teaser for the AKB48 sub-unit, DiVA. DiVA is made up of AKB48 members Akimoto Sayaka, Umeda Ayaka, Masuda Yuka, and Miyazawa Sae.
DiVA will be making their single debut on April 27 and the single will have four limited editions and one regular edition.
The teaser shows the four members in shadow format with backup dancers, with the member’s names and release information.
