More tests nine ten

sorry again for all the testing.  hopefully the pretty pictures make up for it.


so, yeah. That’s how that goes.

Mano Erina News! (updated: more pics)

To catch us up: I love some Mano Eri. I wrote in great length about her Hello! Project career here, here, and here. And now for you anime fans, she is starring in the next Patlabor movie, “THE NEXT GENERATION~ Patlabor“.

AND, we have an awesome new pictorial of the lovely talent in the February UTB. Pictures follow

Mano Memories

Nothing to see here; just some parting pictures from Mano Erina in H!P Best Shot vol. 20

The Mano Erina Post (number 3)

This article will finish out this series on the career of Mano Erina in Hello! Project.  At the time, I was feeling some Mano fatigue.  To this point, her career is best categorized as “uneven.”  When she was on her game, her singles were the kinds of singles that brighten a sad wota’s day.  Erina’s smile got her a free pass on her weaker singles, but this was wearing thin.

The Mano Erina Post (number 2)

Picking up where I left off, Mano Erina’s graduation prompted me to take a good look at the career of the idol who I have seen grow from indie releases to idol graduation.  At this point in my story, I am on an idol high from Mano Erina’s “Sekai wa Summer Party” release.

The Mano Erina post (number 1)

I woke up this morning, and Mano Erina was no longer a member of Hello! Project.  This is a shame for a few reasons.  Firstly, Mano was finally breaking out of the virginal idol image and looking like a smoking hot young woman.  This may (or may not) be a loss to all of us.  Second, Mano began her solo career right around the same time that my obsession with idols began.  Seeing her graduate closes a significant chapter in my life.  I may not have been the most vocal Mano Erina fan, but I did appreciate her looks, her enthusiasm, and her contributions to the idol scene.  I have now seen the full cycle of an idol’s career.

I’m going to spend the next few posts going through Mano’s singles and PVs for old times sake.   I am not starting with her tenure in Ongaku Brilhantes; I am starting with her first indies release: Mano Piano.

Gonna miss Mano Erina

Mano Erina was the first idol I ever saw live- during the “Kai Ki- Tales of Terror” premiere here in Los Angeles in 2010.  I remember that she was more beautiful in person than I could have imagined.  One of first idol events on the timeline that I remember was the announcement of Mano Erina’s solo career.    I remember seeing Erina’s backup dancers become S/mileage, her once-trademarked piano slowly get left behind, and her hair shockingly cut down.  Soon I will see her say goodbye to the idol life- and the circle will complete itself.  I’ll probably write more about Mano Erina as her graduation comes closer- I’m thinking about highlighting my favorite Mano videos.  For now, enjoy the photos of this stunningly gorgeous young lady.

My preferences 2012

Here are my responses for a couple of the polls.

A Hello! Project (FAN) election

Just a quick impetus for what I believe is a nice idea.

A thread on Hello! Online has been started to rank all the current Hello! Project girls.  I plan on getting my act together and voting today, when I am not busy.  You can’t vote for favorites Gaki (sorry Ikuta) nor can you vote for Ai.  Mano Erina can still receive your votes; and Karin can receive your vote as well, should you desire.  Mogi cannot receive a vote- she has left the building.  You can vote for current H!P trainees but not graduates (as of December 2012 it appears).  I encourage everyone to vote as well!

 

Vote here: http://www.hello-online.org/index.php?/topic/23830-hello-project-2012-general-election/

 

I’ll post my list in the comments.  Please post your list here as well!