Morning Musume ’15 – “One and Only” [PV]

The final A-side of Morning Musume ’15’s 60th release takes on the form of “One and Only”. A first for the group, “One and Only” is the first song by the group that features all English lyrics. The song provides the opening theme for NHK World’s “J-MELO” music program, which coincidentally heavily features the girls of Morning Musume. If you look at the song in purely utilitarian mode, it makes sense that a show presented in English would have a title song in English. Of course, there are other forces at work here. As Morning Musume prepares itself for another concert in the English speaking world, sending out an upbeat and optimistic song like “One and Only” as its ambassador makes a great deal of sense.

Morning Musume ’15 “Tsumetai Kaze to Kataomoi” [PV]

If you read through lyrics enough you eventually start to realize that although the lyrics seem like love songs to a boy or a girl, they’re really written about something else. There’s a joke that all the love songs written in the 1980’s are really about cocaine, while the love songs of the 1990’s are all about heroin – think about that the next time you listen to Celine Dion’s “My Heart Will Go On”. So while “Tsumetai Kaze to Kataomoi” seems like it’s written about a love interest boy or girl, Sayashi Riho and the members of Morning Musume ’15 could just as easily be singing a song of unrequited love to Morning Musume itself.

Morning Musume ’15 – “Endless Sky” [PV]

Morning Musume ’15 is set to release their triple A-side “Tsumetai Kaze to Kataomoi / ENDLESS SKY / One and Only” on December 29- practically the eve of the graduation for one of their most talented centers. Sayashi Riho graduates on December 31 during the “Hello！Project COUNTDOWN PARTY 2015 ～ GOOD BYE & HELLO ! ～” concert. Much could probably be said about Riho’s graduation, and I hope over the next three articles I cover most of what needs to be said about the girl. As fitting with a graduation, a touch of sadness hangs at the fringe of every emotion. And, even as this song represents the optimism of such a drastic life change, the uncertainty looms just beyond the horizon.

Christmas Idol Heaven – Young Gangan 2015 No.24

You remember Christmas Idol Heaven last year, right? Well, we got the same thing going on in 2015, with some of the more popular idols in idoldom lending their assistance. Santa’s little helpers indeed!
Let’s get things started!

Sayashi Riho Announces Her Graduation from Morning Musume

Surely by now you’ve already heard the news. Sayashi Riho, the center of Morning Musume for the roughly the last 3 ½ years holds her graduation concert on the last day of 2015. On December 31, with all of Hello! Project in attendance at Nakano Sun Plaza, RihoRiho takes center stage for the last time. From what I understand, Sayashi had the option of graduating on the last day of the current “Morning Musume. ’15 Concert tour Aki ~ PRISM ~” on December 8 in Nippon Budokan, but instead she chose the smaller venue. Perhaps the drama of a “year-end to end all year-ends” proved too irresistible. When the time comes, Sayashi Riho will have served in Hello! Project for 1,824 days, or just shy of 5 years.

Makino Maria in Young Jump no. 47

The lovely 12th generation Morning Musume member graces us with some lovely photos from the latest Young Jump magazine. The baseball freak couldn’t resist posing with a ball and glove! Maria is as cute as ever, and finally fulfilling her role as “the cute one”.
Enjoy!

Fukumura Mizuki in Young Gangan Oct. 2, 2015 No. 19

The fall season is barely upon us, and Fuku-hime reminds us of the warmer sunnier days of the past. No complaints. Mizuki is a blessing no matter which way you look at it.

Fukumura Mizuki, Kudo Haruka, and Ogata Haruna in Weekly Shounen Sunday

I know: everyone has been waiting to see what Haa-chin’s been keeping under wraps. Let’s just say that years of ice-skating training make for a a nice bikini body.

Fukumura Mizuki in Young Gangan Sept 4, 2015 No. 17

I won’t even say much here. I’ll just present the majesty of Morning Musume ’15 leader Fukumura Mizuki. Fukuchan. Fukuhime. Mizupon.

Morning Musume ’15 “Ima Sugu Tobikomu Yuuki” [PV]

Perhaps the loveliest promotional video of the year, Morning Musume ’15 do an awful lot of stretching toward the light in “Ima Sugu Tobikomu Yuuki”. The lovely painted sky from the title card doesn’t lie; the orange creamsicle colored sky appears and reappears throughout the PV. The sunrise/sunset clearly means to suggest the beginning of a new era, but more on this later.