Morning Musume not ready to graduate yet

Three members of the Japanese pop phenomenon (and their manager) insist their mornings are far from numbered

Most artists dream of longevity, but few are afforded significant time in the limelight. The paradox of all-girl group Morning Musume, 12 years since they began, is the enforced time-limit its members face in order for the group to remain forever young.

Pop parade: The eighth generation of Morning Musume is the longest-running incarnation, having served all of two years.

Generation eight of the group, with nine members, is the longest-running incarnation so far, celebrating its two-year anniversary this month. Yet under the tutelage of producer Tsunku, “graduation” is likely never far away.

The institution that is Morning Musume (Morning Girls) began under inauspicious circumstances in 1997. TV Tokyo’s celebrated morning show “Asayan” ran a segment in which a contest was held to find a solo female singer for Tsunku, then of pop-rock outfit Sharan Q.

The winner, Michiyo Heike, fared badly, so Tsunku challenged the five runners-up to sell 50,000 copies of their debut indie single, “Ai no Tane” (“Seeds of Love”), within five days. The girls captivated the nation as they sought to achieve the feat by asking strangers on the street, family and friends to help them out.

Success on the fourth day won them a deal with Tsunku as producer of their debut proper, and the single “Morning Coffee” hit No. 6. However, it was Tsunku’s decision to boost the group with three more girls for the second single that began the tradition of “generations” and a phenomenon known as Hello! Project, an enterprise made up of innumerable, member-changing girl groups.

Sitting squeezed together on a cafe sofa in central Tokyo, wide-eyed and eager, are “band leader” Ai Takahashi, age 22, “subleader” Risa Niigaki, 20, and one of the group’s two Chinese members, Lin Lin, 17. One might think the members of this chart-happy Japanese institution would be run off their feet, but they show no signs of it.

“We get winter, summer and New Year holidays for five days each, though it depends on the situation,” explains Niigaki.

Girls interrupted: Morning Musume members (left to right) Ai Takahashi, Risa Niigaki and Lin Lin pull an instant pose for the JT at a Tokyo cafe. ROBERT MICHAEL POOLE PHOTO

Exuding self-confidence, Takahashi bursts out, “I went to New York! I saw Blue Man Group and Broadway musicals like ‘Phantom of the Opera,’ ‘The Producers’ and ‘Chicago!’ “

Morning Musume’s music has rarely changed, perhaps not surprising given that one man has produced every song. The hollow keyboard-driven productions may epitomize everything non-Japanese tend to hate about J-pop, but the catchiness of No. 1 hits such as “Happy Summer Wedding” (2000) and “As For One Day” (2003) endear the group to even hardened critics.Takahashi and Niigaki are now the longest- serving members in the group’s history, both having joined in 2001 as part of the fifth generation.

“In my case,” says Takahashi, “since I was little I’ve loved singing in front of people. So, when I saw Morning Musume, I wanted to join them. But more than that, I just wanted to be a singer.

“There was an audition at a training camp for three days and two nights. We got a new song, new dance steps and a new script and had to remember them all,” explains Takahashi. “There were nine girls for the final screening, out of 25,000 applicants. So I was really surprised when I passed the audition!”

Lin Lin (real name Qian Lin), from Hangzhou, China, had an entirely different entrance experience, as the group’s management sought to expand across borders.

“At first, I liked Japanese animation and fell in love with Japanese music,” she says. “So I was very lucky to get an invitation from Japan to join Morning Musume.”

Hail Musume!: The J-Popsters strut their stuff.

Established as a TV host and drama actress in China, she was recommended to Tsunku by a friend of his. “And so I came to Japan to join the Hello! Project Egg!” she says.

“The Hello! Project Egg is a kind of training center for pop stars-to-be, where they practice singing and dancing,” explains Takahashi. “Lin Lin became one of us from there, and some join the other groups.”

The “other groups,” such as Tanpopo, Mini Moni and Happy 7, are usually side projects featuring a combination of new and old Morning Musume members and other Hello! Project girls. Most only last for a single or two, but all are produced by one man: the all-controlling Tsunku.

“He decides everything,” explains the group’s manager since September 2008, Kouichi Nishikata. “Usually an artist is controlled by their management, but this group is formed by the producer. It is a rare case.”

Nishikata admits, “I think that the group could never survive without him. Tsunku really produces the songs, concepts, costumes, makeup, live shows, CD-sleeve designs — you name it! I had thought there was a stand-in or something to do all that.”

“Recently, the songs Mr. Tsunku gives us are kind of mature and lonesome,” says Niigaki.

Asked how they may differ if they were in control, Niigaki replies: “If I could write a song, I’d like to write a little funny and jolly tune!”

“(I’d do) something cool. A danceable tune!” says Takahashi. “Like Destiny’s Child.”

Revealing their very different personalities, the perky Lin Lin suggests “rock music! A very crazy song! And the lyrics would be written in Chinese, Japanese and English!”

Morning Musume have recently been on a slow decline in terms of sales, and the group’s revolving-door regeneration has had the negative effect that few consumers today recognize individual members. However, the girls’ different personalities are highly apparent, and it’s clear the management is keen to cultivate their individual abilities to reverse the slide.

“Each one should be recognized as being in Morning Musume in her prime,” says Nishikata. “It used be like that. Morning Musume were well known, but also (original member) Natsumi Abe was well known (in her own right). But nobody knows who is in Morning Musume anymore.”

Each member’s forced “graduation” as they are deemed too old or mature, or the group need a fresh face, is the point by which they must have established themselves enough to go it alone. The inevitability of their young retirement from the group, though, is something the current crop barely consider as a limitation.

“I can’t think of my graduation at all,” says an animated Niigaki, before conceding, “I think of it a little now that I’m one of the longest-serving of the group, but when I first joined, never! I only thought about how to catch up with the other girls.”

“I’d really like to make sure each one of them continues to work after their graduation,” explains Nishikata. “We have promoted them as a group so far, but from now on, we’d like to promote them one by one, so I hope they can do more personal work after this summer.”

Takahashi’s willingness to answer quickly and authoritatively, supported by the considered approach of Niigaki, reflects in their older-sisterly roles as leader and subleader. In reality, they admit that the titles translate to little extra work.

“We sometimes form a circle before a live show or something. And we shout for self-encouragement, like, ‘Ganbatte-ikemasu!’ (‘Let’s go do our best!’) ” says Takahashi.

Niigaki continues, “There is nothing I have to do as a subleader, but I want to support Ai when she’s got a problem. So I have no pressure!”

Meanwhile, the other members of the group seem to be as diverse as Takahashi, Niigaki and Lin Lin.

“The naughty one is Mitsy (Aika Mitsui, age 16). She won’t let us sleep on a plane!” reveals Niigaki. “The funniest is Koharu Kusumi” (16) — the only girl selected in the audition for the seventh generation. “So her nickname was ‘Miracle Koharu.’ Eri Kamei, 20, is the messy one. She can’t put things in order!”

Despite spending so much time together, the girls admit that even in their free time, they are rarely separated. They are rather coy, though, on the topic of seemingly inevitable group in-fighting.

“We always discuss a problem all together,” says Niigaki.

“Sometimes one of our staff advises us to discuss a problem,” adds Takahashi. “We are doing fine!”

At Morning Musume’s inception, the group’s fan base was diverse, attracting young girls, boys and parents. But another probable reason for their recent decline can be attributed to the resurgent otaku (obsessive fans). At a recent Hello! Project show in front of around 14,000 in Yokohama Arena, barely a single woman could be spotted among the dedicated and exuberant middle-age male crowd.

In April 2004, audio footage recorded backstage reportedly captured then-member Rika Ishikawa exclaiming: “Look at them. Grownups screaming like that! I can’t believe it. So stupid!” Although such a scandal is rare in the micromanaged Musume life, standing in front of such frenzied supporters clearly affects the girls.

“I’ve been doing this for eight years but I still get as nervous as I did the first time,” says Takahashi.

“I get a little nervous,” states Niigaki, “but I love live shows so much, and being able to see the joyful faces of the fans.”

Lin Lin, meanwhile, finds it “too enjoyable to stay nervous!”

“The fans know about us in great detail,” continues Niigaki, “and they can perform all our dance moves perfectly at the live shows!” Nevertheless, all the girls surprisingly admit that they walk comfortably on the streets without a disguise.

Conversely, “there are a lot of female fans in China and Korea,” says Takahashi. “So we get to hear fans shouting in high-pitched voices, not the usual low (otaku) voices!”

“Chinese people applaud a lot and we all love (them waving) glittering light sticks,” says Lin Lin. “You can’t see the applause, but you can see the lights!”

Morning Musume’s move into China has been seen as the next logical step for the group. However, all has not gone according to plan.

“The attempt to launch Morning Musume into China hasn’t gone very well,” admits Nishikata. “CDs don’t sell well, because they are soon pirated. Two years ago, when Lin Lin and Jun Jun (22) joined, we tried to push them hard to China, but it didn’t go so well. We are still trying to find a way.”

The future of succeeding generations of Morning Musume is clearly something Nishikata is working hard to secure. And a move to the West is a definite possibility.

“In Europe and the U.S., there are many fans of Morning Musume and Japaneseidoru (manufactured entertainers), thanks to the Internet,” says Nishikata. “(We) were invited to an event in L.A. called A.X. (Anime Expo) as a music guest this July. There are already a lot of fans of Japanese animation (in the U.S.), so it might be easy to get in through that.”

No matter where they go next, the curiosity is that Morning Musume, the concept, will no doubt continue to outlast any of its members.

Morning Musume’s ninth album, “Purachina 9 Disc,” (“Platinum 9 Disc”) is out March 18.

Read the original:
Morning Musume in The Japan Times

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Hello!Fansubs had made lots of project during their recent 2nd anniversary. I promised to choose one, and I did, and it’s finally done. Thanks to Musume-Central that is. I used the download link provided there instead from Hello-Online coz I find it to be faster than using the torrent ‘thingy’. But hey, I’m not saying that Hello-Online is bad, but for someone who is having problem with torrents like me, now you have a new source to download Hello!Fansubs’ awesome works. Anyway, the project I chose to watch is Shinshun Morning Musume Special – Haregi to Mizugi de Otoshidama Daisakusen. A long title, and I understand nothing beside ‘Morning Musume Special’. This is a show which was aired first thing on 1 January 2001. It’s a nice date, and please note that this year’s September 9th might (I say might, don’t believe it!) bring something nice, especially from Morning Musume coz the number 9 is somewhat revolving around them this year- 9 members, Platinum 9  DISC… haha. Again, don’t believe that. Oh where was I? I’m getting the habit of drifting off lately.

Okay, in this show, ten of them (Yuu-chan, Kei-chan, Yagu-chan, Nacchi, Kaorin, Yossie, Charmy, Gocchin, Nono & Aibon) will be divided into four groups and split around the world to find and get lucky new year presents for the fans. The project begins right after their final concert on New Year’s Eve. After the concert, they are ‘ambushed’ by a man who is known as ‘the devil from Hawaii’ coz he had once hosted their show called the Legendary Hawaii Battle or something. And he comes with a bad news; at the end of the Hawaii Battle show, Yagu-chan said something about “definitely going to win NEXT TIME”. So here’s the ‘NEXT TIME’, Yagu-chan!

Anway, they are quickly divided to four groups; Yossie, Kaorin, Aibon and Nono are the Saipan Team. They will be making an original calendar there. Second is the Japan Sea Team which consist of Nacchi, Charmy and Gocchin who will be making a lucky charm from squids (!?). Yagu-chan and Kei-chan will be making hand-made Morning Musume dolls in Russia! Finally, left alone, Yuu-chan will be bringing back wind from Shanghai. Huh, didn’t she has a single titled Shanghai no Kaze? So this fits her perfectly! And so, the project begins!!!

The Japan Sea team boards the plane to Akita, and after two hours, they arrived… back to Tokyo! It’s because the way to Akita is full in mist, so the plane practically made a U-turn in the air and return to Tokyo.

Is that even possible? As for the Saipan team, they arrived safely in Saipan. They get a call from ‘Mr. Devil’, he says that he has prepared a welcome drink for the girls and they will be receiving the first instruction too. As for Yuu-chan, well…

At least she finds herself a bike. And of course, it was prepared by our dear ‘Mr. Devil’ specially for Yuu-chan. Back to Saipan, the girls enjoy their welcome drink and receive the first instruction. They need to come up with a balding old man, a Ganguro girl and two school girls for the calendar. The individual for each character will be decided by the queen, which is decided from the drink. The one who drinks the juice that doesn’t have mustard in it will become the queen for this round. And the winner? Yossie! So she’s the queen this time.

And who ends up becoming the balding old man?

XD There are lots of funny parts here involving Kaoring and Yossie. I like the relationship between them here. Kaorin said that Yossie is mistreating her upperclassmen. Haha, right. That’s my Yossie! Poor Nono, chosen as the Ganguro girl.

Next we take a look at the Japan Sea team which has finally arrives Akita. They get to learn some Akita dialect as soon as they arrived. My first impression on Gocchin when watching this part is that she’s a really cold person. I mean, she doesn’t speak much and she seems to usually ignore the others. But I think I kinda got that wrong towards the end of this show.

And here we get a quick shot at our leader… pitiful…

She asked for some directions to Shanghai, but failed to get one. And they take a break. Yagu-chan and Kei-chan complain that they aren’t in the first part. Mr Devil here says that they hasn’t arrived yet at that time. Here, Nacchi also said something about the bottle Yuu-chan is carrying around her neck…

As for the Russia team, they are studying Russian while on the plane. But the phrase seems meaningless, I’d say. Something about Tom Cruise… The Saipan team is preparing for the the second photo. They ride a Banana Boat for the next competition as this time, the instruction says that the last one to fall into the water will be the queen and decides the rule for the photo. They need to take a photo in the pose as if you were telling a one-liner gag. After some sharp curves on the water…

And so…

The final is hillarious. But then, Nono got into a serious breakedown. Finally, it’s decided that both of them are tied, and hence both of them are crowned as queens. And this is what happens when two little devils got the title Queen…

And that settles the second photo. Back to Yuu-chan, she finally lays her eyes on Shanghai city, but she has a problem of crossing a bridge to the city. No bike is allowed! While waiting for Yuu-chan to find another route, the Japan Sea team has reached the town of Fukaura. They meet some locals and start fishing, but not for squids, instead, for pure fun. Back to Yuu-chan, she finally finds a ship-crossing centre, where bikers could cross the water with their bike to Shanghai town. On the ship, Yuu-chan kindly thinks about the others…

Here, Charmy sounds really cute, saying that they should go back since it’s cold. But Nacchi simply says she wants more and lets fish for the squids next time. In other words, “ignore the squids, this is a lot more fun”. Then, they have dinner…

The difference here is like heaven and hell…

Drifted by her feelings, she forgets… XP

Yuu-chan sure is funny. I never really pay attention to the early generation members, but after watching this show, I kinda like their characters. As for the Saipan team, Yossie and Kaorin infiltrate Aibon and Nono’s room. Gee, they look like a pair of couple, really, with two kids! Aw~ I love watching Nono smacking Yossie’s butt! Yuu-chan again, alone, finally finds a park full of dating couples. She asked one of the couples, and this is the answer she gets.

Finally, the Russia team arrives! After getting some instructions, they start searching for the place to make dolls. They even plan to buy some and bring those back instead of making them! Yagu-chan is another interesting character here. I know she’s noisy and all that, but this is where we get more of her naughty attitude. I seriously enjoy all of her parts during the show.

Russian taxis sure are scary~

They arrive Moscow City and search for some clothes before proceeding. They asked for the place to make dolls and they finally get the name of the location. Too bad, Yagu-chan can’t even pronounce the word Yaroslavsky. The train isn’t working at that moment, so…

…they wonder off in the beautiful city of Moscow

Another break, they talked a bit more about the taxi in Russia. They talked about Japan Sea team’s dinner, where we get a chance to see Gocchin actually says something. Nono explains a bit about her situation during the Banana Boat competition.

First thing on the next day…

little bit of morning exercise might bring luck…

As for the Japan Sea team…

…and henshin!

They had a hard time a really hard time on the sea, as the waves are really rough. While Gochinn is acting cool and all that, Charmy cutely reminds the uncle that she had only done squid fishing in games. She’s like, “please take care of me”. Aw~ I can’t stand her voice.

Anyway, the Saipan team are ready for the next challenge. This time, whoever carries the most amount of namako (a sea cucumber) will be crowned as queen. This is rather a disgusting one, but funny. Kaorin is determined this time, Yossie is trying her best, but Aibon keep releasing Yossie’s catch again and again, so she lose the game!

Here is the determined Kaorin, and there’s the furious Yossie chasing Aibon!

The winner? Kaorin! Yossie, frustrated, did this after the competition…

…threw her namako to Aibon!

And this…

watch out, Kaorin!

Which make Kaorin cries real hard! Go Yossie!!!

Anyway, the Russia team wakes up early, and…

They had their breakfast and finally get on the train. Yagu-chan, without a doubt, says that the breakfast they had is not good! XP Mean there, Yagu-chan!

As for the Saipan team, they completed their third photo. Haha, Yossie as reindeer.

The sea of Japan is getting rougher, but the girls aren’t catching anything yet.

cool eh?

Back to our lonely Yuu-chan, she finally finds a clue, that is, to ask the feng-shui master. The Russia team are still on the train. I can’t believe Yagu-chan actually complains on everything she gets! After the breakfast earlier, now she complains about the chocolates and peanuts on the train.

in other word: bad

They arrived Sergiev Posad and start looking for the toy museum. They ask around but most of them ignored these pests. Haha XD And Yagu-chan…

As for the Japan Sea team…

Charmy also catches a bera, but Nacchi… well, nothing yet…

Yagu-chan and Kei-chan finally find the toy museum. They are given the name of the toy factory and off they go for another looonggg walk. Too bad they don’t have the bike like Yuu-chan does! She finds the feng-shui master and he tells her the place to get her wind. The master is even kind enough to take Yuu-chan to the temple.

future husband and wife… XP

The last break, and the Saipan team talks on the ‘namako battle’, Gocchin talks a bit more. Hey, I’m sorry, but to me, Gocchin speaking is really precious to me. It’s because  she’s so quiet during the show, so when she gets the chance to speak, I get the chance to listen from Gocchin!

Their journey is drawing nearer to an end. Yuu-chan purifies her heart, following some customs, pray for the others and climbed a pagoda with the master. Surprisingly, it’s a real thing! I mean, the wind did blow!

And with that, our leader has completed her task.

Next is Saipan team. The final instruction ordered them to take a picture with the setting sun in the background.

Finally, they’re done with the calendar. And it’s a cute (and funny) one, really. Even more, the dates are hand-written and each sheets has it’s own trick. Want to know what it is? Watch the show! XP

The Russia team has finally find the factory. They introduce themselves as idols and even show their single! Haha, what a brilliant way to promote Morning Musume in Russia. They don’t have much time left, so they start making those dolls right away. Geez, they sure are noisy.

As the dateline approaches, they start focusing on the dolls, instead of biting each others head off. Some flashbacks here and tadaa!!!

Finally, the last team, Japan Sea team. It’s getting late, and most of them are suffering from seasick. Charmy gets a flounder while Nacchi finally catches something; a huge buri. Charmy makes some short weather reports here. Eventually, even Gocchin gets seasick! And out of nowhere…

congratulations, Gocchin! It’s a boy!

And that great catch by Charmy gets Gocchin fully revived! She doesn’t have to wait long, and finally…

Then Charmy…

After that, there’s not much. The girls do some blessing ceremony with the squids and prepare to go home with their squid-charm. All three of them shed their tears here, and even Gocchin! Anyway, here’s a glimpse of that charm.

Personally, it’s not very good looking, but funny. Even Charmy said it’s scary. XP Nacchi, failed to get any squids, made a fishprint out of the buri.

Here is the original: 
Article

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Morning Musume member Kamei Eri will take on her first voice acting role in the new anime “Jewelpet”.

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Kamei Eri to Voice Character in Jewelpet Anime

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Meringue no Kimochi 28/ 03/ 2009 Parte 1/3 Author: Radamanthyz83 Tags: meringue kimochi ayasan ayaya aya matsuura morning musume hello project jpop radamantyz Posted: 30 March 2009 Rating: 5.0 Votes: 1

Meringue no Kimochi 28/ 03/ 2009 Parte 2/3 Author: Radamanthyz83 Tags: meringue kimochi ayasan ayaya aya matsuura morning musume hello project jpop radamantyz Posted: 30 March 2009 

Meringue no Kimochi 28/ 03/ 2009 Parte 3/3 Author: Radamanthyz83 Tags: meringue kimochi ayasan ayaya aya matsuura morning musume hello project jpop radamantyz Posted: 30 March 2009 Rating: 0.0 Votes: 0

Popularity: 37% [?]