Recommended Reading: May 22nd, 2013

Thennary’s Picks

Tegomass wants you to share your cat pride with them for their new album – JE News Daily
Looks like they are trying to out cute themselves for this upcoming album.

Sexy Zone attracts 15,000 people to their first nationwide tour – JE News Daily
So who wants to be SZ’s Sexy Girls and Sexy Boys?

Arashi ni Shiyagare 2013.05.11 Review – J-Everything
Arashi has to guess the runner for this year’s NTV 24 Hour telethon.

May 22nd ♥ 錦織一清 (Nishikiori Kazukiyo) – JE Anniversaries
Happy birthday to the Johnny’s I share a birthday with.

Serenyty’s Picks

AKB48 32nd Single Senbatsu Election – Preliminary Votes - Melos no Michi
The first day results are in for AKB48′s senbatsu election! Some surprises that guarantee this will be an interesting election!

Impressions: Sayonara Crawl - New School Kaidan
An Audio review of the Sayonara Crawl PV/song that has some good insights, especially regarding color and the PV’s director, Ninagawa Mika.

Brian’s Picks

Ah Young to play Yuri’s friend in the movie ‘No Breathing’ – fydal★shabet!
Awesome news for Ah Young! Seo In Guk is in this too.

Yuri Shows Waist and Legs for Sporty Pictorial in “Cosmopolitan” – soompi
Speaking of Yuri…

PASSPO☆ “Truly” covers – http://aibonaipon.tumblr.com
Information about PASSPO☆’s next single. My favorite cover is the Brady Bunch one.

Ray’s Picks

AKB48 31st Single [Sayonara Crawl] 1st Day Sales – MELOS no Michi
In related AKB news, the single sold like a freaking MONSTER. Also, rain is wet.

Tanaka Reina Has Officially Graduated From Morning Musume & Hello!Project – Hello! SayuNii
A nicely detailed account of the actual graduation concert, including set list.

Feeling Blue over Reina’s Graduation – Chuu! Sugoi! Idol
Princess Miyo says goodbye to her favorite Musume

Reina’s Graduation messages + Fans Tribute – Chuu! Sugoi! Idol
Translations of some saucy back-and-forths between Musumes and the graduate.

Tanaka Reina Graduates From Morning Musume – THE Blogpower!!!
Kath does a thoughtful job considering all the different sides of Reina and her feelings about each of them.

So long, Tanaka Reina – the number 244
A personal reminiscence of Tanaka and her development over recent years.

Eita & Kimura Kaela expecting second baby in November – aramatheydidnt
Congratulations to the expectant couple!

Flick: Kahi in a bikini – AfterSchool ❤
Why can’t there be more of THESE kinds of shots of Kahi?

Lee Hyori – “Bad Girls” – Konno’s Story
Konno Asami dives in very deep in examining the message of this new song from the Kpop diva.

Hump Day Eye Candy Extravaganza – Your Opinion Doesn’t Count
Langdimus celebrates the latest from Scandal – both music and eyecandy.

Pavane for Princess Mizuki – Delicious Cake Project!
Pata defends Mizuki’s photobook against those with unfair expectations of her.

VAMPS’ USA Representive’s Message to Downloaders – Shattered-Tranquility.net
The candor of this message is very impressive, and worth noting.

Namie Amuro Reveals Release Date, Track List & Covers For Upcoming Album “FEEL” – aramatheydidnt
I don’t like the covers, but that’s not what’ll get me excited in Amuro’s case.

The Shounen Club 8 July 2007 review – Never Ending Music Power
Thennary turns her attention to the last Osaka episode of this season.

Tantei Gakuen Q SP first impressions – Never Ending Music Power
First off, Happy Birthday To Our Own Thennary Nak! Second, this is a very solid review of the special leading into the series, featuring luscious lusciousness himself, Yamada Ryosuke.

News Roundup for 2013-05-22 – who is sulli?
Brian fills us in on Nell and other hallyu news.

Haitatsu Saretai Watashitachi ep 1 – HamsapSukebe
Akiramike is surprised at how much this first episode grew on him.

Recommended Reading: May 21st, 2013

Thennary’s Picks

Nino-san 2013.05.08 Review – J-Everything
Nino looks at various events that happened on May 9th throughout history.

Bad Boys J Ep 04 Review – J-Everything
While the fights are good the series seems to be lacking direction.

Brian’s Picks

[Exclusive] Former Head of Block B′s Former Agency Found Dead on May 20 – enewsworld
No matter what one thinks about the Block B controversery and Lee Seung Young, this is still a sad end. RIP.

[Breaking] Son Ho Young’s Girlfriend Discovered Dead in His Car – soompi
Another incredibly sad story.

Lee Hyori’s Comeback Show to be Streamed on Mwave – enewsworld
It will air at 6:00pm KST. That’s 9:00am UTC, 5:00am EST, 2:00am PST etc. Watch it!

T-ara N4′s to Release Chris Brown Version of “Countryside Diaries” – soompi
This is really surreal. Don’t set your expectations too high (remember the Gangnam Style remix?).

Suzy Cries at the Mention of Her $10 Million Endorsement Deals – soompi
But not as much as JYP cries when he sees his bank account.

Serenyty’s Picks

Tanaka Reina has Officially Graduated from Morning Musume - Okay! Musume Time
The title says it all. Chiima reflects more on Reina’s graduation.

Nakatsuka Tomomi to graduate AKB48 – aramatheydidnt
Not Tomochan too! The era of Tomomi in AKB is ending! I’ll miss Tomochan.

Transparency – Selective Hearing
Greg from Selective Hearing thinks about AKB48′s documentaries, and why Hello!Project isn’t doing the same.

2chan Says the Darndest things vol. 23 – New Schol Kaidan
This series amuses me like nothing else. This one discusses AKB’s disappointments, the election, and that “Real men wear hoodies.”

Ray’s Picks

Reina – First 5 years (2003-2007 part 1) – KAKKO-II.COM
A picspam tribute to Reina here…

Reina – First 5 years (2003-2007 part 2) – KAKKO-II.COM
… And here.

Pic Spam: Winky Fail-fest! – Itsumo Genki
A different kind of picspam tribute. And yes, I enjoyed this one more.

Berryz girls enjoyed Reina’s graduation concert – Berryz Kobo International
Some pics from the show!

natoblackjack: GoodBye  Rokkies ♥ ;^; – Idols and Hollywood
A look at the duo before they became a single.

[PB] Sayumi Michishige – Mille-feuille – Jappydolls
All hail the Musume loli queen!

H!P Kenshuusei & JUICE=JUICE – New Single Announced & Preview Released – Hello! SayuNii
Really bringing the Eggs into the spotlight now.

Tokyo Idol Festival 2013: The Acts Part 1 – Happy Disco
Serenyty is back and looking at some of the bigger guns of the festival, including Idoling!!!, Idol College, AeLL, and Weather Girls.

[2013.07.31] NEW SINGLE – PASSPO☆ Fansite
News on the last of their planned trilogy of singles.

Pic of the Day – Your Opinion Doesn’t Count
Langdimus is touched by Scandal’s Mami’s birthday.

Lee Hyori – “Bad Girls” – Not A Full Review – Konno’s Story
Konno Asami loves the song…

KPOP Highlight: Lee Hyori- “Bad Girls” MV – Neaux Clicked on It
Neaux doesn’t, but the video makes up for it.

This Video of Lizzy Laughing for 145 Seconds – who is sulli?
It’s like those Nic Cage Loses His Shit compilations, but more hallyu.

Happy 21st Birthday Chinami – Berryz Kobo International
Another reason to celebrate today!

Okay! Musume Digest #52 – Okay! Musume Time
Not Chiima’s anniversary post, but still packed with idol news!

[NMB48 Geinin! The Movie] Will Come To Theaters 1st August – MELOS no Michi
More details on this spinoff from the TV show.

A NEWS summer – Never Ending Music Power
Thennary shares her ideas on the timing of releases and the tour.

Kuramochi Asuka [Itsumo Soba ni] PV Preview – MELOS no Michi
Her wallet got stolen? Why would anybody ever do that to an idol?

AKB48 32nd Single Senbatsu Election – Election Posters – MELOS no Michi
Political eyecandy galore!

Nogizaka46 2nd Generation Profiles + Videos – MELOS no Michi
The rivalry heats up! I think.

News Roundup for 2013-05-21 – who is sulli?
Brian gathers hallyu news, releases, teasers, and even a dance cover!

Recommended Reading: May 20th, 2013

Thennary’s Picks

Masuda Takahisa says his fans are OK with love scenes!? – JE News Daily
Or at least way too nice to tell him differently.

J’J – A.B.C-Z in Australia 2013.05.06 Review – J-Everything
The guys wind down a bit and get ready to visit the Great Barrier Reef.

Serenyty’s Picks

This Week in Music 05.22.2013 - New School Kaidan
Lots of stuff going on as New School Kaidan covers the new AKB48 single, PASSPO☆, S/mileage and more.

Ray’s Picks

Tanaka Reina – The Graduation Appreciation Post (Sorta) – Okay! Musume Time
Chiima closes her series with her own history as a Morning Musume fan and where Reina fits in.

Tanaka Reina’s Graduation day – Sakura Mankai
MegaMickey wishes Reina congratulations.

Tanaka Reina – “Tanakamesen” Covers Released – Hello! SayuNii
Her magazine series is collected in time for her graduation.

Selective Hearing’s News Roundup – Selective Hearing
Greg covers the latest news from the likes of Itano Tomomi, Sashihara Rino, 2NE1, and others.

SECRETs and Thighs – Selective Hearing
Sophie and TOZ have another rambunctious conversation, this one on Kpop girl groups Secret, Nine Muses, and SNSD.

Another Disturbing Video From Kashiwagi Yuki? – Konno’s Story
Maybe she’s found her niche in food porn? Somebody get the squashes and raw meat!

Pic of the Day – Your Opinion Doesn’t Count
Reading the clues.

Behind-the-scenes photos of ‘Contrail’ music video – Namie News Network
I still can’t get over the skirt.

The absolute cutest human being ever since mankind first came into existence on this planet must be Michishige Sayumi – Wota in Translation
Well, it’s hard to argue against this premise.

Things I’ve noticed about K-Pop fans – NyNyOnline
NyNy has some interesting observations – hopefully she’ll elaborate on some of them in future posts.

Top 50 Idol Music Videos – Beat Laments the World
Krv has an interesting list, done in his usual meticulous fashion. Of course, we’d all have recommendations of our own (no Girl’s Box acts?), but that’s the fun of such lists.

Johnny’s Under 100: Joshima Shigeru – Never Ending Music Power
An idol who takes a different tack to the “never aging” thing.

PASSPO – “Step and Go” – the number 244
Idols plus CG can only mean good things, right? Right?

Berryz Koubou – Profile Updated With New Outfits – Hello! SayuNii
Golden Berryz.

News Roundup for 5-20 – who is sulli?
Brian catches up on various news, including the SNSD furor over drag queens and Yahoo! buying Tumblr.

Tsugunaga Momoko – Photo Essay Book Announced – Hello! SayuNii
Finally, a chance for Momoko to show us all that she’s the William Vollmann of idols.