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.

Recommended Reading: May 19th, 2013

Thennary’s Picks

VS Arashi 2013.05.09 Review – J-Everything
Arashi versus comedians this episode that gives us more gags than most would want.

Ray’s Picks

Berryz Kobo go to Nippon Budokan in November – Berryz Kobo International
And so, all the H!P Kids are happy. But maybe this is just a prelude to the entire lot of them getting shitcanned like the Elder Club massacre…? I’m kidding! Kidding!

Berryz Kobou finally gets their Budokan LIVE! – Chuu! Sugoi! Idol
Tsunku’s threatening to make it a Sharan Q concert if the Berryz can’t guarantee an audience of ten thousand? Okay, that’s more like it…

Golden Chinatown Outfits SPAM – Chuu! Sugoi! Idol
Princess Miyo shares pics on the latest sparkly looks… with a cameo appearance by Tokyo Girls’ Style!

Berryz Koubou – “Sayonara Usotsuki no Watashi” Radio Rip Released – Hello! SayuNii
Momoko is singled out for her contribution to the song.

T-ara’s Qri, Boram, and Soyeon sub-unit in Japan to be named ‘QBS’ – allkpop
Not exactly original, but helpful in remembering the line-up.

AKB48 31st Single Coupling Song PVs – aramatheydidnt
Of course, BKA48 stands above all these others.

D-Unit excited for their first fan meeting! – allkpop
Now JNey’s a barista I’d like to foam up my latte, if you know what I mean.

Tsunku Boy serious about putting out a compilation album of his demo vocals – Wota in Translation
More debate on the merits of Tsunku’s singing and songwriting.

[A Week with Winky] The Final Wink, er, Rock… – Okay! Musume Time
Chiima does a nice job making sense of this mess.

Maeda Atsuko in Taiwan – keismagic
Acchan gets a very warm welcome from fans as she promotes her new movie.

The making of Love Exposure – HamsapSukebe
Akiramike shares more thoughts on this movie by Sono Sion.

Kansai Spider-Man – Never Ending Music Power
Idols and comic books, two things Thennary loved, combined in some Johnny’s Junior cosplay!

C-ute – 22nd Single, “Adam to Eve no Dilemma” Preview Released – Hello! SayuNii
Looks like the quintet are following their current winning formula.

S/mileage – “Atarashi Watashi ni Nare” Concert Rip Preview – Hello! SayuNii
ladylibra92 finds hints of S/mileage changing their image with this song.

Recommended Reading: May 18th, 2013

Thennary’s Picks

KAT-TUN’s Star’s knack for reinvention aids film role - aramatheydidnt
Kame continues to impress others as he promotes his film.

Ako Shimaki’s Pin to Kona Shōjo Manga Gets Live-Action TV Series – aramatheydidnt
A Johnny’s filled drama set around kabuki.

Kis-My-BUSAIKU 2013.05.06 Review – J-Everything
The guys have to break up with a girl in a “cool” way. There are so many ways to fail with this one.

NMB48: Geinin Season 2 – Episode 7: Senryuu Hadoken – We’re Namba 1!
More girls get a chance to be on the show and show off their comedy stuff.

Ray’s Picks

BKA48! – keismagic
I have to say, I haven’t been this excited about AKB48 in a long, long time. Kei covers all the virtues of this song and the remarkably funny video.

News #2 – Stawberry LOVE
Candy looks at the latest developments with Silent Siren, Juice=Juice, and Buono!.

Check Out SNSD’s Super Summer-y “LOVE & GIRLS” PV – seoulbeats
The song is deemed boring, the PV much better.

7-member girl group TURAN to make their entrance into the Kpop scene – allkpop
I’m sure they’ll go far.

~「TGIF!」Idol♥’s unzipped on way back Fridays (Volume 46) – モーニングBerryz48
This time around, MB looks at Nagasaku Hiromi and Ribbon.

Kashiwagi Yuki’s Controversial Eating Video? – Konno’s Story
Konno Asami finds the video disturbing.

Thoughts on the T-ara N4/Chris Brown Collaboration (or Whatever It is They’re Calling It) – seoulbeats
Well, somebody had to take a closer look at this and make some sense of it. The part about Hooters was especially amusing.

Where are all the Reina wota going to end up once she’s gone? – Wota in Translation
A look at shifting loyalties.

[A Week with Winky] Tanaka Reina: Solo Collection – Okay! Musume Time
Chiima turns her attention to the solo songs Reina performed while a Musume, ending with some very interesting observations.

The Shounen Club 1 July 2007 review – Never Ending Music Power
It’s time for Osaka episodes again, and Thennary is quite pleased.

Perfume’s “Magic of Love” – the number 244
A fun review of the song and video, paying special attention to the visual trickery.