Peachy’s, Part 2

More photos of the new Japanese lip singing idol unit “Peachy’s”. 3 popular gravure idols - Yuka Kosaka, Akina Minami and Rina Akiyama have come together to form this unique “no singing” group, a first in J-pop history.

The idea for Peachy’s came from Fuji TV’s Monday late night variety show “Jodeki! Pop Company Pop-ya” (～ジョーデキ！POP COMPANY～ POP屋)

The three cute Japanese pin-up girls were keeping it real, though. Rina Akiyama aka “Oshirina” (オシリーナ) whose claim to fame is her petite yet beautifully shaped ass said, “When I heard my own voice I thought, ‘Oh, this is bad.’!” The sexy Japanese gravure doll Yuka Kosaka aka “Kosakana” (コサカーナ) laughed, “We tried practicing but it was pretty disappointing. It’d be nice if one of us has a nice voice.” The cheerful Akina Minami aka “Akkina” (アッキーナ) added, “I don’t care, I like our group this way. We’d like to start a new lip singing craze!”

From L to R: Yuka Kosaka, Akina Minami and Rina Akiyama

Peachy’s had their second mini “live” concert in Ikebukuro’s Sunshine City (池袋サンシャインシティ) at the end of last month. The girls were pretty nervous but showed off their lip synching (口パク) skills in front of about 2000 fans. Yuka, Akina and Rina finished the performance with their upcoming single “My Baby Boy” which is scheduled to drop on August 6th.

Azusa Yamamoto in Up To Boy

Here’s a picture of the cute and sexy Japanese talent and gravure idol Azusa Yamamoto (山本梓) that appeared in the Japanese gravure magazine “Up To Boy” (アップトゥボーイ) last October to announce the release of her latest photobook “Azu Hawaii” (あずHawaii).

The announcement in Up To Boy says that Azusa Yamamoto is “super hot” this time around…she is always hot to me!

Yui Aragaki Pantene Commerical

Popular Japanese U-19 idol and actress Yui Aragaki (新垣結衣) appeared at a press conference in Tokyo yesterday to promote her latest and last commercial work as a teen for P&G Japan’s Pantene shampoo, which will air starting next Monday. The Naha, Okinawa Prefecture native is pitching for Pantene’s “Silky Smooth Essence” line.

In the commercial Yui aka “Gakki” is shown feeling depressed because of the upcoming yearly rainy season in Japan (usually from mid June to mid July). But she uses the Pantene Silky Smooth haircare treatment every morning and by Week 2 she transforms into a happy girl holding an umbrella walking in the rain! Simple storyline, yes?

Yui Aragaki shot the entire Pantene commercial indoor

Buono

Here’s a little something that’ll surely snap you out of your food coma from lunch. I’ve got a couple teaser shots from Up To Boy on this recently formed Hello!Project unit. Buono (ボーノ) consists of Momoko Tsugunaga (嗣永桃子) and Miyabi Natsuyaki (夏焼雅) of Berryz Kobo and Airi Suzuki (鈴木愛理) from C-ute, another Hello!Project unit that has enjoyed success since they made their major debut last year.

Hello!Project members Momoko Tsugunaga (R) 嗣永桃子, Miyabi Natsuyaki 夏焼雅 (C) and Airi Suzuki 鈴木愛理 (L) make up Buono

Mikitty Is Genki

Mikitty was all smile at Tokyo FM’s Spain Zaka Studio

The lovely former Morning Musume leader Miki Fujimoto made an appearance on Monday on the Tokyo FM radio show “Wonderful World” in Shibuya to promote her upcoming single “Oki Tegami” (置き手紙). This is her first release since scandal broke out last summer that led to her stepping down from the popular Japanese idol group (please see blog from 2/15 & 1/9) and also her first solo single in 5 years.

Oki Tegami (Letter Left Behind) will be Miki Fujimoto’s comback single

Mikitty (as she is affectionately called) said she worked hard on this piece because the folk song style which “Oki Tegami” is based on is something she’s previously not familiar with. But she’s not nervous and is enjoying her solo activity. While on the subject of her b-side track “Far Away Lover” (遠い恋人) the radio show host playfully teased by asking, “Is your lover close by?” Slightly embarrassed Mikitty replied, “Yes, he’s close.”

Oki Tegami will hit the shelf next Wednesday alongside with a different version from veteran Japanese singer Takao Horiuchi.

Miki Fujimoto with Takao Horiuchi (L) at the press conference for Oki Tegami last month

Misako Yasuda In Kimono, Part 2

I’m bringing you some more Misako Yasuda cuteness because it’s a Monday.=)

Ai Kago Interview, Part 6

Alright fellas, here’s the final installment of OhmyNews / Ura Channel’s exclusive interview (<– original video here) with mega popular former Morning Musume and Hello!Project artist Ai Kago aka Aibon. And thanks for your encouraging comments…it’s good to know that the effort I put in is worth while!:)

“Morning Musume aren’t idols”

Aibon started off the final portion of her interview with famous Japanese showbiz reporter Masaru Nashimoto by saying the super popular Japanese girl unit “Morning Musume” wasn’t meant to be an idol group, but was viewed as such. Instead she considers Morning Musume to be a female singing group. Back then she was given the kiddish “Kago-chan” role so she had to play along. But now she’s starting anew and would like to be considered other than an idol.

Masaru proceeded to ask her if she still smokes now that she’s turned 20 and is legally allowed to smoke in Japan. Aibon replied, “Actually I’ve already quit before this. But even though now I can smoke freely I no longer feel like smoking. And nowadays I also feel it’s not so good manner wise to smoke.”

Aibon gave an interesting analogy to the situation. She said, “It’s like when you’re a small child you’re not allowed to go on some of those bigger rollercoaster rides and you really want to ride them. But once you’ve grown and passed that height requirement you don’t really feel like getting on them anymore.”

When the veteran interviewer Masaru Nashimoto mentioned that the reason he doesn’t smoke (honestly I was shocked, I imagine Masaru to be the typical chain smoking, yakitori eating, shochu drinking Japanese old geezer…guess I was wrong) is because when he visited a shrine while on a school trip in high school some people next to him were smoking and it made him feel ill, Aibon told him she felt the same way. She explained that by smoking and being around smoke it made her voice coarse, and added that it’s not okay for underage kids to smoke, even if they don’t get caught. Haha it sure sounded like Aibon was doing an anti-smoking campaign!

Toward the end Masaru quipped that he is more than 40 years Aibon’s senior (he’s 63). Aibon expressed genuine surprise and said she didn’t think he’s that old. When he told her he was born in 1944 Aibon said, “Oh that’s the same year my grandma was born!” which drew a bunch of laughter. Country side people sure have kids young!

Best of luck to the older and wiser Miss Ai Kago…please don’t cut yourself anymore

Ai Kago Interview Part 3

(Edit: Okay I’m throwing up this clip let’s see how long it lasts)