Peachy’s

Meet Peachy’s, the first ever “lip synching” idol unit straight outta Japan!

Mystery solved!

While I was walking around the Fuji TV headquarters building in Odaiba during my recent Japan trip I noticed some type of live event was being held at the plaza below at street level. Curious, I got closer to take a better look and see what all the commotion was about. A sizable crowd had gathered in front of a temporary stage where 3 girls dressed in similar flashy 1 piece dress outfits were doing some song & dance routine. In the backdrop on stage was a sign that said “Peachy’s”, which I had never heard of before.

The temporary outdoor stage where Peachy’s had their first public performance was at the bottom left corner of this shot of Fuji TV headquarters in Tokyo

Naturally I whipped out my beat up but trusty camera and aimed for the stage. But I was told by what appeared to be an event staff to keep moving as I was getting ready to take some snap shots that would’ve been worthy of a “Tokyo moment”. At that time I was by the very side of the stage, just outside the fenced off area where the audience was. I thought they just wanted to keep the foot traffic moving so I walked toward the pack and took out my camera again.

Peachy’s – Yuka Kosaka (L), Akina Minami (C) and Rina Akiyama (R)

However as I was adjusting the frame and the zoom once again I was interrupted by some event staff with a badge. This time I heard what he was saying, “I’m sorry but there’s no photography allowed.” I was really puzzled, since right before I got idol-blocked I saw a couple people passing by taking pictures with their cell phones. I wondered maybe it was my lack of understanding of the Japanese language or perhaps they didn’t want me taking pictures from that particular spot and get in the way because I did see a camera crew filming the event. I said to myself, “third time’s the charm” as I moved to the right side of the audience and attempted to snap up some juicy exclusive photos for all you Sleepy John readers.

Sorry guys, in the end I wasn’t able to provide any shots of my own. But this is what Peachy’s first mini concert looked like.

What do you know…this time a dude in a suit came up and rudely idol-blocked me even before I pointed my camera in the right direction! I MEAN WTF?!?! What’s the big friggin’ deal if their objective was to promote the group? I know I wasn’t back home in the States, but common sense would dictate that everything’s fair game out in the public. And I certainly considered this outdoor event by the street to fall under public domain! Am I off on this?

A big F**k Y** goes out to the department of event planning at Fuji TV and Japanese nonsensical trivial practices in general!

I got frustrated and upset about silly little trivial things the Japanese insist on doing like this one so I split without taking any pictures. But now thinking about it maybe I should’ve just played the “dumb gaijin” card and ignored them!

To make sense of all this, the dream idol unit “Peachy’s” consists of Japanese gravure idol Yuka Kosaka (小阪由佳), Akina Minami (南明奈) and Rina Akiyama (秋山莉奈), who also often appear on Japanese TV shows. Peachy’s claim to fame would be, “We’re not singing!” The project was born half jokingly out of Fuji TV’s late night TV show “Jodeki! Pop Company Pop-ya” (～ジョーデキ！POP COMPANY～ POP屋). The cute Japanese idol trio has gained so much following that they’ll release their first single titled “My Baby Boy” later on this summer!

L to R: Yuka Kosaka aka “Kosakana” (コサカーナ), Akina Minami aka Akkina (アッキーナ) and Rina Akiyama aka Oshirina (オシリーナ)

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Reina Tanaka x Up To Boy

Here’s a spread from Japanese idol & gravure magazine Up To Boy last year highlighting Fukuoka native Reina Tanaka’s (田中れいな) soon to be released photobook, “GIRL”. The uber cute 18 year old joined the popular Japanese idol group Morning Musume (モーニング娘) as a 6th generation member. Her fans can’t get enough of her angelic face, sweet singing voice and energetic dance moves on stage.

Reina said she’s glad she could show a more mature side of her in “GIRL”

The photo sessions took place in Tokyo, Chiba and Okinawa. Reina thought all the outfits for the shoot suited her really well!

MilkyWay Concert

MilkyWay @ Kawasaki Club Citta (クラブチッタ)

The newest Hello!Project unit Milky Way held their first ever public concert at Club Citta in Kawasaki over the weekend. The cute Japanese idol unit is composed of Koharu Kusumi (久住小春) of Morning Musume and Hello!Project Egg members Yu Kikkawa (吉川友) and Sayaka Kitahara (北原沙弥香).

MilkyWay leader and the always genki Koharu Kusumi aka Kirari Tsukishima (月島きらり)

Morning Musume 8th generation audition finalist Yu Kikkawa (吉川友)

Hello!Project Egg member Sayaka Kitahara (北原沙弥香)

The 3 girls danced away on stage in colorful costumes and performed their first single “Anataboshi” (アナタボシ), which made its Oricon Chart debut this week at number 3.

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

Maki Goto Jumps Ship

Fixed to appease some of you passionate Maki fans –> This just in from an unconfirmed source! Former super popular Morning Musume and Hello!Project artist Maki Goto has signed with Japanese record giant AVEX. “GoMaki”, as she’s often referred to in Japan was a 3rd generation member of Morning Musume. Her solo career took off after “graduating” from Japan’s most popular all girl group back in 2001. However, Maki had announced that she was leaving Hello!Project (and her handler Up Front Agency) last fall due to differences in the direction for her career she had with Up Front Agency, plus she was entangled in personal trouble over the arrest of both her younger brother (former EE Jump member Yuki Goto) and her boyfriend.

Maki will release her first single under the AVEX Trax sub label “Rhythm Zone” on May 7th titled “Necessary”. I think what’s “necessary” for her is to drop that loser boyfriend of hers immediately! This time the sexy 22 year old Maki has teamed up with well-known Japanese producer AKIRA who’s worked wonders for hit artist BoA. The B-side of her single will be a cover of famous Japanese singer / songwriter Keizo Nakanishi’s “You and I”, which was originally release back in 1993.

Hopefully by switching over to Avex Maki Goto will have more freedom with her music

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Japanese Idol Ranking, Part II

Continuation of CDTV’s (Countdown TV) top 20 ranking for ideal girlfriend according to Japanese guys that was just released this month.

No. 11 – Reina Tanaka

One look at the extremely popular Morning Musume and you’ll want to take this kitty home! (and yes guys, she’s legal) The girl from Fukuoka LOVES singing karaoke.

No. 12 – hiroko (mihimaru GT)

The 23 year old vocal that makes one half of the super poppy Japanese duo is from Hyogo Prefecture (next to Osaka)

No. 13 – BoA

What hasn’t been said about this Korean sensation who’s made it big in Japan and captured the heart of countless fans since ‘01? She’s pretty, sings well, can really dance, speaks Japanese fluently and got a great personality…what more can you ask for?

No. 14 – Eri Kamei

The 6th generation member of Japanese all girl idol group Morning Musume has made a really nice transition from the awkward, extremely shy little girl when she first joined to a confident and beautiful girl next door

No. 15 – Ayaka (絢香)

This singer / songwriter burst onto the j-pop scene only back in ‘06 but already has been compared to Hikaru Utada and Mika Nakashima

No. 16 – Ai Kawashima

The talented street performing singer / songwriter turns 22 today! The vocal of the now disbanded j-pop duo I WISH has had a tough life, orphaned as a toddler and losing both of her adopted parents while she was still in school.

No. 17 – Yui Aragaki

This Okinawan teenager first entered Japanese showbiz as a model for a popular fashion magazine. She has since appeared in several dramas and is highly sought after for commercial work.

No. 18 – Risa Niigaki

You can’t help but love this 5th generation Morning Musume and current sub-leader. The 19 year old Yokohama (just south of Tokyo) native charms her fans with her positive and energetic attitude.

No. 19 – aiko

You’d never have guessed this baby faced singer / songwriter from Osaka is 32 and has been making hits for over 10 years

No. 20 – Shoko Nakagawa

By now “Shokotan“, as all of Japan calls her has become a household name. The self professed otaku and former gravure idol has a huge loyal fan base and is the unofficial “princess of blogging“.

Japanese Idol Ranking, Part I

The purpose of Japanese weekly TV show CDTV (Countdown TV) on TBS (no, it doesn’t belong to Ted Turner) is to compile rankings out of anything and everything from the most popular high school bags to body shampoos to crepes that are served in the trendy Tokyo district of Harajuku. And CDTV has just released their semi annual list of “girls you’d like to make your girlfriend”.

Okay, so not all of the fine ladies that made the list are idols. Without further adieu, here is the list of the top 20 girls that Japanese guys would like to make their chick:

No. 1 – YUI

For some reason, for the third time in a row, the often gloomy looking singer / songwriter from Fukuoka captured the top position

No. 2 – Kaori Mochida

The vocal for now disbanded Every Little Thing takes the 2nd spot for the second time in a row. I guess Kaori still has a lot of pull even though she’s not that active anymore.

No. 3 – Ai Otsuka

The funky singer / songwriter from Osaka has an infectious voice and has butted heads with Kumi Koda who’s also from the same record label Avex

No. 4 – Rika Ishikawa

The leader of Viyuden and former Morning Musume possesses a hot body and her ass has been known to make fanboys cream in their pants!

No. 5 – Ayumi Hamasaki

The 29 year old Japanese diva with a sultry voice needs no introduction. She’s also often known as “Ayu” to her fans.

No. 6 – Ai Takahashi

The leader of Japan’s most popular girl group Morning Musume has a beautiful voice and a cheery personality

No. 7 – Natsumi Abe

Everyone in Japan knows “Nacchi“. The former leader of Morning Musume holds the record with 6 consecutive number one positions. The 26 year old Hokkaido native still melts the heart of men everywhere with her soft voice and warm personality.

No. 8 – Namie Amura

I can’t believe this 90s mega j-pop icon is 30! The singer from Okinawa forever changed the culture, fashion and language for young people in Japan.

No. 9 – Hitomi Yoshizawa

Also known as “Yossie“, the former leader of Japanese super idol group Morning Musume with boyish charms has blossomed into a fine young lady

No. 10 – Kumi Koda

Sometimes referred to as “Japan’s Britney Spears“, the chart topping singer from Kyoto has been in hot water as of late over her careless “womb” comment. (please see my blog on 2/4, 2/6 & 2/14) It’s no wonder that the 25 year old queen of “dirty pop” listed Christina Aguilera as one of her favorite artists.

Miki Fujimoto To Return

It looks like Japanese idol and former Morning Musume leader Miki Fujimoto aka Mikitty is set to return to the spotlight with the release of a new single as a solo artist on April 23rd. This time Miss Fujimoto will attempt to shed her idol past and do a 180 degree turnaround, debuting as a bona fide adult singer.

We’ll get to hear the beautiful voice of Mikitty again soon!

Mikitty got herself into lots of trouble in the beginning of summer last year when she was caught dating Tomoharu Shoji of the Japanese comedian duo “Shinagawa Shoji” then refused to leave him. This pretty much earned her banishment from Japanese showbiz and career suicide. For more information please check out my blog on 1-9-08.

Miki Fujimoto aka Mikitty is known for being strong-willed

But being the crown jewel of Up Front Agency, Mikitty’s handler knows they can’t let a super cute talent with a beautiful voice go to waste no matter how much she messes up. Since Miki stepped down as the leader of the most popular Japanese all girl group and ceased all activities as a Hello!Project member she’s been relegated to only playing futsal occasionally for the Gatas Brilliantes, an Up Front Agency backed all girl team.

Mikitty in action playing for the Gatas Brilliantes

Miki Fujimoto’s new single is titled “Oki Tegami”. It is composed by Masato Sugimoto (who shot to fame with the single “Waremoko” last year, and got the honor to perform at NHK’s Kohaku Utagassen year-end extravaganza) and lyrics written by Haku Ide. Instead of the typical pop sound, Miki’s new single has a folk song flavor to it.

Miki Fujimoto (L), Masato Sugimoto (C) and Takao Horiuchi (R)

Japanese singer Takao Horiuchi who also belongs to Up Front Agency first received the offer to sing the song last fall as Masato Sugimoto suggested that he should do it in a “chanson” (French cabaret style) fashion. Around the same time Mikitty was looking for the right music to revive her career as a singer. Her manager heard the demo tape and thought the song was perfect for her smooth mezzo-soprano voice. In the end it was decided that both Miki and Takao would release their own version of the single on the same date…how’s that for some inter-agency rivalry?!
The recording was done in the beginning of this month with songwriter Masato Sugimoto present. He remarked that Mikitty had a great voice, better than he imagined for a female in her 20s singing a song about distressed love, and that she carried good aura for the song. Mikitty commented that the song was rather challenging. It was nothing like she’s ever sung before, but Masato gave her some really helpful pointers. For an accomplished singer (Mikitty is not only a pretty face) to humble herself and say something like that, I really look forward to hearing the single!

The soon to be 23 year old Hokkaido native says, “This is a completely different style of singing but I’d like you to support the new Miki Fujimoto.”

I bet Mikitty is still as uber cute as ever

Ex Morning Musume Gives Birth

Kaori “Johnson” Iida, the OG Morning Musume

Former Japanese super idol group Morning Musume leader and member Kaori Iida has given birth to a baby boy on the 22nd of last month. Kaori sent the announcement to various media outlets by fax through her handler, Up Front Agency. The first child of the popular former idol from Hokkaido and her 7 House vocal (since disbanded) husband Kenji came into the world at 10:45 in the morning and weighed 3200 grams (about 7 lbs. 1 oz.).

Kaori wrote that she was so rejoiced and touched that she couldn’t stop crying. She also added that she felt an extra sense of responsibility and parental love developing since she and her husband are the only ones who could protect this tiny little life.

Kaori Iida, an original Morning Musume member (currently the latest members are 8th generation) first announced that she registered her marriage last July after finding out she was pregnant. But it was commendable that she did not cease her showbiz activities until the conclusion of “Morning Musume 10th Anniversary Special Unit” concert tour in September.