Some Personal Thoughts on Mikitty and Scandals...

Alright, so...last night, in the process of trying to find video of Miki's Aenai performance from the SharamQ 20th Anniversary concert (which, by the way, there seems to be none of...), I came across quite a few blogs from around the time of her scandal. They talked about what Momusu could have become under her leadership, what was to become of GAM, her newfound relationship with this Shouji guy...and it depressed the shit out of me. I suppose now it's time for the obligatory scandal post.

One of the first things I need to get out of the way is, I have always approached H!P as a true blue wota. That's not to say that I pull out my glowsticks and do wotagei along to my concert DVDs, but there's a pretty real relationship that develops between wota and idol (or, should I say, one-sided relationship that develops from wota toward idol), and I've got it in full force. So when, say...someone in wotachat (*cough* pengie *cough*) makes some kind of lewd joke about Miki, it pisses me off. I've stormed out of wotachat on a few different occasions for that reason because, while I know the relationship is not the same (I may be smitten with a girl I'll never meet, but I'm not crazy), the emotions stirred up by that situation are similar to those that would arise if someone started making jokes about my wife or girlfriend, were I to have one. Just to re-emphasize this point, I don't think Fujimoto Miki is my girlfriend. That's stupid. But I still have a strong emotional connection to her as an idol, and it bothers me to see that idol image broken, as selfish and foolish as that is (but really, I'm a wota...would you expect anything else?). I hope that, by putting this post together, I can shed some light on how wotas feel about scandals and so forth. I get pretty tired of bloggers saying "why can't you just be happy for her!?". It's really not that simple.

Now that that's taken care of, back to my situation last night. So I'm wandering google search results, trying to find any traces of some Aenai footage, and I run across some blogs about Miki's scandal last year. While that's always been kind of a sour point for me, it never bothered me much because I wasn't a fan of hers at the time, and she's active now, so I could look past it. Not last night. Reading about all the tabloids that were reporting on her nights at a guy's house, trips to restaurants, weekends at resorts with him...I felt like the boyfriend who had just been dumped, seeing a girl I still had feelings for walking around with another guy. And for wota, that's exactly what it is. Creepy it may be, but filling that void for lonely guys is the function of idols, like it or not.

But back to the issue of scandals...while it truly bothers me to read what little there is to read about Miki's love life, I don't think she should stop dating Shouji Tomoharu. I may be selfish, but I'm not a dick. I cringe at the thought of what her and that guy may be doing behind closed doors, not because it makes me unhappy to think of her enjoying the company of a man in the bedroom (uncomfortable? yes, very - unhappy? not particularly), but because, as a wota, I can't help but feel jealous. She's MY idol...the girl I buy H!P concerts just for her one performance (2002 LOVE IS ALIVE concert DVD...hey, it was cheap), and collect her photobooks, and get excited when I recognize her voice in a song. There's a romantic element to being a wota that never really gets communicated to Western fans, because it's something you can't show through wotagei, or eyecandy posts, or buying merchandise, or anything like that.

Obviously, you can write about it, as I'm attempting to do here (and as others in the j-music blogosphere have done), but even that doesn't communicate what it's like to really have feelings for an idol, and then have those feelings stepped on when you find out that she's been "going behind your back". While terminology like that makes it seems as though I don't care about Miki's feelings, that couldn't be farther from the truth. As much as it hurts to think that Miki exists for anyone but me, I always do my best to put my feelings aside, because I do care about her. This is why I'm so fond of the no-dating policy.

It was blaringly obvious when Miki left H!P that she was ready to stop being an idol and live her life as a normal woman (or at least, as normal as the life of a celebrity can be). Some said that she used her relationship, and the no-dating policy, as a way out, and I'm inclined to agree. If an idol wants to do that, I say let her leave H!P and do so. After quitting Momusu, Miki laid low for a few months and made her way back into the music world with a solo single. She had said in interviews that she always wanted to be an enka singer anyway, so this was a near-ideal situation for her. Knowing that, by leaving H!P, Miki was allowing herself to do what she always wanted to do...it was much easier for me to swallow my wota selfishness and be happy for her.

One of the other things that makes it easier for me to continue enjoying Miki, knowing that she's no longer an idol, was that I didn't like her only as an idol, or as part of H!P. She's a talented vocalist (when songs are in her range... >.>'), a beautiful girl, and a great personality, and those aspects of her didn't go anywhere in the months between her scandal and Okitegami. There's just too many good things about her for me to drop my wota-ism because of some jealousy. Not to say that my jealousy is any less because of it...but the wota-idol relationship is only a small portion of why I like Miki so much. I think any wota who ends up sticking it out through a scandal that ends in their favorite idol leaving H!P would likely be able to say the same thing.

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November 2008 Purchases

Definitely the craziest month yet for H!P purchases. :P

These complete my Mikitty photobook collection:

• Ayaya to Mikitty
• Cheri

DVDs:

• Koto Mikku: Ue
• Koto Mikku: Shita
• Morning Musume Concert Tour 2002 Haru "LOVE IS ALIVE!"
• MilkyWay - TanTanTaan Single V
• Momusu Sakuragumi - Hare Ame Nochi Suki Single V
• Morning Musume Otomegumi Hatsukouen ~Otomechikku~

Gomaki CDs:

• Ai no Bakayarou RE
• Scramble LE (w/photobook)
• Daite yo! PLEASE HOLD ON LE (w/photobook & poster)
• Genshoku Gal Hade ni Yukube! LE (w/photobook)
• 3rd Station LE (w/cards)

Went a little crazy on the Ayaya:

• Dokki Doki! LOVE Mail RE
• Tropica~l Koishite~ru RE
• LOVE Namida Iro RE
• YOUR SONG ~Seishun Sensei~ LE (w/posters)
• The Bigaku RE
• Suna wo Kamu You ni... NAMIDA RE
• Egao RE
• Kizuna RE

Other CDs:

• Momusu Sakuragumi - Sakura Mankai RE
• Buono - Rottara Rottara LE (w/DVD)
• Berryz Koubou - MADAYADE RE
• Momusu Otomegumi - Yuujou ~Kokoro ni Busu ni wa Nara nee! RE
• Nakazawa Yuko - Dai 2 Shou ~Tsuyogari~ RE
• MilkyWay - TanTanTaan LE (w/card)

And, last but not least, Ayaya's 2009 calendar:


Some quick thoughts:
- Cheri is, in my opinion, the quintessential Mikitty photobook. It really just 'feels' like her, to me. If you're going to buy only one of her photobooks, I heartily recommend it be this one.
- I absolutely adore Koto Mikku (actually, it looks like I'm going to end up with an extra copy of each volume, if anyone is looking to buy or trade...), the old-school AM love is something that I can never get enough of.
- I'd been meaning to buy the Otomegumi concert for a long time, and now that I finally got around to it...undoubtedly worth both the wait and the money. Watch it, folks.
- Genshoku Gal is, without a doubt, my favorite Gomaki song. I can't help but turn my stereo way up when it comes on. XD
- Ayaya is awesome, plain and simple.
- Like Henkka has said so many times, Nakazawa Yuko is one of the most underrated H!P artists. While it's not there quite yet, I think her second album (the one pictured in this post :P) will end up in my top 5 H!P albums at some point. It's really that good.
- I still don't quite see what the big deal is about TanTanTaan...hopefully it'll catch on sometime, cause I want to like the single. I'm just not seeing the magic yet. >.<

And, with that, another month, another pile of H!P merch. Till next time.
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Collection Pics

Shirow over at Wotaku Now! asked for pics of my collection, so here they are.





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How much of a wota am I?

Midori over at Midori's J-Pop Overanalyzations has put together a list of Jeff Foxworthy-esque "You know you're [---] when..." items for wotas, and I've decided to see just how many I qualify for. XD

You can name and/or recognize half or more of the AKB48 research students or H!P Eggs.
- I'm not into AKB in the least, and I'm not really into the eggs...so I can't say I'm able to do that. :P

You own at least 10 photos of your favorite idol.
- Guilty. :P Although I doubt I'll buy any more...

You buy t-shirts advertising your favorite idol/idol group and wear them on a regular basis. If you're a man 25+, you don't feel any regret or embarrasment about this.
- No t-shirts...yet... XD

You know all of your favorite idol's stats by heart.
- If by stats, you mean 3 sizes, birthday, etc...no, not by heart. I don't really have the time to do so, wish I did... >.<

Whenever anyone insults your favorite idol or idol group, you immediately come to their defense... even if you know you're b.s.ing half your compliments. (i.e. "They're good singers!" "She can dance well!" "She has more personality than [insert some famous TV personality here]" "They're NOT ugly!"
- Yeah, I definitely do this. Just ask anyone in wotachat. :P

You have spent more than you make a day on idol goods.
- Oh, lord yes. XD Buying H!P stuff is one of my favorite things.

You can recognize all of your favorite idols' voices.
- For the most part, yeah. I can recognize all Berryz, most post/during-4th album Momusu members, Ayaya, I'm okay with C-ute...

You have almost a stalkerish obsession with wanting to meet them or even just see them in person.
- I definitely want to someday go to Japan and see Aya or Miki live at some point. I don't think it's reasonable to make seeing one of the seasonal H!P concerts a goal for myself (being a college student and all, and then entering into the workforce and establishing myself financially...I doubt I'll make it to Japan anytime soon)...but I see a nice long career ahead for Ayaya, and I would hope the same for Miki, so seeing one (or both) of them is the plan. XD As for a stalkerish obsession with seeing them in person? I don't that's reasonable for someone who lives in the US. :P

You hear someone say something that remotely sounds like your favorite idol's name and you immediately assume they're also a wota.
- I don't assume they're a wota...but I definitely perk up and hope that they're talking about her. XD Never happens though...

You heavily anticipate any news from your idol.
- Considering how little activity Miki gets now, any news is good news. >.<

You have sent fan-mail.
- Nope.

Your favorite idol appears in your dreams more than once.
- I've had a lot of idol dreams, yes...

You have wondered what would happen if your idol dated you. (Mainly for guys, but if we include Johnnys here...)
- I've thought about it, yeah. XD

Your husband/wife/boyfriend/girlfriend/immediate family has learned to deal with your obsession long ago.
- My family never seemed to mind it too much. My friends, on the other hand...I still get crap from them. XD

If your favorite idol is suspended/fired/retired/graduated/has no work with their agency/other you check more than two sources of possible info everyday and accept any rumors about his/her return to be true immediately.
- I'm not quite naive enough to just immediately accept a rumor...but if I hear anything, I get pretty excited. XD

You have at least 3 photobooks or DVDs of your favorite idol.
- Absolutely, yeah. XD

You could colorcode a song sung by AKB48 O.o (I'm afraid of those who can!)
- Nope. :P

You do fandubs, cosplays, or fandances of your favorite idol or idol group.
- Absolutely not. >.<

You make birthday and worship posts on a blog/forum.
- Never.

You don't take the cheap route and buy your idol's songs from iTunes or another mp3 site, you spend the money to order every edition of the CD/DVD.
- Not every edition, but I own the complete discography (as in, one version of every single/album) of several idols/idol groups that I like, and I'm always working on more. :P

So...9/20, it looks like. You could say 15 if you wanted to be generous, but I only completely fit 9. XD

Woo wotadom? :P
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October 2008 Purchases

I'm just going to stop saying that it's been a crazy month for purchases...cause lately, every month has been, and I don't see that letting up any time soon. XD

• Naked Songs LE (w/DVD)
• Good Bye Natsuo LE (w/photobook)
• 100kai no KISS RE
• Ki ga Tsukeba Anata LE (w/DVD)
• Momoiro Kataomoi RE
• Yeah! Meccha Holiday RE

• Happy Summer Wedding RE
• Do it! Now RE
• Aruiteru RE
• Ai Araba IT'S ALL RIGHT LE (w/photobook)
• Koko ni Iruzee! RE
• Go Girl ~Koi no Victory~ RE
• Iroppoi Jirettai LE (no box case or cards)
• Rainbow 7 LE (w/photobook)

• Yaruki! IT'S EASY RE
• Makking GOLD(1) LE (w/booklet)
• (2) Paint It Gold LE (w/poster)
• Ai no Sono ~Touch My Heart!~ RE
• Renai Sentai Shitsu Ranger RE
• SHALL WE LOVE? Single V
  

• Ayaya - First Concert Tour 2002 Haru "First Date"
• Ayaya - Yeah! Meccha Live
• Ayaya - Concert Tour 2005 Haru 101 Kaime no Kiss ~Hand in Hand~
• Mikitty Alo-Hello DVD

Lots of Ayaya this month, and my first Gomaki CDs. I'm especially fond of Ayaya's Naked Songs and Hand in Hand concert, and Miki's Alo-Hello. I'd write more, but I'm tired and I have school in the morning, so I'll leave it at that. XD
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September 2008 Purchases

A bit late on this one...halfway through October now. XD Anyway, September was another crazy month for me. Luckily, it wasn't all that expensive, thanks to my recent decision to stick to eBay for purchases that aren't preorders whenever possible. :P

• Ayaya - X3 LE (w/poster, pictured below)
• Ayaya - Watarasebashi RE
• Ayaya - Zutto Suki de Ii Desu Ka
• Ayaya - Hyacinth RE
• Ayaya - Kiseki no Kaori Dance RE
  

• C-ute - LALALA Shiawase no Uta Single V
• Berryz Koubou - 5(FIVE) LE (w/DVD)
• Berryz Koubou - Dschinghis Khan TaruTaru Mix
• Buono! - Gachinko de Ikou Single V
• Buono! - Gachinko de Ikou LE (w/DVD)
  

• Momusu - Pepper Keibu LE (w/photobook)
• Momusu - THE Manpower RE
• Momusu - Kanashimi Twilight LE (w/photobook)
• 2003 Shuffles Single LE (w/photobook)
• Athena & Robikerottsu - Shouri no BIG WAVE!!! LE (w/photobook)
• Athena & Robikerottsu - Seishun! LOVE Lunch LE (w/DVD)
  

• Mikitty Alo-Hello Photobook
• Mikitty Coeur Photobook

Of the things pictured here, my favorites are probably Matsuura's X3, the Athena & Robikerottsu singles, and the Mikitty photobooks. I've recently 'discovered' Ayaya (actually, I've been listening to her since the beginning of the year, but I've only recently begun to understand how incredible she actually is), and X3 is what jump-started this discovery. As for the Athena singles...they're just really fun, happy songs, and I'd been intending to buy them for a really long time, but never got around to it until recently. It should be obvious why I like the Mikitty photobooks...but aside from the obvious reason of OMG MIKI, I'm also now only one PB away from having all of her releases (aside from the one she did with Ayaya, which I may or may not ever buy :P).
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A fairly creepy question...

So, as most of you probably know, Chinami's cell phone was recently stolen, and some pics ended up leaked to the net.

Memorable selections include the following:

[EDIT] Apparently the Maimi pic wasn't Maimi. T-T


The orange box of text says something about sex. XD


Maasa is badass.

So the question I must pose to my fellow bloggers is this: if there was an idol (H!P or otherwise) to have his/her cell phone stolen and pics leaked to the net, who would you want it to be? And what do you hope those pics would consist of? Also, I want to emphasize the fact that this is not about whose cell phone you want to be stolen (that's just mean XD), but rather about whose cell phone pics you want to see.

I honestly can't answer right this second because my immediate reaction was Mikitty, but she's no longer an idol, so her cell phone can't be too terribly exciting. I suppose I'll have to post a response at a later date. XD

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