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Featured Idol Friday: Yukueshirezutsurezure

6/10/2016

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We've talked about Yukueshirezutsurezure before, but somehow never got around to really telling you who they are. Luckily for you, it's Featured Idol Friday! With their debut mini-album fresh in everybody's minds, this is the perfect chance to tell you all about the enigma that is Yukueshirezutsurezure.

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AKB48 Cuts Ties With International Sister Group SNH48

6/9/2016

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In a sudden and shocking move, AKS (the management company behind AKB48 and its sister groups) announced that its Chinese sister group, SNH48 (based in Shanghai), has violated its contract and has cut ties with the international sister group. This move comes after an interesting series of developments from both the AKS and SNH48 camps.

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BiSH are Embracing Their Horrifying New Aesthetic, And So Should You

6/7/2016

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The night Hug Me officially left rebel idol group BiSH, the remaining members also debuted their new look. Fitting in somewhere between "monster hospital" and "wouldn't want to meet them in a dark alley", the members of BiSH have taken to social media to flaunt their terrifying new look. Some highlights:

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PassCode - VIRTUAL

5/30/2016

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This year in metal idols kicked off with some heavy-hitters, like BiSH's "FAKE METAL JACKET" and BABYMETAL's "METAL RESISTANCE". PassCode is a relatively new group to a genre which is already young to begin with. They've been marking their place in metal idol history for only a couple of years, but fans have been anxiously awaiting a follow-up to their debut album "ALL is VANITY". That follow-up is finally here, in the form of "VIRTUAL".

We reviewed the lead single "AXIS" recently, using words like "digital hardcore" and "cyberpunk".

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J-Pop Dance/Vocal Group Da-iCE to Make Overseas Debut at FanimeCon 2016

5/20/2016

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The 5-member vocal and dance group “Da-iCE” (pronounced “dice”) will be making their overseas debut at FanimeCon 2016 this May. The group consists of Yudai Ohno (vocal), Sota Hanamura (vocal), Taiki Kudo (performer), Toru Iwaoka (performer), and Hayate Wada (performer). Together they have scored multiple chart-topping hits in Japan, becoming a pop music sensation for their multi-octave range, modern dance style, handsome looks, and sophisticated fashions. Their concert at FanimeCon will be the first chance for American fans to see the group’s energetic stage show that has sold out concerts across Japan.

Their appearance at the convention will not only include the concert itself, but also a Q&A panel and two autograph sessions. The San Jose concert (the group’s first live show outside of Japan) will feature a full showcase of songs and dancing, matching the power of their recent tours. Da-iCE will also bring limited quantities of official merchandise from Japan (available at the Kinokuniya booth) — CDs, DVD, T-shirts, towels, mini-poster + ID card sets (first release of these items will be at FanimeCon), tote bags, iPhone Cases — and there will be a rare and limited-admission Da-iCE photo session for fans who purchase a special goods package at the event.
 
Da-iCE’s Schedule at FanimeCon 2016:
Saturday, May 28 – Autograph Session (11:30 am)
Saturday, May 28 – Concert Showcase (Doors 6:15 pm || Start time: 7:00 pm)
Sunday, May 29 – Q&A Panel (2:00pm)
Sunday, May 29 – Autograph Session (3:30pm)
 
For More About Fanime:
http://www.fanime.com
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ABOUT Da-iCE
 
With Yudai’s background as a lead vocalist in an a cappella group and Sota’s solo vocalist work, the pair met Taiki, Toru, and Hayate , who were working as dancers, in 2011. This meeting marked the beginning of Da-iCE’s conception as the unique vocal group that they have become today. Having trained hard with world famous dancers to mix in the best choreography with superb vocals, which has created their own standard of performance and energy they are known for.
 
This led them to be able to open for AAA's tour in 2012 to much acclaim. They then received a flood of offers to perform many large-scale music festivals, fashion events, and magazines. In December of the same year their 1st mini album “Da-iCE” achieved a ranking of 15 on the Oricon Daily Ranking Chart. With this continuous energy and their rising popularity, Da-iCE has gained even more recognition and popularity, with more hits on the Oricon chart.
 
 Da-iCE has just released their 8th single “WATCH OUT” (from their second major-label album "EVERY SEASON") and third live DVD “Da-iCE Live House Tour 2015-2016 -PHASE 4 HELLO-” on April 6. The group will embark upon their first nationwide large-venue tour of Japan in July.

-Paloma (alpacaqueen)

Da-iCE on iTunes:
https://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/da-ice/id902920853

\WATCH OUT

Back To The Future

BILLION DREAMS

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Sakura Oda Releasing First Solo Photobook "Sakura Moyou"

5/15/2016

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If you’re a Morning Musume ’16 fan, or just an idol fan in general, you are completely familiar with the concept of photobooks. They are, quite simply, books full of various types of photo shoots of (usually) a single idol. Fans generally clamor to get these for their favorite idol in order to show support in every way that they can.

In Morning Musume ’16, photobooks usually only happen when logistics are met and the individual idol agrees to do it. Thanks to a surprise announcement on April 18th on her blog, fans found out that Sakura Oda (11th generation member of Morning Musume ’16) will be getting her first solo photobook since she joined the group back in 2012.

The photobook, called ‘Sakura Moyou’ (さくら模様), will be releasing May 27 and will be published by Wani Books. It will be available from HMV and from Amazon Japan, with Amazon carrying an exclusive limited edition cover. Links will be provided below. If you are ordering it from overseas, I highly recommend ‘No Country For Tall Men’ as your export service if you don’t have a favorite already. He provides great customer service, is very professional and charges a minimal commission fee in comparison to other export services. He can be contacted via Facebook, also with a link provided below.
I, for one, can’t wait for it to release. Check it out!
 

- Teepu


Amazon Limited Edition: Here

Amazon Standard Edition: Here

HMV: Here

Wani Books Listing: https://www.wani.co.jp/event.php?id=5067
 
No Country For Tall Men Page: https://www.facebook.com/NoCountryForTallMenExports/

​Sakura’s Official Blog Post: http://ameblo.jp/morningmusume-10ki/entry-12151567014.html

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BiSH Announce Hug Me's Departure; Will Audition New Members

5/15/2016

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BiSH have announced today that founding member Hug Me will be retiring in June, due to family reasons. Hug Me will be the first member to leave post-debut, as the only person to have departed BiSH previously was Yukako Love Deluxe (who left prior to the group's official debut).

In light of Hug Me's graduation, BiSH will hold auditions for a replacement ahead of their major label debut album set to be released in October. No word yet on if Hug Me's departure will affect the release schedule of that album, or if everything will go on as planned.

Personally, Hug Me was my favorite member, and it's sad to see her go. She added a lot of character to the group and had a fantastic singing voice to boot. I'm sure a lot of fans will also miss her porn magazine column. Hug Me has stated in the past that she felt useless in BiSH, and that she was considering leaving as far back as last year. We wish good luck to Hug Me in her future endeavors, and to her replacement who has MASSIVE shoes to fill. Hell, Hug Me even has a whole SONG named after her!

-Justin


BiSH perform "HUG ME"

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Featured Idol Friday: Friday the 13th Mega Post

5/13/2016

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"Happy Friday the 13th" probably isn't a phrase you're used to. Apologies, then, for this month's Featured Idol Friday. Digging through the depths of the most intense and rebellious anti-idols out there, it was hard to decide who would get the honor of being this month's terrifying poster group for underground idols. You may remember that last month we had DEEP GIRL gracing our front page, which disqualifies them for this month of course. It's too bad, since they would have fit in nicely. Instead we made the decision to give a handful of groups the spotlight, groups who we found were horror-themed, creepy, or just plain unsettling.

Kamen Joshi

It's hard to mention idols on Friday the 13th without bringing up the masked idols Kamen Joshi. Performing a mix of cutesy idol pop and heavy metal, these idols wear hockey masks at all times. Their bright colors and cheery music is known for taking dark turns down the path of hardcore underground music. While they bear many similarities to mainstream groups like BABYMETAL, it's their aesthetic which sets them apart and gives them a place in this article.

Yukueshirezutsurezure

If their name alone isn't a horror story for our English-speaking audience, then maybe their debut MV will be. This group hangs heavily in the "unsettling" side of the spectrum, making sickeningly dark "yami-kawaii" music which gives you the chills even through the sweetly innocent vocals. When they break down in chaotic fury, it's one of the most surprising musical moments in recent memory. They were set to release their debut mini-album this week, but unfortunately had to postpone it due to losing a member. Instead, it's expected to be out at the end of the month.

Zenbu Kimi no Sei Da.

You can't mention Yukueshirezutsurezure without their sister-group Zenbu Kimi no Sei Da, and vice-versa. This denpa-influenced idol group takes seriously dark turns into some of the most uncomfortable topics imaginable. Their recent couple of videos deal with depression, self-harm, and suicide in various ways. The first is tasteful and emotional, the second is wild and in-your-face. Enjoy!

Guso Drop

We don't have a lot of information regarding this new idol group, but they're as dark and heavy as it gets. Aiming to be the most hardcore group around, they actively encourage stage-diving and crowd-lifting and mosh pits... All in an attempt to prove they're more hardcore than BiSH. I think they made their point quite clearly.

Honorable Mentions

These groups don't really fit the theme, but deserve a mention due to their connection to the dark side of idol music. Whether it be their music or their image, something about each of these groups breaks the mold of the common idol. (only includes currently active idols!)
  • BABYMETAL
    • The supreme overlords of metal idol music
  • BiSH (see our previous FIF article on them here)
    • Punk rock idols following in the footsteps of BiS
  • Oyasumi Hologram
    • Dream pop group with a slight dark side
  • petit pas!
    • Pure metal idols
  • Screaming Sixties
    • Idols backed by real-life punk band 6% is MINE
  • DEEP GIRL (see our previous FIF article on them here)
    • Heavy metal idols with some of the most unsettling imagery in the game
  • BILLIE IDLE (see our previous FIF article on them here)
    • Punk idols throwing it back to the 70s in the best way
  • Maison book girl
    • Dream pop unit featuring a member of BiS
  • Jun Togawa
    • The queen of dark idols, often credited as the founder of the movement


-Justin
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