Comments from 12th gen & leader Fuku-chan at their tour wrap-up in Budokan

Wrapping up the final leg of the Morning Musume。´15's Spring GRADATION tour at the Nippon Budokan, the 12th gen who were announced there in September last year have now been part of a performance at the Budokan. Here are their comments to the fans.

Haga Akane:
We, the 12th gen, were introduced at Budokan last year, but today, being able to participate in our first Budokan performance as members of Morning Musume。, I truly enjoyed it. Thank you very much for today.

Makino Maria: 
Standing on the Budokan stage like this today, it brings back memories of when I joined, through the announcement of the 12th gen members. Becoming a member of Morning Musume。is Maria's greatest joy. Thank you very much for today.

Nonaka Miki: 
Just as Akane-chan and Maria-chan said, this Budokan is the place where the 12th gen made our first appearance, and being able to perform here today fills me with happiness. But, there's still room for Nonaka to grow, so please watch over me warmly. “Morning musume。 It is fantastic! ” (Note: The preceding quote was said in English) . Thank you very much for the truly enjoyable time today.

Ogata Haruna: 
When this tour started, I honestly wasn't used to introducing myself as a member of 'Morning Musume。´15', but having received support from the fans, and having talked a lot with the members, this was a tour that fired up my feelings of being part of Morning Musume。 Morning Musume。´15's Ogata Haruna will continue to do my best, so I beg for everyone's kind support. Thank you so very much for today.

This also represented the first tour for Fukumura Mizuki as the 9th leader

'As the final day, getting to stand here, at the Nippon Budokan, it truly makes me happy. Thank you very much. When the decision for this Nippon Budokan performance was made, I was uneasy, I felt worried, was it too soon for us? But I strongly felt that we shouldn't let this chance slip by, I believed that Morning Musume。could go that far, so we've been doing our best with all we have the whole time. We've gone to various places from the first day of the tour, and we've been supported by all sorts of fans, which built up our confidence. And finally getting to see this lovely view at the Nippon Budokan at the end, I'm truly glad. (Overcome with emotion at the sight of pink glowsticks shining from the audience seats) Pink... I'm happy. Thank you very much. However, we're still getting started, so I think I'd like to have more of the colours of all 13 of us, so please light up glowsticks in our 13 colours. Thank you so very much.

Source: Barks

Berryz Kobo's final address to the fans

Thanks to Barks-san, we have transcripts of Berryz Kobo's final words to the fans at the Nippon Budokan, before they launched into their final performance of Love Together. You may want to prepare tissues.

Sugaya Risako

Everyone、 thank you very much for today。

Including our time as the Kids、 we've been in Hello! Project for 12 and a half years、 and it's unimaginable that we'll be closing the books on it today。 I seriously have no idea what would be best to say today、 but it was really fun。

All sorts of things happened in these 12 and a half years、 there were a lot of things that were fun and enjoyable、 but honestly、 there were tons of times when it was tough、 honestly、 there were a lot of times when I thought about dropping everything and going somewhere（cries）。

But I think that it was due to the presence of my family and the staff-san around me、 everyone around me, the fans that are here、 that I've been able to do it until now。 Thank you so very much。

It's a pity that my voice is like this、 but since I've sung with everything I had until now…… I've got no regrets。

Honestly、 everyone、 thank you so very much。

[Fan Report] A Night at Minakami Onsen

(This is a translation of Japanese fan's Salaryman Kobo NEO's blog post about the special concert that Berryz Kobo held at their 2014 bus tour. The wonderful accompanying illustrations are by him as well.)

For Berryz Kobo's fanclub bus tour, we went to Minakami Onsen in Gunma prefecture.

Today, we had an 8-shot with all 7 members of Berryz Kobo, a time-restricted apple picking event, and to top off the day, there was a special concert.
That concert was really, really fun. Berryz' power to entertain was explosive, and they pulled it off wonderfully.
I'm keeling over with intoxication and fatigue, but I thought I'd write about it at length.

Setlist

＃１　Anshinkan
＃２　Passion E‐CHA E‐CHA
MC　(Everyone) Greeting
＃３  Mythology
＃４　Waracchaou yo BOY FRIEND
＃５　Yuuki wo Kudasai
MC 　Maasa・Kumai-chan・Risako
～From here 「Messing around corner」
＃６　Yurushite-nyan Taisou　Captain・Miyabi-chan
＃７　Gag 100kai Aishite Kudasai　Captain・Momochi・Chinami　No Nyuu Festival
＃８　Kozukai Up Daisakusen　Maasa・Kumai-chan・Risako
＃９　Watashi no Mirai no Danna-sama　Miyabi-chan・Risako＋ Sea bream dancers （Captain・Chinami）
＃10 ROCK Erotic　Momochi in male role ・ Maasa ＆ Kumai-chan in female role
＃11 Cha Cha Sing　Everyone
MC　(Everyone)　About the messing around corner
～
＃12 Berryz Fields
＃13 Hero Arawaru
＃14 Munasawagi Scarlet
＃15 Yo no Naka Barairo
MC　(Everyone)　Impressions of today
＃16 Arigatou Otomodachi


The first outfits were the encore outfits from the recent Budokan concert.
In a rare turn of events, Momochi had only the left side of her hair done up, and that unexpectedly made my heart race. (^_^;)

Momochi's hairstyle at today's concert

With 'Anshinkan' at the start and the long-unperformed 'Passion', the audience's voltage was already charged up, but we were splendidly bowled over by the 'messing around' corner in the middle!
According to Captain, these were the members' selfish requests being realised, but first up was 'Yurushite-nyan Taisou' by Captain in her kindergarten cosplay (this was familiar) and, unexpectedly, Miyabi-chan in lieu of Momochi.

Yurushite-nyaa~n

Continuing on with 'Gag 100', at the middle section where Chinami goes 'No~Nyuu' (And it's been 5 years since Chinami last went 'No~Nyuu'), it became a 'No~Nyuu' call & response festival between those on-stage and the venue. I should note that unexpectedly, Captain's NoNyu was sexy-cute.

For 'Kozukai Up Daisakusen', Maasa was the mother dressed in an apron, Kumai-chan was a primary schooler lugging a randoseru (a knapsack associated with elementary schoolchildren), and Risako appeared in a kindergarten kid cosplay!

Seeing Kumai-chan with a randoseru, a sight unseen since her Nyoki Nyoki Champion randoseru graduation ceremony, everyone present shed tears of gratitude.

For 'Watashi no Mirai no Danna-sama', the two sea bream backdancers were doing as they pleased.
Berryz are the only idols that can make lying down on the stage look good! (^_^;)

We're sleepy....

As for 'Rock Erotic', Momochi made an appearance as a lovely lady dressed in a man's attire! With her two larger, beautiful partners in baggy clothes, seeing her sing and dance with a smug face was the biggest moe point of the day! 
At the MC, Momochi went 'Maasa and I are really fitting partners, aren't we?~' By the way, Kumai-chan complained that the waist was tight, so doing anything beyond one song would be impossible~ (^_^;) 

Momochi Erotic?

There are all sorts of things that I'd like to add, but even a whole night wouldn't suffice.

Returning to the inn after the concert, we received presents personally from the members.
(An aluminium bottle)
And having soaked in the bath, we partied!
On one hand we had voices going 'That was super fun! Berryz saikou!', while some voiced out sentiments on things that couldn't be helped, like 'Perhaps today might have been the last "Nonyu"~', or 'Even though it's so much fun, it's coming to an end~'.

Well, with everyone having used up their strength, there seemed to be a pile of corpses in the middle of the room,
Since we've got an early start tomorrow, I'm putting down my pen here.

Oyasumiyabi~

(Hope you enjoyed the report as much as I did. If you did, might I recommend you give some props to SK NEO-san. His Twitter handle is @sk_neo.)
Original blog post

Hama-chan reads out a letter to Momochi

In one of the segments at the night performance of the Osaka Nama Tamago Show held on the 23rd of September 2014, Hamaura Ayano-chan chose to read aloud a letter she had written for Tsugunaga Momoko-san, the senpai she looks up to! Here's my translation of some tweets on the contents of her letter.

Berryz' closing statements from their 2014 Budokan Live

Sugaya Risako
Continuing on from yesterday, this is the 2nd day in a row for us to appear at the Budokan, and yet, I was really nervous. Compared to when we were last at the Budokan, on the 29th of November last year, haven't I managed to retain my composure?
Even though I'm not that great at dancing, when it comes to singing, I enjoyed the feeling of performing with everyone again and again throughout the day.
Next year in April, Berryz Kobo will enter an indefinite hiatus (Note: The April reference was a slip-up on Risako's part, it should be 'spring'. Of course, the other members rib at her for it), we're all putting our strengths together and doing our best, so we beg for your kindness.

Kumai Yurina
We first stood here at the Budokan about 10 months ago, and I was so excited that I slipped from the stairs over there and got injured. The injury still remains. Standing on this stage of dreams, it's still a surprise to me that we're standing here again so soon, while I've still got that injury, so I'm happy! I'm also getting a bit on in years, as it's taking its time to heal (laughs).
When we were doing 'Rival' at this concert, I was in the best position to take a view of the whole venue. That view was truly amazing, it brought me joy from the bottom of my heart. It's a wonderful memory that'll last a lifetime... (She fumbles her words at the end)

H!P Summer 2014 KOREZO: Share it if you like it (Part VIII - 6 Sept)

For the KOREZO! performances held during the current Hello! Con (Summer 2014), there's a corner where the girls can bring up photos they want to highlight. A  Facebook page has been set up, entitled 'Hello! Pro Ki ni Ittara Share'. (H!P Share it if you like it). 

Here's a selection of what piqued my interest. As the page says, if you like any of these photos, then 'Like' and 'Share' them on Facebook. Links are in the first line below the photo, the post titles.

If you missed them - Part I (12, 19 & 26 July), Part II (27 July), Part III (2 Aug), Part IV (3 Aug), Part V (9 & 16 Aug), Part VI (17 Aug), Part VII (29 Aug)

Photograph from　Berryz Kobo　Natsuyaki Miyabi
I tried doing what you would say was Makoto-san's trademark from ages ago, the mushroom hairstyle。
The members of Hello! Pro have raised the topic、
That recently、 Makoto-san has been wearing a hat
But we want the old “as he is” Makoto-san to come out on-stage。

H!P Summer 2014 KOREZO: Share it if you like it (Part VII - 29 Aug)

For the KOREZO! performances held during the current Hello! Con (Summer 2014), there's a corner where the girls can bring up photos they want to highlight. A  Facebook page has been set up, entitled 'Hello! Pro Ki ni Ittara Share'. (H!P Share it if you like it). 

Here's a selection of what piqued my interest. As the page says, if you like any of these photos, then 'Like' and 'Share' them on Facebook. Links are in the first line below the photo, the post titles. They're also announcing the number of 'likes' and 'shares' each photo has gotten at the concerts, so you can show your support by doing so.

If you missed them - Part I (12, 19 & 26 July), Part II (27 July), Part III (2 Aug), Part IV (3 Aug), Part V (9 & 16 Aug), Part VI (17 Aug)

Photograph from　S/mileage　Tamura Meimi
I've never really been asked by the fans to show my swimsuit-clad figure、
But now、 for the very first time in public in this country, here's a daring shot of me in a swimsuit in my private time！
It's a shot from when I went to the pool with my family when I was 2～3 years old。
I apologise if that dotted swimsuit went overboard on sexiness（lol）

H!P Summer 2014 KOREZO: Share it if you like it (Part VI - 17 Aug)

For the KOREZO! performances held during the current Hello! Con (Summer 2014), there's a corner where the girls can bring up photos they want to highlight. A  Facebook page has been set up, entitled 'Hello! Pro Ki ni Ittara Share'. (H!P Share it if you like it).

Here's a selection of what piqued my interest. As the page says, if you like any of these photos, then 'Like' and 'Share' them on Facebook. Links are in the first line below the photo, the post titles.

If you missed them - Part I (12, 19 & 26 July), Part II (27 July), Part III (2 Aug), Part IV (3 Aug), Part V (9 & 16 Aug)

Photograph from　℃-ute　Yajima Maimi
The １st photo has already been uploaded on the Facebook page
It's Berryz Kobo's Kumai-chan with the Eiffel Tower。
Kumai-chan said 「The Eiffel Tower is a tough challenger」、
But 『Kumai-chan、 you've beat the Eiffel Tower』
This photograph that has come to light serves as evidence。
That is the 2nd photo。
As you can see、 she has the Eiffel Tower contained within the palms of her hands。

Photograph from　Morning Musume。’14　Sayashi Riho
My treasure is this special bath poster、
That I got from when Morning Musume。’14's Fukumura Mizuki-chan appeared on the cover of a magazine。
You can grasp her marshmallow skin by looking at this photo！
Getting to touch the skin of the original、Fuku-chan herself
Is a special right accorded only to me。
I'm not going to hand it over to anyone （lol）

H!P Summer 2014 KOREZO: Share it if you like it (Part V - 9 & 16 Aug)

For the KOREZO! performances held during the current Hello! Con (Summer 2014), there's a corner where the girls can bring up photos they want to highlight. A  Facebook page has been set up, entitled 'Hello! Pro Ki ni Ittara Share'. (H!P Share it if you like it).

Here's a selection of what piqued my interest. As the page says, if you like any of these photos, then 'Like' and 'Share' them on Facebook. Links are in the first line below the photo, the post titles.

If you missed them - Part I (12, 19 & 26 July), Part II (27 July), Part III (2 Aug), Part IV (3 Aug)

Photograph from　S/mileage　Takeuchi Akari
Seeing her writing at events and in her comments that accompany her bromides, people often say that her 「handwriting is bad」
But in truth、 calligraphy is a skill that she's studied since she was in primary school until now、 where she holds an adult １st-dan。
This photo shows her ability。
The words 「Tennyo Rakka Mai (天女落下舞)」、 have a meaning of 「An angel dancing as if she was a scattering flower」。

H!P Summer 2014 KOREZO: Share it if you like it (Part IV - 3 Aug)

For the KOREZO! performances held during the current Hello! Con (Summer 2014), there's a corner where the girls can bring up photos they want to highlight. A  Facebook page has been set up, entitled 'Hello! Pro Ki ni Ittara Share'. (H!P Share it if you like it).

Here's a selection of what piqued my interest. As the page says, if you like any of these photos, then 'Like' and 'Share' them on Facebook. Links are in the first line below the photo, the post titles.

If you missed them - Part I (12, 19 & 26 July), Part II (27 July), Part III (2 Aug)

【KOREZO！Takagi Sayuki】
Photograph from Juice=juice Miyazaki Yuka
Taken on an aeroplane、 this photo shows Takagi Sayuki messing around with the children sitting in the seats in front of her、 wanting to befriend them。
She was getting no response to her questions、  and this was taken just as she was trying to lure them in with a banana-shaped pouch。
She couldn't befriend them in the end、 but on the return flight, a child picked up some 「sweets」 she dropped、 and they were happy when they were told 「You can have them！」。
Miyazaki's statement:「Such a happy child」。

H!P Summer 2014 KOREZO: Share it if you like it (Part III - 2 Aug)

For the KOREZO! performances held during the current Hello! Con (Summer 2014), there's a corner where the girls can bring up photos they want to highlight. A  Facebook page has been set up, entitled 'Hello! Pro Ki ni Ittara Share'. (H!P Share it if you like it).

Here's a selection of what piqued my interest. As the page says, if you like any of these photos, then 'Like' and 'Share' them on Facebook. Links are in the first line below the photo, the post titles.

If you missed them - Part I (12, 19 & 26 July), Part II (27 July)

【KOREZO！Nuntun】
Photograph Juice=Juice　Kanazawa Tomoko
Photos of her pet cat 「Nuntun」。
Currently weighing ８ kilos、 the doctors warned that he was overweight and shouldn't be given food outside his diet、
So 「Nuntun」 is currently on diet。
His name is difficult to say、 but apparently his real name is 「Nekotaro」、
From the person herself: 「It slowly deteriorated and became 「Nuntun」」
That was the case。
How did it deteriorate into 「Nuntun」?・・・ At any rate、 it slowly got stuck to him。

H!P Summer 2014 KOREZO: Share it if you like it (Part II - July 27)

For the KOREZO! performances held during the current Hello! Con (Summer 2014), there's a corner where the girls can bring up a photo they want to highlight. A  Facebook page has been set up, entitled 'Hello! Pro Ki ni Ittara Share'. (H!P Share it if you like it).

Here's a selection of what piqued my interest. As the page says, if you like any of these photos, then 'Like' and 'Share' them on Facebook. Links are in the first line below the photo, the post titles.

Here's Part I (12, 19 & 26 July) if you missed it.

【KOREZO！ Yajima Quality】
Photograph from  ℃-ute　Yajima Maimi
This photo was when she was on the way home from Japan Expo in France、  where she got stranded because her passport got stuck in a crevice。 Continuing with other misfortunes she experienced、  when she wanted to watch movies after getting on the plane to France、  the display of her seat's monitor wasn't working、 and she spent １３ hours in a huff. What a display of the never-changing Yajima Quality。

This is proof of the incident where the passport got stuck。 The location where it got stuck surprised the locals, 「In this sort of place！？」、  like it was a hole-in-one！ Even though it was successfully removed, the passport was in tatters・・・ After that、 a different machine broke down, so she had to wait・・・ This photo shows the remarkable 「Yajima Quality」。

H!P Summer 2014 KOREZO: Share it if you like it (Part I - 12, 19 & 26 July)

For the KOREZO! performances held during the current Hello! Con (Summer 2014), there's a corner where the girls can highlight photos taken during the tour. A  Facebook page has been set up, entitled 'Hello! Pro Ki ni Ittara Share'. (H!P Share it if you like it).

Here's a selection of what piqued my interest. As the page says, if you like any of these photos, then 'Like' and 'Share' them on Facebook. Links are in the first line below the photo, the post titles.

【KOREZO！ Okai-chanNeru！？】
Photograph from ℃-ute Nakajima Saki
Backstage at Nakano Sunplaza、 there's a sofa that can fit ２ people、 and that's become the place where Okai Chisato always takes a nap。
Once、 when Okai was intending to take nap、 it just so happened that Hagiwara was already sleeping there、 and this photo shows the conduct of Okai, who wanted to sleep no matter what。
At the table where they normally fix up their make up、 she messily swept out the stuff that was on it、 and after making some space、 she just slept like that。
By the way、 the light bulb just above her stomach gets so hot to the extent that touching it will give you burns、 so it's a pretty thrill-seeking sleeping form。 It might help out for dieting・・・ but everyone, please do not copy this！！

Momochi and Mano-chan on Maachan

Ah, Sato Masaki. Among the many legends concerning her, one of the highlights was how she wormed her way into Reina's heart and broke down her barriers.
In fact, she has this knack of making herself endearing to others.
So let me share one of my favourite tales of Maachan, where she even gets through to Momochi.


ももち と 真野ちゃん と まーちゃん by 9102mn

Maasa, not letting herself cry

You've seen all sorts of displays, and tears from the members.
And you may ask why, even during those times, I rarely display tears.
Let me explain here for the very first time.
Actually, it's not because I'm embarrassed, or that I want to look cool, but for my final appearance reflected in everyone's eyes, I think that it'd be better to be smiling.
And that is why I don't cry.

Day 22: Your favorite Costume?

I'm not particular about my costumes. Most H!P concert costumes are pretty shite anyway.
The first one that comes to mind are these - the newspaper-themed costumes from the Berryz Times concert.

Sourced from Purple Sky Magazine

It's pretty difficult to get a photo with all of them together in that outfit, simply because the official goods don't have that outfit as a group set photo. So had to look at the Sakura-con coverage, where I was sure they had worn the same outfits.

I'll let the lovely Kumai Yurina model a clearer picture of the costume:

Honourable mention goes to their Medachitai costume. No, not the fish costume, although those were pretty interesting.

My first impression of that performance? Wow, they've actually figured out how to dress Maasa.

Berryz is an orthodox idol group. But looks wise, Maasa generally doesn't seem to fit.
I guess dressing girls like Momo, Saki, and the rest aren't too difficult. Well, Miya probably is - when you start out with perfection, you can only go downhill from there.
But Maasa has always been the recipient of dresses that never seem to suit her. But this one - ah. It fit the theme, yet was very understated compared to the other girls. The sash in the middle gives her a more mature look. And her lovely black hair is let down, creating a very mature, mysterious, suggestive look. Hell yeah.