Morning Musume '24 - Nandaka Sentimental na Toki no Uta / SaiKIYOU (Regular Edition B) unboxing

 This is an unboxing of Morning Musume '24's Single Nandaka Sentimental na Toki no Uta / SaiKIYOU (Regular Edition B).

This single was released in August 2024 and served as Ishida Ayumi's last Single. However, she didn't officially call it her Graduation Single, as they still released an album with her after.

Another special thing about this Single is that it reached Number 1 on the Oricon Weekly Single Charts. This means every single Morning Musume member since their foundation has had at least one Number 1 Single. Congrats Momusu!!!

So let's take a look at the CD:

This is a very typical Momusu cover, I do like the black outfits. Rairii is definitely a highlight, and 12ki is looking fabulous.

Backside with the CD.

I love that it's blue (Ayumi??), and maybe you can see how the design lools like the CD is cracked. But that is on purpose lol

Inside of the CD

Group shot with the Nandaka outfits. The white outfits are not the most interesting, but the members look pretty of course.

Black Outfits & White Outfits

Here are the lyrics 

And the Obi

AND I GOT ODA!!!

Wow, I also got her for the Suggoi Fever, so this is pretty cool. I really liked her short hair so it's great to have this card.

Tracklist

1. Nandaka Sentimental na Toki no Uta
2. SaiKIYOU
3. Nandaka Sentimental na Toki no Uta (Instrumental)
4. SaiKIYOU (Instrumental)

As for the songs, I had to get used to Nadaka Sentimental na Toki no Uta, but it's great they got such a different song this time. It is more slow, and quite emotional. I especially love how everyone is getting a solo line and Harusan is really killing it!!

SaiKIYOU is a very high energy song and I would love to see it live. Chel is so cool with both her singing and also rapping. Talking about rap, that last bit of Yokoyan really sticks out, she brings so much energy.

Maybe it's not my favourite Single, but it is still pretty decent. I really hope Momusu will keep having better line distribution like this, and seeing 12ki and 15ki leading so makes me excuted for the future!!

Japan in November 2024

 I finally have the time to sit down and write this post, but the most amazing thing happened last November.

I went on a business trip to Japan for the first time!!! It was quite a busy trip and I had to visit a lot of customers, but it was so exciting.

I last went to Japan 2020 (I arrived just before the pandemic started), so I had a lot of emotions. Adding to this, I always dreamt of going to Japan for work and my teenage self couldn't be happier.

Since we travelled to different prefectures, I didn't have much time for myself, but at least I had a weekend in Tokyo. I was able to meet some friends, go to Karaoke and eat very delicious food. Adding to that, two of our hotels had an Onsen.

Of course I also visited Akihabara and saw lots of Idol things. Since this is a blog about Idols, let me show the things I saw and got.

Let's start with the Hello Project shop. It's been so long!

Inside I saw the display of Graduation and other outfits, these are always so cool to see.

This special Ayumi graduation dress which is an homage to Pyoco Pyoco Ultra. I wouldn't say it's my favourite, but it's still lovely 💛💙

I especially love Yuhane's graduation dress with the wings. Like wow, it is soooooo georgous.

Next I will show you the things I (mostly) bought at the shop.

Okay here we have dome Daiso goodies as well haha

Some Sakura pictures

And other members. I couldn't say no to Ayumi pictures, since it was right before her graduation T.T

And I got one picture with the yellow dress haha.

I am not even the biggest fan of FSK's, but this fairy Sakura one is so cool I had to get it!!

I held back a bit though and mainly enjoyed the atmosphere.

It was nice to remember how I went there like at least once a month during my year abroad in 2016/17.

These I actually got seperately, but I wanted to include them as well.

I already talked about the Album, but it is honestly so great and I still enjoy it a lot (Koibito is realls THAT song).

The magazines are pretty, it's been a while since I got Morning Musume related magazines.

Next up are some more random other pictures. 

The AKB48 Theater was still under renovation, but I went anyways since I was close by.

A trip to Tower Records was a must as well, this one is in Shinjuku.

Spotted Yuhane with her lovely graduation dress, what a full circle moment *-*

Seeing Fruits Zipper and other Idol Groups becoming so popular makes me really happy!!

Fruits Basket is actually one of my favourite songs by them.

The Sato Masaki section was great!! I love her solo music a lot.

In a book store, I found this huge Kojiharu stand up.

And of course Kpop Idols are everywhere too, my Izone heart was happy to see Wonyoung and Sakura 🩷

And a lot of Idols are doing modeling. I love seeing Noimii members randomly! 🩵

Last but not least is my Bookoff haul, it is also rather small:

When it came out I didn't immediately want to get the 25th Anniversary Best of, but I do think it is a decent Album.

And everyone looks very stylish.

(Harusan and Ako were so new *cries)

And they had the Hinatazaka album for a really good price. Makes me even more emotional now that all 1st gen members have graduated (cries some more).

So this was a little post about my Japan trip.

I hope I can go to Japan again soon and have some more time for fun things, but for now I am thankful I had this opportunity.

See you again soon!

Morning Musume '24 - Professionals - 17th (album unboxing)

On the Last day of this Year, I am doing an unboxing of Morning Musume '24's newest album Professionals - 17th which was released on November 26, 2024.

This was a highly anticipated release which was centered around Ishida Ayumi's graduation. I truly love Morning Musume Albums, so I was very excited upon hearing the announcement.

As many others, I was still a little sad that Ayumi didn't get her own Graduation Single, but I believe her getting a center song with Yuukan na Dance + a Music Video is still pretty amazing!

Let's first do the unboxing and talk about the tracklist after.

Although slightly awkward, I think this is a decent Momusu album cover. A highlight is the Ayumi center position and the blue color in both clothing and background. The outfits are looking great btw!

I prefer this picture on the back, it has a little more impact.

Obi with Riley and Ako. 

The inside of the CD

I do want to give credit to the design team, the consistent coloring is lovely. The CD is very simple but I like the Key.

Behind the CD

And again the cover

Lyrics for Yuukan na Dance.

AND OMG WE GOT PICTURES.

This is so amazing!!!

Literally the first time in like 10 (?) Years that we have pictures inside the booklet for a regular album version.

And even better, it is of the units. Which means it starts with the 15 gen picture next to their song lyrics!! This is pretty iconic!!

More lyrics

Akane and Sakura looking stunning together!

A very adorable Yokoyan and Harukasan!!

And the rest of the members in the biggest unit.

Everyone looks great here too.

And the back of the booklet with all the members in order of seniority.

Tracklist

1. Yuukan na Dance
2. Occhokochoi na Fantasia Romance - Kitagawa Rio, Okamura Homare, Yamazaki Mei
3. "Koibito"
4. Mukasuki!
5. Suggoi FEVER!
6. Naisho da yo - Oda Sakura, Haga Akane
7. Nandaka Sentimental na Toki no Uta
8. Aete Yokatta - Yokoyama Reina, Inoue Haruka
9. Neverending Shine - Morning Musume '23 feat. Fukumura Mizuki
10. Shiawase Shisuu Happyou Saretai - Ikuta Erina, Ishida Ayumi, Nonaka Miki, Makino Maria, Sakurai Rio, Yumigeta Ako
11. Wake-up Call ~Mezameru Toki~
12. SaiKIYOU
13. Oozora ni Mukatte

First of all, getting 8 new original songs is pretty great and makes up for not getting a lot of singles recently (a bit at least).

The title track Yuukan na Dance is truly perfect for Ayumi and makes her shine a lot. I love that they made an MV which showcases her dance but also shows all the members very well! It is definitely one of my favourite music videos of 2024.

Other than that, Koibito is my favourite song. It's been a while since Morning Musume got such a great and sentimental song. It especially fits the younger members well and gives me a lot of hope and excitement for the future of the group. They definitely still got it!!

Muka Suki is very cute and I like all the unit songs as well, with Aete Yokatta being my favourite so far. I would say Oozora ni Mukatte is not the strongest of their "slower" songs, but it still works fine as the last songs.

I do like all of the singles, and I am glad they also included Fuku-chan's Neverending Shine *-*

Her graduation still feels very recent, which makes it a little more emotional for me.

All in all, this album does not disappoint.

We have waited a long time, but Morning Musume really is at their best when releasing music. I really wish we had a more consistent release schedule, but this has made me very happy this year.

I already miss Ayumi, and I am happy she is being celebrated like this!

I am very excited about Morning Musume '25 and hope we don't have to wait too long for a new Single.

Thank you Morning Musume '24!! 💙

Beyooooonds - Hai to Diamond / Go City Go / Hooke no Housoku (Regular A) unboxing

Today I will do an unboxing of Beyooooonds 5th Single Hai to Diamond / Go City Go / Hooke no Housoku (Regular A).

This is actually the first Beyooooonds Single I ever bought. (I do own their two albums) 

This is definitely one of their best Singles in a long time, maybe even since their debut Single. This is also Yuhane's last one and the first and only one with 11 members. I am still very shocked about Yuhane's graduation, and I am also very sad that Reina left the group earlier this year.

It's definitely a new beginning for the group, also with the audition announcements.

But for now let's check out this Single:

Regular A cover is my favourite, I really love everyone in the Hai to Diamond outfits.

All of them look amazingg!!!

The Obi

Discoooo

The CD is pretty simple but fits the vibe.

I wish there was another picture of them but they also had to fit the lyrics of all four songs I guess..

On the right are the lyrics of the B-Side Koisuru Ginga.

And here are the lyrics of the three A-sides.

I got Kurumi as my first ever Byonz trading card!!

I love this hairstyle on her and she is such a vocal powerhouse!!

As a store bonus I got this cute Go City Go postcard. I already put it on my wall hehe.

Let's take a look at the tracklist:

1. Hai to Diamond

2. Go City Go

3. Hooke no Housoku

4. Koisuru Ginga

5. Hai to Diamond (Instrumental)

6. Go City Go (Instrumental)

7. Hooke no Housoku (Instrumental)

8. Koisuru Ginga (Instrumental)

Hai to Diamond is such a funky song, it is really one of the best from H!P so far this year. I have listened to it so many times and it still hypes me up every time.

Go City Go is so cute and I love that it is a tie-up with Tokaido Shinkansen. They even say the names of the cities and it feels like they are taking us on the journey with us. It is also a great tribute to Reina and makes me miss her even more. Only negative is that they used AI in their music video, which is sad.

Hooke no Housoku is the weakest song in my opinion but it is still fun to listen to. I love how the group incorporates dialogues in their songs.

Last but not least we have the B-Side Koisuru Ginga and I am sooo happy that B-Sides are back because this song is amazing! They have performed this song live quite a few times and it is great to have the studio recording now.

All in all this is a very well balanced Single and I feel quite spoiled for a change since we got four songs.

Now I really hope that we don't have to wait yet another year for their next Single.