I went to the Hello! Project 2012 Winter Concert @ Kobe's evening show on Saturday. Don't think I'll write a proper review this time of the actual show, but do want to share bits about the event. This is the first concert for the year, and since Ai graduated. At Ai's concert, I learned from my friend that it's okay to venture out among the other fans and see if they're willing to swap photos.

( Photo Swapping )

I picked family seating cause I figured I'll be tire from wondering around all day and I won't be able to get into all the performances. Had a decent seat, one of those "private seats" to the right side of the stage.

I was surprise they didn't mentioned Gaki's graduation at all. I mean, this will be her last H!P concert after all! The solos weren't actually that bad, though no one from MoMusume performed. I can't tell which girls were lip singing and performing live. Though I'm pretty sure Mai from C-ute was doing it live cause of the volume difference compare to the other girl. And I think Kudo from MoMusume was singing live too, just as expected from an ex-H!P egg. Speaking of which, I was surprise to only see 6 Eggs. Or as they call them now, research students.

Costumes costumes costumes. Yosshi's MC outfit was blah. I'm fine with gold outfit cause Yosshi can totally rock it, but please tailor the pants so it has some shape to it! It's not funky to have pants like that, it's just not pleasant on the eyes. I'm glad, and surprised, MoMusume didn't performe Pyoko Pyoko Ultra in the chicken outfits. The ones they wore on stage weren't outstanding, but it certainly made the performances and song more appealing.

On a last note, I really enjoyed watching some of the girls dancing and partying it up at the side. It's times like this when I wish I can capture the moment with a pictures and show you guys. But, rules are rules and it's part of the Japanes concert goer culture. Just as it's part of the Japanese fan culture to stand around after the concert and ask people to write birthday messages for their idols (not to mention providing pen AND adorable papers too!)

Tiger RWARRRRR!

Today I was at my second smallest school. I come to this school twice a month at most so I always have a full day of lessons whenever I'm here. But I don't mind cause the kids are so much fun here, especially the older grades.

After finishing the lesson with the grade 4 class, I started talking to their homeroom teacher as we made our way back to the staff room. The homeroom teacher said that the kids like English, even though they're not good at it. That is such a bizarre statement for me cause, does that mean I'm doing a good job or not? Hmm...

And then in the afternoon class, the 5th grade homeroom teacher/my supervisor threw me off guard by telling the kids to ask me questions about Canada's New Year traditions in English. This had the kids stomped to cause no way they could have formulate a question in English, even for those that went to tutor classes. So while the kids were racking their brains out with what to ask me in English, one of them suddenly told me something that I could never had been prepare for: the twins in this class, said they can't say "Happy New Year" because their father died. My Japanese isn't brilliant, but even I couldn't had mistaken "お父さん" and　"死んだ" for something else. They even repeated this information in simple broken English. I was shock and glanced at the homeroom teacher for a hint as how I should react, but he didn't do or say anything. I didn't prey for more information nor did I said "I'm sorry". My only deduction is that this happened recently, within the last year. Other wise it wouldn't make sense for the family to never say "Happy New Year" again. Aside from shock, I was amazed at how compose and normal the twins were acting, as if nothing sad had happen at all. I tip my hat off to these two for being about to take about it class like this.

This is a fun one! But also a challenge cause I'm limiting myself to 12 songs, which is the "average" size of an album. In no particular order:

Michelle Branch - Breathe
Morning Musume - I WISH
Hamasaki Ayumi - Fly High
Westlife - Flying Without Wings
Otsuka Ai - Yumekui
Hamasaki Ayumi - AUDIENCE
S.H.E - Remember
S/mileage - Uchouten LOVE
衛蘭 - 口花花
Morning Musume - Bon Kyu! Bon Kyu! BOMB GIRL
歐倩怡 - 問題天天都多 (櫻桃小丸子)
李克勤 - 紅日

Bonus track:
陳慧琳 - 花花宇宙

Well what do you know, they're all upbeat songs :D

On January 2's H!P opening Winter Concert, Gaki-san announced she will be graduating from MoMusume and H!P at the end of MoMusume's spring tour.

As always, H!O provided translation of the official statement from both Tsunku and Gaki herself.

I know a graduation was unavoidable, but I didn't think it'll be this soon. Within the same day of hearing the news, I was already in contact with a friend about it and we're 100% on board with going to the graduation concert. For my initial reaction, I was only happy with the fact that I won't have to make an extra trip back to Japan in the future for a graduation concert.

Some people, this friend included, justified that it is time for Gaki to graduate given her age and such. Yes I know all this, but my complain is that it's too soon after Ai's concert and the new members. You have no idea how much I'm looking forward to Morning Lab III at the end of the month.

There is one thing my friend said that really turned this situation around for me: on one of the recent HaroPro Time episodes, Aika was going around interviewing MoMusume members. She found Gaki by herself in a dimmed room using her phone, she really did look lonely there. And ever since she became sub-leader, her smile in photos weren't always as radiant as they used to be. And last night I got thinking, this reminds me of Kaori's last appearance on Utaban: she was polite, smile and laughed a lot. But she was no longer the outspoken Johonson that was constantly trying to fight for the camera's attention, almost seems as if she was bored and unhappy.

For Gaki, I know this is a step she must take to become an actress. But as a fan, I am sad to see her leave and it breaks my heart to think that in a few months I won't see her in MoMusume pictures anymore. There's still no word on the final tour date or special fanclub events for her. I doubt there will be a special solo song written for her, but I truly hope she graduates with a more well suited single than PyokoPyoko Ultra.

Ending this post with a special clip of the Ai Believe Cocnert. I'm really not ready to go through another graduation concert so soon.

Really LJ? This is the best question you can give us??

Sanada Jyuyushi ~Bokura ga Mamori takatta mono~


Rushed order, please excuse the article jumping all over the place (and possible typos). I wanted to get this out while the play is still happening and before the final show. If I was living in Tokyo, I think I would had try and go see it again. Yup, that's how much I like it. I'm definitely getting the DVD, just a matter of when.

For someone who was busy all week and stayed up till 12am last night to finish Monday's lesson plans, I'm sure blogging a lot! Well, I've been in a writing mood lately... I've also been looking at my planner the past few days, and seeing how full it is I feel silly for making the post earlier. It's not so much that I choose not to go meet other people these past few months, but it's just been so busy. Everyone been busy. Just take November for example: every weekend there was a school related event. Maybe in the new year instead of aiming to be more social, I should aim to have a more balance social life (between work and such). But... just as of today all the January weekends have been fill up. Well, so much for having a balance social life in January! :P

With all that said, I am a little bummed that I'll be missing yet another outing with the other foreigners this weekend. But the difference is, I was at least I asked about it which I interrupted as I was actually being remember. And in the end it's the thought that counts, right?

But who am I kidding, I got an awesome weekend plan too!

First there's the Sanada Jyuyushi.

So. Many. Pretties. ♥

At first I wasn't planning to go, but then I saw Yukino's profile picture and I was sold.



But even then I still wasn't sure about traveling all the way to Tokyo just for it. But ah, good thing there's a lot of pretties in this so pyroyale will be going with me. And guess what, we got first row seats (loving the H!P FC more and more).

And on Sunday, we're planning to do Disneyland. EEEEEEEKKKK!

What's this? I'm going to shopping trip with the other foreigners? Did you not read my post and my plans for the weekend?

P.S. Managed to whip up a quick holiday icon :)

P.P.S. Don't forget the New Years card on my last post!

It's December! And for me, nothing says December and the holidays quite like this video (I swear I only did this out to watch in December!):



This year I seemed especially excited about the holidays and really getting into the holiday spirits. In fact, I tried looking for Christmas/holiday/winter theme icons, but came up empty handed! This shall be fix after the weekend!

Last year, I exchanged Christmas greeting cards with some of you and it was a lot of fun. This year I want to do it again, but with a little twist. In Japan, instead of exchanging Christmas cards they do it on New Years day with special design post cards (New Years card). I've heard that they typically get deliver on January first in Japan, but I don't know how true that is. Anyways, this year I'm planning to mail out these special post cards. The comments are screened, so if you'll like a New Years card please leave your name and mailing address at the comments (^_^)

Ai Believe

Took 2 months to complete this, but it's finally done. I tried to go for a more "editorial" approach, though it came out much like other reviews.

Now... on to tomorrow's preparation work!