The Future For...

NEWS.

This group was my everything back in 2004.  This group had just debuted (officially) so the fanbase was building.  I remember when "Cherish" released, that's when the fanbase grew huge internationally.  That was the time when forums were in, and having the chance to meet so many new people online and actually getting a chance to talk with everyone.

As much as I make fun of them now, and as much as I can't stand to even look at them, they have a special place in my heart.  They were definitely the group that pulled me in, I'm not ashamed to say that.  Im also not ashamed that my xanga still has a "Forever 8 as 1" banner haha.

Well, the point of this post was to share my opinion of the latest news revolving around well... NEWS.
My Twitter and Facebook were COMPLETELY spammed with news about Yamapi and Ryo leaving NEWS, leaving Koyama, Shige, Massu and Tegoshi to form a 4-member NEWS.  It's shocking, yet it's not surprising.  I think we all knew for a long time something was going to happen to the group eventually.  With their long break of no activities, speculation was going on and it turned out to be true.  Yamapi going solo and Ryo just sticking with Kanjani8.

I feel bad, I really do.  I'm sure if I was still a huge NEWS fan I'd be devastated.  I remember hearing the news that NEWS was going on hiatus after Kusano and Uchi's "scandals".  It sucked.  It really tore apart the fandom and we slowly drifted into new fandoms.  I really hope for success with just the 4 of them (didn't we used to call them Bebex4? hahaha).

Over the years, NEWS has been slowly degrading as a group.  To go from 9, to 8, to 6, to now 4, it's really getting to the point where it's like, why not just disband the group and stop letting us fangirls suffer lol.  But really though, I do hope they do well as a group of 4 and maybe a change in music styles? Although I can see this group going the cute, ballads road only because TegoMasu is 1/2 of the group...

When You Think of Johnnys...

I came across this on the aramatheydidnt LJ.
So basically people were polled to see what was the first, erm.. group (I guess..) they thought of when they think of Johnny's.  The poll came out as:

1. Arashi (18 791 votes)
2. SMAP (11 098 votes)
3. Kanjani8 (1437 votes)
4. KinKi Kids (1402 votes)
5. TanoKin Trio (1304 votes)
6. Hikaru GENJI (1252 votes)
7. Kiss-My-Ft2 (1162 votes)
8. KAT-TUN (953 votes)
9. Hey! Say! JUMP (902 votes)
10. NEWS (843 votes)
----------------------------------------
11. Other (712 votes)
12. Shonentai (674 votes)
13. Johnny's Jr (466 votes)
14. V6 (442 votes)
15. TOKIO (411 votes)
16. Tackey & Tsubasa (392 votes)
17. Ikuta Toma (294 votes)
18. Shibugaki Tai (124 votes)
19. Otokogumi (98 votes)
20. NYC Boys (63 votes)

I'm surprised, but not really about the first 3 choices.
1) SMAP may be popular still, but Arashi has been seriously gaining some way in the last 2yrs or so.  They are really following the footsteps of their senpai doing huge concert venues, massive amount of cms, acting, TV-variety, etc. 
2) The fact that Kanjani8 is #3 seems odd to me.  I haven't been in the fandom for a long time, so I'm not sure how big groups really are, but I would have thought that a different group would rank at #3.  Much that Kanjani8 would be AFTER KAT-TUN.
3) Kinki Kids at #4.  I knew they were gonna be high up, but I would have guessed #3.
4) KAT-TUN is below Kisumai.  That's shocking to me.  I would have suspected them higher, but I guess after Jin left, their popularity isn't as high as it used to be?
5) Hikaru Genji is in the top 10!!! Glad to see that even a group from the 80's can still be recognized that well.  Though if I could choose, I would think that Shounentai would have been up there as well, especially since they're still active!

This is a really interesting poll.  Even though I'm not so much of a Johnny's fan anymore, it really shows me how much the fandom has changed since I first got in (2004) to when I started losing interest (2008-09) to now.

Credit: aramatheydidnt   - Original: Goo Ranking

Back to School...

Today was the first day back for Fall semester.  I have class everyday, but while I get out in the afternoons 4 out of 5 days, I got work right after for 2 of those days and the other days I'll be using as studying days.  I'll be able to update stuff on the weekend, if I'm not doing anything, or if I'm feeling up to it (XD).  I'll still continue doing Ouran up until the last episode regularly, but for the others are going to be on halt or I'm going to bulk post them together in one post.

Anyways, Good Luck to all those going back to school this week and those who will be starting within the next couple weeks.  It's going to be a tough semester, but let's all push through it :D

Stories..

I've been neglecting something that I love to do.  Back before I got a smart phone, I would love to write stuff down in spiral bound notebooks (and yes they have to be spiral bound!).  It could be just about anything.  Story ideas.  Character names.  Chapter ideas.  Character development.  Fanfiction to a whole new story.  I love writing stories, I really do.  I have tons of ideas for stories and where I wanted to go with it.  My only problem is writing dialogue to get to the point I wanted to make and how to develop a story/character.  This is probably the worst thing for a writer.  You may have your ideas all in your head, but how to tell the story to others is the worst.

I have so many unfinished stories, and I tend to neglect them when I get new ideas and end up never going back.  The thing is, those ideas never get away from me.  If I come across it and read what the story was about, I'll be able to tell you what was supposed to happen.  I know the story from beginning to end, but how to get from the beginning to end has never been written and probably will never.  I know my stories, but I feel bad for never finishing them. 

The most recent one that I came up with (which was a few months ago btw) hasn't been touched in maybe a month, and I would LOVE to be able to work on it.  This one is probably the most developed story I have.. in my head at least.. it's just trying to get it in writing is frustrating.

That's the end of my rant.  What's sad about writing this rant is, it came out differently than what I intended to write!! I can't even get my OWN thoughts down in writing.

Koizora

I never intended to actually watch the drama, I don't even know why I decided to watch it 2 days ago, but I did, and I just finished it today (yay for 6eps only!).  I was pretty reluctant because I really loved the movie, so I wasn't expecting much with the drama especially since it had a pretty low viewership.  But I gotta say, I actually liked it.  I can't really say if I liked it more than the movie since I haven't seen the movie in awhile either, but it was pretty good.

It's funny how during the emotional scenes in the first couple episodes, I was just sitting here like "oh gosh, she's gonna start crying again" but by the end of the drama, I was really immersed and started to get teary-eyed as well.  I'm glad I gave it a chance, but now I'm debating if I want to keep it or delete it.  It'll have to sit on my computer for a bit since my external is completely full.

and what's up with me watching a lot of emotional dramas this season which I expected to drop instead of the comedies.. crazy!

Kis-my-Ft2 Debut Success

I feel like a proud mom seeing the success of their kids.  Even though im not a huge fan like I used to be, I'm really happy to see the turn out of their debut.  I remember watching them on Shounen Club all the time, back when there was 4 members, plus Massu, trained by a former Hikaru Genji member (fun fact: I have Hikaru Genji's last concert dvd!).  Performing to Hikaru Genji songs.  Them and their Sketcher roller skates.. LOL.  I still remember those times.  Those were the good old fandom days for me, really nostalgic.

I haven't been this excited for a debut, since KAT-TUN (my KAT-TUN days were crazy!).  Kisumai's debut was definitely an extravagent debut, having it outdoors, riding in convertibles on the red carpet, welcomed by THOUSANDS of fans.  This is insane, and to see their smiles during as they greeted fans, it's really heartwarming.  I can only wish them a long, successful career (no scandals please) and hope that they'd be able to perform overseas with as much passion.

Small note: "Everybody Go" (their debut song, fyi lol) is stuck in my head and I've only heard it TWICE. Now that's catchy for you.

Celebrity Blogs

I frequent a couple actors' blogs just to see personal pictures that they put up.  I don't care much for what they write (considering that my limited Japanese+Kanji reading is limited), though I do make the effort to translate as much as I can to understand what they're telling their fans. 

Most of the times when blogs are updated, they're updated every couple of days and only a few entries are posted every month.  I just want to take this opportunity to say how much I appreciate the time that Daito Shunsuke posts on his blog.  He basically posts daily, sometimes posts multiple times a day (check out the archive on the side, some months have more than 30 entries, even reaching almost up to 60 a month) and also attaches a photo as well.  Not only that, he doesn't just post  a couple of sentences talking about what he's thinking, he actually writes a lot, really conveying his feelings for that entry.  Even with his busy schedule, he takes the time out to do this and as a fan it only makes me like him even more.