Kusumi Koharu's Last Stand

[EmEl]

[quote name='Fina' post='72696' date='Dec 7 2009, 03:11 AM']I kind of dislike the fact that EVERYONE seemed so sob-sob about it. I miss having the few who weren't so emotional because, when everyone is like that, it seems a bit fake to me. As if they're doing it just so people will go "Aww". Maybe seeing footage it'll be different though. Hello-Online translated it as saying "about to cry" but maybe it was just a sniffle.[/quote]

I can accept that there were so many sobbings this time around. I mean this group has been around for so very long, even the younger girls have known her for years.



[quote name='jpop4eva' post='72697' date='Dec 7 2009, 03:18 AM']Morning Musume is now Koharu-less.

http://www.helloproject.com/morningmusume/profile.html[/quote]

I like that they already had the 8-member picture of Kimagure outfits already done.



[quote name='Special Needs Tricycle' post='72691' date='Dec 6 2009, 11:10 PM']Has anyone seen her older sister, by the way? She looks EXACTLY like Koharu. And she listed Koharu as her favorite entertainer on her blog. Isn't that adorable.[/quote]

I'm curious now. Does she still have her blog?

[Pucchi-Mo]

[quote name='EmEl' post='72728' date='Dec 7 2009, 08:17 PM']I like that they already had the 8-member picture of Kimagure outfits already done.[/quote]

That's the beauty of individual pictures photoshopped together. Not to mention, white background and white outfits, so they don't have to deal with removing pixels where the hair was too hard to isolate from the background. YAY

[Special Needs Tricycle]

[quote name='EmEl' post='72728' date='Dec 7 2009, 08:17 PM']I'm curious now. Does she still have her blog?[/quote]

She deleted her blog shortly after it was found, but I managed to save some pictures. Here is one:







Her name is Hiyori. She's also a single mother!

[koolmon]

Oh my God. She looks EXACTLY like her. But single mother? Wooow. How old is she?

[Special Needs Tricycle]

She's 22, I think.

[koolmon]

Hmm that's pretty young for a single mother. Makes me think she got knocked up at like 18-20 though. :/

[Special Needs Tricycle]

Ah, she's actually 23. My mistake.



I'm pretty sure her baby's a newborn though. I remember seeing a picture with him in a hospital bed thinger with a tag on his foot.

[koolmon]

[quote name='Special Needs Tricycle' post='72750' date='Dec 7 2009, 08:33 PM']Ah, she's actually 23. My mistake.



I'm pretty sure her baby's a newborn though. I remember seeing a picture with him in a hospital bed thinger with a tag on his foot.[/quote]

I see. Well, now it just makes me wonder what happened to the baby's father.

[kitaoji]

[quote name='Madara' post='72673' date='Dec 7 2009, 08:07 AM']Did Koharu cry at all during her graduation? Gypchan says she was all smiles. But I remember her crying like a baby when Makoto and Asami graduated.

[...]



As I pointed out in my blog entry of Sept. 23, Koharu's departure leaves a break in the generational continuity.[/quote]



I watched this week's Oha Star, which had a couple seconds' worth of concert/graduation footage. Anyway, for the record - she wasn't bawling her eyes out, but she was definitely crying at Sayumi's message. Reina, who came next, told Koharu not to cry and ended up sniffling herself. <img src='http://mm-bbs.org/public/style_emoticon ... pyeyes.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':lol:' />

[quote name='Special Needs Tricycle' post='72691' date='Dec 7 2009, 02:10 PM']I still think it's shady though, man. Such a small graduation. I heard front row tickets were going upwards of 60,000 yen. Or was it 600,000? I forget. Either way. I still think they could've done a dome. There are a lot of people who wanted to go but couldn't get a ticket because the capacity is only 2,000.[/quote]

There's a front row, center seat that hit 738,000 yen, although I don't know if it was actually sold or not. Which probably ranks with the tickets prices for Nacchi's grad.



I agree and wish that they did an arena concert, but Yuzu and futsal were happening at Yokohama Arena (it was a 20th anniversary thing), there was a bed bargain sale(?) at Saitama (I know, WTF), and sports tournaments elsewhere... and H!P has never gone to Tokyo Dome as far as I remember. I don't know when these events were decided, but unless UFA really wanted to convince three companies to pack up and give up SSA... yeah, I don't think that'd happen.



Koharu's grad inevitably does lead me to compare it to Yossi's grad, since that's the only MM one I've actually gone through <img src='http://mm-bbs.org/public/style_emoticon ... >/sigh.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':lol:' /> . I remember that Monday morning when I collected as many news clips of her post-concert grad press conference (and then woke after a short nap to find that Tsuji was pregnant). Maybe Koharu's still too young to handle a press conference solo, but while newspapers ran articles, there hasn't been any other outlet really talking about it.



And this random act called 'if' invaded their stage and performed an opening number at the concert, though I'm not sure if it was the early or the late one. That's depressing for me. I don't think too much of it if it were oh, Mano or C-ute (they did this in '08 and '06 respectively), but they weren't even UFA. I mean, it's Koharu's graduation day, she's doing it at a tiny hall that seats 2062 people, and a random group comes in? Really, WTF? Couldn't they have picked Saturday instead?

[thamychan]

But really, they could had chosen a bigger place which makes me think of just how sudden was her graduation decided. But she had a graduation; poor Erika.

[Special Needs Tricycle]

I still don't buy it, really. Putting together 2 facts that:



A. UFA is a huge money-hungry corporation.

B. Graduations are humongous money makers+publicity



You would think that even if all of the major places were tied up, UFA would try and get the biggest possible place they could run and decently fill, if not sell out, and I don't think that would be a 2,000 seat hall that they run for every tour. It just seems like a huge waste on all ends. Tons of fans couldn't go, UFA couldn't completely tap into the graduation goldmine, and the girls don't get to experience running a huge arena again. The only people who really benefited from this are the scalpers who sold the tickets at 20+ times the price.

[thamychan]

[quote name='Special Needs Tricycle' post='72764' date='Dec 9 2009, 12:34 AM']I still don't buy it, really. Putting together 2 facts that:



A. UFA is a huge money-hungry corporation.

B. Graduations are humongous money makers+publicity



You would think that even if all of the major places were tied up, UFA would try and get the biggest possible place they could run and decently fill, if not sell out, and I don't think that would be a 2,000 seat hall that they run for every tour. It just seems like a huge waste on all ends. Tons of fans couldn't go, UFA couldn't completely tap into the graduation goldmine, and the girls don't get to experience running a huge arena again. The only people who really benefited from this are the scalpers who sold the tickets at 20+ times the price.[/quote]

As I said, it could be that the decision to graduate her was on a short notice... That's the only explanation I can come up with because they lost the chance to get money and that should be unforgivable in all aspects! Unless they wanted the scalpers to show they can still sell those expensive tickets.



But I'm with you, I also don't buy it. UFA can't be so dumb, can it?

[tsukinobyouin]

[quote name='JSp' post='72779' date='Dec 8 2009, 01:09 PM']But I'm with you, I also don't buy it. UFA can't be so dumb, can it?[/quote]



UFA does dumb shit all the time. <img src='http://mm-bbs.org/public/style_emoticon ... /laugh.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':eekrun:' /> I'm not sure what we're not buying here though - do you guys mean that you think she actually left on bad terms? If that's the case, I doubt UFA would deliberately spite her by holding her grad in a small venue at the sake of losing all of that possible revenue. A bigger snub to her would be to earn a ton of cash off of her leaving and then just send her off to obscurity outside of H!P.



There's no way MM could do a dome concert (at least not somewhere as huge as Tokyo dome) these days, not even for a grad, but they could have easily had an arena. kitaoji's post makes sense to me - a lot of the better venues were taken by events that were probably booked way in advance (save the bargain sale <img src='http://mm-bbs.org/public/style_emoticon ... hatthe.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':whatthe:' /> ), and Koharu's graduation may have been a last minute decision that didn't allow them to plan a money making extravaganza the way they usually would have.



The fact that some random act performed makes me wonder if UFA just doesn't have the money for big events anymore (bad economy etc.). Maybe they couldn't afford to book another venue, and maybe this other group is paying for their time on stage?

[Special Needs Tricycle]

I'm not really assuming that she's leaving on bad terms moreso than that some weird shit went down, and probably suddenly. It sounds like they planned the concert venues as normal and then the decision to graduate Koharu was made afterwards, which is really odd. I have a hard time believing that they just couldn't find an arena. Were ALL of the major arenas in Japan booked? Was Budoukan taken too? Yoyogi Gymnasium?



I also doubt that UFA has any shortage of money. They're one of the biggest talent agencies in Japan. I'm sure they're able to shell out money to use a big arena if they end up making more in the end.

[kitaoji]

[quote name='Special Needs Tricycle' post='72784' date='Dec 9 2009, 04:34 AM']I'm not really assuming that she's leaving on bad terms moreso than that some weird shit went down, and probably suddenly. It sounds like they planned the concert venues as normal and then the decision to graduate Koharu was made afterwards, which is really odd. I have a hard time believing that they just couldn't find an arena. Were ALL of the major arenas in Japan booked? Was Budoukan taken too? Yoyogi Gymnasium?



I also doubt that UFA has any shortage of money. They're one of the biggest talent agencies in Japan. I'm sure they're able to shell out money to use a big arena if they end up making more in the end.[/quote]



Yes, Yoyogi and Budokan were taken up as well. I decided to use the list of arenas KinKi Kids have played at and came up with two that were free this weekend: Ecopa in Ogasayama, Shizuoka (although there was a soccer tournament, the actual arena was free), and the Nippon Gaishi Hall in Nagoya (Yuzu performs on Wednesday).



Also, the renting fees run from 1 million yen, for little baby arenas like Kagoshima Arena, to 20 million yen for Tokyo Dome. Let's say we take Yokohama Arena for 10 mil, but the cost of renting only costs 6% of what they would be making off ticket sales. Even if you throw in the cost of getting rooms for the girls and staff, transport, what have you, they'd still have enough money left. And let's be realistic here: 1 million yen is around 10k dollars, which amounts to a semester's tuition at any of the University of California schools.



I'm sure UFA has way much more money to spend than a full college education in the US.



So, other than factors that I can't think up (time? energies?) why isn't UFA willing to send them to these less familiar places? I think UFA just likes to be stubborn (or for unknown business reasons) and keep H!P finishing their tours in the major metropolitan areas (Tokyo and thereabouts, Osaka, Nagoya) when frankly, the wota have no qualms about travelling all over the country just to see their concerts. I don't expect them to go to the more backwater places like Shimane or Tottori (but they went to Beppu way back in 2000). I mean, H!P (this past summer and in the upcoming winter) isn't doing any arena concerts period (unless you count Berryz in Thailand). Hopefully there'll be one later in 2010.

[eri]

[quote name='Special Needs Tricycle' post='72784' date='Dec 8 2009, 11:34 AM']I'm not really assuming that she's leaving on bad terms moreso than that some weird shit went down.[/quote]



Yeah the whole graduation was totally random. I don't necessarily think she left on bad terms either but rather that the powers that be suddenly realized they could make more money by putting her elsewhere? But who knows. Everyone knows that the entire industry is saturated with yakuza ties.



I never hated Koharu, despite her inability to sing and her weird attempts to be sexy when she just looks gangly. She injected new life into the group by being...a total misfit....and more importantly, she brought new fans and new relevance as Kirarin. Hope she doesn't get knocked up at 22.

[tsukinobyouin]

[quote name='Special Needs Tricycle' post='72784' date='Dec 8 2009, 02:34 PM']I also doubt that UFA has any shortage of money. They're one of the biggest talent agencies in Japan. I'm sure they're able to shell out money to use a big arena if they end up making more in the end.[/quote]



For one reason or another, though, the venues MM performs at have become smaller and smaller recently - if they could consistantly fill bigger arenas and make UFA more money, then they'd still be playing those places.

[Special Needs Tricycle]

[quote name='kitaoji' post='72786' date='Dec 8 2009, 03:50 PM']Yes, Yoyogi and Budokan were taken up as well. I decided to use the list of arenas KinKi Kids have played at and came up with two that were free this weekend: Ecopa in Ogasayama, Shizuoka (although there was a soccer tournament, the actual arena was free), and the Nippon Gaishi Hall in Nagoya (Yuzu performs on Wednesday).[/quote]

Okay, but even then, couldn't they have pushed it back/forward a week or two? I don't really believe that they couldn't book an arena if they actually tried to in the first place.



And you know, I do find it weird that they're not doing arenas anymore. They did a final at Budoukan for the Morning Curry concert, but it wasn't a graduation, and their sales were about the same, if not lower than they are now.

[neshcom]

[quote name='Special Needs Tricycle' post='72793' date='Dec 8 2009, 05:05 PM'][quote name='kitaoji' post='72786' date='Dec 8 2009, 03:50 PM']Yes, Yoyogi and Budokan were taken up as well. I decided to use the list of arenas KinKi Kids have played at and came up with two that were free this weekend: Ecopa in Ogasayama, Shizuoka (although there was a soccer tournament, the actual arena was free), and the Nippon Gaishi Hall in Nagoya (Yuzu performs on Wednesday).[/quote]

Okay, but even then, couldn't they have pushed it back/forward a week or two? I don't really believe that they couldn't book an arena if they actually tried to in the first place.



And you know, I do find it weird that they're not doing arenas anymore. They did a final at Budoukan for the Morning Curry concert, but it wasn't a graduation, and their sales were about the same, if not lower than they are now.

[/quote]

But Aruiteru was a number one single and I think they base a lot of decisions like that on sales and rankings. Plus, wasn't H!M doing well at the time?

[Special Needs Tricycle]

SYO was #1 and Nanchatte Renai sold better than every H!P single except for Balalaika since Iroppoi Jirettai. Not sure about H!M, but I don't think it was doing too hot.

[JPope]

[quote name='Ap2000' post='72650' date='Dec 6 2009, 12:18 PM'][center] <img src='http://mm-bbs.org/public/style_emoticon ... kowota.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':geof:' /> <img src='http://mm-bbs.org/public/style_emoticon ... kowota.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':D' /> <img src='http://mm-bbs.org/public/style_emoticon ... kowota.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':wota:' /> <img src='http://mm-bbs.org/public/style_emoticon ... kowota.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':wota:' /> <img src='http://mm-bbs.org/public/style_emoticon ... kowota.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':wota:' /> [/center]





I'm so happy she left, I never liked her and she's my most (and only really) hated person in H!P.

Now she won't ruin the songs anymore. They just need to re-record Nanchatte Renai, Ambitious! Yashinteki de ii jan and Onna ni Sachi Are without her now, then I'm perfectly and can live on as if she never joined ! <img src='http://mm-bbs.org/public/style_emoticon ... /dance.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':geof:' />[/quote]



What he said.

[michikodesu]

[quote name='TnB' post='72792' date='Dec 8 2009, 05:02 PM'][quote name='Special Needs Tricycle' post='72784' date='Dec 8 2009, 02:34 PM']I also doubt that UFA has any shortage of money. They're one of the biggest talent agencies in Japan. I'm sure they're able to shell out money to use a big arena if they end up making more in the end.[/quote]



For one reason or another, though, the venues MM performs at have become smaller and smaller recently - if they could consistantly fill bigger arenas and make UFA more money, then they'd still be playing those places.

[/quote]



Here's a shot in the dark:



Maybe UFA is using smaller arenas to make the demand for tickets a bit more.......well, demanding. I mean, think about it. If the girls play in smaller venues, then not that many fans can attend. It will be a competition for tickets and the tickets will be very exclusive (going to, say, the highest bidder). So that will place more demand on the tickets and a frantic rush to be the first ones to get the tickets. If not, you as a fan would be out of a show. If demands for tickets go up, then so does the price. After that happens, they could make a surprise announcement that there will be one last stop on a tour: open it up to one of the bigger venues and then a good majority of the fans that didn't get a chance to see them will go as well as the ones who did get to see them will go because it will be in a more prestigious place. Now, it can't happen every tour or people will just wait for the last show. But if they continue to perform in smaller venues, for a least a few years, then hopefully they'll gain that exclusivity of watching a live show.

[thamychan]

Here is some clips from the graduation concert that were shown on that duo's program or something... Kimagure Princess performance looks amazing. <img src='http://mm-bbs.org/public/style_emoticon ... #>/wub.png' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':lol:' /> I'm starting to look forward to the DVD...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C1yrExIXOS8

[Pucchi-Mo]

[quote name='kitaoji' post='72758' date='Dec 8 2009, 04:19 AM']And this random act called 'if' invaded their stage and performed an opening number at the concert, though I'm not sure if it was the early or the late one. That's depressing for me. I don't think too much of it if it were oh, Mano or C-ute (they did this in '08 and '06 respectively), but they weren't even UFA. I mean, it's Koharu's graduation day, she's doing it at a tiny hall that seats 2062 people, and a random group comes in? Really, WTF? Couldn't they have picked Saturday instead?[/quote]



*waits for the announcement that Koharu is the 3rd member of "if"* <img src='http://mm-bbs.org/public/style_emoticon ... stling.png' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':lol:' />



I dont believe for a second that this was unplanned.

There's no way in hell that some strange looking dudes (plus their own camera crew to film) could just walk backstage past whatever staff is in the building. In the video, we see them walk past no less than 7 people, who let them pass. If that could ever happen at concerts, then security is pretty sad and it means that nothing was stopping crazed fans from doing the same. This was a stunt. For a group to walk right in -with cameras, someone (maybe even within UFA) had to have given them clearance. Heck, MM may have even been aware, it doesn't take much effort to yell EEEEEEeeee?? Then they so graciously went along with the guys singing on stage during their concert? Sure.



Satoda Mai was on Taka and Toshi's show (airing later this month, but already recorded), so UFA has definitely been in touch with them before Koharu's graduation.

[kitaoji]

[quote name='TightWetPucchi' post='73036' date='Dec 15 2009, 09:36 AM']I dont believe for a second that this was unplanned.

There's no way in hell that some strange looking dudes (plus their own camera crew to film) could just walk backstage past whatever staff is in the building. In the video, we see them walk past no less than 7 people, who let them pass. If that could ever happen at concerts, then security is pretty sad and it means that nothing was stopping crazed fans from doing the same. This was a stunt. For a group to walk right in -with cameras, someone (maybe even within UFA) had to have given them clearance. Heck, MM may have even been aware, it doesn't take much effort to yell EEEEEEeeee?? Then they so graciously went along with the guys singing on stage during their concert? Sure.



Satoda Mai was on Taka and Toshi's show (airing later this month, but already recorded), so UFA has definitely been in touch with them before Koharu's graduation.[/quote]



Sorry, I misused the word 'invade' - I didn't mean that they just walked onstage and started performing out of the blue. I'm just upset that they were an unnecessary and irrelevant act who were scheduled to perform in Koharu's graduation concert. It wasn't like Koharu personally knew them or something or had worked with them, like Rika was involved with Country Musume and Biyuden at her graduation (but there's no way you're going to get the Oha Suta people on stage <img src='http://mm-bbs.org/public/style_emoticon ... hahaha.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':lol:' /> ). UFA could have picked another day, or shoved them over to Berryz. I mean, let's say you were having an event that was supposed to be focused on you (graduation, awards ceremony, whatever), and then someone else takes center stage because of a completely different achievement (I think they had the most downloads of their single). I'd feel insulted.

[yuzuriha]

OMG THIS IS WHAT I'VE MISSED?! Maybe it's time for me to be a MoMusu fan again after all....<img src='http://mm-bbs.org/public/style_emoticon ... /smile.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':dammit:' />

[ShinUkyo]

[quote name='Ap2000' post='72650' date='Dec 6 2009, 11:18 AM'][center] <img src='http://mm-bbs.org/public/style_emoticon ... kowota.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=';/' /> <img src='http://mm-bbs.org/public/style_emoticon ... kowota.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':)' /> <img src='http://mm-bbs.org/public/style_emoticon ... kowota.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':wota:' /> <img src='http://mm-bbs.org/public/style_emoticon ... kowota.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':wota:' /> <img src='http://mm-bbs.org/public/style_emoticon ... kowota.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':wota:' /> [/center]

I'm so happy she left, I never liked her and she's my most (and only really) hated person in H!P.

Now she won't ruin the songs anymore. They just need to re-record Nanchatte Renai, Ambitious! Yashinteki de ii jan and Onna ni Sachi Are without her now,

then I'm perfectly and can live on as if she never joined ! <img src='http://mm-bbs.org/public/style_emoticon ... /dance.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':dammit:' />[/quote]

Seriously? SERIOUSLY? No mention of Sayumi? Even though, taking as an example, Nanchatte Renai. Sayumi gets just as much solo time as Koharu in that song. And her lines sound just as bad, if not worse actually. That song, like many others, can't be "salvaged" unless we destroy Sayumi as well. She's been in the group for a number of years longer than Koharu, and has "ruined" more lines in MM songs than anyone else in the group's history. Even more than Konno, by the way, who also couldn't sing for shit. Surprised that she didn't get a mention, in terms of terrible lines in singles. She's certainly not as great of an offender as the other two, but still.



[quote name='EmEl' post='72674' date='Dec 6 2009, 05:12 PM']I never hated Koharu, but I'm not devastated at her loss.

But she wasn't my top choice to get rid of if I got to choose. Oh well, H!P goes on. (OR DOES IT)[/quote]

Now that's what I'm talking about. Although I really did like her, well enough.

Never was my favorite in the group, but still.



[quote name='jpop4eva' post='72697' date='Dec 7 2009, 03:18 AM']Morning Musume is now Koharu-less.

http://www.helloproject.com/morningmusume/profile.html



She's an OG now.

http://www.helloproject.com/member/memeber-og.html[/quote]

Speaking of "things that make me feel old."

That and, all the people mentioning how this is their first MM graduation.

I still vividly recall when Ichii Sayaka left.

Maybe Koharu will come back suddenly, and record a Folk Songs album with Yuko. <img src='http://mm-bbs.org/public/style_emoticon ... /ph34r.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=';/' />

[Madara]

[quote name='ShinUkyo' post='74199' date='Jan 14 2010, 02:59 PM']Maybe Koharu will come back suddenly, and record a Folk Songs album with Yuko. <img src='http://mm-bbs.org/public/style_emoticon ... /ph34r.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':)' />[/quote]





I am soooooooooooooooooooooo there!!!!! <img src='http://mm-bbs.org/public/style_emoticon ... /dance.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=';/' /> <img src='http://mm-bbs.org/public/style_emoticon ... bounce.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=';/' /> <img src='http://mm-bbs.org/public/style_emoticon ... nceman.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':dammit:' />







[P.S. I'm actually listening to the Sayaka / Yuko Folk Songs 1 album right now.]

[Ap2000]

[quote name='ShinUkyo' post='74199' date='Jan 14 2010, 07:59 AM']Seriously? SERIOUSLY?[/quote]



YES, SERIOUSLY.

I absolutely hate her, unlike the other boring/annoying H!P members who I "just dislike".

I never said I like Sayumi, but this is not a thread about her, so I won't go flaming on sayumi and aika. While they obviously aren't good at singing, I don't hate their voices, appearances and everything about them, which I do with kusumi.

[ShinUkyo]

[quote name='Madara' post='74203' date='Jan 14 2010, 10:23 AM'][quote name='ShinUkyo' post='74199' date='Jan 14 2010, 02:59 PM']Maybe Koharu will come back suddenly, and record a Folk Songs album with Yuko. <img src='http://mm-bbs.org/public/style_emoticon ... /ph34r.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':ph34r:' />[/quote]

I am soooooooooooooooooooooo there!!!!! <img src='http://mm-bbs.org/public/style_emoticon ... /dance.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':D' /> <img src='http://mm-bbs.org/public/style_emoticon ... bounce.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':lol:' /> <img src='http://mm-bbs.org/public/style_emoticon ... nceman.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':suika:' />

[P.S. I'm actually listening to the Sayaka / Yuko Folk Songs 1 album right now.][/quote]

Good man! One of my favorite Hellopro albums, specialty or otherwise. This is true for most of the Folk Songs albums, actually. If anything, I was always most fond of the odd-numbered releases in that series (1/3/5). But all five of them hold a special place in my heart. I miss them doing stuff like this, nowadays. Even though Uta Doki Pop Classics was amazing, and if anything I miss it even more haha.



[quote name='Ap2000' post='74209' date='Jan 14 2010, 01:01 PM']YES, SERIOUSLY.

I absolutely hate her, unlike the other boring/annoying H!P members who I "just dislike".

I never said I like Sayumi, but this is not a thread about her, so I won't go flaming on sayumi and aika.

While they obviously aren't good at singing, I don't hate their voices, appearances and everything about them, which I do with kusumi.[/quote]

Makes sense. Similar reasons to why Sayumi bothers me, I guess. Her speaking voice is just grating and painful, and she's obnoxious as all hell. But I can see where the same exact things can be said about Koharu, haha. It's just personal preference at that point. And I totally forgot about Aika! But I dunno, it seems to me that her singing has improved since she joined the group. She's still not good, but I'd say she's certainly better than both Koharu and Sayumi by this point. She has at least shown a decent level of improvement, which is what we expect from Hellopro girls.