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First of all, let me just say that this is my first review at A-To-J Connections despite being on the team for a year. I’m not the best at describing sounds and song genres but I felt like writing a review so here it is. This new song by ANGERME, “Ai no Tame Kyou Made Shinkashitekita Ningen Ai no Tame Subete Taikashitekita Ningen” which in English means “Humans that have evolved for love Humans that have degenerated everything for love”. Ok, what is up with that title? It is horribly long and hard to say. I wonder how fans are going to shorten it? (Something to look forward to) This is the first song to feature Momona Kasahara, who just recently joined right after Meimi Tamura had left. Even though she doesn’t have the most lines, she got some key lines to showcase herself.  Momona Kasahara getting the first line of the song Just like recent other Hello!Project single releases, this is one of the 3 songs in their triple A-side single which also includes the songs “Umaku Ienai” (Can’t Say It Well) and “Wasureteageru” (I’ll Forget For You). The song itself has EDM qualities to it and the lyrics are very futuristic. It is about humans in a futuristic world that have convenient gadgets and technology but they still have trouble finding love. The dance also reflects the lyrics and has a robotic feel to the movements. All the moves look sharp and cool just like the past couple of ANGERME dances. It really shows how much they have stepped up their game! Now the MV… Per usual for H!P songs, the MV is a simple studio shoot with a couple of backgrounds, lip-synching scenes, and a dance shot. Hearts show up in the MV signifying the love they are yearning for.  Leader, Ayaka Wada and 4th gen member, Moe Kamikokuryou standing next to the heart Even though it is simple, I personally think it shows off the girls more with the cool tone colors and the almost post-apocalyptic setting. The costumes are also simple and the asymmetric dresses are a nice touch. I feel like I’m watching a Morning Musume MV from when they were more EDM heavy in their songs since it has a similar feel to the music and dance. I can’t keep my eyes off of Ayacho because she is a total beauty and has matured quite a bit now!  Ayaka Wada and her surprise wink in the MV I have nothing really to complain about in this song and MV to be quite honest. Lines are nicely distributed, there are cute scenes in there, and the dance looks stunning as usual. I actually didn’t the MV too much when they showed the short preview on Hello! Station but after seeing the full version, I’m a complete fan. I look forward to the lives for this song and the MVs for the other songs! Also hoping to see a dance shot for this song… (I’m sure I’m not the only H!P fan out there that misses Dance Shots for every song!!) The single comes out October 19th, 2016 so make sure to pick it up and support ANGERME for more awesome content! -Tiffany Fujii
ANGERME - "Ai no Tame Kyou Made Shinkashitekita Ningen Ai no Tame Subete Taikashitekita Ningen" MV  For the first time in my life, I had the pleasure of attending Tokyo Idol Festival this year. While I had a couple of vague tips from friends, I mostly went in blind. Rather than forcing you all to do the same as me, I’m here to give you guys an idea of what to expect and to tell you what the experience is like. First of all, what is Tokyo Idol Festival? If you’ve ever been to an outdoor music festival, you already have an idea of what to expect. Tokyo Idol Festival (or TIF) is an outdoor festival where a ton of different idols perform over a weekend for the satisfaction of us, the fans. They set up stages around a designated area (usually Diver City in Tokyo) where various idols will go up to perform throughout the day. Being set up in Diver City means that there is a nice shopping mall with good food, free water, air conditioning and lots of shops to help relax in.  2016 Map About half of the stages can be accessed without paid entry, but to get the best experience you’re going to want to purchase admission. They sell tickets just for foreigners online and even have a special booth at the festival to pick up your wristband (make sure you have your passport and a printout of your receipt). There is also a goods area where there are booths setup for all the idols selling their goods. Oftentimes handshakes and cheki events are held here at a greeting area with some more potential events. It’s important that you take a good look at the schedule before you go, and come up with a game plan of what you want to see. I was warned that often things don’t run on time, but everything was on schedule when I went. When creating your own plan for every day that you’ll be there, you want to make sure you account for the distance between stages. Walking from one end to the other can take upwards of 10 minutes or even more. Some of the stages (Hot Stage and Sky Stage) will usually have a long line for entry. Speaking of Sky Stage, a beautiful location on the roof of one of the buildings, even without a line, going up the elevator and walking the few flights of stairs can take some time. So be wary of locations and logistics if there are any performances you want to see back to back at different stages.  If there is an idol you are particularly a fan of, it’s a good idea to arrive at the stage early so that as other performances are finished and people leave, you can slowly push yourself to the front. Even with all this planning, be prepared for the inevitable truth that you won’t be able to see everything you want. You may get tired, you may get lost or you may just get sidetracked by another event you didn’t know was happening like a handshake or even get caught up buying goods. Speaking of which, be sure to come with plenty of cash, because you will spend money. You will spend lots of money. Don’t forget that this is in early August usually, when summer is at its worst. Be smart. Dress appropriately, carry plenty of water and drink plenty of water. Wear sunscreen and don’t be afraid to go inside the mall to relax and cool off. It’s better you miss a performance or two rather than go to the hospital because of heat stroke or fail to enjoy yourself due to being uncomfortable.  Despite all of these things there are three very integral points that should be followed no matter what: be respectful of others, follow the rules and have fun! TIF is an idol fan’s dream come true, and it is every bit as amazing as it sounds. Despite being exhausted (I stayed there from 9am-11pm one day, even with a 1.5 hour commute to my hotel) all the time, sweaty, hot and oftentimes lost, I can confidently say that it was one of the best idol experiences I had ever had. Experiment, hang around for idols you don’t know and discover something new! Every fan of idols should make it a point to try and attend TIF at least once. I felt like a little kid who was going to Disneyland for the first time. Trust me, you won’t regret it, though your wallet may. - Teepu Official Site: http://www.idolfes.com/  This is what we've been waiting for! Punk idols BiSH have returned with their major label debut, and it's everything you could want from a BiSH album. KiLLER BiSH technically hasn't been "released" yet (physical is out in October!) but I was able to pick it up during the one-day digital sale, and it's been blowing me away ever since. KiLLER BiSH opens with a redone version of "DEADMAN", featuring Ayuni D in Hug Me's place. While I prefer the Hug Me version, it's still a solid punk song. Easily the most hardcore idol song I've ever heard! "First Kitchen Life" is another pummeling punk piece where speed is king. The second single from KiLLER BiSH, "Orchestra", is one of the prettier songs they've done. Backed by a string orchestra (fittingly), it's a deeply emotional love ballad. The accompanying video is absolutely heartbreaking as well. On KiLLER BiSH, BiSH is beginning to slip some metal into their punk formula. The best example of this is probably "Stairway to me", a massive metal piece in the vein of Stairway to Heaven. What starts off as another pretty ballad builds up to a noisy instrumental breakdown which would make BABYMETAL hang their heads in shame. Another high point is "IDOL is SHiT", a tribute to BiS' own "IDOL". Where "IDOL" was a pretty wild song, even by BiS standards, "IDOL is SHiT" takes that notion up a few hundred notches with a perfect contrast between catchy hooks and thickly distorted screams, heavy guitar feedback, and digital hardcore breakdowns. Now all we can hope for is an MV mirroring the original BiS track! My personal favorite song on the album is "summertime", a cute pop punk piece in the style of Western bands like Weezer. The lyrics, written by BiSH's own Momoko Gumi Company, are completely in English. While the style isn't really anything new for BiSH, it's a super catchy song, and just... very cute. The chorus is the catchiest thing BiSH has ever put out, by far. I'll defend this song to the death, seeing as it's a bit of a point of contention for other fans. KiLLER BiSH has some of BiSH's heaviest songs ("IDOL is SHiT", "Am I FRENZY??", "Hey gate", etc...), as well as some of their prettiest and most heartfelt ("Orchestra", "Ikite te Yokatta Toyuu no Nara"). While a major label album means BiSH and company are less open to experimentation, they're still able to put together a fantastic album. As with their previous albums, this one isn't my favorite yet. It's gonna take a little getting used to, but there are some absolute gems on here. It's not perfect, but you'd be hard-pressed to find anybody who does this brand of metal-infused hardcore pop-punk better than BiSH. They've really come into their own, no longer living in the shadow of their predecessors. -Justin Here’s the low-down on one of Johnny’s Entertainment’s younger groups: Hey! Say! JUMP. The nine-member boyband has had an extensive history despite all of the members currently ranging from their early to mid-twenties.  Left to Right: Kota Yabu, Yuto Nakajima, Kei Inoo, Keito Okamoto,Ryosuke Yamada, Yuri Chinen, Hikaru Yaotome, Yuya Takaki The group debuted in late 2007, officially releasing their first single in September of the same year. Originally a ten-piece idol group, former member Ryutaro Morimoto was suspended in mid-2011 after a scandal regarding underage tobacco usage, to which they proceeded to release new music soon despite the situation. The Johnny’s group continues to flourish, and now has 6 albums, 17 singles, and 6 different concert films to date. Topping the Oricon rankings? Not too unusual for JUMP. Through the course of their nine years, there’s been some undeniable variability within their music. They’ve produced songs ranging from bubblegum pop to rap to funk rock. Live Performance of "Kimi Attraction" (2015) Youngest member Yuri Chinen, 22, is the son of famous gymnast Takashi Chinen; as a result, it may not be much of a surprise to see him do acrobatics in their performances. Yuto Nakajima, 23, is the group’s second youngest member. His face is commonly seen plastered amongst the cover of magazines and televisions, continuously increasing his own popularity as a model and actor. Kei Inoo, Keito Okamoto, and Kota Yabu are some of the few Johnny’s to have attended secondary education following high school (despite it not being a requirement of the agency). Inoo is the main MC for the group, having hosted an impressive number of variety shows in the past years. Okamoto is the group’s overseas representative - he is the only member to speak fluent, conversational English thanks to his time spent abroad in England. Yabu, the oldest of the nine members, is the leader of the rowdy boy group.
 Daiki Arioka and Hikaru Yaotome are the comedians and rappers of the group, the latter of which being arguably the most active in regards to dancing. Like Inoo Kei, Yuya Takaki is a frequent show host, also possessing some acting experience in TV dramas.
Center member Ryosuke Yamada, 23, is the only member with his own solo career, setting several records and topping the Oricon charts with his debut singles ‘Moonlight’ and ‘Mystery Virgin.’ Aside from that, he’s also received recent awards for his performance as Nagisa Shiota in the live action films for Assassination Classroom. Only months ago was it announced that he would also play the leading role in the upcoming live action film Fullmetal Alchemist, portraying the beloved hot-headed alchemist Edward Elric. The group may almost be moving too fast to keep up with, as shown by the steady flow of announcements regarding each individual member’s activities. As a group, Hey! Say! JUMP also released an album entited ‘DEAR’ in late July, and are currently embarking on a tour of the same name. Please keep an eye out for their activities! -Dia
Packed in tighter than you would be on a rush-hour train. Being over venue capacity is par for the course. The dancing and singing may suck but they give it their all. Above all, the Researchers (what BiS fans are called) give all their love to the group on stage in the most violent way possible. This is no ordinary idol live. This is BiS. 満員電車よりぐいぐいな状態。キャパオバーが当たり前。歌もダンスもヘタクソでもステージに立って全力でライブを行う。研究員（ファンの呼び名）の行動が激しくても愛のある物で。これが普通なアイドル現場はじゃない。これがBiSです。 At this live I once again realized something, I love Bis. I loved the BiS of before. I really did love them, but then I just got tired of them. This happened due to various reasons, but the biggest one was the fans themselves. When I got into BiS, the fans were rough and violent but still had a certain respect for those around them. When I gave up on BiS, it seemed as if the fans were being violent only to appeal to the girls themselves and there was no fun or purpose to their roughness. And because of that, I just sort of lost interest. このライブで改めて思いました、BiSが好きです。前のBiSは好きでした。好きでしたが飽きてしまいました。飽きた理由は散々あるけど、一番の理由はファンでした。ファンの行動が回りをリスペクトする激しさから単なる自分をアピールする激しさになってしまいました。それがBiSから離れた理由でした。
The debut live held on September 4th, 2016 was different. The atmosphere felt the same as it did when I first saw BiS perform live on a whim. Watching fans rush up onto the stage during a certain song, I could really feel the love the fans had for the group. This was merely their way of showing it. And the thought that kept crossing my mind throughout the live was that these would be the Researchers to build the new BiS up from scratch into the group we all know it can be. Now, I can’t say for certain that the Researchers I saw on that day will be the ones to carry BiS until the very end, but I still look forward to seeing where they go from here. でも９月４日のライブは違いました。BiSを初めて見た現場と一緒な環境でした。押し合ってステージに乗りあがったファンの行動はまさにBiSを愛しているだと感じました。研究員がこれからの新BiSを作って行く気がしました。研究員が最後までその役目を果たせるかどうかはわからないけど、それが今回のお楽しみです。 You might be thinking it strange to talk about “until the end” at the group’s debut live, so let me explain a bit for those of you who are unfamiliar with the group. The BiS of the path had a clear goal, and that goal was to make it to Budokan and then disband on that legendary stage. Unfortunately, that dream was never realized, and instead they disbanded in the not completely sold out and even larger venue that is called Yokohama Arena. No clear goal has been stated yet, but one can assume the group wants to make it to Budokan this time once and for all. There’s just one catch, Budokan is likely to undergo renovations in the near future to prepare it for the Tokyo Olympics in 2020. You better hurry girls! 「最後まで」をデビューライブに対して言うのはおかしいよと思っているあなたに説明します。前回のBiSはちゃんとした目標があって、それは武道館に立って解散することでした。残念ながら、武道館に立てず、より大きい横浜アリーナで満員ではない状態に解散してしまいました。今回の目標は公式に発表されてないが、おそらく武道館の再チャレンジになります。ただ、オリンピックに使われる武道館がリノベーションに入るのは間もなくです。急げBiS! The set list was almost exactly as fans watching the audition process predicted. One reason for this is the fact that this new BiS can only sing songs that were around prior to the previous group’s major debut. Of course, that means there is a limited amount of songs to choose from. Even if the song choices were predictable, they were all songs that get fans pumped up during the live. You can see the set list on many different websites, but it will be written below the article for anyone not familiar with it. There weren’t really any surprises, it was simply what you’d expect the debut set list of the new BiS to be. Personally, I really wanted to see the group perform “Chelsea” and “Paprika,” but those songs are a little too high level for girls who just became members of the group one day prior. Hopefully I can see them performed sometime in the future. セットリストはファンがオーディションの映像からほぼ予想した通りでした。新生BiSはBiSのメジャーになる前の曲しか歌えないため、曲数が限られています。限られているけど、全部ファンが盛り上がる曲です。セットリストはいろんな所に書いてありますが、念のため書いておきます。得に驚く曲もなく、当たり前な曲ばっかりでした。個人的に「Chelsea」と「パプリカ」が見たかったです。まあ、公演の前日になったメンバーにはレベルが高いですね。次回聞けるといいですね。
As for the chosen members, well… they are pretty much the definition of a BiS member. BiS is presented as a group doing research into the world of idols, and they were never known for having good singers among their members. What this means is, we can look forward to seeing them get at least a little better in their time in the group. As I previously stated, their dancing and singing sucked as much as you would expect from BiS, but their personalities were spot on. The group has always given its members interesting stage names, and fans knew that part of the live would be devoted to revealing these names. And they weren’t disappointed. Part of each girl’s name seems to have been taken from nicknames given by fans while watching the audition and most of the names are easy to remember. Of course, they had to stick one of the girls with a sort-of complicated name, but even hers will get remembered more and more each time she steps onto stage. Take a look at the names below. メンバーになった子は。。。まあ、ある意味BiSらしい子です。もともと歌がうまいグループとして知られていないし、アイドルを研究するグループという設定でこれからスキルが少しは上がるかもしれません。歌もダンスもBiSらしく下手でしたが、キャラ作りはばっちりでした。芸名が面白いグループなので名前の発表は期待していました。その期待は裏切らなかったです。一部の名前はオーディションの時にファンが作ったあだ名からとって、頭から抜けない名前になっています。一人だけがややこしくて覚えづらいですが、ステージに上がるたびに覚えるような気もします。名前は以下の通りになっています。 日本語 英語 キカ・フロント・フロンタール Kika Front Frontalle
I’d like to talk a bit about where these names came from. Be aware, this is information I got from the audition live stream and fans’ own tweets regarding the girls, so some of it may be inaccurate as it has simply been gathered together. Kika’s name likely comes from the fact that she lives in Kawasaki and the Kawasaki Futsal team’s name is the “Kawasake Frontails.” Go Jeera became Go Jeera because fan’s noticed her dancing way in the back of everyone on the first day of the audition wearing a Godzilla t-shirt. Fans were intrigued by this, in her own words, “dark horse.” Some fans have speculated that Peri’s name comes from a post-punk band called “Peru Ubu” and Aya is from the city of Hachiouji. Throughout the auditions he was called Hachiouji by fans and from there her name arose. Hachi = Eight and Ouji=Prince. Aya is likely her real name. Pour Lui has simply always been Pour Lui. 名前の由来についてなんですが、情報をオーディションの映像とファンのTweetなどからとって、ここにまとめます。情報は集めた物で間違っているところもあるかもしれません。キカの名前は川崎に住んでいる、川崎のfutsalチームの名前が川崎フロンターレからとっているかもしれません。ゴ・ジーラはオーディション初日ゴジラのTシャツを着て、ファンが後ろの方に踊ってるゴジラに興味を持ちました。彼女自身はダークホースになりたかったそうです。ペリはファンの間にポストパンクバンドのペル・ウブからとっているじゃなかいと考えられます。アヤは八王子に住んでいることで八=eightと王子=princeを使って、作りました。アヤは本名と考えられます。プ・ルイは前々からの名前で決定しました。
I’d like to give you all a bit more info about Peri Ubu. Before the audition, all girls were stated as being “18 years old” and that setting seems to be continuing even know that the group is formed. However, Peri is likely the only real teenager of the group. There is a possibility that other members (excluding Pour Lui, whom we all know is not under 20) are under the legal age of adulthood in Japan, which happens to be 20 years old. But, we know for sure that Peri is the only member under 18 years old. Why, you may ask? Well, she was very noticeably absent from any audition footage that took place after 10 pm (when school is not in session this is the absolute latest a 16-17 year old can be working) and was then absent from a late night program held a couple of days after the group’s reveal and first live. From what little information they had, fans put on their detective hat’s and got to work. From their research, they were able to gather that she was in an underground idol group called Attain Music in Nagoya for a short period of time and went by the name of Utatano Soyulu before moving to Tokyo. Her age apparently, 16. That’s right, she is likely the youngest member that BiS has ever had or will ever have in the future. You can take a look at the blog below if you want to see the adorable 16 year old Peri Ubu for yourself.
ペリ・ウブについてプチ情報もあります。新生BiSの設定はみんなが１８歳ですが、ペリがグループの唯一のリアル１０代かもしれません。他のメンバー（プ・ルイを除く）にもしかして日本法律の上ではまだ大人になっていない（２０歳以下ということ）ですが、ペリだけが１８歳未満であることは確定です。なぜなら、オーディションの時は１０時以降の練習はでなくて、決定してからの夜番組にも出演していません。ファンが調べたところで、ペリは短い間ですが名古屋の地下アイドルグループAttain Musicに所属していました。その時の名前は雨汰々野 そゆる(utatano soyulu)でした。年齢は１６歳です。BiSの歴史上の最年少になると思います。以下のブログをご自身でペリ・ウブのかわいい１６歳の存在をご確認してください。 http://ameblo.jp/attainmusic/entry-12152646677.html As any of you who watched the NicoNico live broadcast are aware, she is a huge crybaby. And this crybaby’s growth may be what Researchers are looking forward to the most. I know I am. ニコ生をご覧になった方がわかると思いますが、相当な泣き虫です。この子の成長が研究員が一番楽しめるポイントになります。私もそうです。 If I were to give this live a rating out of five stars, I’d have to give it ★★★★☆. Now, if you were to ask why I didn’t give it five stars, the answer is simple: I don’t want to give BiS five stars at the very beginning of their run. That’s all. 五つ星のなかから評価を付けることだったら、★★★★☆を上げます。万星にしない理由はBiSを最初から五つ星を付けたくないです。ただそれだけです。 After the main live finished, three girls from the losing team of the audition stormed onto the stage without permission. For now, they are calling themselves SiS and they refuse to give up so easily. BiS will continue to be produced and managed by the man known as JunJun to fans (real name: Watanabe Junnosuke) and SiS will be produced as a rival group to BiS by another member of Tsubasa Records named Mr. Shimizu. The very fact that a group like SiS exists when in reality they shouldn’t is very BiS-like. SiS will hold a live in the same venue this new BiS debuted in on September 25. They will be stuck in this packed live house. BiS themselves will be performing on stage at the much larger venue of Makuhari Messe as part of the @Jam festival on the September 24. For both groups, the fact that they exist in rivalry with one another is likely to play a big role in pushing them to do their best. ライブが終わったら、オーディションの負け組の３人のSiS（仮）が勝手にステージに上がりました。BiSは愛称ジュンジュンの渡辺にプロデュースされますが、SiSは違います。SiSは公式ライバルとして同じ会社の清水さんにプロデュースされるそうです。存在されるはずのないSiSの存在もBiSらしいです。SiSもBiSが当日使った会場でライブをするのが発表されました。日程は９月２５日です。BiSはその前日の２４日に幕張メッセで行われる＠Jamの大きいなステージに立って、公式ライバルがギュウギュウなライブハウスに立ちます。ライバルがいることは両グループの支えになるかもしれません。 If you want to know more about BiS and their activities in the future, take a look at their official homepage. If you take a look, you’ll notice that activities are being added one after another at an alarming rate. I guess that means that this BiS is not one you should look away from. BiSのこれからの活動はホームページを見ると予定が続々と増えています。これからのBiSを見逃しなくということですね。 -Rin Rigoni For More Information: Official Site: http://www.brandnewidolsociety.org/top.html Official Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BiSidol/  ©UP-FRONT PROMOTION Co., Ltd. When it was announced that Buono! was going to hold a concert titled “Buono! Festa 2016” at Nippon Budokan, fans held their breath and hoped that this would lead to an active Buono! again. Composed of Miyabi Natsuyaki (formerly of Berryz Kobo), Airi Suzuki (of ℃-ute) and Momoko Tsugunaga (also formerly of Berryz Kobo, currently Playing Manager of Country Girls), Buono!'s future looked unsure following Berryz Kobo's hiatus and besides small one-off performances at joint Hello! Project concerts, Buono! had not been active in several years. As the concert drew nearer fans learned more about this event. Miyabi Natsuyaki's new group would be revealed at this concert and in the weeks leading up to the concert itself, we learned that Buono! had recorded a new single and that it would be made available before its actual release date at this concert! Besides this the Buono! Festa 2016 line-up would be filled by the individual member’s other groups. This meant that Country Girls, ℃-ute, as well as Miyabi’s unnamed group would all perform in their own guest corner segments. August 25th, 2016, the time had come for the world to see Buono! again! The crowd shuffled into the sold-out Nippon Budokan and got ready for what was going to be a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Besides the crowd at the venue, the concert was also being broadcast live in several theaters in not only Japan, but also in Taiwan and Hong Kong as well. A huge Buono! banner covered the stage and everyone at Nippon Budokan eagerly waited to see the banner finally be removed. The excitement of the crowd could be felt as a countdown signaled the group's arrival. A silhouette gave way to the trio we had all been waiting for and Buono! took the stage along with their backing band Dolce. They immediately jumped into their first song, their come-back single "Rockno Seichi", a song that is a spiritual successor and answer song to their earlier favorite, “Rockno Kamisama”. The crowd went wild and following an MC would only get more crazy when Buono! followed this with "We are Buono! ~Buono no Theme~". The crowd's cheers of "B-U-O-N-O!" rocked Nippon Budokan and not a bit of energy was lost when the band finished out their initial set with "Rottara Rottara".  ©UP-FRONT PROMOTION Co., Ltd. Now being that this is Buono! Festa 2016 and not your standard one-man live, we were going to be treated to several other acts before Buono! took back the stage. First up was the introduction of Miyabi Natsuyaki's then-unnamed group. Following the announcement of Berryz Kobo's hiatus, the future of some of the members was unsure. While many of the members stayed within Up-Front or Hello! Project, only a few, like Momoko Tsugunaga, remained in the performing spotlight Therefore, fans were very excited when it was announced that Miyabi would be leading her own group and that excitement was brought to a head at Buono! Festa 2016! The audience was treated to video auditions of the chosen members (Hikaru Kobayashi and Yuka Nihei) and a short documentary of the new group learning the material as well as recording their first release. Following this introduction we were treated to the much-anticipated reveal of the new group's name, "PINK CRES." short for "pink crescendo".  ©UP-FRONT PROMOTION Co., Ltd. The trio took the stage next supported by DJ JURI. Their first song was a medley of "Warning ~Mirai Keihou~" and "Uwa no Sora". These songs were very different, one being a dance song and the next being a slow ballad, but they definitely showed the crowd that this was a group that was worth watching in the future. The crowd was then treated to PINK CRES.' very first MC where Miyabi asked the crowd to change their penlights to pink. Everyone happily obliged and their set closed out with the song "Summer Wonderland" which was complete with not only pink penlights, but also twirling towels.  ©UP-FRONT PROMOTION Co., Ltd. Country Girls were up next. Following the hiatus of Berryz Kobo, Momoko Tsugunaga made a new name for herself as the Playing Manager of Country Girls and took the group on a path straight to the top. They opened their set "Koi Dorobou" and the crowd's cheers and chants were completely on point. Following this introduction we got an MC where it was mentioned that while this was Country Girls' third time at Nippon Budokan it was the first time for with the new line-up that sadly featured the absence of Manaka Inaba who had left the group just weeks before. Their next song was their latest single, "Doodatte Iino". They closed out their guest corner with the fan favorite "Itooshikutte Gomenne" a song that is both very catchy and cute, but still able to whip the crowd into a frenzy.  ©UP-FRONT PROMOTION Co., Ltd. Now up to this point all the previous groups had proper introductions and stage exits, all that ended when it was time for ℃-ute to take the stage. ℃-ute came on stage immediately following the end of Country Girls' set and the "Are you ready?!" shouts that accompanied the intro of "Tokkaiko Junjou" were nearly enough to tear the roof off the venue. This was a particularly hard set to watch as it was announced just days before that ℃-ute would be graduated from Hello! Project the following June. Following their MC they went into "Jinseiwa STEP!" and followed that up with the ever-popular "Kiss me Aishiteru". Their set was pure energy and both ℃-ute and the fans gave every bit of themselves to each other. Also following immediately, "Dance de Bakoon!" wrapped up their guest corner. Before we were treated to the return of Buono! we were given one last performance. ℃-ute (minus Airi Suzuki) along with a Momoko-less Country Girls performed the Buono! hit "Hontono Jibun". While I personally would have loved to have seen this song performed by Buono!, this was an interesting take on it nonetheless.  ©UP-FRONT PROMOTION Co., Ltd. Buono! took back the stage with “Independent Girl ~ Dokuritsu Joshide Arutameni” a song that brought every fan in the venue to their feet and into the air. To go along with this powerful return we were also given flames which heated up Budokan even more so than the fan’s cheers did. The group was in rare form here and continued to several other hard-rocking numbers “Zassou no Uta” and “JUICY HE@RT”. While the physical fire on stage had died down by this point, the fire within their performance was not showing any signs of giving way. Buono!’s interaction with backing band Dolce is worth noting here too. With the addition of a second guitarist (bringing the total of musicians who could traverse to stage to three) the group was able to more properly pair off for fun on stage antics. Together, Buono! and Dolce owned the stage and took the show directly to everyone be they down the middle along the ramp, or along both wings of the stage.  ©UP-FRONT PROMOTION Co., Ltd. Following this powerful opening, we got the second MC from Buono!. This one was special though as following some remarks about how it had been a long time since they shared the same stage, Miyabi was presented with a birthday cake and everyone from those in the crowd to those on the stage took part in wishing her a happy birthday! What a birthday it was too! A birthday that saw the reformation of the beloved Buono! and the debut of her own group PINK CRES. Surely this birthday can be seen as a new beginning bright with opportunity!  ©UP-FRONT PROMOTION Co., Ltd. Following the MC, they continued with their new single, “Sorashido~Neenee~”. This was followed by “Gachinkode Ikou!”, “My Love”, and “Kiss! Kiss! Kiss!” which saw this segment wrapped up with the girls on a centrally placed bed where they eventually finished the song following a pesky alarm. This was a fitting place to end this segment as the songs up to this point were all high energy and the power of the concert would be enough to tire out even the most seasoned of performers! The MC that followed saw Buono! changed into elegant white dresses as they introduced the band to the crowd. This introduction also featured a special guest violinist who would play an important part in the next segment. Following a request for the fans to sit for the next part, the band took us into a nice acoustic set that was as beautifully powerful as the first half of the show though in a more subtle way. With the girls seated far to the front in the middle ramp, they began with “Urahara”, by the time they moved into “Kimiga Ireba”, the sole violinist was now joined by a full string quartet. This part closed with “You’re My Friend” which saw the full band accompanying the strings bringing a sound one rarely hears at Hello! Project concerts.  ©UP-FRONT PROMOTION Co., Ltd. Before we moved onto the next set of songs we were treated to some very funny special videos that are best seen rather than explained. Suffice to say that they were quite amusing and played up to the comedic strengths of the members very well! The next set of songs was kicked off by “Nakamushi Shonen” which was followed by “Kataomoi。”. “Hatsukoi Cider”, with a slightly slower opening finished this set. We had been taken on a musical journey that had taken us to many different stops, but things were clearly getting ready to ramp up again following the earlier acoustic parts. The shouts of “P. A. T. I!” signaled the start of “Bravo☆Bravo” a song whose iconic chants were something that must be witnessed to believe how powerful they could be. Other powerful rocking songs “Janakya Mottainai!” and a “Lady Panther” complete with dueling guitar solos. Fire, along with smoke this time around, once again filled the stage for “MY BOY” which was every bit the hard-rocking metal crossover song it was. “Renai♥Rider” was officially the last song of the night and a fitting way to wrap up the main part of Buono! Festa 2016 as it was their second single (Their first single being performed earlier by the non-Buono! members). Streamers fell from the ceiling and filled Nippon Budokan with a colorful rain during this song and fans grabbed at them all the while continuing to cheer with them held high. Following this song Buono! exited the stage, but it thankfully would not be for long.  ©UP-FRONT PROMOTION Co., Ltd. Seeing Nippon Budokan lit by thousands of colorful penlights is something that can never be properly described unless one has directly witnessed it themselves. It is as beautiful as it is powerful and it can be nearly breathtaking. Added to this sea of light were the constant and rhythmic calls for Buono’s return. After several minutes of this, return they did and their first encore song was none other than “Rockno Kamisama”. Following this amazing towel-swinging performance and another MC, the band entered into the true final songs of the night, “Warp!” and “Tabitachino Uta”. The former of which saw hearts fall from the sky in the colors of the group which featured a message. These were quickly scooped up by the lucky fans while on stage the string quartet had grown yet again into a full ensemble that added a new layer to what was already a wonderful show. Following some call and responses with “Tabitachino Uta” the concert came to a reluctant end. All said, Buono! Festa 2016 was made up of three hours of music and performance, but everyone within Budokan probably wished the night didn’t have to end.
It had been over four years since Buono! had properly active, but if one didn’t know any better they would have assumed that no time had passed at all. They were in as perfect a form as they ever were and performed with as much power and drive as they did on their first ever solo concert. While the night had more than its share of bittersweet moments especially when one recalled the recent announcement regarding the future of ℃-ute, these were counteracted by the fact that the thousands of fans assembled, as well as those watching from afar, had witnessed something special. Something that could never happen again. A legend had reformed and hopefully would begin a new chapter. A chapter that would be long and bright and hopefully one that would never again see such a prolonged absence of such great a group. -Manuel (alavic_222) Setlist: M01.Rockno Seichi MC1 M02. We are Buono! ~Buono! no Theme M03. Rottara Rottara Guest Corner: PINK CRES. Warning ~Mirai Keihou~ / Uwanosora (Medley) MC Summer Wonderland Guest Corner: Country Girls Koi Dorobou MC Dou Datte Ii no Itooshikutte Gomenne Guest Corner: ℃-ute Tokaikko Junjou MC Jinsei wa STEP! Kiss me Aishiteru Dance de Bakoon! Hontono Jibun (Maimi Yajima, Saki Nakajima, Chisato Okai, Mai Hagiwara, Risa Yamaki, Chisaki Morito, Mai Ozeki, Nanami Yanagawa, Musubu Funaki) SE M04. Independent Girl~Dokuritsu Joshi de Arutameni ~ M05. Zassou no Uta M06. JUICY HE@RT MC2 M07. Sorashido~Neenee~ M08. Gachinkode Ikou! M09. My Love M10. Kiss! Kiss! Kiss! MC3 M11. Urahara M12. Kimiga Ireba M13. You're My Friend Video Corner M14. Nakimushi Shounen M15. Kataomoi。 M16. Hatsukoi Cider MC4 M17. Bravo☆Bravo M18. Janakya Mottainai! M19. Lady Panther M20. MY BOY M21. Renai♥Rider ENCORE EN1. Rockno Kamisama MC5 EN2. Warp! EN3. Tabitachino Uta Buono! Is: Tsugunaga Momoko (嗣永桃子) (Leader) Natsuyaki Miyabi (夏焼雅) Suzuki Airi (鈴木愛理) PINK CRES. Is: Natsuyaki Miyabi (夏焼雅) (Leader) Kobayashi Hikaru (小林ひかる) Nihei Yuuka (二瓶有加) Country Girls Is: Tsugunaga Momoko (嗣永桃子) (Playing Manager) Yamaki Risa (山木梨沙) Morito Chisaki (森戸知沙希) Ozeki Mai (小関舞) Yanagawa Nanami (梁川奈々美) Funaki Musubu (船木結) ℃-ute Is: Yajima Maimi (矢島舞美) (Leader) Nakajima Saki (中島早貴) Suzuki Airi (鈴木愛理) Okai Chisato (岡井千聖) Hagiwara Mai (萩原舞) Official Links Buono! Official YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/buonochannel PINK CRES. Official Site: http://www.pinkcres.com/ PINK CRES. Official Blog: http://ameblo.jp/pinkcres UP-FRONT LINK Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/upfrontlink/ UP-FRONT LINK Twitter: https://twitter.com/UpFrontLink All pictures ©UP-FRONT PROMOTION Co., Ltd. Used with permission. |
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