AKB48 fans love to look at photobooks and blog photos of their favorite Idols. “Gravure” photos are popular with fans, and those who might want to dream about their favorite members. I’m not in the market for those photobooks, but it got me thinking: Why is it that “The Boss” – Mr. Yasushi Akimoto has never had his own photobook?
Maybe Akimoto-san needs to experience what the girls have to go through! How would he like to have to pose for a gravure photo essay or underwear ads? How would he feel about being ogled by otaku? What if there were music videos with him dancing half-naked on the beach? … it would not be popular .. but maybe he would realize what the girls have to put up with!
Yes, he can write lyrics, and he is a marketing genius, but how would he look in a two-piece?
Well, “Turnabout is fair play!!!”
Ok, Mr Akimoto-san… I’m imagining YOU taking off your shirt … and … and … it is not doing anything for me.
OK, fine. Here is a short slide show. If you can’t write funnier captions than me, you must not be trying.
Mentally picturing him naked.
Being interviewed by the biased CNN reporter.
Aki Manga!
Both are probably getting a little “long in the tooth” for this.
Yes, he is a “Friend of Abe”!
Indonesian art inspires Akimotos JKT48
Looking closely, I am not sure what this “award” is for …
PART I: I am very happy to report that there will be a new She & Him album released December 2!
The album is called “Classics” and it will be a “cover”album of classic songs, performed in that Modern-Meets-Retro sound that Mr. Matthew Ward-sama applies to his records. Very authentic. Not sarcastic … not a parody … the sound is a tribute. She and Him covers are faithfully made with love to the genres — and to the eras.
They are perhaps my favorite American group. You will get about a 23 preview of the Dusty Springfield cover in the clip here.
I love this clip — too bad it is so short. Did you see me enjoying my stereo? I was thin and professional looking at the time. The only way it would have been more accurate would be if I were in my bomb shelter (hiding from tornadoes).
OH WAIT!!! The whole song is available on the official channel now! Super! Super!!
Can you tell that I am happy? … and did you SEE those HAIRCUTS?
However, I am perhaps only slightly disappointed that Zooey Deschanel has not written another collection of songs for the album. I consider Zooey Deschanel to be a brilliant pop-music songwriter. As I had blogged about in a previous post linked here, I get a lot of weird looks and laughs when I make that statement. “But she is a woman!” “She is only an ACTRESS!” they say, meaning that they think she can’t be a serious songwriter-musician. “But she is too pretty!” – they say, meaning that she cannot be taken seriously. I disagree … but I digress …
The new album was recorded “Live in the studio” with a 20-piece orchestra. This will be the track list, and who the originals were by …
1. Stars Fell on Alabama (Guy Lombardo, Billie Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald & Louis Armstrong)
2. Oh No, Not My Baby (Maxine Brown, Dusty Springfield, Aretha Franklin, Carole King)
3. It’s Not for Me to Say (Johnny Mathis)
4. Stay Awhile (Dusty Springfield)
5. This Girl’s in Love with You (Herb Alpert)
6. Time After Time (Frank Sinatra, Chet Baker & Shirley Bassey)
7. She (Charles Aznavour, Elvis Costello)
8. Teach Me Tonight (Frank Sinatra, the DeCastro Sisters)
9. It’s Always You (Bing Crosby, Benny Goodman, Chet Baker)
10. Unchained Melody (The Righteous Brothers, Elvis Presley, Lee Ann Rimes)
11. I’ll Never Be Free (Van Morrison, Willie Nelson, Jean Shepard)
12. Would You Like to Take a Walk (Ella Fitzgerald & Louis Armstrong)
13. We’ll Meet Again (Vera Lynn, the Byrds)
Soon “Classics” will be heard on this radio!
PART II: The Misunderstood Deschanel-sama
Let me share a little more She and Him music with you, as I am now jumping out of my pants in anticipation …
My favorite She & Him album is 2010’s Volume II. “In the Sun” is a bubbly throw-back to 1970s pop. I will share the MISUNDERSTOOD music video on this YouTube link:
Why misunderstood? The official music video looked very “High School”. Critics thought that Zooey-chan was just badly imitating Britney Spears. By her own admission, Zooey is not the best dancer (I always thought she was fine, but we are sometimes our own worst critics). The “big butts” missed the point of the song, but that is always par for the course.
This high-school theme masks the simple, yet poignant lyrics about a woman who is slowly coming to the realization that she wants to leave her husband.
On that note, I will also share this perhaps better, more sincere, She & Him performance on the David Letterman Show later the same year. Turn on the HD! At the end, even Paul Schaeffer exclaims “I LOVED THAT”.
So do I, and I will be patently waiting for more Deschanel-penned originals : )
Welcome to snowy Hokkaido! … or at least in my imagination I am there …
One of the great things about Hokkaido are the famous white cranes. These are majestic, beautiful and graceful birds.
Red-Crowned White Cranes of Hokkaido
“Majestic, beautiful and graceful” — might also describe kimono fashions! I will combine my admiration of the Hokkaido cranes, with my love of kimonos for this week’s post.
The crane pattern is one of my favorite styles. The Hokkaido white crane mates for life, thus the crane pattern is often utilized for wedding kimonos. The white crane is also a symbol of a long life. Or does it just seem longer if you are married? (Denny is immediately smacked by Mrs. Sinnoh.)
I enjoy looking at the crane pattern, even if there is not a lady wearing it. Here are some views of full kimonos, as well as a few close-ups of the crane kimono fabric!
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Also, the crane pattern is cute on other “kimono-inspired” fashion, such as kimono “minis”, kimono robes, wraps and even kimono-gowns!
The crane on the kimono can also be seen in East Asian art:
I had not checked my WP Stats recently, but I saw just now that I am over 8,000 views! Thank you! I have been active on this site since April. That means that there are many bloggers out there who enjoy my sophisticated sense of humor and my witty, Noel Coward-like prose, and …
OH NO I just saw that … Crap. I thought you liked me : (
I won this stuffed Croagunk at a county fair a couple of weeks ago. I only had to spend $5 on baseballs to bring home this little guy! I feel compelled to write a Nicknames post for it, but I will always take your suggestions.
Croagunk (Japanese: グレッグルGureggru) is a dual type POISON-FIGHTING Pokémon. It evolves into Toxicroak (Japanese: ドクロッグ “Dokurog”) at level 37.
Ha Ha … The “running joke” … Croagunk would always jab Brock in the @ss when he would get out of line with the girls.
I do not usually catch many Croagunk. Nothing against him, he just looks like a sad sack. I named a Croagunk “Gustovich” after a guy I knew. He looked like Croagunk. So did his big brother, and his little sister, … and his other sister. The whole family looked like Croagunk.* Nothing against them, they were cool, but they looked like Croagunk — especially the girls — they just always had that expression.
I have also used the name “PCBs” after the toxic waste chemical. Arguably, that name fits slightly better for the evolved form. I named another one “MyJunk” because it is funny to have the trainer throw out the pokeball and say “Go .. My Junk!”. I might also suggest “Gummout” after the carburetor cleaner in a spray can. “PunchDrunk” might work, as it is a fighting type.
This toxic toad is no longer hiding behind the toilet.
I think that a good name for Toxicroak would be “Wet Sprocket” after the name of a fictitious pop-music band referred to in a Monty Python sketch. The name the Pythons referred was “Toad-The-Wet-Sprocket”. In fact a real alt-rock group adopted the name, and had some minor hits. Here they cover the famous KISS song ‘Rock and Roll all Nite”. That is one cool sounding Toad!
Toxicroak: You show us everything you got …
*Trivia Note: One of the Gustovich brothers went on to be an artist for Marvel Comics. If you have a collection that goes back to the late 1970s, you may have seen his drawings of Iron Man and the like. That is if you like comic books and all that nerdy stuff : )
When I was in college, I loved the subversive novels of Kurt Vonnegut. Merge these two interests together, and you the subject of today’s post! Mr. Vonnegut is best known as the author of “Slaughterhouse Five” and “Breakfast of Champions” (the former was made into a great movie, the latter into a disaster of a movie).
So it goes.
Although I love AKB48 songs and music videos, in general I am not big fan of their photobooks. I really do not understand the concept of “gravure” images of idols.
Hi Ho.
(Denny begins FARTING in order to explain). The photobooks may be OK for some young fans, but I am not about to buy, then look at photos of the AKB girls in their underwear and/or bikinis. Bikinis are OK for a music video – but what would be the point of an “underwear book”? (Denny begins TAP DANCING in order to explain). If you like Gravure, fine. It has its place. I’m probably not the intended market. (Continues FARTING and TAP DANCING). There is nothing wrong with this type of merchandise, it is just not for me. If you like them, please enjoy. Among other reasons, this type of collectible is too dangerous for an old man. (Denny FARTS). I prefer just watching the singing and dancing performances that I love. (Denny TAP DANCES).
I am not a science fiction writer.
I like being part of the AKB karass. Example? I like watching Yuki Kashiwagi sing, but I don’t want to ogle her in her bathing suit. (Denny happily FARTS and TAP DANCES.)
See the Cat? See the Cradle?
I love listening to AKB48 songs. (Denny FARTS, TAP DANCES). But, why on Earth would a young man purchase photo books of women in underwear, or a simple bathing suit, when much more graphic images of women are readily available?
Hi Ho.
I loved “Breakfast of Champions”.
I especially liked how the story was told with simple explanations and DRAWINGS. There was powerful social commentary throughout.
Excerpt from “Breakfast of Champions”. Text and drawing by K.V.
In “Breakfast of Champions” Vonnegut’s oft-used protagonist “Kilgore Trout” was a prolific, but disturbed science fiction writer.
Despite Denny’s attempts FARTING and TAP DANCING, certain WP bloggers in the “Hate AKB” Karass, had bad chemicals in their brains. They began to compose hate blogs against him. (Denny gets hit with nine-iron).
Sometimes I wish I could write about Japan Culture with the clarity of Kilgore Trout.
Excerpt from “Breakfast of Champions”. Text and drawing by K.V.
(Denny tries FARTING and TAP DANCING.)
I am not a science-fiction writer.
Trout could not sell to major publishers, so his stories were sold to be used as “filler “ in pornographic magazines. Despite the titles, the photos of the women in the magazine would not match the text of the Trout stories within. As Trout was bad with organization and finances, he would often lose, or not even own a copy of his stories. Kilgore Trout would go to adult (i.e. “dirty”) bookstores in search of a printed copies of his stories. Trout would purchase the dirty magazines, not for the photos, but so he would have a copy of his own stories. His older stories were published in the underwear books.
So it goes.
The dirty book stores often had display windows at street-level where they would place the “underwear” books. The shops had to put the underpants books up front, so those passing buy would not be offended. These underwear-and-bikini books remind me of the Idol gravure books popular with my fellow AKB fans. (Denny FARTS intensely. Denny TAP DANCES furiously).
So it goes.
“I see England, I see France, I see ladies underpants” K.V.
A label pasted on the cover of the photobook would promise however “Wide Open Beavers Inside” – as an enticement to potential buyers. I don’t buy the photobooks. This was fully explained in the text of the book — but the origin of the term “Beaver” was a code word made up my photographers. They would say “Beaver” when they could not shout the real word out on the street.
Excerpt from “Breakfast of Champions”. Text and drawing by K.V.
Once, Trout tried to purchase the window-dressing (underwear) books, because he saw that they contained his missing stories.
I am not a science-fiction writer.
“You don’t want those, Grandpa” the porno-store clerk would tell Trout, trying to direct the author back to more “hardcore” books in back — which would have photos of women’s open vaginas. Kilgore Trout would insist, because he wanted his stories, not the photographs. Puzzled, the clerk would say “Enjoy yourself” as Trout would leave with his purchases. Meaning that he hoped Trout found good images that he could masturbate to.
See the Cat? See the Cradle?
(Denny continued FARTING and TAP DANCING. The “open-minded” bigots hit Denny with a nine-iron again).
I do not watch AKB48 music videos because I want to look at girls. I watch like them because they make me deliriously happy with their cute song and dance.
“Should I tell you how I feel inside? … I feel just like Gingham Check”
Young Denny was full of good ideas!
If you are following this blog, you are likely already familiar with AKB48’s fun and crazy “Gingham Check” music video. The official YouTube video is below. (I remind you to turn on HD and “CC” for English translated lyrics.)
I think that a lot of AKB fans — and all of the the big-butted critics — could not appreciate the nostalgic meaning contained within the lyrics however. The lyrics may have gotten lost in these humorous parodies of Japanese horror movies. The video was a lot of fun, but it has already been the subject of other blogs. I will not talk about that now — but I will share this screen shot I once used as computer wallpaper:
Yuki Kashiwagi suggests this wallpaper for your computer.
The video is so Japan-pop-culture-bat-shit crazy, and the music is so fast paced, it may be difficult for one to catch the endearing simplicity and meaning in the lyrics. Despite the crazy humor of the video, it is actually a sweet, nostalgic song. The original lyrics are by Yasushi Akimoto. The Japanese/English translation is available from Stage48 linked here.(I do think that the English translation for the JKT48 later is a much better translation.)
I always loved the original, but now I think I like the JKT48 version more. It is sung in an Indonesian-dialect. Turn on the HD!
Somehow, someway — I am transported back to my childhood. In this twisted, time-distorted realm, the JKT48 girls are there! We are at one of those Americana “theme” restaurants, which feature pop culture artifacts such as Marilyn Monroe posters, juke boxes, neon signs, gas stations, etc. I do not know how, but the girls transport me back to my youth in the early sixties. This JKT48 music video is all about how I wanted to go on a date with this one girl that I liked. Somehow she has also been transferred to this time-and-space distortion.
Even at that age I was already girl crazy! Here I am being a little gentleman.
The Jakarta 48 girls will help me out, as you will see.
Thanks for all the advice ladies!
This video version is probably a little better at capturing the spirit of the original song lyrics. Gingham Check is another “boy’s perspective” song, a format often used in the Idol genre. (i.e. although it is sung by a woman, the lyrics tell a man’s story). I think the lyrics read better if said by a male, and that is how I will explain the song. (Although the video above does not describe the lyrics exactly, it is still closer than the AKB48 version.) The tempo of the song is the same — upbeat, fun, and contains those great searing guitar parts. I think they used the same music track as AKB48, but just added JKT48 vocals in Indonesian. The happiness of the music perhaps masks the bittersweet nostalgia and (perhaps) emotional pain of the lyrics.
The song is about a boy and girl walking their bikes to work on a summer morning. I will infer that they work at the same seaside resort. The young lady wears a blue and white “Gingham Check” uniform for her job. The boy is in love with the young girl, who, unfortunately for him is only his “friend”.
He feels very conflicted. He likes the girl but is too afraid to ask her out. This conflict is symbolized by the blue and white “Gingham Check” pattern on the girl’s uniform. “Blue-White-Blue” is the pattern the pretty young lady wears, but it is also the pattern of his internal conflict. He wants to tell her he likes her, but what if she rejects him? His good intentions are checked by his doubt — blue-white-blue …
You girls have no idea how hard it is to make that first move. If women have the physical pain of childbirth, then men have the emotional turmoil of asking a girl for a date. I know, you are sitting in the comfort of your computer chair thinking: “That’s so easy. He should just tell her!!!” Well, he does not want to ruin their friendship. You see, he likes her, which makes him happy, but he likes her so much it hurts. Conflicted in opposite directions … blue-white-blue … just like Gingham Check.
As the sea comes into view,
In a single shade of blue,
It will tell me all I have to do,
All it takes is just one word inside my mouth,
But I try to speak and nothing will come out ..
I remember having these same feelings. I think that anyone can relate.
The summer goes on. Everyday he thinks that THIS WILL BE THE DAY that he will finally tell her how he feels. But of course he doesn’t. Blue-White-Blue. Of course, he is kicking himself, but there is always the next day when he will walk with her to work again. Should he tell her? … “Yes-No-Yes” … feeling conflicted by LOVE cross-hatched by DESPAIR … Blue-White-Blue …
The summer days, begin to shorten, the days become cooler, and the boy realizes he will never tell her. They will work together again next summer, so he might tell her then.
Should we be critical of the boy for never having the guts to speak up? No. That he never tells her of his love — is maybe not such a bad thing. One has to have compassion, even for your former self.
There was once a great movie line read by actor Jack Palance in the old Billy Crystal comedy movie “City Slickers”. The Palance character describes a farmhouse woman he would often see while riding herds back and forth across the prairie. He describes her beauty, and the song she often sang as she hung out her laundry. Smiling, he tells the other cowboys that he fell in love with the woman, and goes on to say what the memory of her means to him. The other guys exclaim: “But why didn’t you approach her … she could have been the love of your life”! Palance replies “… She is.”
It may be difficult for a young person to understand that. When you eventually reach the nostalgic place a mature heart has traveled, you may understand. Do we have the compassion to forgive ourselves?
I am also going to include the “English Version” performed again by JKT48. English lines are onscreen. Although some lines feel a little forced, a little awkward, in order to match the rhythm of the song, I think that the simple sweetness of the Mr. Akimoto’s lyrics shine through.
Lastly I will share with you the cover by GooseHouse sung in Japanese. It is very sweet. Full of joy in the way that only GooseHouse can make it! Their version slows the song and captures the bittersweet emotions and simplicity of the original Japanese lyrics.
The music video is FUN and CUTE. It makes me happy, in my world that is otherwise filled with ugliness. The “Big Butts” will never understand. Yet another reason Why I Like AKB48 — and the 48 Families!
Starlight: The JKT48 Indonesian version took four months of light-speed travel to reach my world.
Dear Readers, I wanted to re-blog this post from Fran who writes the “Sequins and Cherry Blossoms”. Some of you may already follow her, but I also wanted to introduce her blog to my other followers who may be interested in Japanese art and culture. Really, I feel like I should re-blog most of her pots. Her blog is a good example of the kind of posts I WISH I could write. Please enjoy this collection of interesting manga-inspired art, maybe some of her other posts as well. — Denny Sinnoh
Haruka Shimazaki (島崎 遥香) is among the most popular members of AKB48. The adorably cute young Idol was born March 30, 1994 in Saitama Prefecture, Japan. Her nickname is “Paruru”, but some fans refer to her as “Ponkotsu”.
What else? She is a pro at riding a unicycle. Her favorite snack is Jagabee (potato sticks).
Haruka Shimazaki’s modeling work has earned her a reputation as being one of the most beautiful faces on Japanese magazine covers. Of course she is a classic beauty dressed in kimono!
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She received praise for her role in the Eien Pressure music video linked here, where she sang center. She does not wear a kimono in the film, but is cute as a button when she does those “fist pumps” – Whoa, Whoa, Whoa, Whoa.
Please enjoy the small slideshow here. I tried to make captions for each one. Did you know that you can make a “comment” for each individual photo in the slideshow. If you can think of funnier captions, please comment!
That SMIRK. She knows something I do not know.
But Paruru, I DON’T GAMBLE!!! Ok … Cho!
I thought I was going to lose my pants, but I only had to cash in my Goldfish.
Nice bowl. Hey, how did you know I was going to lose?
Just for cheating, you have to scrub the bathing room.
I get the message — you’re taking responsibility now!
Such a pouty face for such a beautiful young lady in a beautiful kimono. January 13, 2014
Cloyster (Japanese: パルシェン “Parshen”) is a dual-type WATER and ICE Pokémon. It evolves from the WATER-type Shellder when exposed to a Water Stone.
Basically, Cloyster is a big, mean oyster. Near the top of where it splits open is a throbbing weapon. Shellder (Japanese: シェルダー “Shellder” ) is a tongue-wagging scallop. The tongue of Shellder is actually a “foot” in a real brachiopod.
I nicknamed a female Cloyster “Delores” after a famous “Seinfeld” episode. Jerry was dating a girl, and he could not remember her name. All he knew was that her name rhymes with the name of a female body part.
(Side Note: I think only a Jerry Seinfeld fan would name a Cloyster “Mulva”.)
I think the point is way far north here.
Also, Cloyster has that mysterious “pointy thing” thing above its face … so, again … heh heh … similar to the female body part, referred to by Seinfeld.
I have not named many Shellder. I just use “Sheldon” as in the character from “The Big Bang Theory”.
I named one “ShellyLong” but I think I was not even trying. “MaryShelley” is OK for Frankenstein fans. “Me Shell” perhaps for Beatles fans. “Shell Shocked” may work for male or female. “BlahBlahBlah” is my name based on annoying tongue wagging.
“Squirt” or “Squirt Me”, or some variation of that may be good, because real scallops propel themselves by squirting. Maybe you like watching that type of thing.
A Shellder hoping to encounter a Cloyster I’ll bet.
The above cosplayer was “Tipping the Velvet” … so now for a little Pokémon cosplay with some “mussel” …
Discussion Question: Will we be able to “dive” again in Hoenn?
“Pearl” or “Black Pearl” may also be appropriate names. Don’t try “Ironclit” (a play on the nautical term “Ironclad”), as the XY name censor will not take it.
You might use the name “Ama” who were Japanese pearl divers. However, the name refers to the divers not the oysters.
Gather your “Dive Balls” and access your “Good Rod”! Next time you are in a coastal region, you may want to “go diving” for some Cloyster!
Likes: Pop Culture, Humor, Japanese Culture, Iwasa Misaki, Hanako Oku, AKB48 History, Kurosawa films, Kimonos, Anime, Lolita fashion, Buddhist philosophy, and finding the perfect nicknames for my Pokemon.
A fansite; for old and new fans of AKB48 and all their domestic and international sister groups: (SKE48, NMB48, HKT48, NGT48, STU48, JKT48, BNK48, MNL48, AKB48 Team SH, SGO48, AKB48 Team TP, and CGM48)
Denny Sinnoh 
Written
on October 30, 2014