Starlight: It took over two months for this starlight to reach my world.
Usually I provide the starlight distance at the end of a post, but I feel very embarrassed that it has taken me so long to find the JKT48 in Kimonos Calendar for 2016. These would be great images for your desktop. They were created by a contest last year, where JKT fans got to vote for their favorite “Calendar Girl” (Denny starts humming Neil Sedaka‘s tune already). The 13 women who received the most votes got a month (plus one leap day).
I suggest listening to the song linked here (it will open in a new window, I copied his lyrics in the photo cations). Then just click on the image for the full, WALLPAPER SIZE! Set it as your background each month! The holidays noted on each month are for recognized days in Indonesia. All major religions are noted. I (HEART) you Indonesia, and your religious tolerance*.
Denny singing: Yeah, yeah, my heart’s in a whirl — I love, I love, I love my Monday kimono girls —
January! You start the year off fine!
February! You’re my little valentine!
March! I’m gonna march you down the aisle!
April! You’re the Easter Bunny when you smile!
May! May-be if I ask your dad and mom!
June! They’ll let me take you to the JUNE-ior Prom!
July! … Like a firecracker — all aglow!
August! When you’re on the beach, you steal the show!
September! Light the candles at your Sweet Sixteen!
October! We’re Romeo and Juliet on Halloween!!!
November! I’ll give THANKS that you belong to me
December! You’re the present ‘neath my Christmas tree!!!
Wait! There is one more. 2016 has an extra LEAP day — so why not AN EXTRA KIMONO …
Oh, you need a wallpaper sized for your MOBILE? No problem. Click on any of the thumbnails and save one for your mobile device.
I love, I love, I love my calendar girls — Yeah, sweet Jakarta kimono girls I love, I love, I love my Indonesian girls — Each and every day of the year!
———————————————————————————-
(Not Neil Sedaka. )
*Check out marvelous Melody’s month of May. Indonesia recognizes Christianity, Islam and Buddhism. (….and if you consider Marxism to be a “religion”, then even that!).
The national motto of Indonesia is “Unity in Diversity”. Indonesia is predominantly Muslim of course, but other religions are also represented and tolerated. Protestant denominations are from the Dutch colonial period, Roman Catholics dominate near Timor, Bali is Hindu, Buddhism and Chinese religions are common in most urban places.
PROLOGUE: I am a lot happier now. I was a little bummed that all the AKB48 Family videos — which includes those by the JKT48 sister group — have been banned from being seen or shared America. I wanted to see more Haruka Nakagawa performances, especially leading up to her graduation later this year. Ding-dang it — I am not allowed to view JKT48 Official Channel – even though I subscribed! Fortunately, some YourTube users in Indonesia posted some great LIVE performances from the past couple of years.
There is a great series from this user and others which feature the girls performing in their home theater in Jakarta! It is like you are right there in the front row. Several hour-long shows have been posted — however I wanted to at least share this Yasushi Akimoto song: “Tanjoubi No Yoru”. JKT48 sing it in an Indonesian dialect, which translates the song as “Malam Ulang Tahun”. There is even a little English thrown in as you will hear. Full lyrics are available linked here.
It would be a cute and fun Idol show to watch. Image standing in the from row and seeing Harugon and Melody and all the others so close up.
I have not seen so much tender thigh meat since I was on that tour of the Tyson factory!!!
(Denny imitating Dr. McCoy’s famous “I’m just an old country doctor …” quote):
I’m just a big fat fanboy, but these stage shows are great to watch and listen to at work. I can re-size a window, work around it, then imagine that I am right there in the JKT theater, while I spend several hours processing requests for agricultural fertilizers.
These shows may not be as elaborate as the stage show of a big American rock band, but I love watching them. The girls wear a variety of great Idol outfits. Some songs are cute, some are sweet, and some are pretty sexy. (Well, they are all pretty at something.)
I love the individual beauty of each of the ladies. The JKT48 girls have an amazing array of attractive faces. Each one is more lovely than the next. No, they do not look like supermodels. Arguably, they look like “just your average pretty girl” — if you know what I mean. You know, like that really unique-looking, but also very pretty girl who works the checkout at the supermarket? You know, like that super-stylish pretty girl you always see in the coffee shop? You know, that really pretty friend-of-a-friend’s friend? You know, like that quiet, but very pretty girl you see on the bus all the time? You know, that real girl you would rather have a million times over any Hollywood actress?
These videos show that the JKT48 team are real girls. Sure, each has talent to varying degrees, and it has been fun to watch their talents grow. There is nothing phony about the JKT48 girls. These girls are not just models. Better! — they have natural beauty. All are Indonesian (except Haruka), but there is a great diversity of faces in the group … those magnificent faces .. those uniquely beautiful, … wonderful … life affirming faces. Each one is its own universe …
… Its own lifetime. Really, any one of them would be a dream girlfriend. If I were a young man, I would share my life with any of them. You can see why a guy would be willing to get up and go to work every day. Did you see those faces? Those heavenly thighs? You can see why a guy would dedicate his life to making his dream girl happy. I’d even talk to an insurance salesman.
Have fun re-sizing your windows, but get back to work on those data forms …
Is it just me — or are this world’s women getting more and more beautiful? Maybe I have that perspective, because I am just so old, well past the midpoint of life. I can even see the abyss from my vantage point. We should appreciate and celebrate beauty and fun more often. We are here on this Earth to love each other, not to make trouble, create pain or hurt each other because we buy a different brand of socks. I know now what is truly important now: Find a pretty girl, then get your face between her thighs. Make babies … then love them. This is what I want to be on my tombstone*: Denny’s advice: “Worry less about stupid stuff … and eat more pussy.”
I would rather watch the JKT48 girls sing and dance more than any of the edgy, progressive, supposedly significant singer songwriters I grew up with. I know what you are going to say Bob: “Denny, when you were a young new-wave-arty-punk-rocker you listened to those deep, dark artists, who you thought were so earthshakeingly profound. You used to write about INJUSTICES! … about all the SHIT in society! … art that was about all the PUKE!!! …”.
Well, I don’t want to see the shit and the puke anymore.
I want to see my sweet JKT48 girls wearing pretty dresses – singing about love, being loved and giving love.
Starlight: *Actually, cremate my body, and mix my ashes into the fertile Indonesian soil. The dark, rich, moist, volcanic soil. Mash me deep into Melody’s furrows – er, .. I mean … uh … deep into the agricultural field, that is wet with anticipation.
February is a short month. It kind of creeps up on you, right?
Wallpaper size image for your desktop. Too bad the month is over.
At least I can celebrate Leap Year February 29th, with Miss Haruka Nakagawa of JKT48. The big news is that “Harugon” has just announced her graduation from JKT48 and the AKB organization. Other bloggers have also announced this on February 27th. (See announcement photos and video links there.)
I wish her well, she was always one of my favorites, and always made my “Top 16” lists. I loved her in the Watariroka Hashiritai unit, and she was a big reason why they were my favorite AKB subgroup. Remember the time in the WH “Gyu” music video (see Jpopsuki link here time 2:40), when she actually KISSED that fat, unsightly blob? What a sweet moment … and …
… IT GAVE HOPE TO ALL OF US HIGH SCHOOL BLOBS!!!
The story is that Harugon will remain in Indonesia after she graduates. Ahem, for those of you that are not big, fat fanboys like me — Haruka was originally sent to Indonesia to be a team leader when JKT48 was first created. She was the only full-Japanese member of the group. She had her work cut out for her, as she had to learn to sing all those Yasushi Akimoto songs translated into the Indonesian dialect. She was great in JKT48, and made a great “double team” with Melody Nurramdhani Laksani. (See my JKT48 Pinterest page linked here.) Of course she nailed it, and became one of their most popular members.
The above photo was from her “coming of age” event in 2015. She has an absolutely beautiful face. Harugon radiates warmth, intelligence and pure fun. I’m inspired each time I look at her. (Was that too much?)
It was not announced WHY she is not returning to Japan, but Indonesia is lucky to have her. Well, any country would be lucky to have her. I feel good just knowing that I WALK THE SAME EARTH as she! (… too much?)
Haruka Nakagawa, you are one of the good ones.
See more of Miss Harugon wearing amazingly pretty dresses on my Pinterest board for her linked here.
Good Grief … I miss the girls. That being said, I still want to share another 16-member “dream team” of my favorite idols. Of course I am going to make lame jokes in the captions. Some of my references are decades old. If you can think of better captions, I look forward to your comments.
Now that Minami Takahasi is about to graduate, there are new additions, and some shake-ups in my lineup. Also, this time, I want to share some moving pictures … Enjoy! .. and please comment — I get lonely fan-boying all by myself.
# Sixteen: Haruka Shimazaki – AKB48
Cooking Challenges? Paruru says that there is NO KIND OF MEAT that she cannot handle!
# Fifteen: Mako Kojima – AKB48
Ha! Young Kojima-san still cannot beat me in “Mario Kart”. HA!!! I hit her with a green shell, just as she was about to cross the finish line!
# Fourteen: Kei Jonishi – NMB48
Denny: Oh, no! … Don’t say that routine AGAIN Kei …
Kei: “Jonshi??? Well, my name is Kei Keicchi Jonishi … you can call me RAY, you can call me KEI, you can call me KEICCHI, you can call me K-CHI, you can call me J-SHI, you can call me SUNNY, you can call me KJ … but yas doesn’t have to call me Jonshi.”
# Thirteen: Haruka Nakagawa – JKT48
If you just got up five minutes earlier, Harugon, you would not be late for practice!!!
# Twelve: Miyuki Watanabe – NMB48
It does not look like it is ANYONE’S secret anymore Milky-chan!
# Eleven: Jurina Matsui – SKE48
Jurina, take it from AL BUNDY: Graduate with a degree. You do not want to wind up selling ladies’ shoes!
# Ten: Yui Yokoyama – AKB48
The last thing TakaMina saw, the moment before she graduated!
# Nine: Haruna Kojima – AKB48
Far be it for me to criticize anyone’s religion KojiHaru … You go ahead and say your nightly prayers the way that you want to.
# Eight: Sayaka Yamamoto – NMB48
Your hair? … No Sayanee, I do not think anyone noticed that your HAIR was slightly out of place.
# Seven: Minami Minegishi – AKB48
No Miichan!!! … Darn it, I am going to SMACK that guy who told Miichan that this was the proper way that American women greet each other at formal U.S. embassy meetings.
# Six: Aika Ota – HKT48
Lovetan — Jim Morrison called, he says NOT to sing it like that if you want to sound “deep”. That is heavy, Love-tan … heavy.
# Five: Mayu Wantanabe – AKB48
… Well Miss Watanabe, as we will be sitting next to each other for more than nine hours on this car drive … you go right ahead and tell me everything I need to know about Scientology.
# Four: Sakura Miyawaki – HKT48
What went wrong when Sakura-tan auditioned for “The Karate Kid 5” …
# Three: Haruka Kodama – HKT48
Harrupi looked like she COULD NOT BELIEVE IT — when I showed her how “Nestles’ Quick” works!
# Two: Yuki Kashiwagi – NGT48
NO! … What is WRONG with you people? Don’t you know that ground up tororo root is a traditional Japanese food. NO! I was NOT thinking that … I wouldn’t … I like Yukirin, … oh God, NO … I never …
# One: Iwasa Misaki – AKB48!!! … as if you would have any doubt!
Sorry that I got carried away with that confetti snow Wasamin!
Starlight: Four decades of Pop Cultural references!
“This must be a real horrorshow film if you’re so keen on my viddying it.”
What are you spinning your warbles to these days droogies? Johnny Zhivago?Heaven Seventeen? Well come with UNCLE! … Come and hear all PROPER!
My droog Denny lent me Watarirouka Hashiritai final concert DVD. Oh, my brothers, it was gorgeousness and gorgeosity made flesh. I viddied that American thinking is for the gloopy ones and that the oomny ones use like inspiration and what Bog sends. For now it was lovely Watarirouka Hashiritai music that came to my aid. Oh, it was wonder of wonders.
“It’s funny how the colors of the real world only seem really real when you watch them on a screen.”
Haruka Nagagawa crunched redgold under my bed, and behind my gulliver the sounds of Ayaka Kikuchi, Aika Oota and Mika Komori trumpeed three-wise silverflamed, and there by the door Kazumi Urano rolling through my guts and out again crunched like candy thunder.
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Glazzies on Haruka only here: Viddy well brother … VIDDY WELL!
Mika Komori bored deep, like worms of like platinum, into the thick thick toffee gold and silver. I was in such bliss, my brothers.And then, a bird of like rarest spun heavenmetal, or like silvery wine flowing in a spaceship, gravity all nonsense now, came the Mayu Wananabe solo above all the other watarirouka strings, and those strings were like a cage of silk round my bed.
The lips of Mayu were like red, red kroovy …
Then, brothers, it came. Oh, bliss, bliss and heaven. Like a GREAT BIRD – the solo by Iwasa Misaki.
O, Bog in heaven what pretty pictures I imagined
I lay all nagoy to the ceiling, my gulliver on my rookers on the pillow, glazzies closed, rot open in bliss, slooshying the sluice of lovely sounds. Oh, it made me dream such pretty pictures, my brothers.
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IT’S A SIN! The Watarirouka Hashiritai 7 to be disbanded? IT’S A SIN!!!!!!
But where I itty now, O my brothers, is all on my oddy knocky, where you cannot go. Tomorrow is all like sweet flowers and the turning vonny earth and the stars and the old Luna up there. … and all that cal.
Something organic that Bog tugs away free will? Real horrorshow.
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 …
“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.
Today I want to wave a special hello to a great country. Hello Indonesia! You have a great country full of interesting people and places! Amongst the reasons I like Indonesia …
1. I like archipelagos! So many islands, and every island is unique in their own special way.
2. Indonesia has the greatest national motto ever: “Bhinneka Tunggal Ika” which means Unity in Diversity. Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam and Christianity coexist there. Other countries: please take notes.
3. Sumatra is an island in Indonesia, and “Sumatra” is my favorite coffee at Starbucks. When I drink a Sumatra I am tasting a little bit of your soil. So, dark and rich, so bold and flavorful … and well, JUST GREAT!!!
4. I love my “Java” – and that is yet another Indonesian island!
5. Bali has a lot of great tourist areas to visit. (Too many to describe here, see the link.) Bali dancers are great, and I would love to see some of the Hindu temples there.
As Elton John once sang: “Hold me closer Bali dancer!”
6. I would love to see the wildlife and environments on Borneo as well as on Papua Province.
Keep singing those great songs ladies!
7. I also love the JKT48. I would also like to share this song by the JKT48. They the AKB sister group in Jakarta. One of my favorite AKB48 songs is “Baby, Baby, Baby” — and so here is the JKT48 version. The video is a nice “mash up” of different performances, and you even get some lyrics in the Indonesian dialect!
I wish I was there. So much to see and learn! My world traveling days are over, so I regret I will not be able to see you in person.
But come here Indonesia, give your Uncle Denny a big hug …
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 November 12, 2014