KIMONOS ON MONDAY (Week #39): What would it be like to go on a date with Mariko Shinoda?

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Imagine being on a date with the glamorous Mariko Shinoda!

What would it be like to be on a date with the lovely Mariko Shinoda, or any of the ladies of AKB48? You may want to try the Playstation 3 or Vita game AKB 1/149 dating simulation game. This RPG game gives fans a chance to go on “virtual dates” with their favorite idols – or any of them in AKB SKE or NMB  groups. I have never played one of these dating games, and I do not have a Japanese Playstation, so I guess I never will. However, I am very glad that I found this video which features the lovely Mariko Shinoda in a lovely kimono! She is so elegant, so polite, and so ravishingly beautiful in these gameplay moments!

Yes, I would LOVE some more sake, Mariko!

I always loved Mariko Shinoda when she was with AKB48. She was so stylish, and so graceful. Her dancing was great, and she always made it look so effortless.  (She was notable for being able to learn the dance moves faster than the other members.) I do think it unfortunate that she has decided to forgo a singing career however. She was a good comedian too.

I love this clip. It really captures what a wonderful person she must really be. She is beautiful, but she is also a woman of very strong character.  She is so well spoken and  so well mannered.  (Mariko graduated. That means some lucky bastard guy out there gets to see this for real right now.)

You will need a Japanese Playstation Network account to play the game. So that lets me out, darn it … I have however seen the gameplay for these dating simulation games on YouTube. Your RPG character has options to take on particular interactions. You need to make the proper selection, and choose the right thing to say and do at selected points. You either win the Idol over or you don’t.

If you come on too strong, she will think you are a pervert and reject you … if you are not aggressive enough she will think you are a spineless wimp and reject you. Sound familiar, gentlemen?

The AKB48 dating games on the PS3 have video in them.  I think I might actually prefer the older PSP handheld games, which did not have video, but which used still photos instead.  The stills — I think were cuter … and probably safer … especially for an old man.  The PS3 videos look so realistic that it would be easy for one to become delusional, and think that the ladies are really there. (I mean even more delusional, than I already am.) With the stills, you remember you are playing a game. I’m also thinking with all the text, it would be a great way to learn the Japanese language.

Here is some “the making of” the video game which shows the outfits that Shinoda-san wears in the game.

What light through yonder window breaks?

She is stunning even in the deleted scenes!!!

Unfortunately, the gameplay does not show Mariko’s full kimono, although there is a brief, full view in the “making of” video above.  I Googled these photos for a better look. Enjoy.

Starlight: Mariko graduated the year that this game came out (2013). 

My blogging year in review Part III: My “bottom ten” posts

Sorry, I only counted NINE bottoms here …

As I wrap up my blogging year with another “top ten” list — perhaps a BOTTOM TEN this time —  I want to share my “Top Ten Least Viewed Posts”.  I used the new WP Stats page to see how many views each post received. Some of them even received only one view – and that was probably from me when I was not logged in.  I will admit, some were rather obtuse. I hope that you can find an interesting title in the group.

1. “Clean up on isle three … Strange person on isle five” linked here.

2. “Who’s up late polishing the blade?” linked here.

3. “Nothing fishy going on here” linked here.

4. “Hanako Oku and the failed Landsat program” linked here.

5. “MEN!!!”   linked here.

6. “A dark and nihilistic moment ruined by poor grammar” linked here.

7. “Even M. Night Shyamalan Didn’t see than one coming” linked here.

8. “Kimonos on Postage Stamps” linked here.

9. “Why I like AKB48 Part XXVII” linked here.

10. “A sense of responsibility changes a woman” linked here.

Thank you for reading my posts this year!

KIMONOS ON MONDAY (Week #16) Mariko Shinoda edition.

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Kimonos every Monday!  This week, we will view a gallery and a (too short) video singing performance.

Mariko Shinoda is an AKB48 graduate as of last year.  Shinoda-san is multi talented, and was an accomplished singer, dancer, comedian, model, and fashion designer.  Shinoda-san has now given up singing for full-time work the fashion industry, but I always thought she was always pretty good in all her roles.  Please enjoy this YouTube video (HD available).  The song is “Mujineki”  (Abandoned Station).

Also, please enjoy this galley show of Mariko in kimonos, as that is the point of this post : )

I will meet you at the abandoned station Mariko!

“A Sense of Responsibility Changes a Woman”

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AKB48 music video “Ue Kara Mariko” featuring Mariko Shinoda! … linked here.

It will open in a new window, then you can enlarge it to full screen!   Alternateively you may just link to the JPopsuki site below!

http://www.jpopsuki.tv/video/AKB48—Ue-Kara-Mariko-%2528eng-subbed%2529/290c201022d71531ed66ff67f38abd22

Oh those long Jpopsuki load times … but they have such great fansubs!

If you must use YouTube, here is the video. You can have CC for the song, but the “drama” is not subtitled.

The video is worth the trouble.  This JPopsuki fansub has the complete music video story.  There is an incomplete, un-subbed version on YouTube … but why on Earth would you want to go there?

Mariko Shinoda graduated from AKB in 2013, but she was long one of my favorites.  I was sorry to see her leave AKB, but I wish her well in her new “responsibilities” in the Japanese fashion industry.  Perhaps it was time, to graduate.  Shinoda-san was 27 when she graduated — which is fairly old to be a Japanese Idol.  What a charming beauty she was … and well, still is (see image gallery below).  Shinoda-san had a lot of style and grace.  Her dancing seemed effortless.  Like a cat always landing on her feet, she made it look easy.  She was also a good comedian, and I wish that the group would have taken advantage of her comedic talent.

Today, we will take a look back at this great music video, and also take a look at some of Mariko-san’s activities in the fashion world!

The song was written by Mr. Akimoto-san for Mariko.  It is another “boys perspective” song where the lyrics are about a guy singing to Mariko.  Oddly, Mariko is also singing part of the song.  So … she is singing to herself?  Make sense?

The video takes place at a private school “Aizawa Woman High School”.  Three students are bemoaning their bad luck, after finding out that each club’s leader must take part in a “Janken” (Rock/Paper/Scissors)  tournament, in order to select who will be the student council chairman (chair-girl?) .  Minami Minegishi (aka “Mii-chan”) steals the show here.  She tries to get one of her friends (Fujie and Kabayushi-san) to step forward and try to win the Janken tournament. Their  biology teacher Mariko Shinoda arrives, who they all admire, especially Fujie.  Side note: Mii-chan and Mariko are the same age, but Mii-chan is playing a school-girl and Mariko plays the teacher.  Mariko will mentor the shy, impressionable Fujie.

It is NOT going where you think it might at time 1:30.

The young women are surprised to find out that Mariko was a “nerd” in high school, yet blossomed into the teacher and professional model she is today.

To say that this music video is “leggy” would be an understatement.

Thanks go out to Musicsoloud.livejournal.com, HoneyRoastedPeanuts@Stage48.net, and Room560@youtube.com for translations and fan subs.  Arigatou gozaimasu!

About time she got her own magazine!

Always awarding.

Fly Mariko!

Mariko on the runway?

Nice Luggage.

Who is the lucky guy?

NHK Mariko

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It took two years  and nine months for this video’s starlight to reach my world.

For more Mariko please visit my Shinoda Pinterest board below!

(1980 joke reference.  “Dutta dutta dut dut — dut dut, dutta dut,  MY SHINODA!!!”)