Haruka Kodama and Denny’s broken heart.

It is with some sadness That I have to report the HKT48/AKB48 graduation of Miss Haruka Kodama. Haruppi (her nickname) was always one of my favorite members of the AKB family. She was a fan favorite, and had ranked as high as 9^th in the last AKB election she participated in. Together with Sakura Miyawaki, they were HKT48’s power duo!

I am not usually sad about a members graduation, as I always wish them well in their new careers. However, in the case of Kodama-san, she had to graduate because of a medical illness. Her official graduation date is June 9, but there will be no HKT graduation performance or ceremony due to her illness. Haruka has not been performing with HKT48 for about a year now, and there has been a lot of fan speculation about what happened to her. “Was there a scandal?” “Is she pregnant and in hiding?” A lot of rumors were flying around until management announced that she would take a hiatus due to illness. Then more time gone from HKT. She never came back from the extended hiatus.

Some fans thought that Haruka was depressed because Sakura was assigned to go to Korea to be a K-Pop star — and not her too. There was some discussion that she had developed an eating disorder, bulimia and self-image problem. I found this troubling. This was the most common speculation. It may have been leaked by people in the know. My friend Derek and the others on the video-blog 48Talk had also discussed this possibility. But what do I know anyway?

If that is the case, then it really makes me very sad. Haruppi is (I don’t want to say “was”) one of the most beautiful members of the AKB Family – which is another way of saying — she was among the most beautiful women in the world. It tears me up a little to think that this lovely young woman could look in the mirror and see someone unattractive. How could she think that she was not good enough? How could the self-esteem of such a lovely woman fall so much, so fast? But what do I know?

She may have had a low self-image, but there was no reason to feel that way. It is true, she was not among the top singers in AKB, but there is much more to being an Idol than just the singing. She was fine within the larger group of singers of course, but I don’t think that she would have had a solo music career. What do I know — I’ve been out of the Idol loop.

Her main claim to fame was modeling and acting. There was no better fashion model than Haruka Kodama, as some of my past blog posts suggest.

Officially she is graduating to become an actress, and has already landed a major role in a Japanese stage play. She is scheduled to star in the stage play ‘Watashi ni Ai ni Kite‘, which will be performed in Tokyo this September. Read more on this link. That is encouraging.

Some fans speculated about her weight gain and “puffy” face. Everyone knew that something was going on in her most recent performances. I hope it was not bulimia, and my guess it was something else. She did not look like someone gaining weight slowly. She had the look of someone who was prescribed steroids for a medical condition – with the side effects of bloating. I have seen this situation before, where these medicines will deal a harsh blow to a young lady’s looks. Sometimes a medicine saves your life, but then you balloon up.

Haruppi was said to be crying at handshake events when fans asked what happened to her. Which makes ME want to cry.

It pains me to do so, but if you look at one of the last PVs that she did with the group “11 Gatsu no Anklet” (linked here see time 1:57) she looks a lot different. There is the weight, plus she does not seem to have that Happy Haruppi sparkle.

This was when we all started to worry. They kind of have her in the back row of the performance too.

Even with her prolonged illness and appearance change, she is still a beautiful lady. She is still prettier than > 99.9% of all women in this world. Unfortunately, her self-image problems and/or health has ended her career as an idol. I wonder if Sakura had not been reassigned to the K-Pop groups, if that might have made a difference.

If I could tell her … I sure would, but we live on opposite sides of the world, speak different languages, are of a different generation (and may even be different species). I would say …

“We love you Haruppi. You have given us a lot of happiness over the years. You will not be forgotten. You ARE beautiful – and always will be.”

There are more Haruka memories on my old Pinterest account here:

If anyone has an HKT48 playlist, or anything to share, please leave it in the comments below.

Let me choke back my tears and get back to the silly butt jokes I always make … (Denny slaps head, tries to make one of his lame jokes … ) here goes … 

Did you know that Haruka and I were once in a commercial? Haruka is not on the thumbnail, but she features prominently in this clip. This was one of my favorite AKB songs, and you will not find it on YouTube. Haruppi plays this beautiful young lady who interacts with her friends on social media. The full video really shows the beauty and innocence of the younger members. Haruppi texts this story of how she met this handsome boy at a bus stop. She sits there at the bus stop shelter — and you can literally see her creaming over this surfer-dude. Thinking about this surfer, and stewing in her own juices — even though she barely moves and does not much to him. This MV was Haruka at her yummiest.

So I was asked to do this foot cream commercial, one thing led to another, then I ended up in an AKB video. I’m the big fat guy in case you can’t tell.

See the video time 2:14 to 2:20 minutes. There is this scene where Haruka is sitting on the couch. Off camera, to the right, there is a shadow which is me saying my lines. It went like this:

WHAT? — DANG IT — THEY CUT MY PART OUT OF THE FULL VIDEO!

Well, all the better because Haruka and the other girls get more time then. As you can see, the movie “BirdMan” stole their final scene from our video. But what do I know?

Starlight: Haruka Kodama (兒玉 遥 Kodama Haruka, born 19 September 1996), joined HKT48 in 2011.

Special Warm and Hopeful New Year’s Day Greetings from the Butt of Ms. Mayu Watanabe

Ha Ha. Maybe I should call this post “Happy New REAR.”  Ha Ha Ha. Who better than to give you wishful New Year’s Day greetings than the rear end of AKB48 idol Mayu Watanabe? As much as I love Watanabe-san, her butt is so other-worldly cute, that sometimes it seems as if her butt has a personality all of its own.

I have translated the butt’s comments from the original Japanese, but as you will see … Mayuyu’s derriere speaks an international language, easily understood by anyone.

Begin butt transmission:

Mayu’s Butt: “A fresh new year is once again upon us.”

Mayu’s Butt continues: “It is the time to be thankful for the blessings of the past year and to take stock of all our achievements.”

The magic tukhus continues: “We relish old memories … but a promising and a fulfilling new year is waiting just for you! Open your arms and behold it with grace and mirth. Grab it … Just grab it!”

More blessings from the bum: “New Year 2017 is a brand new year to start afresh, to start strong, and yet get another chance to do everything we wanted to do this past year …”

The pretty patootie pontificates:  “The amazing thing with chances is how we get them every year. So, set positive goals and try to be realistic.”

Her cute butt continues: “Hang the wish list up where you can see them every day of the New Year – and continue to be excited for what you can achieve this 2017.”

Mayuyu’s rear end rages again: “In the meantime, enjoy the fireworks, look forward to those loud and boisterous family dinners, or maybe just have a quiet intimate meal with your loved one.”

Mayu’s tail, continues the tale: “Let someone you know– or maybe everyone you know – that you remembered them today, and that you value their friendship!”

The idol’s sweet cheeks conclude: “I hope that the lamps of joy lighten up your year, fill your days with sparkles of joy, and brighten up your life forever and ever.”

Thank you Butt-of-Mayuyu. You’ve said it all.

Zero in on her “I need you” moment from a “Heavy Rotation” performance (in available super HD) linked here.

Heh heh … Hoo boy … now where did every body go?.

Starlight: HAPPY NEW YEAR 2017 EVERYONE !

See more Mayuyu on my Pinterest board for her LINKED HERE.

Pokémon Nicknames: Cryogonal

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Cyogonal is using what is known in Pokémon battling as a “Special Move”.

Cryogonal (in Japanese: フリージオ  “Freegeo”) was introduced in 2011 in Pokémon Black and White. Cryogonal is an ICE-type Pokémon.

(Thank you again Bulbapedia)

Cryogonal is basically a big ice crystal or snowflake. The English The name is a combination of “cryo” meaning ice, and hexagon, as many snow flakes are six sided. It does not evolve from any other form. It does not have a Mega-Evolution form. Cyrogonal has neither a male or female form.

Clearly, Cyogonal is a “gender-less” Pokémon.

Quoted directly from Bulbapedia: Cryogonal resembles a shiny, blue hexagonal snowflake. Its facial expression is frozen, which leaves Cryogonal with a still, aggressive-looking face. Two cracks run through its face, the upper opening contains its eyes and the lower serves as a mouth. It has two glowing eyes and its large mouth contains an extendable chain of ice, which is used for hunting. When its body heat rises it will turn into steam and vanish, but will revert to ice when the body temperature lowers. Cryogonal is born in snow clouds.

My favorite name for Cryogonal is “Bergeron” after “Bergeron’s concept” in meteorology. Did you know that most rain actually starts out as snow? Even a warm summer raindrop starts out as an ice-cystal in the top, supercooled layer of rainclouds. The ice-cystal attracts moisture from the supercooled cloud droplets – much as the way Cryogonal may use the Pokémon move “Attract”.

Oddly, Cryogonal may use Attract even though it is GENDER-LESS! If defense is your strategy, Cryogonal may also use the move “Protect“.

This was the closest free image I could find for Cryogonal using “Protect”.

Other names I have used are: “Whiteout” after the term for Blizzard conditions, “Crystal Beth” after the drug popular with my redneck relatives, “White X-Mas” and “Let-It-Snow” after holiday songs, “Schmidlin” after the famous snow climatologist, and “Eat-My-Sleet” because I thought it would be a funny name to see when the Pokémon switches in to a trainer battle.

I also have Cryogonals named “Heart-of-Ice”, “Wind Rime” (after rime ice, and it sounds like wind chime, which Cryogonal somewhat resembles), “Six Points” like the hexagon or when you are scoring a touchdown, “Robert Frost” for the poet you studied in high school, and “Flakes” as in a crazy person.

You may think of other snow/ice themed names. Lady cosplayers may like the “Snow Queen” or “Ice Princess” concept.

I suppose that many players may make some type of “Frozen” movie reference. The Snowman song is linked here.

“Bergeron: Let it SNOW!”

What is the name of your powerful Ice Crystal? Please comment!

Now I’m living in a black-and-white world.

What Sayaka Yamamoto looks like when I’m out of colorful ideas.

Sorry, Yamamoto-san, you can go home. You are doing everything right as usual, I just can’t get my imagination going now.

What happened to the COLOR options in the WordPress editor!?!? I used to be able to create color text. The button was there now it is gone … My signature “Starlight” sign-off is supposed to be written in RED. Otherwise, how would you know that I’m moving rapidly away from you, and not towards you? Now I am living in the “Black and White World”.

SING IT, Elvis (link here). My heart is not in this drab world, Sayanee. Here are the lyrics. You read them dear girl, while I sort this out.

Written by Elvis Costello: “Black and White World” 1980.

I was looking at the black and white world
It seemed so exciting
If you’d only put me back to back with that girl
When the night’s inviting

With just a little lighting
There’ll never be days like that again
When I was just a boy and men were men
You never go from moment to moment
You’re the living double of a single fiction
You’re very colourful with your compliments
As you feel the finger’s friction

It’s a freeze-frame
Still it’s real life
You don’t want to look
Cause you’ve seen the film and you’ve read the book
I was looking at the black and white world
Trying to name some pin-up
Those days she was just a beautiful girl
Now she’s framed and hung up

I thought she was young
Up until I saw her last night in close detail
Though they all fade away when you’re so pale
It’s more than just a physical attraction

It starts with a face and ends up a fixation
But you’re never gonna feel a fraction
Of the way it used to work on your imagination
When you were looking at the black and white world…

Starlight: I guess we can’t work in the 0.4 to 0.7 micrometer range anymore?

Jurina Matsui — “The Apple Of My Eye”

Attention SKE and AKB48 fans: Our fellow blogger MorningBerryz48 has a new post (linked below) which I would love to share with you:

Source: The Girl from Aichi.

(Don’t mind me, I ‘m still gasping a little …) Her post today contains a few images from the brand new Jurina Matsui photobook! If you like photography, Japanese pop stars, and/or photography OF Japanese pop stars — do yourself a favor and have a gander at the new photobook she previews there. If you like fashion or fruit salads you will not be disappointed.

You can also BUY your own copy the photobook from CD Japan. Link here. Here is the cover:

Starlight: Just came out this month. If you follow MorningBerryz48, then you will not have to wait light years for the good photobooks!

For more fashions, see my Jurina Matsui board on Pinterest!

Favorite members of the AKB48 Family – “Dog Days” edition.

I could have just said “August” edition. The phrase “dog days” often refers to the end of summer. The star Sirius (the dog star) — is visible in late summer. This time is often the hottest time of year in many climates. Hot. Serious.

Right …  let us get right to cute photos of my favorite members! This time I will present my list in descending order, just to make it that much more suspenseful. Plus, there have been a few “shake-ups” since my last list.

My 16 member “dream team” would be …

16. Kei Jonishi

You are correct Kei …  “It is always darkest … just before they turn on the lights!“

15. Yui Yokoyama

No, Yuihan — Rick, Carl and Dale had already left the prison LAST year.

14. Minami Minegishi

I said “make that EXTRA VIRGIN”, Miichan. If you are going to cook authentic Italian, make sure that the olive oil is extra virgin …

13. Haruka Shimazaki

Don’t look so sad Paruru, no one was more disappointed than I was when we found out you were turned down to be the new symbol for “Wendy’s”.

12. Minami Takahashi

Every kid knows that a bath is not any fun unless you have something to play with!

11. Haruka Nakagawa

Whew. I am also very happy your bicycle seat was returned Haruka. Who on Earth could have taken it? Just glad it’s back!

10. Jurina Matsui

Ok, so when the Witch comes out of the little German house, that means it will be CLEAR … but when Jurina comes out, that means that it will RAIN? I’m OK with that.

9. Miyuki Watanabe

(Denny wispering and imitating David Attenborough) We are in luck. Few biologists have been fortunate enough to catch a wild Milky during her “molting” phase.

8. Haruna Kojima

Make up your mind Kojima san … are you in the “bloods” or the “crips”?

7. Sayaka Yamamoto

Guess where Sayanee hid the key to the iron gate she is waiting behind.

6. Sakura Miyawaki

How can I join the “Big Dango Family” Sakura-tan?

5. Aika Ota

Can I park my scooter at your playhouse Love-tan?

4. Mayu Watanabe

This happens every time Mayuyu gets an idea!

3. Haruka Kodama

Ah, Haruka Kodama, brought to you by the letter “N” … or is that a “W” … what letter are you trying to make again Haruppi?

2. Yuki Kashiwagi

“Wimpy Kid?” … not if it is the diary of Yukirin!

Now for my #1, my oshi … the champion from Chiba … the kami in kimono … the empress of enka …

1. Iwasa Misaki

Oddly, Wasamin’s ERA is lower than the entire staff of the Seattle Mariners!

Sing for me Misaki-san.

I (heart) you Wasamin, and all the girls! Thanks for a great summer of music videos!

Starlight: Only 8.6 light years to Sirius, but Fanboy love travels faster than the speed of light.

Never play hide and seek with Haruka Kodama.

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Never play hide and seek with Hawks Town Haruka Kodama, she is just too good.

Haruppi is pretty good at playing “hide and seek”. The Hawkstown 48 Idol has a way of completely disappearing into a hiding space. I never would have looked in the linens storage area!

Good hiding place Kodama-san! 

Ok, you got me. I just wanted to make a slide show of this amazing idol in cute outfits.

She is becoming one of my favorites in the AKB family.

Denny singing:  “I’m just wild about Ha – er, … Haruppi“!

Happy Hawks Town Haruppi — She stuns, doesn’t she?

Which one is sweet … Haruppi or the tea?

What happened to all the seeds … oh no … Haruka … DON’T!!!

Kodama-san has a way of reviving “old wood” that is for sure!

Of course Haruka is concerned with foresty!

It must be the “backlighting” … I think I am seeing spots!

Haruppi knows all the hidden passageways at the Hawks Town Mall. Did you get that bag there?!?

If I ever win an award for anything, I hope that this is the trophy.

Kodama-san, I would be HONORED if you would be my “second”!

 

So sue me, I’m hiding out in Hawks Town.

I also have to admit that “12 seconds” is now my “song of the summer”! Please enjoy ANOTHER full version of the HKT48 power pop hit in HD before the Record Industry Weasels find out about it. IT IS THE PERFECT IDOL SONG FOR SUMMER! If you haven’t already, check out that adorable little pose the members do right at the end of this dance. It kills me!

Man, they are something else. I feel like I am falling in love with AKB48 all over again — only it is with HKT. I do fall in love very easily — you probably know that by now.  When I fall, I am very loyal however.  What?

Starlight:  Haruppi place 8th in the AKB48 Election preliminary voting. The FINAL ELECTION is hours away! I will post results then!

See more HKT48 on my Pinterest Board linked here.

 

Statistics prove that Haruna Kojima is NOT sexy.

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Good evening gentlemen. Thank you for inviting me, and for including my paper at this conference. I will have to put it bluntly, even though some of you may not agree. Theories often die a hard death. HARUNA KOJIMA IS NOT SEXY !

Our current fanboy paradigm theory states that AKB48 member, singer, model, actress and “photobook” author Haruna Kojima has obtained the status of being a “sexy” lady.  I am here tonight to refute that claim, using inferential statistics, stochastic modeling and good old fashioned eye rubbing.

First let me lay out what is known as a “Null” hypothesis: My null hypothesis states that Miss Kojima is NOT sexy. Can you reject this hypothesis? Yes? … you say? Well, how about with 90% certainty? … what about with 95% certainty … what about with 99% certainty?

Would you still reject this hypothesis if it were a one-tailed test? … oh yeah? … what say you to a two-tailed test?

How may “degrees of freedom” does one need to reject this hypothesis? I ask you to calculate the “z” statistic for yourself if you find me in a TYPE II error.

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Ok, time for the “Calculations” … please watch the slideshow … while I scribble …

Yes, when I calculate I will not forget to “carry the one” Kojima-san!

(Denny making marker whiteboard squeaking sounds here)

CONCLUSION: The Null Hypothesis CANNOT be rejected. In fact, I can’t remember what it was … statistics … something … something … it has actually been rather hard to concentrate on stats lately … forget my paper, I have a slide show instead …

I am also wishing Kojima-san a very HAPPY BIRTHDAY on April 19th.

Will this be her last birthday with AKB48?  Please enjoy my special Haruna Kojima “Retrospective” of some of her great modeling moments!

… talk about your stochastic modelling!

Kojima History: Remember the time Haruna dressed up like Johnny Depp (“Jack Kojima”) and tried to kiss Yuko? Here is Kojima-san as you have never seen her in an old “Danso” sketch from AKBINGO.

Starlight: KojiHaru — born April 19, 1988 in Saitama Prefecture, Japan.

Haruna Kojima: Finally, someone who can take a good “selfie”!

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Finally! Someone who can take a good “selfie”!!!

KojiHaru is great in this PeachJohn ad. HD is available (duh).

When will AKB48 member Haruna Kojima graduate?  2015 may be her year. She is one of the group’s founding members, and is now 28 years old. Kojima-san has always been an integral part of the group, and was great along with Takamina and Miichan in the “No Sleeves” sub-unit. (What with Takahashi-san announcing her graduation for later this year, we have to wonder how long Kojima-san will remain.)

She is a much more talented singer than she is gets credit for. She looks so good, that a lot of fans just admire her body. She is actually a darn good comedian, although she has always just “played herself” or at least what we think of as KojiHaru being herself.

I doubt if she will starve when she graduates. Haruna is already a successful underwear model for the “Peach John” women’s apparel company. Underwear model? … more like “underwear actress” because her 1 minute commercials are better than most Hollywood movies.

I will also include Part 2 and Part 3 of the PeachJohn “Selfies” contest there. Peach John has encouraged fans to post selfie pics in their latest campaign. (Sorry, you may have to sign in for the second one.)

The commercials, follow the Haruna and her friends Maggie and Kana on their daily selfie routine. I know you see the girls romping around in campy, lingerie poses, but the commercial actually encouraged customers to take simple and natural photos throughout the day. The last segement shows “real” customers in everyday Peach John attire.

No Doubt, Kojima-san has a smoking-hot body, but that is not why I like her. You can STOP laughing now, thank you! Have a look at this amazing white dress Kojima-sama wears in this live performance!

I am a little troubled hoever by news that Miss Kojima is to appear nude in the next issue of Anan Magazine.  My friends over at Nihongogo have posted an article here.

http://nihongogo.com/2014/09/akb48s-haruna-kojima-bares-all-in-newest-issue-of-anan-magazine/

I don’t think that Kojima-san should do nudes while she is a member of AKB48.  If she does them after graduation, then that would be her choice, but for the most part it is just something that the group does not do. Now I am not a prude … and no one would like to see KojiHaru naked more than I (only for a second, then I would look away).  I also do not want to be one of those people who CRITISIZE THINGS THEY HAVE NOT SEEN! I am against self-righteous censorship.  I have not “read” …er , I mean seen the photos, for all I know she might be “nude” but you might not “see anything” … if you know what I mean.  When a magazine says that a celebrity “bares all”, they often do not.  Nihongogo does attest that these photos show “the best breasts that Japan has to offer” …

Maybe this is a step to her graduation this year. Kojima! You made a liar out of me!

I do enjoy good landscape photography!

… and don’t try buying a copy at the newsstand.  I already bought them all.

 

KIMONOS ON MONDAY (Week #29): The “gaijin tarento” Leah Dizon

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Leah “Donna” Dizon is a “foreign entertainer” or gaijin tarento.  She was born in Las Vegas, but moved to Tokyo in 2006, to pursue a career as singer, actress and model.  Ms. Dizon was born in America, but claims Chinese, Filipino, and French ethnic ancestory. I will share this Leah retrospective:

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See more Leah on this YouTube post:

Also you can join her fan club on the Leah Dizon official page: website is linked here.

http://leah-dizon.net/

She does not wear kimonos in her more recent music videos, however this older clip shows her wearing a great yukata!  It makes her the prettiest lady at the party!

Please model more wonderful kimonos for us Ms. Dizon!