Ohio coffee playlist with Moritaka Chisato

When I met her in that Ohio coffee shop, I kept telling myself “Denny, don’t stare  … don’t stare at her legs… don’t stare at her legs you idiot …”

Ohio!  Ha … “Ohio” that is how you say “good morning” in Japanese!

Ha … please don’t correct me, I know that the phrase is really “Ohayō” お早う or “Ohayōgozaimasu”.  I have become a big fan of Japanese singer Moritaka Chisato these past few months. Every morning I look forward to the perfect combination of 1) my morning mug of coffee 2) my iPhone on which I can watch YourTube videos, and 3) my headphones. It is the best time of the day, sitting there, having a good morning coffee … of course my life is complete shit at work, but at least I am happy for those 25 fleeting minutes. Ahem, I am particularly happy when listening to music videos from this wonderful artist.  All Japanese culture comes to me by starlight, and Moritaka Chisato is a good example. I first learned about her from another blogger’s post (MorningBerryz48). The original post is linked here. Moritanka Chisato had her first hits in the late 1980s and was popular through the 1990s. I guess you could call her stuff “nineties music” — but she recorded a variety of great music in many different genres. She was a little different from many pop/idol singers of the time because she wrote her own music and was an accomplished instrumentalist. Ohio! Lets us get to the videos!

The first song is 気分爽快 translated as “Refreshing Feelings”.  There are several different versions and live performances of the song on YT (check out the “drums” version linked here), but this particular MV is very intriguing. I would have to ask my friend Bob to identify the guitars which the guitarist plays here. Oddly, at one point in the video, he is playing a different one than moments before! Now I have watched this MV like the Zapruder film, detailing each moment. There is a “Mystery Woman” dressed in a green sweater-top. She never turns to face the camera, even during the big wide-shot group dance part. We … never… see… her… face. I was thinking that perhaps she is the Moritaka from the future, or perhaps visiting from another dimension … but then again I’m a nut.

Moritanka Chisato portrays a teacher in this next video “Song of Study” or “Study Song” depending on which order you read it. There are a lot different versions of this MV too, but I think that this one is the most endearing. Musically, it sounds like the mid-eighties. Somewhere between Cindy Lauper and DEVO.

Ms. Chisato plays a teacher. I have taken some notes: The superiority of the Japanese educational system is clearly on display here. Ms. Chisato is clearly better than any boring teacher I ever had. Who wants to listen to some dork lecture about rocks? I prefer Ms. Chisato’s suit. Oh, man in that tight suit, nice hose and pretty shoes — she reminds me of a young Mrs. Sinnoh. I like how at one point she gives a boy the choice between a comic book and a study guide, and he chooses the manga, much to her disappointment. After she teaches for a while she gives him the choice between the workbook and a Nintendo Gameboy, and he chooses the schoolbook! (Notice how much larger Gameboys were in Japan. Those things were HUGE!) I noticed that she gives pretty big tests. They are easy (look close) but they are really BIG tests. You will also notice that the school day goes by very fast with her. The hands on the classroom clock fly around very quickly. I sure would like to be this teacher’s pet : )

“They say that the big band sound is coming back!” (Sorry about that stupid comment. I have had to put up with that one half-my life.)  Now, if you have not exited my post yet, you are in for a treat. The next song is “So Blue”. Despite the big band, dance hall atmosphere, this song rocks out pretty hard.  I might even call it “progressive” rock, as it is so interesting and complex. Led Zeppelin’s Kashmir? Forget that, you will find a much better guitar/drum/strings arrangement from Chisato-san here. (Denny sups coffee.)

This next song is “August Love”. My comic-book reading otaku friends like Matthew and The Otaku Judge should recognize the lovely Moritaka is singing inside one of Superman’s fortresses. Now, this is not his Arctic isolated fortress. Instead Superman keeps Mori-chan forever young in this PACIFIC fortress. (It has a slightly different coloration.) Can you imagine the fun Superman has in that place, listening to Ms. Chisato – trapped in time — kept forever young, singing about August Love – with that face … that hair … and that red lipstick. (Denny gulps.)

Gentemen, hold on to your hearts, because if you have not fallen in love with Moritaka Chisato yet, you will succumb during this next beautiful song — “Watarase Bridge”. She was going for a Beatles “Let It Be” sound and video. Well, screw the Beatles. At least Chisato-san did not have to lie about who was playing the instruments. SHE IS!  Clearly one of her best songs, even my other Jpop hero Hanako Oku loves it. Psst: Watch for the “mystery woman” to walk through right at the end.

If you love Jpop, make sure that you add some Moritaka Chisato to your collection! Her official web links are here:

Official Website: http://www.moritaka-chisato.com/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/chisatomoritaka
Twitter: http://twitter.com/moritakastaff
Google+: http://plus.google.com/u/0/108720770772129735479/posts
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/moritakachannel

She has a great volume of music and video to explore. She is older now, and not publishing as much as during her hey day in the 1990s. She is married to a nice guy and has two lovely children.

I have also started a Pinterest board for Moritaka Chisato linked here. Thanks MB, for introducing me to another great artist, I might otherwise never would have known about.

Starlight: I discovered Moritaka Chisato on November 16, 2016 through MorningBerryz48’s blog. I can’t do justice to MB’s post. She has all this great album cover art, photos, live performances, songs lyrics, etc.

Wha … Why are you still here? go have  a look!

My tribute post to Morningberryz48

[Readers: Please play the YouTube music while you read my post. I chose it for the special emotions I am feeling today]

Today, I wanted to discuss my blog, blogging stats, other bloggers and such. I am getting close to 200,000 views on my blog. I guess that is good. I noticed that I get a big jump in views when a new Pokemon game comes out. Perhaps I should have monetized my site. Since I started blogging in 2014, I have always used the “free” WordPress site. I have over 400 “followers” but I think that most of them are “commercial” blogs. There are only a handful of WP bloggers who actually read and comment on my blog. (I’m winking at you Mabel and the  Otaku Judge.) I subscribed to several music, anime and Pokemon blogs. I have seen them come — and I have seen the bloggers go — on this site. Some of my followers who I used to read and interact with …   only stayed around for a few months, then they would disappear into the blogging ether.

Where am I going with this? (Denny sighs sadly, exhales) …I have to be honest –

I miss MorningBerryz48.

Some of my fellow bloggers know her. Her homepage is linked here.

https://morningberryz48.wordpress.com/

“MB” as I will call her, was the greatest Japanese pop culture/Idol music/ AKB blogger I have known. She shares a lot of great articles and media on her blog. Also, she’s intelligent, witty, and maybe “a little naughty” at times. She was more than just a pile of random electrons to me. I miss her replies to all my goofy comments, and my weak attempts at comedy. If I ever made her smile, then that is a light upon the world. (That’s not hyperbole is it?)

Jesus, … er .. I mean Buddha … What a great lady she is. Look at her website. She likes music, but she also likes sports. The lady even likes stock-car racing. I know that I do not follow racing, but that fact that SHE likes it just adds more depth and dimension to her cultural multiverse. She lives in Hawaii, so that means that the place really is paradise.

She liked, and posted about Watarirouka Hashiritai. Do you people realize how long I have wanted to talk to another soul on this planet about the Watarirouka Hashiritai 7?  Glorious God in heaven … I am not ALONE … in this cold, cruel world. Another person who “gets” my appreciation for Idol songs. Up until now, my friend’s reactions to my AKB48 fandom has usually been the old “Get Away From Me Man”. I’m talking to you Bob, and Nate.

She introduced me to so many Japanese musical artists, who I would otherwise never know even existed. She is a great Idol historian. A true Idol scholar. She taught be about Coco, ribbon, ZARD, Qlair and many others.

When I discovered this genre of idol music from the late 80s, early 90s it was like memories were activated from my parallel life. I never knew about this stuff at the time. It was something which I always missed, but which I never knew even existed. Something was missing in my musical life in the early 1990s, but I never knew exactly what it was. MB has eased my pain. The hole in my heart was filled. Somewhere in the space-time continuum, it is 1992 and I am listening to ribbon.

Thus, she made a difference in my life — and I’m not making one of my smartass jokes here. Music is very important for me. Her blog’s influence is a big part of my current listening.

I loved reading her articles with morning coffee on the weekends, or wasting company time in the office, or checking in one a day to see if I missed anything. I learned a lot from her blog. When I first started blogging I thought I might become some type of expert on Idols/AKB. (Denny exhales.) I can’t even come close. Nothing has made me prouder however, than when she would comment on one of my posts.

(Denny sighs again — heavily):

MB has stopped writing her blog … at least for now. She said it was because of technical problems, but there may other reasons, and I respect that. For whatever reason(s) she has stopped posting. I have been going through the usual five stages of grief.

1. Denial: “This can’t be happening” I thought. No more Idol video links? … this is NOT happening … Nope, definitely NOT happening. I had hysterical blindness when she posted that she was quitting. I was bumping into lamps, tripping over the couch.
2. Anger: Damn that computer which crashed and caused her to lose so much work. It is a conspiracy I tell you! It is all SONY’s fault. (Denny shakes fist, imitating Homer Simpson): Your empire would lay in smoking ruins you bastards … if I didn’t need a new PS4 so much. You corporate screw-ups will pay for taking her away from me … you will ALL PAY!!!
3. Bargaining: “Maybe she can just post once in a while”. Maybe she can stop after she finishes that big “Coco” post she was working on when her computer failed. Maybe she can just make a post when there is a new AKB48 record. Maybe just a top-ten list post at the end of the year. Maybe …
4. Depression: “Why go on?” Why get out of bed in the morning if I can never enjoy learning about the Idol genres I love. There won’t be a post about the new HKT48 single, so nothing matters. In fact, I will stop blogging now. What’s the point if her light is not in this electronic world anymore?
5. Acceptance: “It was good while it lasted” There are still a lot of old articles, and articles from her previous blog site. I just feel lucky to have known her. She is a great lady and has other interests. Perhaps it is time for a break. Time to concentrate on other life goals. Perhaps there may be some guy in her life who is on the receiving end of her efforts now. (The lucky bastard.)

I would be honored if I could call her “friend”. I know that some of my Internet friends, Derek, Matthew and others also miss her. You guys, if you get a chance, re-blog my article. Tweet, or Face-tube or whatever-the-devil you kids call it — to get my message in a Poke bean bottle out there.

If any of my current readers love MB’s blog even half as much as I did, please sign a tribute comment below.

Starlight: MB, if you are out there, I’m not really crazy.