#happy birthday Noriyuki

[noomzu]

[gaytouhous]

[aeprism]

Happy Birthday to one of my favourite characters of all time! ♡ Noriyuki Utsugi

[putschki1969]

2023/12/29 Instagram post by Wakana

Here are some off-shots from the cover shoot for my fan club newsletter “Botanical Tsushin Vol.14” which is being shipped out this month📸 This time too, I once again wore a dress by ADELLY🥰 Each piece of embroidery is very intricate and beautiful, the volume of the skirt, the structure of the sleeves and the neckline all look very elegant. Strangely enough, ADELLY's clothes always have the perfect sleeve length, skirt length and shoulder width for me so I really love all of their outfits♥ The photographer in the background in the second photo is booro who always takes pictures for my newsletter and other releases. She is my favourite photographer who takes a lot of wonderful pictures which continue to surprise me😳🧚✨ It's always hard to choose which shots to use! 😆 Please take a close look at the photos taken by booro in the latest newsletter 🤗 (By the way, the dress photos in the December 15th concert pamphlet were as also taken by booro👗💕) [Source]

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2023/11/29 Blog post by Wakana 音楽が大好きで本当に良かったと思った夜〜冬がはじまるよ〜

A Night Which Made Me Realise How Lucky I Am To Love Music ～Winter Has Begun～

I went to Billboard Live Tokyo last night! ! The other day I went to see Shin Hashimoto and Yosuke Eguchi, but this time I attended a performances from Satoshi Takebe and Noriyuki Makihara! Earlier this year, I went to a live with Takebe-san and Ayaka Hirahara. This series of lives has been really impressive...😳✨ It was the second time in my life that I saw Mackey at a live event. When Mackey sings, I feel like the whole world is being gently embraced 😭✨ And I realised once again how wonderful singing is, I'm so glad I love music! ! That's what he made me feel😭✨ The performance together with Takebe-san was absolutely wonderful, I was happy to treasure each moment*･゜ﾟ･*:.｡..｡.:*･'(*ﾟ▽ﾟ *)'･*:.｡. .｡.:*･゜ﾟ･*

Hello, this is Wakana (0￣▽￣0)／

Attending all these live shows is like taking nutrients for me, so healing and empowering! Well, everyone! After surrounding myself with music like that, it's now my turn to share it with you all. I am looking forward to my performance of “Wakana Classics 2023 ~Winter Party~” on December 15th ♪ And to the FC-limited after-event♪ We are still accepting votes for the song you want me to sing during that section. If you haven't voted yet, please be sure to do so! The deadline is...tomorrow! Tomorrow! You can vote until November 30th! Once again, since it's really important to me. The deadline is TOMORROW, on November 30th! You know, two-thirds of people have voted already! Another third to go...! Please! ! (((o(*ﾟ▽ﾟ*)o))) Click here for the poll＼(^o^)／Please let me know what song you would like me and the members to perform! ! I look forward to your votes! ! ! ＼＼\\٩( 'ω' )و //／／As I am writing about the deadline, I feel a little sad that November is about to end🍂 By the way, I am also looking forward to your messages for the podcast which is scheduled for December 10th! The theme for the next episode is: “Things I should do before the end of they year but somehow, I turn a blind eye to it.” To be honest, I have a lot of things I'm ignoring right now *laughs* I hope you are all the same! 😂 Well, that’s it for today! See you soon ☆( *'▽’*)/ Here's a final shot of me drinking something sparkly♪

＊＊＊Wakana＊＊＊

2023/12/10 Blog post by Wakana おしゃべりガーデン第４回目‼︎〜誕生日とサメまつり‼️〜

Talk Garden #4‼︎～Birthday And Shark Festival‼️〜

Wakana's Talk Garden #4 has been uploaded! 😉♡ This time it was even longer than previous episodes *laughs*🤣🤣 It's a birthday special I guess🤣🤣 Sorry it's so long 😂 I hope you will still take the time to listen to it ♪ The next talk theme is "Resolutions for 2024"! ! ＼＼\\٩( 'ω' )و //／／😂 I look forward to hearing about your aspirations! For those of you whose messages I read during the previous episode, I will send you one of these autumn-themed postcards along with a Shark-chan sticker, please be patient a little while longer! ! And everyone whose message I read this time will receive one of these Christmas postcards! They are all so cute😍 I think they won't be arriving until the new year but please look forward to it~☆

Today, I also held my "Wakana Winter Shark Festival Vol.3 ~Birthday Crosstalk Event~"! I was supposed to be joined by Yuuka Nanri but due to poor health, she unfortunately had to cancel the event at short notice (;;) I'm sure many of you were looking forward to it, I hope we'll get another opportunity soon! ! ＼＼\\٩( 'ω' )و //／／(I'm also looking forward to Yuu-chan's reappearance!) Yuu-chan, please get well soon! ! ･:*+.\(( °ω° ))/.:+

I ended up holding the event together with “Yuu-chan" (temporary name for Shark-chan who kindly stepped in as Yuuka's substitute♪) It was so much fun playing the Ishin-Denshin Clay Art game with everyone! You know and understand me so well ! *laughs* I love how you all managed to come up with the correct answer even though I was making clay art that didn't make any sense. Thank you 😂 I brought home all the gyoza I ate today! Thank you again to the staff members who prepared everything! ! ＼(^o^)／And here are all the sharks that you could see on-screen! I brought all of them in a suitcase. There were so many *laughs*🤣Lots of little ones too. Most of them are gifts from fans! 😊♡ Thank you very much to everyone who tuned in today. It was the best and most wonderful birthday for me! ! I will continue to sing and pursue my passion for music during the next year. Thank you very much for your support✨

＊＊＊Wakana＊＊＊

2023/12/18 Blog post by Wakana 浜離宮朝日ホール〜本当にありがとうございました‼︎〜

Hamarikyu Asahi Hall ～Thank You So Much!! ︎～

Last Friday, I successfully completed my "Wakana Classics 2023 ~Winter Party~"!! ️!! ️＼＼\\٩( 'ω' )و //／／ Thank you to everyone who came!! ️(These photos were taken at the FC event after the show♪ As expected, Shin-san stubbornly refused to change his pose😇 I managed to look straight at the camera almost until the very end 😎 Everyone looked great in blue)

For this concert, I wanted to include covers as well as songs from my 3rd album "Sono Saki e", there were so many songs I wanted to sing, it was really hard to decide...(￣^￣) Still, the final setlist was packed with everything I could squeeze in, it contained all the things I wanted to convey to you!

M-00 そのさきへ Opening M-01  そのさきへ M-02 Butterfly Dream M-03 Rapa Nui M-04 殻 M-05 希望 M-06 Amazing Grace M-07 標 M-08 空色の椅子 M-09 storia M-10 光の旋律 M-11 もののけ姫 M-12 時には昔の話を M-13 Flag M-14 明日を夢見て歌う EC-01 Happy Hello Day EC-02 あとひとつ

Anyway, I've been looking forward to December 15th so much, I just couldn't wait to see you all and during the entire concert I kept thinking that I never wanted it to end...😭✨ Once again, thank you so much to everyone who came! ! Here are a couple more photos from the after-event exclusive to Botanical Land members😊♡ I wanted to take a photo with everyone! I wonder if you can all find yourselves in the pictures?😆 By the way! Here are the results of the song poll! 1st: 君をのせて 2nd: 夢のゆくえ 3rd: いのちの名前 4th: やさしさに包まれたなら 5th: Get Wild

How did this happen?🤣🤣I don't understand this at all. You know, I really wanted to sing “Get Wild” 😂 But for some reason, it ended up making the last place *laughs* 🤣 Next time I get a chance, I definitely want to sing it 😂 But still, I was happy to be able to sing “Kimi wo Nosete” for the first time in a while 😊💕 I will continue to do my best to understand everyone's thoughts and feelings! *laughs* Thank you for voting! ! ･:*+.\(( °ω° ))/.:+ That's it for today's blog post♪ I am look forward to hearing your impressions in the comment section! ＼(^o^)／ Until next time☆( *'▽'*)/

＊＊＊Wakana＊＊＊

2023/12/29 Blog post by Wakana 2023年も本当にありがとうございました☆〜衣裳とアニミル、そしてクリスマスの健康診断〜

Thank You Very Much For 2023 ☆ 〜Dress, Animeal and Christmas Health Check〜

Last year's Christmas was a dream-like day since I was able to spend it together with everyone at Kioi Hall. Well, speaking of Christmas, this year I actually went for a health check in the morning of December 25th! ! ＼＼\\٩( 'ω' )و //／／ When I called last month to make an appointment, they were pretty much fully booked, the 25th was the only available date before the end of the year... (´ω｀) Oh no! So of course I made an appointment for that day. My first health checkup in 2 years😇I was very curious about my body's condition. As for the results...(the doctor explained them to me in simple terms right after the checkup) I mostly had great results on about 90% of the entire check but there was just one thing, eh? Very frustrating😇Why... ? Anyway. The barium test was pretty rough😭 After swallowing the barium, the X-ray machine was moving around and I was desperately holding onto the pair of handles. It was wild 😭 I thought I was doing a great job following the instructions but halfway through, the nurse suddenly said, ``the areas don't really show up well in the X-ray...can you please take another dose so we can do the whole thing again?'' So that's how I ended up having to drink one more cup of barium🤣🤣 Of course I was like “What?!?! Really??!!” I told the doctor about my motion sickness, that I couldn't ride roller coasters, and sometimes I'd even get a little squeamish on trains so doing the whole test again would be difficult for me...😭 The doctor was incredibly apologetic and a little worried but ultimately we did it again...💦"😅Guess it couldn't be helped😅 And just like that, I was able to finish the test before the end of the year. Despite everything, I left the hospital feeling refreshed... Next, I want to go for a regular checkup with an ENT doctor! ! After my appointment, I actually had a voice training session!!! *laughs* What a busy Christmas! ! 😂😂🎄✨

The final mission of the day was a "Christmas party with my family" so I worked hard towards that goal😇 I safely arrived at my brother's home at the finish line! All my fatigue was blown away by the gorgeous home-cooked meals my sister-in-law had prepared for us...✨･:*+.\(( °ω° ))/.:+✨(Her food is always really amazing!) My niece greeted me wearing a Harry Potter Ravenclaw uniform that she received from Santa! It was a proper cosplay with a cloak, tie, vest, skirt, cane, and hat 😳 It was so cute 😍 And look at that beautiful appetizer! What is this...? The prettiest appetizer I've ever seen in my life...? The basil was perfectly grilled... How did she do it...? Both the appetizer jelly as well as the chicken were very delicious...😭✨I was able to spend a fun Christmas with my brother's family and my mother ♡

Hello, this is Wakana (0￣▽￣0)／

I don't think it was a good idea to eat such a magnificent dinner after a health check! 🤣 But it's a reward for one year, so I should be forgiven, right?! 😂

Now, I think by now you should all have received the latest FC newsletter, Botanical Tsushin Vol.14 ＼(^o^)／ I would like to use the opportunity to post all the photos that did not make it into the section [Join Wakana on an Animal expedition! ~Animeal Odaiba Store Edition~] ＼(^o^)／All right, let's go! I was excited even before entering! After carefully listening to the instructions, I went into the store! Inside, you can relax and interact with the animals while drinking some tea or coffee. 🐈‍⬛The cat is looking straight at the camera. Meow... You can buy snacks prepared in the store, they are very popular among the animals...They are all looking at me with greedy eyes😍 🐶 "Snack! Snack!" The cute little poodle on the right sits like a human😂 🐶 I fell in love with the white cat, Muta-kun, he was such a tsundere🐱…😍💕 🐱 He looked so regal. I was happy to be his servant 😂

There were also ducks and parakeets in a separate room (the ducks are usually taking a walk around the area.) Then there are capybaras and brown tortoises on the outdoor terrace! (I gave them some snacks while looking at the lovely view of Odaiba) Mr. Capybara is relaxing in the twilight while looking at the scenery of Odaiba.The others are taking a nice hot bath♪ The turtle was patrolling back and forth all the time😊 🐢"Busy, busy" I totally forget the time with all these amazing animals, sadly there was a time limit, I definitely wanted to extend it! *laughs* It was the best place! ! (((o(*ﾟ▽ﾟ*)o))) There is a day and evening shift system, so in the evening there are different animals out and about than the ones during the day 😳💓 I want to go again~♡ Everyone, please come and visit♪ <Animeal Odaiba> https://animeal.jp/

Now, finally, I still haven't posted proper pictures of my dress from the concert on December 15th, so let me share them with you here♪ These photos were taken for official purposes during the interview before the performance♪ It was a wonderful dress with a sparkling front! This is what the back looked like ♪ (My manager arranged it for me!! It looked amazing 😭 Thank you very much!! 😭) In the last photo you see me backstage talking on the phone with the sound engineer who is located far away. It was kind of interesting.

So, today's blog was full of photos 😂💦 I’m glad I could share all of this with you😍 I would like to post various photos from my Gyoza Food Trip with Mana Ogawa in my next post. Please be patient a little while longer😊✨ I can't believe it's already December 29th! There's only a little more time left of this year... Whether you're going home and taking some time to relax, or you're still busy with work, please treat yourself kindly and say thank you to yourself for all the hard work you've put in over the past year 😊 In 2023, I was able to do a lot of things with everyone's support. I'm really thankful to you. I will carry all of my experiences into the next year and try to connect them with everything that awaits me. I'm still working hard to continue making music for everyone! I want to do so much more! I will do my best, so thank you for your support! ! Thank you again for this year. Happy New Year everyone⭐︎( *'▽'*)/ See you next year~⭐︎＼＼\\٩( 'ω' )و //／／

＊＊＊Wakana＊＊＊

[yyh4ever]

Hello! I am very new to the fandom and truly sorry if the question has already been answered, but was Togashi-sensei involved in the anime production? There are differences with the manga not only in fights but in what characters say, too. For example, Sensui's death scene. I don't remember some phrases to be in the manga... Was it written with the involvement of Togashi-sensei to deepen the understanding of a character? Or is it a canon-level alternative viewpoint of a character? Thank you so much in advance for your answer.

Hello, nice to meet you! Thanks for reaching out.

Togashi mentioned in the jacket of volume 10 and in an interview with Fujimaki Tadatoshi (Kuroko no Basket) that he wasn't involved in the anime production at all.

There's also an interview with the animation staff, where the anime producer, Ken Hagino, explains that Togashi thinks that the animation and the original manga are different things, so they were free to do as pleased with the story. However, they cared about the way the characters were presented, and about preserving the atmosphere of the original work. Even though it was "canon-level alternative viewpoint of a character", they really cared about the original.

Now, things about cutting the very beginning of the manga and making Kurama and Hiei, popular characters among the fans, appear earlier were requests by the TV station and advertising agency. Since the manga became popular when it turned to a battle manga, they thought it was important that the anime could grab the audience attention from the early stages.

I think the most significant differences happen in the final season. All the animation of the 3 Kings Arc was the anime director Noriyuki Abe's idea. He thought it would be difficult to develop it in the same way as the manga, so he wrote news scenes and dialogues according to the original story. He mentioned in the "Yu Yu Hakusho Perfect Files" that the only request he got from the original side (Shueisha/Togashi) was to get Hiei to save Mukuro from her past, and he decided to do that in the fight between them. In the manga, there's the Happy Birthday chapter. He also wanted to animate a fight between Yomi and Kurama, but since he fights Shigure in the manga, and Yomi fights Yusuke, he gave up on the idea. He made Kurama and Yomi farewell later, a scene that does not exist in the manga. To be honest, I really liked the director's ideas.

Even though Togashi considers the anime a different work of his, Studio Pierrot did a great job adding some "fillers" and changing a few dialogues. But, I always ask people to always read the manga too. In the end, it's the author point of view.

What differences between the manga and the anime you like or hate the most?

I don't like the ShizuruxSakyo "romance" very much :P

But, I like they gave more room to Botan, adding her in the "Rescue Yukina Arc", and making her join the guys in the Dark Tournament arena.

[nellarw95]

Happy Heavenly Birthday Pat 🎂💔

Noriyuki Morita 🤍

June 28,1932 - November 24,2005 🙏🏻

We Miss You So Much 🕊️♾️

Buon Compleanno in Paradiso 🎂💔

28 Giugno 1932 - 24 Novembre 2005 🙏🏻

Ci Manchi Moltissimo 🕊️♾️

[appears]

L

It's Ayumi Hamasaki's birthday on October 2 and we're extending the celebration in true ego-maniacal, splashy celebrity fashion, by drawing out the festivities for an entire week! Each day I will briefly discuss a totally random item chosen (not by me) from my Ayu collection. Prepare for praise, disappointment, and controversial opinions backed by love and respect as we take a casual look back in this blurry snapshot of her career. Happy Birthday to our Party Queen, Ayumi Hamasaki!

Ayumi Hamasaki's Love songs-era is one of the most interesting and disputed in the singer's career. For many, it is the moment where Ayumi ceased to be an artist known primarily for her work in music (and to a lesser extent, fashion), and the moment she became a full-blown tabloid celebrity worthy of pity. The moment that all began was this single L, for which a music video was shot that featured the Austrian model/actor Manuel Schwarz who would become Ayumi's first short-lived husband after a whirlwind romance and spontaneous marriage in Las Vegas.

In hindsight, we know that L is one of the last physical singles that Ayumi would ever release, following only three more singles four years later, and the penultimate that would be released in a plethora of versions that featured varying content and jacket art. Released in September of 2010, the single is a triple-A side that features the ballad "Virgin Road," and the pop/rock tracks "Sweet Season" and "Last angel." All of these tracks are produced by legendary artists: "Virgin Road" and "Last angel" by Avex's forever-gold Tetsuya Komuro, and "Sweet Season" by beloved bad-boy and king of nostalgia, Noriyuki Makihara. But all of them bear the unmistakable imprint of Ayumi Hamasaki herself.

"Virgin Road" is incredible, one of the first Ayumi ballads I remember liking since 2009's "You were," which while not that long after, seemed like an eternity in Ayu years. I was fairly unimpressed with her previous albums NEXT LEVEL and Rock 'n' Roll Circus, and was looking for something that spoke louder to me. "MOON," "blossom" and "crossroad" were not it. But "Virgin Road" was. It's an opulent, orchestral ballad that, despite its rising crescendos, never erupts into the full-blown sound-saturated atmosphere of many Ayu ballads like "HEAVEN" or "No way to say." It's a bit more shy in that sense, relying on organic instruments over synths to produce a a warm-blanket kind of a song that somehow feels as simultaneously hushed and sacred and grand as a cathedral, or say, an entire centuries-old institution based on a bond between two people. The music video is the kind of cinematic PV a song like this deserves: a just-married couple cruising through the heat-waved desert robbing banks and convenience stores, partners in love and crime, as Ayu’s white dress picks up the dirt and grime of the Earth and of life itself, as they evade capture. The whole video is shot in a stark, violent black-and-white, all the more to bring out the rugged terrain and contrast with the final seconds that bleed into color. It's an improbable and totally fantastic take on what happens when two people vow to spend the rest of their lives (or 13 months) together.

Komuro's other contribution is very different, relying on Ayumi's business-as-usual approach for "Last angel," with perhaps a bigger focus on synths. But despite those dance elements, what's most unusual is how un-Komuro this songs sounds, a credit that would seem almost phoned-in if the production itself wasn't so impeccable. Nevertheless, it's the least important new song here, with Makihara's "Sweet Season" the honeyed companion to "Virgin Road." "Sweet Season" is classic Makihara, from the mid-range tempo to the prominent acoustic guitars and ever-present piano chords, which you can really hear in the instrumental version. It's not quite a ballad, nestling into that comfortable soft-rock zone of wistful melancholy that he perfected at that stage of his career on a song like “Firefly ~ Boku wa Ikiteiku”. It's a gentle, raw-nerve of a song that Ayumi never lets get too treacly, mostly by exposing the vulnerability, and impossibility, of such earnestness with the music video's twist ending. It's all the more heartbreaking for its refusal to indulge too deeply, past the point of honesty.

All together, this is a real whopper of a triple-A side single, even if "Last angel" is a bit of a step back.  Unfortunately, the Type-B of the CD-only version (there was also a Type-A), has one of the worst track listings of all of them, opening (opening!) with an acoustic cover of TM NETWORK's "SEVEN DAYS WAR." Ayumi has done a few covers of TK songs throughout her career, not unusual as an artist signed to a record label that still feels it owes its existence to him, but it's a definite push to feature this as the first track on a triple-A-side single, one that seems like it comes more from contractual obligation, or some sort of ego-satisfying agreement in exchange for Komuro's involvement with not just this single, but the eventual album that it would end up on (I’m just speculating). The other CD-only version of this single features orchestral versions of the TMN song and "crossroad" (though not as the first track). All versions shuffle the order of the tracks.

At the time that this was released, all of the craziest drama was still to come, but in the mean time, we got three great songs, with two phenomenal producers that Ayumi had yet to work with in her long career -- can’t believe it took this long! Unfortunately, this also ignited my imagination, wondering what other sky’s-the-limit collabs would possibly yield (Ami Ozaki? Mariya Takeuchi? Tetsuji Hayashi?) Dream no small dreams!

[johnny-dynamo]

Happy birthday, William Zabka!

The whole Cobra Kai gang (Zabka, Tony O’Dell, Chad MacQueen, Rob Garrison & Ron Thomas) putting aside all differences with Mr. Miyagi (Noriyuki “Pat” Morita) to share some tasty ice popcicles.

[dailyjidols]

February 2019 Round-Up

It’s round-up time! Below the read more is a compilation of some notable news stories that we haven’t previously posted about.

This month features a surprising graduation for SKE48, the end of an influential alt-idol group, overseas lives, and more.

・・・・・・・・・ (DOTS)

The group has announced via their twitter that the group will be disbanding. They will conclude their activities at their 9th, and final one man live on March 24th. (X*)

AdFicTioN

Marina has announced her decision to withdraw from the group via twitter. (x) We wish her luck with her future endeavors!

AKB48

On February 3rd, member Juri Takahashi was involved in a car accident. She was taken to the hospital and confirmed to have no injuries, however her birthday event was postponed to March. (x) Rino Sashihara has announced her graduation this month. As center for the 55th single, she will also have a graduation song in this release. (x).

ANGERME

Good news for Latin American fans of the group! The group will hold a performance in Mexico City, on September 7th! For tickets official tickets please check HERE, and for more details please check HERE.

Avandoned

Avandoned has added a new member! Her name is Shizuku! X*.

Dempagumi Inc. and Niji no Conquistador

The groups have announced that they are holding auditions for junior members of both groups. Auditions are taking place, and will end March 22nd. The maximum number of juniors, a rarity in the industry will be no more then 12. The audition results will be finalized on April 15th. (x).

Hori Chiemi

Hori Chiemi was an incredibly popular idols of the 80's, until she retired in 1987. She returned as a talent in 1989, with television appearances and hosting TV programs. While out of the public eye she did announce on her blog that she was diagnosed with tongue cancer. She had surgery on February 22nd. (x). We wish her a successful recovery!

Juice=Juice

Yuka Miyazaki, the current leader of the group, has announced her graduation from the group for June 17th. She has previously announced a graduation without a set date in 2018. (x) We wish her her success in her future endeavors!

MIGMA SHELTER

The group has announced a new single for next month, and with it four new members!(x) No new artists photos are available yet, but we're looking forward to seeing them perform!

Monster of Dolls 2019 ITALY - Japanese Idols Live!

Heads up to Alt-idol, and idol fans in Italy! The first ever, Monster of Dolls festival has confirmed their lineup! LadyBaby, JyuJyu, Melonbatake a Go Go, Sari (formerly of Necromidol) and Eriko are filling out this lineup at this event! For more information (in Italian) please check out the Facebook event HERE. For tickets please check out HERE.

Negicco

Member Nao has annouced her marriage to Okada Noriyuki, of the band Kusoiinkai. They will register their marriage on April 10th, which will also be Nao's 31st birthday. (x) We wish the new couple utmost happiness in their marriage!

Nogizaka46

Member Eto Misa has announced her graduation. Her last concert will be a solo performance on March 19th. Her final handshake event will be March 31st. (x) We wish her the best of luck with her future endeavors!

SKE48

Member Obata Yuna has announced her graduation on February 12th. Her final performance will be March 31st, and her final handshake will be April 6th. (x). We wish her the best of luck with her future endeavors!

Sora Tob Sakana

Member Kazama Ray Malaika has announced her graduation from the group on May 6th. (X*) We wish her the best of luck with her future endeavors!

Sphere

The legendary group restarted their activities with two concerts on February 16th and 17th in Chiba. They are coming back to celebrate their 10th anniversary, after going on hiatus in 2017. They also announced a tour from September 7th through October 27th as well. (x).

RHYMEBERRY

The group has announced that they will be disbanding on May 31st. Linked at the end is the members statements about the disbandment (in Japanese only: official statement here.

[rinnechan]

3 days to Zukkii's birthday!!! 📝

Part 2 of Zukkii's answers:

· A story from when you became interested in mangas. → Um... how was it? I can't remember anything, so, as an apology, I'll tell you the manga I'm addicted to right now. It's "GIANT KILLING". Tsubaki!! [= the name of a character from Giant Killing]

· Something that is challenging for you → Comedy

· Favorite food → Recently, tuna.

· What should I do to become taller? → Eat well! Sleep well!

· Why did you apply for auditions of sentai [series]? → I intended to do it even before I moved to Tokyo (lol). Because it was a dream.

· Valentine's gifts that left an impression → Handmade chocolate

· If Kaji and Adachi were girls, which one would you chose as your girlfriend? Both would be terrible (lol).

· Favourite cake → It's difficult to decide but, still, shortcake!

· From the people you co-starred until now, what's your type? → (*´∀｀*)

· The things you like, do you eat first or last? → Absolutely first!

· What kind of role do you want to play? → I want to do comedy!

· Something expensive you bought recently → There was a time I spent more than 2000 yen at a convenience store

· What is your favorite song by Makihara Noriyuki-san? → "LOVE LETTER" I guess...! I can't make up my mind about this!

· Do you eat the strawberries of the cake first? Last? → First~!

· Favourite brand → I'm not particularly picky about it but... it's nice to wear G-STAR.

· What about older women? → I like them (*´ω｀*)

· If you could become another member? → I would turn into Shirota and go to the karaoke!!

· Mobile phone model → DoCoMo P906i Silver

· A song you sing at karaokes → Unicorn "Daimeiwaku"

· Your favourite clothes & hairstyle for girls → Casual, soft and fluffy

· Do you like the theatre? → I like it. The nervousness, the sense of unity, the refreshing feeling, there is a characteristic feeling to the theatre.

· Your favourite place in Kansai → When I went to USJ [= Universal Studios Japan] I got excited by the Delorean (゜Д゜;)

· From the roles you've played so far, which was your favourite? → I can't decide but... Well, I guess it was fun to play Jan!

· Did you go to see Tenimyu after your graduation? → I went! But I haven't gone recently... (;_;)

· Where have you been with the members recently? → Going out for tea, to eat and drink.

· Favourite Japanese movies, books, sneakers → "Sway", recently I read "Hataraku Ryuu", VANS · adidas

· Toilet paper, single? double? → Soft double

· Confession you want to receive on Valentine's Day → I would be happy if the person talked in straightforward way.

· A location that leaves an impression → When I go to a location with lots of nature and the scenery is beautiful. Especially the afterglow of sunset!

· Do you dislike people from Osaka? → I like them! I also like the Kansai dialect (^o^)

· Do you use gifts [from fans]? → I'm honoured to use them m(__)m Eye masks and such are already in heavy rotation.

· When do you want to tell Kaji "Change this!" → I think that he is fine just the way he is (lol).

· A gesture girls do that makes you choke up with emotion → When they make a series of movements lifting their hair

· Speak up without holding anything back, how much do you weigh? → Speaking up without holding anything back, 67 to 68 kilos.

· Commitment to fashion → None! I guess I wear whatever it's comfortable.

· Eyes, get dry easily? → Eyes, get dry easily.

· What is a rare event between the members recently? → Confronting Kaji, I guess (lol).

· Which member do you want as your bride? → Masaya. Somehow it doesn't feel impossible to call him "Okan!" [= mother]

· Mobile phone's standby [screen], ringtone → I left the default settings as they were...

· Accessories? → I don't really use them. I like those that are not too rough.

· Does Jan's personality and voice resemble your own? → When Jan is super excited, that's me (lol).

· Your favourite flavour of Jagariko [= a brand of Japanese snacks that are essentially potato chips shaped as thin sticks]? → Salad.

· What colours do you like? → Red, white, black, flashy colours.

· What would you do if you had a week off? → Go to a hot spring, play soccer, watch movies, read books.

· Your favourite comedians right now  → French bulldog!

· What's your favourite Jan word? → It's nikiniki!

· Which member do you want to play Doraemon? → I think it's Kaji (lol).

· Relaxation method when you're tired → Enter a hot ofuro!

· What kind of child were you? → It seems I was a nervous child.

· Your impressions of Nagoya → The hitsumabushi was super delicious! Tsukete Mi~so Kakete Mi~so [= a brand of miso]

· Can you speak a dialect? → Not much. It feels like the words become cloudy.

· Favourite phrase → "Do not just follow other people's mood, follow your own mood."

· How to overcome a hard situation → Autosuggestion. And, take the offensive (lol). Say "I can do it!" and then "I'll manage it somehow!"

· Are you still friends with the Gekiren members? → Of course! I would be happy if we could co-star again someday.

· How did you concentrate to study for exams? → It might be a good idea to tabulate your hours of study. When your hours of study increase, it'll be similar to when you level up in a RPG (lol).

· Memories of your graduation → I just gathered with my usual friends and chatted (lol). And graduation trips are nice, aren't they?

· Lines that left the best impression → I guess the long lines from Sophistry? But they were justified by all the contents (lol)

· Favourite game → Dragon Quest, Winning Eleven

· Is there such thing as "ZukiKaji"? → Isn't there (lol)?

· Which [D-BOYS] member would you live with? → Mikami. Thanks in advance m(__)m

· If you entered a concert band, what kind of instrument would you play? → Vocals... No no, trumpet.

· Do you like chocolate? What kind of chocolate do you like? → I like it. I like crunchy chocolates!

· Do you read all the guestbook comments, every time? → I certainly read! Thanks everyone for always supporting me m(__)m

[kimonobeat]

Makihara Noriyuki Lyrics: Fuyu ga Hajimaru yo (冬がはじまるよ; And So Winter Begins)

English translation and romanization below the cut. This is a gift to my friend pastselves on Twitter as part of my December translation giveaway. It's been lovely getting to know you this year! :)

ENGLISH

I gave you short-sleeved and long-sleeved shirts For your birthday in August As a good luck charm Hoping we’d get to spend time together This winter, and forever after

Carrying surprises The exciting kind Like when you untie your hair Or suddenly burst into tears...

And so winter begins You see? I love the look on your face When you’re beside me, blissfully drinking beer I should know plenty of sides to you by now Keep me on my toes!

You and I have been so busy over winter break I can count the days we have left on both hands But your smile is so very wonderful As you carefully hold travel magazines to your chest And that’s all I really need

Last Christmas I was selling cakes This year I’ve got nothing to fear!

And so winter begins I’ll lend you my sweater When you open up your big window and gaze at the stars I’ve been thinking about what I should do For us to be happy together, forever

And so winter begins You see? I love the look on your face When you’re beside me, excited over the snow on our tiny TV  I should know plenty of sides to you by now Keep me on my toes!

ROMAJI

hachigatsu no kimi no tanjoubi hansode to nagasode no shatsu wo purezento shita no wa kotoshi no fuyu mo sore kara mo zutto bokura ga issho ni sugoeru tame no omajinai

kami wo hodoite mitari totsuzen naki-dashitari wakuwaku suru you na odoroki wo kakaenagara

fuyu ga hajimaru yo hora mata boku no soba de sugoku ureshisou ni bi-ru wo nomu yokogao ga ii ne takusan no kimi wo shitte’ru tsumori dakedo kore kara mo boku wo yudan sasenaide!

isogashii futari no fuyu-yasumi ryoute de sukoshi amaru kurai shika nai kedo kotoshi no boku ni wa kowai mono wa nanimo nai!

fuyu ga hajimaru yo ooki na mado wo akete hoshi wo nagameru toki wa boku no se-ta- wo kashite ageru futari ga itsumademo shiawase de iru tame ni dou sureba ii ka kangaete iru kara

fuyu ga hajimaru yo hora mata boku no soba de chiisana TV no naka no yuki ni hashagu yokogao ga ii ne takusan no kimi wo shitte’ru tsumori dakedo kore kara mo boku wa yudan sasenaide!