I Didn’t Know Until Now, When You Said It

broderic on February 25, 2026

Dang. Once again being an idol otaku is tough. Even if they aren’t your oshimen, just hearing the about their graduation can sometimes rip your heart out.

Umezawa Minami announced her graduation from Nogizaka46 in a blog post tonight.

Another of Nogizaka’s 3rd Generation to leave. We’re down to three.

For now.

Ume, as she was known, is the current captain of Nogizaka. She is perhaps the last great Nogizaka member from their early period before they were the top. She isn’t my oshimen, but she’s a member of Nogizaka, and she’s 3rd Gen, so I will like her as much. She wasn’t a favorite of mine from the beginning of their time, because I was more in love with Mizuki and any other member would make me jealous. But she stood out — she’s the tallest member and she’s rather beautiful in her own way. With the graduation of her sempai, she’s definitely been a leader for Nogizaka.

It still is lonely when she announced her graduation.

I wish her all the happiness in the world.

“And this is my cabin.” “Looks more like a rustic convention center than a cabin, sir.” “Well, I bought 50 cabins, dismantled them and then reassembled them into one big-ass cabin.”

broderic on September 14, 2025

Link of the Day [9.14.25]

Trump ruins everything he’s touched, and yet he’s winning. We? We’re losing.

With the removal of the “de minimus” rule because of the ongoing tariffs, it makes it harder to justify purchasing Nogizaka good from Japan. I mean BluRays are crazy expensive already, but add some sort of tariff/tax/VAT on shipping to the US, it will just push the price of Yoda’s graduation concert BluRay or the upcoming 13th Birthday Live release into an another realm.

Should I buy them? I’ve weighed it in my mind and I lean towards no. They may end up being 400 dollars!

I hate this present and president. We need more patriots to take aim and take them down.

https://www.404media.co/its-just-a-mess-23-people-explain-how-tariffs-have-suddenly-ruined-their-hobby/

「Same numbers」

broderic on July 20, 2025

Kaki Haruka is the center for Nogizaka46’s 39th single, Same numbers. Available in a couple of weeks, July 30th.

It’s Kaki’s fourth center and third as solo. I had thought she was being left behind, but they gave her this. Will it be her last?

Meiji Jingu Baseball Stadium

broderic on June 27, 2025

明治神宮野球場 — Meiji Jingu Baseball Stadium has seen legends. Babe Ruth played there. The current occupants, the Tokyo Yakult Swallows, have recently won the Japan Series — NPB’s version of the World Series, in 2021. And it is Nogizaka46’s home field as well.

Like I said, legends.

I write this post every summer, because once again Nogizaka46 is going to hold concerts there in September. It is my Mecca. Actually, watching Nogizaka46 there is my Mecca. I doubt that I will ever, but I can dream with the members.

The song is Summer Day (Manatsubiyo) off of their upcoming 39th single. I hope you enjoy it.

Link of the Day [6.20.25]

broderic on June 20, 2025

Nothing in particular, but here’s the quick link to Nogizaka46 member’s birthday playlists. It’s none of the member’s birthday. At least I think it isn’t.

You say you can’t read Japanese, then just go ahead and pick one. They’re all good even if you can’t understand Japanese. Would I do you wrong?

https://nogizaka46.lnk.to/BirthdayPlaylist

Link of the Day [6.18.25]

broderic on June 18, 2025

Oshima Rion was the best Japanese weather caster on WNN, Weather News Now. She was also an F1 fan. I had the biggest crush on her when she was a weather caster. I still do. My favorite trivia about her is that she is a Nogizaka wota as well.

Anyhow, I hope you read this, because it’s great to see her pretty face again.

https://getnavi.jp/entertainment/1046675/

“Is this Have Your Secretary Committed Day?”

broderic on September 29, 2024

91-71.

After last year’s division winning 101 win team, that 91 wins is disappointing. They should’ve also had this division, but they played lackluster ball since the All Star break, especially, the last two months of August and September. Never quite could do well and get hot. Their bats gone cold. Their pitching not up to snuff.

They danced all season with the hated Yankees and let them get ahead in the end. I wished it could’ve been another division win, but that’s how it goes.

There is the post season hosting a wild card series. Maybe this year will be different and they’ll play much, much better in October.

Maybe we won’t be disappointed with the end.

Go O’s!

“No desk, no dinner… Land of Opportunity my ass!”

broderic on September 29, 2024

Going back to my favorite topic, Nogizaka46. Here we got one of their videos on their YouTube channel — the one that shows members checking out their past costumes from their daily uniforms to their concert costumes and everything in between. It’s a nostalgia tour.

What did you find interesting? Do you want me to point out my favorites? Too bad, I’ll do so any way. Nanmin’s gold track suit. The 14th single uniform. Any uniform with a jacket. These are ones I like. In the future there will be many more.

“Eww. Has anyone ever actually eaten one of those dried-up, old leathery specimens?”

broderic on September 27, 2024

As we exit September (News Radio Quote Month!) and enter October, the month of spooks, let’s celebrate with Nogizaka46 back when they had Halloween Concerts… ENJOY!

From 2015 and right around the time I was beginning my Nogizaka46 fan journey. This is the 13th single senbatsu which in the end is my classic lineup. None of these members are here today, and I still love the group. Lately, there music hasn’t been my favorite, so watching this really reminds me that their music always was first with me (Popipapapa aside).

「チェトデイ」c😇d

broderic on August 17, 2024

Oh, shoot. I know you come here for all your Nogizaka46 news, but I have let you down. Their in the 36th Single promotion cycle and I completely forgot to give you the music video for the title song. My bad…

「ごめんなさい！」

I’ll try to be better next single….