My favorite Japanese idol group filled with elegant, classy members
Yamashita’s graduation song. Not sure what to make of it. Is disco back? Personally, I wanted something better for her. It didn’t happen. It’s an okay song, but has too much cringe worthy English parts. If it went without them, maybe it would’ve been better.
Let’s start this with the sad news. Yamashita Mizuki, Nogizaka46’s ace, announced her graduation today. I woke up, found out, and now I have to quantify my feelings about seeing off one of my absolutely favorite Nogizaka members ever.
Here it is. This one hurts the most, and the loneliness is the most largest I’ve felt from a graduation announcement. Except, it doesn’t. As an idol fan, especially being one for almost a decade, member graduations come with the experience. Be it the least member to their aces, graduation comes for all, and you get used to it. So used to it, you are immune to them. But once one of your oshimen announce graduation, the feelings come back and hits you again. Overtime, it doesn’t hurt as much, but it still does.
It is what it is. You’ve been through them. You’ll come through them. You’ll experience it with them. You’ll celebrate with them. You’ll smile with them. Come the graduation date, you’ll see them off onto bigger adventures knowing that the time was well spent.
So, it is Mizuki’s time.
I have been her fan since August of 2016 during the third generation’s SHOWROOM auditions. “Shi-chan” caught my eye on the very first day. And to be honest, has never quite let it go. That’s almost eight years. Even as my original Nogizaka oshimen graduated, she was there to anchor my fandom for the group. Now, it turns into supporting her on her bright future.
I wish her all the happiness in the world. Thanks, Mizuki.
Analytics from my twitter feed say no one sees these when you post them so late in the day. So therefore, today’s comes up just about an hour earlier than yesterday’s. I guess maybe we’ll get an extra view?
Yeah!
But no one clicks through on their twitter feed. So no one’s gonna see this. But you’ll be missing out on something great.
A couple of weeks back, Nogizaka46’s TV show’s YouTube channel posted that they’re now going to include subtitles within a week of the showing. YES!
Yup, you too can now become as big a Nogizaka fan as me. The episodes go as far back as GomenFin back in 2021.
You’ve got a long way to catch up. What are you waiting for? Only click through!
Well here we go. Nogizaka46’s 34th single, Monopoly. They, the members, will bankrupt you with their gourgeousness. Let’s all get ready. It will be released on December 6th. Consider that the dollar is crushing the yen at the moment pick up all five versions. You know I will.
「おひとりさま天国」, Nogizaka46’s 33rd single, to be released towards the end of the month. Let’s all have fun for the last bit of summer we have left.
I am unsure about this song. At once, it is Nogizaka, it feels Nogizaka, and the members are cute in the MV. The song to my ears sounds like a few of the other Nogizaka songs. It reminds me of スキロク from last summer. I also hear some of the Asuka/Maiyan duet or Maiyan/Ringo, both of which were off of summer releases. All I have to say about the title song is that it really is a summer single.
At their inception, Nogizaka46 was the official rival of AKB48. Debuting in 2011, it took Nogizaka46 seven years to overtake their rivals and become Japan’s top mainstream idol act.
Today, Nogizaka46 are the rivals to a new idol group produced again by Akimoto Yasushi. The new group is 「僕が見たかった青空」(“Boku ga Mitakatta Aozora”) or “The Blue Sky I Wanted to See.”
How long until they overtake Nogizaka46?
Save Meiji Jingu Baseball Stadium.
My favorite idol group, Nogizaka46, call it home. Every year on their summer tour since 2014, they’ve had a show there. There have been many memorable happenings at these lives. Ikuta flown in on a copter. Fourth Year Birth Day Live’s rain. 2016’s Synchronicity dual stadium shows. Graduations. Falls. Rain. Rain. Rain.
One day, I would love to see my beloved Nogizaka at Jingu.
If it is possible.
https://asia.nikkei.com/Opinion/Showcasing-Japanese-baseball-requires-saving-Meiji-Jingu-stadium
Kubo Shiori and Yamashita Mizuki. Yamashita Mizuki and Kubo Shiori. One and one and two and two. They are 3rd Generation aces for Nogizaka46, and they’ll forever be linked together in fans’ minds.
In the summer of 2016, Nogizaka46 held auditions for a new, third generation of members. The finale of the audition process was participation on the online streaming site, SHOWROOM, where the candidates spent about an hour just chatting and interacting with live stream viewers. At the time, both were anonymous to fans, but they spotted something in them making both highly popular. They were at the time second and third. Yamashita edging out Kubo.
After they passed, they would find themselves in competition again. This time in Nogizaka’s 3 Principals stage show. Principal is a play upon which the audience gets to choose which members participate in the play. Another audition. Kubo came out with the slight edge voted to participating in the play just one more vote than Yamashita.
They were always squaring against each other. It may have been the basis of Kubo taking a hiatus in 2018 because of this competition. Was it a challenge?
Maybe, but they were quite a combo. They named their pairing, “KuboShita,” and fans love them. Nothing but admiration amongst the pair. Even though Yamashita had earned the Ace moniker, Kubo was close behind. Kubo is the more beloved amongst the members themselves. Either way they are at the forefront of Nogizaka.
Anyhow, the single has been out for a couple of weeks. Please give it a listen. I love this song. I love this pair. I just love Nogizaka46.
I’d like to think that it was Nogizaka46 and Kubo Shiori who kicked started Team Japan to a WBC win. Like I imagine that we should be getting memes of Kubo striking out Mike Trout. Come on internet. Don’t let me down.
Anyhow, I was rooting for Team Japan because my favorite idols were cheering them on.
From their 31st single, a unit song with the rappers, Kitagawa and Hayashi. The arrangement to this song is unlike any other in Nogizaka’s catalog. Normally, it’s a through line from member to member.
This one’s set up like a classic R&B, hip-hop song from the 90s. Plus also has a bit of lofi sound to it.
I didn’t think it was written by their old AF producer, but I guess it was. I thought the rapper pair wrote it out and the lyrics to to chorus was added in. I wonder if that’s how this happened?
Anyhow, I think it’s my favorite this year…
