Link of the Day [2.22.22]

Nogizaka46’s birthday is celebrated on the 22nd of February in celebration of the release of their first single. They’ve reached their 10th Birthday! Happy birthday!

Today’s link is to their current schedule for the ongoing 46 Hour Television. We’re half way through, but if you want to find out what’s coming up, then you can click the link. We’re waiting for the Sports Day Festival and for the introduction of 5th Gen and the debut of their latest single tomorrow.

https://www.nogizaka46.com/s/n46/page/46tv_2022

Let’s Have Fun

Watch this and know you’ll have fun, but you only have about 36 hours. Will this video go blank in two days? I guess we’ll find out. But, still, watch.

Music Sounds Better With You

新内眞衣OL,BBA

Nogizaka46 going for the Showa vibes with a tinge of City Pop. I kind of like it. I wish they would do it some more. It isn’t the first time. It will not be the last. Maybe sometime then they’ll try it in their late night show, Nogizaka Star Tanjou.

Shinuchi Mai, as I have already said, is leaving the group in the next few weeks. The song was on Nogizaka’s last album. They released this video so that we will remember her. Last week was her birthday along with Ikuta Erika. She turned 30 which is a very rare age for an idol.

I can listen to this all day…

My wondrous encounter with you is the start of romance

Erika-sama for the 10th Anniversary Best of Album giving us a cute rendition of 「ロマンスのスタート」You do know that by the end of the month and the end of the year Erika-sama will have ended her idol career and graduated from Nogizaka46.

She’s still best girl.

And I wish her all the happiness in the world.

Office Lady Resigns

One thing about being a fan of idols is that at any time they will make the decision to graduate, and you’ll be left with feelings of loneliness and sadness.

Today, Shinuchi Mai announced her graduation from Nogizaka46. I am left with feelings of loneliness and sadness.

She’s the eldest of all Nogizaka members at the ancient for an idol age of 29. She follows my oshimen, Ikuta Erika, out the door into the future and real life. I wish her all the happiness in the world, because I have fond feelings for all Nogizaka members (and somewhat for most all idols of Japan).

卒業 is a Four Letter Word

Ikuta Erika will not make it to the 10th Year Birthday Live. She will graduate at the end of the year with her last appearance being Kouhaku.

It is a bleak Monday.

I don’t know yet how to process this information. Right now, I guess I am in shock. Depression should hit in the afternoon.

I wish her happiness, and I hope to see her do great things in theater.

“Sir, Beth is one of the wolves that haunts the mean streets of New York City.”

September 4, 2016 Nogizaka46 introduced the Third Generation. At its center was a weak, easily rattled member, Ozono Momoko. She was always crying, which was endearing and frustrating at the same time. How can they have such a center for what was an important addition to the group?

Fast forward to today. Not just their 5th Anniversary, but also Ozono’s graduation day. One reason to follow Japanese idols is to witness their growth as members and as a person. Certainly, Momoko’s growth is one of the more satisfying to witness. She’s not so quick to cry anymore, and it shows how genuine of a person she was as an idol. That was really her as a person and not a character she put on for privacy. Congratulations on your graduation Momoko!

Our final gift from her is this MV for “Omoide First,” the 3rd Gen’s 2nd song which can be found on Nogizaka46’s 3rd album from 2017. Please enjoy and watch over the 3rd Gen members with a smile.

“Mr. James, why are you so gung ho about this?” “Because investigative reporting is the lifesblood of American journalism. Besides, I lost my golf date this afternoon so I’m kinda bored.”

Whelp. It’s Nogizaka46’s third single of the year and their twenty-eighth overall. Also, it’s another new center for this single. Three to match the three singles released. The center is from fourth gen, Kakki Haruka. To be honest, I’m not on the Kakki bandwagon completely. I think I have trouble with the fourth gen, but it isn’t her fault. It’s me.

Anyhow, like the song. Like the center. Like the group. I cannot wait for the release at the end of this month.