Andra’s blog

Takara no Hako

nobody@vox.com(Andra) — Wed, 07 May 2008 11:39:13 -0700

(Here's something for you to listen to while reading my utterly long post. Am I the only one who loves the pinku-duo? :P After this it'll be no use ever again to claim that in an idol I look for a good singing voice.)

TADADA-A! My birthday present (anybody remember anymore? :)) arrvied actually over a month ago :D but I haven't been able to post about it. So now I shall (it took me ten days to write this :D). Here it is:

My birthday present to myself

Can you guess what it is? I'll give you a hint. The reason why I finally started blogging (I had been planning it for a while) and why I started my blog here in vox is this. A long time ago (okay, it hasn't been such a long time :P) MorningBerryx decided to hold a draw for two great j-pop items, Arashi's concert tour DVD an Morning Musume's "Sweet Morning Box 2002". As a result two lucky persons got a wonderful a Christmas present. I wasn't one of them (:( unlucky me) but to be able to enter the draw I had to create an account here in vox. And this is how my blog was born. :)

Anyway, after that MorningBerryz also made entries about the other "Sweet Morning Box " Momusu Christmas collectibles from years 2003 and 2004. I was immediately drawn to these great collections of interesting and unique Momusu goods. These really are the most complex H!P collectibles I've ever seen! But as MorningBerryz mentions in the other post these were unfortunately released only during the years 2002-2004.

However, after looking around in Yahoo Auctions Japan I found out that the first "Sweet Morning Box" was actually released in 1999 with the LOVE Machine line-up available only to Fan Club members. Shortly after that the person from whom I usually buy H!P stuff in eBay put up this thing. I was able to win it at only 15.50 dollars! (The fact that the box wasn't sealed and that the shipping fee was huge didn't bother me at all. :)) So this is what I ended up with: "Morning Musume. Sweet Morning box 2000"! ★☆★

Morning Musume Sweet Morning Box 2000

Although it's a million times more simple than the later releases MorningBerryz has got I'm extremely happy with it and it's justifiably the shining jewel of my H!P collection! Because I love all of it I'll start with the cover of the box.

covers

This box is beautifully designed right from the beginning: once you remove the red cover another, green one appears. The picture is very cute: Momusu choir with Yuuko as the conductor! Can you recognise them all? :D Remeber that this is from th year 2000 - the 4th gen had just joined the same year.

Why is Yuuko by herself? Is she too scary?

Ahh, that's why... She's conducting the choir.

It's not too hard is it? :) I think Gocchin's the cutest one here. For some odd reason Nacchi's not cute at all even though in real life she's as sweet as sugar! But let's open this "takara no hako" of mine :). ♪♪

My treasure box...

Looks good doesn't it? :)

...and all its contents!

As you might have already noticed the cover of the box tells us everything there is inside it. All in all it makes seven different items:

X'mas Message Video
Special Trading Card x3
Deck of Playing Cards
Year Plate 2000
Special Mini X'mas Tree
Ornament x10
Message Card

Isn't it great? ♪

I will review these items in this given order. First up is the "X'mas Message Video". BTW, although this box was open when I bought it all the goods inside were sealed and so was this VHS too. However I couldn't resist opening and watching it. ☆ As you all probably know VHS aren't very hard-wearing so I'm thinking of taking it to one of these places were they'll transfer it to DVD. My parents are going to do so with some of our old VHS and I think maybe they will be kind enough to take this at the same time. :)

I have no knowledge of how to rip a VHS myself and put it in computer so unfortunately I don't have the chance to upload this video anywhere. I can't even share screencaps as much as I'd like to. :( I can only tell about the content of this video and show scans of the case.

X'mas Message Video (front)

Aibon's wearing some amazing hair extensions isn't she? :O I wonder why they aren't smiling properly, Christmas is supposed to be a happy event isn't it? I can imagine a similar shot with the current Momusu... It would probably be something more like this.

Morning Musume

Flashing peace signs and looking ridiculously happy. :) Now, that's what idols are supposed to look like! I couldn't deny though that the Morning Musume of 2000 is just as cute as the current one even if it's a lot more serious. :)

The video is basically a making of. I don't know what the running time is because I didn't count when I watched this and it isn't written anywhere but it was more than an hour. First we're treated with some footage from a photoshoot (all the girls look incredibly cute!). The photoshoot is the same one where these case photos (and the trading cards which I will show you next) are from. (The next photo is even cuter than the last one! I love their clothes. :) So 90's :P)

X'mas Message Video (back)

X'mas Message Video (side)

After the short photoshoot footage there are individual interviews from all these girls. I don't understand Japanese so I can't tell what they're saying. :/ From my VERY limited understanding I can say that the questions asked are something like "What was the highlight of the year 2000?" and so on. In the end of their interviews eveyone gives a short message to the viewer (who supposedly is a fan club member as this is a fan club release). I have to say it once more: they are all extremely cute! I had to scan the other side of this VHS too because they're incredibly cute!!!

I just got an idea: I promise that from now on, on my every birthday I will buy myself one of these "Sweet Morning Boxes" as a birthday present and eventually, after five years, when I turn 23 I will own them all. Isn't that a great idea? ♥ I'm loving it already. :P

Shall I move onto the trading cards now? I'm having trouble of finding something to say about the video because I can't share any of it. So maybe I'll just move on. :)

Special Trading Card x3

Here are the next great items included with the box! I'm a trading card girl; I always collect the photocards that come with limited editions and first presses and I even have two trading card albums for Momusu trading cards I've bought via Internet: one for normal trading cards and one for bromides (that one's extremely fullt though. So I absolutely love these. I scanned them too in order for you to see better. :) First the front sides and then the back sides.

Whoa the Momusu choir makes another surprise appearance! Now you should at least be able to recognise every memeber from the drawn pictures. You even have a parallel in the other side of the card. :) They are standing in the same order except for Yuuko Santa who's in her sleigh. Plese bring me lots of gifts next Christmas Yuuko Santa!

BTW, all these girls look as adorable as ever. Have I mentioned it yet? I love the third card best because of its great backside. Yossy, Marippe and Gocchin have great poses! The first one is great too again because of the back. The photos have a kind of home photo album feel to them which makes them special. The setting behind is the same where the interviews were shot.

I wonder if these cards where the same in all boxes? I guess so, but just what makes them "trading cards" if everyone has the same cards...?

Next maybe my second favourite thing in the whole box... Douzo!

Deck of Playing Cards

A deck of Momusu playing cards! Isn't the case hilarious? :) I really don't get that snowman. Unless it's Makoto of course. :) (You know which Makoto I'm talking about. Alhough I think he wasn't MCing H!P concerts yet at this point.)

This case is something I've never seen. It has the most unique way of opening. It's genius though, it prevents the case from being damaged when opening. Sometimes I think I'd like them to have something like this in the CD slip cases too, they always tend to fold when I open them...

Unique, isn't it?

Can you see how it opens? I think it's great! The folds are there already so the case remains decent-looking. No you can see the contens already can't you? :) Here it comes (I scanned the hearts because the pictures are the same in all the suits and hearts are the cutest ♥):

Cards back

It's the choir again!

Cards 1

Aibon is given the position of Ace as the cards feature the members from the youngest to the oldest. Isn't Nono cute? It's always hard to realise that Gocchin was actually the third youngest in the group at this time...

Cards 2

Then it's everybody's beloved Yossy, Charmy and Marippe. For some reason Rikachan's looking very young throughout all these goods. Maybe it's just because she really was very young. :P

Cards 3

Nacchi looks incredibly sweet... And Yuuko continues to stand out with that blond hair of hers. :) She's so funny.

Now I have the court cards left. They feature different girls in different suits so I scanned them all. :) Please pay attention to details - you may find some little things that are different from the rest. :)

Cards 4

Cards 5

Did you notice something missing...?

I THOUGHT SO. SO DID I and I was still surprised. :DD BANG!!!

Cards 6

BANG!!!

Cards 7

Which one is scarier? :DD I might vote for Kaorin - Yuuko looks just plain disgusted. XD

These playing cards are just great. However, I'm never going to use them. Who would like to have a deck of dirty, torn cards? Not me at least.

Now to my biggest favourite! You can see the package (it's the choir again) in the photo of all the goods from this box. The white cardboard case contains something that's really precious to me...

Year Plate 2000

Tada-a! It was extremely hard to take a photo without any reflects but I did my best... At least I got a photo where all the drawings are well visible. Isn't it lovely? I really, REALLY like it! All the girls are really good at drawing, but some of my favourites are Marippe's incredibly cute angel choir, Aibon's peach head that reminds me of Momo's drawings (they have a very similar style don't they?) and Yossy's little Father Christmas. :) Gocchin's Santa is quite hilarious and Nono's little creatures - well, weird. :P I don't get what their doing. But I must announce that the winner is

YUUKO WTF? I don't get her drawing at all! XD Maybe it helped if I understood the text. As for now, to me it looks like a chibi-Yuuko crying out for help for getting married. ;P

I just have to say again that this particular piece is just incredible. You may enjoy the photo - I'm certainly not giving this to anybody! :D

Next up is the Special Mini X'mas Tree. I have to say that this was maybe the one to impress me the most. As you all may know today's Japan is full of plastic stuff - everything just seems to be made of plastic. There are a lot of throwaway things. So, I was very pleased to see this:

Special Mini X'mas Tree

It even contains real cones! The tree itself is plastic, of course, but in a non-annoyning way that really pleases me. And the stand is real wood. I just love this and I'll be sure to use it next Christmas to decorate my room! It's so pretty!

Well, nothing more to say - and this post is already unforgettably long - so I'll move on! Ladies and Gentlemen: Ornament x10!

Ornament x10

I don't have much to say about these... only that I wish I that these actually contained actual photos of the girls themselves, not these choir girls again... They're cute nevertheless but I won't use them. :) I'll include bigger photos just in case you want to take a closer look.

There are they. And now for the last one: Message Card!

Message Card

Do you know what this is? Obviously a Message Card, right, but what does it do?

The choir gets its fair share again, because this thing sings. Well of course it doesn't actually sing, it plays. No more and no less than We Wish You a Merry Christmas in a very annoying whiny sound that sounds like a ringtone. Well I bet you all know how singing cards sound like.

I was having a hard time trying to get good photos of its inside without opening it too much because I didn't want it to play, but evetually I had to open it completely. To my great pleasure, although, it played the tune only once and then remained silent. So I was able to get good photos of it after all.

Message Card inside

All your hand are belong to Andla@. :P Anyway, this is how it looks like

Message Card greetings

and here what they said. Again no idea but I like Kei's lips. :P

And a little closer look to the already famous choir which is singing with its whiny ringtone voice.

Message Card choir

But wow! This time it really is them! :O

You know, that was it. ☆ See you next time (I have time to write anything. I have a job now, you know, so that I could afford to buy H!P stuff :P.)

Because it's already full of photos nobbody's gonna care if I put one more. I support you Gocchin, through the hard times with your family! I hope you'll be able to start working soon!

Gocchin's blog's banner

Beautiful Gocchin

Gocchin's totally badass banner and wait! I accidentally put two pictures. ♥

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Err... Wait what was I talking about?

nobody@vox.com(Andra) — Sat, 12 Apr 2008 13:52:20 -0700

So today is a major day for me. Yossy's birthday, Airi's birthday, Gomaki Ganbare! Day and the last part of Aibon's interview (excuse me for still calling her that. For me she'll forever be Aibon no matter who much she changes). So to all my four beloved idols something is happening today.

I had planned to do a long post about them. But let's put all that aside. Why? Because

I've got a shitload of schoolwork again and no time for blogging
I'm stunned. And I'm A WAY MORE stunned that I was with Namida no Iro.

Morning Musume - Resonant Blue (Another Ver.)

Just... how great is this? And (I NEVER swear!) why the fuck didn't they have this as the main version? May I ask? Just what is the logic behind this? I know that everyone else is thinking the same. But I still cannot understand...

Aichan

Aichan looks genuinely lonely. This scene... the way she gulps... She really made me almost cry. Gaki and Reina were great (can you say that in this case?) too. Actually... I don't think I'll be able to write anything smart now. So I'll leave that for the good writers.

Just... When will they learn to do stuff in widescreen?

I feel bad for not featuring any of those for I mentioned first. I love you all! You're my top four, can you hear?! (Though Aichan... you might be number five now...) I'll put one of my favourite photos of each one. ♪

Happy Birthday Yossy!

Happy Birthday Airichan!

I love you Aibon!

Gomaki Ganbare!

Wow, Gocchin was a hard one since I don't have any favourite photos of her. Probably because she's always gorgeous :P (though so are all of these girls!). In the end I decided to put a funny one because I love those jeans to death.

Actually, these photos tell quite well the images I have of each of these girls. Unfortunately I'll have to change my image of Aibon since that's what she wants... But since a picture tells more than a thousand words, I'm convinced not to try to say anything more but to read my love for these girls in the photos.

PS. People at Hello!Online translated Aibon's blog entries. I love them! ♥♥

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Namida no Iro

nobody@vox.com(Andra) — Fri, 04 Apr 2008 11:58:40 -0700

First I want to announce that I absolutely loved Resonant Blue. Why didn't I review it? Because at the time the PV was released I was busy and later I didn't do it because I agreed with everyone else (why don't others get any screen time etc. etc.) so I felt it kind of unnecessary to repeat everything that had already been said. But now I must do a PV review. Because I'm amazed.

Namida no Iro screencap 1

Just like I started my Renai♥Rider review with Airi now I have to start with Maimi. I really enjoyed her in LA LA LA Shiawase no Uta. She really was the only thing to save that song for me. While the costumes were hideous, and the whole song was a bit of crap, Maimi did her best, sang a thousand times better than Airi (I NEVER thought I would say this!) and danced like mad. She really impressed me. I never liked her that much before. I always thought she was overdoing it a bit. But how she impressed me then is nothing comapred to this PV, Namida no Iro.

Just WOW. She impressed me in every single aspect there can be regarding a song and the accompanying PV. Because I have to start with something, I'll start with the singing. Really, it's the only "weak point" she has and it's not even WEAK. If someone asks me, I think Maimi's the one with the most potential of become the next soloist superstar of H!P (yesterday I would have answered that Airi's the one! How quickly opinions can change... However, I'm not counting Aichan or Reina now). Less like a Kohachan or Ayaya kind of soloist, but more a Gocchin kind of. I could hear her singing songs just like this Namida no Iro. Sad, beautiful but powerful songs. Just look at her FACE. She's really putting her heart and soul into it!

Namida no iro screencap 2

Namida no Iro screencap 19

That look... It gives me cold shivers and almost makes me cry... And you can hear it in her voice also. It feels like she could really relate to the lyrics although I have no idea wht they are about (probably something sad considering the name of the song. :P) Maimi handles her parts in a great manner and I no longer wonder why she's the other of this group's lead singers.

As for her dancing. When everybody was praising her I always thought that sure, she's great and all, but in my opinion she overdoes all the movements and is given too much credit for her dancing. She had a great talent but she wasn't really controlling it yet (even in Tokaikko Junjou). In a few years, I thought, she could learn to be more subtle and expressive. When she was claimed to be the best dancer in H!P I always thought of Aichan and disagreed. (Captain is great also, really!)

Well, it either didn't take her that long to learn or I was wrong all the way. I mean, just look at her posture.

Namida no Iro screencap 6

Dancing is of course hard to capture but I'm quite sure you'll all agree with me that she stands out a lot. All the girls are great dancers but they're just on a completely different level from Maimi. I still wouldn't pick her over Aichan though, and there are others who are really good as well (Inaba Atsuko and Kame for example. I'm also starting to appreciate Sayu greatly. And I couldn't call Reina a bad dancer either...) Anyway, back to Maimi. I just have to say that she's incredible in this video.

Namida no Iro screencap 7

And the intensive look in these shots...I think this slightly curly hair suits her face shape a lot better than straight hair. I really liked her looks in the covers already. But she has never been more beautiful than in this PV. She has great shots like this in her photobooks also, but I never really realised it... How pretty she is... I could just have a whole PV of her face!

Namida no Iro screencap 20

But in the name of being fair I shall move onto the other girls now. First up, Erika.

Namida no Iro screencap 8

I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw this. Erika's been given her moment too! Although I must admit I'm a bit disappointed. She looked so kickass in the covers that I thought she would here too... Well, this was her worst shot. Maybe she should have let her head go even lower or something... But anyway, I was incredibly happy for this. Overall, though, she was given too little of screentime. And no sololines, of course. (Sigh...)

I can't say I didin't enjoy Airi in this one and she was certainly a lot better than in LA LA LA Shiawase no Uta. I guess I used to be so fond of her that I'm always expecting a bit too much, more than from the other girls. But I think she really got to show her dancing in this one.

Namida no Iro screencap 9

Great Airi & Maimi working it out... Maimi's great but Airi's too. She's just incredibly talented and I was quite satisfied with her vocals performance in this one.

Namida no Iro screencap 10

Airi deserves all the attention she gets. I think she was perfect in Tokaikko Junjou and even if I would want everyone to have a chance I wouldn't want to change her position. And in this one she really isn't stealing all the spotlight (she didn't steal it in LASnU either) so it's okay. Right!?

She isn't just as much as into the lyrics as Maimi is but she great too. And I love her anyway. She's my favourite. And I love her cap. :)

Namida no Iro screencap 11

Where as Maimai really looks like she about to cry... Poor little girl. :(

Namida no Iro screencap 12

But I definitely see why eveyone keeps saying that she's becoming a preteen diva. :) Airi uses that kind of looks sometimes also, I think.

Namida no Iro screencap 13

Nakki keeps impressing me with her dancing, She also very pretty. :) I remember someone said that she like the Sayu of °C-ute. That might be right. :)

Namida no Iro screencap 14

And then Chisa... I don't know what she needs to do to become something else than cute...

Namida no Iro screencap 15

She certainly trying hard though... And no solo lines. Never.

Namida no Iro screencap 16

Last but not least... Kanna! She's becoming prettier and prettier also, don't you think?

Namida no Iro screencap 17

Her pose here is pretty bold. Looks like she's gaining some confindence! In the second screencap she reminds me a lot of of SweetS' Miori for some reason...

Namida no Iro screencap 18

That's for the members. As for the PV... In the end it has a great atmosphere and mood to it. This is one of those PVs that made me change my mind on the song. When I heard the radio trip I thought it was a bit boring. But I'd never use that word to describe this song now... I love the instrumentals in the beginning before the verse starts. Actually the whole song is quite catchy.

Comparing to Tokaikko Junjou, I like the dance of this better. Tokaikko Junjou was great but this is even better. The clapping reminds me of course of Iroppoi Jirettai but I guess it's part of the style so that wouldn't be copying. The PV has got a praiseworthy amount of shots of the other girls besides Maimi and Airi and that's always good. What I like more about Tokaikko Junjou, though, is that it's shot outdoors.

I'm tired and going to end now. I was going to write more but maybe tomorrow. So now let's end with a few more screencaps.

Namida no Iro screencap 21

Some more suffering kids...

Namida no Iro screencap 22

Namida no Iro screencap 23

Namida no Iro screencap 24

Maimi shines again! That pose...

Namida no Iro screencap 25

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