Megamax: It keeps being awesome.

So if your a Kamen Rider fan like me, you'll no doubt be awaiting the second 40th aniversary celebration film, coming out on december 10th, OOO x Fourze Kamen Rider x Kamen Rider: Movie Taisen MEGAMAX.

We currently have a fair idea of the plot for the thing, but still a lot of things aren't exactly clear to us, and as more things are revealed, more mysteries also emerge. For example how has Kougami, 40 years into the future, created those 3 Core Medals? Did the vast number of items he has related to their creation reveal the secret to their creation? How does Ankh regain his body, rather than just being a spectral arm following Eiji around? How are the first 5 sets of Core Medals around for Eiji to use? Whats up with those Rider Core Medals, and those Legend Rider switches? Will Eiji and Gentarou use them? Does this allow me more leeway in my Fanfic universe I'm working on, given I was going to do something with the Rider Medals anyway? Is Nadeshiko from the future? How was Aqua created? Will Minato be uncorrupted over the course of the film? How does the reviving of enemies using those meteorites work?

Regardless though, this movie looks set to be awesom, what with the reemergence of Foundation X, a new female Rider (please don't die, they've had a good track record since Kiva), Shotaro, Phillip, the first 7 Riders, and so much more.

Awesome things about AKB48 Best 100 Day 3

Boku Dake no Value: So I’m guessing the only reason the Under Girls are Unders is because they’re not pushed into the limelight as much, they seem to be pretty much as good as the front girls. I mean if they were at the front more I’d be able to name more than one Team 4 girl.

Michael Jackson: I think that’s whose moves Nayo was imitating anyway, followed by an attempt by Moeno.

Lucky Seven: It’s a nice song, I like it.

Aitakatta: As performed by NMB48. You’ve got to hand it to Akimoto, he knows what’s going to help popularity, like having the first stage for Team S be an effective recreation of Team A’s first, or having Team N, who have only been performing for about 2 weeks at this point, sing the song of AKB48. I’m sure he’ll have Team H sing it at the 2012 best 100 as well if it gets in 9and let’s face it, it will).

MARIA: It was interesting, not gonna lie.

Majijo Teppen Blues: now I’m quite certain I saw Yui in there at one point, which kind of makes sense, given you-know-who had line in this song. Incidentally, I love this song, but it’s my least favourite of the 3 Majijo songs (even if this one does feature the awesome that is Daruma).

Seifuku Resistance: nice song, and my current and former oshimen in one place. Yes please.

Nachu: Oh joy, Nachu. Why Akimoto-Sensei, why must you do this to me? Okay, huhshe’s still dressed as Daruma. Makes sense I guess, she isn’t listed for any other performances. Oh now, she’s introducing herself in character. She does the rest as Nachu, I’ll be honest, but as Nachu she managed to change my entire non-Daruma related opinion of her. I’d just gotten the impression she was really annoying from the one AKBINGO appearance I remember her making. She’s doing the MC with Satou Yukari, but I have to focus on Nachu here, I really do. She has a large pad of paper with a few phrases written in Yankee style on them, I think the first had something to do with Acchan, and the second one involved the number 72. The third sheet was about Takamina, and led to her doing a pretty good impression of her. And the last sheet just announced no 35 in the best 100.

Choose Me: a song that the members of Team YJ initially sang to entice fans to by the issue of Young Jump featuring them over, well we’ll get to that in a bit.

Bimyo 09

Bimyo reviews, now coming possibly only 5 hours after broadcast.

Sketch one starts witha dog, a pheasant and a monkey, and Momotarou comes in, saying 'let's go,' the animals just stand there. She tries to get them to go, offering them something, but they continue to refuse. They continue arguing, and Momotarou's grandfather comes in. Ojiichan is able to easily motivate them with a few words. however Momotarou's arguments against the suggestion made results in more arguing. Ojiichan has each of them in turn give a little introduction, which Momotarou protests against. Ojiichan declares the monkey to be in 4th place, however in third is Momotarou, who argues a gainst it, but Ojiichan decides that the centre/leader of the group will be the pheasant.

Woman in shop announces sale, leading to an onslaught of women, she adds fuel to the fire by mentioning prices are as low as 200 yen. The fighting got pretty intense as I was typing that last sentence,  and now she's just going ganbare to any which one. She then throws 2 bags for only 50 yen into the fire (seriously , 50?). She throws an AKB jacket in (Sashi's from Majijo?) but the women who catches it just throws it away. And now we have the 1 yen leggings. She finally throws in what might be a free jacket, but they're all to injured and exhausted to fight now. Another women just walks through, picking up off the floor what she wants, and the saleswomen just salutes her skill.

We're at a cafe, and Rie and Ami come inside, apparently it's raining outside. Ayaka come through with a raincoat and hat, and welcomes them. She shows them to a table, and they say something about an engine. Ayaka calls for their order, and as Rie makes a comment she sees Ayaka miming to Ami, who seems a little wierded out, but she eventually moves the glasses she's wearing briefly. Ayaka calls for food again, before doing something to Rie's shoe, and then tells someone offscreen it's okay. Ami asks for a toilet, and Ayaka gives some instructions which I think include the 246th turning on the right. Rie asks for an Ice coffee, which Ayaka calls to the back for. A petrol pump suddely comes down from the roof, and Ayaka pumps whatever was in it directly into Rie's mouth. They decide to leave, and are given a 3600 yen bill, which they refuse to pay. Ayaka moves apparently to block soething which isn't there as they leave.

A mother leaves her young baby in the hands of a babysitter while she's at work, the babysitter suggests something to do but the baby says something quite rude about it. The baby eventually gets her to fetch a pacifier, which it sticks in his mouth and then comments on the flavour or something. The two talk about stuff, and  ithink the baby mentioned plans fro world domination. They argue a bit, and then the babysitter goes to fetch something, knocking over a vase by accident, which was apparently the childs grandfathers. The baby agrees to help in exchange for what I think was a drink of alcohol. The baby says it can still get her in trouble or something like that, and pats her on the ass. It then pulls her over the pram briefly, she gets up just as the mother returns.

We seem to be in the dressing room for an idol group called Cat's Eye. The three members discuss what might have been a manga, and then start to do an intro pose and roll call before Kasai interrupts. She has some issue, so instead girl who's name I should really learn does some wierd thing on her own before girl who I swear I haven't seen ever before interrupts that. They have an idea for something to do with paper bags, Kasai puts some bread in her bad and does an intro, which apparently oozes cuteness (ironically, Kasai normally oozes sexiness), the other girls then take the bread. They then do their new intro, starting with bonjour. They're happy with their result, and walk off all sexy like.

Two schoolgirls sit together, and one of them admires the other's phone. Yui comes in (YAAAY, YUI-SAMA), ahem, and asks what's going on. She reveals her own phone, which seems to have bugs glued to it. As she refers to it cutely, eventuall one of the others just hits her on the head with a slipper. She then offers a bug, possibly to eat.

Two sisters care for their ailing motherm and mention someones sister coming. They're brother comes in reporting trouble, but after an argument he opens something, causing the girls to jump him. After more arguments he leaves, leavign one of the girls crying. The mother and sister comfort her, and then they do some things together, when the brother returns. says something ending in a heart, leding the mother to seemingly have a heart attack.

AKBINGO 111123

Continuing with the Kizuna battle between AKB and SKE, I'm not going to remind you whos involved.

We start with a put-down session started by Myao, the SKE girls she directs her criticism to then delivering her own to her, while confirming that 3 times 7 is in fact 21. Also 6 times 7 is 44. When this is called out on she decide its 49.

The first round this week, and 4th overall has two teams of 3 against a black wall, starting with them in a sitting position against it. A burst of smoke is launched from a box, as demonstrated by a certain admins' avatar featuring Yukirin. Kyoto is using  abox pointing at SKE and Chura has a box pointed at AKB. The first burst does little except cause irritation, but as Sata goes to point somethign out the middle SKE girl falls to the floor. After the seconf burst Sata tells them they now have to be only 10cm off the ground, however before the next burst is fired Myao slips to the ground. Sata has them adjust their heights again, but this causes another SKE girl to slip. They're about to fire again when the last SKE girl slips winning the game for AKB. The ranking is now 2:1 to AKB.

Sata announces the LAST BATTLE, which is a skipping competition I know I've seen before in early days, but then it was the AKB teams against eachother. Basically each team has to skip together over the skipping rope. SKE has their first go, reaching the impressive result of 60. AKB easily smash their training record of 20, and manage to beat SKE's score by just 1 jump. Befoe SKE's second challenge Rena gives the others a bit of encouragement. Not only do they reach 62, they go up another 40 to 102. AKB has their next go, without Myao for some reason ,and again make it by just one jump, hitting 103.

So AKB have one with 3 wins to 1, and we're given a shot of the AKB girls in SKE's uniform.

AKB News this weeks starts by telling us again about French Kiss's 4th single, followed by revealing the selected members of HKT48. Something is said about a new single from Watarirouka Hashiritai 7, which we're then treated to the music video to. Okay seriously how many AKB related singles are being released at the moment?We've had a music video every one of the last 4 weeks.

Looks like next week we're getting a return of the burger game, but with SKe still around in a new blue outfit. Can we at least get some new AKB girls in?

11 things awesome about AKB48 Request Hour Setlist Best 100: Day 2

Yui x Megumi: during the first MC of the day Megumi gets a little touchy-feely on Yui, who seems a little uncomfortable, which is probably why Kayo and Rina pushed Megumi away from her. I think Megumi may have been a little envious, what with Yui being maybe 10 years younger than her. Actually this sounds a lot like the MV to Megumi’s solo single (the envy, not the groping).

Yasai Sisters: The outfits. That is all.

Mendol: Taking to the stage to perform their 3 Seconds, I guess the male Idol Group Persona is there as special guests or something. Can’t help but think they’d go well with the members of no3b though.

Namida no See-saw Game: Hey, it’s good to give the undergirls some limelight.

GAGAGA: Hey we had to see SDN perform sometime; complete with suggestive dance moves and having Kayo and Megumi in something that isn’t Old Team K. Also I swear Megumi’s voice wold be perfect for a Toku villainess.

Baby! Baby! Baby!: I just like the song if I’m honest.

Majisuka Rock ‘n’ Roll: I don’t think I need to go on. I also won’t, as this will be talked about quite soon.

No3b: So yeah, it was fortunately, Relax was more popular, also I feel its advice useful, as I worry about broken self-imposed deadlines, like the one to get this up during Tuesday. As I type this it’s 10 minutes into Wednesday my time. I’ve still 20 minutes of the Best to watch, plus the 10 minutes of encore. Also the MC after has them going into a few of their songs and other things without the music.

Dear J: The first encore and my former favourite song, so I kind of have to give it credit, sung by my former oshimen, Tomochin

Shuumatsu Not Yet: So turns out I like this song more than I thought I did, also Yui. Also this may well be the first ever performance by Not Yet, so props for that as well.

Heavy Rotation: Two things: 1, its Heavy Rotation, 2, it’s an all performance.

AKB49 Chapter 1

Now if you came here by the only place I link to here from, you’ll have both seen me insanely rage about the fact I’ll do this, and guessed what I’m on about.

AKB49 is the first manga about AKB48. But why is it called AKB49 you ask? Well no, you don’t actually, cause your either not reading this or you know, but we’ll get to that in approximately right now.

The manga starts in colour for a couple of pages starting with how in 20XX AKB outsold the Beatles. OK let me stop you right there. The Beatles, the greatest selling musical act of all time, was outsold by a bunch of Japanese teenagers. Bear in mind that this was written before every single was selling a million units in the first week. But apparently they became the most popular act in the world, and then ask if we know about the one who propelled the group to superstardom, the legendary 49^th member. Isn’t AKB (and I mean just AKB, and not Kenkyuusei either) already on about 60 members? Ah well. Well this is apparently that story anyway. Our last full colour page is a picture in a magazine, probably Young Jump, or Young Animal, or Weekly playboy, of Mariko, Mayuyu, Tomochin, Acchan,  Takamina, Kojiharu and Asasube Ryo? on a beach as part of a gravure spread, while a bunch of boys discuss which is their favourite member. We’re also introduced to our protagonist, Uramaya Minoru, a boy in their class who doesn’t care for AKB. When one of the boys comments on how Maeda doesn’t deserve to be in AKB cause of how people noticed she didn’t seem to be making as much effort in performances, so apparently her popularity plummeted (so I’m guessing in this version Aki-P didn’t decide to put Maeda in Chance no Junban in this timeline then? Although if this is around Heavy Rotation time he probably did) this causes a girl, Yoshinaga Hiroko, to rage angrily at them because Maeda is the greatest musician in the world in her eyes, which becomes important later. One of the boys says Minoru is probably stalking Yoshinaga, which he denies. We then see him in a bush, looking in a dictionary for the definition of stalker. After deciding he doesn’t shove coals (it’s a pronunciation joke, stoker and stalker are pronounced the same) he starts following Yoshinaga, winding up at an AKB concert. He sees her briefly, and happening to find a ticket (behind the scenes) on the floor shows it to the bouncer, who points him through a door. He tries to find his way to the theatre; he pushes through a door, and….

He sees AKB48 in the dressing room. They’re in their underwear. You can definitely recognise Takamina, Sae, Sayaka, Minegishi, I think the one groping the other is Myao and Erena and Yukirin. Takamina screams out ‘PERVERRRT’ causing the security people to jump out into the corridor and fail completely to do their jobs. Realising that Yoshinaga will hate him if he’s caught peeping in the dressing rooms of one of Japan’s most high profile girl groups, he runs out, wailking ito Nyan Nyan asking for hair products, winding up with his face pressing into her bust, with several of the girls in pursuit. He accidentally knocks over Mayu coming in the other direction, creating a near perfect angle up her skirt, as one girl comments, and as he picks himself up he’s grabbed from behind. It’s Yuko, she’s mistaken him for Sae, groping his chest, realising it’s not because his chest is flatter than Sae’s. He runs away, and as Tomochin is coming from the other direction the girls call her to stop the pervert. Tomochin asks if he wants to see hers as well, slowly pulling her skirt up to reveal: black shorts, she was joking he falls to the floor, with relief, and as he picks himself up he accidentally sticks his head up Mariko’s skirt. She doesn’t look happy, and the girls are shocked he was this determined to see their underwear. He runs away again, past Acchan as Yuko and Tomochin comment he was kind of cute, and the girls stop chasing after Acchan asks what they’re doing.  This guy is either the luckiest guy alive or something I don’t know what. He finds the theatre, and meets Yoshinaga who tells him she wants to audition for AKB, she says she’d already tried once but had lost confidence to talk about her favourite member.

Minoru dresses up as a girl, Uchikawa Minori, to sneak into the audition for the express purpose of helping Yoshinaga pass the audition. We see Akimoto Yasushi arrive at the theatre to watch the audition, asking if any of the girls auditioning are wearing black. Maeda also shows up to watch the auditions. Yoshinaga performs well in the singing, but loses confidence to talk about her favourite member. Minori goes next, and also does alright, before being asked to talk about her favourite member. ‘She says ‘her’ favourite member is anyone but Acchan, because she doesn’t work hard, inspiring the reaction he intended as Yoshinaga shows support for Maeda. After the audition, Yoshinaga is told she’s made it, but warned against speaking out like that in future, before the guy announcing those who’s made it’s told something, and says Minori’s also made it. She congratulates Yoshinaga, who is cold to her due to her treatment of Maeda earlier. Still as Minori he walks home, but sees Maeda, who makes some comment on her smell, how she holds her body, and her voice. Akimoto is asked why he let Minori in, and he comments a true star can shine in the darkness or something.

Well this chapter fairly much establishes our main characters, and gives a hint to what our AKB girs are like, so looking good so far.

12 things awesome about AKB48 Best 100 Request Hour 2011: Day 1

This is an event that has been held every year since 2008 playing the most popular AKB songs as requested by fans who have bought a particular single. When I say songs I mean everything, stage songs, B-sides, Singles, SKE songs, SDN songs, sub-unit songs and possibly some advertising deals as well, I’m not sure, what I do know is that amongst the few that couldn’t be voted for, one of them was Love Wars, which I feel is a shame, I’d love to see a stage performance of Love Wars (Saiko, Koshiite, Isoke, Kimi-tachi yeah yeah). Ahem. Anyway, today I’m taking some good points from the first day. Also I should point out I’m only doing this because I happened to find it on Youku, the event was in January.

Anyway, in no particular order, we have:

 Oshima Mai: Mai was one of the original Team A members, and graduated in 2009, and has something of a career still I believe. At the point I’m at as I type this, she’s appeared twice, In the first song, Kioku no Dilemma, which has the added bonus of featuring Noro Kayo, SDN’s captain and former Team K member. Mai’s second appearance leads me to : 

 Graduated members: Mai is not the only graduated member to appear, in fact she appears alongside every member of the original Team A (it looks that way anyway, theirs 18 members in it) to perform Dear My Teacher so a fair few graduated members in just that song. I’m not really familiar with any of the ones in that song, and the only other graduate who didn’t go to SDN I know definitely isn’t in the event, but it must still be great for the fans who know them. 

Jurina’s face: This is literally only a couple of seconds, but during SKE’s MC, at one point while Rena (I think) is talking Jurina is making the greatest face ever, I can’t even begin to describe it.

         
Blue Rose: I find this one worth mentioning for two things, the members and the costumes. I find the costume choice odd for the girls I recognise and yet it works, so what do you know. The members themselves are Akimoto Sayaka, Miyazawa Sae, and Ohori Megumi, who I thank my knowing of to AKBINGO’s first 10 episodes having focuses on the release of her debut solo single. I can also confirm that these girls, including Masada Yuka were all part of Team K together.
        
Yokoyama Yui: I’m not biased, I swear. She’s appeared twice as I type this, in song 99, Jibun Rashisa alongside Mayu and Sumire, and as part of Theatre Girls performing Boku no Yell. She would have been a theatre girl then I suppose, she hadn’t made Senbatsu yet and I don’t think Not Yet had formed either. At this point I’m aware she’ll have a few more appearances though, given who she replaced in effect.
        
          16nin Shimai no Uta: purely for the way we briefly get every member of Old Team K on stage (excepting a couple I think, but their substituted).
       
BINGO: For the sheer fact that the Kenkyuusei do a good job, and I can recognise a few future Team 4 members.

      no3b: Takamina, Kojiharu and Miichan have 3 performances in the first day, but unfortunately Relax isn’t one of them. (Or is it fortunately?)

Ore Sanjou: During Mayu, Aika, Miku and Nakaya Sayaka’s MC, while talking about AKB Sanjou, Mayu performs Momotaros’ classic catchphrase, and then explains what it’s from.

Nounai Paradise: It’s an Old Team K performance, with two exceptions, one being you-know-who filling in for the same person she always is, and it’s pretty good.

Sakura no Hanabiritachi: My understanding is this became the graduation song, which makes it appropriate to have it being sung by graduated members, with Mai in the centre.

 
Ponytail to Shushu: Now ponytail certainly isn’t my favourite AKB song, but when it’s an encore being performed by everyone, you do have to appreciate it a whole lot.

       I'll see you tomorrow (hopefully) with day two highlights.