[1/23] Morning Musume's 52nd Single "Help me!!"

[Amped]

manager says that she'll probably miss the rest of the handshake events today and tomorrow. fans can transfer their tickets for the 3/31 event instead.
https://twitter.com/MorningMusumeMg/sta ... 0993366016
https://twitter.com/MorningMusumeMg/sta ... 6217342976

[Sohee]

Yeah rpb's translation. :3

Sayuuuu ;o; I hope she feels better soon. D:

[Amped]

Reina also absent all day today from both the photo-op and individual handshake event. she is also not feeling well. you can transfer today's tickets to the 3/31 event
https://twitter.com/MorningMusumeMg/sta ... 1874159616
https://twitter.com/MorningMusumeMg/sta ... 9922257921

[lynnkung]

Hope the girls recover and feel well soon.

anyway, on Sakurachan's "There are times I wonder what akb/momoclo-san have that we're lacking"
I'd say TV and media exposure.
..anyway, how did MomoClo got so big? Totally missed out on it, suddenly they are on so many shows.

[Daisuki Daiiyo]

Good management, and funny/interesting concepts for each single, like with the sentai thing. Also, because of the fact that their management seems to be the "go-get-em and do anything for fame" kind, they've gotten a lot of opportunities. Remember that whole weighing contest Momoclo did? It was outrageous and the one girl developed an eating disorder, but they got PR from it. Or that suggestive as hell bikini PV that makes everyone here uncomfortable whenever Mastarra posts it?

I've always had the impression that H!P/UF has more regard (or rules if you will) for their idols when it comes to what they will and will not do (so nothing shady, like with other groups) and while it has them on a higher pedastal, and kind of distances them from people or keeps them off of certain shows, I've always appreciated it.

I like knowing that none of our girls will ever feel like she has to shave her head bald in order to stay. Or that they'll never do a PV where they simulate nudity/have them dance super provocative in lingerie, when some of the girls may be uncomfortable with it. Or that that they won't have them sleep with old guys in the industry just to get ahead (see: Rinatin's interview after she left AKB and decided to do porn). Or that the girls pretty much seem to have a say with regard to what makes them uncomfortable/unhappy. But while this cap has it's benefits, it also has it's limits. Without that willingness to go-get-em and do anything, lately they always kind of plateau when any of the groups get a good momentum going. I sometimes feel like they do it purposefully, either because they don't feel up to the task/know how to manage a really popular artist, or because everyone is comfortable with where they're at. No ones overly stressed, everyone makes a decent enough living, so why strive for more when you don't really need it? Like after selling nearly 100k for the last two MM singles, why not request to have 100k+ shipped out for the first week for the upcoming one that you're doing a lot of promo for?

The decisions make no sense to me sometimes. But, theres probably more going on that what we see. And I am just a viewer from the outside commenting, so.

[Amped]

individual handshake event without Sayu and Reina

https://twitter.com/ufwzetima/status/303110384825544706

photo-op event without Sayu and Reina

[DARC1993]

^
Glimpse of the future!!!
This was done on purpose!

[Sohee]

Weird, yes. Good thing Sayumi isn't graduating with Reina.

[randompasserby]

^x2 you...you...

^x4 I've seen H!P and UF described as an established conservative/traditional/orthodox not in the political sense lol idol school on Japanese articles several times so yeah that seems about right.

...The management/agency may look like they're lazy, boring and too unwilling to take risks sometimes but them not overly resorting to blatantly cheesy, eyebrow-raising gimmicks, emphasizing the importance of the girls studies and being overall more accommodating to the girls' wishes lately is probably the part of the reason why I stuck with them for so long.

[Sohee]

Conservative is far from the word I would use to describe UF - I'd rather just use classy and human - but whatever the word is doesn't matter tbh. UF/H!P are the only idols I'll ever devote myself to as a fan so. My main interest is here and the only ones I keep my eyes on are *48 because of some of the girls and the impressive but insane management they have. Would take a lot for me to spend money on them though.