JS Idol Spotlight: Pocchimo

Yesterday I mentioned that I was watching some new idol videos including one by a group named Pocchimo.  Pocchimo are what is known as a JS idol group, or elementary school age idol group.   JS idols are not new at all, but there has been a new wave of them lately.  Perhaps many of these groups won't achieve the level of success of an AKB48, but the tide is turning in the idol world and they are poised to become the next big thing.

Pocchimo is a group created by Pony Canyon who made their live debut on May 10, 2014.  All three girls are child models and TV actresses.  The group's blog was created on May 1, and a Twitter account was made on May 11.  The video for Pocchimo's debut single, "JS Datte!! Ima Shika Nai!!", was uploaded in a 360p version to YouTube on July 31, with the CD (and CD + DVD set) being released on August 20.  Also on August 20 the group's website appeared.

The Limited Edition of Pocchimo's single comes with a Region 2 DVD.  If you have a DVD player capable of playing this or VLC Media Player on your computer then you are all set!  The DVD menu screen is in both Japanese and English, with options such as "All Play", "Music Video", "Dance Shot Version" and "Making Of Shooting".  As you can guess, the picture quality of the music video is superior to the video that you can see on YouTube.  The dance shot version is fun as the clothes on the girls changes every so often.  The making of the video is pretty standard, but fun to see the girls be themselves behind-the-scenes.      

Pocchimo's musical style is mid-paced traditional pop.  What I personally like about them is that they are not trying to copy a popular idol group, they don't have an anime tie-in (at least not yet), they aren't an autotune electronica group nor are they a fan-service group.  Pocchimo are simply trying to be a cute pop group that wants to entertain people and have fun.  The girls are young and they act like it too.  No one is trying to be mature and dress up in clothing to make them look older.  This is refreshing to me.

Since I already linked the video for "JS Datte!! Ima Shika Nai!!" in my last post, I'll share some other Pocchimo videos.  The first one is a low quality video of their live debut.

 
Pocchimo dancing videos....

"Attack Hip" (Sorry, I can't embed this.)

"Nanana Gymnastics":

The Making of "Nanana Gymnastics":

Members:
Hata Mei, Leader - Born on April 10, 2002
Ishii Momoka (Momo) - Born on December 19, 2002
Shinta Maki - Born on March 7, 2005

Single:
"JS Datte!! Ima Shika Nai!!" (August 20, 2014)

Official Website
Official Blog
Official Twitter
Official Vine   

Cool New Idol Videos!

I've been neglecting my blog for a month now because I'm busy with promoting idols on Facebook and forums and I'm working on an idol project which I'll reveal hopefully before the year is over.  In the meantime I'll share some of the newest idol videos that I have been watching lately.

CoCo DeCoRu, "Kiss Me Kiss Me" 
I'm unable to embed this video (thanks again, Blogger!), but it was just uploaded today.  The venue-only single was released on June 25, and it included a DVD.  Now those who don't have the ability to buy it can see CoCo DeCoRu's debut video!  The video contains some kind of religious symbolism, and I'm not sure what exactly is going on, but it's possible that some people might be offended.  You have been duly warned.

Candy Zoo, "CWB!!"
The first video from this cute young group was uploaded on August 19.  It features the two new members of the group, Miyu and Mikara, along with Himiko's shorter hair style.  It's also a five minute commercial for Candy A-Go-Go!

 
Pocchimo, "JS Datte!! Ima Shika Nai!!"
This is the debut video from a new group from Pony Canyon.  I haven't written about them yet, but I plan to soon.  Pocchimo are a trio of elementary school girls who are trying to be the leader in a new wave of JS (elementary school age) idol groups.  One Japanese article I came across basically said that older idol groups that have been around for a while are getting stale and it's time for younger groups like Pocchimo to offer something fresh!  That's a subject that surely will get a few opinions from idol fans.

Millennium Girls, "Kyoshitsu Sabaibaru" 

I don't normally go for fan-service type of groups but this song from a new group named Millennium Girls (who were created by the Tokyo branch of a famous American dance studio and taught by an American dance instructor) are really good dancers.  This catchy song was uploaded on July 17, so it's two months old, but I've been watching this and some live versions (in which a different girl gets a solo dance during the song's break) several times lately.  This is another song that won't leave my head!    

I'll be back in a few days with some idol group profiles.  Keep your idol spirit high!
 

MINAMI Graduates From ORI ☆ HIMETAI

I noticed that for the past few months that MINAMI, the only trainee in Michinoku Sendai ORI ☆ HIMETAI, has not been in group photos.  I thought it was due to illness but apparently there were other reasons.  According to the ORI ☆ HIMETAI blog, MINAMI has been taking exams to get into the high school that she wants.  Her chosen school has strict rules about the students being in the entertainment industry, so MINAMI had to think about being in ORI ☆ HIMETAI over.  The final reason that MINAMI has chosen to graduate has to do with her father getting a job transfer, which means her family will be moving far away from Sendai.  It's pretty sad that MINAMI never became a full member of ORI ☆ HIMETAI before she had to leave.  MINAMI is also one of my favorite singers in this group, so I hate to see her graduate.  MINAMI will perform with ORI ☆ HIMETAI for the final time on August 31, 2014.  Farewell, sweet princess, and good luck with school!                

A Quartet Of Q♥Ts!

Recently I have become aware of a group of young idols who are also models named Q♥T.  I have done some digging and have found a little bit of info for this group.  I still don't know everything, but I'll share what I have discovered.

Q♥T debuted sometime in March 2014.  At least their first photo is dated March 15, 2014.  They performed, perhaps for the first time, perhaps not, at an idol event on April 26.  The members in the photo below, left to right, are:

Mio - Born on January 1, 2004
Luna - Born on September 16, 2002
Himari - Born on December 15, 2004

Q♥T's Twitter account was created on May 1, 2014.  They have two Ameba blogs, one created on May 3 and the other created on June 4.  One of their blogs has other idols whose photos appear on it.  On July 10, 2014 Yano Myu was announced as a new member of Q♥T on her blog and on Q♥T's Twitter.  Her last photo with the group was uploaded on July 23 (see below).

On July 29 Myu announced that she was joining usa☆usa Girls Club.  The blog article that announced she was joining Q♥T was deleted.  Myu went to TOKYO IDOL FESTIVAL 2014 with usa☆usa Girls Club, although she did not perform with them.  Instead Myu simply watched the other members perform, shook hands with the fans and signed autographs.  On August 10, 2014 Myu performed at the Ikebukuro Junior Idol Festival where Q♥T also performed separately.

Yano Myu - Born on December 25, 2003

Myu still has not performed with usa☆usa Girls Club, and I haven't found a video of her singing, but I hope this will change soon.  Q♥T have released an indie single with a new one due soon.

Single:
"Happy Happy" (May 1, 2014)

QT Official Blog #1
QT Official Blog #2
QT Official Twitter
Yano Myu Official Blog

"Happy Happy" clip.

MC

A fan video.  

 

Caramel ☆ Ribbon's "First Secret" Video

Caramel ☆ Ribbon's first music video for 2014 and their second studio video was uploaded to T-Palette Record's YouTube channel today.  "First Secret" is the fifth single for this indie idol group and it's another winner!  Most of the video has the girls of Caramel ☆ Ribbon, Fukada Seina, Ueno Amane and Yoshinaka Aoi, dancing in front of a beach.  They also have some fun with sparklers and walk on a bridge.  Nothing innovative, but it's still fun to watch.  

The B-Side to "First Secret" is titled "Nana Iro no Niji no Muko ni", and it's an energetic pop rocker. Here is the live version.   

Caramel ☆ Ribbon don't release lots of singles like other idol groups, but the singles they do release are all above average.   

  

 

The Links To Shamrock

I'm going to do something a bit different this time by writing two short profiles, for the idol groups Links and Shamrock.  And yes, there is a link connecting them.

Links is a five member idol group from Fit One, which formed in March 2012.  They have performed at several idol events including TOKYO IDOL FESTIVAL 2012 and 2013, and will be at this year's TIF as well.  Links have released three singles so far and contributed a song to a game soundtrack.  I don't have a lot of information on them, so I'll let their music do the talking. Here's a song named "Homenobi ☆ Ja Panda".

Members:
Saito Mitsue - Born on November 3, 1993, Blood Type O
Ootomo Haru - Born on January 6, 1995, Blood Type B
Ayakawa Hinano - Born on June 20, 1995, Blood Type O
Yanaka Yuisa - Born on January 4, 1998, Blood Type AB
Sato Arisa - Born on August 8, 1998, Blood Type A

Discography:

Singles:
"Shinkai Syndrome" (February 27, 2013)
"Homenobi ☆ Ja Panda" / "Amai Mint" (August 27, 2013)
"Ikaneba no Musume ~Love Soldiers~" (February 18, 2014)

Various Artists Compilation Album:
"Short Peace Tsukigime Ranko no Ichiban Nagai Hi" (March 26, 2014; Track 1, "Denshou Love Letter" + DVD with "Galactic☆ GAL-ACT" Links Version music video)

Official Website
Official Blog
Fit One Profile
Official Twitter
Official YouTube

Yuisa and Arisa are also members of Shamrock, a group that also includes Konno Yuuka of Aither.  Shamrock debuted on April 26, 2014 during an Aither concert.  Shamrock will be contributing songs to an upcoming movie.  No details on the movie have been released yet. There isn't an official Shamrock photo, but I found this on Twitter.

   
The Shamrock live video won't embed, so click here.

I really like the songs from both of these groups, so I hope they will find a lot of fans!

Pink And Proud Of It!

Pink Babies are somewhat new to the Japanese idol scene, but their music is decidedly not so new.  That is because Pink Babies, created by Pan Pacific Project, are a group which exclusively sings covers of Pink Lady songs.  Pink Lady was a pop duo in the late 1970s and early 1980s.

I first became aware of Pink Babies back in December 2013 when I was doing some research for the group Prizmmy☆.  Pink Babies were performing at a kids dance event along with Prizmmy☆ and some other singers and dancers that I was unfamiliar with.  There was a dance rehearsal video of the group on YouTube that I only watched once before it became private.  Unfortunately I didn't think of downloading this before it became inaccessible.  I've been following them on Twitter (and they've been following me) for a few months now.  I suppose after they uploaded their first videos made available for the public that didn't go private right away, a short introduction to the group and the song "UFO", I should have written an article about them.  Maybe I'm a bit behind, but better late than never.

Pink Babies' latest video, "Wanted (Shimei Tehai)", is being released as a single on iTunes and I think there is also a CD.  (It's not listed on CD Japan or YesAsia yet, unless I'm missing something.)  It's a pretty interesting video with some sci-fi and horror elements which show the girls dancing in a haunted house and displaying mental powers!  Prior to this video being uploaded to YouTube, a short and humorous video of some of the members of Pink Babies using telekinetic abilities to move objects, bend spoons and read cards was uploaded.  Clips from this video are also on Twitter.  Any group that has a sense of humor while also taking their jobs as idols seriously has my respect, and I really respect Pink Babies.  These girls are very good singers and dancers and their videos are fun to watch.  I'm hoping that bigger and better things are coming this way for Pink Babies!

Members:
Kuriyama Rina - Born on September 24, 1996, Blood Type AB
Saganuma Mayu - Born on December 15, 1996, Blood Type O
Yoshida Aina - Born on March 17, 1997, Blood Type A  
Furukawa Yukari - Born on May 10, 1997, Blood Type O
Maskai Kotona - Born on September 26, 1998, Blood Type A
Arakawa Saho - Born on October 8, 1998, Blood Type O
Sato Kotono - Born on November 30, 1999, Blood Type ?
Asada Mayu - Born on February 20, 2000, Blood Type AB
Sakurai Yui - Born on February 21, 2000, Blood Type B
Yabuta Nanaho - Born on July 11, 2000, Blood Type B
Suzuki Chinatsu - Born on August 16, 2000, Blood Type O
Suzuki Sara - Born on December 20, 2000, Blood Type ?
Omori Rio - Born on December 22, 2001, Blood Type: AB
Shiseki Rio - Born on January 27, 2002, Blood Type B

Official Website
Official Blog
Official Twitter
Official YouTube