A man from deepest darkest Wales who’s been totally obsessed about Japan for many years now but which has only got worse since first going there on holiday in August 2006 (returned 7 times since then – March 2007 , December 2007, December 2008, July 2009, March 2010, December 2010 and December 2011). I’ll be returning again in November 2012 for my 9th visit. I love everything about the country – history, people, anime, manga, music, TV and movies. Tokyo is without a shadow of a doubt my all time favorite city in the world! Nakano and Akiba is heaven on Earth for me – spent countless hours there trawling through the shops!! It was way back in 1999 that I first became a fan of Japanese pop/rock music through the mighty X-Japan and L’arc En Ciel. Still love listening to both of them to this day. I then progressed onto the idol scene in 2005.
A big fan of AKB48 and SKE48 especially the members Rino Sashihara, Minami Takahashi, Yuki Kashiwagi, Yuko Oshima, Rena Matsui, Haruka Nakagawa, Mina Oba and Kumi Yagami.
I’m also love listening to these artists:
Namie Amuro
Koda Kumi
Ayumi Hamasaki
Perfume
Scandal
Hikaru Utada
Wink
Lindberg
YUI
Kotoko
Aya Hirano
Mr Children
Southern All Stars
M.O.V.E
Dream
Dreams Come True
Chage & Aska
Mai Kuraki
The Brilliant Green
ZONE
PS – And if you’re wondering where the title of the blog comes from it’s a phrase from Kamen Rider Kiva when one of the characters transform!
I also have an Asian movie blog called Sadako’s Movie Shack if you have an interest in Japanese, Thai, Korean and Hong Kong movies.
IXA Ready - Fist On! 
Hi would you like to exchange links? I just started my own review blog.
http://ashentwilight.wordpress.com
Thanks!
hi…
i already change blog link:
http://killerxv2.blogspot.com
Anyway… Shank Q!!! for exchange links with me.. xD
Nice to meet you. I’ve been into the J-Idol scene since 2006. I post a few J-related (and K-related) posts on my own wordpress, and I’ll link you up. I think what sealed my loyalty to yours is the follow-up post on Goto Maki’s mother with the funeral (I don’t think I heard a single bit of info on it except for the death itself, glad to hear more news on it) and your Majisuka Gakuen summaries and AKBingo bits. I’m mostly a Hello-Project and AKB48 nerd, lately delving into SNSD and Kara from Korea (very idol-y). I my never understand the affection for Sae from AKB, she’s my “rank #48” if you know what I mean, Yuko, Mariko and Mayu being 1-2-3 ;D
Thanks for your comments! I used to be a big H!P fan myself until late 2006 when I switched to AKB48. I also listen sometimes to some K-Pop (2NE1 and Kara).
Good choices for your ranking of 1-2-3 AKB48 members!
Hey there. I love reading your AKBingo and Shukan AKB summaries. Would you like to exchange blog links? I’ve already added you onto mine. Also, is IXA your favourite Kamen Rider?
Thanks for your comment! I like your blog. I’ve added your site on mine. And to answer your question – yes, IXA followed by Kabuto is my favourite Kamen Rider.
Practically everyone likes Kabuto (including me). I guess the hyper clock up made him so overpowered. For me, in terms of design, I really like Sasword and Kiva but overall, Diend and Decade are my favourite riders.
Hey there! I was looking for the Line-up of those who are in Team Dragon since I only know the names of three members. I know them by face but name, not really. xD Anyway, love your blog.
Mind if we exchange links as well?
http://captainsaki.wordpress.com
thanks. 😀
Delighted to exchange links with you – it’s now up on my blog.
This post will give you the information on Team Dragon: https://welshjapanotaku.wordpress.com/2010/05/01/akb48-sub-unit-team-dragon-line-up-announced/
Yeah. Thank you very much! I’ll put the link up on mine in a few minutes.
I’ve already checked it out. Thanks for the info. 😀
Yo! I made a new blog. I still use the other blog but my new one is more focused on stuff I want to write about. Can u exchange links?
Sure, I’d love to exchange links. I’ve added your new blog on mine now.
こにちわ! Thanks for posting about AKB48! I just started listening to them last July. Now i’m a fan. I found out about your blog and now, it like a daily news paper that i check for AKB news. Hehehe
I read your from Wales. I was wondering how do you watch AKBINGO! and post about it the following day (in some cases). Do yiu watch it live?
Thanks and God bless! (^-^)/
Thank you for your kind words about my blog.
To answer your question, most of the time you’ll find AKB48’s weekly TV shows posted up on Youtube a couple of hours after it’s been transmitted in Japan. The only downside to that is they’re deleted in 24 hours so you have to be quick in watching them. There’s a couple of other places where you can download the shows as well. I usually can’t watch AKBingo live as I’m working but I’m sure I’d make an effort to see it through Keyhole TV if I had the chance.
Do they have new research students? I’ve been to their official website (looking for Yagami) and notice something different. Also, Erena Ono’s portrait on their members page is back there again. Did she come back to the group?
lol just found out Yagami is from SKE48
That’s strange as Erena definitely isn’t back in AKB48. I’ve just had a look at the website myself and can’t see her portrait there
Hi again! I was wondering if you’ve ever been to the AKB theater and if you know if they sell merchandise there,particularly AKB DVDs of concerts and others like they have on their website. Thank you very much!
Yes, I’ve been to the AKB48 Theater. If you want to buy some merchandise head down from the 8th floor where the theater is based to the 5th floor of the Don Quijote building where the Official AKB48 Shop is based. You’ll find all the AKB concert DVD’s etc you need.
Wow! Many thanks! I’ve always wanted to buy their Yokohama Arena concert. I’ll do my best to visit them one day and also get that dvd. 🙂
Would you like to exchange links? I’ve listed your site at my AKB48 profile page:
http://yeinjee.com/star/akb48-group-profile/
If interested, kindly link back to my AKB48 news page:
YeinJee – AKB48
http://yeinjee.com/tag/akb48-japanese-group/
Thanks.
Thanks Yeinjee. I’ve put a link to your AKB48 page on my blog.
Hello again! I was wondering, do you think the group will release a DVD collection of their music PV’s again like the Nagashita Sakanatachi DVD? You know, for their River, Oogoe Diamond, Namida Surprise ect. PVs.
Thanks in advance for your insight!
Good news for you. A new PV DVD collection called AKB48 ga Ippai is coming out on the 24th June and will contain all the music PV’s for the songs you listed above plus many more. You can pre-order it from CD Japan for 5524 yen or for 6476 yen if you prefer Blu-Ray. I’ve already bought a copy. First Press copies are still available. I’ll also make a post about this as well.
WOOO! I was waiting for this one to come out! to be honest I read the email from CD Japan about it then immediately went here to see if you have a post about it already. Man, this is exciting. I’ve been waiting for the PV’s from their Kamikotachi album since that is my very first AKB cd (since I’ve only became a fan recently). And it has the original PV for Beginner as well as some neat extras! Is it too early to say that it is Christmas already (for fans like us). hahahaha
Kampai!
There’s no doubt that a DVD release of their latest music PV’s will come out sometime in the future – perhaps later on this year? I’ll post something up on my blog when I get some solid information for you.
Hey,which shipping method do you use when ordering from CDJapan? I was wondering how fast does it ship to Europe and is it cheaper. I use fedex and it is quite fast and the cheapest (at the time) to ship here in the US.
I usually take the Registered Air Mail option. It’s not too bad on price and the goods take around a week to arrive in the UK. EMS is too expensive, though I’ve used it a couple of times when my idol shopping goes overboard in Tokyo and I can’t fit everything in my suitcase!!
Ah, I see. I think I’ll take that option as well. That is,if its cheaper than Fedex and if I’m in no rush to get my order.
Hahaha It will probably be the same for me if I have a lot of cash and visited Tokyo too. I thank you for the warning. 🙂 Maybe a cardboard box fitted in a canvas bag would solve that problem. Its lighter and can hold much more than suitecases. I’ve seen it on my travels before. 🙂
Thanks for all your posts about AKB48. Wish the best to you, and Yuko-chan 😀
Thank you so much for your kind words AKBfan.
Would you like to exchange links? 🙂
http://sammy48.wordpress.com/
I will add you to my blog roll nonetheless.
Hi Sammy. I’ve added you onto my blogroll. Nice blog you’ve got.
http://www.crunchyroll.com/anime-news/2011/09/03/akb48s-rie-kitahara-to-star-in-grappler-baki-inspired-comedy
just a little news I read about one of your top 10 members. 🙂
Thanks for the tip. I’ll probably make a post about it tonight.
a link for your SKE oshimen. 🙂
I wish they included this in their release for flying get. 😦
OMG Rena is so adorable in the video. Thanks for this.
check this out!
http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/japan-offers-10000-free-trips-to-foreigners-to-boost-tourism-after-earthquake/story-e6freuy9-1226163181557?sv=823ccd18f75dd21ff748ae870ee4f4b
I wish I can go too!
That is a fantastic offer for people.
Scoop! ^_^
http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DUOm1bQLiUgs&h=rAQE7VRObAQHFPpIYutBfy7aYJPHz2w1CMdvJDO5oAmUZeg
Funnily enough I was going to post about the Ultraman movie tomorrow. Thanks for the link.
You are welcome! Looking forward to reading your blog about it. ^^
^_^
Cool link but they should have picked the Dance Queen herself – Umechan to participate in this!! She would have put the W Matsui to shame!!
I haven’t seen much of Umechan dancing. ^_^
Well,this I believe was a promo about the same year when 1 2 3 4 Yoroshiku was out and Umechan is not picking up steam yet like when she was picked for DiVA.
I do hope she raises in rank this year. I started to warm up to her too. ^_^