Tomomi Itano – 10nen go no Kimi e PV

The PV for Tomochin’s main track from her upcoming 3rd single has been uploaded today on Youtube. I really like this track a lot and the great looking PV which sees her in a variety of locations such as walking around a rain sodden Shibuya or in an art gallery. What do you guys think of it?

Mayuyu To Miss A Portion Of AKB48’s Nationwide Tour

Mayu Watanabe has been hit by a bout of acute gastroenteritis and an inflammation around the pharynx therefore she’s been ordered by doctors not to take part in AKB48’s nationwide tour which kicked off recently. Team B is due to have concerts in Hiroshima today and at Kobe tomorrow but Mayuyu will be absent from both. It’s hoped she’ll take part in Team B’s future concerts on the tour.

Mayuyu isn’t the only member suffering lately. Tomochin was absent from last weekend’s handshake events at Tokyo Big Sight due to swollen tonsils and a possible mouth ulcer. She’s also had a fever which resulted in her having to have an injection but that didn’t help things at all. However after 3 days of rest at home the fever came down but she’s still not feeling too good. She apologised to fans on her official blog. Sayaka also fell ill during the handshake events and missed some sessions.

I hope all 3 get well pretty soon.

Tomomi Itano – Clone Full PV

King Records has been releasing snippets of information about Tomochin’s new single for the past couple of days and now they give us the full PV for Clone which will be a b-side track. From looking at the PV for Clone, it seems that Tomochin is trying very hard to be like Namie Amuro. The song itself is just OK, I don’t find it particularly appealing but we’ll see if it grows on me.

Check out the PV below.

Tomomi Itano 3rd Single CD Covers & Tracklisting

No sooner had I speculated yesterday what the leading track was going to be for Tomochin’s newest single than the CD covers and tracklisting comes out today. The title and main track for her single is called ‘To You 10 Years Later’. There will be 3 versions of the CD coming out: 2 Limited Edition plus 1 Regular.

Type A (Limited Edition CD & DVD)

CD

1. To You 10 Years Later
2. Clone
3. deal feat NO-FACE
4. To You 10 Years Later (Instrumental Version)
5. Clone (Instrumental Version)
6. deal feat NO-FACE (Instrumental Version)

DVD

1. To You 10 Years Later PV
2. To You 10 Years Later (Making Of)

Type B (Limited Edition CD & DVD)

CD

1. To You 10 Years Later
2. Clone
3. Always I Need You
4. To You 10 Years Later (Instrumental Version)
5. Clone (Instrumental Version)
6. Always I Need You (Instrumental Version)

DVD

1. Clone PV
2. Clone (Making Of)

Type C (CD Only)

CD

1. To You 10 Years Later
2. Clone
3. lose-lose
4. To You 10 Years Later (Instrumental Version)
5. Clone (Instrumental Version)
6. lose-lose (Instrumental Version)

Tomomi Itano 3rd Single ‘Clone’ Radio Rip

Nobody seems to be too sure if the song you’re about to hear is going to be the main track or not for Tomochin’s 3rd solo single which is due to be released on April 25th. The full version of ‘Clone’ was unveiled by Tomochin on her radio show. The song is also used by EMOBILE in their CM.  The reason so many people doubt that ‘Clone’ will be the main track is because it feels somehow like a b-side and I tend to agree with that notion.

Another track called Always I Need You will probably be a b-side on this new single as well. This tune is used by 7 & i Holdings in their CM to promote their Body Cooler range of clothes for women.

Tomochin Scandal?

After a quite couple of days with Acchan’s graduation announcement, the latest AKB48 scandal rumour has surfaced. The infamous gossip magazine Shukan Bunshun has published an article stating that Tomomi Itano is apparently in a relationship with EXILE’s Takahiro. It doesn’t help that both of them live in the same apartment complex fuelling more fire onto the rumour. The scumbag magazine has also got statements from people who say they are serious about each other but as we know people will say anything for money so it could all be complete rubbish.

There are also witnesses who say they’ve been on a couple of dates to nearby restaurants and have been spotted wearing couple rings. They also seen to be coming home at the same time as well. I really don’t think Tomochin is stupid enough to be spotted out on a real date with a man. I suspect that both of them are friends more than anything and people have just put two and two together that they’re dating. Pure speculation is all it is. There is also a lack of photo evidence to suggest that anything but a platonic relationship is taking place. Give me the evidence that it’s completely different and I might change my mind but until that time I won’t believe this rumour at all.

There’s been a mixed response from the fans. Some think it’s BS, others think there might be a forced graduation on the cards if it proves to be true. The last thing AKB48 want is a double whammy of 2 of the biggest faces in the group graduating.

There was another unsubstantiated rumour 2 weeks ago that serial lothario Shun Oguri had tried his luck at asking Yuko for a date just before his wedding to Yu Yamada but again there was no proof and the rumour quickly died a death.

J-Pop Top 100 Songs Of 2011

It’s that time of year again when I compile a list of the best 100 J-Pop songs I’ve listened to during the year. IMO 2011 was slightly better than 2010 in terms of great music coming out in Japan. It was tough as it always is in doing this countdown but overall I’m satisfied with what I picked.

Anyway, give me a shout about what you think of the chart.

100 EXILE – Each Other’s Way
99 AAA – Daiji na Koto
98 9Nine – Shining Star
97 Negoto – Charon
96 Aqua Timez – Mayonaka no Orchestra
95 Mai Kuraki – Your Best Friend
94 Idoling!!! – Yarakai Heart
93 Ayahi Takagaki – Takaramono
92 SDN48 – Ai, Juseyo
91 Nana Mizuki – Scarlet Knight
90 Maximum The Hormone – Greatest The Hits 2011~2011
89 Mika Nakashima – Dear
88 Yui Horie – Presenter
87 You Kikkawa – Kikkake wa You!
86 Kana Nishino – Distance
85 Buono! – Zassou no Uta
84 SDN48 – MIN MIN MIN
83 Kie Kitano – Kizuna
82 Happiness – Wish
81 Nana Mizuki – Junketsu Paradox
80 FLOWER – Still
79 YUI – Green a.live
78 SCANDAL – Haruka
77 Angela Aki – Hajimari no Ballad
76 JASMINE – ONLY YOU
75 YGA – Jounetsu Heroine
74 KAT-TUN – Ultimate Wheels
73 JUJU – Kono yoru wo Tomete yo
72 Sphere – Hazy
71 Morning Musume – Only You
70 KARA – Jet Coaster Love
69 miwa – 441
68 Tokyo Girls Style – Limited Addiction
67 Eri Kitamura – Be Starters!
66 ClariS – nexus
65 KARA – Winter Magic
64 PASSPO – Vivi Natsu
63 SCANDAL – Pride
62 Afterschool – Diva
61 Koda Kumi – Pop Diva
60 YUI – Hello~Paradise Kiss
59 Super Girls – MAX! Otomegokoro
58 May’n – Scarlet Ballet
57 Perfume – Spice
56 Superfly – Ai wo Kurae
55 Tohoshinki – Why? (Keep Your Head Down)
54 4Minute – Heart To Heart
53 Aoi Teshima – Sayonara no Natsu
52 SCANDAL – Love Survive
51 L’arc En Ciel – Good Luck My Way
50 Infinite – BTD
49 NMB48 – Zetsumetsu Kurokami Shoujo
48 Perfume – Laser Beam
47 Supercell – My Dearest
46 EXILE – Rising Sun
45 Kis-My-Ft2 – Everybody Go
44 4Minute – WHY
43 Girl Next Door – Silent Scream
42 no3b – Answer
41 French Kiss – If
40 DiVA – Cry
39 Idoling!!! – Don’t think. Feel!!!
38 Kaoru to Tomoki, Toma ni Mook – Maru Maru Mori Mori
37 Not yet – Shuumatsu Not yet
36 Bump Of Chicken – Tomodachi no Uta
35 Namie Amuro – Love Story
34 Meisa Kuroki – Wired Life
33 French Kiss – Kakkowarui I Love You!
32 Watarirouka Hashiritai 7 – Hettapi Wink
31 FictionJunction – Stone Cold
30 Atsuko Maeda – Flower
29 2NE1 – Go Away
28 French Kiss – Saisho no Mail
27 Arashi – Lotus
26 no3b – Kuchibiru Furezu
25 Namie Amuro – Fight Together
24 JASMINE – ONE
23 Watarirouka Hashiritai 7 – Valentine Kiss
22 SKE48 – Pareo wa Emerald
21 DiVA – Tsugi no Uragawa
20 B’z – Don’t Wanna Lie
19 Tomomi Itano – Fui ni
18 AKB48 – Ue kara Mariko
17 AKB48 – Sakura no Ki ni Narou
16 Not yet – Pera Pera Perao
15 Atsuko Maeda – La Brae Ave
14 NMB48 – OH MY GOD!
13 SKE48 – Banzai Venus
12 Not yet – Naminori Kakigoori
11 AKB48 – Everyday Kachuusha
10 AKB48 – Kaze wa Fuiteiru
09 AKB48 – Flying Get
08 SKE48 – Okey Dokey
07 Watarirouka Hashiritai 7 – Kibou Sanmyaku
06 Koda Kumi – Ko-so ko-so
05 Shoudo Jidai – Mr Taxi
04 Namie Amuro ft Afterschool – Make It Happen
03 Tomomi Itano – Dear J
02 AKB48 – Seishun to Kizukunai Mama
01 AKB48 – Gondola Lift

Tomochin Taking A Month Off From Singing

All is not well with Tomochin. She will not be participating in any singing activities which includes theater performances and music shows due to her vocal cords being slightly inflamed and she has vocal nodules it was announced at the “Flying Get” handshake event at Nagoya. Doctors have said she will will need 3 to 4 weeks of rest for the condition to improve but no surgery will be required. At the end of July, Tomochin was diagnosed with vocal cord nodules and was told to rest her voice at the time but obviously the condition has gotten worse.  This will not stop her from taking part in variety shows or other AKB48 activities such as photo shoots. Tomochin hopes the fans will respect the decision and that her health is a priority.

Get well soon Tomochin.

EDIT: It seems Tomochin’s official agency and record company is denying the fact that she’ll have to stop singing for a month. They hope she’ll recover well enough without having to stop singing.

Tomochin Performs With A Puppet In CM

For a new CM for the department store Ito Yokado to promote their new Body Heater range, Tomochin gets to perform with a small puppet of herself complete with duck lips. She also voiced the puppet with a Kansai dialect.

As you’ll see from the behind the scenes video below, Tomochin quickly fell in love with the puppet. She played and talked with the puppet during the whole shoot even during breaks. I wonder if she asked if she could take it home with her? The CM starts airing in Japan from tomorrow.

Here’s the link to the Youtube video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UX714VTyMjY

Tomochin and WH7 Hold Special Events

Yesterday saw Tomochin and Watarirouka Hashiritai 7 hold seperate special events to celebrate their latest singles.

At the Hibiya Open-Air Concert Hall, 6000 WH7 fans who had bought their single and were selected randomly via lottery came to a special live performance and handshake event. The group’s performance lasted for 45 minutes and afterwards they held a press conference in their summer yukatas.

The group confessed this was the 1st time this year they’ve had the chance to wear yukatas as they’ve been so busy. The press remarked that the last time they performed at this location was back in August 2008 with AKB48 and they asked the girls their thoughts on coming back here. Nacchan’s response that it was raining at that time and today it was sunny had me smiling. If the Ame Queen (Yukirin) was in that performance 3 years ago then it certainly would have been raining!! The girls had some fun with the press – teasing each other about their lack of cooking skills.

Over at Yomiuri Land Open Theater EAST, Tomochin was holding her own live event for 5000 fans and she was also wearing an elegant yukata for the occasion. Tomochin sang 4 songs including ‘Fui ni’. The stage was appropriately decked out for a Summer festival with paper lanterns and red & white noren (this is a partition cloth for an entrance of a room or building of Japan).