34 posts tagged “up to boy”

Gomen ne~ I'm so late in scanning the latest issue (ノロ≦。)！Kawaguchi Haruna is this issue's covergirl~ and this the first time I think she's making an appearance in UTB?...chotto that could be wrong~, she's currently starring Fuji TV's drama "Tokyo DOGS."

AKB48 continues to have many articles and picture features in UTB which has been a growing trend in these pages and (more ♥ for CK ne~!) they're really taking the idol group genre to chart topping heights in both position as well as sales~! Takusan~! AKB features in this issue!!! with both solo and group pictorials/articles on AKB48's Oshima Yuko & Maeda Atsuko, SKE48's Matsui Rena & Mukaida Manatsu as well as an AKB48 feature and a mini group named ”く～のね4”。。seifuku♥ so *kawaii*~!! ＾　＾

H!P who's been a mainstay in UTB also has *cute* features on Maimai with additional off shots not included in her 1st solo shashinshuu~, an upcoming preview of Riichan's new shashinshuu always so *adorable* ne~! and Maimichan's♥ ongoing photo feature continues towards the back of this issue with what I think is possibly her most *kawaii* photo shoot to date for UTB~! ＼(^o^)／☆

While the format of UTB has seen so many changes over the years one of their staples has always been their high level of photography, engaging articles w/ idol games...news...interests..hobbies♥ as well as the occasional idol♥room invasion~! (・д・`*) With their glossy covers and flat spines back now for some time~ UTB has really returned to their original prestige in idol♥ publications setting the standard so much~.

The extras which in the past has included pull out posters, clear files and a most impressive DVD in each issue...now published every other month~ are randomly inserted photo trading cards and you'll receive with each issue a chance for one out of three possible sets~! This month I received set "A" and for the most part your favorite♥ idols are divided up pretty well within these card sets so for instance if you're a fan of either H!P or AKB48?SKE48 you'll receive at least one member in your set no matter if it's A, B or C~ ＾　＾。

In addition...in the middle variety features section there's more on S/mileage with member profiles so you can learn their personalities much better, a solo shashinshuu article with Riichan♥ where she reflects on her previous pb releases~ and Nakki & Airiin preview C-ute's upcoming "best of" album which has a tentative release date of November 18th~!

Okay~! before I lull you into sleep ( 」´０｀)」Zzzzzzz with any more of my talk~…(^q^) here are those aforementioned article's scans.....I'm beginning with Maimichan's♥ as I think it's the most *wonderful* pictorial in this issue and really she's just so so *adorable* here as she portrays daily activity *moments*~ from waking to playing to sleepy time here's Maimichan in "Days" vol.5 up first.....

Just a few weeks ago the one and only Conan O'Brien made a bold prediction here amidst a darkened room...his handy flashlight and pal Andy....but wait!..he was few months too early on his prediction as he did say..."in the year 2010!" (ノロ≦。)！

But in any case though that flashlight of his coupled with his glowing face in the darkness and operatic reciting does seem to produce some true visions…(^q^) as Maimai will be releasing a solo shashinshuu on October 10th through WaniBooks~!


Up To Boy subscriptions are available here at Cdjapan.

Individual issues of Up To Boy can be ordered here at Amazon Japan.

I really actually thought that either Nakki or Ume would be perhaps next to release their first solo pb~ but being that Ume is soon heading to a career in modeling...it seems that made it Maimai's time~. I'm thinking the photography should be playful and fun reflecting the joys of teen life and as these preview photos show, it looks like the photographer really got it right~. ＾　＾

AKB48 presents a *gorgeous* cover and the all white background along with each member's pretty dress gives this cover an angelic~ glow to it! Also in this issue are SKE48 features & pictorials...solo AKB48 members gravure....and lots and lots of H!P♥! (*´∀｀*)

Out of the three randomly inserted trading card sets which include 5 cards in each, my issue included set B which features Maimai, Manoeri and three AKB48 members...Sato Amina, Kashiwagi Yuki & Ohshima Yuko~. Each of the three sets include an abundance of AKB48 member trading cards along with at least one H!P member so whether you're a fan of just one or both...you won't be disappointed no matter which surprise set greets you upon opening the little card pouch~. ＾　＾

Also notable are the lengths of the feature pictorials as some are covered over 9 to 11 pages! and with photography throughtout along with their text~. It's just another way in which UTB continues to improve and even with its 1200￥ price it's definitely so worth it to either subscribe or even just choose particular issues which interest you...however if you're a fan of H!P or even AKB48/SKE48....every issue at this time does include lots and lots of coverage of your favorite♥ idols with off shots, news articles, trading cards, shashinshuu previews, idol games & challenges along with the occasional idol room invasion..(。ーωー。).

I tried to scan as much as possible (in all 44 scans...) including the features on Tsugunaga Momoko who just recently released her 4th shashinshuu, Hagiwara Mai's feature (which is above), one of the articles on SKE48 where all the girls look so so *amazing* and just so glamorous!!, Manoeri's feature which has really a *scenes~of life type of feel to it wth pretty and warm photography~♥, & Yajima Maimi's ongoing photo features which continues in this issue with volume 4 "Tabikoi." But even with these pages scanned here this really just begins to touch upon what UTB has to offer any idol fan who *adores* cute photography at its best~!

And before getting to the rest of the scans it's most worth mentioning that......

...in just a little over three weeks from now Kohachan♥ will be releasing what will be her 4th solo shashinshuu on September 27th! I adore her soooo much!!! and she's so so so perfectly *cute*! o(*´∀｀)o゛I hope all of that most hyper *energy* can be captured on film without wearing out photographer-san~…(^q^)! Please enjoy the scans....=)

A~h Ayakachan's sooo *adorable*!!......but then I couldn't think of a title for this post but then I saw this giant zipper which she's trying so much to open!…(^q^) Ikezawa Ayaka is a fairly newcomer to the actress world in both movies and television dramas.....oh and CMs too! But I hope she appears in more shows in the future as she has a most *cute* smile and personality. I've included a short photo shoot from UTB just below so you can see just how *adorable* she is in motion as well as her article from the issue. Umm..think of this as a visual post where I shut up and go to *sleep*~~~~~actually I started this much too late to allow for more babble from me. ＾　＾

Um....more from Conan later.....but first...

..I received a most *endearing* e-mail earlier this morning from a most dear friend in the UK....which has got me through today in a most happy and euphoric mood...please forgive my strangeness which may show tonight while I type this~ (。ーωー。) ♪♪~

I'm currently watching an older anime series "Comic Party" that a friend sent me awhile back so I promise to try not babble for too long! (￣Ｏ￣*)!

UTB continues to return to grand form and by that I do mean in my most biased of senses....as H!P is really being featured much more as they used to once absolutely fill this publication with member/group features from cover to cover. =) The highlight first and foremost being the latest issue's *covergirl* Maimichan! ＼(^o^)／☆ Also it's notable to say that if you're a fan of AKB48 you'd surely find this idol magazine a worthy read as they're regularly featured in every issue...a trend which has lasted for at least the last few months till now and it doesn't appear to be fading away anytime soon either~! Hmm....I'm a bit puzzled by the appearance of SKE48....dare desuka? (・c_・;)？A mini unit? Shuffle group? Has Tsunku gotten to them too? (^o^)!!

Even the new spine of UTB says it all......awesome quality & long gravure! Σ(￣◇￣*)！Or should I say longer gravure as the main idol features have certainly grown in length....add in glossy covers, flat style spine, 110 pages+, beautiful photography, informative articles, idol games, idol news and Yes~! lots of H!P! =)

Subscriptions to UTB are available at Cdjapan.

Individual issues of UTB are also available at Amazon Japan.

While the beloved DVD extra is no longer included the return or those cute trading cards has commenced and in each issue you'll receive a total of five cards....randomly inserted from three possible sets (scanned above). UTB does a great job at separating all that a fan may love with the idol's being featured as for example if there are three H!P members, each set will then include one of their cards each so no matter which set you end up receiving you're assured to find a most *adored* member waiting there for you in that little pouch midway through each issue~. My issue included set A w/ Maimichan! ＾　＾

C-ute's Yajima Maimi headlines the issue with the very first idol feature and as has been with the past few issues her photos aren't off shots from her recent shashinshuu but rather 100% original~. As always *seifuku*= ~♥~

Although it's about twice the cost of an issue of Kindai, UTB really proves its worth not only in its beautiful photography...but also in the magazine's aesthetics as well which is printed on thicker stock glossy pages (note: a small portion of news and some features are in black & white in each issue), features a flat spine design and UTB has also long offered special extras with each issue. =)

The current extra being the inclusion and return of the photo trading cards~! UTB & Bomb! magazine really revolutionized the idol trading card/ magazine relationship back in the mid to late nineties and along the way UTB through it's numerous restructurings has offered extras such as clear files, posters and one of their most ingenious to date still remains their special DVDs which really brought to *life* each issue through "up♥dates", gravure photo shoots, idol games, etc...which featured the idols included in each issue~. Also notable are how extended each of the main photo features have become as they're now 8-10 pages in length!

And for any AKB48 fans...they've now appeared regularly for the past few issues....and in this issue alone AKB48 have five features including four of them being solo~.  ＾　＾

Subscriptions to UTB which is published bi-monthly can be purchased here at Cdjapan.

UTB's trading cards are randomly included between 3 possible sets of five cards per issue.......one great thing for all H!P fans is that the trend so far has been separating H!P member cards between the three sets....so matter which set your issue includes you can rest assured to receive at least one of them! =) My issue included "set C" or the "Airiin" set~.

Manoeri, Airiin and Maimichan are featured in photo shoots for this issue....here are the scans...


Manoeri continues to be an UTB favorite~♥....her photogenic personality and natural *adorableness* surely great reasons!





Manoeri's debut shashinshuu & major label music release is also covered...what's so awesome about these events is not only how close up fans get to their favorite idols but there are also usually signing opportunities as well~.

Berryz Koubou's Riichan shares a timeline from her birth up to her recent 15th birthday and it's cutely presented in a board game like format~. =)

May '98 marked the first appearance of Momusu/H!P on the cover of an issue of UTB (every H!P cover appearance is above) and over the next few years H!P would continue to dominate with numerous cover appearances which towards 2005 & 2006 would find their peak as H!P artists would appear exclusively as covergirls over that two year period leaving perhaps much of the rest of the idol world a bit shunned. While all streaks must inevitably meet their end at some point that run of consecutive cover appearances remains as one of the most rare feats for any artist(s) in terms of dominating a single publication where the magazine is no way exclusive to said artist.

After this impressive streak though came a long drought in which H!P while still appearing prominently in UTB (as Wani Books is the parent publisher of most H!P shashinshuu releases) didn't appear on another single cover dating back to the December 2006 issue which featured Aichan as their cover girl......in hindsight I imagine that no regular subscriber could have imagined that that particular issue would be H!P's last cover appearance for more than two years.

The April 2009 issue features one of the most beautiful H!P/UTB covers over their long history as Manoeri ends the over two year drought in dazzling fashion~! And while UTB seemingly continues their current restructuring of their presentation which has seen more facelifts than Joan Rivers (Gomen! XD) this issue in particular is showing definite signs of looking more like UTB's past in general as much of the format is quite reminiscent here. ^ ^

Manoeri doesn't only grace the front cover as she also is given back cover honors, here promoting her upcoming major debut release single.....shashinshuu scans can be found here.......and release information here.

UTB also returns to including trading cards with their issues with the first three sets of five being randomly included.....my issue included set 3 including Maimichan's debut trading card in UTB. As the trading cards are once again being numbered I imagine that this sequential offering will continue in the next issues to come which is a nice return to the extras which UTB was so popular for offering in the past. =)

The trading cards had quite a run as they numbered enough to fill nearly an entire binder on their own! Bomb! magazine would also follow suit shortly after UTB debuted their trading cards as theirs offered randomly inserted cards which like UTB were two sided with photos but also included occasional card sets which would be smaller pieces to a larger picture when all cards were layed side by side in order on their reverse side. UTB Vol. 190 includes an impressive amount of H!P coverage and the gravure idol pictorials have also increased in page count which is also representative of their past...all of which gives this issue a retro feeling and quite a welcome one at that! Now if only we can get that DVD magazine back! ^ ^

The following pictorials that I've scanned include: Manoeri supporting her debut shashinshuu & major music release debut with off shots from her pb as well  as an event memorial shot, Suzuki Airi pictorial, Manoeri major debut special which includes a "growing up" documentary & an "A to Z" personal look at all which is manoeri......watch for her so so so adorable baby pictures too!!! ^o^, a flower dance (Hula) lesson with Tokunaga Chinami where hula's beautiful language is revealed with specific dance points which translate into this dance form's unique way of expression, Hagiwara Mai & Okai Chisato show their photography skills  where only two will be named "best shot!", Takahashi Ai's pictorial poses the question of whether her image here can pass her as being 17 years old?...as she portrays her character in ther drama "Q.E.D." (currently watching! ^ ^ ), and lastly Yajima Maimi returns with her third installment of picturesque beauty! She is so beautiful!! ^ ^

But first, Mr.Children's song "Kurumi" has had me wondering for years now if perhaps a girl could be named "Kurumi" somewhere in Japan as Sakurai is addressing a woman named Kurumi in the song's lyrics.......alas Shimizu Kurumi ends all questions! "くるみ" means "walnut"....so I've just always wondered.........I think it's a cute name~!

Below is the mp3 for "Kurumi".....please enjoy listening along with the scans. ^ ^

Reichan has the right idea here!!...she's making me sleepy~~...

Adorable Tabe Mikako is second to be honored and here click play......


It took but just one drama for me to totally adore her so much as her role in "Yamada Taro Monogatari" was written to funny , witty and cute perfection! The track above is by Arashi and served as the drama's theme song.............it makes me think of awesome air guitar every time since watching this drama~! ^ ^ Definitely one of the most cute and fun drama openings ever!

 



I have yet to be swept away by AKB48 fandom but I thought these were photos were so cute and here they are honored with the "Jet Coaster" award by UTB! ^ ^





The February issue also has a section dedicated to up and coming stars of tomorrow...and here I just had to scan Uehara Miyu's feature as I just ♥ her sweater!!....hmmm...I have no idea what the writing is supposed to mean, but I think that's why I ♥ it so much! :P Japanese clothing with random English words always wins! \(^o^)/♥

Shugo Chara's Saho Akari, Wada Ayaka, Maeda Yuka and Fukuda Kanon get a two page question & answer feature and read on below to find out just why Kanon is so great an monomane (impressions)!! ^ ^


And what's most endearing about this article in particular is that the girls came up with their own questions for each other. :)


BK' resident giant...I mean um tallest member, sorry! :P ....Kumachan shares 7 secrets about herself and while her noted physical aspects are interesting, I find the her stomach's favorites to be most fascinating. The drawing is cute too....let's see we have some cocoa, chocolate, salad, spaghetti and candy amongts others faves. ♥


This month's special collaboration features C-ute's Chisa, Nakki and Kannachan in a Christmas candle making event! Working with such tiny items is so much of a challenge and all 3 candles are finished with flying colors but if I had to choose my favorite it would have to be Nakki's....just based on how busy it is. I'm thinking the more stuff the merrier! ^o^


Interestingly some of the upcoming shashinshuu ads are in black & white while others are featured in color....I'm still a bit puzzled as to how these are chosen and why WaniBooks would choose to not promote all of their own upcoming publications in full color. :/ Still Rikachan looks absolutely beautiful in the shots above promoting her pb release which will arrive on shelves on January 19th!! It's just so overwhelming how quickly H!P members are coming out with these pb releases as has been the trend for some time now. :O I may have to build a "secret" bookshelf behind one of the walls in my room very soon if this pace keeps up for much longer! :P


Aside from Kamei, Manoeri, and Kamei this may be the cutest photo shoot in this entire issue! I'm now learning that AKB48 like H!P, loves its units and these three are so adorable! ^ ^ Here we have first, Kojima Haruna who really reminds me of Ichikawa Yui even more so in some of the following photos, Takahashi Minami, and Minegishi Minami.....hmmm......there seems to be a lot of Minami's in AKB48!....just noticed another member named Minami on the previous page! ^ ^

Haruna looks to be one of AKB48's most glamorous members while Minegishichan looks about as cuddly as can be....lol I'm probably way off though as an AKB48 fan out there will soon point out! :P Wouldn't it be strange if I started listening to their music because I found this particular photo shoot to be off the scale cute? Hmm....sort of fits my profile though, not sure if that's a good thing though. :P


I admit I was getting a bit worried as the number of remaining pages were dwindling down and Kamei was yet to appear..........I kept thinking....her shashinshuu was just released recently, so surely she must be featured in this issue somewhere! Whew~! it looks like UTB packed in quite a H!P punch at the very end of this issue with features on Kamei, Manoeri and the continuing photographic feature on one of H!P's most cute!....Maimichan. Kamei's features off shots from her "20 Hatachi" pb while Manoeri's two page feature proves yet again just why she's quickly becoming UFA's it girl! It's also nice to see a full color ad for Manoeri's upcoming shashinshuu release. :) Maimichan's feature is the most extensive here and it features an awe inspiring backdrop of Autumn's many soft colors and tones making for a most elegant collection of photos....so fitting for her beautiful and delicate looks...or more directly, beautiful perfection. ^ ^ I'll stop babbling now....here are the rest of the scans. =)











UTB has long been giving away signed cards and polaroids over the years.....and all I can say is want want want want! Especially Maimichan, Manoeri, and Kohachan's signed polaroids.........but AKB48's Tomomichan has made herself into the cutest reindeer of them all..I think I want hers! All one would have to do is mail in the provided postcard which is attached near the back of every issue for a chance to receive one...although it's highly unlikely that UTB would mail me one outside of Japan even if my postcard were to be chosen. >_< Well one can dream right! ^ ^

Hello!, this is just a little post as I'm currently up on about 12 hours of sleep total over the past 4 days (;´□｀) ....mostly self inflicted though however I am having a slight feeling of insomnia at night. So although needless to say, this may be a bit shorter than how I usually ramble on and that may be a good thing!...as you may not fall asleep during this entire post. :P

Like countless others have done so before and after, Nakama Yukie's rise to becoming one of Japan's most celebrated actresses passed through the gates of idol career, gravure model as well as a venture into a music career...the last being my focus for today. :) Nakama Yukie's music career debuted in 1996 as she released 9 singles and 1 album over a brief period although after a quite long hiatus from the music world she did return with an album release just 2 years ago in early 2006. Unfortunately all of her music releases are now out of print so today I just wanted to share a few songs from her debut album titled "Tooi hi no melody." The album contains a total of 11 tracks with a couple of alternate versions which differ from their original single releases. If anyone out there watches SmapxSmap regularly you may have caught the January 2007 episode which Yukiesan appeared as their Bistro guest which was really cute but the main reason for mentioning this reference is that Shingo who always has something incredibly amusing for each guest during the other team's mealtime that often includes an impersonation like only Shingo can produce, does his best Yukiecham impression with long haired wig and all!....yes it's a bit terrifying but in an endearing sense.....lol have you ever been endeared by something terrifying?!! :P And it turns out to be her debut single "Moonlight to daybreak" fron 1996..... :o Here's my very modest Nakama Yukie music collection which includes her debut album and 4th single "Makenai ai ga kitto aru." I came across a music magazine add for this single sometime in the summer of '97 and although I had absolutely no idea of whom she was at the time I went ahead and ordered it because I thought the cover photo was cute........yes sometimes I have really really deep thoughts while making decisions. :P So while marketing genius attracted my attention back then......it's just amazing to see how Yukiesan's career has progressed so much through the years as she's now a top notch celebrity, talent and actress in Japan. Her resume of dramas, movies and anime involvement reads most impressively and hopefully I can cover some of those in more detail on another day. ^ ^

Although Yukiechan debuted just a bit before Momusu did I do find that through the years some of her songs may have garnered a rather dated feeling about them...so with that in mind here's 8 tracks which I've chosen off of her debut album. ^ ^

Starting with my favorite Yukiechan song "True Love Story." =) While her vocals may not grab you in any spectacular sense she does have a really cute voice.....and for me, just seeing where she is today in her career and taking these out to listen to gives them that much more of a sentimental aura. For me it was sort of like going backwards as I purchased these CDs back when she wasn't really known yet (1998's drama "Kamisama mou sukoshi dake" would be the first drama that I'd see her in :) ) and then later when I'd grown to love her so much as an actress I then one day went back seeing these on the shelf and thought...how great it was that she touched into the music world way back then albeit for a brief period of time. So for me sharing these songs isn't so much in that I'm saying you're going to love these but rather.....isn't it sweet that she once was a singer back then! ^o^♪♪

And on a side note I really wish that the Kouhaku would have Yukiesan lead the "Red" team again......hmmmm actually I haven't checked to see who the hosts will be this year, maybe one of them is Yukiesan? ^ ^



"Tooi hi no melody" (album version)

"Dame na koi"

"ONE MORE CHANCE" appears both on her album as well as the coupling with song to her single "Makenai ai ga kitto aru."
 

"Viora no yume"

"Makenai ai ga kitto aru"


And I just know that I remembered seeing Yukiesan in an idol publication before so after searching the shelves I found what I think are her very first two appearances in UTB dating back to February & September 1998. ^ ^ I've scanned her photo layouts and articles below.....and while the scans above from her music releases are more on the adorable side, the UTB ones below are quite sexy! ^ ^

Coincidentally Okina Megumi was the cover girl for both issues that Yukiesan appeared in back then.....and in a double coincidence Okina Megumi also ventured into the music world briefly...I should post some of her songs♪♪ later! ^ ^

The most beautiful Ryukyuan along with Kuninaka Ryokochan ^ ^.

These are from September 1998 issue...

^ ^

Got a call yesterday that the latest issue had just arrived! So I stopped in town after work to pick it up and while my initial thought was...hmm still no H!P member(s) on the cover I was delighted to find pictorials of both Manoeri who seems to be a favorited idol of UTB right now as well as the ever growing beauty, Yajima Maimi. UTB continues with it's restructuring format which seems to differ with each coming issue and I have to say that this latest issue is a teeny tiny bit closer to what this publication used to be like...which is a good thing! ^-^ The idols are being featured in a much more involved layout with articles and the mid section has returned to featuring extras on the issues' idols as well as an array of various articles on other going ons in the idol world. I'd still love to see a return of a much more extensive music review and feature section but baby steps...baby steps. :) Still some of my favorite features are the personal peeks into idol life in a very wide spectrum of ways.......and my favorite article this time around is...... ...........on Watanabe Banbi. Idols are often asked what do they consider to be their best "charm point" and often the answers range from eyes, lips, smiles, hands.....etc. But not Banbichan, who says...チャームポイントは当然 "お尻"...(Charm point wa touzen "oshiri") that her "charm point" is "naturally" her butt! Well at least she's honest! ^o^ Also noted in brackets below is that this marks her butt's debut! Forget the pictorials, now this is great reading! :P
Manoeri looks simply radiant and the "Kira Kira Manoeri" title states it very appropriately! If she ever chose to take another career path in life surely one in modeling wouldn't be very difficult to get swept into and judging by photo after photo that she's been seen in of late she's just a natural beauty in front of the camera....pretty, comfortable....confident. The brief article covers her 2nd indies single "Lucky Aura" and gives her thoughts on her recent fan club event, "Manopiano", and her live piano performance. Directly following Manoeri's feature is C-ute's leader Yajima Maimi and hers looks to be an ongoing series of photos...so I'll just call this "the beauty experiment Vol.1" ^-^ Maimichan's beauty in H!P may be second only to one Kamei Eri....erm....just my bias creeping in there! :P All indications coming from UTB here is that an upcoming shashinshuu may not be too far away! In any case my belief that ...there really should be a photo of Maimichan next to the definition of "cute" still stands. Suzuki Airi and Umeda Erika also get a little collaboration feature where they start off with cute caricatures of one another and then eventually move on to something a bit more...um "realistic" as they sketch each other in a set pose. Hmmm....something tells me that Erikachan graduated from the Kamei school of art. ....Well you decide. ^-^ On the other hand Airiin's free hand sketch of Erikachan is really great and cute. :) Being that Wani Books (UTB's publisher) is a regular in releasing H!P photo books there are also one page adds (albeit in black and white :o ) for both Reinachan's just released (October 24th) and Momo's upcoming shashinshuu releases. Although my copy of "「Very Reina」" won't arrive till about the 5th or so of November when Berryz Koubou's and Arashi's new singles are released, just judging by this ad it looks that Momusu's most well fashioned and accesorized member will be in full glamour once again! Momo's upcoming shashinshuu which is scheduled for a November 21st release shows Momo here in pure cuteness! And I must say that her hair is at the perfect length!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!...making her upcoming yet to be titled shashinshuu potentially the most adorable Berryz Koubou pb release to date! There are only three images here but I'm ready to vote yes! ^-^