I like mentioned back in April [1], Yu-chan is featured on Hoshikuzu Scat’s (星屑スキャット) most recent music video directed by Birds Without Names director Shiraishi Kazuya~ The song, titled Shinjuku Chanson (新宿シャンソン), is featured on Kesho-shitsu (化粧室), the first album of the drag queen group, and was written by multi-talented illustrator-actor-writer Lily Franky.
‘Tis a thing of beauty~
I was just staring into space in the middle of the night, unable to sleep, and it hit me that it’s been ten years— It’s my 10th anniversary for a lot of things: it’s my tenth anniversary of Juri Ueno~~~ and Last Friends turned 10 this year! It’s also ten years since the Beijing Olympics, ten years since Beijing, Beijing! Wo Ai Beijing; it’s been ten years since BiBi, ten years of YAM Magazine, and ten-mother-freaking-years since I became a fan of Yu Aoi [1][2][3][4][5]. It didn’t come in this order, but you get the idea.
May 16th is the date. Remember that. This should’ve been posted that day, but I’m way to giddy to wait. It’s taken me a long time to sit down and look back at years of archives to update this entry, but I suppose it still beats trying to figure out how to write a comprehensive Wikipedia entry.
Yu-chan and I, we’ve had our ups and downs, but I’ve always tried to stay as loyal as possible. LOL I may not stalk her tags online 24/7 (all my Japanese sources in English are rubbish now) and my Japanese skills are in the gutter, but I’ve managed to remain the biggest English/Spanish-speaking Yu Aoi fan in this side of the hemisphere (if not the world, xD). It’s been a good ride, Yu-chan. I’m looking forward to all the catching-up of all your latest movies. Here’s to another decade with Yu!
Cheap Yu-puns intended~
I was gushing about it over the weekend, but I thought I should also post about it here.
I think it’s oddly befitting that Yu-chan wins her first ever (unbelievable, right?) Japanese Academy Best Actress trophy the year that I’m celebrating my 10th year as her fan. It’s so moving. I’ve had a moving couple of days [low-ley Mamamoo insert, lol]. It was so satisfying seeing Yu-chan being so overwhelmed and so overcome with emotion that it just made me happy for her.
I haven’t seen KanoTori yet, ‘coz duh~ Japan obviousness xDDDDDDDDD but I’ve heard great things about it and, frankly, Yu-chan rarely disappoints me (I’m looking at you Henshin xDDDDDD). I had totally forgotten that Hula Girls was a supporting role for Yu, and that One Million Yen Girl was her last lead for a very long time… until Azumi Haruko and KanoTori.
Please, Yu-chan, don’t make us wait another 8 years or near-decade for your leading roles. You know it’s been ten years since Osen and since Camouflage?
Here’s to many many many more years of successes, Yu!
Your one and only Spanish-speaking Non-Japanese-speaking fan. xD
You know I’m a big fan of NHK’s Okaasan to Issho, right? Like, I’ve been watching it for years, I don’t have children, and my Japanese isn’t improving anymore… but I still watch it. LOL I’m still super shocked that Yoshihisa Kobayashi (小林よしひさ) – the guy that does the gymnastics – is still around since my original post a decade ago. He’s survived like two or three puppet changes, and this is like his third round of hosts— Takumi Mitani left a few years ago, and Daisuke Yokoyama officially left last year, giving way to Atsuko Ono subbing for Takumi, and Yuichiro Hanada taking over Daisuke.
I still miss Itou Mayu, tho xD
Anyway, I digress~ during the many changes in themes and puppets, they started showing the Galapico Poo (ガラピコぷ〜 , GARAPIKOPu) segment that begins with an animated intro that I’ve always been a fan of. It’s been years on air, and there’s no official clips (only poor TV-to-CAM captures, because LOL NHK), but I finally found Kuno Yoko (久野遥子) [Tumblr][Twitter] was in charge of the animation. FINALLY.
I. Got. So. Excited…
When I saw that there was a bluray release of The Murder Case of Hana & Alice with Spanish subtitles by Media3 Estudio, and it comes with a freaking disc for Hana & Alice too. I suffered so much when I realized, just a minute later, that the bluray release is Region B for Europe xD
And it looks so pretty too TnT
I had been looking around for an actual region-free bluray player, because I have a bunch of R1-DVD and R4-DVD discs that I’m too lazy to re-watch on my region-free DVD player, which used to be the norm players sold down here. I really don’t look forward to having to import electronics, because I can only imagine the headache it’ll be considering the headaches I get whenever I order my preferred shampoo. LOL
I just didn’t want to spam you, even though I have been spamming y’all with Mamamoo continuous posts x’D
First, Tokyo Ghouls came out, I don’t think it made such a big splash as Rurouni Kenshin did [at the Box Office] and Yu-chan’s role is tiny [the Variety review spoils the role and movie, but does mention Yu hasn’t aged since 2006 xD].
The trailer for Birds Without Names [aka. and shortened to “kanotori”], it comes out on Oct.28., which is a week after the release of Mix., which also released its trailer and Yu-chan is hilarious.
Over the Fence and Japanese Girls Never Die came out on DVD/BR sometime in Mar and June. Subtitles may be scarce xD I’m not aware of HK editions with subtitles. I may be trying to catch Over the Fence without subs for all time’s sake. LOL
Yu-chan has also been on TV lately. She was in the recent special for We’re Millennials Got a Problem SP (ゆとりですがなにか 純米吟醸純情編), which will be coming out on DVD/BR in November (late) alongside What a Wonderful Family 2. I’m still debating whether I should watch the show~ She’s also currently on TBS’ drama Hello, Detective Hedgehog (ハロー張りネズミ) with Eita :)
Where’s my Yu Aoi crowd, though? xD
o(^∀^*)o
I saw people commenting that Yu-chan’s website had gotten a makeover, and -I honestly haven’t visited in so long- it’s true!
It’s finally using WordPress (or something similar xD), and the site is incomplete… but it’s got potential! For once, it’s got a Photo section, which right now has about ten pictures. It’s going to have a Magazine section, which I’m supposing it’s only going to carry covers (not complete photoshoots, though that would be awesome), and there’s going to be a video clip section called movie, which is probably going to carry the movies and show clips or trailers.
Her whole profile is complete with movie, tv, animation, stage work alongside PB releases, and with an Award wins history list.
That’s all I got. xD
Download all pics, you know -sometimes- things on the internet are not forever. Specially with Japan stuff. xD
And I’m like TT (lol)
We’ll be blessed this year at the Tokyo International Film Festival with screenings for Sakura Ando, Hikari Mitsushima, Aoi Miyazaki… and, and, Yu Aoi, yo~~~ I’m so jealous and so blessed, all at the same time.
via TIFF-jp.net
I ran into the cover for the Hito to KOUMORI (人とコウモリ) single by KINMOKUSEI (キンモクセイ) with Yu-chan on it. I don’t know how I didn’t know about this before, because the single is over a decade old already. Nearly 15 years old, really.
Yes, it should -on principle- be upside down.
So I thought I would create a post to collect the ones I find at other times in the future. since it’s been ages since I updated Yu’s Wiki [1][2] and my 9th Fandom Anniversary is coming up. Can you believe it? I’ve been following Yu-chan for a third of my life xD That’s endearing… but almost sad. LOL
Anyway, the other single cover I could think of was Moumoon’s Sunshine Girl.
A couple of days ago it was announced that Yu Aoi had joined the cast of Mix (ミックス。), the table tennis movie starring Gakki and Eita. They have an Instagram account and just updated with a picture of Yu-chan with panda hair tie alongside Hiroyuki Morisaki, I suppose, playing her husband.
I love that because of the white restaurant getup, the panda hair ties, people are asking if they’re playing Chinese. Yu-chan’s character name is Yo, though. BUt Morisaki’s is Cho, so~ of course.
