(Group) Ebisu Muscats

[kei_sensei]

This face will never fail me to laugh....good for a meme...

[illnerdism]

Man, I haven’t been here in forever. It’s great to see that this place is still poppin'

I caught news that Maccoi Saito and Okubo-san were auditioning girls for a new idol group a few months ago. The concept of the new group is ‘Girls in Debt’ - they're auditioning girls between ages 18 to 35 who owe money. It’s currently going under the name ‘The Debt Repayment Idol Project’. Maccoi is directing the project as he did with the Muscats, while Okubo will serve as the ‘general manager’. The project’s manager is  “Masked Man from Naniwa (Osaka)”. The whole thing seems pretty ridiculous, which I’m sure is the point when you've got Maccoi and Okubo involved.  The 1st group of members are set to be announced this month and the group itself will begin activities in October. Their debut single is scheduled for release in November by Pony Canyon, who handled the Muscats’ later releases. I found some video of the auditions - hey look, it's Saemi (@1:51)! I wonder if any other former Muscats auditioned?



The selection process is apparently being covered by a TV show called "Margarine Bank". This looks like they're further along in the selection process, and it doesn't look like Saemi made it to this stage, unfortunately. Some of the girls who did are kinda cute, though:



I also saw that Rion’s group, Clear’s, made it to 8th on the Oricon weekly chart this past weekend with their major label debut single, “Be, Be, Be, Beauty!!” The song is … really not for me, but it’s awesome to see former Muscats members find success, particularly because Rion is a favorite of mine. I think Through Skills also recently signed to a major label and hopefully they’re able to taste some success as well. I’m really pulling for AiLi, as the Muscats’ ‘Song and Dance leader’.  I don’t know if it’s mentioned earlier in the thread, but she’s a featured vocalist on the recently released ‘J-Pop de EDM Shinwa’ - a compilation of EDM-ified J-Pop covers:

[Tetsujin 28]

Wow, very interesting!

Poor Saemi...you gotta laugh...she always looks so out of her depth.

Like she's been asked to explain Einstein's theory of relativity in 10 words or less.

Way back in the thread, someone did mention Saemi had money problems.

It kind of makes you wonder where all the money went (DVD and CD sales, live shows, personal appearances, and merchandising).

From what I've read, some idols get what amounts to not much more that a monthly allowance. 

[kei_sensei]

OT: Looks like the 10th anniversary release of the Yakuza Game is on the buzz at the Tokyo Game Show.



The models who are picked through online voting is on the SEGA Booth and some familiar faces are present. China Arimura, Saki Hatsumi, Ayaka Tomoda, and Hibiki Otsuki are present. Remember that former EbiMasu members Yuma Asami and Rio are also models in the former Yakuza games...

And oh...have some KONAN and Jessie for you, guys.

[kei_sensei]

And, I understand Hollywood's Track No. 8....

It is a "Reconciliation Song" for the two "Kasumis" (Kaho and Risa)...

Just listened to it on their 2nd live concert.

[kei_sensei]

Been visiting Mui's ameblo today...
It is a trip down memory lane TBH...
here is what I know so far...with the help of some pics from her ameblo.

She has great connections with Ando and Yuria...
In this pic, you see Mui and a no-make up Yuria...


In this pic, you will see a make-up-less Acky... (Easy to recognize her)



Plus more pics...



(uhhhh...Yuria...)

More to come...for now, I will take myself to memory lane...

[kei_sensei]

the biggest threat to mankind has come...or is it?

[ikari456]

So happy to find out that one of my favorite Kijima Airi will be releasing a solo CD in January, can't wait!

Finally saved enough money to travel to Japan and I will be going to Tokyo and Kyoto. This will be my first time travelling to Japan and I really hope there is a Muscats member event that I can attend. I wonder if the events are foreigner friendly? does anyone have experience attending an event in Japan? Hopefully the Japanese classes I took in school will be of some use.

[Tetsujin 28]

 
Hey, ikari456, I hope you have a great time.

I envy you, the first trip to Japan is an amazing experience.

Public transport in Tokyo and Kyoto is really easy to use (lots of English signs etc.).

I've never been to an Muscats' event. But, I did live in Japan for a few years.

I would guess that it isn't going to be particularly foreigner friendly.

If you have some basic Japanese that's going to help a lot.

My best advice is smile a lot and act dumb; Japanese people are always happy to help a foreigner looking lost.

BTW, if you're looking to buy Muscats stuff (cheap), look for a store called 'Book Off - Hard Off'.

Yeah, weird name, I know.

It's a kind of second-hand/Cash Converters type of place.

They're everywhere in Japan.

They're a good place to buy manga, anime, DVDs and CDs cheaply.

You should find plenty of Muscats stuff.

[kei_sensei]

And if you are in Japan, GO TO SOLA-FES.

[kei_sensei]

And oh, finished watching this V-Cinema starring Yuria Satomi.

It is entitled "The Diet Gal"

[ikari456]

Hey, Tetsujin28, thank you for all the advice.

I will make sure to keep my eyes open for any Book-Off and see if I can find some older Muscats related material. I bought their graduation album, final concert DVD and the DVD box set already.

I can read and speak some Japanese, but I figured if I get to attend an event I'll just follow whatever the others are doing and I should be fine 
if not I'll just play dumb.

[Tetsujin 28]

If you're going to Kyoto, and you have time for a side trip to Osaka, I recommend Osaka's equivalent to Tokyo's Akihabara.

It's called Nipponbashi (the locals call it 'Den-den Town'). Sakaisuji subway line, Ebisucho Station (K18).

Some of the stores are amazing...toy stores that have 7 floors.

I love Osaka...lots of eye-candy...ooooooh, those Osaka girls

[PhantomJin]

So happy to find out that one of my favorite Kijima Airi will be releasing a solo CD in January, can't wait!

I can't wait either! I'm very curious about her songs but I love her voice.

Finally saved enough money to travel to Japan and I will be going to Tokyo and Kyoto. This will be my first time travelling to Japan and I really hope there is a Muscats member event that I can attend. I wonder if the events are foreigner friendly? does anyone have experience attending an event in Japan?

Congratulations ikari456 and good luck on your trip to Japan. I hope you meet some of the Muscats 
Side note: If you are in Kyoto and have some time to spare I recommend a visit to the Fushimi Inari Shrine. It is an awesome place with great historical value. Well, I like historical places http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3915.html

During my little trip to Japan last year I wasn't able to see any of the Muscats because I spent only 3 days in Tokyo but I managed to attend to one of AeLL's events and everyone (crowd, staff, the singers) were very nice and friendly to me despite my lack of japanese (and english) skills. They didn't let me to take photos with my camera, though 

Man, I haven’t been here in forever. It’s great to see that this place is still poppin'

Hi illnerdism. It's nice to see you back. Your posts are always welcome That show looks very interesting.

!!!!!!!Ogura Haruka is engaged! (?)!!!!!!!

Well, if it is true then I'm very happy for her, since she is one of my favorite muscats. Wish her best.

If you're going to Kyoto, and you have time for a side trip to Osaka, I recommend Osaka's equivalent to Tokyo's Akihabara.

It's called Nipponbashi (the locals call it 'Den-den Town'). Sakaisuji subway line, Ebisucho Station (K18).

Dang, I missed Nipponbashi when I was there.  If I ever would travel to Japan again I'm sure going to visit it. And I agree, girls from Osaka are awesome 

[Tetsujin 28]

Hey, PhantomJin!

I'm right there with ya on the historical places! 

Kyoto has tons of them.

I really liked Nijo Castle (the Shogun's Castle). To walk the same corridors as Tokugawa Shoguns blew my mind

It was a History nerd's wet-dream

[ikari456]

It's called Nipponbashi (the locals call it 'Den-den Town'). Sakaisuji subway line, Ebisucho Station (K18).

Some of the stores are amazing...toy stores that have 7 floors.

I love Osaka...lots of eye-candy...ooooooh, those Osaka girls

Nipponbashi sounds really interesting, I'll make sure to go there during my day trip to Osaka from Kyoto.

I can't wait either! I'm very curious about her songs but I love her voice.

I like her voice too and it looks like she will be writing some of the lyrics as well, should be really interesting.

Congratulations ikari456 and good luck on your trip to Japan. I hope you meet some of the Muscats 
Side note: If you are in Kyoto and have some time to spare I recommend a visit to the Fushimi Inari Shrine. It is an awesome place with great historical value. Well, I like historical places http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3915.html

Thank you, I will be in Kyoto for around a week so I am planning on visiting all the tourist attractions like Nijo Castle, Kingakuji, Ginkakuji, Kiyomizudera, Fushimi Inari Shrine and so on along with day trips to Nara and Osaka.

During my little trip to Japan last year I wasn't able to see any of the Muscats because I spent only 3 days in Tokyo but I managed to attend to one of AeLL's events and everyone (crowd, staff, the singers) were very nice and friendly to me despite my lack of japanese (and english) skills. They didn't let me to take photos with my camera, though 

That's too bad they didn't let you take pictures
I will be spending 4 days in Tokyo including a weekend, so hopefully I will run into a Muscats member event.

Getting back to Muscats, here is video of Acky promoting the Sexy Idol Music Festa on Sepember 22nd.

[Tetsujin 28]

Kansai (Osaka, Kobe, and Kyoto) girls in the Muscats:

Sukuragi Rin  Hyogo Prefecture (the prefecture directly north of Osaka)

Yamanaka Ayako  Hyogo Prefecture

Kodama Nanako  Osaka

Yamaguchi Manami  Osaka

Shinohara Saemi  Kyoto

Oshikawa Yuika  Osaka

Mizuki Uruha  Kyoto

And, of course, KONAN  Osaka

I have noticed that Manami, Nanako, and Ayako usually sat next to each other on the program.

[kei_sensei]

Speaking of History, there is one Muscat Ep that a Muscat told everyone that Aoi Sora is like Oda Nobunaga. Don't remember the EP but it is from Onedari.

Do you agree on that?

[kei_sensei]

I still admire Aira/Sho Nishino more as a cosplayer. I hope I could see more of her cosplays in the future.

[kei_sensei]

Sharing these wallpaper-worthy pics....