The Konno Asami Thread (紺野あさ美)

[Slack]

That's a very deep question, especially for those of us who celebrate Konno Day every day. Long post (essay) ahead.
 
Back a little over a couple years ago, I was just starting out with getting to know H!P, I wasn't familiar with 5th generation, so I was a Rika fan. The Peace, All for One PV, chickens, very pretty, cutesy voice, etc etc etc... In all, mostly for superficial reasons. (Though she does have a killer body and a smouldering look that can melt the screen.)
 
My first exposure to 5th gen as a group was through Ayaka's English Lessons. Previously, all the other members had some reluctance to cooperate, but not this one girl. She seemed like she was more polite and reserved. In a word, "demure". I always liked that kind of girl over the more go-go-rah-rah type. (Sailor Mercury > Sailor Moon for example) As one raised to appreciate good food, I could also appreciate how much of a gorumet she is.
 
Later I watched the Bakajo test. Konno got major points in my book for coming in first. With her status as (arguably) the most intelligent member, she had a new spotlight cast on her. I got the impression that she was the kind of person that does things seriously and capably, despite being a little spacy at times. When I got to the 13nin Gakkari Christmas special, watching her manipulate all the other members and bend them to her will, I couldn't help but smile. Plus, learning about all the difficulties she faced was really endearing.
 
It wasn't long until I started looking for her in performances. While all the front girls may have had more conventional good looks and better voices, Konno had her hard work and constant effort. Being such an unseen supporting force in Morning Musume made every time she had a closeup into a little triumph.
 
Somewhere in there, I saw the Momusu vs Bob Sapp video. In the balloon popping game, you can see Konno sneak up behind him and pop one of his balloons while he's distracted by the other girls. With all the other girls running around and screaming, that was just about the only strategic action in that game. And it was by the ever-capable Konno. And of course, in the second half, she just owned The Beast at that pattern matching game.
 
On Hello! Morning during that fake food game, you could see the pressure Konno puts on herself. If memory serves, not only did she have to go last, but if she messed up, none of the others could eat either. In the slow buildup to her turn, you could see the anxiety mounting. When she started crying, you could see just how hard on herself she is. If any of the girls needed support, this was that girl.
 
And supporting her is what I tried to do. At this very moment, all 5 of her PBs are right next to me. I own no others. The girl has a way with the camera that makes you feel like you're right there. I guess it's partially her huge, expressive eyes. The fact that she's got some meat on her bones and a nice figure didn't hurt either.
 
It's been said that Konno fans are some of the most fanatical. This doesn't surprise me at all. It might sound a bit cheesy, but Konno, as the hard working, "spare" underdog, has come to represent personal redemption and hope. To believe in Konno, and her efforts, is to believe in the ability to improve one's self and the ability to defy others' expectations. How many other members could you say the same about?
 
Sure, there's lots of superficial reasons to love Konno. But they're by no means the only reasons.

[ferrar1]

I have never been to this thread but popped in to see whether there's any news on her studies.

But wow, i can't believe i read every word you wrote, and agree with it. Thumbs up for a loyal Konno fan.

[genericpaperdoll]

ah, Slack. Always saying all the words us Konkon fans feel I also started out not really noticing the 5th Gen and Aibon was my favorite. It wasn't long before I started to notice the gokkies though, and Konkon (and Mako) stood out to me.

The first thing that made me like Kon was that I thought she was the cutest member in the group (and I still do). Then I heard her sing, and though she doesn't have the strongest voice, I thought it was unique and very cute.

Then eventually I started watching videos of H!M, concerts, etc. I think Slack pointed out everything I could have said about those, but seeing her personality come through made her my undisputed #1 in H!P. I love that she is very smart but also has a silliness too her.

I think another reason I love her is I tend to like the underdogs, the girls that aren't in the spotlight all the time. I DO wish Kon had more screentime and it's one of the things that to this days irritates me about the MM concerts and PVs, but her lack of camera whoring was probably for the best. For example, I used to love Aichan, but after watching a lot of vids, I'm kind of sick of seeing her all the time. And the vast majority of H!P girls I can't stand are the ones that stick their faces in the camera. I read somewhere that Konno wasn't concerned with being popular, she only wanted to do the best she could and that only made me love her more. UNDERDOGS ARE <3!

[Jabronisaur]

Bravo Slack for the excellent expose of a Konkon fan. And well said Genericpaperdoll.
(i'm no where near as elequent as Slack but...)
I think there's an interesting point there, when being a Konkon fan, you have to like the underdogs. But more than that Konkon's time in MM was an example of daily triumphs. When you have so much working against you, inlcuding yourself, the fact that you can still trudge on with a smiling face and fight that much harder every day, shows what a true champion, she is.
And the fact that she doesn't get all the screentime makes those fleeting moments when you do get to see her, that much more special. Its like finding the holy grail, and just as rewarding. Because whenever you see Konno, you know no matter what she's giving 110% at that moment. You know everytime she doing her best, she trying her hardest, she fighting her fiercest.
When Konno came around I was still swooning over Yaguchi. It wasnt until after Mari left that I noticed this tiny bright spark in the background. I think it was her unbridled adorabilty that pulled me in. Konno could not be uncute. I remember skits where they tried to dress her up as a bad school girl and stuff, but her sweetness could not be contained. I think that created an approachability to Asami. She wasn't as intimidating as Maki or as glamourous as Rika, and that made her seem more real. More like someone you'd really want to be with, not someone you'd be too nervouse to even speak to.
I'm not surprise Kon fans are so diehard. Anyone who has ever struggled at things that others seem to with such ease, can identify with Konno.
I also believe that her lack of air-time allowed her to maintain her sweet disposition. Where others might get kinda of cool and aloof, she stays warm and friendly.
Interestingly enough (especially if you know me) I didn't realize what a fantasic body she had until later. I was so entraced by her cute face, I just never noticed until the PBs came out. lol

[Shinora]

its great to hear you guys & girls' reasons behind falling for konkon.  as for myself, i started h!p relatively late compared to a lot of people here.  suppose a year and a half ago, so you could say that the girls "avaliable" then did not have as much of a diversity compared to the "golden era" girls.  

To be honest, i didn't pay that much attention to the kon at first, like most of the members here, I was attracted the the more popular girls, for me it was ai-chan.  however, after downloading my first concert, (the name escapes me at the current moment) .  one of the girls caught my attention, for some reason she was always on the side or at the back, rarely given a chance to do solos like the other members.  but she did not seem discouraged at all, this girl was still giving her all, waving at fans, etc...  at this point, i decided to look into this 'neglected' member.  

Which lead me to an older concert, Love is Alive.  Like all the other concerts, konkon once again got the shaft.  until Otoko Tomodachi, with nacchi doing main vocals with the 5th gen doing the backup,  "at least its an improvement" i thought to myself.  the song ended, the lights faded, all there could be seen was 4 shadows in the background.  "no way... can't be..." there they were, Takahashi, Ogawa, Niigaki, and last but not least Konno, performing and still to this day is their song, Suki na Senpai.  Seeing and hearing Konno trying her best to match up vocally with Takahashi and Ogawa was what sealed the deal making her my favourite member.  constantly giving her all no matter if its a concert or a television show.  

A lot of people say that the momusu members have 'fake' personlities, which i could not argue against since nobody here knows the girls personally; however, in of the h!m episodes where they did the brain scan on konkon and had her do a eat at the sushi bar, we were able to see that our girl is still as sweet as ever off screen as well as on screen.  when the old lady asked her if she could have a piece of what konno ordered, she gladly shared it with her.  

After reading Fenrir's translation of tsunku's comment and konkon's interview, my appreciation for her grew even more, learning the pressure she has put herself through.  To this day i still regretting not being able to make it to her graduation concert.

To once again quote the man who brought Konno into our lives,
"Like an exception, it was beyond anybody’s understanding. This result is, indeed, like Konno Asami."



52 More Days!!!

[THUNDERDUCK]

I always respected Konno's humbleness.  I agree her cute face was always attractive but never did I notice her bod, till the PBs.

[Slack]

6 copies of Konno Asami 1st pb (x 2500 yen= 15,000 yen )
13 copies of Natsufuku (x 2700 yen = 35,100 yen)
38 copies of Namida ga Tomaranai Houkago (x approx. 1600 yen = 60,800 yen)

10 copies of Konno Asami Alo-Hello (x 2667 yen = 26,670 yen)
 
Grand total: 137,570 yen (approx 1,183.30 US Dollars)
That's a lot of Konno stuff.  Fanaticism, indeed.
 
And Konno special gift and Up to Boy issue!

[genericpaperdoll]

^ is that all your stuff? =o
Makes me want to splurge on whatever konkon goodies I can

[JFC]

what made u guys fall in love with the konster?

Damn, seeing all these in-depth responses makes me feel like a bit of a shmuck. While I agree with all that was said in them, to be honest, what FIRST drew me to Konkon was the cute way she clapped when she was doing the "Ojamarushe Konno" role during the HPN segments. First time I saw it I thought "Holy fuck that is BEYOND cute!"

This was around when I was first getting into H!P/MM and was starting to be able to tell the girls apart ( ).

[Slack]

^ is that all your stuff? =o
Makes me want to splurge on whatever konkon goodies I can

Not mine, no. Found on an h!p uploader.  I'm pretty sure there's wotas that buy that much for almost every girl.  Once I saw a pic of Eri's name spelled out with this guy's copies of her first PB.  But personally, I don't think I've spent over $300 total.  I'm not made of money.

[cool_kickin_dude]

I was going to say..if you had all that, I would have asked for some Konno stuff!:)

[genericpaperdoll]

^ I probably would have done the same thing

Crazy wotas...

[flamingmoe]

Makes me want to splurge on whatever konkon goodies I can

^ That sounds kinda dirty.

[genericpaperdoll]

^ only if you have a dirty mind



51 Days~~!

[THUNDERDUCK]

I bet that person has 15 copies of the See You Again PB

[Asmodai]

I only have one copy of each PB. I just take really good care of them.

[THUNDERDUCK]

My Konno-Centric Collection

[Asmodai]

With all the excitement, this thread hasn't been as active.

Konno will always be my favorite.

[Slack]

Yeah, people even forgot:

50 Days~~!

[Shinora]

konkon's last performence...  don't think any of the other graduations was as touching as her's (and makoto's)  
thanks for keeping up with the kountdown slack, was away for the past 2 days.  

yeye asmo, the kon was my favourite, is my favourite, and will continue to be my favourite!!