Welcome to this Baka's blog on his fave Japanese Pop Culture interests.
Tuesday, January 7, 2020
Nogizaka46: Their legendary first 'A little bit of this and that post' for 2020....
Won't be starting off with very happy news though would think most Nogi fans are already aware of it. That's of Mai's announcement two days ago of her impending Nogi graduation which will take place in about three months, not all of the exact details have been revealed yet. Not going to say it's sad news though as most of us fans were expecting this though I had thought Mai would have graduated last year so these last 6+ months have been a sort of bonus.
It was announced too that Nogi's next single will be on March 25th and of course we all know who the center will be. Do many solo posts for Mai and may have another one next week, won't discuss the graduation too much then today and save any thoughts for her posts. But think her official departure date will be about a week after the single comes out and hope there's a few farewell concerts around that time.
What I'm a bit curious about is her "Passport" photobook and will it remain the #1 best selling PB of all time? There was another reprinting that brought the total up to 380.000 copies, think out of that about 355,000 have been sold and bet the publishers are thinking with her leaving sales will increase. But Manami Tanaka's first photobook has been selling unbelievably as in the three weeks it's been out the total sold has been... 208,000 copies! That is such an impressive number and she does have an excellent shot at topping "Passport", wonder then if Mai will have a farewell PB?
She's not the only first generation member leaving as so isn't Sayuri I. whose graduation date hasn't been figured out yet. Can see me a year from now not doing these kinds of group posts as the number of big Nogi faves of mine is really dwindling, perhaps only a dozen at most are left? Means I'll probably have a lot more solo posts or pairs one where two members are featured. There's that dozen left who I really like but in a year will the total be cut in half?
That's because it wouldn't shock me if members such as Kazumi or perhaps Erika also depart, least us long time fans still have our older memories, sigh..... Let's get on with the new happenings and have decided to hold a few things back. Have nothing to post about for tomorrow so if I hold on to a few things there should be a few other new pics for tomorrow which means can do another post. Should be one this weekend too as there's a 'Tokyo Girls Collection' show but think only two members will be there, wasn't too long ago when eight would take a stroll on the catwalk. Last group post had some New Years cards from December 2017, have more for today which feature all Undergirl members at the time and will have one more batch in the next group post.
Pair of recent birthdays though one was for a graduated member. That's Misa who was such a huge fave of so many here including myself, on January 4th she turned 27.
Tomorrow her third photobook "Decision" will be released, Misa had one prior to joining Nogi, one while with the group and now this new book. Lot of competition this month for photobook sales and the next one for Nogi comes out in exactly two weeks. There was an event held today for the PB at the HMV store in Shinjuku.
Pics for the book were shot in Iceland and sure she melted whatever ice they may have there! The covers for the PB along with some promo pics for it.
Second birthday belongs to my fave third generation member who is Minami, now where's her photobook? She turned 21 yesterday and at 170 cm is still Nogi's tallest member ever.
That bottom pic is a new one from her blog. Of course that's the other Mai with her who also has a
b-day coming up on January 22nd, she'll be turning 28. Also on that day Erika will be turning a year older and maybe I should do a 'pairs post' for the duo. More Minami pics as there's three for her special day plus a few other sultry ones, what an alluring young woman she is.
Have four mag spreads but will just post three for today and save the other one for a post tomorrow(?). This first set features Maaya and can't ever recall her having a solo spread. She's a first generation member who has been forgotten over the years though was a Senbatsu member on some early singles but for five years has been stuck as an Undergirl. That's not as bad as it seems as they have had an album and do perform many solo concerts. This set is from the January issue of UTB and in April Maaya will be turning 22, she used to be very close with Nanami.
Group spread here from the February edition of Nikkei Entertainment.
This final set features Manatsu who is Nogi's new captain and she assumed that position in August. That's good as it means she'll probably be sticking around for a few more years. Joining her in the January issue of Bomb is Hinako who is now my number one fave member or perhaps there's a tie for the top spot. Bottom four pics are from the photo shoot and after them have a short video form yesterday's 'ZIP!' show which had a segment on a certain someone graduating....
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