Mai Shiraishi: Her historical quasi first post-Nogi post....

 

 Was debating on whether to do this post or not as the top twenty(sixteen) countdown is about to begin. Prefer saving current pics for that list post to make it a memorable one if possible and figure her position will come up between December 14th to the 20th. But then thought this is Mai(!) I'm talking about and there's never a problem creating a post for her as she is inching so close to 400. Gave that time span as I'm not sure where she will end up, the top spot is all set as are positions seven through sixteen. But the faves from two to six are just so close, in a way all are deserving of being #1 but that spot has been set for a while. So there won't be much difference in those five spots and really did ponder about making Mai #1, couldn't have gone wrong doing that but upon further reflection said there's no way the current number one should change who truly deserves it.

 It's a long way off but kind of looking forward to doing the second 'All Time Top Faves Twenty' list, first one was done from August to October 2018. If I still have a working laptop was planning on doing the next one in the Spring of 2022, figured 44 months is enough of a gap. The way I currently look at it about six may have an excellent chance to be that list's #1, from the original list number's one and three would be in contention. Also this and last years winners along with someone who is always in the top five and will be this year too. That makes five and the sixth vying to be my #1 of all time would be Mai and to me she has the upper hand at the moment. She finished 15th on that first list which was right for that time period, if she stays somewhat busy after her graduation think it'll be a two person battle between her and this year's winner.

 There's another thing she has a chance of regaining which is the most posts here. At one Mai did have that honor but fell to second about 2 1/2 years ago and the gap became twenty posts at one time. With this post that huge lead has been chopped in half so it's going to become an intense battle soon. That's because there should be 3-4 posts next month, there may be a break with her activities for a while but I expect Mai to remain busier than any other ex-Idol. One of those posts or perhaps even two will be for her October 28th graduation special/concert. Do have it but have only skimmed through it as Beam Subs is working on subbing the show and when that's completed is when I'll view it. Of course will take many screenshots and am looking forward to it.

 Beam Subs doesn't do a huge amount of subbing but seems the ones they do are things I'm interested in. Another project was a documentary that aired on Hulu a week before her graduation, will definitely do a post for this as to me it's more interesting than the final concert. The doc started off with Mai announcing her graduation on January 6th at a Nogi group meeting, hate to admit but my eyes were getting a bit misty viewing that scene. There's also footage of their birthday concerts, an interview and she even traveled to the school where the "Girls Rule" PV was shot, that was her first center song.

 Will probably always have some older Nogi things in these posts, even though she must have over 20,000 pics here that's just the tip of the iceberg, some older promo cards for the 'NogiKoi' app game.

 Here's something for all of her fans to check out which is her new official website that began on November 1st, have the link for it here and also her YT channel which has some fun videos.

Official Website

YT channel

 Have a few Nogi blog pics from the graduation show, hate to say it but Mai was one of Nogi's worst at keeping her blog updated.

 Am holding back one small spread for her 'faves list post' which as mentioned should be between December 14th and the 20th. Do have one spread for today and it's such a superb spread of pics as Mai is the cover girl for the December 2nd issue of Anan.

 One thing I've really complained about the last five years is the lack of videos for when a Nogi member or the group attends an event. Personally can't understand the reasoning behind that as it makes zero sense not to have that kind of exposure and sure the companies or product they're at the event for would want videos too. All other J-Pop groups have them save for the trio of '46' groups but perhaps the graduation will have a sliver lining.

 Now that Mai as of October 28th is no longer a Nogi member she can appear in event videos, that did happen for her first one and will end off with such a sparkling video. The occasion was the 'Anan 2020 Awards Show' that was held on November 18th. There was no 'Woman of the Year' award which she would have won but instead her honor was for being the 'woman who all other females look up to the most and want to be like', hard putting all of that on her trophy which was really called 'Muse'. Of course Mai looks stupendous in her gravure pics but I kind of prefer the classy way she shines at events and you may agree with that when you view these pics and the video.