Yui Kobayashi: Sigh, hopefully not her final....

 

 ... post ever here!!!! Odds are zero on that but this may be her last one for a while though will work overtime to perhaps have one for her October birthday. Don't want to harp on the subject for too long as none of us know exactly what's going through her mind but have to say a few words about such a huge fave and to me she's the most likable woman I post often about. Eight days ago Yui announced she was taking an immediate hiatus, in her blog message she mentioned she had been thinking about it for months. But like most Idol messages for breaks or graduations no specifics were revealed, it's a health issue but think it's more of a question on whether she wants to remain with Keya(Sakura). Their management has really held back the careers of Yui and a few other popular members, they've never quite recovered from that extremely long gap between singles and they haven't done hardly anything as a group in two years.

 Personally, if I was Yui she should work hard in lining up some outside work during the hiatus while she's still somewhat popular. Have noticed most Idols don't have any dramas, films, modeling gigs, etc. set up for when they graduate and those are the ones you rarely hear about. She's deserved better and should have had the chance to be the center of at least one single, bet that's a huge reason for this break. And it couldn't have come at a worse time as Keya will be releasing a single in about three weeks. So while Yui is on the single she won't be appearing on music shows to promote it plus won't be at any of Keya's concerts for their mini tour. Know she won't be forgotten but after a while it sadly could be a case of out of sight, out of mind.

 Sure most of us have had stretches where we wonder if what we're doing is the right path. So I kind of hope Yui returns as at least it's a steady job and she'll remain somewhat in the spotlight, there's been so many huge Idol graduations this past year the market is flooded with ex-stars. So won't go on about this and let's just wait to see what happens as it's only been eight days since the announcement. But I tend to notice things about my mega faves which Yui is, this year has been so slow for her as far as activities go and her heart just didn't seem to be in it. So as mentioned she has a birthday in five weeks, probably won't be a post for it but if any new pics or news comes out will do a post when that happens.

 This is Yui's seventh post of the year so even if there's no more in the next 2 1/2 months she'll still make my top twenty list but may drop from tenth which was her position last year. Have used up my vast quantity of older 'KeyaKise' promo game cards and that game ended in August, wish they were like Nogi and had many kinds of card collections. But have some new ones for the 'Uni's on Air' app game, their pics are always terrific but wish there's only four pics every other month.

     Few recent Keya 'Diary' blog pics, such a small amount from the past month or so.

 This will be her last CM for a while and need to stop using the word last. The perfume brand L'Oreal has signed five Keya members to appear in some videos for the company, here's one with them all but so far no individual videos: L'Oreal CM

 In the years 2018/19 Yui appeared in more mags than any other Keya member and bet it was by a wide margin. But how they've slowed down since the Spring of 2020, this year her only solo spreads have been for With. So let's go back in time and this is truly one fabulous spread, she was the cover girl for the November 2019 issue of EX-Taishu.

 Speaking of With no mag spread from them but that's okay as have plenty of new tremendous pics from their site, hopefully they have a huge backlog of them for the future.

 The members of Keya have appeared at only two events this year and both were 'Tokyo Girls Collection' shows, first one was in February. The second took place on September 4th at the Saitama Super Arena, it was streamed live as no audience was allowed. Yui looked okay during her solo stroll on the 'X-Girl' stage but not compared to previous year's shows.

 However there was a second appearance at the show by the five members to promote a new group AEON credit card. During this appearance Yui looked beyond super duper and these are among her best event pics ever, easy to see why she's one of my huge current faves and WOWOWOWOWOW! There's a new CM that came out today for the card which is just way too short but those two may be my top Idol pairing.