Nao Kanzaki: The ten most popular posts for the first half of 2024....

 

 This post took so long to write up it'll probably be the only one for today. That title is self explanatory and these list posts have always been popular with you viewers but it's the first one I've done this year. There's always a bunch of these at the end of the year but before we begin off with the list will talk about one major thing. Which are some prime examples on why the posts have dwindled this year, some women you know why you haven't been hearing from but there are also some others who I haven't had a chance to talk about so will do that today, sadly none of the news is good. Of course most know this is Yui at the top and this is the second post in a row she's been the lead off woman though the post isn't about her. She has been AWOL since her February 1st graduation from Keya and I have never seen someone disappear just like that but she somehow has. I truly do miss her and even if nothing is heard from her soon will have a post for her next month.

 Have four other massive faves of mine and you viewers who I will briefly talk about to explain why they haven't been having any posts and why they may not be in the future This is a combo good/bad new piece of news, good for her but bad for us. Which is that on June 13th Nana announced she had just gotten married but didn't reveal her hubby's name but he is a video editor. She hasn't done anything since the end of last year as Nana left her agency in January and said she wanted to think about her future before signing on with a new place. She's my second fave gravure model of all time but I've liked her even before she made that career change and will she continue to grace us with her overly alluring photos????

 These next two are such massive faves of you viewers and both have been caught in recent scandals. There are rules about J-Pop Idols dating and those rules also apply to most gravure models, when they are caught having a boyfriend or in an affair it could mean the end of the gravure careers. Which seems to be the case for a pair who have had so many posts the last two years, first is Miyu. Won't say his name but you can check it out as there are many articles about it. She had finally been caught having an affair with a pro basketball player who is married, the affair has ended but the damage has been done. On May 29th Miyu announced she would be taking a hiatus and from all signs she just may be blacklisted from doing any more gravure work which would disappoint so many of you viewers.

 About four months ago it was discovered that Risa Y had been dating a J-Popper for well over a year, she turned thirty a few days ago so how many more years would she have continued as a gravure model? Don't know if anyone has noticed but sure some have that there hasn't been a post for her in over three months. Risa's last spread to date came out at the beginning of April but the photo shoot took place before her secret was revealed. She has been doing a few other things but it appears she too has been blacklisted by the gravure world. The four mentioned are women who always got many posts here, SIXTY(!) last year or five a month so not having posts for them over the last 3-5 months is by far the biggest reason for the decrease in posts.

 There is one other fave of mine who hadn't been having any posts, she's another I've been missing and will we ever hear from her again? That's Yume Shinjo and in such a shock at the end of March announced she was retiring from show biz but had said she would three months prior, somehow I missed that. Looking back on things think she was getting a bit tired of everything and thought her being in the sleazy 2023 drama "Akai Ringo" was such a bad career decision and she didn't do much after that. Since March zero has been heard from her, Yume was very popular with everyone here and she just may be in my top ten of all time as far as the most hottest and alluring women goes..... WHEWWWW!!!!

 Those weren't positive news bits to open the post but hadn't been able to talk about those things until now. Finally we're to the ten most popular posts for the first half of the year which ran from December 1st until May 31st, this list is just of posts published in that period. At the end of the year will do a list for all posts that includes ones done prior to 2024 and that list will have sixteen. Did notice the view counts went down compared to last year with the biggest reason being there has been such a decrease in Idol photobooks. Well, for a four month stretch there was but a trio has come out the last ten weeks and will be posting them soon so they should make the end of year list. As is the case for all my lists will work backwards from ten to one so the suspense can rise(!), will have some info about that person plus the link to the post.

#10.... Yume Hayashi had 990 views for her March 27th post 'Friday' digital book post.

'Friday Monthly Girl' book

 The only post not to have over a thousand views but sure that will change once people start clicking on the link. That's been Yume's only post of the year and she's never been an easy woman to have posts for. She also works as an OL and that's her #1 priority, being a gravure model is second. She has always been immensely popular here and will be hitting the age of 29 in less than four months.

 #9.... Nene Shida, her "Neene~" photobook post done on February 1st had 1,032 views.

"Neene~" photobook scans

 A pair of women had two posts make the list, this was a pleasant surprise as I thought her popularity was fading. This was also the closest battle as the next position only beat this by two views and that post was also one of Nene's! That's a solid amount of views though it does deserve more as it was my number one photobook for 2023 and it came out last September.

 #8.... Nene Shida, 1,034 views for her 'Weekly Post' book done on December 21st.

Her sizzling new 'Weekly Post' digital book!!!!

 You'd think it would be an advantage having a post published in December or January as it would have much more time to accumulate views but noticed when a post was done didn't matter. Not much more I can say about Nene who is my all time favorite gravure model and has had more posts than any woman since December 2020. She has been a bit quiet the last two months though I do have a terrific new mag spread but not much else for a post.

 #7.... Mizuki Yanashita has received 1,063 views for her April 24th post

The first of three(?) graduation posts....

 The other woman with two posts to make the list. The title of this post says the first of three, there was this one, the other you will be seeing and will be having the post for Mizuki's sweltering second photobook in August. Wonder if it will have time to get enough views to be #1 for the year and I always wait at least three months before posting a '46' photobook.

 #6.... Nana Owada, her "Private" photobook post done on January 1st has 1,274 views

Her scintillating second photobook "Private" scans

 Did talk about her in the intro and will miss her if she retires from gravure modeling. Usually don't do posts for women who do get hitched but if Nana does continue with her gravure career would have those books and magazine spreads.... her hotness level is off the charts.... 

 #5.... Miku Tanaka has 1,375 views for her Young Gangan digital book post done April 7th.

Her historical first.... digital photobook!!!!

 Like the fave's list a woman needs six posts to qualify for the 'Most Popular Woman' list. Am curious on who it may be this year and in the running would be two with the same first name! Of course one is this Miku and think she will make the top five on the fave's list this year. What a wise decision it was to leave HKT as her career has been doing even better, this is her first ever digital book and Idols that are in groups aren't allowed to have them.... well, least gals from the '46/48' groups.

 #4.... Kasumi Mori, her intro post done on March 13th has 1,380 views

Her first sparkling intro post!

 This was another close battle as only five views separated this from fifth place. This was also another nice surprise and Kasumi has quickly become such a massive fave of everyone here, especially me! She is a very busy woman who was a newscaster/reporter for over five years but she has been a bit quiet over the last month but does have the six posts needed to qualify for the yearly faves list.

#3.... Miku Kanemura, her "Triangle" mini book has 1,540 views to date

February 8th "Triangle" book scans

 Not sure what my fave post of the year has been so far, I never pick books but ones that have quite a bit of variety. Miku is another huge fave where there isn't much left to say about her and don't think any Idol has had more posts than her since January 2023. However she's been so quiet since March and that's been a rarity for her but for the second year in a row should make the top five on the fave's list. Last year she did finish second and hoped she would battle to be #1 this year but it sadly won't happen....

 #2.... Mizuki Yamashita has 1,637 views for her "Triangle" mini book done on May 3rd.

"Triangle" mini photobook scans

 This post had more than just the scans and it is one of the top posts for 2024. "Triangle" is a photobook that I think has had only two editions, they have featured only members from Hina and Nogi. All of their spreads have been so super duper and wish they would have more editions, wonder if they did would Keya be next in line? When Mizuki graduated six weeks ago she did say she would take an extended break but that hasn't been the case as she just opened a fan site and will be in an upcoming drama. If I can do posts for her in the future will do so.

 #1.... Seira Hayakawa, 1,922 views for her "Mata, Itsuka" PB  post done December 1st

Her exceptional "Mata, Itsuka" photobook scans

 Another semi-surprise and a very nice one as to me this was one of the top photobooks for 2023. There was a slowdown for Nogi books last year plus I rarely post about them these days but when there are some those posts remain popular. Unfortunately Seira graduated from Nogi just before this book was released, didn't seem she was happy being an Idol and is a superb actress. She did say she was retiring but did open an IG page a few months after graduating so wouldn't be shocked if she tried making a return as an actress and this book easily gets a grade of A++++ from me!!!! Whew, that bottom photo was close to being my #1 photo for 2023....