If it's anything like Finally I'm sold. And indeed the guy does an amazing job in upbeat tracks, keep'im Kuu

I also like his upbeat tracks for Kuu much better.
And from those examples from Namie I also only like Finally... Still, as long as I've haven't heard the song, I'm positive.

Kuu's FC opened a special blog for the FC Hawaii Trip today. They're going to post daily, just like last year.

idk why Ayu and Kuu have turned cold on physical singles considering to press a CD and manufacture the whole thing costs literally less than a dollar. I guess it's bad for their image if they aren't maintaining that "number 1" reputation.

tbh I don't think #1 image is a factor for Kuu, she never was a smash-seller when it comes to singles, 4 hot wave didn't even get #1 on Oricon e.g. and it's her best selling single. Her biggest #1 strike is TABOO - stay with me - It's all Love, and she doesn't even have ten #1 singles. I guess avex just realised it would be much easier to produce and manage her singles sales limiting them to mu-mo and concert venues.

Obviously I don't know all the details, but there must be more to it than that. Selling it at tour venues, or via Mu-Mo means all the profit goes back to Avex and the artist. Selling it via traditional channels would necessitate selling it to the stores at a lower wholesale price, which they then mark-up for the retail price and take the profit. If traditional sales would only yield a small amount of additional sales, it really wouldn't make sense -- albums are one thing, but singles are more for hardcore fans.

^I think singles are more for casual fans since those are usually the songs that have airplay and get listend to by everyone - and when the song clicks, it will be bought regardless of the artist. An whole album however is more of a risk buying and therefore usually caters to fans.

I think for digital that is true, but I don't think people are running to buy singles anymore period. If anything they might rent the single.

Yup, I think digitally that makes sense, but physical singles are more hardcore fans stuff, at least for Kuu, otherwise avex wouldn't be selling all the physical versions through mu-mo and concerts only in the last years.

^yeah, I meant overall. And a hit song or anime song is still much more profitable as a single than on an album.

The Hawaii FC event starts today!

They're already there since morning.
The FC blog looks like that:
http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/102...924/ifxas7.png

Not as nice as last year as the one from last year was a special website. If there are especially nice pics or something interesting, I gonna share it.

Kuu's son is with her for the event.

What a great experience for fans, and held two years in a row! If it were me, I'd be so shy and nervous about a trip with Kuu~

Yeah, it definitely would be a strange feeling! :laugh

She's apparently also trusting towards her fans, if she brought her son with her.
I mean, officially we don't even know his name, not to mention his face.
Even in the Dare datte variety show, where they showed footage of her playing with her son and cooking for her family, they only showed his back and you could hear his voice. Probably part of the contract (and great, that Kuu is careful like that!).

Back in 2012, i did not expect her to act that way with her son as she always shared personal stories to her fans or even in talkshow.

I'm pleasantly surprised she is so protective with him. It makes me respect her even more.

Happy birthday Kuu :heart

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DOcMbu9VoAEaCVd.jpg:small

https://twitter.com/KODAKUMINET/stat...25525005705216

Omg my queen turned 35 already. Time flies. She is such a wonderful person, I am so lucky to be her fan. Love her so much!

https://i.imgur.com/8WAP3fwh.jpg

Looking flawless for the Hawaii exceptional trip <3

And it's nice of Colleen Wilcox to make that design for her!

OMG! kuu's 35!!
happy Birthday to our queen <3

Happy bday to the queen!! :heart Wish her all happiness in the world, she so deserves it <3

On another topic, when does Kuu usually announce her tour dates? :P I'm planning to go to Japan in late May, and I'm already taking a look at the flights...

Does anybody have the original pic? :3

https://i.imgur.com/hGsGpw4h.jpg

Happy birthday Kuu! She looks much younger than 35.

The last sold out batch of concert goods is going to be restocked at mu-mo as well as her concert goods from this year altogether getting another pop-up shop at Tokyo Sky Tree (the batch before and a bunch of Kloop goods already got one there in August).
Start is today. End day is still undecided.

Info from her FC and the official site.

@gustavopc
She usually announces her tour dates for the coming year mid to late December.
I'm also waiting for them to see if I can make it to a FC tour for the first time.

That will be soon then, danke! :)

I wonder if we're getting a studio album next year, a BEST or if this tour won't be linked to album like BSC... Her release pattern got much more interesting now :P

---

According to kiのtrumpet @ Baidu, Kuu performed those songs at Hawaii

DDD looks so out of place rofl

My fun!!

wow, some interesting choices.

Geeze, I completely forgot For you existed. :yredface I had to check iTunes to remember which release that song is from.

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DOlZRwHW0AAO8Vi.jpg:small

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DOlZRwLWAAAl0IR.jpg:small

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DOlZRwIX0AAftgQ.jpg:small

https://twitter.com/KODAKUMINET/stat...72974695219200

Kuu looks great :love

Last year's setlist was better for me.
But I love how she always puts in unusual songs for her FC lives.

Here's a pic from the last rehearsal:
http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/800...924/zNzXp0.png

Daisuke Sakurai (her usual pianist) posted about the location on his Instagram:

http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/800...924/4P21H4.png

http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/800...924/VfAXOB.png

According to him the concert was acoustic.
Dresscode was white, just like last year.

You can find quite a bunch of pics from fans (even sharing their photos they got with Kuu) with the hashtag 倖田來未on Instagram.

Here's the original from the FC blog:

Do you have the last years's setlist?

Sure, this was the one last year:
M1:IN THE AIR
M2:You're So Beautiful
M3:Once Again
M4:Stay
M5:TURN AROUND
M6:愛のことば
M7:小さな恋のうた
M8:走れ！
M9:LOADED feat. Sean Paul

And here`s a photo from last year from the blog, cause I just noticed that she looked pretty similar! :laugh

http://imageshack.com/a/img924/9794/nq8Rap.jpg

Even Sammy (her guitar player) is wearing the same hat! :roflmao

Photos from the pop-up store in Tokyo!

http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/640...922/CUx2H7.pnghttp://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/640...922/kZTMAy.png

http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/640...924/zRxrCK.pnghttp://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/640...923/rPoVPl.png
http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/640...922/7GP6rT.png

They're even selling the limited singles there!

The MA1-Jacket went on sale again on mu-mo on 6 PM Japanese time and size S is already sold out again. Her fans are crazy.
Even if I wanted to buy it, it wouldn't have had a chance.
I've bought the denim jacket in size M and it was much too big for me.

Kumi is performing on the first day of FNS this year on December 6th!

http://www.fujitv.co.jp/FNS/2017/day1st.html

Would be awesome if we got a NEVER ENOUGH performance since the release is the same day. Hopefully its not Ai No Uta again haha. Hoping for more TV lives!

YAAAAAAS I was hoping for this to happen.

https://s26.postimg.org/nx0hajk21/tu...rq6t6n_500.gif

I hope for more than one song. I need more random collaborations there.

----

Are we sure that the new picture is from this year's Hawaii live? I've seen that picture that Corvina posted for last, and it's way too much similar to the one they posted.

OMG that store is amazing!

Glad to see Kuu will be performing on the 1st day of this year's 2017 FNS Kayousai

Rest of the artistes that will be performing on the 1st day (for now)

フジテレビ系「2017FNS歌謡祭 第1夜」

2017年12月6日（水）19:00～23:28
＜出演者＞
嵐 / AKB48 / EXILE THE SECOND / 大原櫻子 / 亀と山P / 関ジャニ∞ / KinKi Kids / 倉木麻衣 / CHEMISTRY / 倖田來未 / さだまさし / 三代目 J Soul Brothers from EXILE TRIBE / THE ALFEE / JUJU / 谷村新司 / chay / TOKIO / 西川貴教 / NEWS / 乃木坂46 / B'z / V6 / 堀内孝雄 / and more

http://natalie.mu/music/news/256967
http://www.fujitv.co.jp/FNS/

Mmm maybe Kuu can sing something with CHEMISTRY ? I don't know :confused

Yaaas for DNS, and right on her anniversary day :heart

^ You mean FNS ? x)

Kuu has opened an Ameba blog for only 10 days starting from today until 26th Nov

https://img.barks.jp/image/review/1000149044/1.jpg

1st photo she posted , a swimsuit shot from her fanclub Hawaii trip

https://img.barks.jp/image/review/1000149044/2.jpg

https://ameblo.jp/koda-kumi-blog/entry-12328619703.html
https://www.barks.jp/news/?id=1000149044

:love

Yup, my phone corrected it somehow ahahahah x)

Yay for FNS!
Please perform NEVER ENOUGH!

And that blog campaign is a bit random. Just because AbemaTV is re-airing BSC and UNIVERSE Tour?
Anyway, looking forward to what she's going to post!
Especially if she continues with such great photos!

Why doesn't she have an Instagram?

Cause she'd give FC content for free :P

Kumi is so stunning though.

thank you so much! Idk why I love her expression whenever she opens her mouth lol, she looks sexier I guess. and the hair is so color-the-cover-ish I love it!

That AMeba picture is everything :heart I wish she could release another photobook as Maroc and Brazil, I mean the last one was freakin 7 years ago. Please kuueen you still looking damn hot. and Hawaii is your place hahah

I love the setlist, so many underrated gems: Birthday Eve, My fun, For you... a pity we won't be able to see footage once again

btw, in case anyone is interested.. Colleen Wilcox posted the original painting she did for Kuu's 2017 Hawaii tour.

https://i.imgur.com/kWVNKFXl.jpg
https://www.instagram.com/colleenwilcoxart/

The Hawaii FC blog was updated.

Baidu was missing a song for the setlist:
■SET LIST
M1:Birthday Eve
M2: D.D.D
M3:Gimme U
M4:Swallowtail Butterfly～あいのうた～
M5:君想い
M6:BRIGET SONG
M7:My fun
M8 NO ME WITHOUT YOU
M9:For you
M10:め組のひと
M11：LIT

Here are some more pics:

http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/800...924/KXiKCe.png

http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/800...922/UlAtbO.png

http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/800...922/svGcI6.png

http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/800...922/WHinbk.png

Before there was a question corner with Kuu and at the end she gave every one of the fans a present bag.

http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/800...922/2mQ5dw.png

http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/800...922/gPhPtf.png

http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/800...924/SB4e03.png

http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/800...924/JdXbQY.png

At the dinner table everybody also got some bath salt.

http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/800...924/x3Vg4P.png

@Kaledkalil:
The dress for this year was different (with fringes) and her hair, even though veeeery similar styled, is lighter this year as well.

That green outfit is everythiiiiiiing! She's been wearing a lot of black and white outfits lately so it's really nice to see her wearing something colorful.
How I wish we had footage of this event, even if it wasn't the full thing... It could be a bonus to a FC edition of something~

^so nice. Thanks for posting Corvina.

@Corvina Yeah, I can see it now! haha Basically only the bottom half of the dress that is different, I don't know. They are beautiful dresses anyway.

Thanks for the pictures!

I'm not the biggest fan of the setlist, but I think it's ao amazing that fans have the opportunity to watch such an intimate concert and be so close to her! Regardless of the songs she performed, I would give everything to be there. :yes

Oh, and she looks gorgeous in that green dress.

How exactly do these trips work? Is it a lottery, or first-come-first-serve for a limited # of tickets? How long is the trip? How much time do they get to spend with her, etc.?

Such organised fanclub trips are lottery based . Duration wise , it depends on the location be it if the trip is held domestically within Japan and/or overseas

Be it if it takes place domestically within Japan or overseas , they don't come cheap . BREAKERZ are doing a fanclub trip to Chiba's Kamogawa next Feb and it's 2 days 1 night but it will set me for ¥53,800 :tired which my friend is going next Feb

I don't know how much does Kuu's fanclub Hawaii trip cost but when BREAKERZ went Hawaii together with their fanclub members in 2013 for 5 days 3 nights , each fanclub member paid between ¥179,000 Yen - ¥248,000 x_x

The upside is that you get to do a lot of really fun things together , and also you will get exclusive mechanise and photo opportunity as keepsake

BREAKERZ's 2018 fanclub Chiba trip details include

★ Special big party
★ BREAKERZ will go to each hotel room wishing everyone personally good night before heading to bed
★ 4 shot group photo (all 3 members with a fan)
★ Special original souvenir

Kuu's fanclub Hawaii trip's contents is probably quite similar

This is extremely weird... and amazing.

^ :laugh

They also did that during their 2011 fanclub overseas trip to Hong Kong and their 1st fanclub domestic trip to Okinawa in 2010

They went to all the hotel rooms all the fanclub members were staying and did it . They didn't need to but how often does this happen haha

Similarly with Kuu , they do acoustic showcase with interactive Q&A thrown in . That aspect is also not included in any DVD footages sadly , just photos & reports that they do include in their fanclub magazines . It beats not having anything anyway

I've decided to translate the posts in her promo blog, cause she's posting about her work process!

Her blog is the most popular blog for artists!
https://official.ameba.jp/categories/8/ranking
-------------------------------------------------------------------------

Karen already spoke about it in general.
For Kuu this and last year were both 3 days-2 nights-trips to Hawaii.
They're flying and staying together with Kuu in the same hotel.
Idk the costs this year, but last year it was around 200k yen (flights and accommodation included - think about it as an all inclusice holiday trip like booked in a travel agency).

Every day is planned.
This year it was:
1st day: Welcome party with photoshooting with Kuu (on her birthday)
2nd day: Question corner and Special live
3rd day: Premium Barbecue party

Special merchandise and meals are included as well.
Of course there's also some free time in between to go to the pool or see something from the town in Hawaii. Last year they also had a trip by ship.
Quite a bunch of fans are asking for such an event in Japan on the last Twitter post about it. I know from Instagram, that there are fans, who can't go, cause they have kids or no money for it, but want to pretty badly.

Kuu was really cute with rehearsing.
She posted in her FC blog, that she is rehearsing quite a lot, cause she wants to be nearly perfect in the live for her fans. Considering it was all acoustic and not the usual arrangements.

---------------------------------------------------------------------

A new post today.

So she's probably shooting the musicvideo the coming week.
I wonder what she's working on for next year.

I'm enjoying these posts, they give us a bit of the backstage Kuu~
Can't wait to see a post from the actual mv shooting

Thanks for keeping us updated with the translations!

Thanks for explaining guys!

Thanks for the translations. Love this, thank you

Thanks for the translations, Corvina! Hope the new PV has some budget.

I hope one day Kumi does a enka-ish cover album, even in 1994/1995 she was doing a good job with this kind of song. ♥

Kuu slaying Akina Nakamori's songs since the 90s

Another blog update.

Guess she is preparing a new album as she's in the studio again?
Exciting!

I was gonna comment the same, NEVER ENOUGH has already been recorded so this must be something new. Can't wait for it!

That's cool that she's recording more stuff! She still has the FC tour to do next year, so I wonder if we could expect an album right afterwards. (hoping that the new album has a 2nd DVD with the Lets Party Vol. 3).

She's such a hard working woman, love her. ♥

-----

Another new song registered:

https://i.imgur.com/KubtvzI.png

It is this hot mess, kind of a guilty pleasure tho https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fABu3Yp9hc4

I'm not expecting a CD+2DVD ever again, now they always make that FC edition with the DVD of the concerts, but you need another copy to get the PVs ):

Yeah, I'm not expecting a CD+2DVDs, but I say as a 2nd version of the DVD (usually her FC version), as the regular is always only for the PVs.

You sure it's the same?
Kira already released the song some time ago.
So Kuu can't anymore, unless it's a cover, which I doubt she will do.

Guess it's the same case as with Black Make up.
Kuu got it first, but didn't want it in the end, so it went to another artist.
Or she does prepare another cover album with contemporary Japanese music...

Yes, I'm sure. Same composers: http://j-lyric.net/artist/a04b56a/l039be5.html

It could be a song she recorded but will never use, like those during Bon Voyage era (Tribal and many others).

Oh, got it :P My bad ahahaha

The song is somehow so weird yet I can see Kuu doing it lol

NEVER ENOUGH PV was shot today o_O

https://ameblo.jp/koda-kumi-blog/entry-12330305044.html

Uh that's really late ? especially since NEVER ENOUGH will be released in about 2 weeks' time

That said hopefully the song & PV will be good

I don't think it's that late, the PV is probably gonna be simple and as there is no DVD version, the video doesn't need to be ready when they start printing the physical copies. I've seen videos shot and edited in less than a week and they still looked good :)

This aside, love the hairstyle yay

For now the PV is only for promotion, so 2 weeks are more than enough time.
The single is already pressed, I'm sure.

Another white background music video...? Okay.

If it’s anything like insane, I’m excited. Hush though, Not my favorite.

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DPOqd5XUEAA0q1w.jpg

https://twitter.com/KODAKUMINET/stat...76984053972992

I wouldn't be surprised if I like NEVER ENOUGH but I will not like the PV , similar with what happened to HUSH

Some simple PVs work well, it all depends on the purpose or the meaning, similar to what Ayu did for HEAVEN. I am not expecting something as eyeful as On And On, but as long as it makes sense I am happy. And she's looking really really good there! Reminds me of The Artist cover art

that Namie song? :eek

Yup, it's been registered under Kuu's name, has same producers and all

lol! never heard of this happening in j-pop before :P

Two more photos from the NEVER ENOUGH PV from the FC:

http://imageshack.com/a/img924/5233/pDI4j7.jpg

http://imageshack.com/a/img923/7100/4YTv5L.jpg

Gonna translate the last blog posts now.

The blogposts from the last two days.
Only three days left for the blog!

Tks for keeping on translating :)
It's so weird to think she never had turkey before lol That's so common around here that I didn't expect that

^ That's because turkey is rarely if not never served in Japan's cuisine , same with duck , lamb / mutton

That said I don't quite like turkey it's quite tasteless if it's not cooked properly

I can’t imagine never having had a traditional turkey dinner. It’s like, what I live for. With stuffing and mashed potatoes, all smothered in gravy.... *drools*

I dislike turkey as well. That's why I have zero passion for Christmas dinners hahha

Omg I love turkey but ham is vile. Well, actually I like turkey lunch meat, real turkey isn’t all that great.

The PV looks like it has zero Christmas spirit. No aura of winter to be seen anywhere. Guess it will be just a bland ballad in the vein of Kana’s most recent. Ugh.

Well, in one of the tweets the PV is described as having a 大人っぽい雰囲気 - a mature atmosphere.

Blogpost from yesterday and today.
Last day is tomorrow. As the USJ live will be tomorrow, the last blogpost will be about it as well.

I didn't translate the post about BSC Tour last week.
Do you want to read it as well?

Unless there's some trivia on the live, I don't think a translation is needed :P But thanks for the other ones!

I want a live recording of those USJ Lives so bad that I don't even wanna know the setlist for this year's :laugh

this might be another low-budget pv.
By the way, she hasn't promoted HUSH in any ways, hope it will be perform at Universal.

KODA KUMI SPECIAL LIVE at UNIVERSAL STUDIOS JAPAN setlist

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DPkEUNgV4AEF5yq.jpg:small

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DPkEUNcUEAAok4f.jpg:small

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DPkEUNzU8AAsmxi.jpg:small

https://twitter.com/KODAKUMINET/stat...83152488251392

It's rare for an artiste's staff social feed to post their artiste's setlist (SID & FLOW also do that too) so it's nice that for once this has happened to Kuu

Nice to see HUSH & LIT in the setlist and yay for you :love

Also Kuu looks so pretty in the photos

More photos from Baidu:

http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/640...922/zAI7k0.jpg
http://imageshack.com/a/img924/9550/JpYmSX.jpg
http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/640...924/P8dK7R.jpg
http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/640...923/D3K2Ab.jpg

More photos from today's USJ special live

https://ameblo.jp/koda-kumi-blog/entry-12331639180.html

Kuu looks very pretty onstage . Also she's quite daring to take The Flying Dinosaur ride cos I've seen it personally when I went USJ beginning of this year with my sister & it was so scary that I didn't took it D:

https://www.usj.co.jp/e/attraction/j...-dinosaur.html

My sister did as she's quite gungho so x)

I always hated Bling Bling Bling but I love the setlist.

And I like the purple in kuu's hair!

Lit and hush!! I wonder if we’ll get to see at least alittle bit of the live.

https://78.media.tumblr.com/b44c3fa2...cIn1rf09ls.gif

I bet she's talking about ECSTASY, which she sang a couple of years ago but not for a "long time"...

She looks beautiful and the stage is quite nice as well. I wish we could watch those concerts.

Btw, the blog is gone already.

The setlist is really nice and Kuu is beautiful, love that hairstyle!

Oh gosh, I didnt save the last photos from her ameblo :weep does anybody have the original pictures pleasee

She looks amazing! Have we ever had a footage of any of her USJ lives? Or TV Reports?

^ Nope, nothing besides a few pics each year :/

What is that something-ALENCE outfit? Is it a movie poster? Looks cool, the kind of stuff Katya would wear :laugh

Setlist is really nice, again.

Did anybody save the last post of the blog?
Guess I gonna look at the fanssites.
The Phillipine FC site on facebook might have it.
Never imagined they'd delete it so fast. ;_;
Especially as it was quite successful.
It was #1 for artists for the whole time and #2 in the general ranking, just after one of the ex-SMAP members.
She even got some nice articles about it.


When did she perform ECSTASY the last time?
I believe that was her last FC tour. In 2013, 4 years ago.
Imo, that is long.


Setlist is really nice. I love, that she included LIT and HUSH and other recent songs.
But her setlists for fans instead for the general public are mostly better.

We only ever got a small snippet from her LINE account for the 2015 one.
I've uploaded it back then.



EDIT:
Foudn the last two posts from yesterday at the German Kuu site on facebook.
Gonna translate that into English then.
I mean, I've also read the posts yesterday, just didn't have the time.

Oh wait, they deleted the blog? Why? *facepalm* They could just leave it with no updates for a week or so.

Well, either way, nice to see it grabbed some attention. Maybe she'll consider doing that once again? :P

Alright, here's the last blogpost from yesterday.

(I love that black outfit and her hair so much!)

She's so cute about the minions! LOL

Thanks for the translations! A pity it's over :P

That pic of her laughing is SO cute omg <3

I love her USJ outfits and the tracklist. It's such a shame these performances are never recorded. Would have been awesome to have at least this last one on the 2nd DVD for the next album, I mean she even performed HUSH there. Damn.

I wonder if we should expect new album announcement early January or February.