It seems that the lineup was underwhelming. In fact, in recent years the hype around kouhaku seemed to be in decline. But it could be from a variety of factors. :shrug

about the viewership being low even with amuro: wasn't she scheduled at 11pm or something? that's rather late and I'd imagine many people were out getting ready to celebrate.

4 1/2 hours for a music show can be really tiring to sit and watch though . Maybe this's why MUSIC STATION's Tamamori don't want to host Kouhaku despite him being offered to do so multiple times

That said I haven't watch the entire Kouhaku yet but I wouldn't lie that all the while I always prefer watching Johnny's Countdown as it's a lot more fun

Wouldn't surprise me if Johnny's Countdown 2017 - 2018 is higher than the previous 1 especially with the announcement of KAT-TUN's comeback

Quite surprised BREAKERZ's longtime stylist is currently spending the new year in my country :O

Now why can't BREAKERZ tag along with him ? D:

I know GIRL NEXT DOOR's self titled album had special TSUTAYA & mu-mo versions that have different versions of Guuzen no Kakuritsu PV , plot wise

I watched finished earlier on the Guuzen no Kakuritsu (Another Version I ~ III) and they're all 3 short versions of the same song with different plots although they're mainly CG driven

It's quite crazy that avex used to spend a lot of $ on them and in a way it's sad that while their music got better , their budget when comes to their PVs & covers went down :x

OH PLEASE NO...NOT AYAKA! :no

Also adding how will the management make up these dates. :(

I randomly ended up listening to Shiina Ringo's cover album this weekend and was surprised to find that I really liked it! Her covers of more, Chiisana Kinomi, I won't last a day without you, and Kuroi Orfeu are so good and addictive... This album makes me feel like trying to get into her original works again.

Musically the year starts awesome.
New album by BoA 02/14, new album by JUJU 02/21, new album by Kuu 02/28!
And a new single by Beverly 02/28 as well!

My sister will be going back Japan consecutively the next 3 months which's ridiculous , LOL

When both of us went Osaka last Jan , she said it was her 1st & last time going back Japan during Winter but now she's taking it all back :roflmao

Our mum asked my sister what concert she's going for next month and she said she's going to see 46 guys perform onstage at Chiba's Makuhari Messe :laugh

On a side note , Johnnys overload kick off this week until end of next month woo

Still waiting for KAT-TUN to announce a proper release for their comeback song Ask Yourself

MIYAVI is coming here to perform for the 1st time :O

Wow about time , better late than never

Also I found out other artistes that has never performed here before are coming to perform here for the 1st time which includes

- HY
- Atari Kousuke
- Hajime Chitose

Atari & Hajime are performing together

Any thoughts of a new Johnny's group? Haven't had a new Johnny's group for the past four years or so...but that will change this spring when the Johnny's family welcomes King & Joker Prince to its roster!

http://aramajapan.com/news/johnny-as...-spring/84272/

^ King & Prince , not King & Joker

So, yeah. This just happened. This came out of nowhere. I can't believe this happened... :yeek

I have to wonder what's going to happen in J-pop - other than AKB/Johnny's - first Namie's retiring, and now Tetsuya Komuro, all because of a sex scandal, is going to retire as well...

This is a dark day in J-pop indeed. :(

Looking at all sales and popularity from last year and also the start of this year, male solos are on the rise.
Maybe they're going to be the next big thing after female solos and idols?
Gen Hoshino, Kenshi Yonezu , Ken Hirai, Keisuke Kuwata.
Or also some international ones like Bruno Mars and Ed Sheeran.
Newer male bands and formations not being idols are doing good as well like e.g. Wanima or Suchmos.
Going to be interesting to follow that.

KinKi Kids's latest single is great & they seldom disappoints

I love the contrast of what both A-side have with each other and I didn't expect the 2nd part of DESTINY PV included a mini Koichi solo dance which's awesome as I love to see Koichi dance , sorry Tsuyoshi :laugh

I hope I wouldn't need to wait for another 8 more years for KinKi Kids to release something that they write & compose together

New Kobukuro single to be released in April

Psyched , about time for new Kobukuro material

Last year's Kokoro was surprisingly good & for once the PV elevated the song to another level , thanks to teamLab which they subsequently also worked on V6's Setsuna-teki Night PV which to me is the best PV out of the rest in The ONES album

AKB48 just sold almost 550k in one day with their new album. And with just two versions, too.
That's great. Curious how the weekly numbers will be.

And no more Kami 7 either with Mayuyu leaving at the end of 2017. :(

(There is a theater version actually, though I'm not sure if that's even counted...)

I would have loved to see KinKi Kids perform either Topaz Love or DESTINY on this week's MUSIC STATION

Real surprised they opt out which's unusual . Maybe this's why they performed both songs earlier than usual last year on 2017 FNS Kayousai , Shin Domoto Kyoudai Christmas SP & NHK Songs

I'm probably just greedy haha

After years of living in the dinosaur stone age , Johnnys & Associates finally lift a partial media online photo ban & online media sites can now post official Johnnys photos taken at certain events

Honestly it's about time J & A move on with the times cos all the while this photo ban makes 0 sense . I guess they were 'jealous' that ex SMAP's Goro , Tsuyoshi & Shingo have a considerable big social media presence after they left the agency and they have no idea how social media can be beneficial if you utilise properly

If not why J & A allows SMAP's Takuya to post photos of himself via LINE ? But I do admit that Johnnys should have not have their own social media accounts but as a compromise their own staff should be the 1 doing the posting but I don't think nutty Johnnys fans are ready for that , yet

Slow & baby steps

Now I have to imagine how the Johnny's camp will look like around 2020, particularly on the Internet side after what just happened earlier this week - the first steps in lifting 'protectionist' bans (that is, photos of Johnny's acts, on media press conferences at the moment that Karen just said)...