^
^ Thank you! I'll have to try and catch the 7pm one. :)

I gonna watch one of the Nagoya dates as well, tho I haven't decided yet which one.

Tickets for both Nagoya dates are almost sold out, only few left.
Fukuoka looked pretty full from the pics and reports as well in the end.

As tickets are digital again like for the 19th ->20th Anni event, they also give out replica tickets again like in December.

This was the one for Fukuoka:
https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/8...924/7y8U4o.pnghttps://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/8...922/hPOtnA.png

And this for Osaka:
https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/8...924/da8km9.png

All the things they give out this time are lying on the chairs, not handing out as usual:
https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/8...922/Hln3bB.png

And I've seen posts about people joining Kuu's FC for the My Name Is... album like here, for those wondering.
If that's what they wanted it worked at least for some. :laugh

Check the album on the Playroom store and it is already sold out! I am surprised!

That's my picture! Hahahaha

Oh wow, I guess Kuu's marketing team were on to something, haha. That's good news to hear. :)

TABOO



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fl7u341Htos

:love

TABOO is iconic. Iconic video, iconic photoshoot. Amazing b-side, even the remix there was good. God knows how obsessed I was with this single back in 2008 and I will forever be, and it's one of the few singles that I have both CD Only and DVD.

The bathroom look is one of my favorites of her, and the dark color hair suits her very well, wish she could use more this type of color instead of blonde sometimes.

And also its a number 1 single...

https://logoonline.mtvnimages.com/ur...1532966340.gif

For sure , TABOO is still a classic after so many years & I still like Always even up to now

TABOO is clearly one of her stronger singles and one of my personal fav songs.
I’m glad the song is well received by her fan base. The song is often performed.

I wish she was less lazy when she performed it nowadays.
Her dancing is not as great as 2008 for this song!

Everything about TABOO is just iconic, after all these years and it still sounds so good. Same for Always. I think I'll even rewatch THE ARTIST just to see the hoverboard performance lol

Always is one of her BEST songs...

Sat's MY NAME IS... tour at Nagoya's Nippon Gaishi Hall might not go ahead due to typhoon

Tomorrow at 6pm Japan time Rhythm Zone will make its final decision if Sat's concert will go ahead as planned or no

https://rhythmzone.net/koda/news/detail.php?id=1086486

Egad D:

I can't freaking believe they showed on 歌のゴールデンヒット the Cutie Honey performance on Gekkou Ongakudan! I don't have hopes on people recording the show, but that was so unexpected. I still wish one day someone can share this performance.

https://www.tbs.co.jp/utanogoldenhit/#ranking

This show showed the best selling female artists in Japan (only counting albums sales) and Kumi was top 20 with almost 8.500.000 units sold. For someone who had such a short peak as Kumi, she sold pretty well. Also is worth noticing that, from artists that debuted after 2000 she's number 1, the rest in the top 20 debuted during the 70s, 80s or 90s.

can we take that in for a little bit. Like how did that happen, how is someone as talented as kumi get such a short peak. I'm baffled.

Kumi had multi-platinum or million certified albums from 2005 to 2009. The UNIVERSE project nearly shipped 500k to stores, and she had 2 gold certified singles. 2010 was a great year for her too.

The All Night Nippon incident didn't do her any favors, but it wasn't a "career killer" at all. Kingdom was still one of the best selling releases from a female soloist regardless. TRICK was the 2nd best selling studio album from a female soloist only behind Superfly.

There was also an industry transition after 2008, when EXILE had that massive peak, and then Arashi had one in 2009. Then came the AKB48 juggernaut the following year.

The female soloist movement kind of collapsed after 2010, when idol fever/group mania kicked off. Kana went from 700k album sales and easy gold singles in 2010, to under 375k the following year. She had absolutely no scandal or major change in sound. I don't see how anyone couldn't feel the shift in Japanese popular culture by 2011.

I'd argue it was a combination of the All Night Nippon incident, industry transition, and a cultural shift in favor of idols and groups.

It's pretty obvious why. The amniotic fluid comment.

Anyway 8.5 million is really good considering sales were already down quite a bit in the mid 2000s during her peak.

no it really isn't. Yes the amniotic fluid comment was a huge scandal. but for all her fans to gradually walk away regardless of her awesome music seems strange. I mean, her kingdom tour right after went off without a hitch.

lovethatkuu&ayu

I see. So kumi got her big break to late in the game. That makes sense.

Well, they actually say you have only one album that is "THE ALBUM", like Katy Perrys 2nd one or Taylors 1989. Anything else is just a bonus.

Here is the clip, you guys can download it
https://mega.nz/file/3rQGGBzR#kIOtLO...ZVkR90pqUR0iro

Tomorrow's MY NAME IS... tour at Nagoya's Nippon Gaishi Hall will proceed on as planned despite the typhoon

https://rhythmzone.net/koda/news/detail.php?id=1086522

Phew what a relief . I spoke with Xianghua over it yesterday & she was like not again cos last year when she attended the re(LIVE) concert , the typhoon also almost derailed her & her friend's chances to attend :s

Nagoya's weather is projected to be sunny this Sun so Xianghua found it so odd when I told her this yesterday

Anyway whew thank goodness , haha

Great achievement! Especially considering how late and short her peak was compared to the others!
Do you have the complete top 20? I’m curious to know :)


Does anyone heard this mega mix?
This is so awesome!

Kuu's music is part of Instagram music for a while now.
Insta music displays the lyrics of the chosen song. And the Introduction for Trick is part of it, at least the chorus, the main part!

So here are the official lyrics for that part:

https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/8...922/w7O7kB.png

Party People Bounce
左から右に
止まるなdance
派手にぶちかませ
はまってる
あたしの呪中に Trick Trick
それが My Trick

So now only the verses are missing from the studio and the full live version. :laugh

Xianghua & her friend are currently inside Nippon Gaishi Hall

She sent me these pictures which she said I'm allowed to post them on here



Xianghua said she's so near the stage :O

Nagoya's replica ticket

https://i.postimg.cc/HjDRwpxY/1602300789381.jpg

And she received this fanclub item a while ago as a birthday gift

https://i.postimg.cc/8kJCmt59/1602300759489.jpg

First concert started!
And I'm happy, the stream is already a lot better than in Osaka. :heart

https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/8...924/bkcYkK.jpg

Arena looks really full - but 4,000 people is almost half of Nippon Gaishi Hall, full capacity is 10,000.
Or they went with more as it's allowed again.

I absolutely love her energy today!

Vocals were strong till she started crying in Moon Crying again.
Well, at least it's genuine crying.

Also starting with Suki de she has problems with one of her ear pieces, WON'T BE LONG now and she still has those problems and took it off now.

The change in the ballad part
18. BRIDGET SONG
19. 好きで、好きで、好きで。

I recorded 好きで:
http://www.mediafire.com/file/669emg...agoya.mp4/file

Alright, Kuu just announced a new album!
Or better several.

https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/8...922/tcTIZX.jpg

Called angeL x monsteR.
Two mini-albums for each theme, being one full together.
Release date December 2nd!

4 versions
Mini-album angeL [MY NAME IS...]
Mini-album monsteR [MY NAME IS...]
Package 2 mini-albums + DVD angeL x monsteR [MY NAME IS...]
FC limited package mini-albums + DVD (Blu-Ray) [MY NAME IS...]

Looks like only her FC gets the Blu-Ray this time! :D
They played a preview of a new song with it, it's the one she showed to one of the fans in one of the Insta lives she did.

Seriously loved her energy today.
Her dancing in Dreaming Now!, wow.
Her vocals are good again in the last part, real Emotion, Lucky Star, girls, Butterfly, WIND! :heart

EDIT:

Kinot made a better screencap:

https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/1...923/OwEjPU.jpg

God Damn it!!! YES YES YES!!! she looks again amazing!!! CAN'T WAIT!!!

Xianghua was literally screaming inside Nippon Gaishi Hall earlier on xD

She said the full body shot image shown on the screen is the fanclub cover for the 2 mini albums package

So happy for Xianghua that she was able to attend today's afternoon concert with her friend :)

Yeah, those are all covers!

Mini-album angeL
https://imagizer.imageshack.com/img923/1420/htiCsn.jpg

Mini-album monsteR
https://imagizer.imageshack.com/img922/2028/K00ZT8.jpg

Mini -album package
https://imagizer.imageshack.com/img924/687/osrXwK.jpg

FC limited package
https://imagizer.imageshack.com/img923/5154/b1zEHW.jpg

Only 2 months till release.

again a double release. Not that I complain, just surprised.

Official info is out on her FCs!

angeL [MY NAME IS...]

https://imagizer.imageshack.com/img924/9519/VySzo8.jpg

CD only
6 tracks, including puff, Lucky Star and I'm Lovin'

monsteR [MY NAME IS...]

https://imagizer.imageshack.com/img924/4918/XtpB1R.jpg

CD only
6 tracks, inlcuding XXKK

mini-album package angeL + monsteR [MY NAME IS...]

https://imagizer.imageshack.com/img922/521/CsIv4U.jpg

CD + DVD
front and back cover
Disc 1
angeL with 6 tracks inlcuding puff, Lucky Star and I'm Lovin'
Disc 2
monsteR with 6 tracks including XXKK
Disc 3 (DVD)
4 PVs
6,600 Yen

FC limited edition

https://imagizer.imageshack.com/img923/7006/vTZAub.jpg

CD + DVD/Blu-Ray
Disc 1
angeL with 6 tracks inlcuding puff, Lucky Star and I'm Lovin'
Disc 2
monsteR with 6 tracks including XXKK
Disc 3+4 (DVD/Blu-Ray)
4 PVs
Making ofs
-photobook
- special packaging
11,000 Yen

The theme of angeL is light, the theme of monsteR darkness.
Each one has 6 tracks, 12 in total, and 4 PVs for new songs.
Release date is December 2nd.

I assume it originally was planned to reveal the info in the 2nd Nagoya performance.
Cause in the 1st performance it all started with Kuu drawing the FC fan question, how she's working on/creating new songs, took WHO as example and then went on to new music...asking someone from her staff next to the stage ( I suppose her manager?) if it's alright to do it now.
And then they announced it.

I don't want to address the elephant in the room.
Still excited and the fan-club album makes more sense now.

There's going to be a limited online store at mu-mo for the tour:
https://shop.mu-mo.net/avx/sv/list1?...edium=referral
For the Nagoya performances it's going to be open from today 11:59 pm ~ October 18.
The Tokyo dates sale period will be announced later.
They plan to sell special items for each venue of the tour there as well.

Shop items:

HMV /Loppi will give out A5 clearfiles, every other CD store postcards.

FC goodies are:

mini-album+ DVD - B3 clear poster
for every single mini-album - jacket size sticker
FC edition - A4 cotton bag

Xianghua :

Taken at the end of today's concert 1st session

https://i.postimg.cc/SQ8wnJ7M/1602324442364.jpg

And the image used of Kuu in today's issued replica ticket(s) , it's not included in the MY NAME IS album booklet

The same thing applies to Osaka & Fukuoka's issued replica ticket(s) too

Images from the MY NAME IS album booklet



Wished there were more :s

Watching the evening Nagoya performance, despite performing a performance already her vocals and energy is amazing! :D

@Darkifrit The link I posted has the top 100 :)

@RainbowFive Thank you for the link!

We finally have our own LOVE again moment haha. With 4 PVs, we have only two spots left, right? Since XXKK and puff already having PVs.

I don't like those white lines in the CD only covers, but the photos are great. The DVD covers are great, somehow the photos reminds me of BOUNCE & LOVERS, maybe because the dark pictures with very bold and saturated colors.

Is it crazy to expect that the final Tokyo dates will have the angeL + monsteR tracks?

Gackto and Ku!!

:luv2 :luv2

^Corvina said 4 PVs for new songs tho

True, the info says

"MVs for new songs (4 pieces)".
Question is if they count puff and XXKK as new songs.
But I also expect that, cause imo it would be strange to not have the PVs of the songs on their respective album.

I wouldn't expect XXKK a and puff's PV to be left outside the release tho. But the more the merrier. It's the outside/inside DVD situation all over again, until we knew it was the same tracklist for both we really got crazy thinking about 6 PVs for each version. lol

Also, if it means quality, I will go with that instead of quantity.

I'm glad this is a proper release but 11k yen for the FC version? These just keep on getting more and more expansive omg x___x

^probably the only way to make them.

11,000 Yen is with tax.
AND and DNA FC edition were 10,800 Yen with tax.
So actually not much difference.

Oh, that's a bit better then, didnt notice the tax in.

Watch me using the money I saved for flight tickets being used on this + shipping fees lol

Oh dear, I was just going to order the standard editions from Amazon since it cost me so much to get the tour choker to me from mu-mo, but the FC version has a photobook and I love photobooks.....Welp my wallet. ;___;

I guess I'll wait and see how big the photobook is.... I'm still holding out for another big photobook like the ones she did in Morocco and Brazil, I have the Brazil one and I adore it. <3

The 2 mini albums' info are now released on Kuu's official site inclusive of more higher quality covers for the release(s)



https://rhythmzone.net/koda/news/detail.php?id=1086541

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Ej-EF50U...jpg&name=small

https://twitter.com/KODAKUMINET/stat...14882538541056

I actually don't mind the effects seeing the image in better quality. angeL CD only is very nice. Will probably get the 2CDs+DVD version or maybe both CD only, the FC content isn't that interesting (thank god, because I don't have the funds) and nowadays I prefer the albums with regular CD cases, don't have space for those LP size boxes like AND/DNA/reCORD.

I will not be surprised if that happens in the last 2 dates of the MY NAME IS tour

Before news broke on both mini albums' release , I originally wanted to combine the orders of 2 other artistes' albums into 1 but now I guess not , lmao

I'll be getting the 2CD+DVD version, since I have to be careful with my money nowadays. I really like the photos chosen for the covers.

I'm kind of surprised about this release, because I was certain a BEST was coming.

really excited for this release! all of the covers are so amazing. the poses are very different, so the pictures feel really really fresh. I love "angeL"s cd only cover.

i am very undecided which edition i want to buy.

I was thinking of buying the L+R+DVD bundle but I don't want to support any DVD releases
and i'm not a member of the fan club

also i don't like puff, Lucky Star and I'm Lovin, which is why I tend to buy only R ....

The covers are maybe not my favorite because the styling is meh but I love the lighting; just feels like a breath of fresh air compared to her other cover art...like, I look at these and feel like they stand out from her other releases. Doesn’t feel like a rehash of a cover she’s used before so I appreciate it just for that :heart

@KarenPang I guess it might happens, maybe not if she's planning on doing an angeL x monsteR 2021 TOUR.

@sweet dream & koumori I'm not sure who's the one you're referring to, but maybe her AWA playlist can give you the answer: http://www.ahsforum.com/forum/showpo...&postcount=308

Maybe you're talking about Kiyomi Suzuki? She was born in 1952 and Kumi did a collaboration with her years ago on Bokura no Ongaku of Suzuki's hit song "TAXI".



Btw, watch Kumi explaining that the L/R is that her angeL side is her left side, and her monsteR side is her right. lol

The best thing for me is that the FC edition looks and costs the same, no matter if DVD or Blu-Ray version.
Great deal, so easy to choose for me!

I work so much and can't go see her live this year and most probably next year as well, as the Japanese government plans to only let foreigners in regularly starting October 2021 if fhe pandemic goes on as it does now.

I'm just blown away by these covers! I love them so much!

When I saw "L" and "R", all I could think of were my contact lens case...which would have been a great good to go along with her color contacts :laugh

^ Hahaha you know that’s going to happen for her next tour goods! Haha

The preorder links in the limited tour shop are up.
The special item for buying the album there is an annoucement poster.
Wonder what they will sell for the Tokyo dates.

Found it on Baidu, here's the complete top 100.
They count every artist with a female lead singer for it.
https://tieba.baidu.com/p/7005698888...&is_jingpost=0

now that'd i buy the BR version in a heartbeat she makes it FC only -_-

Thanks for posting the full list Corvina! This really puts Kumi's career into proper perspective. I had no idea she had actually outside Mai Kuraki in album sales!

Quite possible it might happen next year let alone maybe another fanclub tour to promote both releases ?

It's a bit worrisome the last few days COVID-19 cases have surged yet again in Tokyo

I sure hope this will not stop Dec's Tokyo dates from proceeding on as planned :s

The change in the ballad part for the 2nd Nagoya performance was as followed:

18. through the sky
19. Sometimes Dreams Come True

And here for the 2nd performance in Fukuoka:

18. CHANCES ALL
19. 奇跡

Oh man I am OBSESSED with the CD only cover for angeL. Tbh I might just buy both the albums separately. The 2CD+DVD version is quite meh if it's just PVs. I've gotten to the point whereby just PVs on the DVDs are quite pointless now because Kuu's team is so actively uploading her PVs in HD anyway. again was in 4K!! But I get it, it's made with the Japanese consumer in mind.

Guys, i have a question: Will the photobook come in physical format or will it be digital?

Someone at my page ask me that lol But I assume it's gonna be physical for the "special package"

^ The accompanied photobook is a physical copy , not digital

If it's digital , it will be written something like this :

デジタルリジナル写真集

^Thank you so much, Karen ♡♡♡

A user on twitter posted a short CM for the mini albums and that song she previewed on instagram is playing!

CM: https://twitter.com/Kairi__93/status...24624707117059

Old preview: https://twitter.com/k__kuu93/status/1305291210647457792

Those b*stards back at it again!!! T_T

What the oO

I do not understand avex don't they wish to make more $ from people living outside of Japan ?

If the contents included in both mini albums could be offensive then that's different

It's almost the same as how Sony Japan behave in region blocking their artistes' videos on YouTube which luckily now they realised how pointless it was for them to do this in the 1st place

@KarenPang The partial good news is YesAsia is still taking preorders since they're not located in Japan and for some reason so is the Global FC. My friend is thinking there's a possibility that avex might be trying to get more international fans to join the FC right now.

^ If they want us to do so, they'd better get back on translating stuff cause the last message room message is from August 2019...

Nah not going to do business with YesAsia anymore after they lost my parcel years ago :eviltongu

I have other means & ways to buy the 2 mini albums legally so all hope is not lost for me

I'm not a fan of YesAsia either myself. I switched to CDJAPAN years ago cause I liked how they packaged and shipped stuff and found their customer service to be WAY BETTER. Sadly though there's nothing they can do when this happens. I even read that when Oricon decided not to include overseas sales from the charts CDJAPAN tried to talk them out of that decision. At this point with these current KK releases though my friend is a member of the Global FC and asked him to order me my CD Only copies from there for me. However, sadly I know other people may not have that option and hope they can get their copies as well somehow. :heart

I personally use CDJapan only if I have no choice cos all the while I prefer HMV Japan

Due to the pandemic , HMV Japan stopped overseas orders regardless of where you live , as long as you live outside of Japan

The retailers are not at fault , it's avex

Just that like you said , those who're either not in the fanclub and/or living outside of Japan , both are at a disadvantage and not everyone knows people living in Japan that're able to help them

@KarenPang The other sad thing too is while overseas customers don't make up a super large percentage this is hurting Kuu's sales as well which unfortunately have already not been super high over the past few years. :'(

It's basically a lose lose situation

I know you can buy Kuu's music digitally let alone stream her music online but it's not the same feeling as compared to buying physical copies of her release

Yeah I agree. Tbh, I listen to quite a few other artists but KK is one of only a very small few artists I still buy everything physical. She's my absolute favorite artist and has been for 19 years. I enjoy having her CDs greatly. I have her songs on my phone and tablet for when I'm out in public but at home I use the CDs to listen to her.

Yikes! I was wondering why the album wasn't listed on CDJapan. Amazon Japan hasn't listed it yet either sadly, and they usually offer albums with a "Japan only" ban like the last few TVXQ albums.

This is super frustrating, and I wouldn't be surprised if the tour release has similar issues.

Wow that’s crazy to me that they won’t sell overseas!

I’m honestly over international fanclubs. They’re never really going to cater to this crowd.

Ok, that's strange, cause you can order from overseas through the global FC and also e.g. through HMV online Japan.
I just directly preordered both CD only editions on HMV Japan with my overseas adress without problems.
Here's her site there on the english page:
https://www.hmv.co.jp/en/artist_Kumi...0000000169477/

I've already bought my re(LIVE) special edition there without any problems.
Even shipping to Germany was fast.

But you know, that usually means there's going to be a collabo or a featuring on the albums avex doesn't want to pay the global rights for, just like for re(CORD), rofl.

I ordered re(CORD) beginning of 2020 via HMV Japan which I didn't had any issues in doing so

I don't know if the same thing will happen for the 2 mini albums :s

No wonder I was suspicious why CDJapan has not listed the 2 mini albums on their website

I have other artistes' albums that I plan to buy in due time which CDJapan already listed them for preorder but not Kuu

I'm not sure if it is cause of a collaboration. When that happened people couldn't even order the FC edition of re(CORD). However I bought my CD+Bluray edition from CDJAPAN. This is just really odd and I hope for a proper explanation soon.

Amazon JP won’t send the mini albums to me either and I’m in the states

Fuck these jive turkeys

It's still early days before both mini albums eventually get released in Dec

I do agree it's so odd avex imposed the whole only can buy if you're living in Japan rule in recent years

They never done this before , so why now ?

Knowing Japanese's mentality as my mum deals with them in her line of work , theirs is they will beat around the bush without giving you a proper answer -_-

I sure hope this will not apply in this context

Does mu-mo require you to enter in a membership number to buy FC editions?

So if you have the link to the item, you can purchase it directly?

I'm not entirely sure but you might need to go in through the FC itself. You'd definitely need to enter some membership number I think for the FC edition to even appear for you to be able to order it.

^ I’m not in the fanclub, but I saw someone shared an Avex website and they said Avex linked to the FC mu-mo, so all the FC products shows up

You need a mu-mo account, right? I think you only need to be part of the FC of you want one of these editions

where :eek:eek

There's this new video on YouTube which explains how to shop on mu-mo and the Koda Gumi Global FC for international fans. Found this quite helpful to myself and thought I'd share this to help anyone else that may need a little help.

Didn't the global fanclub also have Re(CORD) up for pre-order and then they took it down and cancelled all the pre-orders from the global fc? I'm afraid that will happen here as well now that CDJapan confirmed they won't ship overseas.

I was reading that right now Tenso have some issues with the shipping, so anyone know if I can buy it from the global fc shop and sent it to my friend's house in Japan?

You might need to ask your friend to order it for you then. I think the shipping address and billing address has to be the same. As for the post, I'm in Canada myself and finding the mail from Japan is just being slow. EMS is taking an approximate additional 2 weeks to arrive.

^Thank you! I will do it then :heart Although it's still been a while since I ordered something from Japan, so I don't know what the situation is like here with the mail.

I hope that CDJapan and Amazon could sell the album, because many fans don't have access to another stores ; ;

If avex doesn't want my money and that's why most providers forbid selling the product, then that's the way it is. I will not now switch to providers that are not comfortable for me ... neither avex nor Kuu apparently need to serve all fans.

Other artists will certainly be happy if their CD is sold outside of Japan and in the future I will pay much more attention to how the companies treat ALL fans.

I don't like to force memberships or to use a certain shop ...

^ yes we go the extra mile most of the time trying to support our fave artists, but experimenting out there it's kinda dangerous

Kuu & other artistes will be featured in an upcoming Paradox Live CD titled Paradox Live Exhibition Show

The Paradox Live franchise was created by avex last year & it has 4 groups within the franchise

Paradox Live Exhibition Show will be released on 25th Nov

The song that Kuu will be featured on vocals wise is titled EMPEROR -WE ON FIRE!!- & she will sing the song together with Akan Yatsura , a 5 piece member group

https://twitter.com/paradoxlive_PR/s...38762849837056
https://paradoxlive.jp/discography/d...php?id=1017715

This should be interesting and Kuu is the only female artiste featured , aside from AAA's SKY-HI , DA PUMP's ISSA & Mitchell Kazuma

I find Paradox Live kinda weird, it gives me "Vocaloid but with real people singing" vibes, but well, it might be an interesting mix.

I feel like this could have a really interesting outcome. Hopefully it also helps bringing some attention to the mini-albums lol