4 posts tagged “america”
Well AX has pretty much ended and Momusu are on a plane to Japan. It was a good couple of days and a wonderful debut for one of Japan's biggest girl groups.
On this last day of events, the people who weren't shooting off fireworks were asking Tsunku questions. But before that, there were Momusu autograph sessions. The first to get one was the people who recieved a autograph ticket from the MM Q&A session two days before, which means that they're twice as lucky. The second to get one was the people who gained tickets from buying CDs from Japanfiles' and JPopHouse's booth, which was kinda unexpected (I didn't know Japanfiles had that much power).
Then after that was the Tsunku Q&A session. I haven't read the transcript yet but I expect it to be very interesting (That would be cool if he broke into song in the middle of the session).
So I guess that's the end of my "not there" AX '09 coverage. I'll leave you with a video of the H!P booth (Nice design, by the way).
Ok yesterday was the official start of AX, even though for the MM fans it started on the 1st. The Expo started off with the arrival of guests of honor and the opening ceremonies. The Guests of Honor were introduced and staff explained how the expo was gonna play out. From what I heard, there were also a lot of advertising for the various exhibitors.
Then there was the Q&A session, where (some) fans asked MM the questions that they were dying to ask. I heard Linlin answered her questions in English, which wins her points from me. I'm guessing everyone else answered in Japanese and broken English. I heard something about Yossie (I'm sorry...I mean Hangry) being there signing stuff and that's just awesome.
Paul from Hello! Blog met the UFA president. I wonder what's that like, standing in the presence of a person who controls your favorite singing group.
But with all the good things there have to be some bad things. I've heard stories about some Western fansites and blogs were denied an interview by UFA. Some (including my favorite fansite, Hello! Online) weren't given a reason why, which makes me wonder what those press passes were for...I'll leave you with a video of the opening ceremonies.
Well the time has come for Morning Musume's first trip into mainland America. On behalf of all the MM fans from Oklahoma (Me and about 20 other people), let me say welcome to the US, Momusu (Make sure you don't get lost downtown.I heard LA is tough to navigate). Now while I can't be there at AX in person, I will still try to comment on each day. Right now it's day 1, so I'm late writing this post, but today's events haven't actually started yet (I'm two hours ahead of LA) so I'm not doing too bad. I heard that the IW press team in LA doesn't have wi-fi in the Los Angeles Convention Center. (Well that sucks) That means posts from them will be limited to about 1 or 2 a day. I wonder why a convention center wouldn't have wi-fi...I smell a conspiracy! Anyway, I'll stop rambling and leave you with a video of MM arriving in LA.
I know all of you have heard the news. Momusu will be performing at Anime Expo '09 in California in July. This will be MM's first trip to the continental US.
http://www.anime-expo.org/2009/02/12/morning-musume-first-official-guests-of-honor/
Read all about here at Anime Expo's official website or if you don't want to do that:
Anime Expo® Announces Morning Musume As First Official Guests Of Honor For 2009 Convention In Los Angeles
Nation’s Largest Anime and Manga Convention Welcomes Japan’s Top Female Group from Hello! Project
Anaheim, California and Tokyo, Japan (February 12, 2009) — With excitement beyond belief, Anime Expo® proudly announces the attendance and performance of Japan’s most celebrated and top all-girl music group MORNING MUSUME (also referred to as “Momusu”) to the nation’s largest anime and manga convention held July 2-5, 2009 at the Los Angeles Convention Center. More information can be found on the website www.anime-expo.org.
The MORNING MUSUME (モーニング娘. Morning Daughter) is a one of a kind all-girl group whose story began in 1997 when Japanese producer TSUNKU♂ held auditions for a female rock vocalist for his band SHARAN Q held on the Japanese TV show ASAYAN. With the five runner-ups from the contest, Tsunku decided to create an all-girl group that sold 50,000 copies of their indies CD single “Ai no Tane” and debuted as MORNING MUSUME. They are the lead group of Hello! Project.
MORNING MUSUME’s first single “Morning Coffee” made a huge splash by hitting the #6 position in the Japanese pop charts within its first week of release. In August of 1998, MORNING MUSUME reached the #1 spot in the Japanese pop charts with their 3rd single “HOLD ON ME”. In 1999, the group had their first nationwide tour with 19 performances in 7 cities for 40,000 fans.
In September of 1999, MORNING MUSUME released their smash hit “Love Machine” that sold 2 million copies and held the first place spot in the Japanese pop charts and stayed 17 weeks on the Oricon Karaoke Chart.
MORNING MUSUME is famous not just for being the Japan’s top female group, but also for its unique approach with the shuffling of members. Producer TSUNKU♂ creates freshness by graduating band members and adding new members to create different units and adds fresh new faces for fans old and new.
In 2007, MORNING MUSUME made a historic impact within the Japanese music industry as the band welcomed new members Jun Jun and Lin Lin from China and began to reach an international audience. In 2008, MORNING MUSUME celebrated their 10th anniversary. MORNING MUSUME is definitely the world’s most famous and successful Japanese all-girl group.
MORNING MUSUME consists of band members Ai Takahashi, Risa Niigaki, Eri Kamei, Sayumi Michishige, Reina Tanaka, Koharu Kusumi, Aika Mitsui, JunJun, and LinLin.
Images available upon request and/or via the Anime Expo® 2009 Online Press Kit.
Attendees, Press and Industry Members are also encouraged to view the video coverage site of the 2008 convention at www.AXBackstage.org and to register for the 2009 convention at www.anime-expo.org.
http://www.helloproject.com/newslist/expo_0902131520.html
UFA confirms it here
So they're finally expanding further east. If this appearance is successful, maybe we'll see more appearances in the US, Canada, or the UK. That would be pretty awesome. Anyway good luck, Momusu.
