Super Junior's Japanese Comeback - HERO

Photo: onehallyu.com/

Yea! Super Junior comeback! At least in Japan.  They came out with their first full Japanese Album on July 24th.  The first song released is Hero.  I love the song, especially since Eunhyuk starts off the song rapping in English.  

A few notations regarding the MV: 1 - Kangin slimmed down a lot.  At times it's hard to recognize him.  2 - I'm glad they toned down Ryeowook's purple hair.  It's more white than purple/blue.  (Currently his hair is black since he's in the High School Musical).  3 - Eunhyuk's hair got slighty bright red and he looks skinner.  4 - I don't like Siwon's patterned suit. It's not only on the jacket but shirt and pants as well.

Right now you can't really find the MV easily.  Seems like the Japanese music companies don't want anyone outside of Japan listening to any of "their" music.  Other than Japan's EMI Music, who has a YouTube account, I couldn't find any official site to watch any japanese music videos.  I would think SM Entertainment would be annoyed that they won't promote Super Juniors' Japanese Album outside of Japan.  I would like it on iTunes or Amazon.com like the Korean songs.

I won't upload a video here since someone my trace it back to the account and force them to take it down.  Listen to it, I love the song.  Here's a song list from their album.  If anyone finds the CD or song please let me know, I would love to get it.

 Album Tracklist credit: Renheit0202@KYU0105EUN

FT Island On Seven City Japan Summer Tour

FT Island (l to r): Song Seung Hyun, Lee Jaejin, Choi Minhwan, Lee Hong Ki and Choi Jong Hun

If I lived in Japan, I would be extremely excited. But since I don't, I'm just excited and I must admit a little bit jealous of fans in Japan!

Korean K-PopRock group FT Island has begun their Japan promotions for their "FREEDOM" tour in Japan. Their seven city tour will also include cities that they haven't visited before and they seem super excited. 

They say they will be showing off different genres and not just the "flower rock" they've become to be known for. What is "flower rock"? I know they have a song titled "Flower Rock". Anyone? Anyone? Songs off of their newly released Japanese album will be performed including the title track "Freedom", "Orange Sky" by Lee Hong Ki and "Hold My Hand" by leader Choi Jong Hun.

It seems though that the weather is not cooperating with them. FT Island vocalist Lee Hong Ki tweeted this afternoon that it is raining! Oh no! Those fans in Japan better get some slickers and umbrellas!

Following this tour, FT Island will go on tour promoting their "Take FT Island" concerts in the late summer. Tours upon appearances and musicals for members Lee Jaejin, Song Seung Hyun and Choi Minhwan, this band is really keeping busy!

On another note, CNBlue fans in the Philippines are welcoming FT Island's label mate over there for a stop on their tour! (Double jealous!)

~Chai out

Source: Lee Hong Ki's Twitter,  CNBlue Twitter, KPop Starz, and various news sources

Super Junior Wins Triple Crown in Japan's Oricon

WooHoo! From SMTown's Facebook, Super Junior won a triple crown on the Oricon's weekly chart in Japan.

"‘SUPER JUNIOR WORLD TOUR SUPER SHOW4 LIVE in JAPAN,‘ released as DVD and Blu-ray Disc in Japan on October 31st, ranked at 1st on both daily and weekly DVD charts, DVD music chart and Blu-ray Disc chart of Oricon.

Especially, by standing atop in 3 categories including weekly DVD chart, DVD music chart and Blu-ray Disc chart of Oricon, Super Junior proved their high popularity and influence in Japan once again.

The DVD and Blu-ray Disc contain two concerts from ‘SUPER JUNIOR WORLD TOUR “SUPER SHOW4”’, which were held at Kyocera Dome Osaka in December and Tokyo Dome in May."

Good going boys!  So proud of you.

Source: SMTown Facebook

SHINee's Dazzling Girl, Part 3

At long last, the final teaser photo for SHINee's Dazzling Girl, Onew! Click here for Onew's pic.

Yes! Finally, Onew looks as wonderful as he should.  He looks like he just got out of the shower and dressed himself.  I can now officially say that I do like this concept of theirs.

Even though they still look like young boys, they do look more mature, especially Taemin.  They do look a bit sexy, more so than the Sherlock photos.  I think being sexy is more of a look and attitude than just having less clothing.  The shirtless photos didn't work for me.

What I seem to forget is that this will be released in Japan.   

If you go on their Japan Official Website, it describes what's included in their single release.  CD, DVD,  Photocards, Trading Cards, etc.  Wow.  

All I want is their song.  I just hope they release their single on iTunes.  I think I've only seen their Korean songs on iTunes.  One of their Japanese songs, Kiss Kiss Kiss, was only released on their Japan Juliette single and not on iTunes.  I was fortunate to purchase that single in Japan on my trip there.  I couldn't find it anywhere else, other than a video on YouTube.

So, what do you think of their whole concept?  

Photo source and Official Website: SHINee Japan

Click here to watch Kiss Kiss Kiss a FujiONE Mezamahi live performance in Japan.  I do not own this video. Credit Uploader SilverFishyEunHae.

Omurice, my food quest

My quest to eat the differents kinds of Omurice in Japan first started with a Japanese drama, of course.  It was called Lunch Queen.  I watched it because I was so into Japanese dramas, that I watched anything anyone suggested. I never knew Yamapi was in it, he had a minor part (playing a younger brother.)  When I found out a couple of years later, I had to go back to see. He was so young and skinny.

Lunch Queen was about a family who owns a small family restaurant.  The father was the owner and chef, he was also the creator of one of his specialty, omurice with a demi-glaze.  His children worked there and was suppose to take over the family business.  Seeing the omurice in the drama looked delicious that I wanted to try it but was not available from where I live at that time.

On my first trip to Japan, I found it in one of the last restaurants we went to. Oh, the joy I had eating it.  I couldn't believe I found it.  I loved it!  Unfortunately, the sauce was not the demi-glaze but just ketchup. =( Delicious, none the less.  This is when I made it my quest to try more of it, if I ever came back to Japan.

On my second trip to Japan, I was all excited to try it again.  But, curses!  I never had a chance to eat it.  The picture above was the closest I ever came to it.  A restaurant that made a variety of omurice.  On my last day, I found out that it's a very common dish found anywhere.  What?!?  I guess we just spent too much time eating the variety of ramens we saw.

Basically, omurice is fried rice wrapped in an omlette and topped with, normally, ketchup. It  has chopped up meat, green peppers, onions, mushrooms or I guess any vegetable you have, mixed in the rice.

Now the new quest is to find out how to make a sauce for it instead of standing over the stove for hours on end stirring the pot just like the father in Lunch Queen.  Ketchup will not suffice.

I must say,  any of the Kdramas and Jdramas make food look wonderfully delicious.

If you have a chance, watch Lunch Queen.  It's a good drama.  ~gt

The new Exile???

One problem I have regarding Jpop is that they do not promote their groups and bands as much as Kpop.  Most of the videos I've watched before have been deleted and now it's really hard to find any old NEWS or Yamapi videos.  It's even harder to find any new groups to adore. 

On one of my trips to Japan, I was fortunate to see a mall concert for 10 minutes.  Why? Because our tour was suppose to visit the Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan and we had a 10 min break.  I was told that this group was really good and they were suppose to be the young, new upcoming Exile-like group.  I've never been to a Jpop or Kpop concert and of course I didn't care who was performing, I just wanted to see them.  Needless to say, in 10 minutes, they got a new fan or I would like to be one.  I don't know the group's name.  I think that sign might have said "No Photos," I can't read Japanese and I was scolded for taking this one picture.  They turned the moment I took the picture.  ARRGGGHHH!  Then I had to leave.  There were some pretty cute guys in the group. 

If ANYONE, just ANYONE knows who they are or tell me where I can buy their CD, I would be really appreciative.  This picture was taken when they were performing on May 18, 2012, next to the Osaka Aquarium, in the afternoon.  

Help, Please?

Hello,Hello...

My very first ever blog. A bit slow in posting but here I go....

I'm the green tea drinker. No coffee for me and let's not mix milk and sugar in my tea, thank you.

Who am I? Well, I love Kpop and Jpop, mainly SS501, Super Junior, SHINee and Yamapi (my first obsession).  I also watch KDramas and JDramas.  I'll especially watch most dramas with Yamapi and Song Seung Heon. And to a lesser extent, Daniel Henney.  I like discovering idols to adore, while keeping the ones I have already.  The more the merrier I say.

I like to travel and have visited my dream destinations, Japan and Korea, and wouldn't mind going back again and again.  There is just sooo much to see, experience and eat. I would love to go to a concert to see one of my idol groups.  

I'm slowly learning Japanese and Korean, a word at a time, and have known to mix both languages in one sentence (forgetting if it's a Korean or Japanese word).

I'm hoping to share my rambling thoughts as well as learn a few things along the way.