Switch Girl, Season 1

Photo Credit:doramax264.com

I know most of the stuff we've been posting have been mostly Korean stuff but this time I wanted to write about a JDrama I recently finished watching.  It's called Switch Girl. It's an Aida Natsumi manga turned into a drama.

Synopsis:
Tamiya Nika is the switch girl.  She is the beautiful glamorous popular high schooler, during the school day.  But she has a secret life back home, she switches "off" into a complete mess.  She dresses in sweatsuits, glasses, no makeup, weird hairstyle, no manners when eating and farts. A complete slob.  She is the complete opposite of how she is in school.  Then she meets Arata, a transfer student and her life gets complicated.  

This drama is super short, 8 episodes and about 30 minutes per episode.  It's a cute drama and it's like a live action anime.  The actress Nishiushi Mariya is really good going from beautiful to weird.  I wouldn't say ugly because she doesn't look ugly even at her worst but she does look like a weird awkward geek.  I love her over the top expressions, just like in an anime.

Nika lives with her parents and older sister (you never see the dad).  Her mom and sister are also switch girls.

Nika also has a best friend since kindergarten, Nino.  Nino is the only person in school who knows about Nika's switch off.  It's actually during their lunch breaks on the school's rooftop that Nika switch off with Nino.

There is also the Boss Monkey, Nika's rival in school.  Boss Monkey, use to be the most popular and beautiful one in school until Nika transferred into that school and that's when she lost her status from number one to number two, which she hates.

Then there's Arata played by Kiriyama Renn.  He's the quiet transfer student that doesn't want to be bothered by anyone.  He wears these "coke" bottle glasses to looks nerdy.  He's also very smart.  Without his glasses, he's really cute.  He actually reminds me of Yamapi. His hair style and even the way he acts.

If you can catch Switch Girl, it's worth watching. It's funny and over the top acting like anime.

There's Season 2 as well.  I haven't watched that yet.

Dongho from U-Kiss leaving group?

Photo credit: kpopstarz.com

I read from asia247.wordpress.com that Dongho from U-Kiss is leaving the group because his "...determination about being active as a celebrity weakened." Also, he has health reasons.

NH Media made this announcement:

“Dongho will be absent from team promotions starting withU-KISS’ new album which will be released this month, and he will be putting a hold on his activities as a celebrity…Starting from the beginning of this year,Dongho’s determination about being active as a celebrity weakened, and he has revealed that he doesn’t believe his health condition and stamina fit well with the life of a singer… After a long discussion with his parents, we have decided to accept their decision…Dongho expressed that he wanted to live a normal life rather than that of a celebrity…Although the decision of Dongho’s leave from the group is one that causes harm to the team’s activities, the members have all decided to accept this change as well… Although we feel burdened by the empty spot, the group will release a new album as scheduled as six members.”

He is the third member to leave the group. Alexander and Kibum had left in 2011.

He is actually the only member of U-Kiss I know because of the variety show, Maknae Rebellion years ago.  He was also on Raising Idol.  He was trying to learn how to speak English.  He was kind of cute, but I've only watched Key's portion of the show.  I've only liked the song Man Man Ha Ni.  And I haven't gotten really into U-Kiss that much.  It's too bad when a member leaves.  The group isn't the same when they do.

Well, good luck to Dongho. All the best for him.  Hope he comes back, he was pretty funny in variety shows.

SHINee's 5th Mini Album and Comeback Special on YouTube

It's been a while but SHINee's coming back.  They've got a 5th Mini Album coming out and today they will be having a Live Comeback Special on YouTube.

SMTown release a video teaser with highlights of a bunch of their songs on the mini album.

Also here's the link to their live comeback special. SHINee Special Live

Hopefully, if you can't watch it live, SMTown with upload the video.

Here's the teaser video.

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

Super Junior Hawaii Experience

Eunhyuk on the beach =D
Photo: @sanjinamarie

Super Junior left Hawaii on July 15th. Well, most of them left on the 15th.  Eunhyuk left on the 17th.  For their brief stay in Hawaii they left a very big impression, not only on me, but a lot of K-pop fans who rarely see any big name K-pop idols in Hawaii.

When I heard that they had arrived on the island of Oahu, you can't imagine my excitement. Usually I hear that SMtown travels to New York or California, if they decide to travel to the U.S.  I'm always stunned that I don't hear them stopping over in Hawaii for refueling before continuing on back to Korea.  Why not???

In any case, they had arrived and stayed to do a photo shoot.  Coincidentally it's at the same time as the Korean Festival.  I thought they were going to perform there but sadly no.

During their time here so many fancams were uploaded to show where they were and what they were doing.  In the past, there were photos of them all clothed and if there were glimpses of their chest or bellies peeking from under their shirts fans would go crazy and I have to admit, me too.  But while they were here somehow it didn't seem strange that they were practically half naked on the beach surfing, tanning or relaxing.  I thought it was normal and didn't think anything of it.  All I kept on thinking was "YIKES! Some of them are getting pink.  Why isn't someone telling them to put on sunscreen?"  "Hope someone is giving them Tylenol and aloe to ease the pain if they felt any after being in the sun so long."  Kangin looked super red in one of the skateboarding pics.

Kangin in the orange tank, Ryeowook in the strip shirt.
Photo credit: Mimikim12 @instagram/twitter

My only brief sighting was on a Tuesday.  All the pics of Suju returning to Korea didn't have Eunhyuk in them.  People were saying there was one missing.  Yea! It looked like it was my bias, Eunhyuk.  I had to go down to the hotel to see if I could get a glimpse of Eunhyuk.

After work, Chai, my partner in crime, and I decided to see if he was actually still at the hotel.  I only had 2 hours before I had to be somewhere else.  We had gotten to the hotel and it didn't look like there were any fans hanging around.  We decided to wander back towards the beach and looked around.  Nothing.  Then back to the front of the hotel and hung out there.  We had heard that Eunhyuk was still there and had gone out in a silver car.  As we waited, I kept on looking at the time.  I was getting nervous because I needed to leave already.  Next thing I knew a car pulled up and I glanced at the passengers.  I notice the hair and thought "Is that him?!?"  As he walked by with the Prince Manager and someone else, my brain slowly decided "TAKE A PICTURE!"

Ugh! The delay between pressing the button and the click of the camera was too long.  Someone had walked between Eunhyuk and me as my camera snapped.  Sadly, I only got a bit of Eunhyuk's head in my pic. T_T

They had walked into the hotel and I was going to follow but stopped.  I didn't know if I was going to be too intrusive or not.  We had decided to leave.  Sigh...I would have wanted a picture with him.  In hindsight, I wish I was bolder and had followed and asked for a picture with him or  at least a hug.  Oh well, at least I have a memory of seeing him close up and in person, however briefly.  It was fate that my bias had stayed a day longer, hopefully so I could see him (haha).  I hope he comes back, so I could really get a photo with him.  Kyuhyun too. =)

Eunhyuk on the right, this is what he was wearing when I saw him. =)
Photo: Johann Hedemann Twitter Update

I hope that they had enjoyed their stay here, however, short and hopefully return.  I have high hopes that the rumors would be true and Suju would be coming back to Hawaii.  

Super Juniors in Hawaii!

Photo copyrighted by: JosephLibby.com

AHHHH! Can I get anymore excited?!?  Super Junior is here on Oahu!  First Daniel Henney comes to Hawaii in 2012 for HIFF and I get to meet him. Now, miracles of all miracles, Super Junior DongHae and Siwon are on Oahu.

Well, at first it seems like it's only DongHae and Siwon.  But looking at the photo above, it looks like Shindong (in yellow) and Sungmin (see below) is here too.

Korean Drama Hawaii's Facebook stated that they are here for a photo shoot.  Kyuhyun, Eunhyuk  and Ryeowook will be arriving on Oahu either Friday or this coming weekend. Hopefully, visit the Korean Festival while they are here.

I don't know how long they will be here but hopefully long enough for me to catch a glimpse of them. =)

Enjoy the Hawaii sun boys.

Donghae and Sungmin (standing), Kangin (possibly laying down)
 Photo: SUP3JUNIOR.WORDPRESS.COM

UPDATE: Here's more pics of Suju. ;)

Siwon, Kyuhyun, Kangin and Sungmin
Photo credit: SUP3JUNIOR.WORDPRESS.COM

http://onehallyu.com/

Siwon, Sungmin and Kyuhyun
Photo credit: Hans Hedermann Surf's Instagram

Super Junior Cruising in Hawaii!

Green Tea will probably have more to add to this, she's so extremely excited, but tweets from members themselves and confirmed by local sources show that members of the K-Pop group, Super Junior, are here in Hawaii!


Donghae uploaded a video to YouTube, which was also uploaded by SM Entertainment on July 11th.

Siwon also tweeted a photo of the view of the sunset from Waikiki Beach and tweeted the morning of July 11th that he was enjoying an espresso from one of the two major coffee companies on Oahu, Honolulu Coffee Company. We couldn't tell which one, but we know all of the Honolulu Companies are in Downtown or Waikiki.

 

What they are in town for, one can only assume that it's for the Korean Festival happening this weekend at Kapiolani Park! UPDATE: They are in town for a photo shoot. =)

A big welcome and aloha to SuJu! Welcome to our lovely state!

Sources: SM Entertainment and Choi Siwon's Twitter