Hello Project units I'd like to see (and some I've already seen but want to see more of)

Generally I think Hello Project has improved in a lot of ways since I first became a fan. The girls are as cute as ever, this year has seen a large improvement in the quality of music videos, and I really like the musical direction most groups are going on. However, one thing the old h!p did 100% better than the new h!p was units. There have been so many excellent h!p units over the years, some short lived (like the annual shuffle units from 2000-2005) others left a much more lasting impression (such as Buono, the greatest unit h!p ever had...) some never even performed anything (that band thing that was announced and then abandoned). 

H!p has had shuffle units in recent years of course, there have been the hinafest units which perform a cover song once and are never heard from again, the satoyama units which... exist, those units they get to sing throwaway songs they release digitally. However, I long for the days of the likes of Buono, W, MilkyWay and Guardians 4.

For this reason I have taken it upon myself to share the units I think should be debuted under h!p, alongside some examples of current h!p units that need more attention.

Inaba Manaka-Ishida Ayumi-Morito Chisaki-Murota Mizuki

• Dance focused group with Murota as lead singer. 
• Ishida can rap at some point.
• I want to see Inaba in an mv again.

Takase Kurumi-Kawamura Ayano

• I've thought these two would make a good duo since their KSS days.
• Takase is best h!p member and deserves more love.
• Did I mention how Takase is a goddess?

Yamaki Risa-Fukumura Mizuki-Wada Ayaka-Miyazaki Yuka-Hirose Ayaka-Yamagishi Riko-Ichioka Reina

• All the leaders together
• Maybe add in Inaba Manaka since she's leader of Hokkaido KSS (and possibly Inoue Hikaru too).
• Could also have a similar unit of sub leaders (Ikuta Erina-Iikubo Haruna-Nakanishi Kana-Takeuchi Akari-Tomoko Kanazawa-Risa Ogata) and have them be rivals

Ozeki Mai-Haga Akane-Sasaki Rikako

• This is the most random one so far but i feel like they could make a nice genki group together.
• I want to see more of Akane
• Ozeki hasn't got much to do right now

Hirose Ayaka-Onoda Saori-Hamaura Ayano

• Next gen Buono
• Hirose=Airi
• Onoda=Momoko
• Hamaura=Miyabi
• It took a lot of umming and errring to decide on these tree girls and I'm still not entirely sold but I think these three fit what I'm going for best.

Next up is units I'd like to see more of

Inoue Rei and Inoue Hikaru

• If there's one thing I like, its units with really cheesy concepts.
• Also Hikaru deserves this
• Both girls are good singers and this song is cool too.

Ichioka Reina, Takase Kurumi, Kawamura Ayano, Danbara Ruru, and Kiyono Momohime

• Some of the best performers out of the KSS at the time
• Really cool song
• The only down side I see is how young Momohime is (it seems wierd to have a group of four 15-18 year olds and then one 12 year old, especially because Purin also looks super young).

10 things to never say to a H!P fan (unless you wanna start a fight)

"Tsubaki/Kobushi Factory remind me of C-ute"

- Do not say this, no matter how casual, or well-meaning it is, it will start a shitstorm. In will come the old guard of Berryz fans "Stop bringing C-ute into this!!!!THEY BERRYZ BABIES!!!", the the C-ute fans emerge to rub salt in the wound "You're just jealous because our group lasted longer LOL Berryz fans are so bitter!!1". By this point, you'll probably notice a whole different breed of Factory fan "Don't compare them to either, let them be their own thing!!!1". You might think this will finally allow the argument to die down but don't be fooled, this will never end.

It may seem like an innocent enough statement but there's a lot of old wounds wrapped up in this mess. It's best to take the route of avoiding mentioning C-ute in any discussion relating to the Factories, lest a shitstorm ensue. 

"I hope [member] graduates soon"

- This does not need explanation. Why would you say this? What is wrong with you?

"That KSS is overrated"

- Ahhh no. KSS fans may be small in numbers but they're big in devotion. This is Especially true of members who have been in the program for a long time (more your Ichiokas, Danbaras and Kagas than your Yokoyamas or Kasaharas). After they've been in the group for a few years, the inevitable shitstorm will decrease to the size of any other member but do not say this when a girl has just debuted, or god forbid, when they are still in training. Blood will spill.

"Angerme is better then Morning Musume."

Oh no you Didn't! Never say this. Ever. You will be killed.

Anything about Maachan
Our Sato Masaki is a figure of controversy. Whether you love her or hate her, if you wanna live a peaceful life, it's best to keep that to yourself.

Anything about weight, examples: Westerners only liked Zukki because of her weight, Haachin is too thin/fat
1. This is kind of a douche move in general.
2. No matter how respectful or well meaning your comment is, someone will take offense and a shitstorm will ensue. Best to avoid.

Anything at all about the dating rule.
The dating rule is a sore subject to most idol fans (most people will lose a beloved idol to this rule at some point). Furthermore the controversial nature of the "rule" means that mentioning it will almost always result in an argument.

Photobooks and age. In general, sexualisation (or not) of minors.
Like the dating rule, another controversial topic. If you see a photobook announced for a girl under 18, it's best to go into hiding for a bit, regardless of the book's actual content.

Hello Project Debut and Transfers!

Today, it was announced that Country Girls members Morito Chisaki, Yanagawa Nanami and Funaki Musubu would be transferring to existing hello project groups (CG will still be around, it's just those three will be in two groups at the same time). This was coupled with the debuts of three very popular kenshuusei: Ichioka Reina, Kawamura Ayano and Danbara Ruru. The announcement of the transfers didn't appeal to me since 1. AKB has already done that and 2. even when AKB did it the fans hated it so what made H!P think this was a good idea? My best case scenario was for all six members to form a new group together. That didn't happen. That said the actual results weren't as dire as I was expecting.

Firstly...

Chisaki will be joining Morning Musume!

This is probably the least popular of the transfers. Chisaki is easily the most popular out of the girls up for grabs and fans of hers consider it a bad thing for her to have gone from being the ace of Country Girls to just being another girl in the ocean that is MM. Furthermore Chisaki is a rather quiet girl and MM is a rather quiet group. I imagine it would be better to place her with some crazier girls who can bring her out of shell. Fans have noted that the MM members didn't seem very happy at the announcement but people have said it's because they were expecting bad news, like Fukumura's graduation, not because they don't like Chisaki.

Ruru and Nanami will be joining Juice=Juice

This is easily the most controversial addition. A lot of people, myself included, did not want J=J's lineup to change (and I will continue to be on that side of the argument till the day I die). However the cuteness of the girls' reactions and the awesomeness of these two members has softened the blow for me. Both are very talented girls and I can't wait to see the new J=J (though I'll always be a little bit bitter that they didn't think the old J=J was good enough). I'm interested to see if they travel with the rest of the group for the upcoming world tour.

 Ayano and Musubu will be joining ANGERME!

This one I'm 100% behind. ANGERME gives the impression of a group anyone can do well in. Both girls are super cute and confident so they should do fine in the wild world that is ANGERME. One question this does bring up is what will happen to Aiai? If it had just been just one member, that would have spelled the end for her but the fact they added two suggests she may be coming back (it would take less effort to change the choreography that way, keep things the same and just add an extra girl on each side).

Finally...

Reina will be the leader of a new unit!

This is the news I'm happiest about. Reina really has the aura of a leader, and I was having trouble imagining her being the newest member of an already established group. No word on who's going to be in the new group yet but my money is on Maeda Kokoro and Kanatsu Mizuki being in the ranks.

Cuca's debut!!!

I haven't posted in awhile, and since then a lot of awesome things have happened in the idol world. Probably the thing that makes me happiest is the debut of Cuca! The cute hello project dancer girl is now a 1st generation member of STU48, one AKB's sister groups. As my reader's will know, I was hoping for her to debut in Morning Musume, but any debut is better than none at all!

Here are her profile pictures so far (including an audition picture)

I figured I'd share some pictures I have saved of her since a lot of them were lost in the great social media purge that comes alongside an idol's debut.

Best of Hello Project 2016

It's already February and I completely forgot to do one of these this year. Oh well, I guess it's better late than never...

Best Single
Naze Hito wa Arasoun Darou? / Summer Wind / Jinsei wa STEP!

Runners Up
Sakura Night Fever / Chotto Guchoku ni! Chototsu Moushin / Osu! Kobushi Tamashii
Boogie Woogie LOVE / Koi wa Magnet / Ranrarun ~Anata ni Muchuu~
Tsugitsugi Zokuzoku / Itoshima Distance / Koi Nara Tokku ni Hajimatteru
Utakata Saturday Night! / The Vision / Tokyo to Iu Katasumi
Dream Road ~Kokoro ga Odoridashiteru~ / KEEP ON Joshou Shikou!! / Ashita Yarou wa Bakayarou
Mugen Climax / Ai wa Maru de Seidenki / Singing ~Ano Koro no You ni~
Sexy Cat no Enzetsu / Mukidashi de Mukiatte / Sou ja nai
Best Group
Buono

Best Member
Suzuki Kanon

Best New Member (members who debuted in 2016)
Kaga Kaede

Best PV Costume

Best CD Cover (regular)

Best CD Cover (limited)

Best CD Cover (event)

Best Songs
10.Cabbage Hakusho ~Haru Hen~
9.Mukidashi de Mukiatte
8.Sakura Night Fever
7.Wasurete Ageru
6.Mugen Climax
5. Summer Wind
4.Tsugitsugi Zokuzoku
3.Utakata Saturday Night!
2.Jinsei wa STEP!
1.Dream Road ~Kokoro ga Odoridashiteru~