Morning Musume to perform in the United States this July

Anime Expo brings Morning Musume to perform in the continental U.S. for the first time ever!
Update: Confirmed by UFA

In an official press release posted at Anime-Expo.org, the anime convention's organizers confirm that H!P's flagship group will perform at their convention this July. Here's the full release:

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.

Anime News Network: http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2009-...m-at-anime-expo

Response

I want to apologise for not updating here for a while, i seem to be suffering with my English skills at the minute and busy at work. Ok, I knew this is not a latest news but i've gotta say..... "damn lucky you, USA"

Ice Creamusume

Guu-chan
(グーチャン)
1996.12.14

Youko
(ヨウコ)
1992.8.28

PeiPei
(ペイペイ)
1991.2.10

ReiRei
(レイレイ)
1994.1.16

Anchii
(アンチー)
1989.7.23

ShenShen
(シェンシェン)
1988.1.10

Remember them? They were the winners from Taiwan's NEW STAR auditions selected by Tsunku to be a part of new unit in Hello! Project family. Taiwan H!P NEWSTARs have finally been given an official group name, from now forth they shall be known as Ice Cream Musume!. They've already given with their own new nickname.

Ice Creamusume's official blog opened today
Source : Hello! Project Chinese Official Website

Response

OMG, actually this is nice even tho i didn't expect anything "impact" from them, but at least they're unique, well they were from Taiwan's NEW STAR which is for me, quite big audition showcase, and they were choosen by Tsunku, who knows, maybe someday, they'll be a great group. Ice Creamusume...what a tasty name...lol...Good luck Ice Creamusume.

ºC-ute's "Yorosen" Controversy

On December 4th, an episode of "Yorosen" featuring ºC-ute aired that is causing a bit of trouble. The show featured a discussion of Adolf Hitler which was reportedly done in an insensitive manner. This has caused TV Tokyo and production company SSM to apologize for airing it.

On the 8th of this month, the homepages of TV Tokyo and production company SSM posted an apology message regarding TV Tokyo's late-night show "Yorosen!", which aired on the 4th of this month. In this episode, Adolf Hitler, the leader of nazi-era Germany, was treated as a "great person".

This show is being hosted by Hello!Project talents. In the special corner "The world's great people!", Hitler was casually called "Uncle Hitler" by ºC-ute's members, who were also imitating him and drawing his pictures.

Regarding this, TV Tokyo posted an apology, saying the show contained "Improper contents based on an insufficient knowledge of history". SSM also apologized with a statement, stating "The check system inside our company was lacking" and a promise to be more careful in preventing a similar incident from happening again in the future.

If you'd like to see the episode for yourself, you can download it from h!o tracker via these links:
Raw (thanks lma282): Yorosen! 044 (081204 1024x576)
English subtitled (thanks Hello!Fansubs): [H!F] Yorosen! - Week 9 (Dec. 01 - 05) (H264)

Sources :
Hello! Online News

Response

Their manager must be more careful next time in preventing a similar incident from happening again in the future. Wonder why they choose Adolf Hitler...it's a very sensitive incident liao.