O P E N I N G

          ▪ JPopAsia International Music Awards 2011 results [ 1 ]
               ▪ The majority of the awards went to KAT-TUN/Jin/Kame. Bias much?

 N E W S ( J A N U A R Y  2 1 – 2 7 )

     SMAP
          ▪ Kusanagi appointed as official supporter for Japan Pavilion at International Expo [ 1 ]
               ▪ And why was Kusanagi chosen? Oh, wait, it’s in South Korea. Never mind. >.>
               ▪ Theme of the expo is “ocean and coast.” Japan wants to help people be less frightened by the ocean, especially after the tsunami.

          ▪ SMAP to perform and Nakai to host at live concert for anniversary of Touhoku earthquake [ 1, 2 ]
               ▪ Theme of the 6-hour show is to use the power of music to deliver a message to the areas affected by the earthquake.
               ▪ Airs the day before the anniversay of the Touhoku earthquake, March 10th.
               ▪ Sitting through 6 hours can’t be as hard as watching all of 24 hour TV? lol

          ▪ SMAP at Dragon TV Shanghai New Year’s broadcast [ 1, 2, 3, 4 ]
               ▪ This was for Lunar New Year/Chinese New Year.
               ▪ SMAP introduced themselves in Chinese! Melissa gets super excited because she’s been learning a bit of Chinese~
               ▪ Hosts fight over Kimura’s red bag!
               ▪ Antics with the tea kettle. Except with Goro, who’s just boring. XD

     TOKIO
          ▪ Ichiban Song Show, Jan. 25 [ 1 ]
          ▪ Music Station, Jan. 27 [ 1, 2 ]
               ▪ TOKIO performs their new song, the theme to Matsuoka’s drama.
               ▪ Melissa has a difficult. time. explaining. this. song.

     V6
          ▪ Live DVD #1 on Oricon DVD ranking [ 1, 2 ]
               ▪ Live DVD sold 52k+ copies sold getting #1.
               ▪ Screencaps of the extras became a hot topic among female netizens. INCLUDING KAMIKA. ♥♥
               ▪ (for all who want to see sakamoto with the marilyn monroe impersonator. and zorro.)

     Kinki Kids
          ▪ Tsuyoshi’s live concert to be released in theatres [ 1 ]
               ▪ Solo live concert at Heian shrine filmed in September, limited released Feb 24 – March 11.
               ▪ Comparisons to the Glee movie and the Justin Bieber/Jonas Brothers.
               ▪ Is this really going to be that interesting? Tsuyoshi’s music is the most mellow that we can think of?

     Arashi
          ▪ New single, ‘Wild at Heart’ [ 1 ]
               ▪ ohmygod i’m so shocked they are doing this. not at all, ohmygod so predictable.

          ▪ Sakurai to star in SP drama ‘Blackboard’ [ 1, 2, 3 ]
               ▪ TBS mini-series that has 3 eps that will air 3 consecutive nights in April.
               ▪ Because of Arashi/AKB48′s schedule, instead of filming on location, they created a set that cost millions of yen.
               ▪ WHY COULDN’T THEY JUST HAVE NOT HAD THEM FILM TOGETHER? o.o
               ▪ A little talk about Sho’s hair–because important topic, ofc lol

          ▪ NazoDi announces SP [ 1 ]
               ▪ To air on March 27, 2012.
               ▪ To take place in Okinawa and Sho’s character is to be in a romance?!?! (exactly like that)
               ▪ Will this drama special actually wrap things up? (i think it probably won’t, but melissa wants to be optimistic.)
               ▪ Talk about the different types of drama specials. And hope that it won’t be a crap recap sp.

          ▪ Nino to star in movie [ 1, 2 ]
               ▪ Based on Higashino Keigo’s novel, Platinum Data.
               ▪ Nino plays a scientist who becomes accused of murder, ending up on the run.
               ▪ Movie promises to have action scenes, to the level of a Hollywood movie.
               ▪ At least now Nino will actually be busy, not faking being busy. XD

          ▪ Aiba on Morning Bird, Jan. 26 [ 1 ]
               ▪ Hatori is hosting a corner titled “A Boys” which he interviewed Aiba for.
               ▪ Instead of promotion, it became more of “Arashi and Aiba’s secrets” talk.
               ▪ Hatori is super close to Aiba’s family, even meeting his grandparents.

     Yamashita Tomohisa
          ▪ Details about ‘Ai, Texas’ single [ 1, 2 ]
               ▪ To be released Feb. 29, five different versions, holy shit.
               ▪ There will be a making of for the Ai, Texas PV!

     Akanishi Jin
          ▪ ‘Sun Burns Down’ single, PV and making of [ 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 ]
               ▪ The remixes are all longer than the original. o.o
               ▪ The song is awesome, better than Test Drive?
               ▪ Is this a little low quality, or just us? Or just my tiny screen?
               ▪ We try to break down the plot of this PV. Except it’s kind of hard. o.o
               ▪ But OHMYGOD, WE SEE JIN. SEE JIN’S FACE. WHAT.
               ▪ Jin’s English is improving! Slowly but steadily. ♥
               ▪ Ahahaha, what were they doing in the dance practice if there wasn’t really much there? XD

          ▪ ‘Sun Burns Down’ tops iTunes Dance Charts (already) [ 1, 2 ]
               ▪ On the day of release, Sun Burns Down takes #1 in the Dance charts, #13 in Top Albums charts.

          ▪ ‘Sun Burns Down’ Fan Video Contest [ 1, 2, 3 ]
               ▪ Contest is only for U.S./Canada residents; chance to win VIP concert tickets, meet-and-greet with Jin, flight and hotel provide.
               ▪ Make a fan video with Sun Burns Down, whether it be singing, dancing, animation, etc. Judges choose top 5, fans then choose ultimate winner.
               ▪ Concert starts Jan. 24-Feb. 12, fan voting is between Feb. 14-20, winner announced Feb. 21.

          ▪ Japonica covers and tracklists [ 1 ]
               ▪ 3 different editions, with the two limited edition having a few bonus tracks.
               ▪ Some interesting songs on this tracklist, like “That’s What She Said.”
               ▪ Excited for the songs from Jin’s concerts that will have nice, clean versions. *_________________*

     Kis.my.ft2
          ▪ Announces single, album and nationwide tour [ 1, 2 ]
               ▪ Single/album to be released in the spring.
               ▪ Tour to start April 1st and to last until June 2012, has currently 7 different locations.

     Multiple
          ▪ 26th Japan Gold Disc Awards results [ 1, 2 ]
               ▪ Based on actual CD/DVD sales.
               ▪ Kis-My-Ft2 wins new artist of the year! And in best 5 new artists.
               ▪ Arashi also wins in best 5 albums and 2 in best music DVDs.

 L E T T E R / Q U E S T I O N

          ▪ What JE song would you like to see covered by another JE group?
               ▪ Response from boxberg!
               ▪ And of course, from your hosts~ Who have ridiculous choices which we hope you have fun with.
          ▪ Next week’s question: Which JE boy would make the best use of social media? And how? (be creative!)

Songs used in this week’s podcast are from
Kanjani8′s FIGHT album.

 O P E N I N G

          ▪ Latest SMAP CMs [ 1, 2 ]
               ▪ Softbank's SMAP CMs vs Au's Arashi CMs
               ▪ Arashi has been dropped as Au's main personality
               ▪ Softbank's SMAP CMs were more innovative and amusing
               ▪ Arashi's recent CMs have gone from "fun" Arashi to "cool" Arashi
               ▪ Au's Arashi CMs have gotten less innovative and fun over time
               ▪ Arashi's image has less versatility
               ▪ Can't see Arashi in cosplay in a CM unlike SMAP as flight attendants XD
               ▪ Links back to talk about dramas: Don't blame the idol if your CM fails cuz the concept sucks

 N E W S ( J A N U A R Y  1 4 – 2 0 )

     SMAP/Yamashita Tomohisa
          ▪ SMAPxSMAP, Jan. 09, Jan. 16 [ 1 ]
               ▪ ROUND TABLE OF GORGEOUS! *___*
               ▪ Free for all frank drama talk~
               ▪ Tsuyoshi was seriously in love with Takeuchi Yuuko and Hirosue Ryoko. like SERIOUSLY.
               ▪ Tsuyoshi has some weird hospital/illness-type fetish thing.
               ▪ A director got so mad at Kimura once, he said actually said "we don't need Johnny's acting here."
               ▪ Tsuyoshi makes Shingo EIGHT HOURS late for drama filming cuz he's swimming.
               ▪ Takeuchi Yuuko's acted with four out of five SMAP members. Won't fall in love knowing the ending.
               ▪ These actors and actresses are X-MEN!! MUTANT POWER: PERFECT CRYING TECHNIQUE.
               ▪ Yamapi's into Death Note?? Which character does he want to play??
               ▪ Nakai has a fantasy cast for Crows Zero.
               ▪ If Shingo could steal a role, he'd take Suzuki Fuku's role in Yokai Ningen Bem.
               ▪ Goro is the Master of Social Ettiquette. Shisshou!
               ▪ (Mukai knows Goro is gay)
               ▪ Kimura doesn't do sequels. Yamapi wants to do lots!

KinKi Kids
          ▪ Oricon Charts [ 1 ]
               ▪ Kawatta Katachi no Ishi, 32nd consequitive #1, extended world record!
               ▪ Title track was written by Akimoto…that AKB one.
               ▪ NYC/Nakayama Yuma are still charting, #5~!

Yamashita Tomohisa
          ▪ Saikou no Jinsei no Owarikatta gets official Youtube channel [ 1, 2 ]
               ▪ Weird..? But a good sign..
               ▪ Will feature talks between Maeda and an Announcer about behind the scenes stuff.
               ▪ Could be JE's chance to pick up on AKB version of Idoling.

KAT-TUN
          ▪ Tracklist for Chain Album [ 1 ]
               ▪ Lead Track: Lock On — making of + PV in LE.
               ▪ Each member gets a solo!
               ▪ Dangerous Pussy Cat. Make Me Wet. Tanaka Koki, going there again.
               ▪ Maybe Koki only writes songs about Making Someone Wet when he's in a relationship…
               ▪ Everyone else's solo sounds like what they've done before (maybe not Ueda).

NYC
          ▪ Music Station, Jan. 20 [ 1 ]
               ▪ Random much? Why were they here?
               ▪ Knock knock, who's there? We're Sexy Zone… (punch line..?)
               ▪ At least the lyrics to this song are simple and nothing to do with being ~sexy.
               ▪ THOSE DAMN ROSES. Had to ruin the semi good parts with Sexy Zone.

Multiple
          ▪ Music Station's List of Best Selling Artists of All Time [ 1 ]
               ▪ SMAP tops the group chart. Kinki is #2, Arashi #4, #10 Hikaru Genji #11, V6 #12, KAT-TUN #16.
               ▪ Arashi will likely overtake Kinki soon…possibly even SMAP at some point.

 L E T T E R / Q U E S T I O N

          ▪ What are your predictions for 2012?
               ▪ Listener comments from x5yn4k4x, ichigosky, filmi_girl 
               ▪ Audio comment from makoto_no_mori (YAY!! XD)
               ▪ Rhey, Peyton and Melissa make their predictions
          ▪ Next week's question: What JE song would you like to see covered by another JE group?

Songs used in this week's podcast are from
Kanjani8's Fight album.

 O P E N I N G

          ▪ GET READY FOR THE TWO HUNDREDTH EPISODE!!( *゜▽゜)/°・:*【祝】*:・°＼(゜▽゜* )
               ▪ March fourth is the day, mark your calendars!
               ▪ Listeners invited! Intro-don!
               ▪ Listener messages welcomed~
               ▪ KamiPolls. FEEDBACK PLX.

 N E W S (J A N U A R Y  0 7 – 1 3)

     SMAP
          ▪ Goro on Waratte Iitomo's Telephone Shocking, Jan. 5 [ 1 ]
               ▪ Goro is fail at guessing games.
               ▪ Tsuyoshi lives at Tamori's house. Practically is his son.
               ▪ Goro versus Quiz masters!!!

     TOKIO
          ▪ Kibou canceled in favor for a double A-side with Haneda Kuukou no Kiseki [ 1 ]
               ▪ Haneda Kuukou no Kiseki is the theme to Mabo's drama. (watch it!)
               ▪ Feb 29 release. B-side titled Strobe.
               ▪ It makes more sense not to release a CM tie-in as a single on its own.
               ▪ They should have made one announcement just compiling the singles; not cancelling.
               ▪ Tangenting about Arashi's seven managers.

     KinKi Kids
          ▪ Kawatta Katachi no Ishi PV and single [ 1, 2, 3 ]
               ▪ All songs are on the slow side… pretty, but nothing catchy. Nice and sweet, background.
               ▪ Namida Sora ni Kagayaku is nice song, too. The songs blend well as a single.
               ▪ PV with a story from JE!! Woo~! So what if it's cliche, it's still a nice one!
               ▪ Why couldn't KinKi act in the PV? Or other famous people?

     Arashi
          ▪ Kotatsu de Arashi, Jan. 3 [ 1, 2 ]
               ▪ MAGO MAGO ARASHI SOBS JICHAN + BAACHAN GETTING MARRIED WIBBLE
               ▪ LOL maybe the conversations they were having felt fake? XD
               ▪ Arashi vs Press, the first ever Giant Crash. Fail. No crash.
               ▪ More Arashi (read: Aiba) fail in the form of Aibird!!
               ▪ The evolution of Arashi as variety artists on Fuji TV.

     Arashi/Kanjani8
          ▪ Ohno/Ohkura on Oku-sama 100, Jan. 3 [ 1, 2, 3, 4 ]
               ▪ KAWAGOE TASTSUYA!! ♥__♥
               ▪ Ohkura ambushes Ohno after drama filming.
               ▪ Aww, Ohno calls Ohkura Chuu~ ♥
               ▪ Ohno likes doing stuff by himself. Not getting married till 40. Wants girls to leave him alone.

     KAT-TUN
          ▪ KAT-TUN anime information [ 1 ]
               ▪ WHAT THE HELL IS THIS SHIT
               ▪ CM tie in for a mobile gaming site. 5 short eps eith 4 min run time.
               ▪ Lol, the characters don't reflect KAT-TUN themselves at all.
               ▪ (Taguchi! Moeeee~)
               ▪ Nakamaru doesn't even look himself.
               ▪ Kame tries to seduce you in three syllables.
               ▪ JE, RELEASE AN IDOL DATING GAME, DAMMIT!!
               ▪ Tangent on the definition of Idol and AKB48.

     Akanishi Jin
          ▪ Oricon Charts [ 1 ]
               ▪ Dec 26 – Jan 1st, #1 single 97K+ of Seasons sold.

     NYC
          ▪ Oricon Charts [ 1 ]
               ▪ Jan 2 – Jan 8th, #1 single 40k+ copies sold.
               ▪ Released two or three days before it was supposed to be? Weird stuff happening.

 L E T T E R / Q U E S T I O N

          ▪ What are your thoughts and impressions of on Nagase Tomoya's Hitoribocchi no Haburashi PV?
               ▪ Rhey is excited… >.>
               ▪ Song is from 2001 drama starring Nagase and Takeuchi Yuko. Nagase is a nerd/popstar?
               ▪ Sweet song about a lonely toothbrush (Yes, a lonely. toothbrush.)
               ▪ Random red rose.
               ▪ Melissa is astonished by Peyton's deep analysis.
          ▪ Next week's question: What are your predictions for 2012?

Songs used in this week’s podcast are from
Kanjani8′s FIGHT album.

 N E W S (D E C E M B E R  3 1 – J A N U A R Y  0 6)

     Arashi
          ▪ Main personalities for 35th 24 Hour Television [ 1, 2 ]
               ▪ This is Arashi’s third time being the personalities, having done it 2004 and 2008.
               ▪ Peyton’s appalled by this, but who’s really surprised.
               ▪ That said, even Melissa (who we talked to last week about this) was surprised by this news!
               ▪ We have a theory why they revealed this so early–time management!

     Yamashita Tomohisa
          ▪ To sing theme song for drama [ 1, 2 ]
               ▪ The title of the song is Ai, Texas, and it is to be released under Warner Music Japan.
               ▪ What the hell does a “punchy” song mean?! Will we want to punch Yamapi out after listening?
               ▪ This is probably going to be disconnected to the drama, just like Daite Senorita with Kurosagi.
               ▪ So Jin and Yamapi are under the same label? Hmmm.

          ▪ Yamapi in Shanghai Countdown, Dec. 31 [ 1 ]
               ▪ This was pre-recorded a few days before. XD
               ▪ Peyton gets someone to translate this since Yamapi talks solely in Mandarin–rehearsed Mandarin.
               ▪ Yamapi’s voice sounds like a monster when slowed down. XD

          ▪ Route 66, ep 1 [ 1 ]
               ▪ Yamapi is a good drinker because he can order well and drinks well? According to a bartender anyway.
               ▪ lolol Yamapi buys a ham for his car ride.
               ▪ Wow, the conversations on this show felt so fake and staged. Awkward.
               ▪ We wonder who and how many are traveling with Yamapi.

     KAT-TUN
          ▪ KAT-TUN no Sekaiichi Dame na Yoru, Jan. 1 [ 1 ]
               ▪ “Every KAT-TUN fan I know who’s seen this has been really kind of appalled on some level or another.”
               ▪ …Can you tell Kami hates Himura from Bananaman? XDDDDD
               ▪ Peyton details what happens on this show so you don’t waste your time watching it yourself. XDDD
               ▪ Has KAT-TUN and Kanjani8 swapped in terms of popularity ranking? Would that explain this show? o.o

     Akanishi Jin
          ▪ To release new American single [ 1, 2, 3 ]
               ▪ The title of the single will be Sun Burns Down, released January 24th.
               ▪ There will be a Youtube contest! So be on the look out~

          ▪ First album and American tour [ 1, 2 ]
               ▪ Japonicana will be released in both America and Japan on March 6, 7 respectively.
               ▪ The Japanese version will have 4 more songs than the American because the songs are Japanese.
               ▪ …The title is Japan + America + -na (Latin feminine) = girl album.
               ▪ Just realized it’s not technically an “American” tour! Jin hits LA (March 9), Vancouver (March 10), Honolulu (March 12), New York (March 15), San Francisco (March 17).

     Hey!Say!JUMP
          ▪ To have an Asia tour, new single [ 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 ]
               ▪ Tour will go to Hong Kong, Taiwan, Thailand and Korea (as well as some at home in Japan) from March to June.
               ▪ XDDDDD Peyton elaborates on her Morimoto thoughts to clarify some things.
               ▪ Their new single will be Super Delicate, theme song to Yamada’s drama, scheduled to be released in February.

     NYC
          ▪ Wonderful Cupid/Garasu no Mahou single and PVs [ 1, 2, , 3 ]
               ▪ So this single kind of failed. >.> Wonderful Cupid is such a fail song and a fail PV.
               ▪ On the other hand, Nakayama’s Garasu no Mahou is rather nice. ♥
               ▪ Peyton clarifies this is a song Nakayama sang at the butai with Takki.

     Sexy Zone
          ▪ To hold their first concert [ 1 ]
               ▪ Tokyo at Tokyo International Forum Hall A on February 11, 12. Osaka at Umeda Arts Theater Main Hall on February 18, 19.
               ▪ Small halls? Sexy Zone starting a little small, huh?

     Multiple
          ▪ Kouhaku, Dec. 31 (includes news point on ratings) [ 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11,12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18 ]
               ▪ We start out talking about how Kouhaku’s ratings set the highest ratings record for 2011.
               ▪ NYC were the top batters for the White Team, singing Yume Tamago and Yuuki 100%.
               ▪ We do a little comparing between the NYC performance and the AKB48 performance.
               ▪ WARNING. WE SPOIL WHO WON–RED OR WHITE. THE GIRLS OR THE GUYS.
               ▪ We tangent a little and talk about the performances in a general sense to explain the said victory.
               ▪ TOKIO performs Miageta Ryusei, Arashi has 3 performances: Furusato, a medley, and a Disney performance! ♥
               ▪ Arashi’s medley had this dancing interlude in the middle and it was fabulous. Peyton is also super happy with Hatenai Sora as the ending to their medley.
               ▪ Peyton is also super happy that SMAP ends with Original Smile.

          ▪ Johnny’s Countdown, Dec. 31 [ 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 ]
               ▪ Kami has uncommon fandom thoughts and thought Countdown was kind of fail (in that people were failing left and right XD).
               ▪ Andalucia ni Akogare performance is hands-down the best thing of this Countdown. HOSHIT ALL THAT SEX. *__________*
               ▪ KINKI’S SET IS ALL SORTS OF FABULOUS. *______*
               ▪ Kanjani8 was hysterical with their costumes. A++++
               ▪ Tsubasa fails and doesn’t ring in the year with Takki.
               ▪ Kamen Budakai was fucking awesome with the way they filmed it since Shounentai were in separate locations.
               ▪ NEWS!!!!!! It was kind of nice seeing them as four.
               ▪ A Hikaru Genji member showed up and performed with Kis-My-Ft2! Kind of like passing the torch.

          ▪ CDTV Premier Live, Dec. 31 [ 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 ]
               ▪ Yes, that’s right. Yamapi and Jin were on. Just weren’t on set at the same time.
               ▪ Awesome joke between Nakai/kouhai was the New Year’s money that Nakai supposedly gave.
               ▪ Kitayama was the only one that got 1000 yen though. XD
               ▪ Nakai asks Yamapi and Maeda if their characters are going to fall in love. Maeda and Yamapi’s faces are the best.
               ▪ They still favor the front three of Kis-My-Ft2–through their food. The hell?
               ▪ SMAP’s performance was 32 minutes of sheer awesome–plus their song choices were so varied that 2/3rds are songs that the casual fan has probably not heard before.
               ▪ SMAP has a lot of fun talking and interacting with the male SMAP fans.
               ▪ We love seeing AKB48 and SMAP interact. They are SO fun together~
               ▪ SMAP’s hijinks with Tsuyoshi during the sake portion were hysterical! ♥

 L E T T E R / Q U E S T I O N

          ▪ Next week's question: What are your thoughts and impressions of on Nagase Tomoya’s Hitoribocchi no Haburashi PV?

Songs used in this week’s podcast are from
KinKi Kid’s K album.

 O P E N I N G

          ▪ Favourite MatsuJun Dramas
               ▪ HanaYori Dango at #1!
               ▪ Peyton is a troll, and hates MatsuJun, obviously.
               ▪ MatsuJun is Doumiyouji, that’s all.
               ▪ MatsuJun has no legs!!!
               ▪ We can all agree with the top 3.

 N E W S (D E C E M B E R  2 4 – 3 0)

     SMAP
          ▪ Oricon Charts [ 1, 2 ]
               ▪ Boku no Hanbun 130K+ copes sold, #1.
               ▪ SMAP has 46 consecutive singles in top ten!
               ▪ Isn’t 130K kinda too few? FANVID PV.

          ▪ Sanma x SMAP 2011, Dec. 25 [ 1, 2 ]
               ▪ Nothing tops Goro kissing random men. He kisses some fans though.
               ▪ Theme: “Who is the most hated/meanest?”
               ▪ Batsu game: Shabu Shabu Hot Tub!!
               ▪ Entertainment industry brings the hate on SMAP!
               ▪ Kimura gets hated for screwing up people’s gags.
               ▪ Nakai is hated for making people bungee jump in Macau.
               ▪ Shingo is meanest in SMAP and is anti-social!! :O
               ▪ Except Shingo’s hater actually loves him. -_-

          ▪ Shingo on Hanaeru no Tobira, Dec. 28 [ 1 ]
               ▪ Ninja hundred yen shop!
               ▪ For someone so unprepared, Shingo had a lot of money. Which he lost.
               ▪ Shingo is so proud to be on close terms with Kimura.

     SMAP/Tackey & Tsubasa
          ▪ Otameshika SP, Dec. 26 [ 1 ]
               ▪ Yay, both Tackey and Tsubasa are here!
               ▪ Ninja performance of Heartful Voice!
               ▪ Singo: “Guys, guys, look, it’s the real Tackey!”
               ▪ Shingo feels up Tsubasa’s beard, Takki’s hair.
               ▪ Shingo kidnaps T&T and coerces them to keep him company.
               ▪ Shingo keeps staring at Takki and fangirling him lol wtf.
               ▪ Shingo falls asleep and gets drunk on air.
               ▪ (Tsubasa has to order pizza in Spanish. DID HE DO IT RIGHT??)

     V6
          ▪ New single [ 1 ]
               ▪ Bari Bari Buddy, will have a CM tie-in. Poison Peach is the B-side.
               ▪ 3 versions, DVDs with cut scenes & bloopers. Two new untitled songs to be included.
               ▪ Random shit “to make fans happy.”

     Akanishi Jin
          ▪ Seasons single and PV [ 1 ]
               ▪ Seasons is so saaaaaaad. It’s a pretty song. But its history is can be obnoxious.
               ▪ THE FIFTH SEASON AMAZING OMG *_______* (or not)
               ▪ Mostly everyone seems to love the PV.
               ▪ OMG JIN CHILDREN OMG BABIES OKAY

     Johnny’s Jrs.
          ▪ Yara stars in a stage play [ 1, 2 ]
               ▪ Original musical Doke no Hitomi.
               ▪ Why would you make a picture book for the visually impaired?
               ▪ “Sexyyyyy.” Yara’s choreography is amazing.
               ▪ Yara has been due this for a long time!
               ▪ it would be great if Yara could break out on his own like Toma has!

 L E T T E R / Q U E S T I O N

          ▪ What are your thoughts on Sexy Zone’s Kikuchi Fuma?
               ▪ Listener response from ichigosky.
          ▪ Next week's question: What are your thoughts and impressions of on Nagase Tomoya’s Hitoribocchi no Haburashi PV?

Songs used in this week’s podcast are from
KinKi Kid’s K album.

 O P E N I N G

          ▪ Heike-Ha should be JE’s only group??
               ▪ Heikei-Ha is an old junior group made up of Nagano, Sakamoto, Inocchi, Joshima, Yamaguchi & Taichi.
               ▪ Shounen Club Premium reunion!
               ▪ Heikei-Ha used to backdance for Hikaru Genji.
               ▪ Graduation makes you go wibbly.
               ▪ Heike-Ha can apparently make you believe in the singing prowess of JE idols.
               ▪ Release singles!

 N E W S

     SMAP
          ▪ Boku no Hanbun, single and extras [ 1 ]
               ▪ Mafuyuu no Love Letter is along the lines of Boku no Hanbun. SUCH A SAD SINGLE. T__T
               ▪ The single as a whole, songs, covers, etc., has the cold winter, forlorn love theme going.
               ▪ Why is there no PV for Boku no Hanbun?
               ▪ The DVD is just a miishmash of images from their perfs from the fan party thing. LOL FANVID.

          ▪ Shingo on Bokura no Jidai, Dec. 18 [ 1 ]
               ▪ Shingo is voicing a character on Friends.
               ▪ Shingo received a special certificate from Studio Ghibli for being a ~huge fan (???)
               ▪ Shingo gets hardcore into manga vs live action adaptation debates.
               ▪ Shingo has been with SMAP since he was ELEVEN.
               ▪ SMAP started doing variety shows back then because music wasn’t selling due to economic downturns. D:

          ▪ Coming Soon, Dec. 19 [ 1, 2 ]
               ▪ Nakai points out the single covers?
               ▪ Nakai in a sweater vest? Christmas? Snow flakes? Festive…
               ▪ What’s with the random boxes on the set..? Weird.
               ▪ Okay perf. Meh.

     Arashi
          ▪ Ohno is named one of GQ’s Man of the Year [ 1, 2 ]
               ▪ Men who gave power to Japan, in suits that emphasize their ~power.
               ▪ Did Sho get this last year? Two years ago? Lol, exactly what did Ohno do this year?

     Akanishi Jin
          ▪ Debuts on Billboard at #48 [ 1 ]
               ▪ This isn’t the main top 100… right? This is just the dance/club-play songs.

     Kis-My-Ft2
          ▪ Best selling new artists of the year [ 1, 2 ]
               ▪ Yay, 1.47 billion Yen in sales. The most since KAT-TUN.
               ▪ 654K copies sold.
               ▪ (Hey!Say!JUMP failed to get this. T__T)

          ▪ Oricon Charts [ 1, 2 ]
               ▪ We Never Give Up, 246K copies sold, second consequitive #1.

     A.B.C.-Z
          ▪ Debut DVD [ 1 ]
               ▪ Ready for pre-order on CDJapan/ YesAsia.
               ▪ Title yet undetermined.
               ▪ Special version will have member mascon keyholder.
               ▪ ABC-Z will be on Pony Canyon (Sexy Zone, too). Hmm, why? JE can’t do it?

     Multiple
          ▪ Oricon chart’s top 100 singles/albums/dvds [ 1 ]
               ▪ Arashi, KisMai, Hey!Say!Jump, Kanjani8, Sexy Zone, NYC, Akanishi Jin, Yamashita Tomohisa, V6, KAT-TUN have all made the top 100 singles.
               ▪ Arashi, SMAP, K8, KinKi Kids, Yamapi, Jin, TegoMass have all made the album list.
               ▪ Arashi’s third consequtive year with #1 album.
               ▪ Arashi, K8, NEWS, KAT-TUN, KisMai, Jin, KinKi, SMAP, etc., all make the list for DVDs.

          ▪ Hey!Hey!Hey!, Dec. 19 [ 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 ]
               ▪ SMAP, KisMai and Sexy Zone make appearances. SMAP is the only group that spoke though.
               ▪ Goro fails at being boke.
               ▪ 14 years since SMAP has been on HeyHeyHey…
               ▪ Matsumoto can’t believe Nakai can sing.
               ▪ White doesn’t seem that appropriate for this performance?
               ▪ KisMai performed We Never Give Up, and it was probably one of their best!
               ▪ Where are their roller skates??
               ▪ Lol, Sexy Zone performs directly in front of SMAP…
               ▪ Eeveryone in Sexy Zone looks the same now. All black hair for all.

          ▪ Music Station Super Live, Dec. 23 [ 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6#cutid1, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 ]
               ▪ Was the camera work extra shakey?! Ugh, Seizure-inducing.
               ▪ Sakamoto’s mustache was so hideous, it repelled the camera. D:
               ▪ V6 outfits had no unity. Like they came out of backstage with their own clothes.
               ▪ Miyake Ken, still looking Korean.
               ▪ Sakamoto in leopard print…Okada looking nice in leather…
               ▪ Hey!Say!Jump are rocking clone hairstyles, too. -_-
               ▪ (Morimoto’s leaving allows HSJ to do cool formations during their perf? 8D)
               ▪ HSJ’s goal: merge into Yamada. (Hikaru has a weirdo bowl cut thing)
               ▪ Cool backflip, Chinen.
               ▪ Is this a remix version of Over? It sounds different from the original.
               ▪ Nagase looked like he just walked off the street to the venue…
               ▪ Yay for full shot of drumset and Mabo?
               ▪ The camera work cut from Koichi to Tsuyoshi too fast, too much. Annoying.
               ▪ Why did KinKi perform Flower??? It’s super OLD. DO TIME!!
               ▪ Really good choreo for Ngai Ijou no Koto etc.
               ▪ Tsuyoshi dances with KARA..?
               ▪ Kimura makes you want to be the camera.
               ▪ Nakai & Shingo keep trolling the camera man while Kimura and Goro talk to Tamori. XD;;
               ▪ Goro has taken Tsuyoshi’s position as the butt of jokes amongst SMAP.
               ▪ Beautiful red and black plaid suits for SMAP~ *__*
               ▪ What is wrong with Koki’s hair?? HORRIBLE.
               ▪ Junno’s got a mohawk? Kinda love/hate with this one.
               ▪ Ueda looks more like a rocker now than he did before. XD
               ▪ KisMai doing Everybody Go had amazing energy!
               ▪ Backdancers at least started not looking like backdancers? :\
               ▪ Aww, a little bit of fail getting their skates on~ cute.
               ▪ Happiness is the worst transition between Lotus and Meikyuu Love Song. -_-
               ▪ MatsuJun was having too much fun with the balloons.
               ▪ Awful outfits, shiny hiedous material, blah.

 L E T T E R / Q U E S T I O N

          ▪ Next week's question: What are your thoughts and impressions of on Sexy Zone's Kikuchi Fuma?

Songs used in this week’s podcast are from
Tegomasu’s Tegomasu no Mahou album.

 O P E N I N G

          ▪ What are KisMai fans called?
               ▪ KAT-TUN fans are hyphen…
               ▪ How did the fan names come about
               ▪ BEHOLD KAMI'S GENIUS — NEWS fans = compasses
               ▪ KisMai fans could be back dancers to KisMai

 N E W S ( D E C E M B E R  1 0 – 1 6 )

     TOKIO/Ikuta Toma
          ▪ 5LDK, December 15 [ 1, 2 ]
               ▪ Promoting Genji Monogatari.
               ▪ TOKIO, as always trolls Toma. XD
               ▪ TOKIO doesn't know Yoko's "Yuu" is a stagename??
               ▪ Toma's the authority on all things Johnny's.
               ▪ When Toma is drunk, he keeps inviting Subaru to his house.
               ▪ Toma visits MatsuJun's bedroom.
               ▪ Toma's got a backpack fetish.
               ▪ Matsuoka has fallen for Takki. Taichi will go for Tsubasa.
               ▪ Toma would like to go out with Sho or Taichi…

     Arashi/NEWS
          ▪ Lucky Seven cast [ 1, 2, 4 ]
               ▪ Koyama joins the cast, playing MatsuJun's brother.
               ▪ Koyama and MatsuJun are on the same acting level? XD;;
               ▪ Nakai forgot Ueda was his li'l bro. D:
               ▪ Peyton's fantasy: Kame + Koyama siblings.

     Akanishi Jin
          ▪ Oricon Charts [ 1, 2 ]
               ▪ Test Drive takes #1 spot with 108K+ copies sold.

     Kis-My-Ft2
          ▪ We Never Give Up single and making of [ 1, 2 ]
               ▪ We Never Give Up is so good, omg. SO CATCHY!! BETTER THAN DEBUT SONG.
               ▪ Kiss My PVenus…
               ▪ The B-sides are kinda generic, boring/ or impressive/ or forgettable.
               ▪ THE BACKDANCERS TALK IN THE MAKING OF!
               ▪ Nikaido? Yokoo? falls over on top of a staff dude.
               ▪ Good to see them having fun and being silly as a group~

          ▪ Ousama no Brunch, Dec. 10 [ 1 ]
               ▪ Debut footage, blah.

          ▪ Music Japan, Dec. 11 [ 1, 2, 3 ]
               ▪ BACKDANCERS ARE ALIVE!!
               ▪ Miyata makes puns, Kitayama has to defend his honour.
               ▪ Kitayama, you're trying too hard.

          ▪ Coming Soon, Dec. 12 [ 1, 2, 3 ]
               ▪ Ugh, the MC segment is so frustrating; it's like Nakai doesn't even acknowledge them.
               ▪ It's like all the money is spent on the frontmen only.
               ▪ During the perf, the backdancers can't even show their faces for a long time.
               ▪ Tangent: YokoHina complain about having no money and having to cut Osaka Rainy Blues PV to half.
               ▪ KisMai is becoming EXILE. >:E
               ▪ Arashi/Tohoshinki comparisons..?

          ▪ Sakigake, Dec. 14 [ 1 ]
               ▪ KisMai teach their fans choreo…

     Ikuta Toma
          ▪ Shabekuri 007/Otameshika, Dec. 05 [ 1 ]
               ▪ Toma underestimates Otameshika game…
               ▪ Toma causes others to turn into a devil.
               ▪ The hosts are hellbent on showing Toma's embarrassing footage.
               ▪ Tokui has to appologise to Toma because he doesn't really look like Toma even though he says he does.
               ▪ Toma and Tokui recreate love scenes from Genji Monogatari.
               ▪ Sannen B Gumi Taipachi senseeeeei~
               ▪ Toma as a delinquent~ ♥_♥
               ▪ Toma verifies Higashiyama has a loose mouth…
               ▪ Ah, to be a celeb in Japan…free food…

          ▪ Ousama no Brunch, Dec. 11 [ 1 ]
               ▪ With Higashiyama, promoting Genji Monogatari…
               ▪ There's some Japanese confusion here…something about riding…horses…harder…

     Johnny's Jrs.
          ▪ Kiriyama Akito to be in butai, Beautiful Sunday [ 1 ]
               ▪ March 10 ~11
               ▪ Miyake Ken has played this role on TV before.
               ▪ Kiriyama will play a gay guy with HIV…

     Multiple
          ▪ Music Station Super Live Lineup [ 1 ]
               ▪ Airs December 23rd.
               ▪ SMAP, Arashi, KinKi Kids, V6, KAT-TUN, Hey!Say!Jump, TOKIO
               ▪ No NEWS, or TegoMasu…
               ▪ (Yamapi and Toma have broken up??)

 L E T T E R / Q U E S T I O N

          ▪ This week's question: What are your thoughts on Tackey & Tsubasa's One Day, One Dream PV?
               ▪ Yay anonymous listener comment! THANK GOODNESS!!
          ▪ Next week's question (actually, two weeks from now!): What are your thoughts and impressions of on Sexy Zone's Kikuchi Fuma?

Songs used in this week's podcast are from
TegoMasu's TegoMasu no Mahou album.

 O P E N I N G

          ▪ CDTV Favorite Winter Songs Ranking [ 1 ]
               ▪ Peyton hopes Mariah Carey is now stuck in your head.
               ▪ Where exactly does HSJ’s “Snow Song” come from?
               ▪ “That wasn’t a girl he was pining over; it was Santa Claus.”
               ▪ Arashi’s “Dear Snow” vs. “Wish”, which is the REAL winter song? ;P
               ▪ What’s YOUR favorite JE winter song? Let us know!

 N E W S ( D E C E M B E R  0 3 – 0 9 )

     SMAP/Kis-My-Ft2
          ▪ Music Station, December 9 [ 1, 2, 3, 4 ]
               ▪ We dissect the art of making Kis-my-ft2 look like a trio with backup dancers instead of seven members. :\
               ▪ We cannot for the life of us remember what “We Never Give Up” sounds like. XD and sing “everybody go!” instead
               ▪ A high school girl in Nagoya wants to marry Nakai. Do you? ;P
               ▪ “He’s such a TROLL. I love him!!!!”
               ▪ “They look like emo prep school boys!”

     TOKIO/Kanjani8
          ▪ Matsuoka/Yokoyama to do drama together [ 1, 2 ]
               ▪ TV Asahi drama, “13-sa no Hello Work”, based on a popular children’s book by Murakami Ryu used in middle/high schools.
               ▪ “I’m going back in time~ It’s J.J. Express~” (Yeah, we went there. XD)
               ▪ Yokoyama playing a Tokyo University graduate?! LOL

     V6/KAT-TUN
          ▪ Inocchi/Nakamaru to be in Matsushima Nao drama [ 1 ]
               ▪ Inocchi plays Matsushita Nao’s husband; Nakamaru plays Inocchi’s younger brother.
               ▪ None of these sibilings look alike. “Dude, did your parents have an affair?!”
               ▪ FujiTV needed to do a family drama to copy YamaPi’s big family drama on TBS. ;P
               ▪ Drama theme song for V6 to come?

     Arashi
          ▪ Fuji TV x Arashi New Year’s campaign [ 1, 2 ]
               ▪ Increased airtime for Arashi on FujiTV between December 17th and January 3rd which will include a giveaway.
               ▪ MatsuJun and Sho to have cameos as their drama characters in Ohno’s drama special, “Mou Yukai Nante Shinai”.
               ▪ “Give me a break, FujiTV. Do you actually need this to get people to watch your station… Wait, actually they do.” XDDDD
               ▪ “Kotastu de Arashi” – a show with Arashi sitting around a kotatsu talking? LOL
               ▪ Peyton explodes in fangirl excitement – over MatsuJun’s getsuku drama?! GASP.

     Arashi/Ikuta Toma
          ▪ Himitsu no Arashi-chan, December 8th [ 1 ]
               ▪ Kami’s disappoint over Ohno’s loss. FEEL IT. ;_;
               ▪ Conspiracy against Ohno? (More like Japanese women need to stop being so conservative. )
               ▪ Random pimp for the new segment on the show (that has nothing to do with Toma XD)
               ▪ Toma trolls MatsuJun; oh look, true friendship! XD

     NEWS
          ▪ Deka Wanko comes back with a drama special [ 1, 2 ]
               ▪ Deka Wanko finds the Edo Jidai in Paris. WHAT? o.O
               ▪ The same manga writer for “Gokusen” writes “Deka Wanko”. Surprising to say the least!
               ▪ “I just see a lot of happy NEWS fans out in Europe right now.”; “He was in Italy, now Paris…”

     Yamashita Tomohisa
          ▪ To have a NTV late night show [ 1, 2 ]
               ▪ Documentary of YamaPi’s self discovery as he drives across the United States on the historic Route 66 highway; show will last three months, airing once a week.
               ▪ Filmed in the United States from November 3rd through November 18th; YamaPi drives a 1985 Chevy C20 nicknamed Akkun.
               ▪ “I’m not sure what this is supposed to do for YamaPi…” “Making him look like an idiot.”
               ▪ A good marketing strategy to win back fans he pissed off when he left NEWS?
               ▪ Or is this just all about YamaPi? Again.
               ▪ “It’s something Americans would have more interest in than Japanese.”; “Why would Japan care aboout this stupid route in America?”

     KAT-TUN
          ▪ Oricon Chart [ 1, 2 ]
               ▪ Yay #1! Yay KAT-TUN’s sales’ numbers are moving up!

          ▪ New Album, “Chain” [ 1, 2 ]
               ▪ LE to have a DVD with a PV for the lead song from the album.
               ▪ “All of KAT-TUN’s titles for their albums really represent the place they were at at the time.” Think about it!

          ▪ Taguchi on “Chubaw Desu Yo”, December 3rd [ 1 ]
               ▪ Junno is FORCED to do puns. GASP.
               ▪ No one remembers Nakamaru. No surprise.

          ▪ Music Japan, December 4th [ 1, 2 ]
               ▪ KAT-TUN got excited when they found a locust on the building they filmed the “BIRTH” PV on. WTF.

     Akanishi Jin
          ▪ “Test Drive” single (Japanese release) with PV and Making of [ 1, 2, 3 ]
               ▪ The only new thing is the three B-sides – “PAPARATS”, “MY MP3″, “TIPSY LOVE”
               ▪ The making of for the PV is the video from his YouTube series, “The Takeover”. Lame.
               ▪ “His Japanese sounds really foreign!”
               ▪ Possibilities of Jin and YamaPi at Countdown this year? Hmm…

     Hey!Say!JUMP/Johnny’s Jrs.
          ▪ Yamada/Kiriyama to be in TBS drama special [ 1, 2, 3, 4 ]
               ▪ Historical drama about the life of Yamada Akiyoshi in the period after Meiji Restoration.
               ▪ Debate over Yamada’s acting chops? Peyton loves him, Melissa’s not interested. XD

     NYC/Nakayama Yuma
          ▪ New single [ 1, 2 ]
               ▪ Double A-side “Wonderful Cupid” and “Glass no Mahou”, the latter a Nakayama solo song.
               ▪ Two Les, two Res. LE to have a jacket-sized calendar + participation tickets to a handshake event for Nakayama Yuma. RE to have extra b-side.
               ▪ “I need someone to stab me.” “Why?” “Because I’m looking at the CD jackets and I actually think they’re sexy.”
               ▪ “I’d laugh if they just released this so they could perform it at Kouhaku.”

     Sexy Zone
          ▪ To be supporters for All-Japan Volleyball High School Championship Series [ 1 ]
               ▪ This is happening in 2012. Not 2011. Volleyball can happen in other years. XD
               ▪ We struggle with weird translations that makes Shiori sound like he anticipates a Sexy Zone breakup. XD

     A.B.C.-Z.
          ▪ DVD Debut [ 1, 2 ]
               ▪ “The fact that we have a point for A.B.C.-Z. Let us take a moment to revel in that.”
               ▪ DVD debut (instead of CD debut) allows them to focus on a visual presentation of the group.
               ▪ No debut date, no news of a record label, but they WILL debut with DVD release; we’re a bit skeptical about the DVD.
               ▪ What’s up Johnny? Three groups debut in less than a year? Are you trying to get your favorites debuted before you die?! :O

     Multiple
          ▪ FNS Kayousai, December 7th [ 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 ]
               ▪ V6 and TOKIO trolling on each other! SO MUCH LOVE.♥
               ▪ V6 doing “Sexy.Honey.Bunny” after Sexy Zone. Awkward. Ken continues to be Korean.
               ▪ TOKIO are the only artists in the audience that are like super flaily. Even for the young girl groups.
               ▪ Did you hear about the bruhaha about Arashi’s performance? If not, we’ll inform you!
               ▪ SMAP was fabulous. All three of us can agree on this. (except “Boku no Hanbun”?! D:)
               ▪ We talk about this for almost thirty minutes. TOO MUCH TO SAY.

 L E T T E R / Q U E S T I O N

          ▪ Since no one has answered and this episode is TOO LONG, letter segment question is of course the same.
          ▪ Next week’s question: What are your thoughts on Tackey & Tsubasa’s One Day, One Dream PV? PLEASE GIVE US COMMENTS.

Songs used in this week’s podcast are from
TegoMasu’s TegoMasu no Mahou album.

 O P E N I N G

          ▪ Kimura Takuya is a One Piece fanboy [ 1 ]
               ▪ Kimura sings We Are, is totally adorable.
               ▪ Kimura plays a total One Piece Otaku (ooposite Eikura Nana) who ignores his girl friend in favour of manga.
               ▪ SMAP perfom Neon Genesis Evangelion’s theme song Cruel Angel Thesis.
               ▪ Tsuyoshi is apparently a massive Eva nerd.

 N E W S ( N O V E M B E R  2 6 – D E C E M B E R  0 2 )

     Sempai
          ▪ Higashiyama wins 2011 Best Dresser [ 1 ]
               ▪ Higashiyama is the best wardrobe/closet? XD
               ▪ Kichise Michiko wins the best dressed female.

     SMAP
          ▪ Katori Shingo/Hirosue Ryoko to star in movie [ 1 ]
               ▪ Love -Masao-kun ga Iku-
               ▪ Masao-kun is a dog.
               ▪ Katori plays an unsuccessful comedian who meets Masao-kun and together they grow.
               ▪ Narumi Riko and lots of comedians also star!
               ▪ To be released in Jun of 2012.
               ▪ SMAP x DOGS!

     SMAP/KinKi Kids
          ▪ Koichi on Black Variety, Nov. 27 [ 1 ]
               ▪ Meh, there’s nothing really interesting, except…
               ▪ Koichi never leaves the house. Nakai never leaves the house either?
               ▪ Nakai, Koichi, Taichi, (V6 member) go out… Nakai kicks Koichi for failing to get a taxi.
               ▪ Nakai takes girls to his place right away. Koichi doesn’t do much “official dating.”
               ▪ Is Nakai asking if Koichi dates Tsuyoshi??

     SMAP/KAT-TUN
          ▪ Coming Soon, Nov. 28 [ 1, 2, 3 ]
               ▪ For a live perf, they sound rather good!
               ▪ Does the choreo involve some chest shake, like jiggling of boobs or something? XD
               ▪ Ueda needs take that damn hood off his head. -_-
               ▪ Ueda spills spoilers about his drama on air!! OH NO!
               ▪ Nakai’s totally into Runaway. Still can’t remember Ueda’s name.
               ▪ Everyone wishes Taguchi a happy birthday~
               ▪ KAT-TUN have started a birthday present giving tradition.
               ▪ Nakamaru gives the worst presents. Taguchi gives the best.

     KinKi Kids
          ▪ New single [ 1 ]
               ▪ Kawatta Katachi no Ishi, Jan 11 2012 release.
               ▪ LE -> DVD wth PV, RE -> 2 bonus tracks, 6 pages jacket.
               ▪ Should KinKi dress up as rocks fod this PV?

     Tackey & Tsubasa
          ▪ Heartful Voice single [ 1, 2 ]
               ▪ Heartful Voice > Our Song. -_- Smile is more in line with Heartful Voice.

     Arashi/TOKIO
          ▪ Kaibutsu-Kun Team on VS Arashi [ 1, 2 ]
               ▪ Matsuoka guests with Ohno.
               ▪ Ohno is chosen as Most Dame Arashi for being so good with Kaibutsu team.
               ▪ Aiba makes Matsuoka wait forever when Matsuoka goes to pick him up.
               ▪ Nino and Aiba are like Matsuoka’s lil bros from his hometwon.

     KAT-TUN
          ▪ Birth single & PVs [ 1, 2, 3, 4 ]
               ▪ STAR RIDER’S AWESOME! But Birth might be better? lol
               ▪ The lyrics to star rider makes no sense, sort of.
               ▪ Birth is a blend of jazz and rock, lyrically & muscially fits Yokai Ningen Bem perfectly.
               ▪ Baby b Mine, Act on Emotion are average KAT-TUN songs. Kinda unforgettable.
               ▪ The Star Rider PV is kind of fitting for the song? But they could have spent more money.
               ▪ KAT-TUN are really sexy in the Star Rider PV.
               ▪ The Birth PV is kinda nonsensical, too. What’s with the buildings? Kame is sleeping? WHY?
               ▪ The making-of explains the cube is the focus of the PV.
               ▪ Watching Yokai NIngen Bem would help make sense of the PV even more.
               ▪ Dancing in the roof in the night is really hot~! (Pikanchi Double, anyone? XD)
               ▪ Possibly one of the best making-ofs ever? Lots of playing games! Fun!
               ▪ KAT-TUN race RC cars, make fun of each other, random silliness and cuteness.
               ▪ Taguchi goes farming with Nakamaru! Yummy yams~!
               ▪ Do KAT-TUN have nothing else to do? Is this location seg a PR strategy?

          ▪ Music Station, Dec. 02 [ 1, 2, 3 ]
               ▪ The set’s better than Coming Soon!
               ▪ SUZUKI FUKU!!! Kame and Fuku-kun are bff on set~
               ▪ Koki has like, six animals in his house?
               ▪ Nakamaru has no expressions. Nakamaru winks at Tamori.

     Kis-My-Ft2
          ▪ We Never Give Up PV [ 1, 2 ]
               ▪ Kitayama, Fujigaya, and Tamamori are the mains, the rest are just back dancers?
               ▪ M & R kinda love this. Fujigaya & Tamamori are like, really good looking.
               ▪ The focus on the front three is really disappointing/annoying.
               ▪ But once the group becomes well known, maybe the back four will get more exposure?
               ▪ Why are they in a prism why is it snowing why are wearing grey.

     Sexy Zone
          ▪ Shori joins Hungry! drama cast [ 1, 2, 3 ]
               ▪ He’s playing someone’s sister brother.

     Ikuta Toma
          ▪ Toma on Gout Temps Nouveau, Nov. 30 [ 1 ]
               ▪ PR for Genji Monogatari.
               ▪ Toma vs. fifty women. Toma answering questions.
               ▪ “Why do guys lie?” “What would you consider as cheating?”
               ▪ Toma wears shorts and t-shirt to bed…

     Multiple
          ▪ Kohaku Line-up [ 1, 2, 3 ]
               ▪ Arashi, SMAP, NYC, TOKIO of JE are to appear. No new JE groups.
               ▪ Will be hosted by Inoue Mao and Arashi. (HYD pair~)

          ▪ Best Artist, Nov. 30 [ 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16 ]
               ▪ Sho’s pants were really bothersome.
               ▪ Arashi’s energy was good~ felt like a real concert.
               ▪ The more they perform Meikyu Love Song, the better it sounds.
               ▪ Taguchi starting Keep The Faith was awful. Augh. Birth was so much better.
               ▪ KAT-TUN look like bees/lady bugs.
               ▪ SUZUKI FUKU!!!!!!!!!! KAT-TUN & Sho dancing Maru Maru Mori Mori with Fuku-kun~
               ▪ Kaibutsu-kun & Ohno are two different people, definitely.
               ▪ Kanjani8′s perf was more of the same stuff. Ryo’s lack of happyface bothers Peyton.
               ▪ HSJ wants to make mother complex more popular again..?
               ▪ Yamada is the pinnacle of the V. UGH. Morimoto’s leaving has put more focus on him.
               ▪ Tsubasaaaaaaa take that furry shit off.
               ▪ Tokio’s Ambitious Japan continues to inspire people.

 L E T T E R / Q U E S T I O N

          ▪ Next week’s question: What are your thoughts on Tackey & Tsubasa’s One Day, One Dream PV?

Songs used in this week’s podcast are from
Arashi’s Meikyuu Love Song single.

 O P E N I N G

          ▪ Yamapi in the Doraemon Toyota cms?
               ▪ His hair freaking defies gravity!
               ▪ Yamapi plays the bully Suneo.
               ▪ We may have digressed to bitching about Yamapi’s hair? who’s surprised?

 N E W S ( N O V E M B E R  1 2 – 1 8 )

     SMAP
          ▪ New single [ 1, 2 ]
               ▪ Titled “Boku no Hanbun,” to be released 12/21.
               ▪ Kimura’s on acoustic guitar!!!!
               ▪ The song is about an unrequited love, “My Half” is the title after all.

     KinKi Kids
          ▪ Oricon Charts [ 1 ]
               ▪ #1 in the album ranking, selling 151k+ copies.

          ▪ Music Japan, Nov. 13 [ 1, 2 ]
               ▪ A whole KinKi Kids special! Performing 4 songs~
               ▪ WHAT IS THIS? WE ACTUALLY LIKED THE PERFORMANCE FOR FAMILY?!
               ▪ They need Nakai there to yell at them to “do it like when they debuted.”
               ▪ Tsuyoshi would give Perfume a song where it’s just “poi poi poi.” XDDDD
               ▪ Koichi plays mini-games with himself when he’s at home. omg, it made me laugh so hard. sorry about all the snickering.

     Arashi
          ▪ Ohno to star in drama special [ 1, 2 ]
               ▪ The story is based on a novel written by the same author who wrote “Nazotoki wa Dinner no Ato de.”
               ▪ *____________* Sorry Ohno, but omg, Narimiya, Sato. ♥♥♥

     Arashi/Tackey & Tsubasa/Sexy Zone
          ▪ Heyx3, Nov. 14 [ 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 ]
               ▪ Sho was basically useless during his part–he was on because he was Yattaman.
               ▪ Amemiya did a song for T&T as well!!!
               ▪ Takki was mauled by fangirls while he was waiting for Tsubasa.
               ▪ Ew to Tsubasa’s hair.
               ▪ Sexy Zone’s segment was super short. ‘Nuff said.

     Tackey & Tsubasa
          ▪ Guestings, Nov. 16-17 [ 1 ]
               ▪ Boring for the most part on all accounts.
               ▪ Takki just fails during Gurunai: can’t draw, loses the game entirely (SPOILER ALERT)
               ▪ Tsubasa speaks in Spanish, but it was kind of ridiculous–all he says is his name and that he likes Spain and Spanish food.
               ▪ What in the world, Ohno/Kaibutsu-kun suddenly appears?!
               ▪ LOL Matsujun is the most Kaibutsu-kun-like. IN THE FACE. (according to Ohno/Kaibutsu-kun) LOLOL

     Yamashita Tomohisa
          ▪ To release concert DVD [ 1, 2, 3 ]
               ▪ Concert footage from Yoyogi on May 10, 2011.
               ▪ Tour documentary, Hadakanbo PV, Christmas message from Yamapi and greeting card written by Yamapi!
               ▪ The X-mas message expires 4 days after the DVD is released. JE, the hell?
               ▪ ADAMAS? What song is this?

     Kanjani8
          ▪ Monjai Beat and Fight for the Eight PV and making of [ 1, 2, 3, 4 ]
          ▪ Fight Album [ 1, 2 ]
               ▪ SO GOOD, THIS ALBUM. *___________*
               ▪ What the shit, Ohkura crawling acrossing the ceiling?! Reminded Melissa of Edward from Twilight.
               ▪ DDDDD: Clown Saxophonist. creepy.
               ▪ Fight for the Eight PV is K8 trying to reach the KAT-TUN market?
               ▪ What were with the girls in the PVs? Not necessary, really.
               ▪ Water Drop and Wander are the hosts’ favorites.
               ▪ Yasu, Murakami and Ohkura’s song starts with the Wedding March. THE HELL?
               ▪ Ryo makes a solo that sounds like his other ones?

     Hey!Say!JUMP
          ▪ To have New Year’s concerts [ 1, 2 ]
               ▪ Concerts from Jan. 02-07, 8 shows.

     Sexy Zone
          ▪ Sexy Zone Single, PV [ 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 ]
               ▪ >.> Roses really suck. They blocked half of their faces.
               ▪ They spent most of the regular PV with close-up shots–there was no need for the separate close-up PV.
               ▪ Matsushima So is now known as Matsuso; so says JEP Cast.
               ▪ Oops. Kami apparently failed to let the other girls know that there was a SINGLE in this point. XD

          ▪ Sakigake, Nov. 16 [ 1 ]
               ▪ Marius knocked the set down with his Japanese.

          ▪ Music Station, Nov. 18 [ 1, 2 ]
               ▪ Who are we supposed to be focused on? Sexy Zone or the juniors backing them?
               ▪ Sexy Zone are more put-together than expected?

     Multiple
          ▪ NTV Best Artist lineup [ 1, 2 ]
               ▪ Sho hosting, with various JE groups performing.
               ▪ A little talk about NEWS and wondering if they’re going to perform anywhere. (Our answer: no.)

 L E T T E R / Q U E S T I O N

          ▪ This week’s question: What are your thoughts on V6′s Dasenai Tegami PV?
               ▪ No listener responses, so you get to hear your hosts ramble on. XD
          ▪ Next week’s question: What are your thoughts on Tackey & Tsubasa’s One Day, One Dream PV?

Songs used in this week’s podcast are from
Hey!Say!JUMP’s Magic Power single.