Kanjani8 Pimp Post - 1st anniversary edition!
By chance yesterday I happened to notice that it was on this day last year that I made my first K8 pimp post! So, as a few people on my friends list have been expressing piqued or renewed interest, I thought it would be apt to do another! :D
2007 was really Kanjani8's year. They released what I consider to be their best and most suited-to-them single, Zukkoke Otokomichi, an album that came with a cracktastic short movie that they reportedly came up with themselves, and, moreover, a bonus disc of solo songs that rather kicked the ass of the main album. And, of course, they became the first Johnnys to complete a 47-prefecture tour, playing 113 shows between May and September, including two at Tokyo Dome, three shows of which I was lucky enough to get to see. From the tour, they not only released 5-discs worth of DVD, of which this is my favourite segment, but also a triumphant photobook featuring 1500 pics that I can't even really pick a favourite from. They also released a chart-topping boxset of the dramas they were all in last Christmas, and their seventh single, It's My Soul. (Incidentally, this was the back cover of the Limited Edition. The girl might look... oddly familiar. XD)
So yeah, it was a busy year for them, especially if you take into account the two weekly TV shows they have together, along with various members on other regular shows, appearances in 3 serial dramas and 4 drama specials between them, 3 shows at Osaka Dome, one solo stage show and one member's commitments to his other band. @_@ No-one can say K8 don't work hard!
They've been a band for just over 5 years now, and they made their CD debut in 2004 with the enka-influenced Naniwa Iroha Bushi. It was a suitably unique debut - let's face it, can you see K8 singing songs like A-Ra-Shi or NewS Nippon? The members had known each other for a lot longer, though, and that's one of the things we love about K8 - the fact that they genuinely seem like mates, or brothers; they tease each other and laugh at each other, but they also support each other and have fun together and work hard to make K8 work. After all, if they didn't feel comfortable with each other, I don't think they'd be doing things like this:
...Now that I've got your attention with some gay, shall we take a look at each of the members?
Shibutani Subaru
As you'll know if you're already on my friends list, Subaru's my favourite. He's the lead singer, and he's... well. A lot of Subaru's actions defy description:
(Wait till 2 minutes in when they give him the toy snake. PRICELESS.)
He's on crack, he's bratty, he's tiny, he's emo, he's witty, he's sexy, he's a rock star, he's a pervert, he has the stupidest tattoo in the world, and he's a complete original. ♥
Yasuda Shota
Yasu is the picked-on member. He's cute and kind and they love him really, but they love to abuse him. And, really, with the amount of falling over and crying he does, you can see why he's the object of their bullying.
Yasu cries when they play tennis. And he very famously cries when Subaru steals his strawberry, though to be fair to him, he was crying with laughter.
He always tries very hard at everything, though, and he usually succeeds in the end. His solo from the recent tour was an excellent song, and the band agreed.
Yokoyama Yuu
Yoko is the talker. Although he's shy and has little confidence in himself, he's a great performer and very quick and very funny. And it's not that he's *bad* at sports, but...
Of course, Yoko was recently in Yuukan Club, which I'm certain has raised his profile a lot; he also acted in Haikei, Chichiue-sama, with Nino, at the start of the year, in a completely different sort of role.
Yoko's finest moments are usually quotes, and they're usually naughty. Like the time he spent a long time talking about penises on the radio. Which he did again last night. XD
Murakami Shingo
His nickname is Hina (because he apparently used to look like an actress with the name, though to me he's always looked the same, lol). He's the MC, the one who talks for the band because he's reliable, and responsible, and neither shy nor as prone to doing silly things as the others. He'll give anything a go (even speaking English) and usually succeeds. He's also very fit, and loves soccer very much. (He's good at most sports, except those involving heights.) He's a very good sport and laughs at pretty much everything, including himself.
This is a fanvid, but it showcases Hina's main talent: whacking people on the head. Or arse, in one notable instance.
His weakness? Animals. Animals don't seem to like him very much, and he feels the same. Especially about bugs. XD
Maruyama Ryuhei
Maru is always described as the 'moodmaker' - he's always pulling silly faces and doing very daft things to make the other members laugh, and though sometimes they say he gets it wrong (sometimes they say he only does funny things when the camera's not rolling, haha) quite often they get caught up in the moment.
He also makes a surprisingly good woman, isn't very good at sport and seems quite M - here's a good example of all three. His solo from the recent tour is also the gayest thing I've ever seen.
Ohkura Tadayoshi
I think the word for Ohkura is 'laidback', haha. He's usually quiet on TV, but he's known for liking food a lot, and this is what happened when he didn't get to eat a couple of weeks ago on Janiben.
Predictably, he's not good after being woken up either. Or about being dragged along behind trucks.
He is, though, an awesome drummer, and his solo from 47 is absolutely gorgeous, and so is he.
Nishikido Ryo
Ryo is the lucky boy who gets to be in two bands. In NewS he gets to show his cool side; in Kanjani8 he gets to show his dorky side. (Also look out for Subaru christening the 8Ranger oufit an "Eighting suit", hahaha.)
Ryo works really hard. He takes his bands and music seriously, and his solos are genuinely excellent songs that you could easily hear on the radio in the UK.
Although he clearly knows he's cool, he actually seems like a very humble guy who knows when to be serious and when to have fun.
It's no word of a lie when I say I couldn't love K8 nearly as much as I do if I didn't genuinely love their music. Here's some of my favourite bits from their concerts and performances.
My favourite song in all of Johnny's:
Gorgeous.
Within Kanjani8 there are, and have been, a number of sub-units. SubaruBAND consists of Subaru, Yasu, Maru and Ohkura, and they write and perform their own songs - Subaru writes the lyrics and Yasu writes the music, and they always have a slot in the concerts. This song was on their first album, and it's the track that really made me pay attention.
Another subunit, though they haven't been active for a while, is 3Kyoudai. They were composed of Yoko, Subaru and Yasu, and Yoko wrote the lyrics and Yasu wrote the music. They had some lovely acoustic songs that sound completely sentimental in English, but are completely beautiful. Even when they make rock versions out of them. :D
Zukkoke Otokomichi on Shonen Club Premium.
End-of-tour tears. *_*
Compilation of DVD backstage bits.
They introduce themselves in an enka-stylee at the Yagura Dance 2005.
Again with the enka. They do a medley of their own songs to an audience of probably baffled old people, then throw in an enka number.
Old perf of Kuchibue no Mukou, cos I love that song. :D
The famous kissing performance of It's My Soul on Music Station.
This is probably my favourite K8 clip ever.
Idol poses! Subbed by kansaiboys.
Though this is a close second - the Subassan Love Love Utaban episode. :D
Both Utaban appearances have been complete gold. The 'game' the first time they were on the show must surface in their nightmares: body-builders, a dominatrix, and, of course, that old favourite, electrocution. (You can dl the talk part, subbed, here, and the game part - no subs, but you get the gist XD - here and here.)
Speaking of electrocution, this will never stop being funny. XD K8 always get the harshest punishments. Incidentally, any and all of the Okan sketches, where K8 dress up as middle aged ladies and play random games and get bizarre forfeits, are worth watching. :D
Honjani, one of their old TV shows, was always full of hilarious moments, like the funniest fall ever in the world.
This is Kame trying to control 3Kyoudai (and friends...), with... limited success. XD
*sneaks OTP in again* Handholding on national TV... (I mean, I know OhMiya fans get the same service, haha, but it's something to be excited about! ;)
And this is still my moment of the year:
Basically, I hope I've proved that K8 *are*, to quote Subaru, a group who can do anything. They write and sing beautiful songs, are talented musicians, can pull off gorgeous ballads, rock, and fun songs just as well as pure pop; and they really are genuinely grateful for their fans. They've had to perhaps work harder than a lot of idol groups to get where they have, and it's really started to pay off for them - they really seem to appreciate the support the fans give them, and the fact that they have so much freedom to do different projects, from mini music units to improvised comedy stage shows. I didn't set out to keep quoting Subaru, lol, but he's the one I know most about, so here's a very short anecdote from someone who interviewed him recently. ♥
I really have got *so* much enjoyment out of being in K8 fandom - more than I have for a very long time! I just want to share the love! :]
Finally, here's every file I currently have uploaded of them, including solos and junior clips. I've bolded my top favourites!
mp3
Kanjani8 - Naniwa Iroha Bushi (Trance mix)
Shibutani Subaru - Greedy
Kanjani8 - Ai ni Mukatte
Kanjani8 - Do You Agree? (Heat Up version)
Shibutani Subaru - Everyday Music
Kanjani8 - Zukkoke Otokomichi
Kanjani8 - Yorimichi
Perfs
Kanjani8 (and a bunch of enka singers) - Sekai ni Hitotsu Dake no Hana
[Fancam] Shibutani Subaru - I Believe in Myself (parapara version, solocon 2006)
Shibutani Subaru - Shelter
Shibutani Subaru - Pray
Shibutanu Subaru w/Yamapi & Toma - Mermaid (Glay cover)
[Fancam] Shibutani Subaru in Never Gonna Dance (1)
[Fancam] Shibutani Subaru in Never Gonna Dance (2)
Shibutani Subaru w/Five - Window
Shibutani Subaru w/Five - Greedy
Shibutani Subaru w/Kokubun Taichi - Mr Travelling Man
Shibutani Subaru - Foolday
TV shows and clips
000109 Music Jump Ping Pong contest
000116 Music Jump King of MJ
000116 Music Jump talk
000123 Music Jump King of MJ aka Subaru shows Toma his knickers
000123 Music Jump talk
000213 Music Jump talk
000220 Music Jump King of MJ & Subaru Melon Densetsu
Music Jump Tsubasa & Subaru kisses
19990321 Music Jump
Subaru & Ryo - Food reports (Suka-J)
Honjani 20061108 - Food!
Doujinshi
7 Okan
Otoko Dojo (UFO CM)
Birthday Song (Ryo/Subaru)
The Plan (Subaru/Yasu)
2007 was really Kanjani8's year. They released what I consider to be their best and most suited-to-them single, Zukkoke Otokomichi, an album that came with a cracktastic short movie that they reportedly came up with themselves, and, moreover, a bonus disc of solo songs that rather kicked the ass of the main album. And, of course, they became the first Johnnys to complete a 47-prefecture tour, playing 113 shows between May and September, including two at Tokyo Dome, three shows of which I was lucky enough to get to see. From the tour, they not only released 5-discs worth of DVD, of which this is my favourite segment, but also a triumphant photobook featuring 1500 pics that I can't even really pick a favourite from. They also released a chart-topping boxset of the dramas they were all in last Christmas, and their seventh single, It's My Soul. (Incidentally, this was the back cover of the Limited Edition. The girl might look... oddly familiar. XD)
So yeah, it was a busy year for them, especially if you take into account the two weekly TV shows they have together, along with various members on other regular shows, appearances in 3 serial dramas and 4 drama specials between them, 3 shows at Osaka Dome, one solo stage show and one member's commitments to his other band. @_@ No-one can say K8 don't work hard!
They've been a band for just over 5 years now, and they made their CD debut in 2004 with the enka-influenced Naniwa Iroha Bushi. It was a suitably unique debut - let's face it, can you see K8 singing songs like A-Ra-Shi or NewS Nippon? The members had known each other for a lot longer, though, and that's one of the things we love about K8 - the fact that they genuinely seem like mates, or brothers; they tease each other and laugh at each other, but they also support each other and have fun together and work hard to make K8 work. After all, if they didn't feel comfortable with each other, I don't think they'd be doing things like this:
Click to view
...Now that I've got your attention with some gay, shall we take a look at each of the members?
Shibutani Subaru
As you'll know if you're already on my friends list, Subaru's my favourite. He's the lead singer, and he's... well. A lot of Subaru's actions defy description:
(Wait till 2 minutes in when they give him the toy snake. PRICELESS.)
He's on crack, he's bratty, he's tiny, he's emo, he's witty, he's sexy, he's a rock star, he's a pervert, he has the stupidest tattoo in the world, and he's a complete original. ♥
Yasuda Shota
Yasu is the picked-on member. He's cute and kind and they love him really, but they love to abuse him. And, really, with the amount of falling over and crying he does, you can see why he's the object of their bullying.
Yasu cries when they play tennis. And he very famously cries when Subaru steals his strawberry, though to be fair to him, he was crying with laughter.
He always tries very hard at everything, though, and he usually succeeds in the end. His solo from the recent tour was an excellent song, and the band agreed.
Yokoyama Yuu
Yoko is the talker. Although he's shy and has little confidence in himself, he's a great performer and very quick and very funny. And it's not that he's *bad* at sports, but...
Of course, Yoko was recently in Yuukan Club, which I'm certain has raised his profile a lot; he also acted in Haikei, Chichiue-sama, with Nino, at the start of the year, in a completely different sort of role.
Yoko's finest moments are usually quotes, and they're usually naughty. Like the time he spent a long time talking about penises on the radio. Which he did again last night. XD
Murakami Shingo
His nickname is Hina (because he apparently used to look like an actress with the name, though to me he's always looked the same, lol). He's the MC, the one who talks for the band because he's reliable, and responsible, and neither shy nor as prone to doing silly things as the others. He'll give anything a go (even speaking English) and usually succeeds. He's also very fit, and loves soccer very much. (He's good at most sports, except those involving heights.) He's a very good sport and laughs at pretty much everything, including himself.
This is a fanvid, but it showcases Hina's main talent: whacking people on the head. Or arse, in one notable instance.
His weakness? Animals. Animals don't seem to like him very much, and he feels the same. Especially about bugs. XD
Maruyama Ryuhei
Maru is always described as the 'moodmaker' - he's always pulling silly faces and doing very daft things to make the other members laugh, and though sometimes they say he gets it wrong (sometimes they say he only does funny things when the camera's not rolling, haha) quite often they get caught up in the moment.
He also makes a surprisingly good woman, isn't very good at sport and seems quite M - here's a good example of all three. His solo from the recent tour is also the gayest thing I've ever seen.
Ohkura Tadayoshi
I think the word for Ohkura is 'laidback', haha. He's usually quiet on TV, but he's known for liking food a lot, and this is what happened when he didn't get to eat a couple of weeks ago on Janiben.
Predictably, he's not good after being woken up either. Or about being dragged along behind trucks.
He is, though, an awesome drummer, and his solo from 47 is absolutely gorgeous, and so is he.
Nishikido Ryo
Ryo is the lucky boy who gets to be in two bands. In NewS he gets to show his cool side; in Kanjani8 he gets to show his dorky side. (Also look out for Subaru christening the 8Ranger oufit an "Eighting suit", hahaha.)
Ryo works really hard. He takes his bands and music seriously, and his solos are genuinely excellent songs that you could easily hear on the radio in the UK.
Although he clearly knows he's cool, he actually seems like a very humble guy who knows when to be serious and when to have fun.
It's no word of a lie when I say I couldn't love K8 nearly as much as I do if I didn't genuinely love their music. Here's some of my favourite bits from their concerts and performances.
My favourite song in all of Johnny's:
Gorgeous.
Within Kanjani8 there are, and have been, a number of sub-units. SubaruBAND consists of Subaru, Yasu, Maru and Ohkura, and they write and perform their own songs - Subaru writes the lyrics and Yasu writes the music, and they always have a slot in the concerts. This song was on their first album, and it's the track that really made me pay attention.
Another subunit, though they haven't been active for a while, is 3Kyoudai. They were composed of Yoko, Subaru and Yasu, and Yoko wrote the lyrics and Yasu wrote the music. They had some lovely acoustic songs that sound completely sentimental in English, but are completely beautiful. Even when they make rock versions out of them. :D
Zukkoke Otokomichi on Shonen Club Premium.
End-of-tour tears. *_*
Compilation of DVD backstage bits.
They introduce themselves in an enka-stylee at the Yagura Dance 2005.
Again with the enka. They do a medley of their own songs to an audience of probably baffled old people, then throw in an enka number.
Old perf of Kuchibue no Mukou, cos I love that song. :D
The famous kissing performance of It's My Soul on Music Station.
This is probably my favourite K8 clip ever.
Idol poses! Subbed by kansaiboys.
Though this is a close second - the Subassan Love Love Utaban episode. :D
Both Utaban appearances have been complete gold. The 'game' the first time they were on the show must surface in their nightmares: body-builders, a dominatrix, and, of course, that old favourite, electrocution. (You can dl the talk part, subbed, here, and the game part - no subs, but you get the gist XD - here and here.)
Speaking of electrocution, this will never stop being funny. XD K8 always get the harshest punishments. Incidentally, any and all of the Okan sketches, where K8 dress up as middle aged ladies and play random games and get bizarre forfeits, are worth watching. :D
Honjani, one of their old TV shows, was always full of hilarious moments, like the funniest fall ever in the world.
This is Kame trying to control 3Kyoudai (and friends...), with... limited success. XD
*sneaks OTP in again* Handholding on national TV... (I mean, I know OhMiya fans get the same service, haha, but it's something to be excited about! ;)
And this is still my moment of the year:
Basically, I hope I've proved that K8 *are*, to quote Subaru, a group who can do anything. They write and sing beautiful songs, are talented musicians, can pull off gorgeous ballads, rock, and fun songs just as well as pure pop; and they really are genuinely grateful for their fans. They've had to perhaps work harder than a lot of idol groups to get where they have, and it's really started to pay off for them - they really seem to appreciate the support the fans give them, and the fact that they have so much freedom to do different projects, from mini music units to improvised comedy stage shows. I didn't set out to keep quoting Subaru, lol, but he's the one I know most about, so here's a very short anecdote from someone who interviewed him recently. ♥
I really have got *so* much enjoyment out of being in K8 fandom - more than I have for a very long time! I just want to share the love! :]
Finally, here's every file I currently have uploaded of them, including solos and junior clips. I've bolded my top favourites!
mp3
Kanjani8 - Naniwa Iroha Bushi (Trance mix)
Shibutani Subaru - Greedy
Kanjani8 - Ai ni Mukatte
Kanjani8 - Do You Agree? (Heat Up version)
Shibutani Subaru - Everyday Music
Kanjani8 - Zukkoke Otokomichi
Kanjani8 - Yorimichi
Perfs
Kanjani8 (and a bunch of enka singers) - Sekai ni Hitotsu Dake no Hana
[Fancam] Shibutani Subaru - I Believe in Myself (parapara version, solocon 2006)
Shibutani Subaru - Shelter
Shibutani Subaru - Pray
Shibutanu Subaru w/Yamapi & Toma - Mermaid (Glay cover)
[Fancam] Shibutani Subaru in Never Gonna Dance (1)
[Fancam] Shibutani Subaru in Never Gonna Dance (2)
Shibutani Subaru w/Five - Window
Shibutani Subaru w/Five - Greedy
Shibutani Subaru w/Kokubun Taichi - Mr Travelling Man
Shibutani Subaru - Foolday
TV shows and clips
000109 Music Jump Ping Pong contest
000116 Music Jump King of MJ
000116 Music Jump talk
000123 Music Jump King of MJ aka Subaru shows Toma his knickers
000123 Music Jump talk
000213 Music Jump talk
000220 Music Jump King of MJ & Subaru Melon Densetsu
Music Jump Tsubasa & Subaru kisses
19990321 Music Jump
Subaru & Ryo - Food reports (Suka-J)
Honjani 20061108 - Food!
Doujinshi
7 Okan
Otoko Dojo (UFO CM)
Birthday Song (Ryo/Subaru)
The Plan (Subaru/Yasu)