キンプリ
Disclaimer: This is a diary-like post that just has me talking about 嵐, キンプリ, and being a fangirl. No content for download, or images whatsoever.
So キンプリ has been within my range of sight, but I didn't really want to properly check them out lest I ended up joining the fandom.
I'm currently working full-time, and taking my degree part-time. On top of that, 嵐 fandom is enough to keep me busy! (I already feel like I'm lagging behind in the fandom, also thus why this journal has not been updated since forever.) I'm mainly just watching things weekly, purchasing their releases, and keeping up with news on the go. But my downloads have not grown much, and I have videos/movies I haven't watched T_T
Despite that, whenever I can, I do watch variety shows randomly, sometimes just as background noise when I'm studying. (It surprisingly works better for me if I have background noise.)
So one of the variety shows I like to watch randomly is スカッとジャパン, and on the episode aired 2018.05.28, 高橋海人 made an appearance on their 胸キュン corner. I ended up really liking his appearance and remembering his name for that.
But I still did not want to join the キンプリ fandom because work, school, and 嵐 has me fully occupied.
Months later, and it so happened that 高橋海人 appeared in my dreams on the morning of 20th Feb. (I pretty much woke up at 5am, went back to sleep, and then had the dream, so I was sure of the date haha!) Thus, I decided to finally hop on the キンプリ bandwagon.
I say hop because I'm not going to make a download collection of their videos (yet). I'll probably just purchase their releases for now, and watch whatever is showing on Japan TV when it airs.
But I'd like to do fandom things with them that I didn't get to do with 嵐.
For example, with 嵐, I didn't remember the date I joined the fandom, because it was a gradual thing - there was no "I'm officially a fan as of this date", it's more of "Yeah, I like 嵐! I guess I am a fan!" kindda thing.
Which means I didn't note down things like my first impression of the members, or what the turning point that made me a fan was (But definitely ニノ!)
So since I'm now a new fan of キンプリ, I want to write my first-ish impression of the group and each member individually.
Group Impression:
1) Out of all my fandoms, I can surprisingly remember the names of the members the easiest (compared to 嵐 and Hey! Say! JUMP). But this could also be because of my own Japanese Language level. Like, when I first joined the 嵐 and HSJ fandom, I didn't know Japanese, but my level of Japanese now is that I'm sort of using it for work too.
2) Each member is strong in vocals, looks, and dance. Normally, I'd get embarrassed by JE group names (yes, I admit it!), but seeing their performances, I think King & Prince is a suitable group name for them.
3) At least half the groups are tennen. I mean, 平野くん is on a different level, and maybe not really tennen, but boke?
4) They all seem to be good friends before group members. Like, yeah, they're group members, but at the same time, it feels as though even if they weren't a group, they'd hang out with each other as friends. There are groups out there that are just a bunch of people put together because of their talents, but I feel like キンプリ is the kind of group that are friends. Which makes them fun to watch, because it's just watching a bunch of friends doing things with each other!
Individual member Impression:
平野紫耀くん (Hirano Sho) - Face type: Handsome
IMO: Firstly, I'd like to start off by saying I hate the kanji for his first name. Like, you can't just type しょう and have it come out as one of the suggested kanji because it's not a usual kanji for that reading. Also, I'll start off with him because he seems to be the most well-known of the group by non-ティアラ (Is this what we call ourselves now? I really don't know). It's probably because of 花のち晴れ, and it's well-deserved at that. He did good there! Imo, he also has the looks that would appeal to the average distribution the most. Tennen, pure, and seems to have good character overall. Main reference: うわっ！ダマされた大賞 2018.12.30
神宮寺勇太くん (Jinguji Yuta) - Face type: Ikemen
IMO: I can't really say much about 神宮寺くん because personally, I've only seen snippets of him here and there, and it's mainly of him performing. So while I have no doubt he has talent, I think he needs more screen time/exposure to reveal his personality. He seems to have a rather calming aura, and looks like the type that would protect you from afar. But if I'm being really honest, he also looks like the kind that would might take advantage of said description, and be a player instead. (It's really just a first impression, so don't kill me!)
岩橋玄樹くん (Iwahashi Genki) - Face type: Pretty
IMO: Poor boy is on temporary hiatus due to panic disorder, but of course, I'm not gonna exclude him. Personally, my impression of him is that he's going against the norm definition of masculine. Like, he wants to look pretty (and he was called 姫 by a member, but I don't know his opinion of it - is it welcomed or not?). Despite that, he also has this strong "it does not make me less of a man" aura radiating from him whenever he tends to do particularly effeminate things. I hope his confidence level in himself only grows from here on (this statement applies to all members).
岸優太くん (Kishi Yuta) - Face type: yasashii
IMO: Honestly found his face type to be the hardest to describe. My very first impression of him is the underdog. Like, will this guy be okay? Image-wise, he seemed like he would be the least popular in the group. But after a few clips here and there, this guy is really good. He does belong in the King & Prince image, but it seems to come out only during certain times. And when it does come out, it's very, very strong.
永瀬廉くん (Nagase Ren) - Face type: Cool
IMO: Seems the most collected of the group. He seems like he would dote on the members while laughing at them at the same time. Has what I deem my stereotyped look for a prince (other people in this category are HSJ's Yabu Kota, KinKi Kids' Domoto Koichi, and actor Fujiki Naohito). Also, could have been my ichiban, but there's just some reason why he isn't. It may be due to the impression that he probably has the personality closest to me in the group. I have no basis for this, except gut feeling. In an alternate universe where I know キンプリ personally, we would either be really good friends, or rivals.
高橋海人くん (Takahashi Kaito) - Face type: Cute
IMO: If you know me, cute is definitely my type. I probably have the most information on him, compared to the rest of the group. Seems to aim to be the 国民弟, and loves to be pampered, but at the same time, he apparently can't wait to climb the ladder to adulthood. It'll be good if he matures while maintaining his pure side. Definitely brings out the inner お姉さん in me. In the alternate universe where I know キンプリ personally, I should probably never befriend him because he'll probably get away with a lot of things because I will most likely pamper him to death.
(ALSO, CUTEST VOICE EVER!! AND DEFINITELY WANTS TO SEE MORE OF HIM!)