Station To Station: Music Station For August 20, 2010 Featuring AKB48, Cocco And Ton Ton Tomato-Chan

ByPatrick St. Michel

[youtube=”http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5YVuqLKvMAc”] China might have leap-frogged Japan economically this week, but the Land Of The Rising Sun remains number one when it comes to pumping out sickeningly cute videos. Move over AKB48, Tomato-Chan trumps you big time. Speaking of… AKB48 “Heavy Rotation” [youtube=”http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9znOcsdxUUo”] I’ve already explored the creepier aspects of “Heavy Rotation,” so how about we…

Is It Just Me Or Are AKB48 Getting More Risqué?

ByPatrick St. Michel

Already huge among high school girls and (presumably, if YouTube videos can be trusted) a certain kind of middle-aged man, pop-cult AKB48 has managed to become even bigger during the summer of 2010. They’ve nabbed TV candy commercials and appear on a convenience-store’s worth of magazine covers. Spinoff branches of the Akihabara-based groups have emerged…

Station To Station: Music Station For 07/30/2010 Featuring ORANGE RANGE, Moumoon And RIP SLYME

ByPatrick St. Michel

Last post before I begin my summer vacation a.k.a. going to Summer Sonic so I can write about it here. And probably watch Eastbound And Down. I definitely don’t have a ruffff life! Dog joke so sorry. Namie Amuro “Get Myself Back” [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l70V_4FjJFA&hl=en_US&fs=1] And my last post for a couple weeks kicks off with a…

Controlled Karaoke: Former AKB48 Member Rina Nakanishi Becomes AV Idol

ByPatrick St. Michel

Well, that’s one way to stay in the public spotlight. Former AKB48 member Rina Nakanishi began her new career in the adult film industry this month, trading in her creepy schoolgirl outfit for…errrm, nothing. All kidding aside, Japan Probe points out how the AKB48 model actively promotes this, making a few girls near the top…