A Slightly Peculiar New Girl Group...

My friend Gergchan in Cali sent me this clip of the oddest "Giant Girl Group" rip-off/inspiration to come out in recent months. The group is called Ebisu Muscats, their song s called "Banana Mango High School",and their claim to fame is that the group is completely comprised of Gravure and AV idols such as Mihiro, Tina "Rio" Yuzuki, Yuma Asami, Kasumi Risa and Sora Aoi!

From the Ebisu Muscats blog:

Ebisu Muscats, a group composed of 25 AV and gravure idols, will release their first CD in 2010. The single is titled "Banana Mango High School / 12 no 34 de Naite with Namida 4 Shimai" and will go on sale February 17, 2010. Ebisu Muscats -- which includes well-known stars such as Sora Aoi (26) and Yuma Asami (22), first performed the innuendo-filled "Banana Mango High School" on the show earlier this year. In addition to the standard release, they will also release separate versions performed by subgroups led by Risa Kasumi (25), Minori Hatsune (22), and Rio (23).

The group was first formed on the late-night TV Tokyo variety show "Onegai! Muscat" which aired from April 2008 to March 2009. Featuring adult actresses and idols in various skits and games, the program was renewed under the name "Onedari!! Muscat" and has been on the air since April 2009. 

I think it's amazing when an AV actress (like the infamous Ai Iijima) becomes so popular in the media that they essentially "cross over" to mainstream entertainment, and in fact, the first time I ever saw Aoi Sora was in the wacky drama SHIMOKITA GLORY DAYS. At the time I had NO IDEA who this girl was, and in fact thought she looked a lot like a tinier Konishi Manami with a raspier voice! And hell yeah, I was in love! And BOY, when the show was over and I found out who she WAS, you could have knocked me over with a feather!

Aoi in Shimokita Glory Dyas

 Seto Saki and Sora Aoi in Shimokita Glory Days

Even curvaceous Yuma Asami had a pretty significant role in this drama,  and with Tina "Rio" Yuzuki even appearing in Unubore Deka (in a hilarious brief role), you knew it was only a matter of time til these girls made the move to the mainstream, and with this cute song and video, it looks like the time is here!!

Rio in Unubore Deka

Check out their songs and PV clips on the Ebisu Muscats Blog

A Slightly Peculiar New Girl Group...

My friend Gergchan in Cali sent me this clip of the oddest "Giant Girl Group" rip-off/inspiration to come out in recent months. The group is called Ebisu Muscats, their song s called "Banana Mango High School",and their claim to fame is that the group is completely comprised of Gravure and AV idols such as Mihiro, Tina "Rio" Yuzuki, Yuma Asami, Kasumi Risa and Sora Aoi!

From the Ebisu Muscats blog:

Ebisu Muscats, a group composed of 25 AV and gravure idols, will release their first CD in 2010. The single is titled "Banana Mango High School / 12 no 34 de Naite with Namida 4 Shimai" and will go on sale February 17, 2010. Ebisu Muscats -- which includes well-known stars such as Sora Aoi (26) and Yuma Asami (22), first performed the innuendo-filled "Banana Mango High School" on the show earlier this year. In addition to the standard release, they will also release separate versions performed by subgroups led by Risa Kasumi (25), Minori Hatsune (22), and Rio (23). The group was first formed on the late-night TV Tokyo variety show "Onegai! Muscat" which aired from April 2008 to March 2009. Featuring adult actresses and idols in various skits and games, the program was renewed under the name "Onedari!! Muscat" and has been on the air since April 2009.  I think it's amazing when an AV actress (like the infamous Ai Iijima) becomes so popular in the media that they essentially "cross over" to mainstream entertainment, and in fact, the first time I ever saw Aoi Sora was in the wacky drama SHIMOKITA GLORY DAYS. At the time I had NO IDEA who this girl was, and in fact thought she looked a lot like a tinier Konishi Manami with a raspier voice! And hell yeah, I was in love! And BOY, when the show was over and I found out who she WAS, you could have knocked me over with a feather!

Aoi in Shimokita Glory Dyas

 Seto Saki and Sora Aoi in Shimokita Glory Days

Even curvaceous Yuma Asami had a pretty significant role in this drama,  and with Tina "Rio" Yuzuki even appearing in Unubore Deka (in a hilarious brief role), you knew it was only a matter of time til these girls made the move to the mainstream, and with this cute song and video, it looks like the time is here!!

Rio in Unubore Deka

Check out their songs and PV clips on the Ebisu Muscats Blog Ebisu Muscats Member Roll Call:

Ando Aika (G)

The Legendary Aoi Sora (AV)

Asami Yuma (AV) 

Fujiura Megu (AV) 

Hatsune Minori (AV) 

Kasumi Kaho (AV) 

the lovely Kasumi Risa (AV) 

Kawamura Ena (G) 

Kawamura Rika (G) 

Kirihara Erika (AV) 

Kizaki Jessica (AV)

pretty Kokomi Sakura(AV) 

KONAN (G) 

Mihiro (AV) 

Misaki Miyu (AV) 

Nagasaki Airi (G) 

Nishino Shou (AV) 

Ogura Haruka (G)  

Ogawa Asami

The Legendary Tina Rio Yuzuki (AV)

Sakuragi Rin (AV) 

Sayama Ai (AV)

Uehara Kaera (AV) 

Yamaguchi Minami (G) 

And last but NOT Least, Yoshizawa Akiho (AV),

our beloved Maid Droid herself!

Crush Of The Day: Seto Saki

After yesterday’s gush about sweetie Hirayama Aya in her cute drama HARUKA 17, I thought it only fair to mention that a show is only made better with a good opponent, and Seto Saki (last seen by most of us as Asai Yuriko in HANA YORI DANGO 2) makes a great case as Sakura Yuri, the model who would go on to become Haruka’s fiercest rival for the idol crown!
Perennially pouting and brooding, Yuri’s portrayal of a spoiled and bossy model is set as a direct opposite of cute and innocent Haruka. While Haruka is shaking and unsure in a bathing suit, Yuri is out there knocking ‘em dead with her killer body and calculating smile. And ooooh, how that girl can FILL OUT A BIKINI:
Where Haruka is unsure of herself in front of a camera, Yuri is OWNING the photo shoot. These passages are meant to endear the viewer to Haruka’s naïve innocence, and it does, but it ALSO makes the viewer think, “Holy HELL! That Seto Saki is a fricking sexy as hell bombshell!”
Yet even from the beginning we see that Yuri isn’t some sinister villain (they left THAT role to Yuri’s manager, played with cold precision by Tetta Sugimoto) set out to destroy Haruka, but rather a girl who simply wants to make sure she gets what she deserves. (or at least what she THINKS she deserves) no matter what the cost!
As the show goes on, we see her reveal more of her feelings, and by the end of the drama, she’s even shown us she has a heart, and even (though, admittedly, a bit narcissistically) makes up for all her nastiness directed at Haruka throughout the show!
Addendum: Going online to look up more information about Ms. Seto, I was happily astounded to find a whole cache of Saki Seto goodies in the form of bikini ladened video clips and sexy photo shoots! Miss Seto, you have officially gotten my attention!! AHAHAHAHA!
8/10 Edit: Falling in love with Saki-chan all over again watching the incredibly wacky dramedy SHIMOKITA GLORY DAYS where I got a chance to see her play a decidedly sweeter and more innocent role as main character Yuuta's adorable girlfriend Minori! Mmmm, would love to see her in more roles like this!