The Full Bloom of Morning Musume... Ah, I miss your Simplicity... 'Sakura Mankai' PV Review

All opinions are my own. Don't hate my view, that's just disrespectful~

I have come to realise that I am taking small breaks from my blog during my Request Chronicles, because I basically need a break xD They only last between one to two days, but I feel so guilty for not posting! But believe me, I still have around 16 to go. 3 x 16 is what? I have no idea! Though to be honest, some people have only posted one or two requests, so yay! Anyway, we need to head back into the Requests. What shall I be looking at today?

Here's a pleasant little blast from the past concerning Morning Musume. Sakura Mankai, sung by Sakura Gumi, was the second and final release from this group before both Sakura and Otome Gumi became inactive in 2004. The group did originally consist of seven members, however Abe Natsumi left the group in 2004 after a scandal. This PV was requested by NyNy, as well as requested by Anni earlier on in my posts.

This song is pretty old if you think about it. Sakura Mankai itself has been around for about 8 years now, long before I entered the Hello! Project fandom at all, but even before I created this blog I knew about Sakura and Otome Gumi, and I enjoy both groups' songs, with Sakura Gumi undoubtedly being my favourite of the two, mostly because I prefer the voices and choice of songs used for this group. Otome had some of the worst voices present (Rika and Sayumi) in the group, and I will be honest here, most of the members I don't particularly care about. I do like the songs, though, but not as much as I enjoy Sakura Gumi's songs.

Thinking back to when I first heard this, I realise that this would have been the first, and quite possibly only, Enka influenced song that I have ever listened to... if this is even Enka, that is. I don't listen to Enka, though I probably would if any Hello! Project artist happened to début in that area from the current line-ups.

The song aside, we will be looking at the PV today and seeing just what I missed out on when Morning Musume were still popular. It's time to sit with me through the simplicity of Sakura Mankai...

The opening is super pretty...

I see you there, Ai-butt... washing them leggy legs of yours... uhuhuhu...

KonKon is befitting of a seamstress' job, don't you think?

Mari~

I didn't know that traditional Japanese women bleached their hair?

Yossie! Stop sleeping on the job!

I always assumed that Gaki was the Lady of the house, because she is really the only one doing a leisurely activity...

Ah, crap! She spotted me staring at them legs!

... She's just so pretty~

Aibon, don't look shocked~ I was only stalking staring at you...

Kamei, why are you so suspicious of me!? I wasn't going to steal those pretty parasols, I promise...

L-O-V-E RABURII MARI~

Gaki looks so young and fore-heady ;____; adorable <3

I absolutely love those costumes, the simple blue/green screen and the prettyness of it all!

My lord, she really looks different... so youthful and refreshing!

... Weirdly enough, KonKon's chubby face does nothing for me :/

Kame's smile is so infectious and beautiful, you can really tell that she enjoyed every bit of this song, her smile and eyes don't lie.

The simplicity of this MV is just so beautiful

Gaki is just so lady-like here, she really fits the role of the lady of a household...

Yossie: "Wha'chur lookin' at?"

Oh, you're awake now, Yossie?

KonKon just looks like an airhead here, or a space case... either one works, right?

If I had been around the fandom when Mari was still in Morning Musume, hands down she would have been one of my favourite members. She's just perfection.

Gaki is really staring those Cherry Blossoms down...

Again, I love these costumes and those fans...

I love the simplicity of it all~

Cute profile shot of the Kon-ster!

Again... perfection! You really cannot fault the beauty of Yaguchi Mari

... Nor can you fault the beauty of Kamei Eri!!~

The Gaki pout... no one can deny that little duck-pout smile going on there...

Stare them all down, Gaki! Make them your fans!!!

... And shot! -dies instantly from cuteness-

Aibon is so freakin' happy it makes me feel happy~

Oh yeah, bite that lip, make this PV sexy...

Yossie: "OHM NOM NOM NOM..."

Yossie is really hungry, it seems.

... And so is KonKon...

But Kamei is just plain adorable! I really could not deny that face if she ever asked for something before looking like this...

Twigs look nommyful, but I don't think that you should eat it, Aibon...

I now understand why one of  her (many) nicknames is Lovely

AAAAND they saved the best till last! Seriously, roflmao, this is probably the least serious thing to bite down on! xD

Purse them lips, Lovely!

This is just beautiful, and nothing can rival this simplicity...

When I think of Sakura Mankai, I can't help but think of how good Morning Musume used to be, and how even the simplest things were beautiful. Right now you can see that the managers and directors are trying too hard with the group, and it only comes off as cheap and tacky, but here the greatest simplicity is used in the video, but the quality is a lot higher than most or nearly all of their recent stuff.

The video shows a more traditional side to Sakura Gumi. The girls where kimono and take on traditional activities, such as embroidery, flower arrangement, washing and watering the courtyard. The courtyard itself and the look and feel of the video is extremely traditional, with only the dance scenes showing the modern side to the girls, such as their shorter, modernised Kimono and the boots they are wearing.

Of course this video is a winner for me, and you will all know why; it's simple. The beauty of the video is through the simplicity and how well thought out it is. The kimono's and courtyard itself were probably the most expensive of the video, but the layout and what we see is the simplest thing of all: A traditional spring in which the girls watch the cherry blossoms fall as they work or play. It's a very striking video, and whilst much does not go on other than the girls looking towards the camera, lip-syncing or doing their days work, it is extremely beautiful and well done, and this is essentially what is missing from most of Morning Musume's, and Hello! Project in general, today.

I like the video a lot, as I said it is very beautiful, but it isn't over-laden with effects either. The green screen used is simple and effective, as if the girls are floating through the sky as they dance. The scenes used to show the traditional side to Sakura Gumi are also effective in how they are presented, showing us a traditional side to not just these girls, but Japanese women in general and how serene and beautiful they are before taking us back to the modernised girls in their short kimono and their well-paced dance moves.

Both the song and PV are beautiful, and the simplicity works effectively here. I do honestly wish that Morning Musume could go back to this style of video, or at least the quality of the style. It's very high quality in how it was made, the look and feel of it, and what Morning Musume currently produce really does not reach this quality, it can't shine a candle to how beautiful Sakura Mankai on its own is.

Yes, I wish that Morning Musume would be less cheap and tacky, especially in the effects department, and I am sad that I was not around for this song when it came out. It's a gorgeous video, and the traditional song is just as beautiful and fits with the pace of the video. I love both song and video equally, and being one of the video's I enjoyed watching and listening to the most during my early days as a fan, I do treasure Sakura Gumi and what they created a lot, and I hope that one day Morning Musume can try to split the group again if they become more recognisable in the near future after Shige eventually meaning never graduates.

Long story short, I love everything about Sakura Mankai. It doesn't try too hard to impress the audience because it doesn't need to. It's simple, but the simplicity is done effectively, and I enjoy it because of this. It also represents the girls so well and shows off their natural beauty wonderfully. I do wish that something like this came back into Morning Musume, but honestly, I don't think it will, and that truly is a shame, because this beauty has effectively been lost thanks to the abundance of useless, over-used sparkles and tack that the directors throw at the current Morning Musume.

Simplicity is dead in Morning Musume, and that makes me sad.

Chiima~

PING!!! Idolminded Recommended Reading: December 21st, 2012