My One and Only! Houkago Princess Transform into Your Ideal Princess for their First Major Album Release!

Today on February 19th, Houkago Princess and Universal Music Japan unveiled the groups latest promotional artwork, and announced the release of Houkago Princesses first album release!

Titled My Princess, the album is set to release on March 22nd, and will come in two editions. The theme behind the album is 'Your Only Princess', where the members turn into your ideal Princess, instead of historical or fictional figures like before. The artwork depicts the members in ball gowns fitting of their title, creating an elegant look and feel for the up-coming release.

Houkago Princess has also announced the long overdue release of their indies best-of album, Indies Best ~Memories~, which will be released on the same day.

Included in the groups first feature-length album, My Princess, will be twelve tracks. Two of these tracks will be new additions, whilst the third will be a 2017 recording of a previously released song, featuring the current lineup of Princesses.

It will also be available in Regular and Limited editions, with both types containing the same tracks. The Limited version will, however, come with a sleeve case and a mini-photobook containing 40 pages of imagery. It has not yet been revealed whether there will be an accompanying music video, or if they will release solo cover versions for the members.

The covers for the album have also been released.

Updates From The Royal Court! Gravure, Announcements and More!

WARNING: This post contains Swimsuit Gravure! Read on at your own risk! This has been your NSFW Warning!

It's time to reveal all that has been going on within the World of HouPri for the past month or two! Announcements galore, and some Gravure to add a bit of spice, it's time to see just what the members of Houkago Princess have been getting up to, and any future ventures members are taking. Are you ready to fill yourself up with HouPri news?

Because some announcements are never big enough to fill one entire post, I find it a little easier to put together one big hoard of announcements that have gone on with HouPri in so many months. Becuase January and February saw quite a few changes and announcements happening, this post is probably a little earlier than even I anticipated. Still, it's nice to see things happening for HouPri, especially when they seem to be pretty big announcements for the group!

As a fan, it seriously delights me, and just makes me realise how lucky I am to be following them right now. I'm also happy that I can share these great HouPri ventures with you! Hopefully, you will also find delight in this news~

As a forewarning for this post, there is a medium amount of swimsuit Gravure posted after the break! For that reason, this post may be classed as NSFW, and should be viewed with caution when in a public place!

If you are in a safe place, or just don't care what people think, then read on! It's time to Update with some HouPri goodness, and see what you have missed in the news from these past two months~

Let's GO!

[PV Selection] January 2017

I'm a little late in posting this, but honestly, when have I ever been on-schedule with whatever I do here in O!MT land? With a combination of life and a little bit of laziness, I've put my focus elsewhere, mostly in work and classes. February's proving to be a busy month, but I will try to not lot that deter me from my blogging and writing! I will work hard, and do my best! Hoi~

All excuses aside, let's begin our very first PV Selection for the year 2017! Much like the Music Selection series, this post is dedicated to the music videos I have enjoyed from Idols, artists and groups galore in the J-pop world! Everything posted is, of course, subject to what I enjoy, so if you feel I have neglected to post what you enjoy, I'm sorry, but... I probably thought it was sub-par, boring, or simply OK at best.

This is a one woman show, and if y'all don't like it... well, then that just sucks.

Hopefully there will be something here you like, of course, because this series is not only here to show off what I liked and enjoyed in terms of style, sound and look, but to also share with you all new and unique groups, or fun Music Videos you might have overlooked when searching for something to watch. If I don't succeed in getting you into at least one video here, or at least intriguing you a little, then I am a shite blogger, and my job is clearly not done. Kuso!

Also, if there is a video that you really enjoyed, and think I should watch (either again, or for the first time), just let me know, in any way you can! I may have skipped over it (I do that, too XD), or maybe I just need to give it a second watch to truly appreciate it. Who knows? If you think I should definitely watch a beloved MV of yours, don't hesitate to tell me 'Oi! Chii! Watch this PV! NOW!!" :D

And with all of that lovely stuff said and done, let's get to the main event! Are you ready for some Music and Visual happiness, or do you want to see something a little darker, or even exotic from your Idols? Let's watch on, and find out!

Matsuno Rina of Shiritsu Ebisu Chuugaku Passes Away (08/02/2017)

I don't like posting these kinds of things, and I especially don't like posting them right away. I don't want to feel like a mindless news reporter, stating the news like it's any other day, any other occurrence. So, if I never immediately post something like this, it's because I want the right words, and because I hope to seem respectful to those that have passed. This is not just 'news' to me, and it isn't just 'news' to you.

Idols are people we care about, and these are the kinds of post I don't want to simply publish and brush over. I am not a disconnected news outlet. I am an Idol fan, like everyone else.

Today, in the early hours of the morning, Matsuno Rina passed away. She was 18 years old, and many of you knew her as a member of Shiritsu Ebisu Chuugaku. The cause of her death is undetermined as of right now, but nothing will lessen the sadness and pain that her friends, family, fellow group members, management and fans are feeling at this sudden news.

I know a lot of you are heartbroken. Even those who don't follow Ebichu are in mourning. Even when it is an Idol we know little about, or do not cheer on as we do others, the passing of a beloved Idol is hard for all of us, because we are all fans, and we bear the same feelings and hope for the Idols we do cheer on. So, we feel your pain, and we grieve with you.

I do not follow Ebichu, but when I heard the news, all I could do was cry. I can't even begin to imagine the pain and loss Rina's family and fellow group mates are feeling right now, or how saddened and stricken with grief her fans are. It's an unimaginable feeling, and I am so sorry that you are all going through this pain right now.

Right now, I am sad and I am mad. I am sad, because a young girl has died so suddenly in her youth and without warning. I am sad because all those who have loved her, from near or afar, are grief stricken and at a loss for what to do. I am sad because someone's sunshine has been covered by nothing but dismal grey and burning rain, and I am sad because her smile will no longer be present in many of your lives.

And I am mad because there are people out there who dare to say 'I wonder how long it will take Ebichu to disband'. I am mad because people think her Idol career lead her to this point. I am mad because she was so young, and was taken so quickly. I am mad that life can be so cruel.

I want to cry, and I want to hug people. I want to punch a wall and throw a tantrum. I want to make sure the people I know, the ones that loved her, are okay.

I don't want to post this post. But, I want to reach out and say to everyone 'I am sorry' and let you know that Matsuno Rina, even though I did not know or follow her or Ebichu, are in my heart and mind this sad, lonely day.

The Idols we adore and follow, though we do expect them to leave our lives at some point, this is not the way we want to see them go. We hope to see a grand graduation, and to see them lead their lives happily after graduation. We want to know they are fine, and to hear that they are still meeting their fellow members at concerts and dinner dates, or to see them perform again in a new group, or watch as they walk down a new career path.

We never expect to see our Idol one last time. Their smile promises a return, an everlasting ray of sunshine that will warm your heart, and swear to you that they will always be there. You never expect that ray of sunshine to stop shining down on you, so when something as sudden as Rina's passing happens - even when it isn't sudden - the world becomes colder than it already is.

Today is a sad day in the Idol World, and I hope you keep Matsuno Rina, her family, friends, Shiritsu Ebisu Chuugaku, all of 3B Junior, Stardust Promotions and the fans in your thoughts and heart today. Today, the industry has lost a sweet girl to the perils of nature, and no matter what or who caused it, February 8th, 2017 is a sad and lonely day, and we should pay our respects as best we can to this Idol who has left our lives in the saddest way possible.

But please, even in this time of grief and pain, don't forget the happiness she has brought you. Even when an Idol is gone, never let their smile fade from your memories.

Rest In Peace, Matsuno Rina. You are in my thoughts, like all the other fans out there who loved and adored you.

(For further information regarding this sudden news and turn of events, please follow these Links):

Tokyo Reporter

Arama Japan

Rocket News

Anime News Network

[Music Selection] January 2017

It's the second month of the New Year, which means that my Monthly Selection posts begin again! For the month that once was, it's time to take a look back, list the music I have listened to and enjoyed, and share with you all my favourites in sound from January 2017! I wonder, will there be a lot here, or a select few that I feel out-rank the rest? Let's find out~

We are officially back with the Monthly Selections, and I have split the posts in two, yet again! One post for Music, one for PV's, because there is just so much choice, and not enough space to fill them efficiently! So for today, you will receive my Music picks for January 2017, and another day, the PV Selection will follow, with my favourites in vision. Doesn't that sound nice?

Of course, these [Music Selection] posts are made up of songs I myself enjoy. As an individual, I cannot listen to or even enjoy everything that comes my way, so of course, the songs listed here will be the ones I think are good, great, or amazing. This does not necessarily mean you will think so, as well, because our tastes are completely different, and what I like, you might hate, and vice versa. So, if there is something on here that disgusts you, or I am missing a song you loved, well... Not really my issue. This is my list, and I choose what's put on here. This is how my blog runs, and I'm not gonna lie through my teeth and say I like or hate something when that really is not the case.

That said, I do hope there will be something on this list you will enjoy, as well as a group or two that pique your interest and make you smile! If not, well... that's too bad, but be sure to tune into next month's Selection to see if there is something new on there you agree with! Not every month can be a winner, but I sure can try next time~

Spiel finished, let's get into the post. It's Music Time!

Chasing Nightmares and Lullabies - Dreamcatcher's 'Chase Me' [MV Review]

When you go to sleep at night, a pretty dream catcher hanging so nicely above your bed, you only look forward to a night of peaceful dreams and happiness. But what if the dream catcher's power was reversed, and only nightmares were fed into your now restless slumber?

Don't let your nightmares consume you, dear reader...

My Yankee Angel introduced me to this video, and honestly, I was absolutely taken by it. Upon first seeing the video that is Chase Me by Dreamcatcher, I couldn't help that think it felt a little reminiscent of The Shining (1980), directed by Stanley Kubrick. I hadn't actually seen the film at that point - I have now, however, and GAWD IT'S GORGEOUS! - but I could definitely see a few similarities. Above all, though, I was taken by how beautiful this video was, how captivating it is, and how it makes me feel as a viewer, too.

From what I know, this is the first release from Dreamcatcher, in name and lineup. Previously known as Minx, the group changed their name and made their re-debut this January, and had added two brand new members in November 2016. Chase Me is the lead song in their Nightmare single-album release, and honestly, it's glorious. Ever since my dear Angel sent it to me, I told myself that I would review it, no matter what.

It's been a month or less since I first saw it, and now that predia week is over and done with, and I am free as a bird until essays throw themselves at me... It's about damn time I finally sat down to review it! I am totally ready for this sweet nightmare to begin!

The question is, are you?

You might want to sleep with one eye open tonight...