Fighting Against The Sins of the World Through Music: An Introduction to Satanic Punish (Updated on December 7th, 2020)

As always, I would like to start this post off by saying that this series, An Introduction to, is a passion-driven project in which I research and profile an Idol group that piques my interest. The ultimate goal is to create a semi-detailed piece that helps to introduce the group, its history and its concept to new fans, and to act as a reference for those who want to delve a little deeper into the groups I research. I honestly hope that these kinds of articles can be of some use to other Idol fans, and that they deliver a deeper understanding of a group.

Of course, these types of posts are made just as much for myself as they are for you. The research process, though tiring at times, is an enjoyable and often positive experience for me, and only helps to deepen my connection and interest with a group. The time it takes to finally finish off these kinds of posts is also pretty damn rewarding, and I simply get a thrill out of creating them. Maybe I'm weird, but it's small things like this that really make my time as an Idol fan even better.

With that said, let's take a look at today's group and learn a little more about them! Though information is a little hard to come by (aside from one incident, which was everywhere during research), I am happy to finally introduce my guide to a group that wants to punish the world and its wrongdoings.

Brutal, honest and passionate about music, let's sit down and learn about Satanic Punish!

*Regardless of excessive research and a lot of sifting through Google, there is a high chance that some information may be incorrect, and I am 100% certain that I do not have all necessary information on this group. I am not an expert on Satanic Punish, and still a new fan. At the end of the day, this article was created because I simply enjoy writing and learning about Idols, and sharing this sort of thing with fans. To end this disclaimer, I also acknowledge that there may be grammatical errors and typo's / spelling mistakes here, and some errors regarding group information. Please feel free to call me out on those if you see them. Thank you for your understanding.

The Origin Story

Born from the desire to create music that details the absurdities and inequality of the world, Satanic Punish came to life on June 16th, 2019 with a sound that matched their fighting spirit. With a heavy and powerful melody at the core of their songs, the groups band-sound and use of metal-core, kira-core, Death-core and trance-core has become a key feature of their identity.

With lyrics written by Fudou Gantetsu, Satanic Punish have made it their mission to sing about topics that other idols won't. With a brutal but honest sound, the group and their producer are able to express their frustrations with the world through the power of music, and continue to make use of various genres and topics to get their message across. Because of this, the group has not been held back by any given genre or topic like past groups have, and consider themselves 'genreless' Idols that are bringing something different to the current Idol scene.

When A Bad End Evolves Into A New Beginning: An Introduction to Merry Bad End (Updated on June 4th, 2020)

'An Introduction to' is a passion-fueled project of posts in which I assemble together an article of information on a specific idol group that piques my intrigue, with the ultimate goal being that I introduce the history, concept and members of any given group, and more if possible.

Regardless of a groups tenure or status within the industry, my aim is to create a guide for idol fans, as well as myself. If a group piques my interest, then I will feel a desire to research them, and what better way to fuel my research than to write about the group that I have recently discovered, and potentially fallen in love with?

With that said, today's group is one that I struggled to research, simply because they share a name with a former Visual Kei band (Dec. 2015 - Aug 2018) and a Vocaloid song. But with these hurdles I faced myself and hours of dedicated research, I finally managed to compile enough sources and the necessary information to complete this guide, which ultimately gave me a sense of fulfillment and happiness, because idols and research are my passion!

And now, without further ado, it is time to introduce today's group. Resisting the bad end together with their fans, let's take a look at Merry Bad End!

*Despite my research, I am in no way an expert on Merry Bad End, nor do I claim to be one. This article was made out of my love of idols and research, and to share with other fans who may have an interest in the group. I did all I could to include as much research as possible, and tried my best to include accurate dates and details. Of course, mistakes will be made, so please let me know of any that are undoubtedly sprinkled throughout this post. Thank you in advance.

The Origin Story

The evolution of Merry Bad End (メリーバッドエンド ) is an interesting one, because whilst their story has a defined starting point to their career as a group, it isn't the first of their beginnings. If anything, the group that we have come to know as Merry Bad End have had multiple start points in their short history, and it wouldn't be until May of 2018 where the group would finally get the chance to move forward and make a name for themselves.

But in order to understand why Merry Bad End are the group that they are now, we need to rewind a little bit. So, heading back to 2017, let's actually get into their story and learn a bit of Idol History. Are you ready?

An Introduction to MeniPara: The Group That Will Shift the Paradigms of Their Dreams and Possibilities (Updated on January 7th, 2021)

'An Introduction to' is my random, passion-project fueled series here on Okay! Musume Time, - and sometimes Selective Hearing - where I bring together my love of idols and research in order to create a document filled with information and idol goodness.

My aim here is to introduce a variety of groups to my readers, as well as to document and give insight to who they are, what they do and more. It doesn't matter what their tenure within the entertainment world is, nor does it bother me how well-known or unknown they might be; if they pique my interest, I'm probably going to write about them at some point, and what better way to write about them than an introduction post to share with everyone here?

And with that, let's introduce today's group. Shifting the paradigms of their dreams and possibilities to become a group with no boundaries, today's group introduction is MeniPara!

*In no way am I an expert on MeniPara, nor do I claim to be one. I am simply a fan of the group and did all I could in terms of research to get as much as information as possible, though there may be some mistakes. This post was simply made for fun and out of my love for both idols and research, as well as to create awareness for this amazing group. Please be aware that this document is not perfect, but simply a passion project from an over-eager fan.

The Origin Story

Though they would not debut until September of 2019, MeniPara's journey officially began in June of 2019, when general manager Natsuno Kanami made the announcement that she would be returning to her roots as an idol with a new group that would be completely self-produced. In order to find new members for the group, Kanami held 'secret auditions' on her official YouTube channel, where she would invite various guests with different entertainment backgrounds for interviews, only to reveal her intentions at the end of the interview. She would then ask the interviewee if they would join her idol group. Among the interviewees, a former idol, gravure model and voice actress were included.

Kanami revealed the winners of the audition on July 8th 2019, and introduced members Aisawa Rinna, Minami Yuri, Maako Miwa and Ogusu Rienna as the final formation for her up-coming group. On July 10th, Kanami uploaded a video where the members decided on the groups name together, where they revealed that they would be called MeniPara - many many paradigm -. The group is generally known as 'MeniPara'.

After announcing their formation, MeniPara began working on creating the lyrics and choreography for their original songs, all prior to their live debut. The process of the groups up-coming September debut, including costume creation, song recordings, dance rehearsals and MV shootings, were uploaded to the groups official YouTube channel. As a part of their image, the group aims to document as much of their journey as possible, as well as deliver fun content that shows off their bond and individual personalities.

On August 15th, 2019, MeniPara uploaded their first official music video for their song Taiyoukei Cinderella, which has been coined as an orthodox idol song. A month later, the group made their official live debut at Shibuya Star Lounge on September 8th, 2019 with five original songs.

During the New Year of 2020, the characters in MeniPara's name changed from メニぱら to めにぱら. The official reading of the name is めにぱら - many many paradigm -

Completely self-produced, MeniPara's aim is to become a group where each member can realise what they want by working without restriction, and to throw away the stereotypes that are connected to the word 'idol'. As each member has a different age, background, experiences and preferences, the ultimate aim of the group is for MeniPara to become a place in which each member can share their own thoughts and perspectives, whilst also realising what they want to do as individuals. For this reason, MeniPara is a group that has no theme or stereotype attached to it in regards to their image, music genres, etc.

On August 1st, 2020, MeniPara released their first digital mini-album, titled First Paradigm Shift.

As the group is completely self-produced, all funding, event bookings, promotions and music production, etc, is sourced by the members themselves.

MeniPara's official slogan is: 'A paradigm shift of dreams and possibilities'

Who are You, LONDON BLUE? An Introduction to the Idols Inspired by the UK! (Updated on September 29th, 2020)

LAST UPDATED on 16/02/2020

Cross-posted from Selective Hearing (Includes a spiffy photo gallery, a lot less commentary and a lack of two extra video links.)

An Introduction To is a series of articles on both Selective Hearing and Okay! Musume Time that aims to introduce readers to various groups and musicians, regardless of their time within the industry. Whether they are indies or major, unknown or even relatively well-known, this series is here to give readers an insight into who is who and what they do. For our first post, let's check out a group inspired by the UK.

Who are you? It's LONDON BLUE!

*(This is the first in a new series for Selective Hearing, but the continuation of what I hope will be a revival for Okay! Musume Time's past Introduction articles).

The Origin Story...

Way back when in 2017, back when I actually blogged, I learned about LONDON BLUE. I don't know how I heard of them or where, but I did, and my interest was piqued. One review of their album, We are LONDON BLUE later, I pretty much forgot about them. Of course I still knew of them, but I didn't follow their releases, themembers or anything else. And then 2018 happened.

Announced as one of the groups that would perform at Hyper Japan Festival 2018, I travelled to London to finally meet the group I had reviewed long ago. There I was able to meet the renewed lineup, watch their live performance and take some cheki's with the four members who had attended the event. It was here that I was able to fully appreciate the group I had almost forgotten, and now I am a changed person.

Now I love LONDON BLUE, and here I am, introducing them to you...

With their humble beginnings starting back in 2013, LONDON BLUE began with this audition notice: “We’re looking for girls who can express the world of “pop&rock”. In September of the same year, LONDON BLUE was formed with its four original members - AKANE, MISAKI, MIDORI and HIKARI - and their sound producer Hidemaro Aoki of Kabuki-Rocks fame, who has since been creating music that incorporates a mixture of genres ranging from UK Rock to Bubblegum Pop and more.

Now with a modest 6 years under their belt, LONDON BLUE proudly claim their love for the UK music and fashion scene in both their sound and style. Yet despite the groups significant lineup change over the past five years, the members still tote a 'cool & cute' style in their music, visuals and fashion choices, all of which they showcase frequently with various lives and release events they perform throughout the year.

From February 2018, LONDON BLUE has seen a significant change not only in its lineup but also its status. With their fifth anniversary the group finally held its first performance in London, England at HYPER JAPAN in July 2018 before returning to Japan to prepare for a September major debut under King Records. Since then members have been busy with performances, radio segments and release events. Furthermore, auditions are underway for new members to join the group.

With the addition of member NOA in January 2020, LONDON BLUE became a two-member unit with a focus on harmonising. Lead by AILI - formerly of AngeMignon and currently a member of Ever!BE Mayowanai - the group has continued to uphold the name and history of the chika idol group.

As of NOA's graduation on September 27th, 2020, LONDON BLUE has entered an indefinite hiatus.

But who is the primary member of LONDON BLUE? Let's take a moment to find out.

Born to be Idols: An Introduction to Aidoru Sozai

There is something about indie idol groups that is inspiring and joyful in my eyes. Though I can't support them all - sometimes there is never enough information, or I simply do not know they exist - I have felt that the drive and hope indie idols bring is dazzling, especially when they can shine on a stage in front of even the smallest number of fans. They're infectious and spirited, and despite how little people know of them, these idols persevere to fulfil their own dream, as well as to create hope and happiness for their fans and listeners.

But indie idols are not just born in Japan, and for one of the few brief moments in my blog's history, I would like to take a moment to introduce and appreciate a group that has been born outside of Japan, crafted from the dream of becoming the idols they have watched on stage for so long.

With the rise of Idols both online and off, it shouldn't come as a surprise to see a few indie brand idol groups popping up every now and again. It may be even less surprising to know that these groups rarely gain recognition outside of their own fanbase, yet with the recent auditions for MNL48 - the latest overseas escapade for the AKS corporation, which will be based in the Philippine's - there is one indie idol group who have risen from the background and greeted us with renewed hope, and maybe a little bit of glee as they ascend into the world of music, performance and joy.

Aidoru Sozai - LoveSo for short - is the delightful yet surprising new indie idol group based in the Philippine's to watch out for. Announced in January this year, the group finally announced the  full seven member lineup back in March, before finally announcing their live performance debut at Ozine Fest 2018 on April 28th. And despite being so fresh to the idol scene, the group is already causing a stir online and off, especially when you consider that LoveSo is made up of former MNL48 hopefuls. Despite this however, the girls of LoveSo have created something that is not only inspirational and dream-like, but a group that is polished and higher in standard than what even the most seasoned indie idol groups can offer.

With a hoard of information readily available on Facebook, Stage48 and even a wikia page dedicated to these girls, there is no doubt why people like the idea of LoveSo, or why they want to support them. Not only are they refreshing, but the members themselves seem too idol-like to be true, and the effort they are putting into not only their image, but their logo's, profiles, performances and videos, allows us to realise just how serious they are about becoming real idols in the Philippine's.

Already these girls embody the characteristics of the idols we adore from afar: they are cute, hard-working, and they have a goal that they want to reach. Whether they can sing or dance right now is not really a factor, in my eyes - as long as each girl strives to create a dream for their fans or hopes to stand on stage in order to inspire others, then they are embodying the image of an idol properly, and despite only having one performance under their belt thus far, LoveSo are already showing us that they are more than prepared to take on that idol persona and stand on the stage for all to see.

Whether they are based in Japan or outside of it, I find it inspiring that the members of LoveSo have made their dream come true and created new goals for the group we see now. Regardless of the setbacks they may have faced up until this point, they have been warmly welcomed into the idol community and will continue to grow with the adoration of their fans and supporters, no matter how far apart everyone may be. And as one of the few seas-apart fans, I would like to continue my support for the group and promote them with all my might.

And with that in mind, I would like to take the time to introduce you all to the new indie idol group, LoveSo! Even if they aren't idols from the country of the rising sun, they are still idols born with the desire to create happiness, music and dreams. So, without further ado, let's take a look at who makes up this cute and joyful unit and what each member has to offer us.

Are you ready~?

An Introduction to The Houkago Princess Apprentice, Cadet and Youth Programme (Updated on June 29th, 2020)

*As of August 7th, 2016, the day this was posted, Kojima Mayumi, and possibly Nagasawa Marina and Sekine Sasara, were promoted to the Regular Lineup.

*As of May 25th, 2020, this post has finally been updated.

With Houkago Princesses 5th Anniversary happening this very month, as well as the first anniversary of their major debut, I thought it wise to create a small series of posts commemorating this beautiful groups latest accomplishment. Following the Introduction Post for the Regular lineup that makes up Houkago Princess, it is now time to introduce the newest group under the Princess name, HoupriYusu, otherwise known as HouPri Youth. If you would like to know more about this Model Generation, then stay tuned and take some notes!

You can find the Regular Member Profiles HERE, if you have not yet read it!

An integral part to Houkago Princesses system, HouPri Youth was formerly known as the 'Apprentice-Candidate system', and originally acted as a smaller but just as important branch within the main groups system. From 2011 up until 2015, Apprentices and Candidates would perform with members in the back of all performances, typically wear similar costumes - minus a few embellishments and frills - and would even appear in music videos and in songs with the Regular members.

The idea behind the Apprentice to Candidate system was that, in order to prove you were earnest in your plight to becoming an idol, you would do the graft and showcase your skills, or perhaps prove your popularity and capability to the staff members. For some promotion was easy, but for others it could take a year or two to be recognised. Regardless of how long it took, it should be noted that promotion within HouPri's first Indies period was far easier than it is now.

2015 saw a shift in how the trainee system worked for Houkago Princess. With the groups major debut in place, the Apprentice to Candidate system turned into what is now known as HouPri Youth. Introduced on February 18th 2015, Houpriyusu (or, HouPri Youth) became the groups official younger sister unit. Housing Apprentices and Candidates with a desire to become Regular members, HouPri Youth would hold separate performances from the Regular members to improve their skills as singers as dancers, whilst also being given the opportunity to perform as backing dancers and chorus for bigger live shows. There was also the odd opportunity for some Youth members to act as backups for absent Regular members, which would allow any given Youth member to prove their worth.

As it goes, most HouPri Youth members dabble in modelling work of some form, especially bikini gravure.

Since the dynamic changed in early 2015, HouPri Youth members will now have a timeline of a year or more before expecting to be promoted to the Regular lineup. With stricter rules in place and high expectations to match up to, the goal to become a Regular member is a lot farther than it was before. Because of how difficult it is to get to this point, it's common for Youth members to stop their activities at some point, especially if they have been told that they do not meet the standards set by the staff.

As of mid-2019, HouPri Youth is currently a one-idol show. Whether FORZA Records will continue to keep the group going or not is an uncertainty, however the remaining member is working hard alongside her seniors and supporting them as best she can.

In A Nutshell: HouPri Youth has had 3 phases so far. The first being the original Apprentice-Candidate system that had no unique name to define it, the second phase that began in 2015, and the third phase that started with a whole new lineup in 2017. The 3rd phase is slowly pattering out with its remaining member, and it looks unlikely that FORZA Records will continue implementing the Youth system as it currently stands.

With a desire to become Princesses and attain their own tiaras, HouPri Youth are the support that Houkago Princess needs. They may be backing dances and chorus singers, but the hard work and effort they put in will showcase their desire to become the best idols that they can be. So when the clock strikes 4pm, will these girls have a chance to turn into Princesses, or will they turn into Pumpkins instead?

Let's see if they can find the fairy tale ending they have been longing for~

An Introduction to Houkago Princess: Idols by Day, Royalty by Night (Updated on March 25th, 2020)

*This post was finally updated on April 8th, 2020. 4 years' worth of neglected member information has been included, and I can now go to bed. Please don't envy my annoying sense of dedication towards making this post as correct as possible, nor should you do what I did and ignore updating this for 4 years. Karma's a bitch.

With their 5th Anniversary since their indies debut already passed, as well as my love for them continuously soaring, I thought it wise to (finally) create a post introducing the lovely ladies who make up Houkago Princess, and giving all of you lovely readers some insight into the group, what it's all about, and who the girls themselves are! And, if you're interested, I do hope you further your research, and learn more about the greatness that is Houkago Princess, the Idols who become Royalty once the clock strikes 4pm!

As a side note, written in lovely pink scripture, I have decided that I will only be looking at Houkago Princess: The Regular lineup in this piece. I will take time to create a separate piece for Houpriyusu, its members and its creation, as they are somewhat separate, despite the relation. So, please do bare with me, and enjoy!

Formed back in late 2010 and debuting on the indies scene on August 3rd 2011, Houkago Princess (also known as HouPri) have had their fair share of ups and downs in the great Japanese Entertainment Industry. From departures to scandals, returns and more, this group has lost and found some great girls until, finally, they stand as they are today, a major-label group with a steady lineup, as well as an ever-growing fanbase who love what these girls do.

With 7 indies singles, four commemorative singles, two digital releases, a collaboration, one mini-album and three major singles under their belt, HouPri have been pretty consistent in their releases since their indie days, and have slowly built up a strong foundation from the ground up. Working their way from the bottom, the group started out performing at Ikebukuro WHITEBASE, a small venue that could barely hold all of the girls on the small platform they would sing and dance on in front of a handful of fans. It was not until 2013 that HouPri moved on to bigger venues, namely Ruido K2, Shibuya DUO and Coconuts STAGE, which were more accommodating to the increasing size of the group, who at that point held more than 14 members and feeling more AKB than HouPri at the time in terms of how many members there were.

2013 was also the year that saw HouPri's biggest turnover in its members, with 10 members leaving between the months of March and October. This included the leave of former front girl, Chiba Sakino, who graduated, as well as the dismissal of Noda Hitomi, both popular members of the group. Though the year proved to be rocky for the remaining members, Houkago Princess continued performing and gaining fans with each new release, and each new performance.

In 2015, Houkago Princess made their major debut with Universal Music Japan. This was also the groups 4th anniversary.

In 2016, Teams Twinkle and Miracle were introduced as a means to showcase the various talents of the members. Where Team Twinkle focused on the more skilled members and giving them performances that matched their skill level, Team Miracle would work as a means to further enhance the members abilities and allow the idols to improve. In late 2018, Team Miralce would eventually turn into Team SWEET. It would eventually become defunct with the graduations of multiple Youth and Regular members.

In September 2017, Houkago Princesses contract with Universal Music Japan came to an end, resulting in the group entering their 'second chapter' and a new indies phase. Now under FORZA Records, the group has continued to create music fitting of their Princess status, and are continuing to play around with the idea of what a Princess is.

As of 2019, the group is currently moving towards this idea of being your own kind of Princess, instead of focusing on fictional or historical royalty. Both Shin Jidai Princess / Princess no Teigi and My Princess II are examples of this.

Now under FORZA Records, the group continues to flourish as an indies group that is not attached to a major label. With their 'Princess' theme intact, the group has begun to shift their focus from fairy tales to becoming their own type of Princess who is both strong and beautiful.

And now they are waiting to enchant you, so if you feel intrigued by these Idols who become Princesses once the clock strikes four in the evening, will you take a look at who is who, and find a Princess to take to the ball before the clock rings 12?

Fudanjuku, the Drag Kings of Idol Society (Introduction Post)

*This article has been updated as of May 13th, 2018

Regardless of the fact that I have already written a post about Falling for Fudanjuku, I feel that I need to talk about them more to really get these guys out there for people. I also want to introduce the group in more detail so that there is a better understanding for people who are coming to know the group as they are right now. Or because I just love this group enough to dedicate two posts on them that don't relate to reviews in any way.

There is something about Fudanjuku which makes me continuously fall in love with them, an amazing ability that allows me to fall in love with this group with every release they bring. No other Idol group, not even Morning Musume, has ever made me feel this way. So needless to say, Fudanjuku are quite a special group, or at least to me.

However they are one of those groups who aren't as well known as others, and they don't get the recognition that they truly deserve, despite the amount of popularity they have coming in now thanks to their individual style and look and their originality as a group.

So I want to introduce you all to one of my favourite Idol groups, Fudanjuku. They are an all-female group who cross dress and inspired by the Otaku culture of Japan. There is a female alter-ego to their group, the Nakano Fujo Sisters, who are currently on hiatus, and undeniably less successful when compared to their male counterpart Fudanjuku. The groups were created in 2006 and 2008, however their activities did not begin until later on in 2008, when Fudanjuku released their very first single, Otokozaka which included their female counterparts as hostages in the video.

I came to know of Fudanjuku through my sister, who was a fan of the Nakano Fujo Sisters at the time. She was listening to their first, and only, original single song Honey Bee~, and was clearly a fan of the group. I think that she was honestly disappointed when I found no interest in the girls at all, and for a while I did care very little for both groups, up until early 2012 when Kaze Ikki came out. After that, I couldn't get Fudanjuku out of my head; I had fallen for the group, and after that, I started to listen to their songs more and more, even finding different video sites to just get a taste of their older sounds, back before I had really given them any credit. I soon found great love for their song Katsunda!, a song which I had originally disliked for how weird and wonderful it truly was.

And I have pretty much been hooked ever since the beginning of the year on this group. With every release they bring out, I find them so much more to love about them. Everything they release, I have found that I just fall for them even more. Maybe it's their passion, or maybe it's their love for the group, who knows? All I know is that I really adore this group, and since the release of their latest PV, Jinsei Wahaha!, I have found myself researching this group a little more, especially after talking to two fellow Fudanjuku lovers on Facebook. One of these lovers is quite a new fan, newer than I am, so I suggested that I write an Introduction post on Fudanjuku, even though they have been featured here quite a bit already. And so here we are.

So before I get started on the members' profiles, I want to first say that I myself am still in the learning process when it comes to Fudanjuku; because I am so involved in their male alter-ego's, I actually overlook their female counterparts to the point where I ignore or forget that the members of Fudanjuku are actually female (especially when it concerns Renji, who clearly has a penis). So, after some recent (very recent) research I did, I was shocked to find out that most of Fudanjuku are actually, or were, gravure Idols. My sister was actually quite surprised too when I told her, though one members information really took me aback. Of course, you will need to wait for their profile before you can really find out what took me by surprise...

With that all said and done, the introduction to the group itself is over and done with (and some of my history behind how I found them, again), which can only mean that it's time for the profiles~

Prepare yourself, this may be a long post... (Hence, a break. Jump over it!)