Turning Back The Clock: Houkago Princess ~Oshiete Kudasai~ Single Review (15th Anniversary Rewind Review)

And so the return to blogging begins...

Debuting back in August of 2011, Houkago Princess began as a small-time dress-up idol group who regularly performed at Ikebukuro WHITEBASE before eventually transforming into the seasoned princesses we see today. With a rich history and an ever-growing discography of songs, 2026 marks the groups 15th anniversary since their stage debut all those years ago, as well as the beginning of my love for one of my favourite idol groups of all time.

So, in a bid to celebrate my beloved HouPri for the 15 years they have been a part of the idol world, I will be returning to Okay! Musume Time to dedicate my time and words to all things Houkago Princess for their 15th anniversary. It is here where my love for Houkago Princess began, after all.

With 15 years' worth of history to share, I want to show you all the love I hold for this incredible group. My only hope is that you will join me in this celebration. Whether you are new to their music or have heard it all before, I hope you can all enjoy this series of dedicated posts I share my love and adoration for Houkago Princess and their legacy.

Are you ready to be enchanted? If so, it's time to turn back the clock and go back to the where it all began....

From Regular to Royal! Houkago Princess Transform into Idol Royalty in the 'Princess no Teigi' Music Video! (Rewind Pic Spam Review)

To disclaim: All thoughts and opinions are my own, and yours are your own. Etc. I can't be bothered to write much more, though future Chiima may regret being this lazy. Ah, well.

In which I finally review the Princess no Teigi PV! Because I put this off for a whole year, stewing in my misery over how poorly made this was.

... But then Shakunetsu no Mystery Eye happened, so it's about damn time I talk about the first monstrosity that HouPri released! So, voila!

Okay, so I don't usually take this long to bring out a Houkago Princess music video review. Heck I'm pretty quick most of the time, but upon the release of Princess no Teigi in 2019, I was left with a sour taste in my mouth. Not only was the music video released a couple of months after the singles initial release date, but it also happened to be pretty bad.

And by bad, I mean poorly edited. So, like the mature adult I am, I decided to ignore and stew in my annoyance. Because why the heck not?

So I left it, and whilst I would look back at it every now and again and realise some of its merits, I actually never intended to review it. A lot of time has passed since Princess no Teigi's music video release, and it also still annoys me, so I think these were fairly good grounds for just why I shouldn't review it.

Then Shakunetsu no Mystery Eye happened, and also Hell Cake Month, so I decided that if I could sit through a review of the aforementioned bastard of a PV that was released this year, then I could sit through this one. And what better time to put myself through Hell, than for Cake month? Because, yes, I like to torture myself, and yes I think it's good to balance out the things I enjoy with the things that annoy me.

So, let's get annoyed together and sit through Princess no Teigi, the start of HouPri's downward spiral in music video quality. Are yer ready? OOOOOH---

In the words of Houkago Princess, circa 2019: So let's start! (Let's start!)

[A Week with Meimi] Stand Up, Vampire! We Can't See You in the Sunlight! 'Tachigaaru' Rewind PV Review!

All thoughts and opinions within this post will be my own, and no one else's. I do not expect people to agree with me, nor do I expect them to think similar to me. All I hope is that, through this post, you understand my thoughts and feelings on the song, video and group, and to leave with no hard feelings. If you feel strongly about something, and are easily offended by another persons opinions, then please do click away, otherwise enjoy, and I will see you at the end of the post!

*Regarding the [Week with...] series: When the time arises, I will dedicate myself to a week of posts where I write and talk about specific members or groups who are Graduating, and for this series, I will be spending my time talking about and appreciating Tamura Meimi of both S/mileage and ANGERME as her Graduation comes ever closer. The intention behind such a series is to focus on Meimi as an Idol and member, and to go through her growth as a performer. I watch as she evolves, and come to appreciate who she is by the end of it. Hopefully, you will take this journey with me, and see Tamura Meimi: The Idol, the Performer, the essence of a smile. Thank you.

I have not done one of these in a good while... for a damn year and 5 months, to be specific. WOOOO-W. I feel so out of practice!

So, a better time than never to get back into the swing of things! Let's GO!

Way, waaaay back when in good ol' 2011 when I was still new to blogging and very much an opinionator (Read: not a word), I reviewed the newly released Tachiagaaru, S/mileage's first music video to feature the up-and-coming second generation, as well as the first to lack the presence of the amazing Ogawa Saki, my beloved of what was once a perfect S/mileage.

2011 me hated this song. 2011 me hated this video. 2011 me was really fucking bitter because Ogawa Saki's graduation was ripped away from her, as was all decency because she wanted to jump ship. 2011 me was not a happy camper. Luckily, 2016 me has grown the fuck up, and 2016 me has actually changed her mind a little about some things regarding the song and video.

So, after five long years of ignoring what I once hated, I've returned to it, all for the sake of Tamura Meimi's impending Graduation day. For one week I will look back at PV's, potentially look at songs, and basically think of and write about the Tamura Meimi of S/mileage and ANGERME. She is my focus, she is my muse, and god-damnit, we will find her in this damn PV! So, to start things off, let's take a trip back in time and find Meimi, the Littlest Vampire and the happiest of them all!

Beginning from the starting point of her Idol career, it's Tachiagaaru! Stand up, Tamura Meimi! We want to see you!!!