Avoiding Spinster-Hood... Niigaki Risa's Gettin' MARRIED!!!

On June 13th 2016, Niigaki Risa made the announcement on her official blog that... dayumn... she's getting hitched, y'all!

To my darling Amanda, thanks for the tip off about this, boo! Love ya <3 <3 <3

Niigaki as Yona from 'Akatsuki no Yona'

My Forever Queen and first ever Kami-Oshi is going to get married. Finally, the day has come where she's revealed the guy she managed to shackle to her for the rest of her life, and finally she has relieved me of that nagging feeling that she'll live the rest of her beautiful life a spinster, because let's face it; I thought that she was never going to get married, not when her one true love Ai-butt had a husband and she was left to wallow in heart break. But nope. She's deceived those odds of mine, and she's got a ring on her finger, and soon she'll walk down an aisle and marry her husband-to-be. It shall be beautiful!!! -sniff-

Seriously though, I did think she'd just become a spinster. That, or she and Ai would run off into the sunset together after claiming their undying love for one another. Heck, that could still potentially happen, so I'm waiting for that day with bated breath.

Niigaki and Yoshikazu for the stage play 'Sin of Sleeping Snow'

Anyways...

The announcement made revealed that, come July, Gaki will marry fellow actor Yoshikzau Kotani, whom she met in 2014 when they acted alongside one another in the Zettai Kareshi (Absolute Boyfriend) stage play. They have since been dating, and after two years the two have decided to get married and become a family.

Gaki has noted her desire to continue working as an actress, and hopes for the fans support as she heads into her future to create a family of her own with Yoshikazu. Likewise, Yoshikazu has expressed his desire to create a family filled with smiles beside Gaki, and that he hopes his friends, family and fans support their decision.

As a fan of Gaki, I truly am happy for her. I'm glad she's found someone she seems to adore, and that she wants to spend the rest of her life with him and share not only love and happiness, but woes and hardships, too. It's a big step in her life as a young woman, and whilst I am a little surprised, I am extremely ecstatic for her, too.

I love Gaki, and I just want her to smile and be happy. I'm glad that she's doing this, and hat she's going to continue working hard as an actress alongside her husband on the stage that she adores so much.

Congratulations, Gaki-san! I'm over the moon for ya!!!

But please, do keep in mind running off with Ai-butt. It's what we all secretly hope for, huhuhu~

Much Love,
Chiima~

Source(s):

Niigaki Risa Ameblo Blog Report
Yoshikazu Kotani Ameblo Blog Report
Natalie
Sports Nippon
Oricon News
nikkansports

Niigaki Risa and Mitsui Aika have Graduated Morning Musume.

Today, on May 18th 2012, Niigaki Risa and Mitsui Aika have both officially graduated from Morning Musume. Whilst Risa is also leaving H!P to pursue a career in acting, much like her Gen 5 companion and best friend, Takahashi Ai, Aika will continue to be a part of Hello! Project. Whilst it is unclear what Aika will be doing, it is wonderful to know that she can still be a part of the agency.

...

I wanted to make a really formal post saying nice things and what not, but seriously, I am sad. I cried at around 5am in the morning when I first thought about it, and then I went to sleep. After waking up I am still really sad about it, because two really great members have now left Morning Musume, and are going to do new things and improve themselves more.

Graduations are always sad things, though I've never experienced losing a member I loved so much until now. Both of these girls are special to me in their own ways, with Gaki being a bit more important to me - but to have Aika graduate so suddenly was shocking and heart breaking. In fact, Gaki's graduation announcement was also a big surprise and a shock. Many had thought that she would lead MM for another year, but she left this year instead. However, I am so happy that Gaki was able to be a leader, even if it was for a short while. I wish I could say the same for Aika, because I was anticipating her leadership years. But, as I said in her appreciation post, that will never happen, and it is very sad.

These two have been a big part of Morning Musume for so long now. Aika may have been in for less time than the other OG members, but she has certainly made her mark, or at least to me - These two girls are both so wonderful and loving, and it is so sad to see them graduate. But, that said, I am happy that they are graduating together, because they are so similar in their love and dedication for Morning Musume. They are both wonderful girls, and they have really cherished Morning Musume from the days that they both were accepted as members of this great group.

In the end, this has to happen - and it's sad that Aika went so soon, but I do think that this is for the best. This is so that the new Morning Musume can grow even more quickly. Niigaki Risa and Mitsui Aika graduating is now the beginning of a new era. With whatever they do, all of us fans can only wish them luck and to look forward to their futures and what they do afterwards.

Niigaki Risa, Mitsui Aika... Omedettou!

And now it's time for the reign of the BUNNIES, BETCHES! WHOO!

LONG LIVE THE QUEEN! LONG LIVE TE QUEEN

USA-CHAN PEASU! LONG LIVE THE QUEEN!

PING!!! Idol Minded Recommended Reading: May 18th, 2012

Niigaki Risa - The Graduation Appreciation Post

This post contains my thoughts and feelings on Niigaki Risa as an Idol and her graduation, why I like her, how I came to like her and what she means to me as a fan of Morning Musume in general. This is an Appreciation post - I wrote it to appreciate an Idol who I admire so much.

Niigaki Risa is, in many ways, a special Idol for most people - As a Morning Musume member, she is greatly respected by her fans for her love and dedication for Morning Musume as well as for her amazing voice and dancing skills. But the thing that made me adore her when I first got into Morning Musume was her passion for everything she did - her dancing, her singing, and most of all, her acting.

I have stated before why I like Niigaki and why she means so much to me - For me, she is the entire reason why I love Morning Musume. In 2009, when I became a fan, I found out that the Idol I liked from the anime Kirarin Revolution, Koharu Kusumi, was leaving this group I had just found out about. I had just started to listen to Morning Musume, but because the one I liked was going so quickly, I thought that it wasn't worth liking the group anymore. But then I found out that Morning Musume had done a stage play called 'Cinderella', and I adore fairytales, so I watched it, and there was a member to me who stood out during the entire play. At that time, I fell in love with Niigaki Risa as Prince Christopher rather than Niigaki Risa the Idol. But, after noticing how wonderful Niigaki was as an actress, I became more and more interested in her, and it was after that that I came to be a fan of Morning Musume and Niigaki Risa.

My love and admiration for Niigaki deepened after watching the concert of Koharu Kusumi's graduation - seeing her perform with Koharu, and seeing how close they were and the sort of connection that they had was so beautiful. I wondered why these two were being torn apart then, and I became aware of how much I liked this duo despite barely knowing about either of them or Morning Musume as a whole. Then, when it came to the graduation speeches, I was in tears - the message that got to me the most was the one that Gaki wrote to Koharu, and I cried so much during Niigaki's heartfelt speech. Watching and listening to the speech made me like Niigaki more and more as a member of Morning Musume, and seeing that my favourite Idol at the time was so close to this person kind of made me want to support this girl, despite the fact that I barely knew much about her as an Idol. It was after the concert video that I wanted to fully support Niigaki Risa and become her fan.

After that, not much changed - I learned more about the group, and my love for Morning Musume deepened. Gaki was pretty much my number 1, and I grew a few more favourites. It wasn't until the addition of the 9th gen that I started to gain more and more favourites, with Ikuta Erina surpassing Niigaki as my number 1 member. However even then I still idolised and adored Gaki. She may not have been my Number 1 anymore, but to me, she was still important, I still held her dear to me as someone I liked and wanted to potentially meet one day.

But, after the new members came in I started to realise more how much of a Leader Niigaki was - despite being the sub-leader, she had a lot more control over the newer members than what Ai had, and she helped out with so much. I became more aware of how strong this young woman was, and how much she deserved to be a leader in Morning Musume. I really wanted her to become a leader, so when Takahashi Ai's own graduation was announced, I was pleased. It would finally be Gaki's time to reign over Morning Musume.

So when her graduation was announced so soon after the first single that represented her as a Leader came out, I was pretty shocked and also very sad. I had hoped that Niigaki would stay on for at least another year as Morning Musume's leader, but the reality was that she had wanted to go with Takahashi Ai. I had been waiting for Niigaki to become a leader since the early 2011, anticipating how she would shine as Morning Musume's longest serving member and 7th leader. When it did finally happen, the news that she would soon be leaving was extremely sad, but it was something that I had to accept. Yes, as a fan I wanted her to stay on as a leader for a longer period of time, but there is nothing that the fans can do to stop this from happening. We are merely there to support the idols that we love, rather than to dictate what they can and can't do.

After that announcement was made that she would graduate, I really didn't think much else to it, other than that I knew that I would probably cherish this graduation and support it a great deal more than I did with Takahashi Ai's. There is a vast difference in how much I like and support Niigaki and Ai, and it's pretty apparent how I feel towards them both. But I already had a feeling that Gaki's graduation would hold a higher importance as opposed to the graduation of Koharu Kusumi and Takahashi Ai put together. I was barely a fan of Morning Musume when I loved and adored Koharu, and whilst I was a fan of Morning Musume during the departure of Ai-butt, I had no interest in the back-then Leader, so of course I was going to support Gaki's more than any of the other members who meant something to me, because for me, Niigaki Risa represents so much more.

Long story short, Gaki basically represents Morning Musume for me. She is the embodiment of the group, and is basically the entire reason why I continued to watch Morning Musume even after Koharu had graduated from the group entirely. Even though the new members have helped my love to grow for Morning Musume more and more, Gaki is the sole reason why I wanted to continue watching and supporting this group, and the reason why I have come to love the Morning Musume that stands now. I have such high respect and love (as a fan) for Niigaki, and I am, in a way, deeply grateful to her that she has helped me fall in love with a group that she holds so dear to her.

Ever since Koharu's graduation concert, Niigaki has been someone I have respected and admired. She is a hard-working and strong member who is so diligent and caring, and those aspects of her make me adore and idolise her even more. For me, she is 'Morning Musume' - She is the reason I wanted to keep watching Morning Musume, and because of that I cherish her, just like the rest of her fans do. For everyone who loves Niigaki Risa, she is one of the most important members of such a good group.

I truly do idolise this girl - she is such an amazing and beautiful person, one who I am happy to have watched as a fan. From falling in love with the character 'Prince Christopher' to falling in love with Niigaki as a singer, I am truly glad that I was able to have seen her as a Leader and a member of Morning Musume. Yes, her life as a Leader for the group that she loved for so long was so short, but for the short while that she was a leader, I do think that she certainly made an impact and made Morning Musume stronger for the New Generations.

And with this, Niigaki is now my #1 Idol. Impact pays off.

Au Revoir, Lord Gaki! You are Morning Musume's Ultimate Member!

Chiima~

PING!!! Idolminded Recommended Reading: May 10th, 2012

The Penultimate Goodbye for Our Lord and Saviour, Gaki - Niigaki Risa's 'Egao ni Namida ~Thank You Dear My Friends!~' PV Review!

All thoughts and opinions within this post are my own and no one else's, unless otherwise stated. How I think and feel about this single, the song, the singer and the video ARE my own opinions and you can not dictate how I should think or feel. I have the freedom of thinking and the freedom of speech, and how I choose to express those feelings are my own choice. Don't like what I have to say? Then you can freely not read this blog. I want to respect everyone's opinion, but in order for me to respect yours, you in return must respect mine.

"Are you smiling through your tears too?"

The penultimate installment of Niigaki Risa's graduation has been released! Niigaki Risa's official MV for the cover song of Egao ni Namida ~Thank You Dear My Friends!~ has been leaked on youtube for the fans to watch and to give their -almost- final goodbyes to the short-lived Leader of Morning Musume, and the one who has created such an impact and given the group so much love and support since before she had even joined.

The video that everyone has been waiting for since the preview is finally here, and it is best to view it now before UFA manage to take it down. A beautiful farewell for a wonderful member, this is Egao ni Namida ~Thank You Dear My Friends!~ by Niigaki Risa~ Shall we take a look at some pictures?

I like that there are not just pictures of Gaki, but pictures of her with the other members. It beats photo's of just herself -coughJishinMottecough-

The fact that she's actually looking at these photo's is also nice - it's like she's reminiscing.

... Yeah, 2 seconds in and this is a better PV than Jishin Motte was xD

... I love this vintage feel going on in the room, and then a burst of Gaki in the middle xD Makes a statement, no?

That, or it says 'Old, haggard and past its prime' - though that's the negative feeling for the Gaki haters ;D 

But it's also the definition of Takahashi Ai

Lord Gaki: "I have the most awesome nails in all of Hello! Project, bitches be Jelly."

Digging those boots, btw.

Lord Gaki: "WHHHHY???"

Gaki has a headache, or maybe she's wondering why she wants to graduate so soon.

Gaki: "You know that the vocals will all suck after I leave, right?"

I really want that green 'R' earing!

... It also reminds me of Team Rocket! :D

I want that hat >3< Hell, I want a lot of things - including Lord Gaki herself!

Lord Gaki: "Dafuq is this picture of?"

Looks like our Lord and Saviour is worrying about what pictures Tsunku and his photographers took of her without her knowing...

Lord Gaki: "... Heh?"

Lord Gaki: "Just think - bleeting Winkie's, whining toddlers and a bunch of undeveloped, crappy voices in Morning Musume... Yes, the 50th single will ROCK without me to back them up with lower vocals!"

I swear, half these scenes look like she is thinking about life outside of MM and what MM will be like without her awesomeness to back them all up.

Lord Gaki: "I'm hungry~"

I seriously hate how that shirt sits on her skirt.

Usa-chan Peace!~~~~

Sayumi needs to get some screen time in ALL THE PV'S!

Lord Gaki: "I can't believe they made me wear that fucking thing."

Gaki's reaction to the Pyoko picture

Lord Gaki: "I wonder how much I will make in Drama work after Morning Musume..."

Yes, you guard that door like a badass, Gaki!

Lord Gaki: "... Why is there a picture of a guy in Speedo's in here?"

Oh, references... You know who you are!

Lord Gaki: "All my pretties! My little treasures! ALL MINE!!!"

Okay, the sweetness of this scene is overwhelming... <3

Lord Gaki: "I get the skirt, but qho dafuq put this outfit together...?"

I have no words for how beautiful she is...

Seriously, the second half of the PV is probably the best parts of the PV in my opinion. Just saying~

Lord Gaki: "Reach up for the stars, climb every mountain higher...~"

And in comes the posing of a beautiful young woman!

Stunning darling, absolutely wonderful! Brava, BRAVA!

Marvelous! More darling, make love to that camera!

Also, love that she has an 'R' on her shirt and on her earing - R & R! (Risa and Riida!)

So cute~~~~ <3

Also, love the picture-less picture frames in the background.

...

;_____; She got me... </3

And let me guess what this will be...

Oh man, this one's a keeper!

Lord Gaki: "Yeah Baby, this is it! Time to get real!"

Why is Gaki so beautiful and interesting? <3

Looking nervous there, my Lord and Saviour. Not getting cold feet, are we?

Lord Gaki: "I need to talk to Tsunku about these..."

Is it just me or does Gaki look vaguely like Fukuhime here? Maybe it's just me...

Gaki just keeps getting prettier...

Lord Gaki: "Even without me, Morning Musume will be okay. It survived the reign of Ai-butt for so long, I'm sure it can survive the Bunny or Winky era."

WHY SO GORGEOUS? -dies-

Lord Gaki: "Will you all miss me? Even after I have left Morning Musume, please, continue to support me."

Lord Gaki: "Into the case of memories you go..."

And off she goes, departing with nearly 11 years' worth of memories of Morning Musume wonder.

And, I honestly think that this part was obvious, but also very sweet and very much needed <3

Niigaki Risa's final piece as a Morning Musume member, Egao ni Namida ~Thank You Dear My Friends!~ is a a sweet farewell to the fans of this amazing person and her final goodbye to not just Morning Musume, but to her friends from the past and present Morning Musume as well as the old Niigaki Risa who worked hard for the group that she loved so much. With this PV, it seems that her reign is really coming to an end, and a new era of Morning Musume is being born.

I admit, I like this PV so much better than Jishin Motte Yume wo Motte Tobidatsu Kara, and that is because I believe that what Niigaki has here is better presented, and really well thought out. It probably isn't the best PV to ever come out of an agency, but for a UFA music video, it is pretty darned good. Niigaki gets a lovely send off with this video, and there is a lot more interaction in it than what Takahashi had with her own solo PV.

Whilst the first half was pretty slow for me, the second and final half of the PV was what really made me think that this is a beautiful PV. For the first part, I really felt that Gaki's emotions weren't coming across, and there were times where I thought that she looked like she was forcing a smile. But, during the end of the song I fell in love with the entire video - it was at the second half of the PV that I really felt her emotions and really saw that smile of hers that glowed with love, and it made me really appreciate and enjoy the PV so much more. It also made me realise that this was it - this was the end of Niigaki Risa's Morning Musume career, and watching her look so happy but still a little sad made me feel like crying, but I also felt really happy. She really put the title into the song with her voice and her expression.

Gaki is absolutely stunning in this video - she does an amazing job with performing whilst still bringing across her own emotions and feelings. She looks beautiful, she sounds amazing and I think she did a great job with this video. I love that she was looking through the photo's and holding them up to the camera, smiling and adding little gestures to liven it up a little. I also liked the vintage-like feel that was given in the PV with the room that had a worn floor, worn dresser, vintage armchair and vintage suitcase, whilst being livened up with Gaki's contrasting modern-day feel. The room was displayed so well, and wasn't overly busy or overly bare. I also loved how Gaki used the room by sitting in the couch in two different ways as well as leaning against the couch or the doorway. It gave us a variation of shots, and didn't keep the room boring or the shots plain and dull. They used the room, and they used it as much as they could - it was executed well.

The close-up shots were the iffy part for me - when the video started and I saw Gaki singing to the song, I felt that the first half was a little forced when compared to the second. In the second half I felt that the emotion was expressed more in her close-up shots in the white room. However, she did look happy and I felt that, at the very last few shots, she really put the emotion of 'Smiling Through Tears' into the song and it felt like she was really thanking the viewers, the fans and Morning Musume for everything. Seeing how she expressed herself in that second half made me feel so happy and sad, and it made me wish that she wasn't leaving so soon. However, it also made me appreciate and really like this video.

I think that this is a great video - It is not the best, but I do feel that this video is a lot better than what UFA have been pulling out recently. It's fresh and has a bittersweet feel to it, and it does express Niigak's love and sadness for Morning Musume as a graduating member. I like that her emotions were able to be brought across by how she expressed herself. Sometimes, it did seem like she was acting, but at other times you could see how much she loved it and how sad she seemed to be, and that is what made this PV great for me. I really enjoyed it, and Gaki made the PV great itself. She really stood out here, she didn't let the furniture or the pictures do the work - she made this PV what it is, and it honestly makes me wonder why she isn't becoming a soloist, because I think that she could do it.

I have already written about the song in a single review, but I am so glad that Niigaki decided to cover this song - This is the sort of song that really expresses her feelings for Morning Musume and how she feels in general, and it really sounds passionate and loving, and like she is sad but not regretful of the paths she has chosen. This song is her own way of saying goodbye to everyone as a member of Morning Musume. Whilst Takahashi Ai sang about her future and spreading her wings, Gaki prety much sang about her life in Morning Musume, and how everyone goes their own way but will still be there for each other, even if they graduate or go and achieve their dreams. This song speaks so much about Gaki, and it speaks to her fans and the past and presents of Morning Musume too, about how they will still be friends and that, despite her graduation from Morning Musume, they will still see each other again, and how she is thanking everyone for being her friends.

A sweet song to a sweet PV, I really think that this is a great farewell for Niigaki. I couldn't have asked for anything more or anything less - It's loving, heart-waring, touching and also a little bit sad. A beautiful PV for a beautiful person, and a wonderful song which makes everything so bittersweet and lovely.

Daisuki, Niigaki Risa~

Chiima~

PING!!! Idolminded Recommended Reading: May 10th, 2012