25 Days Of Christmas Countdown Day #15: Top Hello! Project Members

You know what I really want in H!P next year? Albums. Albums for everyone! Well, not Kobushi since they just had one, but more albums please! Angerme is so overdue for a third, Country Girls is sitting on a bazillion unreleased tracks, Musume has a bunch of A-sides that need a home, & C-ute should get a farewell album along with a single (and best single/b-side collection hint hint). I don't believe we'll see any new groups formed this year. 2018 with a C-ute replacement group? Yeah, but this year I don't see it. I do see a bunch of Kenshuusei being added to current groups though. As with my other ones, no members (or full groups for that matter) who have announced their graduations are included.

This is the first year I can say with 100% certainty that I have an overall H!P favorite since Reina left. It's weird because I never thought I'd have that one girl that I liked above the rest after Reina's grad but now I do. Musubu! I'm hoping for great things from her. She's so incredibly talented. Maybe a solo song on CG's first album? Please?

Morning Musume

-I feel like there is going to be a lot of graduations next year. Well, a lot for Musume. I'm thinking 3. Six years is an incredibly long time to be in a group & I'm sure some members are thinking of their futures. We'll definitely see the first 10th gen go next year. Anyone who thinks 10th is going to go together is just plain delusional. Not only is there a large age difference/popularity gap between them, there's NO WAY that H!P would allow FOUR members to leave at the same time. It'd be group killing. I'd also be shocked if both Mizuki & Erina stick around. I'm also feeling like one of the newer girls will leave too. It's been awhile since someone left early on in their Musume career and I think that it's going to happen again. I do believe that we're also getting 14th gen next year, probably a surprise addition. Adding two high school aged girls was a little left field for 13th gen, so I'm thinking that they were added for talent/faces for the group & we'll see number boosters next year.

#1: Masaki Sato (+1)

-Look who's back at number one lol. She's so polarizing even for me personally. I dislike her sometimes and then love her others.

#2: Miki Nonaka (-1)

#3: Akane Haga (+1)

#4: Sakura Oda (-1)

#5: Haruka Kudo (-)

#6: Maria Makino (+1)

#7: Ayumi Ishida (-1)

#8: Erina Ikuta (+1)

#9: Haruna Ogata (+2)

#10: Haruna Iikubo (-)

#11: Reina Yokoyama (NEW)

-She's too new to place anywhere else, although I can see her passing a few of the current girls if she really stands out in their first single.

#12: Mizuki Fukumura (-4)

#13: Kaede Kaga (NEW)

Angerme

-Angerme is second in line in seniority now. Wow that's almost unbelievable. If Ayaka doesn't get the H!P leader position, there should be a riot. She objectively has the most seniority & she's also better than Mizuki. As for graduations next year, I think Ayaka will announce at the end of the year & graduate in 2018 with a second gen member leaving in 2017. Hard to believe they've been around as long as MM's 9th & 10th gens.

#1: Ayaka Wada (-)

#2: Mizuki Murota (-)

#3: Maho Aikawa (+1)

#4: Rikako Sasaki (-1)

#5: Moe Kamikokuryou (+3)

#6: Akari Takeuchi (-1)

#7: Kana Nakanishi (-)

#8: Rina Katsuta (-2)

#9: Momona Kasahara (NEW)

Juice=Juice

-I really don't know if Juice will see a graduation next year. I think they're definitely coming up to it, but I don't know if it'll be next year or not. I don't think they'll go all together though. Likely we'll see one girl leave, they'll carry on for a couple of years after that, and then disband as a group. I don't foresee new members at all.

#1: Karin Miyamoto (-)

#2: Sayuki Takagi (+1)

#3: Akari Uemura (-1)

#4: Yuka Miyazaki (-)

#5: Tomoko Kanazawa (-)

Country Girls

-Yay no more Momoko! I don't hate her, in fact I rather like her, but I did not like her in Country Girls. She should've left with the rest of Berryz or stayed in the background. She really didn't fit in with the kids. Manaka's sudden grad was surprising. I feel bad for her that she finally got to live her dream and then health problems got in the way. I guess it's good that she was put into CG instead of someone dance heavy like MM or Anju because her issues probably would've gotten to her sooner. I don't think we'll see any more grads next year (outside of Momoko), but I think we'll get new members. I'm actually wondering if we'll see their reveal at the New Year's Countdown because I imagine that they'll want the successors for Momo to be added while she's still there for guidance.

#1: Musubu Funaki (-)

#2: Risa Yamaki (-)

#3: Chisaki Morito (-)

#4: Nanami Yanagawa (+1)

#5: Mai Ozeki (-1)

Kobushi Factory

-I'm cautiously optimistic that they won't have any graduations and will carry on for a few years as a full group, but seeing as this is the real world, I wouldn't be shocked if someone left next year. I don't think they'll be adding any members to Kobushi either. I think they're the new non-generational group in H!P like Juice.

#1: Rei Inoue (-)

#2: Minami Nomura (-)

#3: Sakurako Wada (+1)

#4: Ayaka Hirose (-1)

#5: Ayano Hamaura (-)

#6: Natsumi Taguchi (-)

#7: Rena Ogawa (+1)

#8: Rio Fujii (-1)

Tsubaki Factory

-Although they've already received a second gen, I also think that Tsubaki will be non-generational. I think it's pretty clear that second gen was added to bolster the group for their debut because of their lukewarm reception. I think that H!P just made the mistake of making them too soon after Kobushi and if they had been introduced this year instead of last that they would have been better received. I do see someone leaving Tsubaki next year. Likely someone from first gen.

#1: Kisora Niinuma (-)

#2: Mao Akiyama (NEW)

#3: Yumeno Kishimoto (-1)

#4: Mizuho Ono (NEW)

#5: Kiki Asakura (-1)

#6: Risa Ogata (-3)

#7: Saori Onoda (NEW)

#8: Ami Tanimoto (-3)

#9: Riko Yamagishi (-3)

Kenshuusei

-I think we'll see a couple girls leaving due to 13th gen being chosen. I also think that we'll see some of the older ones go into UUG gen 2/that little sister group thing. Or whatever the heck is going on with UUG. I hope we get a HUGE Kenshuusei generation next year. I feel like they need more numbers and girls to stick around for a couple years since they've all but gutted the Kenshuusei with all the group additions. I'm not going to bother posting the position change because the ranking of the Kenshuusei is too unpredictable.

#1: Ruru Danbara

#2: Momohime Kiyono

#3: Reina Ichioka

#4: Kizuki Horie

#5: Hikaru Inoue

#6: Kokoro Maede

#7: Ayano Kawamura

#8: Kurumi Takase

#9: Sakiko Kodama

#10: Shiori Nishida

#11: Mizuki Kanatsu

#12: Rin Hashisako

#13: Kurumi Noguchi

#14: Yuhane Yamazaki

#15: Marie Yoshida

#16: Kotomi Ono

#17: Kirara Yonemura

Kenshuusei Hokkaido

-I have no idea what to think about these girls. They've practically done a grand total of nothing.

#1: Ryo Kitagawa

#2: Mai Yamazaki

#3: Haruka Ota

#4: Hikari Sato

#5: Kanami Ishiguri

#6: Minori Kawano

#7: Yume Kudo

25 Days Of Christmas Countdown Day #14: Top 48G Members (Year End Edition 2016)

Graduation announcements have gotten crazy the past couple of days! Shu, Naanya, AND Nishino?! What the heck 48G?! They're not even the semi-popular members that you'd be expecting to announce either. But I admit I do really like graduations. I love the unexpectedness of some of them like Nishino's today & I love seeing the changes in the groups after certain members leave. It's just a super fun system to me because I don't get attached to the girls.

Unlike my first half of the year edition, I'm going to *attempt* to do SNH, BEJ, & GNZ too but I'm pretty much just going to be ranking faces as I don't know the girls too well. Keyaki I have a slightly better idea of my ranking since they've released more material & NGT I'm still unsure about because they won't release their first single. Just like my past lists, no members who graduated in 2016 or who have announced their graduations are included in my lists. I also have taken up using the nicknames I know for certain girls when I'm just talking about them. It's just easier than writing their full names so I'm sorry if people have no clue who I'm talking about lol. I keep full names in the list itself though.

AKB48

-From my list just in May two of the girls [Naanya & Aigasa] have announced their grads. That's been very recent too so I had a bit of trouble coming up with two new girls because I haven't had a lot of time to think about it. It's also too bad that Paruru is graduating at the end of the year because she's really grown on me this year. As for the girls on my list, I think Miichan will definitely be announcing after Kojiharu's grad. I also think Mayuyu will announce next year as well. Yukirin is a maybe, but I don't think it'll be next year. I'm hoping Kira gets promoted early this year & I'm genuinely surprised that Kiara has stuck around as long as she has. I don't really have a clue if she'll stick around next year or graduate.

#1: Minami Minegishi (-)

#2: Nana Okada (+1)

#3: Mayu Watanabe (-1)

#4: Mion Mukaichi (+1)

#5: Hijiri Tanikawa (-1)

#6: Yuki Kashiwagi (+2)

#7: Kira Takahashi (-)

#8: Kiara Sato (+2)

#9: Juri Takahashi (NEW)

#10: Saya Kawamoto (NEW)

SKE48

-My SKE list fared better than AKB lol. I only lost Aya from May. Her graduation shocked me. I wasn't expecting it this soon & I also expected Suda to go before Shibata. There's a part of me that wants Jurina to announce next year just because of the shock factor, but I don't believe that will happen at all. She's way too eager to hit #1 on the Sousenkyo and if Sasshi, Mayuyu, & Yukirin choose to not enter, she's got an incredible chance at making it. I don't think my list will fare as well come next May. I fully expect Nao, Kaori, Akari, & Natsuki to annouce their graduations. With Natsuki.....does anyone else think she looks like Musubu Funaki? Looking at her profile pic with her haircut makes her look like they could be sisters it's so weird.

#1: Rara Goto (-)

#2: Jurina Matsui (+2)

#3: Kaori Matsumura (+2)

#4: Nao Furuhata (-1)

#5: Oka Suenaga (+4)

#6: Akari Suda (+1)

#7: Natsuki Takatsuka (+1)

#8: Ruka Kitano (-2)

#9: Marika Tani (+1)

#10: Airi Mizuno (NEW)

NMB48

-I'm still a little shocked about Shu's announcement. That was very unexpected. Out of my list, I don't really know who may announce next year. I do think that Sayaka will, but I don't think she'll leave until 2018. We might lose Ayaka, Rurina, & Narumi next year, but I can't even guess.

#1: Sayaka Yamamoto (-)

#2: Ririka Suto (+1)

#3: Fuuko Yagura (+2)

#4: Rina Yamao (-2)

#5: Konomi Kusaka (+2)

#6: Miru Shiroma (-)

#7: Ayaka Morita (+3)

#8: Rurina Nishizawa (+1)

#9: Kanae Iso (-1)

#10: Narumi Koga (NEW)

HKT48

-Chihiro's graduation was another surprising one. I hadn't expected any of the HKT captains to leave for a few more years. I don't really see anyone on my list who's at risk of leaving next year. Unless Meru gets tired of being shafted and quits but I really hope that doesn't happen.

#1: Meru Tashima (-)

#2: Nako Yabuki (-)

#3: Sakura Miyawaki (+1)

#4: Haruka Ueno (+2)

#5: Haruka Kodama (+4)

#6: Emiri Yamashita (-1)

#7: Nao Ueki (+1)

#8: Yui Kojina (-1)

#9: Aoi Motomura (+1)

#10: Haruka Wakatabe (NEW)

NGT48

-I still feel like I know nothing about the girls. They really need to release a first single so I can see how they fit into the group because I just have no clue outside of what they look like. It's not like I'm going to waste the time to watch stages with songs I've heard a bazillion times and my Japanese isn't anywhere near good enough to understand MCs. As for graduations next year, I doubt there will be any. The only way I see someone leaving NGT is if they get a second gen too soon or if a scandal happens. But hey, I've been surprised so far this month with crazy out there announcements so who knows.

#1: Yuka Ogino (-)

#2: Rika Nakai (+1)

#3: Reina Seiji (+1)

#4: Ayaka Mizusawa (NEW)

#5: Anju Sato (NEW)

#6: Minami Kato (-4)

#7: Marina Nishigata (+1)

#8: Yuria Otaki (-2)

#9: Miharu Nara (NEW)

#10: Hinata Honma (-)

Nogizaka46

-I feel like there's going to be a mass grad from Nogi this upcoming year. They haven't really lost too many in their existence and they're coming up on 6(!) years in the group. No one from my May list left this year and the lack of graduations for so many years has made my list pretty stable compared to the rest of the groups. I think from my list, Maaya is definite to graduate. Poor girl is so unpopular. We might be in for a surprise and Minami or Mai might leave. I think both Rina & Erika will be sticking around for a while.

#1: Rina Ikoma (-)

#2: Minami Hoshino (-)

#3: Maaya Wada (-)

#4: Mai Shiraishi (-)

#5: Karin Ito (+1)

#6: Manatsu Akimoto (-1)

#7: Asuka Saito (NEW)

#8: Erika Ikuta (+1)

#9: Reika Sakurai (NEW)

#10: Rena Yamakazi (NEW)

Keyakizaka46

-I think I've been able to establish that Imaizumi is definitely my favorite. Techi is super cool too though and does make a great center. I predict that there will be exactly one grad next year. I don't know from whom, but still. I imagine they'll be much like Nogi and have very sparse graduations for a few years.

#1: Yui Imaizumi (-)

#2: Yurina Hirate (+3)

#3: Nanako Nagasawa (NEW)

#4: Risa Watanabe (NEW)

#5: Neru Nagahama (+4)

#6: Nijika Ishimori (+1)

#7: Manaka Shida (-4)

#8: Yui Kobayashi (-2)

#9: Rina Uemura (NEW)

#10: Yuuka Sugai (NEW)

SNH48

-And here's where the members don't matter and pictures tell a 1000 words lol. As I've just begun to have any interest in SNH & their sister groups, I have no clue really who each girl is. So my rankings are going to be changing drastically at least for the next year while I learn more about them.

#1: Jingyi Ju

#2: Guanhui Chen

#3: Yuge Zhang

#4: Rui Sun

#5: Qingyang Li

#6: Jiaying Chen

#7: Xiaoyin Kong

#8: Beiting Qian

#9: Yanwen Wu

#10: Han Mo

BEJ48

#1: Shiyan Li

#2: Yan Wen

#3: Bowen Hu

#4: Shan Sun

#5: Yifan Yang

#6: Xinyi Ren

#7: Zi Li

#8: Shanshan Su

#9: Mingjun Yan

#10: Lei Fang

GNZ48

#1: Jingyuan Zuo

#2: Hanyue Luo

#3: Qianqian Liu

#4: Lifei Liu

#5: Yuqi Chen

#6: Yanping Nong

#7: Leilei Xie

#8: Huijing Chen

#9: Qiongyu Zhang

#10: Nanxi Chen

All I want for Christmas is for 48G & China48 to stop making new groups lol. I can't keep up & I'm only really interested in the music. I can't imagine how difficult it is for people who actually try and follow the girls. It's insanity.

25 Days Of Christmas Countdown Day #13: Top Morning Musume

Now that I've had 24 hours to process the news of 13th gen, I'm just somewhat ambivalent towards them. They need to release something for me to have any interest in the new girls. I do think people are being a little unnecessarily harsh towards Kaede though. I don't particularly care for her because I don't think that her voice is good like people say it is. It's a deeper voice which draws people to it, but I don't find her a good singer. As for her supposed attitude problem, I don't follow the Kenshuusei close enough to even know what people are complaining about. With Reina, I'm really thinking she would make a good double center with Maria. MM needs faces to lead the group. Keep the Sakura/Mizuki/Masaki lead singer trio, but put Maria/Reina front and center to push them into the minds of the general public.

With MM this year, I feel like they just coasted through it. Two singles a year for the most popular group of H!P is not a good business plan Up-Front. They even have a bunch of new songwriters so they can't use the excuse that Tsunku has too many songs to write. They need to have an album next year and at least three singles. If they want the new members to gain traction, they need to start shoving them onto as many music, variety, internet, cooking, or alien theory shows as possible. Anything that they can get them on is the point really. Now is a great time to start with the buzz from new members.

Musically, MM was once again the group with the best releases (with maybe the exception of Juice=Juice this year). Their first single was a bit blah, but Utakata ended up being fun & Tokyo to Iu is still awesome. I like to pretend The Vision doesn't exist. The entire Sexy Cat single was pretty solid in my opinion. I like Sou Janai the least but it's still cool. Mukidashite (? I can't spell to save my life this month I swear) is freaking amazing. Sexy Cat is quirky and fun. Something different for the group in it's current incarnation. Hoping next year's single exceed this year.

#10

Yuugure wa Ameagari (2015) (NEW)

#9

Onna ni Sachi Are (2007) (-2)

#8

Only You (2011) (+2)

#7

Ai Araba It's All Right (2004) (+1)

#6

Do It! Now (2001) (-1)

#5

Renai Hunter (2012) (+1)

#4

Onna to Otoko no Lullaby Game (2010) (-)

#3

Fantasy ga Hajimaru (2010) (-1)

#2

Osaka Koi no Uta (2005) (+1)

#1

Watashi wa Watashi Nanda (2014) (-)

25 Days Of Christmas Countdown Day #12: Top C-ute

This is supposed to be about C-ute, but just a quick aside: Congrats to the new Musume members! I had a feeling that Yokoyama would get in because of the random buzz around her that seemed to crop up overnight. She's very pretty and I hope that she has a good voice to accompany that. As for Kaede....well. I'm very happy that she's getting to realize her dream and got to join the group with the most opportunities. I truly hope that she melds in well and is a good asset for Musume. The members both are older which is a shock (and it feels like there will be new younger members added next year too because of it) and they both fit the current mature image of MM. Congrats again to them & I can't wait to see their debut!

As for C-ute. I sooooo knew it. I KNEW they would announce their disbandment this year. Honestly, it's time and I couldn't be happier that they're leaving. That sounds awful as I do like them, but H!P needs to complete it's transition to the new H!P and pass the torch to the new members and groups. Now there's just Ayaka Wada who is pre-2010 (if you don't count Aika who doesn't do anything anyway.). I fully predict that Ayaka will announce next year as well. Maybe not graduate, but definitely announce.

As for C-ute's music this year, outside of Mugen Climax (which was such a return to form for them), nothing was outstanding at all. Jinsei wa Step was fun & even though I've mainly ignored Summer Wind, I'm coming around to it. Naze Hito was just bad & I don't even remember what the other Mugen Climax single songs sound like so that's not a good sign. I guess I can say they outdid Angerme this year and maybe Kobushi, but I'm not sure on my feelings on that. Hopefully their final single will be an awesome goodbye for them. I'm also expecting a single/B-side collection like Berryz. I will be so incredibly upset if they don't do that. I want their singles/B-sides but I don't want to have to buy all of the singles I don't have to do so. I'm running out of room on my display shelf.

#10

Mugen Climax (2016) (NEW)

#9

Kiss Me Aishiteru (2011) (-2)

#8

Kanashiki Heaven (2012; Aitai Aitai na) (-3)

#7

Crazy Kanzen na Otona (2013) (+2)

#6

Midnight Temptation (2011; Chou Wonderful 6) (-)

#5

Please, Love Me More! (2013; Tokai no Hitorigurashi) (+3)

#4

Aitai Aitai Aitai na (2012) (-2)

#3

Adam to Eve no Dilemma (2013) (+1)

#2

Tokaikko Junjou (2007) (+1)

#1

I Miss You (2014) (-)

25 Days Of Christmas Countdown Day #11: Top Angerme

Ah Angerme. It seems like they're the current "golden child" of H!P fans. They are always praised to the heavens by just about everyone. I don't get it personally. I like Angerme. I do. I like the members, they're talented. But their music is no better or worse than the rest of the H!P groups. It's exactly the same. For me personally, I actually like Angerme's newest material less than everyone but Kobushi. Their EDM-ish tracks are so lame and one note. The girls sound bored singing them. Their rockier tracks are even worse. I've been indifferent to everything they've released this year. Itoshima Distance was probably the highlight and even then it's kind of meh. So disappointing for Meimi's final single. I really hope they get better music next year, or at least have some energy while singing the songs.

Member wise, Angerme has been somewhat surprising this year. Moe was pretty surprisingly added (although I don't remember if that was late last year or early this year. Whatever. She had her first single this year so it counts). Moe seems to be very talented, but I don't find myself drawn to her like everyone else seems to be. She also really looks like Zoe Barnes from House of Cards to me. I don't know why. I didn't like Zoe. She was annoying and I'm glad she was killed off super early into season two (I'm on episode 3 I think of season two so far, such a good show). Off-topic but ANYWAY, I'm indifferent to Moe. Momona though. Gosh I really dislike saying I don't like certain girls because I don't know them personally and they're all younger than I am and it's their dreams to do this job, but I really don't like Momona. They couldn't have picked a more horribly awkward girl for Angerme. She needed another year or two in the Kenshuusei in my opinion. I know that Maho was super awkward at first and she's amazing now, but Maho has a quality that drew me to her from the get go. Seeing Momona in official pictures makes me cringe because she is so out of place. I'm just somewhat disappointed in Angerme all around this year.

#10

Suki yo, Junjou Hankouki (2012) (-2)

#9

Aa Susukino (2014) (NEW)

#8

Ee ka?! (2013) (NEW)

#7

Mystery Night (2014) (-)

#6

Uchouten Love (2011) (-1)

#5

Smile Bijin (2010; from Ganbaranakutemo Eenende) (+1)

#4

Shin Nippon no Susume! (2013; from 2 Smile Sensation) (-)

#3

Nana Korobi Yaoki (2015) (-1)

#2

Yumemiru 15 (2010) (+1)

#1

Chikyuu wo Kyou mo Ai wo Hagukumu (2014) (-)

25 Days Of Christmas Countdown Day #10: Top Juice=Juice

Juice=Juice seems to have had a pretty good year. Both in public recognition and music. I think it's pretty awesome that they were able to star in their own drama. I haven't watched it because I really don't care enough to watch it, but it's still cool. Upset that they never released Otona na Jijou as a B-side/a single. I don't want to waste the money to buy the Petit Best to get it on CD. The group is very good as a complete package. Better than C-ute in my opinion. I don't think that they have amazing talent above and beyond everyone else, but as a cohesive unit they're good. As for the music this year, I think that they had the best releases. Their first single was amazing all around and Dream Road is probably one of the best songs out of H!P in the past 2 years. They're the group that still has the most "H!P Tsunku vibe" to them, probably because they're still mainly produced by him. I predict that someone will graduate next year though. I don't imagine that they will last as long as Berryz and C-ute. I'd be surprised if they lasted as a group until 2020. For next year though, I hope that they continue with the great music and continue to impress.

#10

Romance no Tochuu (2013) (-)

#9

Black Butterfly (2014) (-2)

#8

Ijiwaru Shinaide Dakishimete yo (2014) (-4)

#7

Karada Dake ga Otona ni Nattan ja nai (2016) (NEW)

#6

Watashi ga Iu Mae ni Dakishimenakya ne (2013) (-)

#5

Hadaka no Hadaka no Hadaka no Kiss (2014) (-)

#4

Dream Road ~Kokoro ga Odoridashiteru~ (2016) (NEW)

#3

Kaze wa Fukarete (2014) (-)

#2

Samidare Bijo ga Samidareru (2013) (-)

#1

Senobi (2014) (-)

25 Days Of Christmas Countdown Day #9: Top Country Girls, Kobushi Factory, Tsubaki Factory, & Kenshuusei

It's too bad none of these groups have enough songs to fill an entire countdown yet. Well, Kobushi does (and technically the Kenshuusei do too but they'll always be with other groups unless they come out with a second album), but I haven't heard the songs from Kobushi's album yet so they still get this place. With C-ute leaving next year, there will be an open slot on the countdown for them or Country Girls, depending on if Country Girls releases an album since they have more seniority.

I guess I'll go backwards and talk about the Kenshuusei first. This year I don't find myself interested in any of the Kenshuusei that are left. There's girls that I think are talented, but I'm not invested in any of them like I was with Musubu or Kisora. Even the Kenshuusei test this year was pretty bad. I thought almost all of the girls didn't perform well, especially girls who had been in the company for a while. Momohime knocked it out of the park & Hikaru/Ruru were good as usual, but everyone else just sounded blah. As for who I'm rooted for for 13th gen....I don't really know. I don't want Kaede. I don't think her vocals are hot stuff like everyone says they are, she just has a deep voice. I do want Reina though. Her singing is ok, but she's so gorgeous. She and Maria could be co-faces of the group & get lots of photoshoots I believe. As for a good singer, either Hikaru or Ruru would be nice. Momohime I believe would be a good talent to have in MM, but not yet. In my opinion, she doesn't look mature enough yet to meld into the group with the style they're going for these days. In a year or two, maybe, but not yet. Could MM change their style up to fit her? Yes. But at the same time, MM has NEVER been a cutesy group. Sure they have a couple cuter songs, but they've always been a more mature looking funky group and to become Country Girls 20 years into their existence would be a terrible route to pursue. I truly think that Momohime is the next Karin/Ayano. The future face of a future group once she's older to be able to carry it. So yeah, I don't have much of a preference for 13th gen. Even if Kaede or Momohime get in, I won't be upset. I don't personally think they'll fit, but who knows, they might surprise me.

Tsubaki! I don't care what anyone says I love Tsubaki & they're better than Kobushi will ever be (bold statement xD). Yes, objectively Kobushi are much MUCH more talented than the Tsubaki girls. However, I love EDM. Therefore, I vastly prefer Tsubaki over Kobushi and always will unless both groups drastically change their style. I'm extremely excited for their major debut. Just Try sounds like it'll be great in the studio recording. The three new members were a shock this year. Mao was really the one I was hoping to get into MM, but I'm very pleased with her placement in Tsubaki. Saori I was always iffy on (I've always seen her as a Karin-lite), but she seems to be fitting in well. I didn't really know anything about Mizuho, but she's SO pretty and fits in with the group perfectly. I'm upset that they only received one release this year (I don't count the EP cause it was all already released/covers). Hitorijime was.....ok. I typically love Tsunku's songs but it just felt ok. Nothing mind blowing like Manmannaka or Sakihokore.

Kobushi is a group of ups and downs for me. They're so very talented, but so few of their songs appeal to me. I don't really care for funky pop rock music and it's grating hearing young teenagers attempting to do that vocal growl in songs. I didn't really like any of the songs on their third single, and outside of Sakura Night Fever (which grew on me), their second single was meh too. Also, what's with them receiving an album before Country Girls?! That somewhat bothers me but whatever. I am surprised that none of the girls have announced a graduation yet though. H!P groups tend to always have that one that leaves not long after debut. I would be ok with both Kobushi & Tsubaki becoming the new Berryz/Cute and not having generations (barring Tsubaki gen 2 as they were clearly added to balance out the group before major debut) and graduating as a mainly intact team.

Country Girls had such a high point early this year with Boogie Woogie Love & Koi wa Magnet, and then kind of crashed from that with the okay Dou Datte & a song cover. I don't like covers. To me, it's a company being lazy and they didn't want to pay a songwriter to do something original. I really wanted an album from them this year. I'm hoping that the rumor of their new single is true. The rumored song titles sound like a dark vs. light (SWTOR themed? LOL....if anyone gets the bad joke xD) concept with a mature song and a cutey song. I think that'd be cool. I'm SO glad that Momoko is leaving next year. It's a perfect time, right after Cute leaves. I'm also hoping for a Country Girls Gen 3 with Momohime & one of the newer girls. And Musubu leads. And solos. And a Musubu solo career without Country Girls. Yes. That. Speaking of Musubu, was anyone else upset that she got no lines in that cover song? I was upset. It wasn't only a cover song, but it was also a cover song without Musubu getting a solo line. Two dings from me! In all seriousness though, Namida no Request isn't bad at all, I'm just annoyed they had a cover song as an A-side on a single with only two songs. It's not as annoying when there's more songs.

#10

Country Girls - Dou Datte Ii no (2016) (NEW)

#9

Kobushi Factory - Sakura Night Fever (2016) (NEW)

#8

Hello! Pro Kenshuusei - Oheso no Kuni Kara Konnichiwa (2014) (-4)

#7

Kobushi Factory - Survivor (2015) (-4)

#6

Country Girls - Boogie Woogie Love (2016) (NEW)

#5

Hello! Pro Kenshuusei - Koishitai Shinto (2015) (+2)

#4

Hello! Pro Kenshuusei - Onna no Sono (2015) (-2)

#3

Tsubaki Factory - Keidakaku Sakihokore! (2015) (NEW)

#2

Country Girls - Koi wa Magnet (2016) (NEW)

#1

Tsubaki Factory - Seishun Manmannaka! (2015) (-)