All About Fukuyama Masaharu

[MAGAZINE] AERA [12.09.2011]

2011-11-11T15:57:00.000+08:00

This is AERA issue 12.09.2011. Reposting with permission and text translated by Izumisano of MashaPlus referencing original Japanese text (as above and below) and specifically Chinese text. The scans by Angelreii of MashaPlus.
THE REST OF THE SCANS

The article in English after Read More link.

Let's Deliver our Message Clearly* - An interview with Fukuyama Masaharu, writer/composer "Let's Become a Family"

At 42 years old and single, Fukuyama Masaharu wrote a song after the East Japan Earthquake, called "Let's Become (Make) a Family." So at this point in time now, what is he really looking at? What is he thinking about?

Racking his Brains on the Lyrics

On 2011.03.11, Fukuyama Masaharu was in Hiroshima.

Just in February, his national concert tour "WE'RE BROS. TOUR 2011 THE LIVE BANG!!" took off in Osaka. This Tour was scheduled to take place over 6 months until end of August, covering 56 shows in 19 cities across Japan, and had been called "Fukuyama Masaharu's largest concert tour in history".

Hiroshima was the third stop, its first show opened on March 10. And just when Fukuyama Masaharu had settled down to prepare for the show on the following day, the Earthquake hit Japan.

Watching the news on the tsunami, he was unable to imagine what would become of Japan going forward. That day, Fukuyama decided immediately to stop all shows in March, and to extend his Tour. And in that unplanned week of rest, he wrote out the lyrics for "Let's Become a Family". This became the theme song for wedding magazine Zexy's TV CM, which subsequently aired in April.

"I should have finished it much earlier, but I racked my brains and still couldn't think of what to write" said Fukuyama.

For Zexy to commission Fukuyuma, the song would of course have to be a wedding song. But as Fukuyama said, "I couldn't do it, I've never been married after all." He said he could always refer to his few experiences in love for love song lyrics, but wedding songs are another matter. Fukuyama tried to put himself in the place of the groom but he could not, for the life of him, think of what he would be saying to his bride on that day.

The Ideal Wife for Him

When it comes to wedding songs from the male perspective, Fukuyama immediately thinks of Sada Masashi's "Kanpaku Sengen", or Miki Dozan's "Lifetime Respect" with its "be with me for the rest of my life~". At first, Fukuyama wanted to write something along the same lines.

But then he thought, since he couldn't start out from personal experience anyway, why not take it from the bride's view - and what Fukuyama Masaharu finally came up with, became his 27th single "Let's Become a Family". The song begins in this way:

"Love me still, even after a hundred years~"

I keep embarrassing you in front of others

Yet still, you stood by me with a smile.

Thank you for choosing me.

And there is this part in the next verse:

However much we may trust one another

I guess there'll be things (about each other) we can never understand

Fukuyama feels it would be quite a blessing to find a wife who shares these same thoughts. He does not believe that complete understanding is what human relationships should achieve. In fact, he'd find it pretty depressing if his girlfriend were to say to him, "I understand every little thing about you. I know you so well."

Fukuyama tries a bit of self-analysis. He thinks it's not necessarily the right thing to disclose all to partners or friends, and that everyone must have some time to themselves. Because putting too much consideration into the things around you will wear you down.

One day, with a strong reliable back like my father

One day, with a loving sweetness like my mother

Let us become a family which can overcome anything.

But even though this is what he sings, in his mind, he cannot simply see "Family" as the ultimate answer to all.

Leaving his hometown for Tokyo at 18, he has been on his own for more than 20 years. Whenever he returns to Nagasaki, he finds it hard to carry on a conversation with his mother and brother. It's because of the differences in their lifestyle and environment. "I find my pace of life very normal, but to them, my schedule is always too tight and they keep asking if I could slow down a bit. I know family is important, and I never intended to be cold to them..."

Finally Noticing the Gap

After the Earthquake, many people started to see anew the importance of family bonds, and an increasing number of unmarried couples decided to tie the knot. “Could be that people want to clear out the ambiguity in their relationship now after the disaster, couldn't it?" said Fukuyama.

F: "For example, where there are couples who felt they're more or less at that stage, it may have prompted one party to finally speak out and ask "How about we get married?" And not only for marriages, the same holds true for divorce. Rifts in the relationship which were overlooked in the past, and differences in ways of thinking, will come to surface. "Couldn't you just pull the plug out to save more electricity?!" and they suddenly realize “I really can’t get on with this person anymore.” "

People are focusing on ambiguities that were allowed to exist in the past, and this is not limited to personal relationships.

F: "Towards the Government; towards the News Media, there seems to be a growing public sentiment that “there’s nothing we can trust in anymore.” But even before this, people didn’t really think the Government had been fully open. To some extent, they had known that information given out was more or less filtered."

But when it comes to matters of survival, matters like radiation, it would be a grave concern if no-one was willing to be stand up and be frank about it. If you say it’s safe, then show us the evidence. Perhaps the entire society is starting to think in that way.

Born in Nagasaki, Fukuyama had openly disclosed before that he was a second generation atomic bomb victim. Amidst voices commending him on his courage to declare this, the man himself says “I really don’t think there’s anything much to it.”

F: "When you look at people of my generation from Nagasaki, most of them have parents who were involved in the atomic explosion. So there is no discrimination around us. But right after the atomic bombing, there was very little understanding on what was going on, and discrimination did exist as beliefs like “radiation is contagious” went around. Now the same thing is happening, with the uproar in response to students from Fukushima transferring in to other schools. It all comes from a lack of understanding on radiation. That’s why I’d want to see news media professionals work on bringing out the right facts to clarify these myths instead."

He was looking straight at me all the time he spoke.

What could he do himself?

He started to realize that he needed to be very clear in what he says too, without ambiguity in his words. And this is how it's become.

F: "In the 1990's, instead of spelling out clearly what I wanted to say, I preferred to use cryptic metaphors in my songs, indirect ways where you had to read between the lines. Lyrics like "chasing after the rainbow" or "to the other side of the sky" sounded like abstract poetry, but now they don't seem right to me. I want the words to be more distinct, to be able to convey the message out clearly. Perhaps this is the Fukuyama Masaharu of 2011 and thereafter."

What could he do himself? (Contd.)

As the Tour resumed in April, Fukuyama Masaharu made changes when he returned to the stage. He took away his entire stage set-up and put in additional audience seating at stage-back.

F: “With this shortage of power going on, what we could do on our part? We could cut our own power consumption by doing away with lavish sets that use up so much electricity. And the trucks needed originally for transport of the set-up equipment, can then be put to use for deliveries to the Tohoku instead.”

The seats at stage-back were aptly named “East Japan Support Seats” and it was announced that all proceeds from those sales, as well as a part of proceeds from the rest of the tour would be donated to the disaster zones.

A Ballad at the End

F: “Right after the disaster, the mood for self-restraint* was very strong. At that time, it struck me what a pure minded race the Japanese people really are. The same had happened when Emperor Showa passed away. Japan has a culture of going into mourning. I find it a totally admirable feeling to want to quietly offer prayers for the deceased. However, for the sake of sustainability in the disaster areas, economic activities must not cease in spite of it.”

And so, the concerts resumed. Sitting in the audience stands, I was able to watch, not only Fukuyama on-stage, but audience on the opposite stands as well. And somehow, I felt like we were one big family.

F: “As survivors to this ordeal, we need to keep our spirit up and work harder than ever. I hope we can set up a system through entertainment where we can have fun and provide assistance to the disaster zones as well.”

On August 6, 13,000 people crowded into the Yoyogi National First Gymnasium in Tokyo. An astounding and exhilarating concert had reached the end, and then came a ballad to round it up. Acoustic guitar in hand, singing his heart out. He didn’t want attempts to support the disaster zones to end after a one-off fleeting passion. And for that, his singing seemed to calm us down again from our former frenzy.

The End

[SPECIAL] "Fuku" Giveaway Contest [COMING SOON]

2011-11-11T14:49:00.003+08:00

THE CONTEST IS COMING SOON. PLEASE DO NOT SUBMIT FORM.

Between end of October 2011 until early November 2011 I was in Beijing, China for 9 days. Battling cold, tiredness, sore feet and a sense of immense awe set against the impossible huge, long, wide, foggy place called Beijing, I found some "Fuku" in Wangfujing shopping district. The Fuku is of course a tiny glassy looking round pendant with the word "FUKU" in the middle. In Chinese of course it is FOOK (Cantonese) or FU (Mandarin) which means blessedness, exact meaning of its Japanese counterpart, FUKU, one part of Masha's family name which he loves to display and what nots. My last Fuku giveaway in August 2011 was something personal made by me based on I suppose his favourite font to use for the word FUKU. This time, I am giving away this one Chinese FUKU TOGETHER with one newly received copy of BROS FC Magazine issue #92, the one on Okinawa, amongst others. Of all the FC magazines I have received which I believe is now 4 copies (I think-never counted-will check), this one has the glossiest print due to its colour with good quality paper and some amazing photos, some jumping pictures, some guitar pictures, some obligatory silly Masha pictures and some more. You won't find the complete issue scanned online, unless I have my friend scan it and post it in my Facebook photo album which won't be anytime soon, although you may find some photo snapped version. But nothing feels more real and more "belonging" to a fan of Masha than to hold the BROS FC Magazine and you can get this same Magazine by purchasing it at some auction site or joining the BROS FC, which I will gladly impart my knowledge as to how if you're curious. I encourage you to join the FC even if you don't go to his concerts, etc because there is a sense of "brotherhood", for want of better word.

Anyway, now I am offering you or rather enticing you with that one FC magazine. Who knows, maybe you will join BROS but better join later if you got this one, if not you get the same magazine. By if you do, pay it forward. Entice another!

THE ITEMS

Coming soon

WHO CAN JOIN

Anyone that is...

- Non BROS member (I take your word for it!)

- Not from Japan (hey, you're from Japan you're one lucky guy/girl in terms of all these membership thing! I mean I wish I am there, can pay for tickets myself!!)

- From eligible countries as listed in the drop down box.

HOW TO WIN

Simple! Answer 3 very very simple questions with which the answer can be found in my blog or anywhere else for that matter, fill in all required info. THE WINNER WILL BE THE 8TH ENTRY. Entry will be based on time/date I receive the email entry. The contest closes when there is a 8th entry and you will know as I will be posting the names here, counting to the 8th entry. ONE PERSON PER ENTRY. The winner will be emailed for correspondence address. Items will be delivered to you with postage paid. Postage will be by registered post.

IF NO 5TH WINNER

This contest will then be perpetually open until there is an 8th entry. But don't take too long, I am not known to be as tidy as Masha and your copy of the FC mag may become dusty, curled, etc.

CAN'T SEE FORM/USE FORM
If for whatever reason you can't use the form, you may submit your answers and the info as required in the form to me either by PM at Facebook or email me at funnlim(AT)gmail(DOT)com

The contest form after the Read More link.

CONTEST FORM

Your Name


Email Valid email address only, will email you for your address if you're the 8th entry!


Country If your country is on this list, you're eligible to enter


State Specifically which part of the country you're from


Are you a BROS member?
Yes No Application sent, not yet confirmed

Have you ever been to any of Masha's concert? If you're going for the Daikanshasai2011, choose YES
Yes No

QUESTION 1: What is the Kanji/Chinese spelling equivalent to Masha's full name?


QUESTION 2: In which song does the following English line appear? "Tears of blue, joy of red, let's mix it for our world". Please give the full title of the song in Romaji/English.


QUESTION 3: What was the title of Masha's 27th single?
Kazoku ni Narou yo/fighting pose fighting pose/Kazoku ni Narou yo Hotaru / Shounen Hatsukoi

Web form generated by 123ContactForm

Ima kono hitotoki ga tooi yume no you ni [Seems Like This Moment Now Is a Faraway Dream] ~LYRICS~

2011-11-11T11:09:00.001+08:00

I am right now unable to hear the song since no sound from computer so I will just assume this is the song, Ima kono hitotoki ga tooi yume no you ni (what a long title!) aka 今このひとときが遠い夢のように. Thanks to TV-Rocker for posting the English lyrics in my blog, finally a new translation of an old song, or somewhat old song. I will comment more later. You can find this song in his album, MAGNUM COLLECTION 1999 "Dear". A great big thanks again to TV-Rocker! I am also hoping TV-Rocker will read this post since I tried posting in his/her blog but the verification requires me to type not in numbers or alphabets! Anyway was wondering about one particular line;

You buried your head in my chest

Would it be more appropriate and more poetic to say

You buried your face in my chest

I wonder...

SNIPPETS : ANN & TFM [06.2011 onwards]

2011-11-07T03:07:00.000+08:00

IMPORTANT NOTICE

This post contains all ANN and TFM snippets from June 2011 onwards. For older snippets, CLICK HERE.

06.11.2011
TFM
The full file can be found here in Post #497 page 34. Some snippets by mashamasha;

he said he is now getting worried about no single live. He is worried the audience will leave one by one during the concert. Even this happens, he will keep singing on the stage, though he will change the rundown for the remaining shows.He said he can sing others' songs without lyrics on hand, but when singing his own songs in the concert, he needs to cross check the monitor to confirm the lyrics.

He spent 2

05.11.2011
ANN
Full file can be found in Post #485 page 33. Request song was Tokyo nimo attanda. Some interesting snippets and I didn't even know, by Mashamasha;

He spent 2 nights and 4 days in LA this week (I think she meant 4 days 3 nights). ANN first class, planned to watch movie in the plane but was just so tired that he slept during almost the whole flight. In the return journey, he woke up just 2 hours before arrival and felt very hungry, so he ordered curry udon to eat and drunk champagne. after he said this, sou-chan asked him a question on behalf of all those who haven't had first class flying experience "Did you mean first class passengers can choose their own meal time and eat at any time they want?" Masha replied "Yes, we can. It is unlike economy class in which the flight atendant will call at scheduled time "Wake up everybody, it's time for meal!!" "Sou-chan asked him why he went to LA. Masha said he went there for plastic surgery. We would soon notice that he has bigger eyes, bigger breast, and some part is taken out from his body. Daikanshasai 2011 request forms is over 40,000 entries.

By Angelreii;

He came back from LA after filming CM. Sou chan said he was surprise coz did not even know that Masha was in LA.

Wow. Ninja moves. Never knew, at all.

Also by Mashamasha;

listener asked what he always carries with him for journey. He named a few: adhesive tape to seal the lids of shampoo bottle, wine bottle, mini screwdriver in case his glasses' screw gets loose, nail clippers, needle and thread for fixing clothing button, body exercise equipments. He also said he uses RIMOWA for more than 15 years. And he oftens brings worn-out underpants with holes to journey so he can just dispose there and doesn't need to bring them back.

More previous snippets after Read More link.

16.10.2011
TFM
Full broadcast can be found here at post #267 page 18.

15.10.2011
ANN
ANN request was Fellow. Full broadcast can be found here at post #267 page 18.

Some snippets;

By Angelreii;

Masha is wearing a black jacket

By Mashamasha;

he revealed how and in what situation he created the melody of some of his songs. Good Night's chorus part came out when he was in toilet and the deadline was approaching.

Again by Angelreii;

Beautiful Day was while he was riding

やべ、南極大陸だったいい間違えた。BY福山
Masha tweet he made a mistake with the Antarctic continent. It should be Antarctica.

Again by Mashamasha;

About the tweet, he was referring to the title of Kimura Takuya's new drama. When he broadcast Nakayama Miyuki 's song (she will be the guest of ann next week!!), he said it is the theme song of the drama 南極物語, but the correct title is 南極大陸. He then apologized and corrected it (though he added it was the script writer who made the mistake in the script)

09.10.2011
TFM
Full broadcast can be found here at post #196 page 14.

08.10.2011
ANN
ANN request Saboten no hana. Full broadcast can be found here at post #194 page 13.

This is the 600th show anniversary special although the unofficial one as the official one was.. can't remember, a week ago? 2 weeks ago? I believe I mentioned it in my previous post somewhere in here. And Mashamasha says;

600th anniversary presents to listeners, masha bought underwear

Say what?! See here.

And thanks to Angelreii for the translation;

Masha just tweet:
クリスマスもエロ下着ですよ！お前らBy福山
(It is also erotic Christmas underwear!)

He is obsessed I tell you! Obsessed! Did he really buy all those... I am lost for words.

More snippets thanks to Mashamasha;

btw, last night masha talked about the CG effect in wowow live circuit. He said he watched hey hey hey which showed one akb48's live event, and that live used CG effect to make fans' real time online message flying out from the LED wall. He thought it is very funny and so he told wowow sp live director and discussed the possibililty of using CG effect in the wowow sp live. and he said among all the mini live, he was most worried with the first one (i.e. the morning one) because he rarely sings at such early day. He woke up at 6am to have voice training.

02.10.2011
TFM
ANN request is Muteki no Kimi. Great song! Full broadcast can be found in Post #82 page 6.

01.10.2011
ANN
ANN request is Muteki no Kimi. Great song! Full broadcast can be found in Post #67 page 5.

Snippets by Mashamasha;

he said album songs with tie-up are ok

Which means he definitely has some songs he wants to sing from those tie ups!

More on the whole setlist for Daikanshasai 2011 by Vspirt;

the votes are actually not going to be factored into the setlist. he's already said loud and clear and quite repetitively that he already has a pretty good idea of what he wants to do and he's going to go with that. the whole send-in-your-request thing is not actually a request thing but more a...data collection thing? he'll use it as a reference of sorts and find out what kind of non-popular songs are actually more popular than was let on.

25.09.2011
TFM
Full broadcast can be found in post #1441 page 97.

24.09.2011
ANN
Full broadcast and request song can be found in post #1439 page 96. Pre-recorded since Masha is on tour. ANN Request Kazoku ni Narouyo

Some snippets thanks to Izumisano:-

It's their 600th Tamaraji broadcast tonight!

600th?!

And more by Mashamasha:-

masha said katsuko (his mom) recently sent him a movie clip which was taken in his cousin's wedding party and they sang Kazoku in the party.

Is Fukuyama Mama trying to tell Masha something? Like use your own song for your own wedding perhaps?

And something about Kamasutra. Why is it the part I wish I know more is always the part I never will know? Why?

More snippets by Mashamasha;

next week sou-chan on leave, so they postpone the 600th celebration to next next week, and masha asked when it's his turn to take leave and sou-chan said no, you cannot take leave

And some more snippets by Mashamasha;

ANN last week was pre-recorded, and probably the coming one will also be recorded due to wowow special live, jp fans guess it is the real reason they postpone the celebration to next week as they want to have it at a live broadcasting night. They guess maybe sou-chan's work/holiday schedule does not fit with masha's schedule to have the recording together so he need to be absent. And it seems another ANN announcer (the one appeared in 24 hours radio) will substitue sou-chan

the listener suggested them to broadcast older album songs in ANN to let fans get familiar with those songs, and masha replied "Yup, it is a great idea......but......would you also please consider buying the CDs by yourselves?"

18.09.2011
TFM
Full broadcast can be downloaded from post #1299 page 87

.17.09.2011
ANN
Request song is Moon. Full broadcast can be downloaded from post #1257 page 84.

Big announcement tonight, which everyone knows but still huge. Masha will be holding 5 shows aka Daikanshasai on 24, 25, 28, 30 and 31 Dec 2011 at Yokohama Pacifico. So yes, damn be the Asia Tour 2011 since I can't imagine him running around in December. Maybe 2013. Anyway, some great snippets on the nature of this daikanshasai. He has been toying with the idea of a No Singles concert. Frankly I have no idea what it means. Will this include the cover album he made? Great thing is he will accept fans request when making up the setlist. Forms are being drawn to give to fans to make their request.

Anyway more snippets by Mashamasha;

Daikanshasai 2011 announced aka no single live (he was talking about this for some time). he said he will not sing any songs from singles in the daikanshasai. he said he is worried that the audience are not familiar with his album songs and when he plays the intro, they will all look like "what is this song???" and it will turn out to be a quiz (the audience need to think out the song title ) And he joked maybe on the first day he sings no songs from single, but then find that the live atmosphere is too bad that he has to add hit songs to later shows, and then on 31 Dec all songs are from singles.

Interesting! Which means he may sing my most favourite song and also Beautiful Day and I won't be there!!!

Excited?

11.09.11

TFM

Great snippets, all by Mashamasha.

Masha talked about 911 in the opening and said on that day 10 years ago, he was packing luggage at home for his trip to NY when he watched the news on TV. Originally he was going to NY on the following day to attend a photo exhibition there. He was invited to attend by a photographer Elliott Erwitt (Elliott is a US photographer and he was very impressed by masha's photo and had collaboration work with masha years ago)

I wonder which collaboration? Anyone knows?

The most recent emails received from family are from katsuko, his uncle (katsuko's brother) and masha's brother after okinawa concert. Imanami said he was standing behind katsuko and masha's brother during sunday's concert and felt very touched looking at katsuko watching her son's concert<<< masha joked imanami treated himself as his girlfriend

I always wondered whether his mom and brother ever saw him in concert and this answers my question. I wonder where they stood, did the fans notice, etc. I wonder how his mother felt with his squeeze squeeze routine and whether his nieces and nephew (s) ever watch him in concert as well?

Masha said he did not have much happy memory when he was in nagasaki, except the time spent with his grandmothers. Again he talked about why he loved his grandmothers so much. Talking about grandfather, he said he did not like him very much because he always got angry with masha, and was very mean, only gave him 500 yen red pocket money

He is beginning to sound like me! 500 yen ONLY? It does seem he have very low opinion of the men in his family except his own brother.

btw, masha talked about mikan grandmother (i.e. katsuko's mother) more often than paternal one. But he said he loved both grandmothers. Sometimes ago he talked about his paternal grandmother and said they lived together. She had problem at walking so she need to lie on the bed most of the time. Because he was worried she would have bedsores, he woke up at midnight to help her change her sleeping position. But after a few seconds, she would return to her original position. After meals, he carried her on his back to take her to bedroom, and she often fart on his back (btw, in 98 daikanshasai?, he showed a picture he was carrying her on his back when visiting grave, the picture was taken by katsuko)

Very touching isn't it? I wonder do I have that 98 daikanshasai? The picture? Curious! He's a good kid by the way. I think both sets of grandparents are dead.

10.09.11

ANN

Request song is Heart which you can download from Post #931 page 63. Full broadcast can be downloaded from Post #944 Page 63.

A lot of snippets tonight!! I wish for a full recap since some are rather interesting. First, by Halad;

a fan wrote that she wants a live with Masha and everyone else in underwear he makes... and she wants Masha-coloured undies. Masha says that that might be "a bit difficult". A high school student said it would be nice if they could make a Masha shitajiki so she can proudly take him to school and have an excuse to stare at him during class! LOL, Sou-chan suggested Masha erasers... They're thinking about other things that would be nice to use at school. "Gym uniforms? One that would have my face on it like BAAAAN". Other goods people suggested included car license plates, little chibi things (not sure if I heard that right), guitar picks and now a camera bag with straps. On guitar picks, I think he said that it's perfectly possible, and they had them in some previous concerts. I think he might've said that they make them anyways (he uses them, right?) so it would probably be a go. Masha's saying that camera bags would be too expensive, but he could do them as a limited edition thing... He thinks maybe it would be better to have a more general bag for computers and things since more people could use them. A fan wants Masha pyjamas. On pyjamas, Masha says he wouldn't have buttons on them since he thinks they get in the way Maybe he's having a hard time deciding about this since he doesn't wear PJs himself...Masha says sex is creative.

Oh dear, why stop at the word creative? What else? WHAT ELSE?!

More by Mashamasha;

masha just talked about the kids interview in Music station. One of the girl who said masha is a nice guy and gave her red pocket money is his friend's daughter. Masha said it is totally a coincidence. When his friend knew music station was coming to his daughter's school to have the interview, he immediately told masha and asked what his daughter should say, whether she can tell about the red pocket money in the interview

This was in Music Station on 02.09.2011 I think.

what he described himself of younger days "やりたいことは分からないけどやりたくないことは分かる"
完全明白呢種心情, 唔知自己想做乜, 但知道自己唔想做啲乜

I used an online translator, seems to get what it means but rather hard to write it out. I will just leave it up to you to do your own translation-but he sounds rather rebellious and difficult and unwilling to try new stuff when he was young if my online translator is correct. My online translator is lousy! I mustered up my pride and asked someone who knows the Chinese translation and she read it out and I can translate it as "I know not what I want to do, but I do know what I don't want to do". Does it correspond with the Japanese version?

btw, they talked about concert goods tonight. Masha said they did have plan to release sneaker (the concert logo one), but the design is too complicated so they gave up the plan. And the listeners suggested him to release plastic file, guitar pick set (it seems he also buys this idea and really considers it, and they said the set could include the picks he used in previous tours and daikanshasai), camera bag. And masha said a bag brand once offered to release camera bag, computer bag for his tour.

I agree on the guitar picks!! I want! I want! Plastic file also!!

Camera bag as Masha have said will be too expensive. But then the recent tracksuit for Live Bang 2011 is also very expensive anyway. And Masha also talked about his participation in the upcoming Fukushima Live. You can read more about that event here.

04.09.11

TFM

I think this is from TFM. Something about his younger time which is rare. Anyway by Mashamasha;

he just said when he was in secondary school he was the leader of the school's brass band group. There was a tradition that if the members are late for practice, they need to be punished by beating on the buttocks using sticks (?). So he also is the "executioner"/carry out this tradition. And one day the deputy who was a female student came to him and asked him to stop doing this because those female members really hated this punishment. He thought he had done nothing wrong because he only carried out the tradition. But as he didn't want to be labelled as the annoying guy, so he stopped this tradition.

Frankly he should. Secondary school and girls have their buttocks beaten with stick or whatever? Now Masha may be arrested for sexual harrasment or abuse or something! Such a tradition is stupid. But one wonders did he enjoy the tradition? Is everything so sexualised in Japan and no one sees anything wrong with that? He was wise to listen to his deputy. A leader who leads well is that sort of listens to his subordinates.

Anyway thanks to Irene for transcribing this broadcast;

Announcing PM Mr. Noda - Japan has a new leader!

he was also concerned about the typhoon when in Okinawa. they had typhoons on both sides of them when he was in Okinawa. he was sandwiched in-between them. he was worried for his 32,000 guests (total for 2 days).

reading listener letters. one of them was crying seeing masha on live show surrounded by the blue skies and blue water. someone who has been to okinawa 30+ times.

okinawa weather was cool - breezy.

all of the stage gear was shipped from Honshu island - it was a lot of work and was costly and took time.

talking 10/1 16:00 live wow-wow re-broadcast discussion. this is to help wow-wow promote it's new all- HD broadcasting service.

more promotion for Live Fukushima.

it's been 20 years since he participated in a live charity concert event. he's looking forward to it, but worried about people going to buy hot dogs or to the WC when he comes out on stage. MC says not to worry!

he did a CM photo shoot in okinawa after the concert.

(by the way, I read in bros mag that they filmed the Asahi long-hair running up hills CM on Lana'i Island in Hawai'i. The plane broke down so they flew him in on a private jet which he was excited about).

more talk about skinny dipping on the beach in okinawa. it was a place where no one goes. People used to always be naked - when we are born and such. The swimming felt good!

talking about breathing while singing and masha's demonstrates how he breathes very quietly.

more talk about kazoku announcement in NHK again saying he was surprised and didn't watch it but heard about it from his staff. he appreciates what they did. he heard it is popular with people getting married and divorced. (they have a lot of divorce parties now in japan) (my comments...this might be one of the first times so many people have adopted a popular song for weddings so perhaps that's the "news" element?)

talking about different summer events that students participate in. he was in the school basketball "class match". they won.

masako speaking now....

girl complaining about being nagged by her mother to be more like her sister who is popular and smarter with more friends. his reply: you are you! don't worry about being popular. encouraging her to develop skills/hobbies, and talking about how he focused on photography about 15-16 years ago.

schedule update, Miyagi ticket info, Hokkaido Live weekday performances 9/21 & 9/22 - a few scattered tickets are still available because they changed the venue to a larger venue - contact the ticket seller on web site for info !!!

03.09.11

ANN

Request song is Nada sou sou (thanks Thitirat for the info), old Okinawa song. Thanks to thitirat again who said he sang this song before on 24.09.2005 on ANN, which you can hear at youtube. For current version, check this link out. FOR A FULL RECAP, PLEASE CLICK HERE.

Some snippets;

they are talking about NHK news's "promotion" of the single [Mashamasha] Yes NHK prime time news I believe at 9pm, can't remember which date reported on the 27th single! Even Masha is shocked eh? he had his one and only one day summer holiday after okinawa concert. He and the managers went to a beach there to skinny dip (i.e. mini station interview part). He had did this years ago and enjoyed it very much, so this time he "forced" his managers to do the same. But they did not have skinny dip together, one followed by another one [Mashamasha] Which necessitates Masha having male managers. Force eh? he arrived okinawa on last wed and immediate had urgent meeting with amuse people, stage director and organizer to discuss whether they need to cancel the concert due to the typhoon. They need to make the decision before thur noon because he had appearance on FM okinawa on thur and if they decided to cancel, he need to announce it. They planned to have replacement show next year if the concert had to be cancelled [Mashamasha] the listener (to win the Fukuyama Regza TV set I think) need to play Stone/scissors ... (I give up! can't remember!) with 3 people, including Masha to win the white color regza, but so far no listeners can defeat one of the 3 (not Masha), so masha had no chance to play. he complained sou-chan was very bad, sou-chan cheered when he defeated the listeners, and sou-chan himself admitted he should not have this reaction [Mashamasha]

AND more snippets transcribed by Irene, thanks very much to Irene!

I, FM, 42 took first place in Oricon ranking with my new single "Kazoku". Congratulations & Thank you!

Everyone please give it "heavy rotation!"

Its not ok to "tie-up" promotions with NHK. He didn't know anything about the NHK promotion of his new single. - I wonder, was he not pleased with the free promo?

Beach Masha visited in Okinawa was just an isolated spot - not a "nudist beach" - must be very isolated that fans can't find it, or maybe very exclusively isolated

Talk about how he was able to find an isolated beach to enjoy with 30,000+ fans on the same island.

They all dove into water one after another in a line - Is entire Team Fukuyama men only or women also included?

Masha has experience with this sort of thing (skinny dipping) - Yes he did, which inspired him to write Ano Natsu mo Umi mo Sora mo if I remember correctly!

All members of Team Fukuyama decided together to spend their one day of holiday at the beach.

During Ryoma period women didn't go swimming? Discussion about swimming outfits in the "Ryoma Bakumatsu" period (late 1800's).

A team member egged him on to skinny dip.

The waves were very strong because the typhoons were near.

The beach wasn't actually a public beach, it was a place they were introduced to by a local special tour guide (along with hot spots, etc.).

They bought a soccer ball and other things to play with at the beach at a convenience store - while naked?!

Ms. Kuroki is a native of Okinawa. She lived there until she was 15 (mentioned on MS)

Talking about the crane thing he rode around in during the concert. It moved around a lot. They used it because the concert site was flat and it would be inconsiderate for the fans out back who can't see well.

Discussion about big or small body size as displayed in the concert. His opinion about big or small changes like the seasons. Masha encouraging women to not worry if they wear a bikini.

Many writers about Okinawa Live who attended in person or who watched on WowWow.

Acknowledging that lots of Taiwan, Korea, Hong Kong visitors attended Okinawa Live!!

Thought it was good promotion for Okinawa due to the pretty setting of the stadium with it's ocean view, etc.

They planned to start out the Live with uptempo but they may have started with a different line up including a lot of bass play. They expected a lot of first-timers so they chose the line up according to that thought. Some of the audience waited a long time outdoors and some were rained on. Talk about wearing a blazer.

Lots of letters today and most aren't discussing anything of interest.

Now discussing baseball batting centers....comparing the sound the balls make - they sound like golf balls. Masha knows about everything doesn't he!

A listener wants to start his own distillery/cellar after college, and Masha is encouraging him.

Now talking about hampsters....someone has 100 hampsters?

The bell is ringing, now time for Regza give-away.

Now phoning a listener. Kyoto 2 year High School student. She's giggling. Now playing paper/rock/sissors with the listener. She lost. Now phoning Keiko in North Kyushu to a 30 year old woman. So did a 14 year old, Tokyo 27 year old man, Miyazaki 39 year old woman. They all lost.
Masha saying sorry! They get their pictures put on a home page?

Now discussing his participation in Fukushima Live. Next week is the half-year anniversary of 3/11 (9/11!)

Oh! Final listener won the 3D pearl white Regza - 19 year old girl! Telling her it will fit in her own room because it's not big.

28.08.11

TFM

Should be Kid's Week. No snippets since everyone was busy with Okinawa concert.

27.08.11

ANN

Request song is my 2nd most favourite song, Beautiful Day!! Listen here. And finally some snippets thanks to Mashamasha;

sou-chan told masha fans' interpretation about the Kazoku PV (daddy has serious illness and knows he is going to die, daddy already died and is in heaven, but the god lets him come back to spend a day with the son as present to him) Masha laughs so hard and asked fans stop making such morbid setting, don't make him die. and masha also asked fans if they have comments, they should directly write to ANN, not in sou-chan's twitter. Don't treat him as the contact person, sou-chan has his own life

I agree with fellow fans that says his wife died and he now has to take care of his son alone. But there was little chemistry between Masha and the child actor and my impression is maybe his sister or some relative died and he had to take care of the child. Family need not be father and son. Anyway Sou-chan seems to enjoy twittering so I am sure Masha was just joking.

21.08.11

TFM

I haven't listened or read anything about this broadcast except something about a kid who maybe played Aishita no Show, not sure. Anyway Mashamasha says "the boy is now 12 years old, the age when masha started guitar. At the end he requested masha to play guitar together with him some day in the future". Masha started guitar when he was 12? I really wanna know more about that aspect. Anyway "there will be also kids special next week". Well, cuteness overload for sure. See here for some letters sent by kids. If you're listening in next week, would appreciate some snippets! TFM very little snippets!

20.08.11

ANN
ANN request is the beautiful Himawari.

Official debut as in broadcast of Kazoku ni narou yo wedding version, which Masha says has a "Santana" style, which fans says means guitar. And I thought it would be wedding bells! Anyway haven't listen yet so can't comment. Some snippets by fans;

Ji-young
Masha likes sweet jelly of red beans (azuki-bean jelly)

Angelreii
He said he carries all sort of medicines with him. Even for mosquito bites. Backstage of Osaka jo hall there are many mosquitoes that was why he mention Osaka Jo Hall. Sou chan just twit that Masha in white tshirt ... again.

And Masha just tweeted;

水ようかん美味しい〜！BY福山#FUKUYAMA24

Thanks Ji-young who translated "Soft Azuki-bean jelly, delicious! (red/azuki bean paste)"

15.08.11

TFM
The day with kids, sounds fun.

A great big thanks to Vspirit for transcribing the following. So funny! Valid questions, very valid questions!!

Summer Special: Kid's Futsuota Reading:
TFM 8/14/11

From: Rida-chan, Ishikawa, Aged 7

Fukuyama! Why do you shake your butt so much?
Fukuyama! Why are you not married?
Fukuyama! Who gave birth to you?

His answers:

Q: Fukuyama! Why do you shake your butt so much?
A: It's called 'dancing', kid, dancing.

Q: Fukuyama! Why are you not married?
A: cosinevergottachancetonext!

Q: Fukuyama! Who gave birth to you?
A: ...last I checked me mam did.

And Mashamasha added; The funniest thing is this kid keeps calling him Fukuyama Fukuyama, not bothered to call him "san"

14.08.11

ANN
Request song is Escape. Listen here. Debuted Hard Rain Osaka concert version which will be in the new 27th single.

And tonight, the Masha we know is back, and live broadcast since no concert at this moment! Not only that, he tweeted (ホッパン甲子園開催してえな！ BY福山- via Iphone no less)! Anyway some recap thanks to MashaPlus and HKFC combined;

the Album version of Fighting Pose is different from the ones we heard so far. Really?! I wonder what's different!! The wedding version of kazuko ni narou yo will debut next week in ANN. He announced Hard Rain as the Live Version to be included in the 27th single, which we all already know. And he played that version by the way. Sou chan tweeted Masha was in v-neck white t-shirt and sandals, which made me wonder, no pants?! Then something about buying the various versions of Playboy magazine from airport bookshops when he has the chance to do so. Then some more things about hotpants (oh how he loves them!) and nudist beach in Spain and Italy (which you must be nude to walk on nudist beach!!), so ladies, you know what to wear at Okinawa! Talking with the Fukushima radio announcer by phone. it seems masha is not just asking fans to wear hot pants, he and sou-chan also want to wear hot pants and form middle age fashion statement with other ANN staff. That is not a sight I wanna see, but Masha has always worn super tight pants in his concerts ...

Oh, on nudist beach, he mentioned something about shaving and once again Mashamasha to the rescue to make sense what he said and let's just say, this is a gem!

he was not nude because he was not prepared to show his masha. And he also thought it's too eye catching for an Asian to nude his body in nudist beach due to the color contrast between the skin and the underhair. He now regrets why he did not just have hair shave to eliminate this worry.

Oh Masha, it would be more obvious between Little Masha and skin with no hair! Why am I blogging this?!

06.08.11

ANN
Request song is Nagareboshi. Fighting Pose debuted tonight on radio although he debuted the live version in Osaka concert. You can hear the clip here .

Some snippets by Mashamasha;

he said he is now trying to look at the audience more often in concerts and have more eye contacts with the fans, but when he looked at them, he found that very often the fans were looking at the screen and did not realise he was looking at them, so he told himself "ok, you guys are busy right now"

Masha, look at me! ME!!

30.07.11

ANN
Request song is Yakusoku no Oka.

A bit on the request song by Mashamasha;

the ann request tonight is from a girl to her boyfriend's mother.

The girl said his mother is a big fans of masha and always played masha songs in the car whey they went shopping together, which made the girl become masha's fans too. They have agreed to watch Saitama live together in November. But unfortunately his boyfriend's mother died from cancer recently. They played Yakusoku no Oka in her funeral as this is her most favorite song.

The girl had decided not to go to Saitama live but her boyfriend wanted her to go so she changed her mind.

Then masha said if Saitama was held in March as scheduled originally, they would have watched the concert together

By Halad;

Masha talking about various concert things, like how his physical condition is often the best the day right before the concert, or having to not drinkfor weeks on end ("It's like not getting enough water! I get thirsty! D:"). He says when he doesn't drink his condition is too good and he overworks himself which isn't cool.

Masha is now Wowow's Ma-sha kun, instead of NHK's Domo-kun

Masha said that he may look like he's having fun in his lives but he actually gets very tired, which is why he took so long to write Fighting Pose (I think he's been writing it for a while, since the tour started, or maybe even before). He says that normally you'd have a single ready three months before the release but in his case it's not done even though there's only a month left

The Kazoku ni Narou Yo and Fighting Pose PV's are already filmed!

Masha: "I've already filmed the PV's."
Sou-chan: "Ehhh?! When?!"

but now they're talking about what Masha's fashion was like back during his debut time

By River;

And Fighting Pose is about Kagawa-san.

Trivia: Kagawa Teruyuki has a boxing background.

By Mashamasha;

kagawa is the guest MC of a boxing program in wowow, that's why masha said the image person of Fighting Pose is kagawa

They were talking about Red Cliff's stage drama, in which the guest tonight Tonesaku plays the role of Zhuge Liang, this role was played by Takeshi in the movie version. it seems masha has so much interests in Chiling Lin. The guest Tonesaku is now having stage play with her (Red Cliff stage version) and masha asked Tonesaku to help him take a photo of her. He kept asking Tonesaku whether her skin is beautiful, her hair is beautiful, her style is good and how is her smell.....He wants to go to see the stage play in order to meet her

Masha, she's not your type. Too high maintenance. Just because she is famous for having seductive voice and voluptous figure does not equate compatibility. Oh Masha, look past all that! And she might be a bit too tall for you. For me, a bit too skinny.

23.07.11

ANN

Request song is I love you and I need you Fukushima. Download request song (MP3 - 4.07MB) at Megaupload or more choices at Multiupload.

The following all thanks to Halad of MashaPlus;

Something about walking, Masha thinking of it as training...Masha says he thinks about his hamstrings and calves when he walks. I think he might've said something about his butt too, not completely sure. I think he's been saying that he walked to Tamaraji? And something about Tokyo being cold, even at this time of year?

Masha: "I've never thought that I'd come to love walking as much as I do, when I was younger..."

Sou-chan: "Maybe it's ageing."

Masha: "Ageing?"

Sou-chan: "...."

Masha: "AGEING?

Masha just said that he liked having his hair longer for Ryomaden because in the beginning, no one could recognize him! He thought, "I can finally live properly!" But then when it got even longer, it had the opposite effect and he'd hear things like "Ryoma." "It's Ryoma-san!" "OMG IT'S RYOMA"

And he says that the last time he got chosen as fashion leader during Niji time, he felt really pressured!

A second-year high school student asked him to tell her about fashion which she's never been very interested in, and he replied, very dramatically,

"You see... Masha actually... has no idea!"

("sappari wakaranai", like Yukawa-sensei!)

Something about leotards.

I hate walking so that makes me forever youthful. And how he can ever walk to Tamaraji building without being chased by fans? Tokyo is cold now? When everyone tells me it is hot? Masha, you need the warmth of a woman's body!! And his fashion sense is debatable BUT I do miss his Ryoma hair. And no, no leotards, please!

09.07.11

ANN

Request song tonight is an old song I believe, his song but old, Ima kono hito tokiga tooi yume no youni but slower than the original. Info by Izumisano, the song is from his 1995 album, Message (Side B).

02.07.11

ANN

Request song tonight is 18. Some good snippets, never thought I read about his mom thanks to Mashamasha...

masha said if katsuko (his mother) wants to tell masha something, she doesn't tell him directly, she will tell masha's friend Kimura takuya (his highschool classmate - not the actor) and "utilise" kimura to pass her words to masha. She said the current house no longer livable, and also said mansion not desirable, does she want masha to buy an apartment to her?

Masha renovated the small house to I believe double storey or something like that. It is the family home in Nagasaki, apparently the first stop for any Masha fan.

last time katsuko wanted to buy new sofa, she did't tell masha, he only knew it from his manager (but he did buy a new sofa to her as mother's day present)

Intriguing. So he is the one taking care of his mom financially, and not his older brother which is what it is since his older brother is married with I think 3 children. Very intriguing. And why must she tell his manager that she wants a sofa? Even she can't call him to say "Son, I want a sofa"?! I wonder did he bring her to shop for a sofa or he decided which sofa? I mean not sure whether his taste would suit the old lady...

On some stuff he also mentioned about the tenga episode. Tenga is by the way I believe brand name of sex toys, where he was once given such toys from fan at a petrol station. I think he gave it as a gift to some contest winner over at ANN later on, unused and still in original packaging, just so you know ...

his tenga was received from the gasoline station staff. When masha went to the gasoline station, the staff asked him if he knows tenga, and said if he wants to try, he can give it to him (and he really takes it)

[CM] GREE

2011-11-05T12:39:00.001+08:00

~~I have no idea what this CM is about but do have a look. Will post more later.~~ This is an online game and Masha is the ambassador for this game, apparently about pirates. I do think one of the characters may be based on him. Not sure if it comes with a new song though. The video about is 6 CMs combined, total CMs will be 7. Some of it includes some Making Of features with Masha and apparently Regza phone and Toshiba laptop made an appearance. I would think the fruit gadgets may make an appearance since he uses the fruit gadgets you know?

Notice

2011-10-25T12:34:00.001+08:00

I will be away for about 2 weeks or so. So there won't be any updates between that dates.

[CONCERT] Fukushima Live [17.09.2011]

2011-10-24T15:38:00.000+08:00

Updates will be posted after Read More link. If you see this at the top of the posts, it means it has been updated.

ORIGINALLY POSTED ON 11.09.2011

Masha will be participating in what was the worst kept secret appearance but that is in the past, that is Fukushima Live, a charity event with an apt slogan "NOTHING BEATS FUKUSHIMA, DOES IT ?". Indeed, nothing at all. The live concert is an event that spans several days from 14.09.2011 to 19.09.2011, many artistes but Masha himself will appear around 5pm on 17.09.2011. I think he might sing or at least the concert on that day might end with the song I Need You & I Love You Fukushima with Masha on the guitar. He might sing Fighting Pose and frankly not sure how long his appearance is but from the time table, it might be under 1 hour. Hopefully longer. I am very excited with the possibility of a live streaming!!

DATE/TIME

For Masha, it will be 17.09.2011 at 5pm Japan time (4pm Malaysia time)

HOW TO WATCH

It is a mini concert of sort and fans are going there and if you are thinking about radiation and all, I think there is a link there "Radiation" so if you know Japanese, have a read to know what it says on that issue. From what I know, it is ok.

Great news is all these will be streamed live over at Youtube! I didn't know Youtube could stream live at all. You can watch from the following channels:-

- Kaze to Rock Channel (Youtube-concert stream)
- Kaze to Rock 2 Channel (Youtube-surrounding areas stream)
- Higashinihon (Youtube-rest area stream)
- Google site (not confirmed)

MORE INFO

Official site to view the time table, the view on the issue of radiation, buy goods and more.

UPDATES - 14.09.2011

It has started! Go tune in to the main concert streaming video here. Visuals and sound is clear but depending on your connection, it may be stuck and unstuck a bit. At least better than Keyhole TV. Masha's part not yet but you can watch others.

UPDATES - 15.09.2011

Bookmark the following links. Masha is on the 17th Sept at 5pm Japan time, remember!! Thanks to Izumisano for the links.

Live Fukushima 2011.09.14~09.19 (http://livefukushima.jp/)
09.15 - 1500~2000 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YloeNy8ABkI)
09.16 - 1500~2000 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Te7aBK5rNWc)
09.17 - 0900~1830 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UU4OyeU3C_c)
09.18 - 1500~1900 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h0B4zbqPp2I)
09.19 - 1700~2200 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kncFq_1ASf0)

UPDATES - 17.5.09.2011
Missed the darn show due to lightning, thunder, rain, too afraid to attach my modem. Anyway from fan reports, seems like Masha may be a diva now. Because his ENTIRE crew was there and it was like Live Bang show. He appeared a few minutes earlier than his scheduled time at 5pm and sang for I believe 45 minutes or so. He sang;

1) Asuheno March
2) HELLO
3) IT'S ONLY LOVE
4) Kazoku ni narou yo.
5) Revolution Evolution
6) Fighting Pose
7) Kokoro Color
8) Sakurazaka

Quite an impressive list! Anyway hoping for some Youtube video or something soon. Some screencaps is available in FB but I will repost here later when the rain is not so severe.

Some snippets by Mashamasha;

Btw in the mc part masha talked about アンパンマン (anpanman). He once said he hated アンパンマン (anpanman) though their birthday is the same. (anpanman) caused him trauma in performing outdoor live event. He said many years ago he attended a live event with him and (anpanman) and some other artists as guest. He performed right before (anpanman) and he felt on the stage that all the live audience were waiting for (anpanman) performance and wanted him to finish asap. The worst thing is before he performed, the live event staff told him that (anpanman) had another event to attend after tge live event so they need to cut masha's part (sing one song less than originally agreed) to let (anpanman)finish early

UPDATES - 18.09.2011
Basic summary thanks to Akari;

He came out two times, once for his own show 45 min (asu e no march, hello, it's only love, kazoku ni narouyo, revolution evolution, fighting pose, Kokoro color, sakurazaka) and then for a second time in the very last show of the night where everyone (samba master, yanai michihiko, begin, etc) sings/ performs/hugs on stage with I LOVE TOU INEEDYOU FUKUSHIMA, and Fukuyama is rocking his guitar for the song along side sambo master (guitar solo!). Fukuyama's performance was great! Got the crowd to bring out their live bang! Towels (a lot of them had one)! At the end of the concert. He changed his shirt to the tsunami awareness tamashii shirt and he really revved up his guitar! He sincerely shook hands with Yanai and others before and after the show, and the whole thing ended with fireworks! A ton of people cried when I LOVE YOU INEED YOU FUKUSHIMA played, the first time when Sambo Master performed it (he was sobbing the whole time he sang it and so was the audience, because he's from Fukushima) the second time with the makeshift band by Yanai and Sambo, etc, and the third time with Fukuyama as a guitarist and everyone else singing it together on stage!

I think the following are the links to respective parts thank to HKFC. I haven't seen any of the videos below so I am not sure;

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TXEzHwO7qfs
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2qnaR0u8zCE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UxQBoyajOvM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=12AdkNkf7-0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sk-KdaoGgzU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_eKebNx0gB0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cPAY_a9sHHU

UPDATES - 19.09.2011

I haven't watched this yet, still downloading one source, and waiting for another source. Anyway, some pictures, most thanks to Anthippi;

UPDATES - 20.09.2011

Download Masha's segment thanks to Anthippi. Very clear video despite being streaming. However this does not include the encore part at the end.

http://www.megaupload.com/?d=RYSGFTWL Part 1

http://www.megaupload.com/?d=FB03Q45K Part 2

http://www.megaupload.com/?d=03XQPJ8O Part 3

http://www.megaupload.com/?d=KRJBXJ2S Part 4

UPDATES - 24.09.2011
News Zero reported on the event on 22.09.2011

UPDATES 29.09.2011
New Zero on 28.08.2011, with in depth interview of Masha at backstage of Fukushima Live

UPDATES - 24.10.2011

Thanks Izumisano for the tips. 90 minutes documentary on this event can be seen in Youtube. Watch Part 1 here and part 2 here.

[TV APPEARANCE] Music Lovers [NTV][11.09.2011]

2011-10-24T15:35:00.000+08:00

UPDATES - 24.10.2011

Rebroadcast of unseen footages on 23.10.2011 apparently includes Masha's declaration to the love(s) of his life. Hoping to see a video soon...

UPDATES - 17.10.2011

Apparently on 23.10.2011 there will be a rebroadcast of this show, since the last one was heavily edited. Hopefully we shall get to see his declaration of his love for his "girlfriends"! More info here.

UPDATES - 12.09.2011

Added more snippets, download link and youtube link

ORIGINALLY POSTED ON 11.09.2011

And even before I can say Masha, the show's over. 30 minutes, with some commercials, everything moved like a bullet train, and the one I really wanted to hear, I Love You & I Need You Fukushima was the last song, sang a few bars with annoying announcer saying something. It felt rushed and it felt more like for live audience than for TV audience and I was thinking, is there part 2? No? Why bother? It just felt so many thing happened and yet nothing happened. There were 2 guests, Ozumi Yo and the other a DJ I was told but the way the whole thing went, the DJ felt more like a fan with the best seat, said nothing. I am sure he said plenty because HKFC said fans who were there said the trio was insane in their talks! And I think it was this show where Masha said to fans to save some money, the concerts ain't over yet!! Ohhhh, Asia Tour! Anyway he sang Fighting Pose, Melody, Kazoku ni Narou yo and I love you and I need you Fukushima but fans who were there said he sang a short and long version of Fighting Pose! He seems rather jovial, laughing hard. He always seems happy on Music Lovers, probably because he is seeing his friends again. Anyway hoping for HD version soon!

MORE SNIPPETS
Why did they cut these off? WHY?!

All by Mashamasha.

it seems they really cut away many interesting talks, one lucky fans who watched the music lovers shooting added some which had been cut.

oizumi asked masha whether he has girlfriend at present, then masha replied he has been asked this question by many people, and now he decided to answer it: my girlfriend is you (pointing to the audience). All the fans screamed. oizumi said he regrets asking him this question as this only gives him chance to raise his popularity

I wanna see him do that!! We are all his girlfriends!! I think what he meant was "None of your business". Fair. Anyway only a good friend can ask him that question. By the way Mashamasha also said he later asked the show to delete that scene out, for reasons he knows best. My guess is, he has someone to answer to and that someone isn't too happy with not being acknowledged, if not why cut this off? This is sure fans winner sort of answer!

The karaoke box talk has also been cut short. Besides requesting masha to sing michishirube when they went to karaoke and crying on the song, oizumi also requested masha to sing himawari and crying on himawari too . When singing the part "二人乗り遅れたあのバスは走ってますか/futari noriokureta ano BASU wa hashittemasu ka/Is the bus we missed, Still running?" <

WATCH IT
Here at youtube.

DOWNLOAD IT
Thanks to Anthippi for the Tudou version which is good (263.61MB, MKV). But for HD version, it is at Jpopsuki (2.65GB, ts/MPEG).

More after Read More link.

SCREENCAPTURES
Meanwhile, some grainy screencaps, where Keyhole TV was being very nice to me tonight. You will probably find clearer versions in my FB page later in Screencaps Folder 2.

ORIGINALLY POSTED ON 08.09.2011

Just a friendly reminder, on Sunday 11.09.2011 at 11.30pm Japan time (that is 10.30pm Malaysia time)Masha will appear in Music Lovers [日本テレビ] where he will sing several songs, one of which I read is I Love You & I Need You, Fukushima. No doubt he will sing the wedding song and my current favourite po-wahhhh!!! song, Fighting Pose. So do tune in if you have the chance. Hopefully there will be youtube clips and HD clips for download.

[NEWS] Masha's latest news & more

2011-10-06T13:08:00.005+08:00

Previously, a new addition to my blog, I will find in the net great stuff that I can't repost here but can certainly point the way for you which I shall call the SURPRISE! post. Now it is a collection of Masha's latest news all in one post as well as some pictures and other stuff that I can't repost but can links directly. Does not include radio link (that will be under SNIPPETS) or song download links. Mostly pictures and news source. Will also include some of my own post that I feel you may not have seen but would certainly be interested in! If I do not mention the name specifically, just assume the source is the HK Fans Discussion Forum. The post you see below is the latest post.

For all other posts, click the Read More link.

>> For posts before 26.10.2010, please click here.

MASHA'S LATEST NEWS & MORE

[26.10.2010 - current]

06.10.2011

NEW SONG COLLABORATION
Thanks to River for the translation from this original news here and the pictures from here.

Ishibashi Ryo (he was the Nagasaki magistrate in Ryoma-Den), Fukuyama Masaharu will collaborate on Ishibashi Ryo's first solo album since ARB. The album will be released on the 7th Dec, and Fukuyama contributes the guitar melody and participates in the chorus. The song is a bonus track, titled 'AFTER 45'.

Fukuyama himself is a big fan of ARB. He said he listens to their songs when he was in high school. And he used one of their song to audition for his current agency- Amuse. According to Ishibashi, he was thankful Fukuyama agreed to participate in this project. 'I can never forget the first time we met. He brought the much-needed edge into the studio'.

Video report from ZIP;

More news and interesting Masha related links after Read More link.

05.10.2011

DRAMA FOR 2012?
Great news! I hope it is true. Fans are saying he hinted in I believe the latest issue of Nikkei Entertainment that he may be acting in a TV drama next year. Will it be Galileo sequel? Shouldn't that be a movie version? Or is it another TV series? What then of the Asia Stopover? Very excited!

More from Nikkei Entertainment interview thanks to Mashamasha;

He said he doesn't appear in tv except for tv commercials this year (so he hasn't counted those music show performance), the public may be asking "has fukuyama disappeared?" "Is he burnt-out as a result of ryomaden?" Therefore he wants to appear in tv next year

btw, he was asked to name some recent tv programs/movies he likes, and he mentioned The Hangover II and Kick-ass,

he said both Hangover I and Kiss-ass are recommended items in dvd rental shop so he rented (or bought?) the dvds. As he found Hangover I interesting, he went to cinema to watch part II

And more!

he said he has stock of songs to be released because he keeps writing songs whenever he has time. There are already over 10 songs which are almost finished, and many more which are WIP. He will feel anxious if he does not have stock on hand

He said he does not have time to rest, while the public often think he is rather idle (because he does not appear in tv very often). Then he explains his work schedule (song recording, attending meetings about CD cover, CD promotion, concert rundown, concert goods, DVD releease, PV, radio, tv commercials etc). That's why he enjoys having concert tour the most as when he is having tour, he will not be disturbed for tiny things.

06.09.2011

ASIA TOUR, AGAIN?
Back to square one. Fans are speculating, hoping against hope for the much speculated then died out then alive again Asia Tour 2011. My feelings have always been the same; he will spend winter Daikanshasai out of Japan. Question is where, which stop? Again I speculate December, from looks of it I will say Taiwan is a definite stop, HK hopefully too and that's about it. Why Taiwan? Because he mentioned Taiwan and HK several times, maybe Korea too. Moreover a specific announcement was made unofficially as to the impending release of 27th single in Taiwan, if I am not mistaken the Mini Live DVD version on 09.09.2011. Fans ask why specially announce? Don't read too much into that announcement, maybe they just want people to know hey! got album selling. Because if they want statistics, I am sure online sites can help compile a full list of purchasers and he will easily know foreign fans buy his albums as well. Let's not torture ourselves but I always believe the intended press conference in Taiwan for The Best Bang Asia edition before the whole tsunami/earthquake disaster was meant to announce something. Maybe he will do so for this Taiwan release. So far no news if he is going to Taiwan thought but I wouldn't be surprised if he does. But he doesn't need to break into international market, it is a novelty rather than a necessity, like thanking fans. I just hope I can be wherever he chose as his first, middle and last stop out of Japan!

29.08.2011

APPEARANCE AT LIVE FUKUSHIMA

It's official since Masha himself announced this in Okinawa concert on 28.08.2011 which what is termed as the worst kept secret, in a good way.

Masha will be making an appearance and performing in Live Fukushima, a huge fund raising event spanning several days with some big names. You can see the full list at the official site. Masha's appearance is on 17.09.2011. This is exciting. Maybe Masha will play the guitar in I Love You & I Need You Fukushima and play a few songs as well. Very very exciting.

Anyway news can be seen here at Tudou (starting at 28 seconds)

26.08.2011

FM OKINAWA'S GOLDEN HOUR APPEARANCE UPDATE

Yes, he was on the show on 25.08.2011 and thanks to the wonders of youtube, and the generosity of his ever sharing loving fans, you can listen to his deep low voice for part 1, part 2, part 3 and part 4. Any great snippets do share! What they talked about?? Check out the news here, where is it 1000 fans waited to cheer for him? Very lively eager bunch and nice to see Masha posing next to fans (even if separated by thick glass window or something) grinning happily. Okinawa seems like a sunshine sort of place eh? Even the radio hosts seem to be rather "HA!!! HA!!! HA!!! type". Anyway that nice grinning picture with a TV screencapture (that from HKFC-not sure if Okinawa related but looks the same shirt)...

Video report here. Am I mistaken or is it they allow 1000 fans to walk through the glass panel to just wave or look at Masha like some aquarium?!

The article from Oricon, loosely translated by Izumisano - So 1000 people came but only 500 go to see him through the glass window. Poor thing for the other 500. And the concert will be 15000 per show?

Singer-actor Fukuyama Masaharu guest starred live in FM Okinawa's Golden Hour on the 25th. Fukuyama last held an open house live radio broadcast about 10 years ago, and this is the first time he's performed live in Okinawa media.

1,000 fans came from all over Okinawa to catch a glimpse of Fukuyama, who will be holding his first Okinawa live for 2 days in a row in the 27th and 28th. Fukuyama was all smiles when he waved back in response to the support he saw.

"It'll be great to be able to sing together with my Okinawa fans in my first Okinawa live." He said in his first ever promotion (event) in Okinawa. It was only announced 2 days ago that he would be appearing in the radio show. The station's 70 hotlines were jammed as people phoned in to join the viewing, and all places were taken up within 30 mins.

The 500 lucky viewers who were received their numbered tickets out of 10,000 applicants parked themselves in front of the radio booth, as they listened to Fukuyama talk about the making of his new double side A single "Kazoku ni Narouyo/Fighting Pose" and such casual banter as "You have beautiful smiles here in Okinawa."

Towards the end of the programme, he said "Thank you for waiting all this time. 20 years after my debut, I am finally able to hold a concert in Okinawa (not sure). Although we have a typhoon approaching, I hope we won't have any problems. Of course (the concerts) are always for the fans, but I'm really looking forward to this one myself as well. We're ready for the rain. Come, let's have a dream of a midsummer's night!"

Before the radio show, he held a press conference for the Okinawa mass media, where he talked about set-up of an exhibition booth for Tohoku products at the concert venue; and how they would continue to collect donations for the East Japan disaster. This first Okinawa live is expected to bring in an audience of 30,000 people in total for the 2 days

23.08.2011

FM OKINAWA'S GOLDEN HOUR APPEARANCE

Take note. Masha will be on another radio show other than his own that is FM Okinawa's Golden Hour from 2pm to 3.30pm Japan time on 25.08.2011 (Thursday). Not sure if for the entire time. Source is here. So if you're in Japan, do tune in, maybe record and send to us all? Because outside Japan, can't tune in. You can use Keyhole but I am told you will require password to log in and listen and frankly, I do not have the password and I do not know anyone who does. Sigh....

17.08.2011

HOTPANTS MASHA AT OKINAWA CONCERT?

You know, Masha has been going on and on about hotpants during ANN (see 13.08.2011) that as Mashamasha from HKFC puts it;

because masha has been discussing hot pants, jp fans are discussing whether he will wear hot pants himself in okinawa. masha said he wears short jeans doing physical exercise at backstage, inspired by B'z's 稲葉浩志 (Koshi Inaba), and some posted young masha wearing short pants look, slim and straight legs

So Masha wear hotpants during his super hot Okinawa concert on 27th and 28th August 2011? You can see some sample of his super skinny, super long and not sure about now but then super hairy legs here at Post #209 Page 14 or you can find them in my Facebook page in the Vintage Masha folder.

11.08.2011

SPECIAL SECRET ARTIST?

Pure speculation but fans speculate he has the time and I believe he has the intention. He may be one of the Special Secret Artist at the charity concert, Fukushima Live which runs for several days, but one particular date says "Special Guest Artists" and that is on 17.09.2011. So right now we are all guessing but I do think he will make an appearance, not sure which date.

09.07.2011

"FUKUYAMA-SANNNNNNNNNNNNN"

This is old news but still worthy news. Remember Masha was at Beijing Olympics in 2008? Well, Chinese fans actually recognised him! Even when he kinda went incognito, I mean he looked... like every other better looking passenger walking out at the arrival gate at the airport. Well, look at the video at Youku here for evidence. Kinda shaky, very short, the rest is about how our eagle eyed fan felt upon spotting him. My question is, did she know he was there or was it purely a coincidence even if she had her camera on? One thing for sure; I noticed she screamed FUKUYAMA-SANNNNNNNNNNN several times but I don't think he looked her way. Oh Masha, that's not the way to treat your international fan?! Did he glance at her? Did he? I think he did, a tiny glance and then he walked really really fast. Sometimes I wish for more spontaneous interaction between Masha and fans. Not everyday you can spot him at a foreign airport. Anyway some blurry screencaps, he's the guy in white with the huge silver luggage;

12.06.2011

THE REASON WHY MASHA IS STILL UNMARRIED ...

If I read right, this chinese article is suggesting the reason why Masha is still unmarried is because he is picky and he is picky because his mother is picky? So to avoid strain in wife-mother relationship, he prefers someone who gets along well with his mother and his mother prefers someone not in the entertainment industry? Did I read right? Excuses! Moreover he is always in Tokyo, mother is always in Nagasaki, hardly any change for serious blow up. Of course all mother in laws would like a good daughter in law, someone not as exposed to the complicated world of the entertainment business, so I suppose the army of AV actresses that Masha is a fan of is out of the question. Nonsense! At his age, I am sure his mother is thinking "Dear boy, just get married will ya?". It's him, he has such a high standard, he is picky.

04.06.2011

THE CONNECTION BETWEEN MASHA, MICKEY MOUSE & SAKURAZAKA

From HKFC, "Sakurazaka will be used in Disney on Ice festival". Wow! Remember in ANN I believe he mentioned about Mickey san? Wow. Anyway source news is here. From what I can understand, Masha of course is honoured. This is indeed a very interesting collaboration.

22.05.2011

PANEL ATTACK QUIZ 25 ON 22.05.2011

I was surprised by this tv appearance and it seems no one knew. Anyway thanks to Mashamasha for the news and screencaps;

masha appeared in today's Attack 25 special (the program which Kodama san has been the host for 30 years). Unfortunately Bros didn't inform in advance so many fans missed it. Fans said masha looked almost crying (based on his eyes and voice). Masha said when he visited Kodama san in hospital, he asked him what he wanted to eat, then he replied Nagasaki's jelly. After masha arranged and brought it to him, he ate 3 of it. When masha talked about this part, he looked about to cry. and masha just said when he visited him, he asked him when is Masha getting married.

For Masha's sort of official statement of Kodama san's passing, click here (see ANN post 21.05.2011)

[ADD] Masha's part around 8 min. Thanks to HKFC. If you can translate what he said exactly, I would appreciate it!

Some translation of what Masha said by Roadsong:-

Out of my own discretion, I treat Kodama san as a father. I sent him a mail but he did not replied till seven weeks ago. He said he could finally sent a reply (due to health condition he could not reply Masha). He was healthy then and we talked a lot, like Ryoma den, for about 2 hours. I thought I should not disturb him and told him I would take my leave. He said 'so soon?" I asked him what he would like to eat and he replied "Nagasaki loquat jelly" I managed to got it and passed to him. He ate about 3. I thought I had done the right thing. (in here, Masha said "よかった”)

Kodama san is 表現者 (ie. something like artist). Even though he is gone, his works will always be with us. His works will remain in all the audience and his supporters' memories.

And more from Mashamasha;

he said Kodama san looked very genki when they met even though he lost a lot of weight. Kodama san said his condition has become better so he was able to reply masha's message. When masha told him it's time to leave as he didn't want to disturb him from taking rest, he looked disapppointed and said "you have to leave la ". Masha believed Kodama san would soon make a comeback and when he knew Kodama san had that movie project, he asked Kodama san to let him take part in it.

From what I could gather, it would seem Kodama san's death was sudden. This is very sad indeed. RIP Kodama san.

27.04.2011

RYOMA-DEN IN HK

Great news for HK Fans. Since I am not familiar with HK channels, I will report as I see, news thanks to Izumisano - Ryoma Den will start showing on weekdays Mon-Fri at 11pm 2nd May onwards in I-cable.

05.04.2011

NEW TV APPEARANCE IN MAY & NEW HAIR!!

The following is a screencapture from an upcoming TV interview meant for promotion of Suspect X to be broadcast in May 2011 on paid channel, Sky Prefect TV (paid channel - boo!). We won't have access since it is cable TV. Mashamasha explains "promotion interview for broadcast of youghishi x in 日本映画専門チャンネル in May" and Emma further explains "the channel is going to show Yogisha X in 1 May in the channel, then masha went to do a promotion interview of them, the interview will be show before and after the movie". However look at that hair. This is at the time of posting sorta his latest look. Looks great! Image taken from HKFC. Hopefully someone might actually record this. Anyway kinda reminds me of Beauty Or Beast hairstyle or back to Milk Tea time. Gorgeous.

The trailer;

26.03.2011

RYOMA-DEN SCREENCAPTURES STUFF

You think Ryoma-Den is no more? Of course not! HKFC posted some really nice screencaptures, never before seen so they must be from the recent releases' TMO. Not allowed to repost so you have to go there and have a look at Post #591 and 593, all at page 40.

23.03.2011

WHERE IN THE WORLD IS MASHA NOW?

ANN on 19.03.2011 he says he is in some secret location. Some rumours that I read (3rd hand rumour by the way) that he is hiding somewhere with his girlfriend. We have yet to establish who his girlfriend is, so I am glad to know we can skip that part. If he is hiding, I don't think you can find him. If you can find him, then he isn't hiding. The connotation is he is escaping the Tokyo radiation thing which is negative connotation. Some says he is in Tokyo. My feeling is he is either HIDING with his mother in Nagasaki or HIDING in Tokyo. And when I say HIDING, I mean he is holed up somewhere probably writing a new song for charity causes or planning with fellow musicians on how to best raise money for the troubled Japan. I do not believe he is with any girlfriend, unless the girlfriend is his back up singer or employee. I don't even believe he has a girlfriend right now. In fact I think that is last on his mind because he has a host of rescheduling to do and worrying on everything. Anyway, we shall see soon enough where is Masha. But wherever he is, whoeever he is with and whatever he is doing, I hope he stays safe and don't drink the water, yet. I don't know him, he definitely will never know my existence, but I worry about him like I do an old friend (OK! LIKE MY BELOVED!! I am not married by the way because my one true love is HIDING somewhere in Japan!). Masha, keep busy and stay safe.

21.03.2011

21 YEARS IN THE MUSIC BUSINESS

Today, 21.03.2011 is Masha's 21st year in the music business as Tsuioku no Ame no Naka debuted today in 1990. Happy anniversary Masha. May there be 21 years more, wherever you are right now. Probably in Nagasaki working on a charity single. I don't know. 21 years... how time flies.

10.03.2011

PURE SPECULATION. WHAT IS IN STORE FOR MASHA IN 2012

Can't be Asia Tour 2012? At least not for the whole year. Since I speculated the usual Winter Daikanshasai will be overseas, my thinking is 2012 will be back to acting year. Question is, is Galileo 2 in the equation? Well, let's see first, if his hair is of any indication.

SAY HELLO TO LITTLE MASHA AT THE LIVE BANG!!

First, please don't be shocked. Masha has been talking about his "little Masha" for many times over the course of many years, if you have been listening to ANN as often as his ardent fans. And it is a well known fact he has suffered "wardrobe/zipper" malfunction over the years during concert, I don't think anyone saw anything but the obvious fact is he has had to zip up a few times over the years in the middle of the concert. And it is a well known fact, in the past that he did not wear underwear or any "protective" garment underneath, however I did wonder is he still into the "no underwear" rule? Well, recent incident at THE LIVE BANG!! (not sure which show but it must be either during Osaka or Wakayama concerts) confirms altogether 3 things;

1. he's still rather candid about his ermm...little brother we shall now call Little Masha and make no mistake, he does emphasise on the little. He's being modest I am sure and if he's not, I applaud his candidness? Why? You know those things about men, ego and their "brothers" so to speak.

2. he is still NOT wearing underpants during concert. Why he doesn't wear one in the first place is again has been discussed many times but I suppose basically he doesn't like to wear one, and the hassle of having to wash one, which he explained in the Shin Domoto Kyoudai interview which you will find in my blog. I suppose more importantly, maybe he has a physical reason to feel discomfort with wearing one, hence he did not and it is pretty normal actually, not wearing one

3. he is still having zipper malfunction, fans did suggest buttons but the way he moves and the pants so tight, I would say even buttons will somehow pop open.

And I can't believe I just spend an entire paragraph discussing about his ermm... you know... there.

Ok, the news proper and by the way, Masha did say this zipper incident may happen a few more times in this tour, not to say it is deliberate but it could and I do hope it will happen during my day at the concert (3rd August 2011 - Yoyogi) and that I shall be close enough to be able to do what one very observant and very kind concert goer did in the news proper, and may I just add that not that I want to see or say hello to Little Masha, but those zipper malfunction thing is almost as expected or anticipated as his Heaven/Gang moves with the whole touch-touch-squeeze-squeeze moves. Now I have one more new sentence to learn in Japanese; "Please tell Masha san his zipper is open!!"

Finally, the news from ANN blog translated by Izumisano whilst for all directly related news to The Live Bang!!, click here.

A listener wrote in to say she was sitting very close and saw it, so she asked a staff to let him know. He took a look to check and then just zipped up so casually that people were wondering if that was what they saw.

He confirms that he's still "no pants". He said it's a good thing that Masha's Masha is so small. If it were big, then something might have come out and said "Hello" just like the song "Hello", he adds y'know "sonna hazu wa nai sa" (It wasn't supposed to be that way) and Sou-chan replies "sore wa wakatteru" (That I know)

Meanwhile, Halad of MashaPlus also translated some choice quotes from this article;

"It's just like having two buttons open on a shirt"

"To put it simply, it's service! Because you paid so much to come, you should at least get this much service!"

"It's ok if it's just the fly that's open but it would be bad if something's coming out of it...."

And finally for those who has missed that and is going for his concert (like yours truly), Mashamasha says;

masha said he expects it will happen 1-2 more times in this tour

18.01.2011

MASHA, AT A THEATRE

Basically Masha was seen at a stage theatre on 16.02.2011 (I think), produced by AMUSE. I think he has been seen in theatres very often. He likes stage theatre? Anyway glad to know he goes out a bit. Wonder with who?

17.01.2011

PICTURE WITH RUMOURED FEMALE COMPANION?

Re the gossip here (in Japanese) and the supposed picture of Masha with... frankly I am not sure who the girl is. Is it him? Even the naysayers are doubting that. Why is it that pictures of Masha with supposed lady friends/future wives are always like pictures of Nessie or UFOs? Small, blurry, can't even see. Frankly, sort of his height but face bit too round. Surely 3kg doesn't translate to that! I wonder where it was taken? Date is 16.01.2011. Airport? If it is him, maybe lady assistant? Can't he have lady assistants? Female cousins? Mother's friends? Neighbours?! Anyway I don't think it is him. Face a bit different.Sorry, face very different. A bit too big.

A better summary by Izumisano;

Another purported picture of him, this time it said it was someone not in the industry. Can't see the faces at all, but it claims she's very pretty and looks like another actress. Even the blog writer cannot vouch for the validity of the picture. Did you check the link? It points to an adult site again.

Frankly I didn't even see anything else but the article and the picture so I didn't know it points to an adult site. Do be careful when clicking any links there.

15.01.2011

WHERE IS MASHA NOW?

Thanks to Mashamasha who talked about where Masha is and thanks to Izumisano for making sense of what she wrote, the source being here, Masha is...

He was seen in Barcelona yesterday! They're filming the sequel to Amalfi, it's called アンダルシア (Andalucia?), due for release this summer and he still has long hair.

Yesterday would mean 14.01.2011 if I am not mistaken, so he is still in Barcelona I suppose which means ANN not live again? But I thought Amalfi is going to be a TV series? Now there's a sequel. And still long hair? STILL LONG HAIR? Somebody must have forgot their glasses when they thought they saw short hair. And Masha oh Masha, can you stop doing guest starring and just give us a movie or a series proper? How many minutes this time? 10 minutes? And your name will be as big as the title, probably bigger.

[ADD] 16.01.2011 - Fans saw Masha at the airport today, says he is back in Japan. So soon? Not taking a breather?

11.01.2011

KARA’s Gyuri expresses interest in Japanese actor Fukuyama Masaharu

The following news reported on 10.01.2011 taken from here and can be read originally from Oricon ...

Girl group KARA held a press conference in Japan to discuss their upcoming drama “URAKARA” on January 10. During the press conference, leader Gyuri delivered a passionate love message to the popular Japanese singer and actor, Fukuyama Masaharu (41), who starred in the NHK Taiga drama,”Ryomaden”, last year. Gyuri announced that she wanted to be loved by him.

In KARA’s first ever drama, “URAKARA”, they appear as themselves and try to accomplish different romance-related missions. The girls are supposed to make men their victims by making them fall in love with them. The cost surpasses that of a normal because filming for this one is done in both Japan and Korea.

Though in the first episode the man to fall in love with Gyuri is actor Nakamura Shunsuke (35), she requested that the next time it be Fukuyama Masaharu. She blushed and admitted, “I’m a big fan. It’s my dream to one day co-star with him.” Could this result in a cross-cultural romance?

KARA and Fukuyama are under the same Japanese record label and they met for the first time when they appeared together on the December 24, 2010 episode of Asahi TV’s “Music Station”. Fukuyama has also praised KARA on his own radio show. Gyuri, left with a lasting impression from their “Christmas Eve meeting”, suddenly delivered her proposal, leading the drama staff to say, “It would be nice if he could appear on the final episode.”

Well, they're from the same company right? And he does love their butt dance and all. And she is pretty, and awfully young if I am correct. But like River says, get in line. But please, let this not start another rumour. But I bet Masha will gloat about this till the end of ANN's show this Saturday. She is rather pretty.

09.01.2011

EVEN HIS CHOICE OF WOMEN IS GOING INTERNATIONAL

And that was my reaction when I read that ...

Lin Chi Ling was "found in the vicinity of Masha's (probably ex) apartment or something. There was allegedly a video of them walking together" [River]. Source news is here but I strongly advise against clicking video link over there as "that video link leads to an adult site which requires downloading a programme to watch it" [Izumisano]. "Previously, when she was in Japan ("She was starring in the jdrama Tsuki no Koibito with Takuya Kimura" [Angelreii]), the reporters did asked her which artist she likes. And she answered Masha" [River]. I wonder how did Takuya Kimura feel when his name wasn't it?

Within the vicinity of his apartment? Probably he lives or lived in centre of town and any stars would live centre of town so basically it could be vicinity of any famous person's home. You can see a tiny picture there, supposedly Masha. Dressed like him but is it him?

Sorry to burst many bubbles, if Lin Chi Ling is involved with anyone, it would be some super rich businessman. Somehow I don't think Masha fits into her lifestyle so to speak. Moreover, and if I may emphasise, the article was as Angelreii puts it, "dated in April 2010" and I wasn't even aware of it.

So if Masha missed ANN and is in Taiwan, I would believe more likely he is there now for the food because of Super Taste than to jet there to see Miss Lin who by the way is a lovely woman and for all the cup sizes talk and all, is within Masha's radar but let me put it this way more clearly before you mistake my post; total and utter rubbish.

I repeat, that article was way back in April 2010.

04.01.2011

OF SINGLEHOOD, MARRIAGE, CHILDREN & GRANDCHILDREN

I posted about Masha's musing on singlehood and stuff on recent TFM show on 26.12.2010 which depresses me a little and Taiwanese media picked up on this and published what he said on 30.12.2010. Thanks to Szeying for the translation. Source article is here.

Recently, Masha mention about his view on marriage during the radio recording. He say that he is not like what was mention in the rumour that he enjoy his singlehood. He say that he is drained from work and so he might not have time to accompany his wife and kids if he gets married. He say that he wants to have kids but at this age, he will not hope to have grand children.

Second paragraph is on Hirosue Ryoko (Kao in Ryoma-Den). Her second husband Candle June originally resist to media interviews. However, after Hirosue Ryoko is pregnant with his child, he did not pick his jobs in order to earn money for the family. He take very good care of Hirosue when they went shopping and even though he has a dissipated appearance but he is actually a good husband and father.

Like I said in that TFM post, it is not too late Masha. If you get married and have a child within the next 5 years and your child marries by 25 and first child by 26, you can still see your grandchild. I don't expect Masha to die too soon. Not until he is 100 and Japanese has generally long lives.

02.01.2011

BACK TO ASIA TOUR 2011? ASIAN MEDIA AT COUNTDOWN LIVE SHOW & ABOUT THE FUKUYAMA SHRINE

Szeying translated some news on Masha and it has something to do with the possible Asia Tour 2011 [Source, Source, Source]. Yes, it was the countdown 31.12.2010 show.

"Masha had an press conference(including media from Asia) before the concert. He was late for 3 hours due to the rehearsal and he appear in an athletics suit with an apologetic face. He express that he wish to further develop his career in Asia. Amuse request the media from Asia to stand in a row for handshaking purpose."

My prediction for Sept - Dec 2011. A possible Asia Tour. No Winter Daikanshasai but a possible year end concerts with overseas fans. If true, my prediction; first stop, HK, then Singapore will be somewhere in it. Malaysia will not be in it. If true, would appreciate anyone in HK and Singapore to get me a ticket, which will be like winning lottery tickets. I have been to HK, I am familiar with HK, I don't mind going to HK.

A more specific translation by Izumisano;

"he made it a point to meet with media from Asia before the start of the concert, but because of delays in rehearsal, we finally saw him appear in the conference room after a near 3-hour wait, dressed in a tracksuit and looking apologetic. Fukuyama's management company had requested media representatives from each country to stand in a line, and walk up to shake hands with him one by one, as if we were lucky fans who won in a draw to go backstage and meet their idol."

You ARE lucky fans won a draw to meet idol. If you don't want that, quit your job and let me do it, for free!

There was a shrine at the daikanshasai 2010. I think it is tongue in cheek, however the media may not find it amusing.

Thanks to Izumisano for explaning what's the shrine is about, which is not to say he is god but it is a very Japanese thing and as you know Japanese culture, takes a bit of time to understand! She also explained why Daikanshasai.

"The Japanese have shrines everywhere, you can find tiny ones even by the side of the road. They are just places for people to pray for blessing. He's had a shrine set up in all his daikanshasai concerts, not for people to pray to him as a god, but because daikanshasai means a "big festival to give thanks". He held his first daikanshasai in 1998 year-end to thank the fans for staying with him throughout his 2 years of hiatus. They don't burn incense but they do ring the bell, clap their hands and pray. It's just a very Japanese thing to do.

They call it the Fukuyama shrine because it's set up at the Fukuyama concert. While "daimyojin" 大明神 can be translated as demigod, if used on a torii, it means a big torii of the "myojin" style. See here and here for ref.

So "Fukuyama daimyojin" 福山大明神 was the name of the torii. The Chinese article simply copied it and used it out of context in their title [福山大明神很神] turning it into a play of words where they are sarcastically saying he's now a god. They follow up in the content by referring to how they were made to wait for 3 hrs and then being treated like fans who won a lucky draw to see their idol, rather than the media. But the way the article wrote it was terribly misleading, they can't expect everyone to understand the use of "daimyojin" here. The whole article simply paints Masha as high and mighty. That's why River was saying to take the Chinese press with a pinch of salt."

01.01.2011

WHAT ABOUT 2ND HALF OF THE YEAR, MASHA?

Pure speculation. With the announcement of additional concert dates in 2nd half of the year (We're BROS concert tour 2011), speculation is rife that since these are called Summer Daikanshasai, there may not be the yearly usual Winter Daikanshasai (year end concerts). I myself am thinking what about Asia Tour 2011. Fans are buzzing of course; it could really mean no year end concerts, it could mean they may also be year end concerts, it could mean new TV series, it could mean personal vacation, Asian Tour 2011 (maybe he wishes to spend new year with overseas fans??) and it could also mean the usual wedding rumours aka a winter wedding, even if as of now he is officially not getting married, yet. He denied it flat (see 18.12.2010 post), in his own way. Ok, ok joking, if he's gonna marry I think he will do the Ayumi Hamasaki way; just announce he is getting married but first wear a tux or something in some big show (don't you dare Masha! We fans deserve proper full page BROS announcement notice months ahead, so that we can pool resources and buy you a great big wedding gift!). I hope, and my guess is if there is really no year end concerts, it should and hopefully mean filming obligations. He should make it a point to film 1 series and 1 movie per year apart from all those yearly concerts and concert tour every 2 years or so. Wedding? Nahhhhh, he can still marry and do all that in the same month. Since he will marry a very obliging and understanding wife! Honestly though, my new year wish for Masha is to be happy. if he is happy married, then so be it. If he is happy single, well so be it. From his recent musings about lonely life, life without children, etc, I wish him only happiness. Moreover, I do not wish to push him to choose between career or marriage. I am sure he has earned enough to retire very confortably but I believe he can be like Takuya Kimura; married, successful and with that attitude you just love to hate but gotta respect.

02.12.2010

OF MASHA, RYOMA-DEN, SHIBASAKI KOU & ODA YUJI'S PRETTY WIFE

I am not sure when was this but maybe it is related to 29.11.2010 post where I repost "masha held a ryomaden gathering last friday (26.11.2010) (sourced from the dining bar's staff and one of ryomaden actors' blog)". Anyway one fan took a picture of the said gathering at a traditional looking restaurant which you can see in Post #43 Page 3 which is very very blurry. Anyway Mashamasha says "the restaurant ryomaden team went to is this one, one of the customers took the picture of them and posted in her blog, but can't see clearly. They are on the upper floor.". Frankly I can't see anything except a bunch of blurry looking people.

Next, not sure if it is the same event but some guests were invited which of course is linked to Masha, such as his former Galileo co-star Shibasaki Kou. However a magazine clarifies and as translated by Mashamasha "as what the below post said, the magazine said shibasaki was invited by yataro. He did not invite the lead actor (Yuji Oda), but as fate would have it, the lead actor was having dinner with his wife on another floor. When masha and yataro heard from waiter that Yuji Oda was there , they went to say hi to him. Oda introduced his wife to them, and masha praised his wife and said she was very pretty, he was jealous of Oda. Then masha and yataro invited Oda couple to join them, Oda also introduced his wife to ryomaden team. the magazine said Oda is also happy that his wife is praised by masha. Then ryomaden team changed to another place to have karaoke. The magazine also said the team (around 30 casts and staff there) used notebook to watch playback of ryomaden in the restaurant and all were very high. Masha said thank you and hugged each of them.　A few pictures, one of them is masha and Hiroshi Oizumi standing outside the building (like waiting for car)"

I am not sure if the scans here (of a rather pissed off pouting looking Masha) has anything to do with the event above but worth a look at Post #55 Page 4.

29.11.2010

MORE UNCONFIRMED GOSSIP ABOUT MASHA

It seems "masha held a ryomaden gathering last friday (26.11.2010) (sourced from the dining bar's staff and one of ryomaden actors' blog)" [Mashamasha]. I wonder who was invited?

22.11.2010

UNCONFIRMED GOSSIP ABOUT MASHA

Nothing scandalous. Great to know he keeps his friends close, and colleagues turn friends even closer. Thanks to Mashamasha for this piece of unconfirmed news, "he and Omori went to see Tsutsumi Shinichi's stage drama last night (Sunday-11.2010), then they three went to pub for men's talk. He was just back on saturday (20.11.2010)". As for more great snippets, do read this post on his appearance at Waratte Iitomo! today.

19.11.2010

WHERE IS MASHA?

Thanks to Mashamasha, we now know! He is in Thailand! He is coming back soon and will appear on fuji tv waratte iitomo this coming Monday which means on 22.11.2010! I thought no promo? And what is he doing in Thailand? Holiday by the seaside? Anyway Mashamasha said he called the program today about his whereabouts! So yeah, Masha is coming back! Will he sing? By Monday we shall know! (Rumour has it he is in Phuket and some say he is with a woman or looking for women, not sure. All I can say is if a tourist is there for some leisure and rest by the beach, Phuket is a natural choice. Maybe he has been there before and liked it. As for that woman/women rumour, I believe it is a complete BS. If he is with a woman or in female company, he would go to a remote island, not one as well known as Phuket)

15.11.2010

BROS Mag

I think it may be issue #88. Anyway if there is a picture which shows a yearning, this one at Post #462 Page 31 is it. Just imagine, Papa Masha. I wonder who will be the lucky girl eh?

13.11.2010

Bungeishunjū (文藝春秋) Issue Dec 2010

Fantastic photoshoot on Ryomasha. Is it me or whenever I see a Ryoma photoshoot, Masha is always almost bare faced, as in minimal make up and almost inevitably black and white? You can read some except here (in Japanese) and I am hoping someone somewhere might just buy this issue, scan the entire 9 pages of interview and pictures and post them up! Hopefully but I wouldn't get my hopes high though...

07.11.2010

Masha's schedule for the next month

He's not in Japan we all know that. And Mashamasha just posted the following:-

"When he announced the Best Bang information in radio, he already told (should be in TFM) that this time he probably won't do any TV promotion, and joked that that's why he needs the radio staff to help him promote the album, say getting drunk in the bar and then telling other customers that fukuyama has best album released on 17/11, many many songs etc. He just said again in tfm (07.11.2010) he won't do promotion for the best album "

So he won't be doing promotion? Surely he must appear in Music Station and what nots to sing a song or 2?He might be back for the Ryoma-Den special in end of November (23rd November) and speculated will leave (for what I am not sure) and then return mid December for preparation for the year end concerts. And nope, I MUST STRESS no wedding in sight even if a December wedding is speculated even if both parties have denied everything. I must say the timing fits. Darn tabloids figured out everything for him.

03.11.2010

Vote for Masha!

Because he deserves it! Anyway he is in the Top Pop Artist Category for the Japan Billboard Music Awards 2010. Public voting is from 01.11.2010 - 15.11.2010. Since I am not sure if this is open to all public or just Japanese public and how to vote, I depend on you who knows a bit of Japanese to vote all the way! Click here to vote. I hope Pop Artist is just a general translation because I never thought of Masha as a pop artist. If he wins I definitely regard this as a Award and Recognition post. And I doubt he will show up to pick up the award, if any.

A nice Magazine cover

Excuse me if I sound incoherent since my hands is still shaking from this rumour. Anyway you will find a rather nice cover of Masha here at Post #63 Page 5

02.11.2010

Ryoma-Den last episode

All good things must end and I can't believe 1 year has passed. Anyway about 1 year. Thanks to Izumisano for the following info on the last episode of Ryoma-Den:-

From the NHK World Premium site, it's confirmed that episode 48 (final episode) on 28/11 will be 75 mins long, which mirrors the first episode. Showing time 8pm ~9:15pm (Japan time)/7pm-8:14pm (Malaysia time).

Where is Masha now?

He's been pretty quiet since the end of Ryoma-Den filming (11.10.2010) and fans are speculating he is not in Japan as previously blogged about. That I suspect is true. Now fans are sort of sure he is not in Japan for a month due to this documentary. I believe that is true also. So... it is a working holiday? If it is a month, I suppose he will be back in Japan around mid to end of November 2010? We will know when he talks about current affairs and his current working schedule in ANN soon enough.

30.10.2010

Some more Ryoma-Den scan

Unknown magazine but a rather cute one of Ryomasha and a child actress. What's with this "show you the hand" thing? Scan at Page 996 Post #67 . You may also want to check out Post #990 page 66 for an auction picture of BROS issue #88 (I suppose the latest) where the cover is the outtake from THE BEST BANG!! DVD/CD cover. Nice to know he was very relaxed when the very serious picture was taken!

26.10.2010

Some Ryoma-Den scans
Ryoma-Den is finishing soon so these scans at Page 957 Post #64 may be some of the last pictures of Ryomasha you may see. Until the promotion starts again when the series is broadcast in Taiwan and everywhere else. My question is will Masha go to their talk shows and accept an interview?

All about Masha's hair

An interesting snippet thanks to Mashamasha...

"btw, bought TV Fan and TV Navi, both 4 pages interview, but TV FAN pictures are better and the interview is funnier.

The reporter asked masha how he is going to do on his hair style. Masha said basically he is a kind of person who won't do something not wanted by others, so if fans think short hair style is better, he will cut it. If fans think the current one is ok, he will keep it

But masha added sometimes it is quite troublesome to have short hair because it will need hair cut frequently. He himself prefers to keep the long hair for this winter because it keeps his neck warm. When he ties up his hair, he will feel cold and have headache "

He has never had long hair like Ryoma-Den so frankly Masha, all these winter and long hair... doesn't make sense.

Further fans said they saw him at the airport a few days ago. So it must be true, things being so quiet, he might be on a holiday out of Japan.

[REVIVED AND STRONG!] Asia Tour 2011

2011-10-06T01:05:00.000+08:00

06.10.2011
FROM THE HORSE'S MOUTH
Albeit a handsome one. Masha's message to Taiwan, in the video below. I am just confused; is this guy the guy in this post of mine? If yes, where the heck is the interview?

What he said? Thanks to Szeying for translating;

Actually, I planned to hold a concert in Taiwan this year. However due to the natural disaster in Japan, there are alot of changes in schedule and thus I regret that I'm unable to hold a concert in Taiwan. However, Japan receive many help from Taiwan and Japanese are very grateful to Taiwanese. I'm one of them.We are discussing on the timing to hold concert in Taiwan next time. I hope to see everyone soon but before that please wait for a while. I hope we will meet in concert one day. I'm Fukuyama Masaharu. Thank you.

21.09.2011
BUT WHEN MASHA, WHEN?
Now speculation is high again as to when is Asia Tour. First it was Asia Stopover with Taiwan only getting the love but maybe come 2012, there may be more stops. Fans are certain he will announce the dates and places in Daikanshasai later this year and I suspect so. So far Taiwan is confirmed. But I hope for HK. Malaysia is out of the race, and my feelings is Singapore too. Anyway if the places are at least confirmed (Taiwan at least), so when will it be? My feeling is either 1st quarter of the year or next year's Daikanshasai. Why? There is Olympics in London in the middle of the year and I suspect he will go with his trusted camera. Frankly I would avoid London since it will be jam packed and with the negative news, wouldn't be wise but Masha will most certainly go though he has yet to say anything. So my feeling is first quarter of the year. Since I've been wrong before, this is only my speculation.

20.09.2011
THERE WAS GONNA BE AN ASIA TOUR 2011, OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT!
I was right!!!! See Izumisano's post;

He's confirmed it himself.

UMG Taiwan just posted a new video of him addressing the Taiwan fans. You can see it
at http://www.plurk.com/umusicjpop (the clip saying 福山雅治給台灣歌迷的一段話~)

Basically, he said to Taiwan that they had planned to hold a concert there this year, but the East Japan disaster had forced them to reschedule their domestic dates and so they cannot no longer make it. But on the other hand, Taiwan has given them such a lot of support on the disaster, the people of Japan people are all very grateful to the people of Taiwan and he too would like to thank them with all his heart. With this consideration, they're looking into an appropriate timing for the concert in Taiwan and he's very much looking forward to seeing them. In the meantime, he asks them to wait for a while longer and hopes to see them when the concert comes.

I was right about the timing, I was right about his intention and what caused him to cancel, I am also right I think he had wanted to announce this concert when he was supposed to go to Taiwan when promoting Best Bang. I was wrong only on intended venue; it was only Taiwan so I was right about the stopover. So... there's always next year! Asia Tour 2012, maybe more places eh? Start saving money now!

16.09.2011

ASIA TOUR, NO MORE?
BROS just announced there will be Daikanshasai end of year at Yokohama Pacifico. So no more Asia Tour? Never has there been any Asia Tour? Anyway if you wish to ballot for this year end concert, do join BROS before 30th September which is the cut off date. I wish I could go for 31st though. But I think I don't have that luck. If by then you have an extra ticket and the seat is good, offer to me first, give me a chance to accept or reject.

14.09.2011

BACK TO ASIA TOUR & ALL THE SPECULATION

And it is back to Asia Tour again. Why? Masha recently recorded and UMG Taiwan posted I believe in FB a 10 seconds message by Masha to Taiwanese fans (you can see in my FB account). This is due to the release of 27th single in Taiwan on I think 05.09.2011 (or maybe 09.09.2011 which I originally thought) and everyone is asking why release this single in Taiwan? (Normal, Masha's albums are usually released there it seems). But why a special announcement in BROS this time? (maybe promotion?) Why keep mentioning Taiwan, HK in his concerts? (Taiwan was the biggest donor for the charity collection fund I believe, hence the special shoutout to Taiwan, and he does have a big fanbase in HK). Now why this special video just for Taiwan that some Japanese fans didn't even know exist? (Ermmm...promotion?). So what is he doing in December? (Ermmm not getting married I hope?). Truth is I don't know. But I speculate the following so see if I am right and if I am right, well no prize for guessing right.

1. he will have a Asia Stopover (meaning smaller scale than Tour, 1 night here, 1 night here sort of thing)

2. he will have this stopover in December 2011, like I always said, his Daikanshasai out of Japan

3. he will have them in HK, Taiwan. Other possible venues may be Singapore, Korea, China. But I think he will limit to 2 or 3 countries only. It is either HK or China. I want HK. Why? I know HK.

4. when he does stopover, he may have a meet the fans session but my guess is, he won't. Probably interviews. He doesn't look the sort who will appear at shopping complexes.

AND

5. I won't be able to go because can't get tickets. How to fight with so many people. As I have said many times before, any extra tickets, spare some thoughts for me. Don't care HK, China, Taiwan, Korea, Singapore.

We shall see. I always thought he was gonna announce something when he was supposed to go to Taiwan to promote Best Bang before the whole tsunami-earthquake happened. Just gut feelings. Of course December could be his wedding date for all I know. If nothing announced in December, my bet is it will be Asia Tour 2012!! And hopefully some series. He has been traveling a lot this year itself, he needs rest.

More speculations after Read More link.

06.09.2011

10.03.2011

PURE SPECULATION. WHAT IS IN STORE FOR MASHA IN 2012

02.01.2011

BACK TO ASIA TOUR 2011? ASIAN MEDIA AT COUNTDOWN LIVE SHOW & ABOUT THE FUKUYAMA SHRINE

Szeying translated some news on Masha and it has something to do with the possible Asia Tour 2011 [Source, Source, Source]. Yes, it was the countdown 31.12.2010 show.

A more specific translation by Izumisano;

You ARE lucky fans won a draw to meet idol. If you don't want that, quit your job and let me do it, for free!

There was a shrine at the daikanshasai 2010. I think it is tongue in cheek, however the media may not find it amusing.

01.01.2011

WHAT ABOUT 2ND HALF OF THE YEAR, MASHA?

ORIGINALLY POSTED ON 15.10.2010

Is it true that Masha may be planning an Asia Concert Tour in 2011? And that rumoured first stop is Hong Kong? Rumour has it he had wanted to hold a concert in HK this year itself but Ryoma-Den got in the way. If it is true, I think it is far cheaper for me to go to HK than to Japan then! Accommodation is fair, transport is ok, plane ticket cheaper, closer as well and in Chinese so won't be lost. But as usual the biggest problem? Tickets. I wonder if he does go to HK and not stop anywhere near Malaysia, will someone or anyone in HK spare me a ticket. I won't mind paying double (or triple) as long as I don't need to go through the hell of auctioning or in a foreign languaged land. I've been to HK before so it is familiar territory. In fact it would be less hassle than going to Singapore and don't ask me why. I just have this impression and I don't mind another cup of that tasty best drink ever, Iced Lemon Tea HK style. In fact that is what I miss most about HK, apart from the cool weather.

I wish.. I wish...

[CM] Asahi - Human Heat [03.10.2011]

2011-10-03T10:28:00.000+08:00

New Asahi CM, called Human Heat, filmed during Live Bang at Okinawa. That's really real energy I see there because it was filmed in a real concert with real fans! A bit too energetic though. I wonder did everyone have a free can of Asahi beer?

WATCH

30 seconds version, non HD

SCREENCAPS

Anyway whilst waiting for HD version, here are some grainy screencaps;

[COMPILED] WOWOW Fukuyama Masaharu 36hours TV Special Live Circuit [01.10.2011-02.10.2011]

2011-10-02T21:01:00.010+08:00

UPDATES - 01.10.2011 to 02.10.2011

Today's the day!

GENERAL FACTS
Masha was in the following videos wearing a motion capture device. I think the effects is meant for 3D TV.

5 shows, 5 different themes as you can see from the setlist. Thanks to Ellen for the info, 2nd, 4th and 5th before live audience, 1st and 3rd without live audience. Each live audience is different people, but all 5 shows are live on the same stage at different timing. The timing itself I have posted somewhere below.

01.10.2011
10am
ROUND 1
SNIPPETS
Thanks to Mashamasha;

In the mc he said today and tomorrow wowow is free to watch, and he himself also gets no pay for performing the mini live...... Then he immediately laughed and said he just told a lie

DOWNLOAD
You can find this round 1 files in post #28 page 2. Time limited download, until 02.10.2011 only.

Or alternative you can download the file here. Choose Multiupload file for faster download.

WATCH
Thanks to Izumisano for the info, it was 20 min long, he was interviewed and then he sang;

Hello
Sou ~ New Love New World~ [Watch]
Fighting Pose [Watch]

7.30pm

ROUND 2
WATCH
Thanks to Izumisano for the info, the following is the setlist for Round 2;

- Sorega subetesa
- Ashita no show
- Hotaru
- Kazoku ni Narou yo [Watch]

Watch the full version for Round 2 here (1st part) and here (2nd part)

DOWNLOAD
Find the files at Post #57 Page 4. Some pixelation but has interview.

02.10.2011
1 am

ROUND 3
WATCH
Thanks  to Izumisano for the info, the following is the setlist for Round 3 which is acoustic unplugged;

- I love you and I need you Fukushima
- Naitari Shinaide
- Koufukuron
- Gunjou

Watch the full version for Round 3 here (1st part) and here (2nd part)

2.30pm

ROUND 4
WATCH
Thanks  to Izumisano for the info, the following is the setlist for Round 4

- It's Only Love
- Ano Natsu mo Umi mo Sora mo
- Milk Tea
- Sai Ai

No interview. Watch the full version for Round 4 here (1st part) and here (2nd part)

9pm

ROUND 5 -FINAL
WATCH
Thanks  to Angelreii for the info, the following is the setlist for Round 5

- Sakurazaka
- Marcy's Song
- Heaven
- Revolution//Evolution
- Nigerarenai
- Fighting Pose
- Keshin
- Kokoro Color

Watch the full version for Round 5 here (1st part), here (2nd part), here (3rd part) and here (4th part). I read Heaven is missing. And it is missing, as clarified by the uploader. What a pity! He did all those squeeze action up close during prime time! And it seems Revolution//Evolution is also missing!

More news after Read More Link.

UPDATES - 09.09.2011

Cm for WOWOW, narrated by Masha. Weird and I really don't know what it is trying to say. GREEN. RED. BLUE. Apparently there is green, blue and red theme, as shown here.

UPDATES - 04.09.2011

Got some info on the mini live on WOWOW, all info thanks to Thitirat. Masha will have 5 segments of Mini Live of different theme, each 30 min long, and they will be on as follows, all times are japan time:-

1st October
10am, 7.30pm and 1am

2nd October
2.30pm and 7 pm
A digest or repeat of all 5 segments same day, at 8.05am.

WOWOW will also rebroadcast an edited version of Okinawa concert (28.08.201) on 1st October at 4pm.

UPDATES - 28.07.2011

Masha hinted in Osaka 28.07.2011 concert that Fighting Pose may be released as a single in a month's time, which would make that August, but it could be September too!

UPDATES - 28.07.2011

Ok, got some clarification on that WOWOW thing, still not sure if accurate or not. WOWOW will broadcast on 1st and 2nd October 2011 5 segments of Masha specially filmed concert for WOWOW. Each is 30 minutes long with different theme. AND then there's a 6th segment, a recap and I am hoping I am right to say it is a recap of all 5 segments thus making it 2 and half hour of recap! But my feeling is it could also be a TMO. Could be! No news if actually will be streamed live and when I know more, especially for foreign fans, I will sure to post here!

UPDATES - 28.07.2011

27.07.2011 is day 1 for Osaka concert and guess what? No debut of Fighting Pose. Masha said to check out ANN this Saturday. Liar!

UPDATES - 27.07.2011
There was a confusion when I first posted the original news. Some part are correct, but most isn't I believe. It is true on 1st and 2nd October 2011 WOWOW will let viewers tune in for free for a 36 hours of specials, movies, etc. It is true Masha is I suppose you can say spokesperson for WOWOW for this occasion and his new song, Fighting Pose will be the theme for this event. It is also true he will hold 30 minutes mini concert during these 2 days. However what is more accurate is it will be 5 separate 30 minutes mini concerts, each with different theme, to be broadcast during the 36 hours run!!!! Seriously, Masha is insane. Anyway bookmark THIS LINK which they call social viewing because you may get to watch all these for free online, and when it is online, it means anyone outside Japan who doesn't have WOWOW and who can log on and is not restricted can watch!!! But I am still hoping for a kind soul to record, upload and share. It will of course be much better quality.

ORIGINALLY POSTED ON 26.07.2011

This is sorta great news for me and for all fans at Osaka and Japanese fans in general and whoever has access to WOWOW, which isn't me.

Anyway as I wrote here, Masha has a spanking news songs believed to be called Fighting Pose to debut during Osaka concert shows (July 2011) and we shall know more from fans reaction. My guess is this might be a rock song or at least in the vein of Kokoro Color because you don't call Hatsukoi sort of song as Fighting Pose do you? I hope it is like Sore gasube tesa sort of song (I apologise if spelling is wrong). Anyway this new song is in conjunction with Masha as... I can't really be sure if this is the right word to say but as the face for WOWOW's new HD broadcast (?) (satellite TV, broadcasts a lot of live concerts and much more)! Anyway there were more! Rinko, fellow Masha fan explains this news;

On 10/1~2 WOWOW special for 38 hours.In the event,he will performance!! He becomes an image character of WOWOW and he made the New Song "Fighting Pose" for WOWOW. Plus On 10/1~2 We can watch WOWOW for free if we have BS antenna.(Sorry,some foreigners can't watch,maybe) Some movies will broadcast in 38 hours. Then,He will performance like his concert!! Of course,He'll play the new song! His performance is 30 minutes and This performance will take place 6 times each different time! But I'm not sure when these will start.

Meaning on 1st and 2nd October 2011 whoever with the correct equipment to change to WOWOW channel or whatever can watch the 38 hours continous run of movies, specials, etc to celebrate WOWOW's new HD format or something. This will include a specially made for WOWOW concert by Masha, which is a 30 minutes performance to be broadcast a total 6 times throughout these 2 days. Not sure when he will be on but surely you will see him at some point!

This is like great news! Anyone with access to WOWOW I hope will record and upload and share! I am excited to see this 30 minute mini concert! AND the new song Fighting Pose is the new anthem.

I wonder will I hear this song when I am at Yoyogi?

OR I could be mistaken and what she meant is actually 36 hours instead of 38 hours, 5 or 6 different concert performances, each 30 minutes, with different themes. As of now, not sure and will confirm later!

I will post more about this WOWOW related news and Fighting Pose song in this very post later and I am sure I will have more news on this, and so do bookmark this post!

Also Rinko said;

Some trucks of WOWOW is stopping at Osaka hall now. According of twitter,some trucks of WOWOW is stopping there. Maybe it's because his concert in Osaka will be recorded during 4days. The recorders are maybe DVD,but I'm not sure. Of course,his concert in Okinawa on 8/28 will record and broadcast on WOWOW surely.

This I have already previously posted here. But Rinko clarified that this could be for the definitely soon to be released Live Bang DVD (as in like his old concerts you see?), so it may not be WOWOW broadcast of the concert on TV. However yes, Okinawa will be broadcast and you will find details here.

[COMPILED] Andalucia: Revenge of the Goddess

2011-10-01T01:15:00.000+08:00

This post is all about Masha and his guest appearance in Andalucia: Revenge of the Goddess.

GENERAL

- Official website, go here
- Trailer with Masha in it at Official Site's Trailer (click 2nd Vol 2 Trailer).
- Pictures from news site, HKFC and my own screencapture.
- For the 1st movie, Amalfi, click here.

- Date of Release : 25.06.2011

NEWS
01.10.2011

From HKFC, DVD will be released on 21.12.2011. Frankly all I wanna see is his scenes. Don't suppose there will be such a version for download!

09.07.2011

Wanna see one kissing scene first? See it in this GIF image here at Post #863 Page 58. Or see it in action with sound effects and I suppose Masha speaking Spanish in this Youtube video here. There's another one here but I don't know what it is since uploader does not permit Malaysia to watch. If you can see what it is, do tell. Screencaps is better! Meanwhile some blurry screencaps:-

08.07.2011

And more from fans who saw the movie. There is one bed scene. I don't think there's any nudity but apparently the luckiest woman/actress in the world was wearing a camisole and NOTHING ELSE underneath, not even underwear, and we know because Masha said so in I believe his ANN show on 03.07.2011. And how was the kiss? In addition to what I was told in the 07.07.2011 post below, "long kiss is in the last bed scene but not kiss directly "mouth to mouth", there is a blanket in the middle". I repeat, only 1 bed scene which I suppose is that one we see in the trailer, and as described previously. But I am still confused. It would seem there is more than 1 kissing scene? Since long kiss is last bed scene seems to suggest that. I am sorry but until I see for myself, you can expect for perv sort of post like this by me. Yes, that kissing/bed scene is to me the highlight of any Masha movie unless he is Yukawa sensei and doing the same thing! Great news though. Fans generally liked Masha's performance and a few consensus on the fact that this sequel is better than the 1st movie. Wow, no one burnt down the cinema! Great news then! I suspect it is because we don't know the actress and she is a foreigner. I can't imagine if she is a local actress, well known and unmarried, no doubt rumours will start circulating on an impending marriage. I wonder how young was the I suppose Spanish(?) actress?

07.07.2011

Ok, a fan saw Andalucia and she is Vspirit and she said of THAT scene; " I gave Andalucia a watch. It's pretty interesting. it wasn't much really. i thought they'd both be semi naked but turns out it's just the girl and even she's in her underwear. it's essentially a morning after scene so they're both still in bed. he's in this deep blue yukata watching the tv about the news pertaining to the case that unfolded in the movie, she's trying to distract him (she: is it me you're trying to get closer to or are you only using me to dig up dirt on my father? he: .........why, you of course. Your father has nothing to do with it.) and then it was all smooch smooch" and his name is Bond, James Bond! Underwear huh? Was she half naked, body exposed? And I suppose all of us are interested in the smooch smooch part! Thanks to Vspirit for the summary, so now you know what to expect. When is the DVD coming out? Where are the screencaps?

23.06.2011

Yes, it is a fact! Masha mentioned it on ANN on 18.06.2011 and he did mention how good the girl was and how he had to be better! I have the screencaps up in Facebook but since things are messy now, I just let you download the file ripped from Tudou so quality is not very good. It is MP4 and 30MB. DOWNLOAD HERE. You won't see the French kiss on bed but you will know who's that lucky girl (unknown ke-le-fe) and a bit of a prelude. I will post another ripped video later with screencaps.

10.06.2011

Rumour has it, well actually it is a fact that some Japanese fans saw the movie and said yes Masha has a small role but in that small role is a breakthrough. Some were rather shocked to see him ermmm... you know French kiss some girl it seems. I don't know, and this movie is now my must see movie. French kiss? Seriously? Oh Masha, why didn't you warn us? I bet he will talk about that in his next ANN. Additional info! "Deep kiss in bed" and "inside the mouth". The rest you can fill in with your imagination until some screencaps or videos appear. Hopefully soon because I am dying to know who's the lucky girl. I am however never in doubt of his French connection!!

23.04.2011

Fukuyama Masaharu and Oda Yuji to pick up the chase again in "Andalucia"
Thanks to Izumisano for the translation from this original source

Fukuyama Masaharu will star in Oda Yuji's movie "Andalucia: Revenge of the Goddess". Following in the footsteps of its prequel, he plays freelance journalist Saeki Shōgo and sole confidant of Oda's character, Kuroda Kosaku. Fukuyama and Oda came together again in Barcelona, Spain at the beginning of January. The atmosphere in between filming was friendly and relaxed. Filming was done on location outside the Catalonia National Museum of Art (Museo Nacional d'Art de Catalunya) and the Central Post Office along the beach of Barcelonata (platja de la Barceloneta)

Fukuyama was excited upon reading the script and felt it was very well written and interwined with riddles and underplots and was looking forward to an enjoyable time with the cast as he had worked with Hiroshi Nishitani, Oda Yuji and Ito Hideaki before, but this was the first time with Kuroki Meisa.

The story starts with the discovery of the body of Japanese businessman Kawashima (Tanihara Shoshuke) by Shindo Yuka (Kuroki Meisa) and involves Interpol agent Kotari Makoto (Ito Hideaki). Kuroda will have to uncover the secrets through an intricate web of clues and intelligence.

From Tokyohive.

Fukuyama Masaharu will reprise his role alongside Oda Yuji in “Andalucia”
Previous announcements (here and here) regarding “Andalucia: Revenge of the Goddess“, the second movie about diplomat Kuroda Kosaku, starring actor Oda Yuji, which follows “Amalfi: Rewards of the Goddess“, already revealed the appearances of two new faces, an Interpol agent portrayed by Ito Hideaki and an elite banker portrayed by Kuroki Meisa.

Today, we also got the confirmation that singer and actor Fukuyama Masaharu will once again reprise his role of Kuroda’s only true friend, and freelance journalist, Saeki Shogo. Many people worried that he might not return, since he didn’t get to appear in the drama “Diplomat Kuroda Kosaku” that aired earlier this year.

This time his role is said to hold an important key for Kuroda to solve the case about a murdered Japanese investor in Andorra and the darkness hidden behind this international crime.

Fukuyama said about the movie, “The script of ‘Andalucia’ was very entertaining, making me both puzzled and anticipating what is going to happen next. Starting with director Nishitani Hiroshi, with whom I already worked together for ‘Suspect X‘, and the wonderful cast including Oda Yuji, Ito Hideaki, and Kuroki Meisa, you sure can look forward to a very exciting movie.”

Oda and Fukuyama hadn’t seen each other since the filming of the previous movie, “Amalfi”. They are both from the same generation, and the distributor, Toho, revealed that the two immediately shook hands and had a lot of conversations as soon as the latter arrived at the set in Barcelona, Spain.

“Andalucia” is scheduled to open in cinemas on June 25th.

More after Read More link.

DOWNLOAD
Trailers
Vol 2. 13.7MB. MP4. Thanks to Anthippi for sharing!
http://www.mediafire.com/?5ua4cv1ve6zcj7i

PICTURES

[COMING SOON] Daikanshasai 2011

2011-09-27T14:10:00.000+08:00

UPDATED - 27.09.2011

Go straight to bottom of post, you will find the link to vote for the songs you want!

ORIGINALLY POSTED ON 19.09.2011

THE OFFICIAL STUFF

Official website

THE RUNDOWN

So, Asia Tour, dead. Now back to Daikanshasai which is a surprise for me. As explained by Mashamasha;

actually some even said originally he did not plan to hold daikanshasai this year and intended to use okinawa live as substitute (just like 3939 live in 09 to substitute daikanshasai). When he announced okinawa live in 2010 daikanshasai, he called it as Natsu no Daikanshasai. Fans guessed it means there is none in year end. But then after 311, when he announced the title of okinawa live, it is no longer called "Daikanshasai", which hinted there will be one in year end

Interesting! So what's the content will be like? Something he has never done before, which is something he has been thinking about for some time. As I wrote in ANN/TFM snippets post, he announced in ANN on 17.09.2011 that:-

Masha will be holding 5 shows aka Daikanshasai on 24, 25, 28, 30 and 31 Dec 2011 at Yokohama Pacifico. So yes, damn be the Asia Tour 2011 since I can't imagine him running around in December. Maybe 2013. Anyway, some great snippets on the nature of this daikanshasai. He has been toying with the idea of a No Singles concert. Frankly I have no idea what it means. Will this include the cover album he made? Great thing is he will accept fans request when making up the setlist. Forms are being drawn to give to fans to make their request.

Anyway more snippets by Mashamasha;

Daikanshasai 2011 announced aka no single live (he was talking about this for some time). he said he will not sing any songs from singles in the daikanshasai. he said he is worried that the audience are not familiar with his album songs and when he plays the intro, they will all look like "what is this song???" and it will turn out to be a quiz (the audience need to think out the song title ) And he joked maybe on the first day he sings no songs from single, but then find that the live atmosphere is too bad that he has to add hit songs to later shows, and then on 31 Dec all songs are from singles.

More explanation by Mashamasha;

He said the no single live idea originated from TFM. He has been talking about no single live for a while in TFM and asked listeners' opinion. Not clearly remember, but sometimes ago he broadcast an album song in TFM and then said he has not sang that song for long time in concert, maybe it will be good to hold a concert singing all songs he has not sang for long time>>then no single live idea comes out. And the listeners wrote to him and said they supported it because there are many songs they haven't listened in concert.

What that means? Because I am confused myself. From what I can understand, it means he can only choose from his own catalogue of songs where;

1. it is from an album

2. not a single

3. not originally released as a single

4. no tie ups, so no CM songs, series song, promo songs

No Beautiful Day. But no Milk Tea? Definitely no Fighting Pose and the likes. Which would make this concert a must go if you can go because you will hear rarely sung concert songs with new arrangements. WOWOW will definitely broadcast the 31st show though. And he will consider fan request by the way, from I suppose the final setlist to be confirmed later.

Angelreii compiled a possible song list, some may be removed if tie in, etc;

Album (Dengon)

1. BLUE SMOKY

2. DEAD BODY

3. Furui Tomo he no Tegami (古い友への手紙)

4. I LOVE YOU

5. Kanashimi wa... (かなしみは…)

6. Maboroshi (まぼろし)

7. PEACE IN THE PARK

8. WHITE LIGHT WHITE HEAT

9. WIND FROM JUNGLE

Album(LION)

1. Mou Kimi wa Inai (もう君はいない)

2. Kono Mama RAIN (このままRAIN)

3. Ame no Main Street (雨のメインストリート)

4. Nigerarenai (逃げられない)

5. LOVE SONG

6. Doushitara Iindarou (どうしたらいいんだろう)

7. Radio days〜1943…

8. Zara Tsuita Situation (ザラついたシチュエイション)

9. Kono Kuni wo (この国を)

10. Motto Soba ni Kite (もっとそばにきて)

ALBUM (BROS)

1. Taiyou wa Futatsu Nai (太陽はふたつない)

2. Tenshi no Tsubasa ni Kuchizuke wo (天使の翼にくちづけを)

3. 1991 Nen no Christmas Song (1991年のクリスマスソング)

4. Running Through The Dark

5. 00：20AM

6. Tomato Game

7. J no Mise (Jの店)

8. Tengoku no Tobira wo Hiraite Hoshii Yoru (天国の扉を開いて欲しい夜)

9. Mienai Ashita (見えない明日)

ALBUM (Boots)

1. Start (スタート)

2. Girl

3. Cool

4. Futatsu no Kodou (ふたつの鼓動)

5. HARD RAIN

6. Koi (恋)

7. Hold on Me

8. Mitsumeteitai (みつめていたい)

ALBUM (Calling)

1. Calling

2. Moon

3. Ii Dasenakute... (言い出せなくて...)

3. KISS AND KILL ME

4. Marcy's Song

5. IN THE CITY

6. Good Luck

ALBUM (ON AND ON)

1. BLOOD

2. 1985 Nen Factory Street Natsu (1985年Factory Street夏)

3. Atsui Kuchizuke (熱いくちづけ)

4. Ame wo Kiki Nagara (雨を聴きながら)

5. Dance Shinai ka (ダンスしないか)

6. Asuhe no March (明日へのマーチ

7. GLOAMING WAY

8. Boku no Asa (ぼくの朝)

ALBUM (SING A SONG)

1. Ai wa Kaze no You ni (愛は風のように)

2. Bokura no Ai wa Kyou mo Isogashii (僕らの愛は今日も忙しい)

3. You Can Dance

3. Tooi Tabi (遠い旅)

4. Hard Luck Lover

5. 80 Proof

6. Makimodoshita Natsu (巻き戻した夏)

7. Like A Hurricane

8. Fellow

ALBUM (F)

1. Tomo yo (友よ)

2. Venus

3. Mikan Iro no Natsuyasumi (蜜柑色の夏休み)

4. Escape

5. dogi-magi

6. Blues

7. Carnival

8. Haru Natsu Aki Fuyuu (春夏秋冬)

ALBUM (5 nen mono)

1. Watashi wa Kaze ni Naru (LIVE VERSION) (わたしは風になる)

2. Sandy

ALBUM (Zankyo)

1. Nagareboshi (ながれ星)

2. Koufukuron (幸福論)

3. 18~Eighteen~

4. Phantom

5. Survivor

6. Konya Kimi wo Daite (今夜、君を抱いて)

Special/Compilation album & Single

1. Kissin'in the holy night

2. Hitorikiri Aruiteku Kaerimichi de (ひとりきり歩いてく帰り道で)

3. Sono Mama de... (そのままで・・・)

4. Ima Kono Hitotoki ga Tooi Yume no You ni (今このひとときが遠い夢のように)

5. Sweet Darling

6. DRIVE-IN THEATERでくちづけを

VOTE! VOTE!
Added on 27.09.2011

The list of songs is released! And there's Beautiful Day! Strange. Anyway vote here, I read no more than 5 songs. I myself chose Girl. Dead Body, Blood, Beautiful Day and Phantom. Sorta want Phantom most although alternate to Dead Body is my other favourite, Calling.

[REPORT] Funn At Yoyogi aka My date(s) with Masha at Live Bang 2011

2011-09-25T19:40:00.003+08:00

UPDATES - 25.09.2011
I am in shock; it has just been over a month since the trip and yet felt like a lifetime ago! Anyway I made a special sorta like MV for my own collection and since I thought it was rather cute, I have uploaded to youtube. They're pictures of my Fuku-Kat, basically Journey of Fuku-Kat set against Masha's wonderful song Beautiful Day which does seem rather apt for this trip! Hope you enjoy!

ORIGINALLY POSTED ON 13.08.2011

To be frank with you, I was very excited to write about my experience at the concert(s) but after some time has passed, I didn't feel I could do a good recap since everything now seems like a blur and all that remains is my memory of how I felt and what I observed. I can't remember much about the setlist, I can't tell exactly what he said since he spoke in Japanese and really rapid Japanese at that. But if you're interested to know how was my experience as a first time Masha concert goer, please do read on. After having learnt of Live Bang tour 2011 when it first started, I really wished I could go but a lot of reasons and excuses as to why I couldn't until I was reminded by a good friend if there is any time to go, this is it. It was an ardous journey; first I had to take care of the financial aspect, then the ticket aspect and then something happened which meant I couldn't get a really close enough seats but after everything, I realised it was a pretty good view from my perspective. And of course the long wait.

I went for 2 shows and luckily I did because the 1st is always very confusing and you wouldn't know where to look and the 2nd is always the one where you can appreciate the surroundings. My dates were the 3rd and 7th August at Yoyogi, Tokyo, effectively the 1st and last Yoyogi show. It would have been the last show in the Live Bang Tour but we all know what happened that interrupted his schedule and I don't begrudge that at all.

3rd August 2011

(L) At the start (R) At the end

On the 3rd of August, I went with my fellow travel companion, Wati as we stayed very near the stadium that was the Shibuya Tobu Hotel, within walking distance of the Shibuya entrance but further away from the actual entrance, the Harajuku entrance and frankly I got very lost. There was no sign of any trucks or stalls, but I did see a lot of young girls in pretty kimonos and I thought for a moment Masha really has such a wide fan base. I nearly walked into one fan gathering until I realised the scene was all wrong; they looked more like they belong to Harajuku street, with their elaborate hairdos and costumes and they were far too young to be Masha's huge fanbase and I was correct. It was another idol's concert, which idol I did not bother to find out. I was sweating and wet due to the rain which wasn't heavy but still an annoyance. So I walked around and luckily I was an hour earlier when finally I saw a resemblance of what I feel is Masha's fanbase; older women, some with friends, some with their partners, some with their young children and some whole family but I suspect they too got lost. I followed the crowd and what greeted me which excited me were the Live Bang trucks, all parked there, to my memory I saw 2 but since it was raining, I wasn't in the mood to look further. Then my travel companion pointed out the rainbow as the rain began to stop and I believe many fans were excited over the rainbow.

I saw the stalls, filled with people, I saw people lining up as the time has yet to be 5.30pm when the doors opened as the concert will begin at 6.30pm and I was thinking whether those working can come on time since it was raining. I saw fans drenched in the rain, some of them male fans and I suspect the t-shirts must have been selling well. There were live bang banners everywhere, and when it was time to enter, I was greeted by what I would term as organised chaos. Everybody was organised, but it was a chaotic as in busy scene. His staff were dressed in white shirt, black pants, like an office worker. They were politely announcing through the megaphone on where to enter, etc. I noticed that those checking the tickets were all very young, and a funny scene ensued; my ticket was still in a plastic cover and the poor young man couldn't figure out how to tear the ticket stub and me, sweating, wet, with an umbrella in hand, handbag in the other helped by removing the plastic cover. Walked in and someone asked in Japanese ".... camera..." and I just shook my head. Then someone shoved (well not that rude but almost quite urgently) a white plastic packet and in it were the few pamphlets, and can you imagine, now I really have my hands full of stuff. I walked in some more and was greeted by flowers on the left and straight ahead, huge Asahi CM banner, which I wanted to take pictures but couldn't as I said, too chaotic. Then I walked further in and I asked the attendant where is my seat (right side, 2nd floor, B side) and so I walked to the right when I was greeted by the most amazing scene. If you've been to any concert in a stadium, you will know what I mean. It wasn't filled, it was about 60% filled, it was smoky, blurry, the stage facing me in a T shape, with 2 huge TVs on each side, the stadium was oval shaped, filled with people walking and then the centre which is the arena. I was mesmerized, it was an awesome scene, and I noticed Masha put on the Beatles soundtrack. Anyway I walked but wanted to go to the toilets first, and it was a difficult climb and then down the stairs, about 2 flights when I saw the line for the ladies' washroom which was so long, whilst the men's washroom was like so free. Make no mistake, I saw male fans of all ages who came alone, wearing the t-shirts and holding the towels of whatever version they bought but the ladies were a lot. I was thinking I can never make it on time but within 15 minutes I was done. That is efficiency, and a staff was there to direct the "traffic". And did I mention most of the staff were men? Anyway I rushed to my seat, huffing, puffing, looking like I've been through hell with my sweaty face, found my seat and thought it was a pretty good seat. In retrospect, if you're not too fussy over seeing his face up close and personal, any seat in Yoyogi gives a good view and if you're short, wear higher platform heels and the moment the concert starts, stand up. Well I didn't want to stand up. I was dead tired. My seat was 3 rows from the 1st row of the 2nd floor, and I believe 3 seats from the aisle. So I thought if everyone just sit down, I will have an unobstructed view but what is a concert if everyone is like me, glued to the seat?

Anyway I noticed something rather peculiar but rather interesting; there was a raised platform at the end of the stadium, and I looked carefully and realised it was for wheelchair bound fans and their families. Because at the arena, when everyone stands up, you can hardly see a thing even if the stage is very very high, so the raised platform is for the convenience of the wheelchair bound fans. I am not sure if this is such for all concerts of every star but I thought that was a very considerate gesture. By 6.25pm, the stadium was filled and there was a rather long announcement by a lady announcer and by 6.30pm sharp, the band starts. Things were calm at first until suddenly the fans all stood up and cheered and I knew he must be on the stage though in total darkness. And imagine the pandemonium when he actually appeared and frankly my view was obstructed by the standing fans although I thank my lucky stars I could see quite well through the gap and through my binoculars. And basically I spent my entire time looking through the binoculars. He spent a lot of time at the centre stage, but he spent even more at the end or rather start of the T shaped stage, which meant with my binoculars I could basically see him very clearly. And what was my first thought when I saw him in white long shiny jacket, tight black pants, something I believe is called black combat boots and him in my favourite position that is holding a guitar and strumming it? Frankly my first thought was "So handsome". He was not as thin as he was during Galileo time, not as buffed up as in Ryoma time, not as big as he was during 17 Nen Mono tour (which still remains my most favourite look of his) but he looked slim, slender, healthy, younger than his actual age and surprisingly not as tall as I think he would be. I never thought he was 6 feet tall, and I stand by my believe he is at most 5 feet 10 inches or at most 5 feet 10 and a half inches tall but he has such long slender legs that gives you the impression he is over 6 feet tall. All in all, whatever you see in pictures, that is him. Very few stars actually look like their pictures, but he does and I dare say he looks better in person and that is really something to boast about. I was however not near enough to observe what fans say that he had more wrinkles in person but I did notice he looked unshaven with a bit of eyebag. I felt in this particular concert, he looked troubled, not that his heart wasn't in it but rather he looked burdened, not relaxed at all. He kept touching his hair, like it really bothered him. However he gave it his all. The acoustic in the First National Gymnasium of Yoyogi is not the best; sometimes his voice was drowned out by the loud music, but sometimes I felt he mumbled a bit in his singing. I could never tell if he sang off key or out of tune, since nothing that obvious happened but overall I felt he is one singer you must hear live. Hardly any heavy breathing sound, he was in control of his vocals and he knows it. He was also in control over the crowd. A flick of a towel, and they knew what to do. The flick of a hand, and they knew when to stop clapping and start swaying. A bit of smile and they screamed. When he changed into that red jacket with the red towel by his side to sing Fighting Pose and Keshin, the moment he turned, fans screamed their approval but that night he did not pause to savour their approval. Like I said, he looked troubled and there wasn't that much interaction between fans and him. I mean he talked, he joked but somehow he was in a sombre serious mood. But he did everything to military precision. I believe he timed every step. He prowled the stage, left, centre, right, front, back although he seems to emphasise more on the right side (his right) where the VIP seats were located. I felt neglected. For a moment I felt like I had a really good seat in a cinema, that is watching through a lens and not at a concert. I felt sorely disappointed when midway to Revolution//Evolution there was a loud bang and confetti fell down and I couldn't get any as I was too far. That was one thing I really really wanted; that golden confetti. And I wanted that more than I wanted to sit in the front row because let's face it, it would be odd if everybody stood up and me that one fan glued to my seat, Masha surely will not be pleased! And that doesn't make for good TV moment so to speak. He sang quite a number of rock or fast paced songs. He started fast, slowed down in the middle and ended things fast again. My favourite moment was when he motioned to the fans to sing Shonen, one of my most favourite song and the fans did and then he launched into the song perfectly. I remember Hard Rain if I am not mistaken, Keshin was awesome with the fires pumped out on the stage but it was Fighting Pose which I was eager to hear, for the first time and he didn't disappoint. He did the usual kicks, punching, posing, etc and Fighting Pose I believe will be a concert favourite song much like Peach!! which was sang much earlier and sang well. He did the usual fake ass movements but somehow I felt something was lacking. I didn't know what it was until on the 7th of August, but I have digressed. Then came Gang which I never thought he would sing and that was when he shot things to the audience, again much neglecting my side of the audience but he did the obligatory squeeze squeeze action, twice. There were quite a few MC moments. Earlier on he asked the audience to stand in silence, and I didn't know what was going on, wondering who died but I stood up. Much later I found out it was for the victims of the earthquake/tsunami disaster and I felt relieved I didn't embarrass myself! He also talked the longest about Hotspot before launching into Ammonite no Yume, which is to me my sleepiest moment. At that time all the fans were still standing, one particular fan in particular stood throughout and she was in front of me and let's just say the persons sitting next to me were not pleased with that. Then Masha said something in Japanese which I assume he said "Please sit down, I will take a long time to talk" because everyone, and I mean EVERYONE finally sat down. He talked and talked and talked, very rapid Japanese and since no one was laughing, whatever he said must have been dead serious. And then the show went on, the stage lit up in many colours, and frankly it was haze to me since I was just so happy listening to him sing some of my favourite songs. And quite suddenly, the concert was sorta over, where he went back waiting for the obligatory screams for encore which he did, this time dressed in the grey t-shirt. That was when he sang his perennial concert favourite, Tsuioku no Ame no Naka where he will throw cups filled with sweets and jump a few times. He looked tired, he didn't jump very high, even his throws were lacklustre, he looked exhausted although one comic moment happened as he attempted to throw to the backstage audiences but he failed to even reach the first row and shocked, he threw again, and failed and finally succeeding feebly on 3rd try. He must have been very very exhausted. And he introduced the bang members, they all left but not before another comic moment where Masha was gesturing to his watch, as if to say one of the band member was taking too long to say goodbye, wasting time. And then it was just Masha on the stage, with a guitar, he spoke some more and finally said "Milk Tea". I was shocked. I thought after being heckled to sing Milk Tea in Osaka, he would have banned this song but sang he did. It is to me one of the most romantic song ever written, and I loved it and for a moment, the total silence of the crowd in the stadium, with Masha's guitar and his voice clear and strong filled the stadium, it felt like he was singing to me. And he finished, spoke some more, said his thanks and finally he walked down the middle of stage to the floors below and lights on, 2 big screens showing his written message to his fans and I knew it was really over. And I left but I knew I will be coming back on Sunday.

7th August 2011

(L) At the start (R) At the end

I left my hotel, this time at Plaza Sunroute Shinjuku heading towards Shinjuku station approximately 1 hour before the show started, which was 5pm and I was greeted by a rainstorm. It was even heavier then on the 3rd, whilst I succinctly remembered on the 4th when my taxi passed through Yoyogi, the sun was shining. It would seem everytime my turn, it rained. And the rain was so heavy, half my jeans was soaked by the time I reached Shinjuku station. Once I reached Harajuku station, it was so packed, I couldn't breath. People were politely pushing, which is a norm in Japan, nothing chaotic but I felt I was pushed along, and I walked very slowly towards the stadium. I reached it half an hour before the show starts, saw the staff now again in office attire except covered in clear rain coats and drenched in the rain (I sorta pitied them!), rushed to the toilets and was at my seat about 10 minutes before the show began. I could see the words Talking FM on the 2 screens and the stadium was filled with Masha's voice. The stadium at that moment was not yet even 60% filled, and I wondered will the show be delayed to wait for the fans? Silly, because his concert is timed to the second. Anyway this time I was even further, in A Block, again the right side, 2nd floor but very first row, about 2 seats away from the aisle. So this time I had space to put my bag and an unobstructed view of the stage. And I do think A block's view was better than B block, because the T shaped stage is almost directly facing me. It may look far, but with my binoculars and with Masha standing at the edge of the stage, I could see even clearer. I was happy with my seat, having settled on my grudge that I can never be close enough to see his wrinkles or to catch the cup or those golden confetti. I have made my peace and my god, that seat was cold! It was so cold! But I was happy; no one to stand between me and Masha. I basically sat throughout the show again, and looked through the binoculars again. Basically the show on the 7th was the same as the 3rd with maybe a change of probably 2 songs to my memory. Everything else was the same, right down to the interaction between the drummer and the audience. You may think it all felt rehearsed, staged even, like an act which it is. He is after all an entertainer; everything has a script and this time I could see the teleprompter with the words whenever he was speaking but I really don't think he was looking at the teleprompter at all. I like this show much better. For one, Masha seemed so much more relaxed. He shaved, he didn't touch his hair as much (I believed a few micro inches must have been snipped off!), he was more flamboyant, he smiled much more, and the difference between this night and the night on the 3rd, he was a tease. He teased the audience; he gave shy smiles when his name was shouted, he actually interacted more with the audience, he shook his fake ass more, even during Gang he seemed to squeeze more, and this time I have unobstructed view and let's just say, kinda like the highlight of my day. He prowled the stage, but this time with energy, and at the end, he could even jumped a few times more and could throw the cups further away! He interacted more with my side, even aiming a gun high up to the last few rows of 2nd Floor probably F or E side and I just felt he seems more lighthearted. Whatever that bothered him on the 3rd, did not bother him on the 7th. I was told on the 3rd one male audience threw an uchiwa at him. Frankly I didn't see it. But on the 7th, the crowd were doing exactly what he told them to do, and this time when he jumped, I felt a thunder behind me and I realise the fans were all jumping along. This was a far more energetic crowd, as responsive as the one on the 3rd but somehow I felt Masha was very pleased with this crowd. You should see the way he teased them all, his every smile, every pretend glare, everything he did, the fans took them all in. When Akira-san was introducing his I suppose CD shyly, well, Masha did the talking, Masha pretended to throw the CD (or is it a book?) at the crowd and I really thought he did. Of course he didn't, he laughed, he fooled us. Quite a tease. And the fans reacted as they were supposed to; oohed and ahhed and played along. He was in total control of the crowd. He was in total control on the 3rd but on this night, he was in total control and he was enjoying it. It was quite a sight to see such interaction, as if he was interacting with each and everyone when of course I knew he couldn't possibly know us all personally. But it felt that way. I didn't notice this on the 3rd August show, but in this one, I noticed he would throw away the is it called guitar tabs (?) once he is done with that particular guitar segment for want of better word. He would throw them onto the floor, and he could whip another out from I don't know where and from my observation, he only threw the tab once into the crowd. One time whilst wiping his sweat with the Live Bang towel (black, same like mine I am pleased to note), he would without much care throw it to the back without a glance at that direction, but I think he knew his staff, dutifully squatting nearby and who was busy clearing the area expertly catching the towel without even a glance at Masha's direction, like he knew when and what to expect although it was a spontaneous action on the part of Masha. I felt at that moment it is not easy working for him; you must be alert, what to expect, when to expect and act on that expectation. As far as I know, his staff were all efficient and tried very much to stay in the background. This was even more evident during Tsuioku no Ame no Naka where I didn't even notice when they had laid down the cups by the stage side but there they were. He may not always take the cups from the 2 crouching assistant but there they were, holding at least 6 paper cups in each hand, waiting for him to take from them. The backup singers were energetic, especially the lady with the super short mini skirt and curly hair whilst the rest of his band members were energetic and wooed the crowd although I notice the 2 guitarists whose name I can't remember, especially the silver haired one were often stationary on their spot, where I wished they moved more since they're part of the band. Even if the songs were the same, the words, etc were the same, the atmosphere was different. Still as great but something to behold. At the end, as the band were leaving, he teased us all again, miming with his hands as if there wasn't time and he pretended to leave when the fans shouted noooooo and he returned, laughing happily. His last song was a song I never liked; in fact I hated it, Koibito but admittedly he rarely sing this live and he sang it so well, I am beginning to feel a bit of affection for this song, much like how I felt for Hatsukoi. My favourite moment was one of my most favourite song, Koufukuron. Somehow when the music began for this song, the feeling was so lighthearted, the atmosphere was suddenly playful, everything seemed like sunshine and rainbow. And then it was really finally over. I walked out, walked towards Harajuku station with the rain still pouring gently and I turned to have one last look at Yoyogi, knowing Masha was in it, probably having his tired legs massaged but I couldn't see Yoyogi anymore. I felt a certain pang of loss. At that moment I made another promise to myself; wherever his future shows may be, for the next tour or daikanshasai, I will be back, and hopefully better seats. And this time I am not scared of Shinjuku station anymore. I know my way around. I know he has a few more shows but my affair with Masha is over, for now. It will be renewed, no doubt and when it does, I know it will be a night to remember.

IN THE END ...
I had this conversation with my sister when I returned to the hotel and she was perplexed when I said Masha had no guest singers, probably just 2 jacket changes, he was on stage for 3 hours and 15 minutes save for perhaps 5 minutes of disappearance due to encores and he never had a break in between. She was surprised, just him, entire time, no rest?And my answer was a simple yes and she did asked what about special effects? I answered the stage had multi coloured bulbs, some spurting fires but that was about it. His guitar was his special effect, his charisma and his singing ability was his special tools. In Masha's concert, you get Masha and no one else. He doesn't need guests and we don't want guests. She did asked, what about dancers? There were dancers in Daikanshasai 2010 and from all reports, they weren't a success and I can understand why. We were all there for him, dancers in his concert is like cheerleaders in a football/soccer game; redundant. I think I have basically summed up what to expect in a Fukuyama Masaharu concert; Fukuyama Masaharu. And there's not better deal than that, don't you think?

If you're thinking of attending his future concerts, take my advice; always buy for 2 days' worth of tickets, 3 days if you can afford it but it will be overkill, one day near him and the next day at the back, to just soak up the atmosphere from every angle, bring your binoculars, bring water, bring towel, do not feel bad if you do not follow the moves, after all variety is the spice of life (as I did felt for a moment with everyone moving in unison it felt mechanical) and I know you will have a great time. I have a friend asking me a sincere question; were the female fans there for his looks or for his music? It was a simple answer for someone who was there; looks can only get you so far, to sustain his sort of popularity takes a certain amount of talent. I have no doubt we are all attracted to his looks, even the illusion he may end up becoming our very own prince charming but the reality is, what kept us going is his talent. You may dismiss him based on looks and such, but this man is not only blessed with good looks, he can strum a guitar and sing live, not credibly, but beyond that. He sounds even better live and to me, that is what his fans look forward to in his concerts. To let loose and have a great time. From my observation, the fans were looking dreamy, inhaling and exhaling excitedly but not when he was talking where they can have a good look at him. It was when he finished a favourite song of theirs, or after an energetic guitar moment. Looks is of course the cherry on the top but the cherry can't be firmly in place without everything else at the bottom. And that is Masha; a musician who happens to be an ikemen. Never had I once heard the fans screamed Kakkoiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii. None. I feel like all my energy, attention, affection and money spent on this trip and on this man is validated by the 2 shows I have seen. I am in no position to comment on others, but for me, Masha is worth all that. If you ever have that opportunity to see him live, and if you can afford it, go for it. And I feel he won't retire any time soon; you can see he loves performing very much. So start saving up, and one day, hopefully I will meet you at the concert hall and we can both gush about Masha. But please do forgive me if you think I am beyond that gushing age; Masha just makes all ladies like teenage girls all over again and he is to me my fountain of youth. Seeing so many older women, even obachans, even some men, I have no doubt he is their fountain of youth too. For the younger ones, I am sure he is their inspiration. It is a positive effect and anything positive is good influence. Frankly I am just happy I made the exhausting trip because in the end it was rewarding. I realised my dream and now I want more. And I hope, if you have never been to his concert, you too one day will make that "pilgrimage".

And if you're wondering how he looks like in person, the closest I can find is the following;

And I recorded some of the atmosphere at Yoyogi on 7th August 2011 at the beginning and at the end.

Before the concert began ...

After the concert ...

Thank you for reading.

[CM] Asahi [21.09.2011]

2011-09-21T13:27:00.002+08:00

New CM from Asahi with the title うまい！を明日へ！Umai! wo Ashita he!. I haven't heard it yet but Mashamasha says the background music is Yakusoku no Oka (約束の丘) which was released way back in 1992! Really? Must listen later. Anyway Asahi has redeemed themselves. No more troll bloaty looking Masha, now we have handsome fit Masha and nature! Love this CM! Makes me want to rush out to buy beer when I don't drink beer.

WATCH IT

Official site, click the link below Blue Shout. Hopefully Youtube will have a HD version soon. A must see in HD.

Or in the youtube video below

SCREENCAPS

Some nice ones;

[TV APPEARANCE] Music Station [TV Asahi][16.09.2010]

2011-09-16T01:00:00.003+08:00

Masha appeared on the 3 hour Music Station Special on 16.09.2011 singing both Kazoku ni Narou yo and Fighting Pose. As usual he sounded great. But not as usual, he actually looked great. He changed clothes before performing by the way, from nice dark jacket to his favourite lumberjack sorta look.

SNIPPETS
Some snippets thanks to Mashamasha.

Exile's vocal talked about his first meet with masha in music station, his mother as fans of masha, nagasaki. AKB's 前田 talked about ryomaden and kazoku, and another girl talked about Niji
Koda Kumi and 東方神起 talked about sakurazaka

Thanks to Naomi who explained a particular clip around 43 minutes into the broadcast where there was young Masha with the dates 03.02.1995 on it. She says;

He told about his life on his first debut career. He lived at Kawasaki, Kanagawa Prefecture at cheap apartment, the monthly rent fee was (only) ￥55.000 because at that time his salary was stil low. Most of his neighbors were foreigner. And then he moved to Tokyo after dorama series of Under The Same Roof (Hitotsu no yane no shita)

SCREENCAPS

[VARIOUS] BROS & general collaborated goods

2011-09-16T00:54:00.009+08:00

I do not know how much stuff Masha collaborated with others to create, not music but goods. I am also not sure how much input he actually put him. But after Read More link you will find some Masha made goodies, designs he reportedly has a say in. If you know of more of such collaborations (concert goods is not included), do tell me please!

If you see this at the top of the posts, it means it has been updated with new contents.

TOSHIBA REGZA

I can't remember the exact date but you can say sometimes in August-September 2011 - This is his special Fukuyama Regza TV, white with red. I can see his input in this! The remote control has his handwriting, so definitely his. You can't buy this if I remember correctly, you must win this. Limited sets. I will update more when I remember.

ASAHI BEER

16.09.2011 - Asahi and himself collaborated and came out with this towel. I don't like the colour but I really like the Fighting Pose shadow. I wish that was in the Live Bang towel!!

BROS

Given during 5th anniversary of Bros with the special made card [Szeying]

it was given to bros members as 20th anniversary present, delivered to fans on 21 Mar 2009. The box included a renewed membership card, 3 guitar picks, key chain, a photo taken in inasayama and masha's thank you message [Mashamasha]

BROS member card as at todate - 2011

[MESSAGES] My message at BROS about the 27th single

2011-09-14T00:53:00.000+08:00

On 31.08.2011 to 16.09.2011, BROS Message Board will be opened for messages about the 27th single. I posted mine and is as follows:-

Kinda sappy but is the truth.

If you're not a BROS member and would wish to add your feelings about this new single, feel free to post here or email me or PM me in Facebook with your message, the title, your nickname and do add in which country you're from so Masha or at least Team Fukuyama can feel the foreign fans' presence. I will screencap the post and send to you or if you did not leave your email, I will post the link in the comments.

Deadline is 16.09.2011.

[DVD] Fukuyamania [12.12.2001]

2011-09-13T00:50:00.001+08:00

Anthippi was very kind to send me the full DVD some time ago and said if the quality is good, share it. I took some time to download, then took some time to watch it and then for a very long time I was frankly very confused as to what I was looking at. I was thinking does Fukuyamania DVD has anything to do with the CD version, Live Fukuyamania released in 2001? Was it a tie in? What is it exactly? WHAT?! WHAT?!?!?! Which explains why I sat on this for a very long time, but I think I get it. It is I suppose a special release. Thanks to Thitirat for the link to the official site where says;

6 Music Videos and 6 LIVE performance video included
（DVD version of the VHS released in '99）
2001/12/12　BVBK-31003　3,990yen
2003/11/26　BVBK-31017　2,940yen

Some screenshots;

More after Read More link.

Actually, it has the 12 songs as follows which takes up about 1 hour:-

01.Tsuioku no ame no naka (WE'RE BROS.TOUR '98)

02.Access [PV]

03.Kaze wo sagashiteru (WE'RE BROS.TOUR '98)

04.MELODY (WE'RE BROS.TOUR '98)

05.IT'S ONLY LOVE [PV]

06.HELLO [PV]

07.Heart [PV]

08.you [PV]

09.Ai wa kaze no youni ('98 AOYAMA SPIRAL HALL)

10.Good Job ('98 AOYAMA SPIRAL HALL)

11.Makimodoshita natsu (WE'RE BROS.TOUR '98)

12.Peach!! [PV]

And it also has some choice CMs which takes up about 4 min and 15 seconds.

The visuals are very good quality. And I suppose the makers must have cleaned it up a little since it was from VHS version (for those too young to remember, video tapes. I still don't get what is this, but whatever it is, it is a keeper.

INSTRUCTIONS

What I have is the FULL DVD, menu, everything. It is in 15 parts, to be joined with HJSplit or similar and thereafter you will see ISO file. Extract it, and you will see two folders, an empty Audio folder and a Video folder. To watch, open your media player and click the one which ends with IFO. You will see the usual BMG sign, then the main menu and since it is a full DVD, you need to click on the links to play the contents. You can also burn to DVD. All thanks to Anthippi for sharing the full DVD which is may I say very very rare to find. I mean full DVD in general.

DOWNLOAD

I have never conciously went looking for this. Since you can still buy this, I will keep the links off this blog. If you're in my Contact List, you would have received the links. If you don't wish to join my contact list, just post your email here or PM me in FB or email me and I will send the links to you.

NOTE : I only have download links from Megaupload at this moment. If you wish for other choices, leave your email in this post and I will send to you when it is ready. The alternate links will be at Multiupload.