Interesting article: A beginner's guide to Japanese idol pop. It focuses on Arashi, AKB48, Perfume, Kyary Pamyu Pamyu, Momoiro Clover Z, and Babymetal.

http://www.avclub.com/article/unraveling-fantasy-beginners-guide-japanese-idol-p-206896

I always wondered if it's something about how my brain is "wired" or the fact that I watched anime and played videogames since I was little. But I don't understand how other "westerners" think perfume music is awesome but idol pop is bullshit. I can't, it may have something to do with the fact that I usually don't like american mainstream music and the masses do, so they like perfume as well while I like crazy idol music.

I hope Perfume fans don't get mad at me, I love their visuals, I love the dances, I love A-chan, but their music hurts my brain. I've watched 3 concerts of them and maybe tolerated 3 songs, the rest was like having a seizure.

Stardust Promotion Section 3
The girls theatre company
いとをかし(Ito Wokashi)
http://official.stardust.co.jp/ito-wokashi/interview.html

Shirakawa Rena
少女劇団いとをかし　自己紹介【白川怜奈】

^ how come I have that song on my iPod but I haven' seen the video before? I love it and Dempagumi has some pretty cool videos.

I think I like the song because it's fun and catchy. Perfect for the summer.

I was rewatching WWDII PV and each time I see it I love it even more. Whoever is making Dempagumi's PVs is doing a great job (except for the chupa-chups one, which was meh)

Came across this croatian winery which for some reason has a japanese sign and suspiciously colored barrels

momomofu said:

Stardust Section 2
Le Lien
http://www.lelien.jp/

Lovely Magic PV

^ I've got a feeling I'm really going to like them.

Life After 'Deth: How Megadeth's Marty Friedman Became a Japanese Superstar

Featured Article/Interview with Marty Friedman of the "RollingStone", at least the online magazine!

Very good read about Japanese Music scene and, him being Friedman not to much surprise, featuring Babymetal and Momoclo even with video links now in the "RollingStone" Mag!

^ I don't get why the author put AKB48 in a ranking for "insanely awesome looking". You can't get a more bland look than the AKB girls. I guess it's mandatory to talk about them when you talk about Japan. It even makes less sense considering it has AKB #2 and leaves Kyary at #10.

Changing the subject:
Since I follow some Stardust related twitter accounts the boy groups have popped up in my feed. I haven't check them out because I don't like boy groups, but I'm curious to know if they are successful. I've seen the picture of one group that is color coded but they didn't have what it takes to add a Pink member :))

Are stardust boy groups independent from the girls? (Since they don't appear on 3B junior lives) Or is it just so that the public don't freak out because the girls have boys around?