True Life Seek

In my entry about Erina Mano going solo, I mentioned that I had an H!P Eggs concert in the TLS Vault that I will have to watch to see more about Manoeri’s abilities. Add Yuu Kikkawa and Sayaka Kitahara to the list. They are going to team with Koharu Kusumi to form the unit Milky Way. For me, this will be new territory with a new unit as I will have no preconceived notions about Yuu and Sayaka, besides Yuu’s eyes looking like Megumi Murakami’s. As for Koharu, I still think she is lying about her age, although it’s somewhat odd for a girl to claim she is younger than she actually is.

I do have some preconceived notions about Milky Way beyond the two H!P Eggs themselves!

First thing’s first, I am worried about this group being dominated by Koharu. Since she is a viable solo act already, the only purpose for putting her in a group is to raise the profile of the others in the group. Therefore, she has to be the lead but she cannot completely overshadow the other two. This cannot become another v-u-den. If the analogy Rika : Yui/Erika :: Koharu : H!P Eggs holds true, then this is a failure of a group. Assuming Milky Way turns into v-u-den, all it would have accomplished for Sayaka and Yuu was to separate themselves from the other H!P Eggs. Big whoop.

Assuming Koharu doesn’t dominate the group, it cannot be a one shot deal. I am guessing Milky Way spells the official end for KiraPika. KiraPika’s demise is perfectly acceptable since Mai Hagiwara’s main role is in C-ute. Where are Yuu and Sayaka going to go if Milky Way is around for only one single? The H!P Eggs concert? What a downgrade that’d be.

In fact, Yuu and Sayaka’s possible success could give reason to the H!P Eggs. Along with the eggs in Ongaku Gatas and now Erina Mano’s solo career, they can show that there is actually a reason to pay attention to the Eggs. Some feels that there already is. But if the potential of some Eggs only extends to backup dancers, then it can become trivial to learn and follow all the members.

Every time I make waffles or pancakes now, I’ll be thinking of this group. Milk & Eggs, Koharu Kusumi is a vital part of your balanced diet.

Last but not least, in a group called the Milky Way, the irony of their last names being Kusumi, Kikkawa and Kitahara was not lost on me.

The past two days have been a pleasant change for Hello!Project though. The decision to form Milky Way and to turn Erina Mano into a soloist proves that the company is willing to try out new things. Hopefully there ideas are not just being thrown against a wall and seeing what sticks. If Milky Way’s first single or Erina Mano’s debut are at least disappointing but not disastrous, I’d hope they get a second chance.

Posted on March 3rd, 2008 by broomhead. Filed under Articles.
Tags: Erina Mano, H!P Eggs, Hello!Project, Koharu Kusumi, Milky Way, Sayaka Kitahara, Yuu Kikkawa