This post is basically just telling you my top 20 idols of all time, as mentioned in the title, hah.
This was a very hard list to make and structure as, while 20 seems an awfully high number (for some reason), it was extremely hard to narrow it all down as oh my GOD there are so many fantastic idols. You'll notice my idols knowledge does not extend further that H!P and 48. I have been pretty focused on these, and there's already so much to work with in those two alone haha. Please note that these 20 might as well all be #3, they're so close together (though my top 2 is very much my top 2).
Alright, might as well get into it as... well it's gonna be a loooong ride.
#20 Kudo Haruka
Oh Duu, how I already miss you.
It was impossible for Duu to not get a spot here, because.. if it wasn't for Duu, my MM fandom might have died in 2012. I was in Japan, buying Renai Hunter (My second H!P purchase), because it was Niigaki Risa's last single, and Risa was the last girl I truly had a connection with at the time. But I saw Haruka on that cover and immediately thought:
"...Damn... She's too fucking cute."
And so an interest sparked in her, and with her an interest in the new, colourful Musume. She was my favourite all the way to Ai no Gundan, where her spot was taken by a certain someone else. Still, this incredibly beautiful, talented young woman is the entire reason I stuck with MM in the first place, and so seeing her go was devistating.
#19 Katsuta Rina
Who's next in the queue? Oh hey, it's Rinapuu
Hah, two orange girls in a row. I like orange girls. Rina, oh Rina. The used-to-be-a-secret-weapon-but-not-so-secret-anymore. Angelic voice, adorable aesthetic and wonderfully weird that is Rinapuu. When I first got into S/mileage (remember S/mileage?), I had a very tough time chosing between Rina and Meimi as my favourite. Rina was just too damn charming and too damn pleasant to watch for me to ignore her. Then when the group became Angerme, I was worried about the cutie Rina in a cooler environment, but let's be honest... she is fierce as hell. She reminds me a little of Hagiwara Mai in a sense, because she's more out there, more 'daring'. She seems like she takes shit from no one, and her fashion sense is so weird that is is brilliant.
#18 Matsui Rena
Idol Extrema, here's Matsui Rena
Ayyy the first non H!P girl. Matsui Rena... what a girl. I saw her on AKBINGO! and immediately adored her. The episode where she gets hypnotized into saying Aiin~ was so funny and so cute that I looked forward to any future episode where she made an appearance. If she was there, I knew it was gonna be good. Her solo song Kareha no Station is so pleasant and basically became my theme for Autumn 2014. Even my dad likes that song. She was my favourite SKE member and I completely disconnected from the group after her graduation.
#17 Goto Maki
She'll never be tacky, it's Goto Maki
I don't think I need to state what is awesome about Gocchin. Everything from her upbringing, her tenure in MM to her solo career just forces one to have respect this woman. She is an incredible talent with one hell of a relatable personality. She was, to me, the originator of "so inapprochable but yet so approchable" (Yajima Maimi and Shinoda Mariko have the same feeling for me) . Her solo songs are absolute jams and I've yet to see a performance of them as charismatic and awesome as Gocchins (Takahashi comes close... but... not quite there). She was the perfect ace for Morning Musume (I love Nacchi, but let's be real) and imho an even better solo artist.
#16 Niinuma Kisora
Yes! I adore-a, Niinuma Kisora
Is this a girl or a kitten? I'll never know. She's definitely too cute to be real. I've followed Niinu since her KSS days and I was extremely thrilled to see her debut in Tsubaki Factory. For a long time, I was certain she was going to be my favourite with her feline features alone, but alas she didn't quite make the cut. She is a close second in Tsubaki though, as my love for her as well as my love for the group has continued to consistently grow. I have yet to understand what it is exactly that just captures me about Kisora. She's just so.... lovely. Her face is lovely, her voice is lovely, her personality is lovely, her aura is lovely, her dancing is lovely, hell the girl is just all around L-O-V-E-L-Y. I hope she stays around for a long long long long time.
#15 Niigaki Risa
Straight outta Chan Pon Chan, It's GAKI-SAN
Niigaki Risa is a wonderful human being. She's the Powerhouse of Platinum. The Reaction Queen. Creator of Chan Pon Chan, Je M'appelle and Hanihuheho, the obvious capitals of China, France an Korea. 50% of the legendary GakiKame. There's no reason not to adore this one right here. Gaki-san is an absolute joy to watch when she is performing, whether it be singing or acting. She went from being an adorable goofy airhead to being the absolute mom of early colourful and it has been magical to watch that growth.
#14 Wakana Otaki, Keiki Kubota & Hikaru Masai
Holy Hibina it's Kalafina
Ok I don't know what Hibina is.. Still.. I know Kalafina isn't exactly an idol group. They're mainly anime artists... But I had to mention them because they are so freaking talented. I first heard them when I head the ending song to Black Butler "Kagayaku Sora no Shijima ni Wa" and it was so beautiful that I had to look up who was singing it. From there I found the album 7th heaven and I was in love.. But it was all I knew.
Then one faithful day I was randomly listening to Japanese radio at my dad's place when quite possibly one of the most beautiful song I've ever heard started playing - and I thought I recognized the sound. So I shazamed it (accept Shazam as your lord and saviour today) and what do you know.. it was "Red Moon" by Kalafina... THEY HAD MADE ANOTHER ALBUM. God.. god I love them so much. Though I have to be honest.. Red Moon came out in 2010, then After Eden in 2011 (also fantastic btw)... and... I know they've done more since, but I have not heard it. I need to listen to them again.
#13 Oda Sakura
She's never far, it's Oda Sakura(r)
Oh Sakura, the first girl to give me true oshi feelings since Eri. I loved her from the audition footage. I loved her when she was announced as the 11th gen of MM, I loved her when she got her first single and I still love her to this day. It really didn't take long before I considered myself a #Sakuraddict hah. My love for her never faded, it's just my love for other H!P fans that grew. She's fantastic, beautiful and one of the best voices MM has had imho. She's charming, funny and seems to be a good senior to the younger gens. She's the longest lasting solo gen so far, so she's already established herself as a legendary Musume, but I hope we won't see the end of her for a while.
#12 Okai Chisato
You'll know absolute bliss-a once you get to know Chissa
I've already pretty much established in my Love Letter to C-ute post why I adore Chisato so much. I have a long list ahead of me, so I won't say it all again. I respect her. She is amazing. She deserves everything she has gotten.
#11 Takahashi Ai
No need for goodbye when it's Takahashi Ai
Cute. Sexy. Beautiful. Cool. This girl can do it all. From the dorky "Itakunaimoon~" from Hello! Morning to the sexy Moonlight Night dance, Aibutt is able to adapt to any given situation. Not to mention, girl's got pipes. Her and Reina's performance of Everyday Everywhere is still one of my favourites to this day, and it's not because of the latter (Sorry Reina- love you really). She's a wonder to observe on stage whenever she sings, and she is able to both steal the show and stand back and let others shine. I respect that. She's one of those where you can truly tell that she loves what she does, which makes her performance all the more charismatic. Plus she had the balls to go short platinum blonde hair and managed to pull it off. Good on her.
#10 Asakura Kiki & Tanitomo Ami
Never fear, Ami and Kiki are here.
I could not choose between them if I tried. And.. I tried
#9 Kawaei Rina.
BANG BANG IT'S RICCHAN.
Ricchan is an angel. I mean.. look at her. She's so cute she could cure any plague. I saw Rina in the Bakajo test for AKB and I was immediately hooked (I am a sucker for dorks). Her centering in BKA48's Hasute to Wasute was absolutely amazing, and her further push into senbatsus for other singles was thrilling. She was well on her way to push out any other oshi's I had in AKB. She is a wonderful girl with a lot of charisma and charm, and she deserved so much better. I hope she is ok.
#8 Sasaki Rikako
Ever wonder where to go? Go to Rikako
I've loved Rikako since the first day she was announced in KSS. Yes, I was one of those who immediately jumped on board of the RikakoHypeTrain. And you know what? I am so glad I did. Sure, I wanted this girl in MM
#7 Tamura Meimi
As you can see, it's Tamura Meimi
Meimiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii come baaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaack.
#6 Maeda Atsuko
Saigo! Atsuko!
The ultra Ace of AKB48. I remember when I got into AKB, I couldn't help thinking: "Of course they're doing so well... They have Maeda Atsuko". In fact, all of the original Kami7 is so strong that it's no wonder AKB is what it is today to me. I always liked Maeda, but she didn't become one of my ultra favourites until after her graduation. The songs she released after her graduation are so pleasant and her voice is so wonderful and soothing. Specifically Time Machine Nante Iranai is actually one of my favourite idol songs because it just makes me feel so relaxed. That's Acchan for me - the embodiment of a soothing idol.
You know what's neato burrito? Sayashi Riho
Yes, I love Gocchin and Aibutt. Yes, they were fantastic, Top Tier Aces. Sayashi Riho will still always be my favourite ace. Thing is... I am not sure what it is about her that makes me so addicted. She just has that... something... that is inexplainable. I mean obviously there's her power-performance and absolute "Look-at-me" charisma... but there's something else as well about her that just gives me a need to root for her. She feels like a little sister that I want to see do well in life. She feels close to home somehow... if that makes sense. I don't know. Riho, wherever you are and whatever you're doing, I'm rooting for you.
Even as I am writing this, she keeps surprising me with how much I like her... I had originally placed her as number 7... but that didn't feel quite right... so here she is.
#4 Yokoyama Reina
Y'all knew she was coming, it's Yokoyamayama
Yes. She ranks this high. Is anyone surprised at this point? This girl is actual sunshine in human form! Despite having only been in H!P for a bit over a year, Yokoyan has managed to absolutely captivate me in a way I haven't experienced any idol doing that fast before. If I'm not careful, this girl could end me.
I honestly cannot complain about liking her this much so soon. That just means that I won't look back on the time she's had in the group when she leaves
Yuyuyuuko~
This girl is a top tier squirrel. She's hilarious, kind, brilliant, talented and beautiful. She was the best part about AKBINGO! for me, and it wasn't just cause the commentator had her as his oshi as well (though that was funny). She just seemed so effortlessly funny and charming, and she always managed to make me look for her in an episodes... and if she wasn't there, it was clear that something was missing. I love Yuko, and she made AKB for me.
#2 Suzuki Airi & Hagiwara Mai
Feel free with Mai and Airi
Again, I could not chose between them. And once again, my reasons to love them has already been stated once on this blog. Airi is perfect, Mai is my muse. They're both so dear to me that it hurts.
Before I get to my obvious number one, here's some honorable mentions in no particular order.... There's TOO MANY FANTASTIC IDOLS AND I SO WANTED TO INCLUDED EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THESE AAAAAH: Fujimoto Miki, Michishige Sayumi, Takahashi Minami, Matsui Jurina, Shimazaki Haruka, Yanagawa Nanami, Iikubo Haruna, Kishimoto Yumeno, Ogata Risa, Akiyama Mao, Ono Mizuho, Onoda Saori, Yamagishi Riko, Ikuta Erina, Takagi Sayuki, Miyamoto Karin, Uemura Akari, Ishikawa Rika, Shinoda Mariko, Yamazaki Yuhane, Kamikokuryou Moe, Ogawa Rena, Hamaura Ayano, Haga Akane, Itano Tonomi, Akimoto Sayaka.
And now.... my number one is, of course: Kamei Eri
Sweet melody, Kamei Eri
Kamei Eri is an idiot. She is a dork. She is an airhead. She is absolutely the most incredible idol I have ever laid my eyes upon. Eri isn't even an angel, she's more than that. She's paradise. She's what I imagine good people see right before they die. She's everything I want to be and more. Maybe I'll make a post one day only about Kamei Eri, but for now.. She makes me laugh. She is wonderful.
And there we had it... this took way too long to make.. tho tbf I did stop at Gaki-sans to watch the entire Bakajo test again.. so.. yeah.
That's all for now, bye !
