1412 replies to this topic

[Potassium Bicarbonate]

I agree with the general feeling that J=J makes the most sense. She's already got that talented diva image they're cultivating. Tsubaki could work solely as a transfer from their direct sister group but feels less inspired. Solo would be the most interesting, largely because it's the least predictable outcome. I can't quite picture how that would turn out.

[LittleBerry]

Agree that J=J would be a pretty cool place for her to be, not only they've had this sort of thing happen before with Manaka but her level of skill would suit them a lot. Any other group like Angerme which also tends to get members with a certain level of skill doesn't seem like the right place because they have plenty freshly-added members and probably will be adding more with the auditions and all that... Tsubaki would be weird tbh, and if they really do the Country Girls reboot I kinda don't want Reirei there, she's already had her fair share of bad luck with her original group, Country Girls is a bit scary for me

 

Also feeling bad because of this "survivor's guilt" kind of feeling... I'm losing Minamina and Sako but cannot help to feel at least a bit relieved my #1 Magnolia is staying

[Zoe]

I just don't want her to lose all the work she's put into learning beatboxing.

[megumibex]

maybe let her pick some KSS to start a new acapella group

[Fall]

The one problem I have with an acapella group as the main gimmick is that since she's percussion, we'd only ever really get to hear ReiRei sing during a song's break or during shuffles/solos at harocon. I think Rei's voice is one of the best in H!P, so it'd be a shame to not hear it as often. It would be cool though if they mixed acapella into their album or coupling songs the way Kobushi does if she gets her own group. Seeing ReiRei teach vocal percussion to someone else could also be fun and a good way to make sure the group could continue doing so eventually if she decides to graduate in the future as well.

[megumibex]

I propose solo Rei, plus Hello! Pro Acapella club, that performs one song at each H!P show, with Rei as their leader.

[Zoe]

^ Co-signed

[rcb2418]

To be honest, I don't think she'll be placed at another group. She'll most likely be used as MC or for shows. Maybe even something like what Berryz Koubou does.

[midnightbottle]

You guys made really good suggestions.

So for me, I would see her:

 

(1) moving to J=J especially when the 1st gen are ready to graduate within the next 1-2 years, and she fits in the image nicely with great vocal ability to match.

(2) leading a new group with the current Kenshuusei group

(3) moving to MM, since the members of the colourful era could graduate anytime soon and it's not any precedence to add members who are already a H!P artist (ie. Miki and Chisaki). She could fit in MM quite nicely.

 

I doubt she will be made as a soloist, she is just not that popular enough.

I don't think she would join Angerme since they are holding an audition and she will stick up like a sore thumb. She just doesn't fit in the overall Angerme image.

As for Tsubaki, I hope she doesn't get put in the group as Tsubaki is good as it is. But I wouldn't be surprised coz both groups are sister groups and she is affiliated to Risa (another NGP member). But NO!

Beyoooooonds wise, I doubt so.

And please do not reboot CG anymore, just let it as it is. The group brand is cursed, so not point flogging a dead horse.

[zeroyon]

Tomoko said during her most recent birthday live that she plans on continuing in J=J for a while. She said she doesn't like 25yrs old as being the semi-official retirement age for H!P members, and plans on "breaking that wall". I don't think she will graduate for another 2 years+.

 

Even so, I would like for ReiRei to join J=J

[midnightbottle]

^That's not for Tomoko to decide eventually, isn't it? If the management wants her to go or hint her to go, she has to. If I remember correctly, Ai-chan from MM was asked by the management to think about what she wants for her future plans (which is sort of hinted her to graduate). And it's not a coincidence that all 3 members who hit 25 (ie. Honey, Ayacho and Yuka) decide to graduate at the same time. And also, not just specifically aiming at Tomoko, but it could be possible that any member of the 1st gen could want to graduate. So having Rei in J=J could help.

[Greyface]

^

But it is at least partially her decision.

Good-terms-graduations are always talked over.  "Think about the future" is not, "You're too old, choose your next job."  There's a reason that lots of women exactly half way through their 20s have thought it's time to change careers away from one that is primarily filled by teenagers (and that reason is not "a kick in the ass and a shove out the door from their agency")

 

Anyway, I think it would be a kind of mistake to add Inoue to J=J on account of Inaba.  It gives the impression that management is treating J=J as a dumping ground for difficult cases. (once is an event, twice is a pattern)  I also fail to see how Inoue would cover for a graduating 1ki.  Even if all 4 left tomorrow, what the group would be missing is not vocal chops.

[Fall]

^I have similar thoughts to Greyface on J=J. While Rei would be a great addition to J=J, just as she would be to any group, the whole situation would just seem really messy to me. Granted, Kobushi's disbandment and only ReiRei staying in H!P already makes things a little messy with most options, so it really just depends on whether or not the company feels like taking a more passive approach or aggressively marketing another new group so shortly after the debut of BEYOOOOONDS while also maintaining other existing groups.

 

Regarding the 25 thing

 

Spoiler

I don't think this *particular* agency would immediately boot someone out at 25 if they don't want to leave, mainly because it could be bad PR for the company if that gets out to fans, but there would be a lot of pressure for the employees (idols) that were treated well by the company for several years to be considerate enough not to put the company in the situation of deciding whether to allow themselves to be extorted into renewing the contract to avoid that negative attention. It's one of those things where, regardless of whether it's an actual rule or not, the effect is the same. Once that pressure starts to come down on a member, it's very likely that they would cave and announce their graduation plans even if they had previously intended on staying longer. Otherwise, they may be forced out or develop "health problems" before leaving without a grad concert to celebrate their tenure and give a proper good-bye to fans. If they are considered particularly problematic, that could also follow them and end their entertainment career entirely.

 

Maybe Tomoko won't be as easy to intimidate. She certainly seems like the type to try and see how far she could push it, but in the end it really does just come down to whether or not the company renews a contract. She also joined at an older age, so her tenure is shorter than most others who would be pressured to leave at 25. All combined, she may be able to stay in until she's 27 just to say she broke that ceiling while still leaving J=J around the same age Nakazawa Yuko was at when she left MM. Once her contract comes close to an end though, there's just not anything she could do beyond comply if the company does say that they won't renew it, and to set a grad date. Given how little we heard from those like Rio, Uta, or others who left under less than ideal circumstances after Ai-bon, they're probably also locked into an NDA for a while as well, so we just wouldn't ever know the circumstances if she was forced out beyond some official excuse like disciplinary issues or health problems. The only outcome that would happen if she was difficult with them at that point is just being considered a problem client and never really being able to continue a career in entertainment.

[thegabriel]

ReiRei being 5 yrs in brings a new set challenges.

UF/H!P is alway looking for a good balance in their groups.

So I don't think she will be added to any current group.

IMO 

They may give her some solo work here and there,

Or most likely build a new KSS group around her that includes Kirara, Kanami and Ruri.

[Danes83]

Also people in 2ch/5ch already speculate her to join J=J, i will wait for the truth to be revealed, instead of assuming.

[rurupedia]

the more i think about it (and read posts from this thread) the more i feel reirei might fit better in j=j....idk, i feel like she's more likely to join angerme since funakki's about to go but at the same time she'd definitely fit j=j's image more :/ but i still doubt she'll get a kss group though, the age difference between her and the other members would be awkward and ufp's already busy with byons so i don't see it happening tbh

[JPope]

I have thoughts on this current discussion, and I wrote about it i my blog: http://jpopeonjpop.c...like-rei-inoue/

 

I agree with a lot of what's been said here.

[midnightbottle]

^^ I don't think the age difference is of concern though, if they decide to debut a group of KSS with her leading. Momoko lead a bunch of newbies in CG (the age difference between her and Risa is 5 years). Rei is only 18 and the next oldest KSS is 17, so she is only 1 year older. Given that CG and KF are gone/will be gone, there is budget for one more group I believe. So I do believe it's possible they may debut one more new group and Rei could possibly lead the group.

[Nao-kun]

Putting her in J=J is the most sensible option by far.

 

Going solo makes no sense (not a single ex H!P / 48G / Stardust idol has managed a lasting and successful solo career).

TF, MM and Angerme don't really need her.

No one remembers how many O's is the hot new thing, so not worth the risk of associating it with KF.

A new group? It would be stupid to take the focus away from how many O's so soon.

[Greyface]

^

5 Os, it's always 5.  No need to look down your nose at them by refusing to learn their name.  And if 5 Os is too much trouble for you, "Beyonds" is fine.

 

Also, you want to say, "No recent H!P soloists have made a lasting impression," because Matsuura Aya is still a legend in the industry.  Abe also managed like... 5 extra years or whatever, but I think we can call that "residual fans" more than just solo-power. Of course, there haven't really been any soloists in recent H!P history, so I guess it's not a real point...

 

TF, MM and Angerme don't really need her.

J=J does?  Can somebody explain this in terms that are not, "J=J members will graduate."  (I said it already, but J=J veteran graduations does not create a need for Inoue in J=J, any more than veteran grads in MM create a need for Inoue)  I do not believe J=J needs her. 

I do not believe any of the current groups need her.

 

If she was 2-3 years more experienced, I'd say Beyooooonds PM.  But where she is now? Difficult.

 

I think maybe the question has to become what will be good for Inoue.  Not that it makes the question easy, just that it seems to be the only question with moving parts.

Edited by Greyface, 12 January 2020 - 01:55 PM.