While I am probably in the minority by saying this - but there is a small part of me that is a wee bit disappointed in see this - as she is very talented and really didn't need to go this route. But there is a more testosterone charged part of me that is saying "That's hot!"
I know what you mean... Just the swimsuit shots would have been fine. I wonder what made her go this route... I guess we're used to seeing the H!P girls as innocent and something like this is just too mature... I'd have to guess this is what I'd feel like if I saw my niece in Playboy...
^ You know what I think you really summed it up pretty good there - if this was just some random idol or at least an idol who has always dared to bare a bit it wouldn't be quite the shocker. But as you say we are used to seeing the H!P girls in rather "modest" bikinis, playing on the beach or something around those lines, giving a "tease" every now and again - can you imagine the stir if Ai or Eri pulled a stunt like this.
^ ^ I might put it more like seeing a former classmate in FHM. But that's me.
People have to realize that she's no longer a teen idol under the cutesy umbrella of H!P or on contract with UFA, whose idols have an average age well below 20 with set images to uphold. Goto Maki is now like Christina Aguilera years after the Mickey Mouse Club, but less slutty. Obviously the current H!P members are still very closely controlled, so this type of risque photo shoot would be out of the question.
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