All right, I know that I said that I might be kind of done with ol’ ayumikurikamaki, but then they largely redeemed themselves and I feel like it’s worth bringing up the fact that one of the single most fun projects in idol is releasing a second major album:
【緊急告知！】
2018年3月にメジャー2ndアルバムの発売決定！さらに発売を記念したミニライブツアーの開催も決定！
リリースツアー初日は2018年1月27日(土)東京某所にて開催！
詳細は後日発表します！お楽しみに♫https://t.co/IoXoM9TkWc#あゆくま武道館への道 #あゆくま#拡散希望 pic.twitter.com/4yY3LxnydI— あゆみくりかまき (@ayukumaofficial) December 29, 2017
That’s what you call old news!
March is a long time away, but I’d be willing to bet that the very first tracks/MVs/whatever will start to pop up shortly. Let us then engage in a great deal of hype in the hopes of not having our steadfast love for the former bear idols be wasted! They’re too charming to not support:
2017年、あゆみくりかまきを応援してくださった皆さま、お世話になった皆さま、本当にありがとうございました！！
来年2018年は、あゆくま大逆襲の年。メンバー、スタッフ一同、全力で頑張りますので、引き続きのご声援を宜しくお願いします！
皆さま、良いお年を！！ pic.twitter.com/Gwvktd3VSw
— あゆみくりかまき (@ayukumaofficial) December 31, 2017
Also, for the record, I could not want this shirt more:
【本日23:59まで販売中！】
ボクらの熊魂2017限定！
"DEAD or ALIVE Tシャツ"の通販は本日23:59まで！
この機会をお見逃しなく！！新グッズも販売中です🐻
通販サイト「またぎ商店」はこちら→https://t.co/vVZnpRED50#あゆくま pic.twitter.com/gos5EPiHQG
— あゆみくりかまき (@ayukumaofficial) January 9, 2018
I’m in the same boat of frustration with them. I get that they couldn’t (And probably didn’t want to) wear the bear outfits forever, but they sure got less fun for me too, and that’s a disappointing drag. I sure don’t want to write them off.
But when I ponder their direction, along with BiSH, and even now nu-BiS, all I can think is that major labels are, as they always have been, and no matter what country you live in, the worst enemies of musical creativity. Idols gotta eat and find ways to Budokan though…..