January 4, 2016
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Fast Forward Ko-Haku
DH is back at work today, which means I can FINALLY watch the New Year's 紅白歌合戦 singing battle that we recorded because he can't stomach it. I usually run through it at 2X speed to save time, as the thing goes on for hours.
Later - The show has been dutifully watched. I will throw in my two yen's worth of comments. Hiromi Go's mouth looked stretched. Too many trips to the plastic surgeon? It is all right to let your face show wisdom acquired over the years. Was it just me, or were the singers drowned out by the orchestras? And did anyone else feel overstimulated and overwhelmed by all that was happening on the stage simultaneously? There were crowds of cutesy dancers, vertigo inducing flashy computer graphics in the background, lasers, avalanches and random stupid antics. They even had part of the cast of Star Wars and Disneyland there, complete with the Seven Dworks. As usual, there were several singing/dancing groups of six or more. That way at least one of them stands a chance of being in tune. Grand Dame Tetsuko Kuroyanagi's dress kept getting bigger as the show went on, and speaking of big dresses, I was glad to see Sachiko Kobayashi back in her expanding costume. I like her voice. Golden Bomber is always funny. And what was that with the singer who had "Instruction Manual" written across her chest? Akihiro Miwa can command an entire stage with nothing but his candor and expressive voice. He performed on a dimly lit stage, and challenged us to draw our own images behind the curtains or our eyes. I suppose that I cannot start the new year without watching the big show, but thank goodness for fast forward! (^-^)
