New album on August 21st, titled I'LL BE BACK (she must really still be into K-pop).
Last performance and official retirementtemporary hiatus on September 29th.
Will update with a credible source when I can find one, but as for now, it's all over Twitter if any of you guys want to take a look. :c
Edit: Update from Natalie.mu, Aira has described it as a "temporary hiatus." I'm personally doubtful of her being able to come back, but I definitely hope she does.
I suppose the latest to report in D-topia news is that they're launching a new idol group called Happy Super Generation (はっぴ～超じぇねレ～ション Happy~ Chou Genera~tion if you're following the original japanese and feeling pedantic.) They are signed to D-Topia Universe and their first album "Dare ga Debut Dekiru no?" (誰がデビューできるの？, Who'll be able to debut?) will be released November 7.
The Happy Super Generation project was started at the end of 2011 and had auditions at the beginning of 2012. The theme of this idol group is "experience" rather than "newness." Or at least that's what I gather from their website.
A clip from a song of theirs has been uploaded on the Dtopia youtube channel. Titled "HappyGen no Theme", it resembles the older, earlier Harenchi Punch sound with some... dance elements. Yes.
I swear to god that Yuzuki looks a lot like Aira, but maybe that's because I miss her that much. Regardless, I wish these girls all the best in their debut.
These have just come up and it seems as if that D-topia is wanting to make a quick buck with them as each DVD retails at 3000 Japanese yen (which according to the current exchange rate is 37.67 U.S. dollars)
This is probably the only time that any of Saori's live performances will ever be released so if you've got cash to burn and a proxy service who can order for you, then they're up for the taking at D-topia's online store.
It seems as if that they're holding a birthday party celebration in honour of Saori's birthday (her birthday is on the 10th, this is a "day before saori's birthday celebration"). There are rumours that she might turn up but (or people hoping she will turn up) but even if her fanbase wasn't the biggest, it seems as if she left a big impact on them.
You'll notice that Saori's post tiptoes around the words "graduation" or "retirement," and I've heard from multiple sources that the event itself was just as unclear about her future. With no one giving a real announcement, whether Saori herself, her management or other news outlets, it's uncertain whether or not she'll ever do music again. That said, NERD@AKIHABARA has a long post about it written in English here that's really worth reading for a better perspective on the whole issue.
In any case, let us look back on the good times. Share all your favorite Saori memories in the comments below. ;_;
It's been pretty quiet around here lately. I haven't quite been keeping up with D-topia, but some recent things:
1) Saori's final live is rumored to be her one-man performance on April 1st. The speculation I've heard is that she has no plans to give a real announcement about it, so fans are pretty much saying their goodbyes already. Nonetheless, there's still a month until then, so I guess all we can do is wait.
2) We're going on a year and a half since Aira's last proper album, so I decided to have a look at her blog to see what she's been up to. She's apparently quite sick right now with some kind of bronchitis? She also seemed very depressed in mid-February, so let's hope she feels better soon all around.
Anyway, spring is coming up and I'm totally smitten with this song all over again, so I translated the lyrics to Aira's "Spring Sky"! These were done by ear as I don't think official lyrics ever came out, which means they might not be 100% accurate. two years in a row now I've meant to post "Valentine STEP" in February lol
Does anyone still have a copy of this song? The old upload that was here in 2009 is dead now and all I've managed to find is a pretty disappointing 128kbps rip. :( It's always been in my top five Aira tracks.
