ShinTsuyo Power Splash 12/3 Highlights

Another Sunday, another ShinTsuyo POWER SPLASH! For as high energy as Tsuyoshi started, it was actually a really mundane night of vacuums and nuts and sexy vintage denim.

Well, it was only sexy to Tsuyoshi. He got a bit too excited about that…

Continue reading “ShinTsuyo Power Splash 12/3 Highlights”

SNS Roundup Dec 1-3

Here’s a bit of catch up from the last few days of SNS posts.

I’ll just say that Shingo is great at connecting with fans. He posts a picture and tells fans to paint it, then pulls different pieces together and uploads them to his Instagram. He’s wonderful.

Continue reading “SNS Roundup Dec 1-3”

ShinTsuyo Power Splash 11/26 Highlights

Listening to Shingo and Tsuyoshi on SMAP POWER SPLASH (and now ShinTsuyo POWER SPLASH) has always been a blast with the exception of 2016 where it was easy to hear depression in their voices. I clung to their voices all of 2017 once they started to sound happy again, hoping they were happy with the direction they were going and that things would work out. And we’re in a much better place now! Even so, they never fail to continue to brighten my day with their antics. Here’s a bit from the last episode so others can enjoy. 💛💚

Continue reading “ShinTsuyo Power Splash 11/26 Highlights”

Editor-in-Chief Goro Inagaki live radio broadcast! 12/17

After listening to fans saying “half an hour is too short” and “I want a live broadcast,” there will be a one hour, live special broadcast of Goro’s radio show, Editor-in-Chief Goro Inagaki!

The special live hour show will be broadcast on Bunka Housou in Tokyo on December 17, 15:00-16:00 JST.

Shingo and Goro have already commented about the special on Twitter.

On the 17th at 3pm, Goro-chan has a live radio show. Oooh. I’ll make note of it. Yes. Let me write it down. #GoroInagaki #Editor-in-Chief Inagaki Goro #ShingoKatori #Ohasumi

Good morning.
This morning I also woke up to Shingo-san’s good morning tweet ♪
Please look forward to the live radio show!
And thank you for watching Goro Deluxe!!
I hope the day will come when it will reach everyone in the nation 🍎

Sources

Editor in Chief Inagaki Goro – Official Site

New ShinGoro Commercial + Shingo as Paralympics Navigator

New Commercial Deal with Goro & Shingo

We’re all free. – Goro Inagaki
It’s become surprisingly delicious! – Shingo Katori

Goro Inagaki and Shingo Katori have a new commercial deal with Suntory for their new “All Free” non-alcoholic beer. This marks the first commercial deal for the any of three members. (Tsuyoshi still has Asahi Foods’ Manzoku Bar deal, which is the only deal to have survived through leaving their former company.)

The new All Free will be released in February 2018, with the commercial airing across Japan in the middle of the month. If we’re being told this far in advance, I’m expecting an awesome ad campaign featuring the two of them!

Just like the new “All Free”, they’ve changed and are challenging new things. You can watch their message below.

Shingo Katori as Asahi Shimbun’s Paralympics Navigator

With 1000 days until the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, Shingo Katori is inaugurated as the Tokyo Shimbun’s Paralympics Support – Special Navigator. Articles in the newspaper will feature stories from athletes, those that support para-sports, and experiences from the Paralympics.

There are already four articles published online:

チーム組むなら「あの２人と」 香取さん、パラ競技挑戦

「パラきっかけに日本変わる」香取慎吾さん、選手と語る

「これまでと違う共生社会、始まる」 香取慎吾さん

香取慎吾さん「新しい地図持って、前へ」 パラ応援宣言

Nov 27 SNS Roundup – Mad Photoshop Skills

I’m really sorry I can’t keep up with these guys. 😭 I’ll do what I can when I can, but… they are moving so fast!

Not that I’m complaining about that! We got a hilarious night of back and forth photo editing between Shingo and Goro. 🎨

Continue reading “Nov 27 SNS Roundup – Mad Photoshop Skills”

GQ Men of the Year 2017 – Inspiration of the Year

Goro Inagaki.
Tsuyoshi Kusanagi.
Shingo Katori.

Three of the nine men bestowed with the Men of the Year title for 2017 by GQ Japan.

December 31, 2016, SMAP disbandment.
September 8, 2017, three former SMAP members, Goro Inagaki, Tsuyoshi Kusanagi, and Shingo Katori, leave their former company.
The same year, on September 22nd, the three restart activities with their fan site “Atarashii Chizu.”
Furthermore, they wasted no time with a non-stop 72 hour live broadcast on an internet TV channel.
2017 is the year former SMAP member’s course of action garnered the attention of the nation.

The 12th annual GQ MEN OF THE YEAR honors these three men who set out anew with “Inspiration Of the Year.”

– GQ Japan January/February 2017 Edition

Check out videos from the photoshoots here.

Thoughts

Seeing the guys grace the cover of GQ Japan and then a live stream of the award ceremony… it was a whirlwind of excitement! The award ceremony itself was a bit awkward, and the live stream needed work and the guys were all nervous, but I’m very proud of them.

They’ve been through a lot the last two years, and they are stepping up when so many people doubted them. Maybe doubting them isn’t the best way to put it, but more like people overestimated the power of their former company to erase them from the entertainment world.

There’s still a battle ahead, as continues to be evidenced by the lack of media coverage of their accomplishments in some outlets, but Goro, Tsuyoshi, and Shingo are fighting against the odds, carving out a place for themselves and their fans. They are upsetting the status quo, attempting and succeeding at something that isn’t easily done in Japan – leave your company and still find success.

I wish them the best. Not just because I’m a fan, but because others in the entertainment industry deserve better and hopefully, others will be able to easily follow in their footsteps and demand better for themselves, their careers, and their fans.

💗💛💚

Yeah, if you can’t tell, I still have hope for a reunion.