Berryz Kobo’s magnificent ‘Little Captain’

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Saki Shimizu of Berryz Kobo, center, is flanked by Kusumi, right, and LinLin of Morning Musume during the opening number of the Hello Project’s Winter 2008 Awards Show on Jan. 27 at Yokohama Arena, Japan.

This started out as an analysis of “Aozora ga Itsumade mo Tsuzuku You na Mirai de Are!,” the incredible song by Tsunku (roughly translated: “Let the Future Be Where the Blue Sky Extends Forever”), but that story came to a screeching halt when these images of Saki started to take shape.

Saki Shimizu, 16, is Berryz Kobo’s senior member and is known as the “Little Captain,” having been the quiet leader of what has developed into one of the world’s best teen singing and dancing groups. Berryz started as a Hello Project junior group in 2004 and Saki passed a rigorous audition process to join the company in 2002 as a “Hello Project Kid.”

Saki broke in with Hello Project in 2002 and cut her dancing teeth in groups like ZYX, which featured Maimi, later of C-ute fame.

There is so much to the Saki story that it simply cannot be told in a single blog. Suffice it to say, there is much more to come on the amazing “Little Captain.” Just to give you an idea, though: Saki has on at least one occasion last year had to wear a knee wrap while performing, and in this particular show there appeared to be a sizeable bruise on her right thigh. The life of a Japanese idol singer is one of continuous physical challenges, and Saki answers the call each and every time.

Saki is one of the world’s premier dancers, second only to Miami of C-ute. This kid works as hard as anyone and sets an example of achievement, poise, dedication and attitude that should be modeled by every young person around the world. We all need more Saki Shimizus on this planet.

Saki would be the first one to admit her vocal talents weren’t the greatest, but she has improved dramatically over the past couple years.

For now, just absorb these screencaps from the Jan. 27 concert, the Hello Project Winter 2008 Awards Show at Yokohama Arena. The obigatory, idol-ogling “scary old man “ at background left (third and final screencap above) is a bonus. I was privileged to have attended this show in person, and more than once noticed that Saki, while on the middle walkway, looked in our direction and made everyone’s day in that busy corner of the surreal idol cathedral known as Yokohama Arena.

Words cannot do these images any justice whatsoever, and goes for the other six Berryz Kobo members and the entire Hello Project company, for that matter. Just relax and admire the greatness.

This is Radicalipton signing off – for now.