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Ongaku Gatas and the Manoeri factor

Manoeri's 'flash-in-the-pan' membership with Ongaku Gatas has turned out to be quite a supernova.

(No rating): Nobody thought that, on Jan. 26-27, the Hello Project Winter 2008 Awards Show would be the last major performance of Ongaku Gatas with Erena Mano, a.k.a. Manoeri, who was abruptly "graduated" from OG and placed on a track "toward a solo career" by Tsunku in February. Mano was clearly the young star for that group, in much the same way Hagiwara is °C--ute's young starlet, or Risako for Berryz Kobo. But despite the obvious crowd-pleasing show that Ongaku Gatas puts on, the reality is simple: Flat sales on the group's second single (a hit on the conert tour but a sluggard in the CD shops) and a possible reworking of the concept. Oh, well, as least Gatas can still play soccer. Hint: Look for Miki Fujimoto to rejoin former Morning Musume colleagues Rika, Yossie and Konno on Gatas! Now, wouldn't that be something? Sister blog Best in J-Pop has more on the Manoeri quandary and aftermath.

Best in J-Pop
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