Manoeri’s movie changes everything

Manoeri, center, plays the part of charming actress during the L.A. world premiere of her first movie, "Kai-Ki: Tales of Terror," which might have the net effect of cutting short her idol-music singing career with Hello! Project. (Photo by G.A. Carroll}

Tsunku appears to have done his job almost too well this time around. No real backup is available, at least right now, should his biggest star bail.

For years, Tsunku has sculpted Hello! Project idol-music soloists from a variety of sources, and with great success: Miki Fujimoto, Aya Matsuura, Goto Maki, Koharu Kusumi and now Erina Mano, known simply as Manoeri.

However, with Manoeri, the gamble was that much greater. First, he plucked her out of the Hello! Project Eggs in 2007 and inserted her into a well-intentioned, but ill-fated, experiment called Ongaku Gatas, a soccer-playing troupe of singers led by long-time veterans Yossie and Rika.

But right out of the chute, with Gatas’ first PV, it was evident where the wotas’ attention was focused: Manoeri, who was far more energetic and cut a much more impressive figure compared to the other members, upstaging even the indomitable Yossie and the glamorous Rika.

Sensing something extra, Tsunku then “graduated” Manoeri out of Gatas with less than a year in, and nobody sensed what would happen next, other than Tsunku’s general statement that a “solo career” of some sort awaited the photogenic Manoeri.

However, in somewhat of a shock, Manoeri was suddenly stuck behind a keyboard and churned out an uncharacteristically genteel series of simple, almost childlike singles. Hmm. The new leading voice of Hello! Project? Who would have known?

Then, a series of tumultuous changes within the company turned the idol world upside down. V-u-den graduated, right before Manoeri was pulled out of Gatas, which also withered and died. The entire Elder Club itself followed in January 2009. Then, Kanna and Umeda went down, squeezing C-ute to five members.

Finally, anime soloist and Morning Musume member Koharu graduated in late 2009 – expendable because Tsunku seemed to have found a willing replacement.

But not so fast.

Wota and otaku fans of Manoeri showed up at her premiere screening of 'Kai-Ki' on Thursday at the Nokia Club in Los Angeles. The session included a mini-concert by Manoeri along with the film screening.(Photo by G.A. Carroll

Manoeri’s two-part movie debut, “Kai-Ki: Tales of Terror,” was launched Thursday in Los Angeles, and, boy, she does have a screen presence. So much so that director Makato Shinozaki has her in every scene, featuring closeup after unnervingly redundant closeup of the “future face of Japan,” according to Manoeri’s phalanx of fashion designers in attendance.

A major Toyota executive, said to be Tetsui Kaida, was shadowing Manoeri’s every move in much the same way that Nike’s CEO tagged along Tiger Woods years ago right before Tiger turned pro as a golfer.

A major film producer, who was called “Miwa-san” (no other name immediately available) were also in attendance Thursday to complete the entourage. In short, Manoeri is in the big time, and she was swarmed by Japanese media during her entire L.A. visit.

Hmm. Looks like Manoeri is headed places. As for her future as an idol soloist for Hello! Project, she said she would “equally” participate in acting and music. There’s only one problem. Idol music is pretty much a full-time gig, lots of hard work for not that much money. Many idols start off as singers and then progress into modeling and acting.

Manoeri rubbed shoulders with Japanese corporate heavyweights during the Thursday premiere. (Photo by G.A. Carroll)

Kayano Matsuyama of AKB48, Erika Umeda of C-ute and Koharu Kusumi of Morning Musume are among those who prematurely exited the idol scene right as they were getting pretty good at it to pursue the easier and higher-paying occupations of modeling and acting.

Manoeri’s singing exploits have so far received mixed reviews by fans. Some said at this week’s Anime Expo 2010 convention in Los Angeles that moving into acting and modeling might be a better option, and that they really wouldn’t miss her.

Hmm. She’s not that bad. Manoeri has also done very well in such projects as the revival of the old “Petit Moni” series of songs, and has been a fixture in all of Hello! Project’s large scale theatrical and arena concerts, learning all dance steps and lyrics to pretty much the entire H!P song library.

Let us all hope that graduation is still far into Manoeri’s future.

This is Rad signing off – for now.