hasbrialeblog: Not Equal Me Album Review

≠ME (ノットイコールミー; Not Equal Me), is a 12 member Japanese idol girl group formed in early 2019, produced by former AKB48 and HKT48 member and ace - Sashihara Rino, under Yoyogi Animation Academy (YOANI). They are the sister group of =LOVE.

The auditions were held in late 2018 and 11 members were confirmed on February 24, 2019 with the 12th member being announced later in April, 2019. Kanisawa Moeko (蟹沢萌子) was chosen as Leader while Tomita Nanaka (冨田菜々風) is the preferred Center of the group.

The group has performed in Live/Private Stage Shows, ZEPP, FNS Japan, Next Idol Grand Prix and TIF (Tokyo Idol Festival) among others. They did their first outdoor performance at Fuji-Q Conifer Forest Stage Area with =LOVE during their IKONOI FES 2021.

Members (with links to their Twitter & Instagram accounts):

Hana Ogi (尾木波菜) (From: Chiba, Japan | Birthday: May 8, 2003)
Kirari Ochiai (落合希来里) (From: Tochigi, Japan | Birthday: May 22, 2001)
Moeko Kanisawa (蟹沢萌子) (From: Kanagawa, Japan | Birthday: October 25, 1999)
Natsune Kawaguchi (河口夏音) (From: Hiroshima, Japan | Birthday: July 29, 2001)
Natsumi Kawanago (川中子奈月心) (From: Tokyo, Japan | Birthday: September 26, 2005)
Momo Sakurai (櫻井もも) (From: Kanagawa, Japan| Birthday: April 13, 2004)
Mirei Suganami (菅波美玲) (From: Fukushima, Japan | Birthday: Feburary 5, 2000)
Hitomi Suzuki (鈴木瞳美) (From: Tokyo, Japan | Birthday: April 13, 2001)
Saya Tanizaki (谷崎早耶) (From: Kumamoto, Japan | Birthday: October 7, 1999)
Nanaka Tomita (冨田菜々風) (From: Kagoshima, Japan | Birthday: July 17, 2000)
Shiori Nagata (永田詩央里) (From: Hiroshima, Japan | Birthday: April 2, 2004)
Miyuki Honda (本田珠由記) (From: Tochigi, Japan | Birthday: February 27, 2004)

1st Album Details:

Chou Tokkyu Not Equal Me Iki

Released: April 11, 2011

Label: King Record Co., Ltd.

Songs: 11 (44 minutes)

Charts: Oricon #1 | Billboard #1

Sales: 48,928 copies

≠Me Edition:

Limited Edition:

Regular Edition:

Best Songs/MV in the Album:

Teyu-ka, Mirutentte Nani? (てゆーか、みるてんって何？) (600+k views)

This is a very wacky JPop Idol song. Very cute song with little girls voice. Probably you will get a lot of ????? popping your head. Loads of Japanese Graphics Eyewash in MV as expected. Honda Miyuki is center in this MV.

Hajimemashite

Watashi "Miruten" tte iimasu

Ehehe namae yonde kudasai

(mimi mimi mimi mi mimi miru ten ! Mimi mimi mimi mi mimi miru ten !)

Nan da ka iroiro atte itsu no aida ni ka

Nan to kono ko mahou ga tsukaechaun desu

(mimi mimi mimi mi mimi miru ten ! Mimi mimi mimi mi mimi miru ten !)

Lyrics by Rino Sashihara

Composition / Arrangement: yuma

Sound Director: a.k.a. JAKE

Mastered by King Sekiguchidai Studio

MV Director: Eri Yoshikawa

MV Producer: Tomoyuki Miike (north river)

Himitsu Incident (秘密インシデント) (1.1+m views)

Another MV in School Uniform. Very colorful settings. Tomita Nanaka is the center for this MV.

Nan de ! ? imasara kyun to shinzou ga hazumu

Waratta kao de patto kuuki ga ugoku

Nan de ! ? niji wo mitsukete boku ni ittan darou

"Itsumo" datta koukei

Nan ka kyuu ni supesharu da ne

Kitto boku dake omou

Himitsu INSHIDENTO

Lyrics: Rino Sashihara

Composer: Maru Miyakawa, M! SATO

Arrangement: Maru Miyakawa

Sound Director: a.k.a. JAKE

Mastered by King Sekiguchidai Studio

MV Director: QQQ

MV Choreography: CRE8BOY

MV Producer: Tomoyuki Miike (north river)

Jibun Sanka (自分賛歌) (1m+ views)

School Based - Classic MV with good choreography in a closed Basketball Court (shades of Nogizaka46, Keyakizaka46, Hinatazaka46 and Hiragana Keyakizaka46 here). Very AKB / Sakamichi style song with notorious WOW as like Akimoto Yasushi. Tomita Nanaka is the center for this MV. Some great camera work and lighting done for this MV. Good choreography and formation with hand gestures during chorus.

Kyou no kimi da tte ganbatte ita

Boku wa zutto homeru yo

Afure sou na namida wa zenbu

Konya de nagashitsukushichatte

Kocchi mite waratte !

Kimi ga ima taisetsu ni surubekina no wa jibun da

Dare yori mo omotte iru kara

Dare yori mo ganbaru kimi no koto

Gyutto dakishimeru

Lyrics: Rino Sashihara

Composer: Tomoaki Nagasawa, Saori Nagano

Arrangement: Menma

Sound Director: a.k.a. JAKE

Mastered by King Sekiguchidai Studio

MV Director: Yosuke Yamaguchi

MV Choreography: CRE8BOY

MV Producer: Tomoyuki Miike (north river)

Kimi no Oto Dattanda 「君の音だったんだ」(1.5+m views)

Another School Based, Uniform outfitted, Brass band, Cheerleading - Classic MV. This is vocally very brilliant and one of their best singing performances, cutting out the kiddish cuteness and actually sounding very mature. Nicely done MV with some great Production and Onsite Management. Tomita Nanaka is the center for this MV.

Kaze nabiku fuwari SUKAATO

Kin pikapika TORANPETTO

Onaji KURASU MADONNA hohoemu

Tomadotta nanka chotto

Bibitto kite shimattan da

Dakara ima yuuki dashite iu yo

"Kimi no oto dattan da"

Lyrics: Rino Sashihara

Composition / Arrangement: Bugbear

Sound Director: Takayuki Yayama (Sony Music)

Mastered by Sony Music Studios Tokyo

MV Director: Hana Matsumoto

MV Choreography: CRE8BOY

Producer: Tomoyuki Miike (north river)

Kurukuru Kakigori

Cute High Energy song picturized in a Live Performance with some Japanese Graphics Eyewash. Great singing and guitar work again. Can't miss the hand towels waving!! Tomita Nanaka is the center for this MV.

Kurukuru kakigouri

Mawashichatte ! ? tsukucchatte !!

Natsu wa mou soko ni

Kichatteru kara mou ichi bai

Kurukuru kakigouri

Tabechatte ! ? sakenjatte !!

Hiyake shita hada ni kimi wa mou MERO MERON

"Su, suki !"

Nan desu