FESTIVE Hohoemi No Kuni

FES☆TIVE released “Hohoemi no Kuni” (微笑ノ国  - Country of Smiles), their 14th single on May 25th through Tokuma Japan Communications. 

The five member group have recently added a new member through new auditions in Apr-May. The group has total 6 members and they are “Yagi Hinata”: 八木ひなた, “Aoba Hinari”: 青葉ひなり, “Dokō Ruriko”: 土光瑠璃子, “Minami Marika”: 南茉莉花, “Takaki Yuria”: 髙木ゆりあ and “Kadota Hiroki”: 門田博喜.

Music and Music Video:

"Hohoemi no Kuni” is a funfilled joyous song, filled with the energy of FES☆TIVE girls and showcase summer in all its strength. The title track performed by olwith Yagi Hinata (21), Aoba Hinari (26), Dokō Ruriko (22), Minami Marika (25) and Takaki Yuria (24) delivering a refreshing song filled with shine.

“Hohoemi no Kuni” MV was shot on beautiful beaches in Thailand. The music video directed and photographed by Kadota Hiroki features the FES☆TIVE girls in different parts of Thailand, as they taste typical dishes of their cuisine. They also play on idyllic beaches (in beachware) with some nice choreography.

The music still remains core FES☆TIVE original - a mix of Classical Japanese + Modern Electronic Beats. A tryical uptempo song and music jumps all over the place. Not a particularly catchy song to some of its predecessors Single Titles.

Tokuma Japan Communications adds "The theme of this work is "Thailand", a country of smiles, and the lyrics are "Koppunka", "Sawasdee Car", "Sanook", "My Pen Rai" and Thai language familiar to Japanese people. It is a high tempo number with a BPM of over 200 and an outstanding sense of speed, making it a super summer tune ahead of this summer!"

Group Member Reactions:

Hinari Aoba: We, FES ☆ TIVE, have been performing a lot in Thailand since about 6 years ago, and we also have a sister group in Thailand, so it is a unit that has a lot to do with Thailand. I haven't been able to go to Thailand for the past two years due to the world situation, but I would like to deliver this song to people in Thailand and overseas who are waiting for me. And I want everyone in Japan to know the goodness of Thailand, a country of such smiles.

Ruriko Doko: This is the 14th single, so I'm very happy that these five people can release two songs in a row. Continuing from the last time, I would like many people to know that Thailand is the motif, so I will do my best so that FES ☆ TIVE can go to Thailand again!

Marika Minami: There have been many FES ☆ TIVE-like songs so far, but it is the most up-tempo song among them, and it is a song that can be enjoyed not only in Japan but also in Thailand and other parts of the world. Let's listen to this song together and study Thai! Let's Sanook!

Note: I am totally biased for these three members. 

CD Releases:

TYPE A - Tracklist:

Hohoemi no Kuni

夏リア旋律 (Natsu Ria Senritsu)

Hohoemi no Kuni（Instrumental）

夏リア旋律 (Instrumental)

TYPE B - Tracklist:

Hohoemi no Kuni

 #トレジャーハンター (Treasure Hunter)

Hohoemi no Kuni（Instrumental）

#トレジャーハンター (Instrumental)

TYPE C - Tracklist:

Hohoemi no Kuni

ボクノナマエ (Boku No Namae)

Hohoemi no Kuni（Instrumental）

ボクノナマエ (Instrumental)

In addition, the characters "Festival" and "FES ☆ TIVE" drawn on the CD jacket photo are from the huge calligrapher "Nachu" (former idol real estate) of the idol calligrapher and it is her whole body work (According to their website).

Special Edition on leading Digital Music Platforms offers all 4 songs and Instrumentals.

Rating: 4 out of 5 Stars

The B-Sides are very good. Loved them. Natsu Ria Senritsu, Boku No Namae and Treasure Hunt are excellent. 

Listen on: 

Spotify | Apple Music | YouTube Music & More

Official Single Page:

https://festive.rizepro.net/contents/510094

FES☆TIVE

FESTIVE (styled as FES☆TIVE - branded as Festival from Japan) is an idol group formed on March 27, 2013 with a concept of "Festival" like celebration. The group name is made up of "festival", "positive" and "active". They are managed by RIZE Productions, under the label Tokuma Japan Communications. Their sister groups are My Dear Darlin' and SUMOMO. Most of their music is Producer by Ryoma Seko. Music is typical JPop sourced from different Japanese Musicians. The music is Awesome. Great IDOL Group, with true Japanese flair and great singing talent. 

Members:

The original members were Mitsuki Suzuki, Reia Shiosaki, Honoka Hayayama (currently using stage name as Hinari Aoba), Aiumi Sakai, Moeka Fujimura, Yuma Kanno, and Mai Hinata (who withdrew) and was replaced by Yuna Sakamoto back in 2013. Most of the members after 2016/17 were damn cute in their performances/singing and choreography.

Current Members:

■ Hinari Aoba (since debut)

■ Ruriko Doko

■ Marika Minami

■ Hinata Yagi

■ Yuria Takagi

Dokou Ruriko

Aoba Hinari

Minami Marika

Kondo Saeko

Minase Piano

Sakamoto Yuna

Former Members: 

Sugano Yuma, Fujimura Momoka, Sakai Ami, Yokoi Honami, Shiina Akari, Suzuki Mitsuki, Suzuki Kotone, Sakamoto Yuna, Momohara Hiyo, Shiozaki Reia, Shiraishi Piano, Kondo Saeko, Onodera Ion, Midorikawa Yua, Takeuchi Saria

Best Member Line-up | Haretoke! Appare! Japanese!

Minami Marika, Dokou Ruriko, Sakamoto Yuna, Aoba Hinari, Minase Piano, Kondo Saeko

Music Singing:

The singing is of high quality and the studio recording are excellent. Musically they incorporate a lot of traditional Japanese Music/Tunes into more Modern JPop Electronic Pop/Synth/EDM based output. It can be a little heavy on the ear but make no mistake, you will simply love the Songs and Music Videos. Their choreography in few songs are pretty goofy but its all fun. Genuine IDOL outfit with great music.

Music Videos/Performances:

Disco Rettou Ukiyo no Yume (ディスコ列島浮世の夢) • ☆☆☆☆☆

This MV Starring Rihona Kato, has FES☆TIVE Heat Things Up in a Sento (Japanese Public Bathroom?!! or something) With Disco Party MV for “Disco Retto Ukiyo no Yume”! At first I thought why would they show an Idol taking bath but the lady in the MV is a female actor/model (thank god!) - Tokyo Girls Update explains the situation! Musically the drum beats and Electronic/EDM/Synth bit punctuate the song and all along a good humming dose of bass carries the song into super stardom. Members have sung this song beautifully. My personal best song of this Idol group. Highly recommended listen! 

Shakariki Top Runner! (しゃかりきトップランナー！) • ☆☆☆☆☆

The MV follows stories of a High School boy's crush on a girl, a Restaurant Manager, and a Salaryman (the Japanese for Employee) on their way to becoming a top runner/player, as the FES☆TIVE member act as cheerleaders egging on their subjects. In the middle of the song, there is a overload of Ganbare in lyrics (which means “Come on!” “Let's GO!” or “Go for it!” in English) and overdose of "Faito!" (just "fight" in a sense of "You can do it" "Keep at it" .. sort of encouragement). None the less they are trying to Pump IT Up and get the protagonists pumped up! It's a bit noisy song with all EDM, Guitars, Beat Pop and definitely samples some Western/Idol tune. Fun song and its Daijoubu! A Ear Ringer!

Shinpaku Daydream (シンパクデイドリーム)

FES☆TIVE takes things up a gear with the latest MV for "Shinpaku Daydream" - it has a love story, dancing, English captions and more. MV shows the girls in a High School and nearby local area backdrop. Live band in a closed Basketball court. Girls singing in classroom, outside school building and...a different ending altogether... Mid tone song with violins, guitars and drums - it has the infamous 2 tune/tempo switchback! Some guitar solo bits as well! Neatly sung by members! Ok'ish song very different to what their usual style is and a proper JPop song. 

Omatsuri Hero (お祭りヒーロー) • ☆☆☆☆☆

Humm. For their debut single MV, they keep it Strictly Japanese and JPop. But why do we hear "Self Destruct Sequence is activated and it cannot be aborted" ??? Are they goona blow up something! Maybe not, but there's a heavy yellowish hue in the MV, probably something did go up in smoke. FES☆TIVE showcase Japanese culture and use words reflectibg Japanese festival, as the MV switches back and forth with the girls wearing their colorful idol outfits to traditional Yukatas in Japanese temple, offering prayers and performing rituals. It's an up-tempo of the song. Good debut song. 

Haretoke! Appare! Japanese! (ハレとケ！あっぱれ！ジャパニーズ！) • ☆☆☆☆☆

FEST☆TIVE and the party girls dance their up a narrow shopping arcade of the shopping locale. Kind of a take on Kokoro no Placard of AKB48 but with a lot less people lol. Lots of English bits used. MV is shot beautifully, nice colors. It's all about shopping for the Festival Season I guess. Some goofy choreography that got me hooked to this MV. Mix of Traditionally Mixed Modern Dual Tune Up Tempo song! Ok! Welcome to Japan! Totally Hilarious song! 

OIDEMASE!! ~Gokuraku~ (OIDEMASE!! ～極楽～) • ☆☆☆☆☆

MV is basically a Close up Shot of girls and choreography bits. Again, Mix of Traditionally Mixed Modern Tune Mid Tempo song! Ok! Tune is similar to Kung Fu Miracle Ai ～Love～

Kung Fu Miracle Ai ～Love～ (カンフーミラクル～愛～) • ☆☆☆☆☆

No Kung Fu-ing around here but the intro does feature some Zombie like dance moves in this Live Performance MV. It's has a great tune, but towards the end as with many other JPop song the tempo switch kills it. Nevertheless, a good listen. No, this is a damn good song!!! Japan meets China! The Best Song with nice Live Shots and Choreography.

Yamato Nadeshiko Sunrise「大和撫子サンライズ」

I totally missed this, but it was a nice surprise.. Good song, a FESTIVE style song. 

Other Best Songs:

Age Age Sensation

Anohi No Fanfare

Matsuri no Ato

Shidare Yanagi

Yakusoku No Nichiyoubi

Believe

Mugen Mofumofu

Crystal Bullet ~ Mano

Jinrui! WE ARE ONENESS!

Japandisco

Summer Lia Melody

Boku No Namae

#treasure hunter

Releases:

Albums Released:

[2016.07.27] Wasshoi Record (ワッショイレコード)

Singles Released/Best Songs:

[2013.10.??] Matsuri da Sun☆Sun (祭りだSun☆Sun) - Indie

[2015.05.13] Omatsuri Hero (お祭りヒーロー) ☆ Debut Single ☆

• Omatsuri Hero (お祭りヒーロー)
• (lyrics and composition: ZIN)

[2015.11.25] Kingyo no Kin-chan (金魚のきんちゃん)

[2016.03.16] Susume Zipangu (進めジパング)

• Shidare Yanagi

[2016.11.25] Ora Tokyo Sa Iguda (俺ら東京さ行ぐだ) - Digital

[2017.02.22] Disco Rettou Ukiyo no Yume (ディスコ列島浮世の夢)

• Disco Rettou Ukiyo no Yume (ディスコ列島浮世の夢) ☆ Best Song ☆
• (Lyrics: Ameko Kodama , Composition: miifuu)
• Yakusoku No Nichiyoubi

[2017.07.26] Go To Fes☆ (ゴートゥフエス☆)

• Believe

[2017.11.29] OIDEMASE!! ~Gokuraku~ (OIDEMASE!!~極楽~)

• OIDEMASE!! ~Gokuraku~ (OIDEMASE!! ～極楽～)
• (Lyrics: IMAKISASA (Wee's Inc.))

[2018.05.23] Yamato Nadeshiko Sunrise (大和撫子サンライズ)

[2019.01.16] Yura Yura Yurari Koigokoro (ゆらゆらゆらり恋心)

[2019.09.25] Haretoke! Appare! Japanese! (ハレとケ！あっぱれ！ジャパニーズ！)

• Haretoke! Appare! Japanese! (ハレとケ！あっぱれ！ジャパニーズ！)
• (Lyrics / Composition / Arrangement: Tamaya 2060% )

[2020.02.26] Shakariki Top Runner! (しゃかりきトップランナー!)

• Shakariki Top Runner! (しゃかりきトップランナー！)
• (Lyrics / Composition / Arrangement: Tamaya 2060%)

[2020.09.30] Shinpaku Day Dream (心拍白昼夢)

• Shinpaku Daydream (シンパクデイドリーム)
• (Lyrics: DJ Goldfish / 8utterfly , Composition / Arrangement: KOJI oba)

• Mugen Mofumofu (無限モフモフ) Main Ver.
• (Lyrics / Composer: IMAKISASA, Arrangement: Yutaro Ogawa)

• Crystal Bullet ~ Mano / Minami Rap ver. ~
• (Lyrics: Tenshi Sugisaka, Composition: Tenshi Sugisaka / AWOKI, Arrangement: AWOKI)

[2021.04.28] Jinrui! WE ARE ONENESS! (人類!WE ARE ONENESS!)

• Jinrui! WE ARE ONENESS! 

[2021.11.24] Shin Kiteretsu Monogatari (新・奇天烈物語)

• Kung Fu Miracle Ai ～Love～ (カンフーミラクル～愛～)

Listen on Apple Music | Spotify | YouTube Music | YouTube

Links: 

• FES☆TIVE Website
• FES☆TIVE Twitter
• FES☆TIVE Instagram