CD

Shooting Star is a fine typical J-pop to start the album, but Fuyu no Knife had this weird Mikuni-goes-salsa tune I can’t say I like. I began to lose hope, but Tsubomi changed my mind. It’s a nicely-paced Mikuni-ish ballad that brings out the best in her. More people should listen to this song but I don’t think anyone watch Blue Dragon lol. Friends follows next, slightly boring, but after this track the album continues to please me until the end.

I tend to like the songs Mikuni wrote herself because it usually means another slow-paced, quality ballad I’m a sucker for, say tomorrow or Bird. Heavenly brings us full version of Ano Hi ni Kaeritai (shorter track was in Minamikaze single) and Kimi no Coat.

One thing about Mikuni’s album.. can’t avoid redundant songs. As much as I love it, Tegami was Bird’s coupling. AND Tegami ~Chapter 2~, sort of the acoustic version. We also get album remix of Chain and I~jaNAI!? (both was one single). Add Asian Lovers (tour) version of Naked.. Well doubles are fine, as long it’s not another Sore ga Ai deshou (a.k.a ZOMG-I-has-quadruples).

LOL @ bonus track, Nezumi wa Kome ga Suki, Jap version of the overrated Mandarin song Lau Shu Ai Da Mi. I think Mikuni’s cover is one of the better ones. Then the album nicely ended with Epilogue~Arigatou no Uta~, a minute of “thank you” acapella from Mikuni, befitting the 10th anniversary theme.

DVD

Asian Lovers Tour
Video and sound quality varies depending on the place.. some were terribly bad that I had to deinterlace the frames before resizing them. Anyway.

Shanghai fans welcoming Mikuni in the airport.. aw~

Is it just me or Mikuni looks more attractive now?

21 June 2008 @ ARK Live House, Shanghai

Check out the screen, it’s Chinese lyrics of Sore ga Ai Deshou! Sound quality is pretty good so here’s a short clip of it (that’s all we got btw).
[audio:chn-sorega.mp3]

Charity?

Zomg megane moe~~ *faints*

1 October 2008 @ Langham Place, Hongkong

3 October 2008 @ ACG, Guangzhou
You know you’re in China when fans took out camera instead of penlight… orz. Apparently it was an anime/game convention, which explains the vast number of people there.. sound quality was notably bad here.

4 October 2008 some-venue-name-I-can’t-read @ Guangzhou
Her actual personal concert, sound quality is slightly better but still hurts my ears pretty badly. She sang Karenai Hana in Chinese. Here’s sound clip:
[audio:chn-karehana.mp3]
LOL @ her “Ni Hao” times three.
Since 下川みくに becomes 下川美娜 in Chinese, she introduced herself as Xia Chuan Mei Na (Mandarin) or Ha Cyun Mei No (Cantonese) depending on the cities.

12 Dec 2008 @ Y17, Taipei
The best sound quality, the best fans too, just look at those penlights! They responded to Mikuni’s MC in Japanese too. GJ, Taiwanese fans!

Also GJ for making Mikuni cry.

I found the “China” (中国) fireworks amusing.

21 Dec 2008 @ HI-TEC, Hong Kong.
See, that’s why you need an Ultra Orange ready, Mikuni will come to your side!

24 Dec 2008 @ some Anime Fair in Macao
I nearly fell off my chair seeing this. xD DFC in a Santa costume!! On Christmas Eve!!

Full costume~~ Lucky Macao bastards.

Is that how a girl should sleep on a public place?

31 Dec 2008 @ Guangzhou again
Bigger venue this time, she even brought some dancers.

Happy New Year!

PV and TV Spots
I skip the Full Metal Panic! videos.

I~jyaNAI?! PV..

..is yummy.

Tsubomi PV. Is that Suara? LOL.

10 Years Ago ~Sou sou, Egypt ni mo Ikimashita
Mikuni went to Egypt. 10 years ago.

Totally look like a tourist!

Get your hand off my Mikuni! She was quite chubby back then, huh, should be about 18 years old. 1000x cuter than 18-yo Hirano Aya. xD

「これ何？」 She asked what the hell was that? That’s… Koshimizu Ami!

Shimokawa Mikuni Photo Book
10-minutes-long slide show of hundreds of photos. Most of them are from Asian Lovers Tour so I didn’t bother saving them. Here’s few that I found interesting.

I~jyaNAI?! photoshoot. No comment.

Signing her own board in HK.

We all know it’s not about the Hung Hom Station.. xD
..srsly she’s now leading the top list of my megane moe girls.

Clearer view of the fact that all Guangzhou people are cameramen.

Service, service!

The last feature is audio commentary that I couldn’t bother finish listening to. Um, if you think Nana is boring when she talks by herself (she gets better lately though), Mikuni is about 100x more boring. ^^;

CDJapan is offering 10% discount for this Heavenly CD+DVD so now is the best time to get it if you haven’t. Overall this is a very good buy for Mikuni fans.. especially if you have some glasses fetish. I do.