Okay, I retract my comment in my previous post about the validity of the report about the prayer, because there are photos to accompany this new report. Okay, just one, but a really beautiful and natural one, which makes up for the trivia.

中森明菜がこぶし回す…演歌をカバー

豊川稲荷でヒット祈願した中森明菜 　歌手中森明菜（４１）が演歌・歌謡曲のカバーアルバム「艶華―Ｅｎｋａ―」のヒット祈願を２６日、東京・港区の豊川稲荷で行った。作曲家の千住明氏のプ ロデュースによる、デビュー２５年目で初の演歌作品。「こぶしが回せなくて苦手だったけど、千住さんに１００％助けられて完成した」と笑顔。「新しく生ま れ変わった演歌をテイスティングしてほしい」とＰＲした。

Here it means that Akina gave full credit to the producer for helping her complete the album and she is using this album as a test for her possible new "life". Bigger and better version of the photo:

Since we are on trivia, guess what I saw on my May trip to Melbourne …

 
Just before anyone gets too excited, it is actually not Akina, but Akira, the famous Japanese designer. Still, when the "r" looks like "n", you can’t blame me for getting a little excited. Maybe he is a fan of Akina’s too? Ha! Ha! I also saw a sign outside a shop that says "SM", signed similar to her recent "Best of Best" logos, and I certainly hope it made no sexual reference whatsoever. No, it was a boutique I believe, before the rumors start spreading.

I think this is a serious case of "making a mountain out of a molehill". Still, it is Akina related and I seriously question the validity of the report unless I see actual photos. Where are the paparazzi when you need them? ;-P

中森明菜ヒット祈願「演歌を聴いて」

6月26日13時55分配信 スポーツ報知

　歌手の中森明菜（４１）が２６日、東京・元赤坂の豊川稲荷で演歌カバーアルバム「艶華」（２７日発売）のヒット祈願を行った。

　デビュー２６年目でヒット祈願は初めて。芸能の神様である同稲荷の本殿で祈祷を受け、「ご縁を十分に」と５０円をさい銭箱へ。「お坊さんがりりしく、お経がかっこよかった」。

　石川さゆり「天城越え」、坂本冬美「夜桜お七」などに挑戦し「こぶしが回せないので最初は頭を抱えましたが、素晴らしいチャレンジになった。新ジャンルに生まれ変わった演歌を聴いて欲しい」と話していた。

The report basically says that Akina is praying for a hit with her new Enka cover at this famous "Harvest God" temple. She deposited 50 yen into the money box for some "divine intervention" and the "guidance" for the lot she drew was positive. She seems to have enjoyed this challenge and hopes this paves the way for another genre that she can explore into.

 Not being a big fan of enka, I certainly hope not, but being an Akina fan, I am sure we will all support her in whatever she does. Let’s hope that Akina’s wishes will come true, but I still find it weird that such a piece of "nonsense" can make news. Ha! Ha!

News #1:

This was a promotional item for 艶華 from this link 

News #2: 艶華 tracks are already released on 着うた ( for Japan hps)

All tracks including 空港、except 悲しい酒 are available for purchase in Japan thru hps via 着うた！

Japanese fans are so lucky! 

 Just more news covering the Jacket for 『艶華 -Enka-』 and just in case anyone missed the universal site, it updates the content of the DVD as well. Firstly, this article from Oricon. Like most other articles, but it does sound like even Oricon is mighty impressed.

And here is the DVD tracklist from her Official Universal site: 

Lastly, the "Akina’s Enka Selection" that is meant to be released on the same day has a potrait of Akina in traditional enka pose:

 
I thought she was going to include PVs for the new songs but the idea of adding all the others is not too bad, though I am not too keen onthem. I also find it strange that they have listed the original singer of 「矢切の渡し」 as テレサ・テン because I am almost certain that it is actually 細川たかし, who won the レコード大賞 in 1983 with this song.

Finally, like Danny who can’t stop posting, here are the large versions of the covers from the Amazon Japan Site. Definitely makes good poster material. I wonder if they are going to give one poster for each different version bought. That would make it a worthy buy then. I am finding it really difficult to decide which to buy. So, who is buying what?