Ai-chan replied me on Twitter!

Yay! I've been waiting for this moment since I became her fan... I didn't believe this was possible, but I decided to have a try and here I am!.. Such happiness over a tweet sent by a celebrity to a fan might seem trivial and silly, but this little message means a lot to me - and I feel really happy, because Ai-chan is more than just an idol :)

I'm translating both messages for those who don't know Japanese :)

I wrote: "Oh my, LOVE is BORN ~9th Anniversary~! I'm so happy! Greetings from Poland ^^" (yeah, I know, sounds lame, but apparently Ai-chan liked my message :P)

Ai-chan replied: "HELLO! This is Ai-chin. Thank you, Poland. Definitely come to see the live!" (I'm a bad translator from Japanese, but that's basically what Ai-chan meant ;))

I wonder if Ai-chan has seen Ai Otsuka Love Blog... That would be awesome! ^^

The funny thing is that I wrote that tweet without any hopes to get a reply. I just figured that since I'm so happy that Ai-chan comes back with a new LOVE is BORN concert, I could send her a message and that's about it - this is what fans do. Some time ago I sent her a couple of tweets and really wanted to get a reply but got nothing :P I guess that if you want something so badly, it doesn't come. When you let go - you get it. I have to learn this.

Thank you, Ai-chan. This is a truly valuable lesson for me! :D

Happy 29th Birthday, Ai-chan!

As every fan knows, 09/09 is Ai Otsuka's birthday. We're sending Ai our best wishes! <3

Because Ai-chan is currently on hiatus, there is no LOVE is BORN concert this year. But don't worry, we'll see her next year celebrating her 9th anniversary :) Meanwhile, you can watch the video below prepared by me for today's occasion - LOVE is BORN Digest 3th-7th. You can see there footage from all LOVE is BORN concerts :) Enjoy!

Tanjoubi omedetou, Ai-chan!

LOVE IS BORN ~7th Anniversary DVD on Oricon

The DVD and Blu-Ray are out now!

The release ranked #8 on Oricon Daily Chart.

Ganbatte, Ai-chan! Maybe through promotion in MUSIC ON! TV ASAHI SUPER DRY The LIVE NAVI the result will be higher in the weekly ranking.

EDIT (10 Mar 2011) - Ai dropped to #10. At least she debuted in Top Ten and is still there :/ Let's hope she'll go higher.

EDIT (13 Mar 2011): As of 12 March, the DVD is out of Top 20 (Daily Chart).

EDIT (17 Mar 2011): Ai is #17 on the Oricon Weekly Chart.

Source: Oricon Daily | Oricon Weekly

Special goodies for LOVE9CUBE members

Ai's official website announced today that the members of LOVE9CUBE (Ai's mobile fanclub) will be able to get a special collection of 9 issues of LOVE9CUBE PREMIUM MAGAZINE (Volume 0 was mentioned here). The books will be released gradually, starting from April 2011 till August 2012.

The next issue is going to be especially interesting, because it's said to contain photos from Ai's wedding!

Moreover, the members will be able to obtain a special gold membership card with Ai's drawing and message.

I envy you, LOEV9CUBE members... :P

The good thing is that we'll probably have the pictures once they are published because you can always find someone so kind as to scan the pages :)

So, we're waiting! :)

EDIT: The website published two small previews of pages from the upcoming issues:

Volume 0

Volume 1

A bride, wedding dress, penguins... Cute ^^

Source: the official website

LOVE IS BORN ~7th Anniversary DVD Trailer

On the official website we can watch the trailer of the new DVD:



I think the trailer lacks some energy characteristic for Ai-chin's concerts, but maybe this time it's deliberate :)

LOVE IS BORN ~7th Anniversary DVD Cover

The cover for the new DVD and Blu-Ray release of Ai Otsuka looks like this:

It's kind of scary... :P Tears that resemble blood?... No, it's only paint! There are so many colours inside the eye that they overflow. This is the only quite plausible (and not scary) reason.

Do you like the new artwork? Express your opinion in the poll on your left! ^^

Oh, btw.: Did you know that the show recorded for DVD release will not include Sakuranbo? This is outrageous! :(

Official: LOVE IS BORN 7th Anniversary on DVD and Blu-Ray

As the official site announced today, the release of LOVE IS BORN: 7th Anniversary on DVD and Blu-Ray is planned on 09.03.2011.

The concert for the DVD and Blu-Ray release was recorded 12 September 2010.

The setlist:

1. Ai

2. Is
3. Zokkondition
4. Hanikami Jane
5. Action 10.5
6. Always Together
7. Momo no Hanabira
8. Neko ni Fuusen
9. Kingyo Hanabi
10. LOVE LETTER
11. Ren'ai Shashin
12. Planetarium
13. Birthday Song
14. Rocket Sneaker

15. Sakuranbo *
16. Mirai Taxi
17. LUCKY STAR

encore:
18. CHU-LIP
19.I love xxx

* allegedly cut out from the show

DVD: 4,999 yen

Blu-Ray: 5,999 yen

Pre-order:
CDJapan: DVD | Blu-Ray
YesAsia: DVD | Blu-Ray
Amazon.jp: DVD | Blu-Ray

Members of Ai's mobile fanclub LOVE9CUBE who will purchase the product will be privileged with special bonus: LOVE9CUBE PREMIUM MAGAZINE Vol.0 which includes a collection of unique photos from all concerts LOVE IS BORN (3rd - 7th). Unfortunately for worldwide fans, this mobile fanclub is available only in Japan :(

Source: the official site

Anyway, I'm so happy! :)

LOVE IS BORN: 7th Anniversary 2010 - New photos

A nice pack of new photos from LOVE IS BORN: 7th Anniversary 2010:

I'm beginning to love this concert more and more...

^ One of my favourites so far ;)

^ CHU-LIPPAS... No, no, no... Still too weird for me... :P

^ My first glance: 'Hey! Which one's Ai???' :P

^ Some kind of 'omedetou' to Ai? Anniversary? Wedding? Baby? I wish I could comprehend Japanese...

^ Kawaii!

^ I have such high hopes when it comes to this concert... So far it looks amazing.

...if you happen to know when the DVD is going to be released, tell me asap :D

All these images above come from this site: http://www.hotexpress.co.jp/live_report/101007_otsukaai/

If you know Japanese, you can read there about the event as well. I can't, so it's impossible for me to provide a translation... I wish I could... :(

I have to study more diligently!

LOVE IS BORN: 7th Anniversary Photobook

I found something very interesting for all fans of Ai Otsuka, especially those who value pretty HQ photos from her live events. On this site you can design and buy a special "custom-made" photobook from LOVE IS BORN 7th Anniversary concerts which took place 11.09.2010 and 12.09.2010 in Yokohama. 

To make a photobook, you simply choose 32 photos from 100 offered, then arrange them in any order you like. After you have paid 3,200 ¥ (~ 39 $), the photobook of your design is shipped directly to you. Sounds interesting? Yeah, sure it does for me! But there is one thing - you can compose a photobook either from concert from 11.09 or 12.09, you can't have a compilation of both sets of images. If you wanted to have all the photos from the 2 events, you would have to buy 8 photobooks altogether.

Hmm, the choice is difficult, indeed. I picked 5 photos from both sets which I found the most appealing. Have a look:

For the rest of the photos (unfortunately all of them are spoiled by this "sample" text everywhere), click here and here.

Moreover, five random people who order so called "secret selection" get a goodie signed by Ai herself.

If somebody by any chance orders this photobook and gets it, please write in the comment what it actually looks like :)

Ai Otsuka announces her pregnancy - YouTube

I have found a video on YouTube which is a piece of news from Japanese TV about Ai-chin announcing her pregnancy during her live concert LOVE IS BORN 7th Anniversary on 11.09.2010. You can see her there smiling while delivering the news and gently touching her (still flat at that moment) belly :)



Later in the clip, when the speaker comments on the event, Ai is singing "I love xxx" as if she was singing for her baby. This looks so sweet, doesn't it? :)

LOVE IS BORN: 7th Anniversary & Ai Otsuka is pregnant!

LOVE is BORN 7th Anniversary! The live concerts took place 11th and 12th of September 2010 in Yokohama (strange that not in Osaka and not 09.09., but nevermind). The tickets sold out very quickly, which wasn't a big surprise :) Especially because the campaign promoting the events was well-organised and rich in attractions: lots of unique merchandise, like photos and posters: see them here. Moreover, there is also some sweet stuff, like chocolates ^^ These and much more cool LIB stuff are presented on the special website: click here to see.

The setlist:

1. Ai

2. Is
3. Zokkondition
4. Hanikami Jane
5. Action 10.5
6. Always Together
7. Momo no Hanabira
8. Neko ni Fuusen
9. Kingyo Hanabi
10. LOVE LETTER
11. Ren'ai Shashin
12. Planetarium
13. Birthday Song
14. Rocket Sneaker

15. Sakuranbo
16. Mirai Taxi
17. LUCKY STAR

encore:
18. CHU-LIP
19.I love xxx

Here you have 2 photos from the event:

Near the very end of the concert on Saturday, Ai-chin opened her heart and announced that...  she's pregnant! Ai said: September 9th, it was my birthday and I spent the day with my husband, but it was actually the birthday with the baby too. Although the baby is still very, very tiny, I wanted to tell you guys first. I can't see you guys for awhile in live, but I will look forward to see you later again. (Source: Oricon style). According to Ai, she's 3 months pregnant, so the delivery should be around April 2011. The news was spread throughout the whole world by the Internet in no time, making everyone both shocked and happy :) Omedetou, Ai-chin and Su!

Pregnancy means that our lovely Ai-chin will disappear for some time, but don't worry :) She'll be back for sure. She's been a really busy bee for the last 7 years, so she deserves for some time just for herself and her new family. I'm sure that Ai will be a great mother and the child will be the most important for her. I wish Ai, Su and their small penguin all the best! :)

UPDATES: Ai Otsuka gives birth to a baby girl | Photos from Ai's wedding