Wait, you mean avex pitted them against each other as some sort of a marketing gimmick? So they're both going to do simultaneous releases with slight variations in titles and see who wins?

I think Ko-jo did better because she has a much nicer cover and also seems to be more blessed in the looks department.

After watching those preview clips on the website, I think both of them need a WHOLE LOT of polishing. Especially Ko-jo. Her photos look nice but she looks animated and artificial in her PV.

any news on new singles?

Time to bum this thread up again! I recently got into them again, because well, I just think the whole rival thing is worth our attention! Yup, the whole project has taken a twist.

Updates

1. 1000 CDs Project
In mid July, Rhythm Zone released the debut singles of performing hopefuls Seara Ko-Jo(”JOY”) and Shion Miyawaki(”BOY”) under the premise of “The Rival”, pitting the former music school friends agaisnt each other in musical debut battle. The results of the first challege officially declared Seara Ko-jo as the debut winner and she was given the opening performance spot at the final date of the A-Nation 07 concert. Given the overall results of the project, the girls fate has been revealed…

1. Due to poor sales of both debut singles, both respective 2nd singles were cancelled.
2. Instead, they will release the singles under an independent label (suspected to be “Rhythm Republic”).
3. Both singles will include 1 song for 500 yen. Only 1,000 copies will be printed of each.
4. The singles will not be sold in stores.
5. They will sell them through their own means.
6. They will be re-signed to Rhythm Zone once all copies are sold.
7. There is no time limit.
8. It is no longer considered a “rival” project.
9. Each has a budget of 300,000 yen.

Source: ikimasshoi.com

2. PVs of their Debut Singles
And for those who haven't checked their PVs out yet:

Seara Kojo's JOY: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pFALwCJwHMY
Shion Miyawaki's BOY: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pFALwCJwHMY

3. Reality TV Show
With the 1000 sales project, a new The Rival reality show has been released on MTV Japan. You can watch the first 3 episodes here including past episodes.

http://www.mtvjapan.com/music/feature/the-rival/

I just feel really sad for them. Why can't they have it the easy way like other artistes? I mean they're seriously doing this whole thing in the most extreme sense of being an "indie", it's just really tough. Considering Seara is 19 years old and Shion is only 17 years old.

^wow..so interesting...

Interesting indeed. I like them both but i prefer Seara-kojo because her name is awesome XD!

Shion seems to be putting in more effort. She's playing the piano and her new single, Shinin' Star is composed and written by herself. That's a lot more effort. I think she's more talented too, since her voice isn't as scratchy as Seara. Although she isn't as pretty as Seara, I think she deserves it much more.

Seara has her strong points too, but I think her fashion still needs a slight update. Her new single "1 to 3" has really good lyrics, because it's something about falling down and coming back up again on your feet, which is totally apt for her situation. But I think she easily comes as being a generic pop girl who in any instance, will fail to capture public attention.

Oh, and you can check out the sales of their CDs at http://www.the-rival.net/index.html Currently Seara's leading with 157 CDs sold while Shion with 130 CDs.

^ Shion is actually 10x better than Seara, but I don't think she's going to win, unfortunatly. :|

Were can I hear the new singles? And would there be anyway I could buy them?

Wow, it kind of reminds me of how Morning Musume had to sell Ai no Tane...

Wow, this must be really hard for them. >.<

Yar exactly! But they had 5 people and ASAYAN was widely publicised, so it was easier. This is like NO PROMOTION, and if you don't watch the reality TV show, you wouldn't even know about them! Well, we know how disgusting avex can be with their marketing strategies all the time.

^but at least is a chance...if they are clever it shoudl work...they could have dropped them out just by that

It seems like they were poorly promoted by avex/Ryhthm zone so they want to see if they can sell even 1,000 that they can re-sign them and make some money with them I guess.
The singles were nice but they did sell horribly >_<.

lol, If I were them I would start dancing and singing in the street. :innocent
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vvcPtN5S1cY

Seara is 50 copies ahead @ 259. :grumpy It's cool how they gained almost 100 copies in a day!

Omg, Shion is better! =|

Shion has a much better voice than Seara. And she seems to have a better attitude too! But then I guess the looks seem to matter much more eh? Though I don't think Seara's like anymore prettier. I wonder why other artistes who sell equally poor or worse don't also get the boot camp like these two do.

Anyway, either way, after this 1000 CD project is over, I bet their sales are still gonna flop anyway since they don't have widespread support. Unless they revamp their images and avex starts seriously promoting them!

^haahahahahaaha...NEVER

I didn't want to start a thread in the requests section, but could someone pleasepleaseplease upload their debut singles for me? I had them, but somehow the files were deleted. Thanks in advance <3