[mi|kshake]

This is it huh?

I thought the Facebook page shutting down was sad enough, although understandable, but YouTube too? Granted I never watched her vids on FB. Hopefully Avex can/will upload them to their own channel.

You can tell she always wanted to fade away from the public eye and live a normal/quiet life following her retirement but it's still sad that the FB page is shutting down. I do get it - keeping stuff like social media going still sorta keeps her "out there" but... I know we weren't going to get anymore releases from Avex such as compilations, remix (I think an acoustic orchestra album would do pretty well!) or tribute albums but it would be nice that social media could stay open. I know my dreams of a PV collection were pretty far fetched. Do we know if she bought back the rights to all her songs?

You do wonder what she's doing on her first day of retirement? No engagements, free to do whatever for the rest of her life.

The social media pages closing really does feel like this is it. Even if she does start to manage other artists or help Haruto with his solo career (if it happens and those rumours are true. I am ready, as the internet might say, to stan forever!) we won't hear a peep!

I watched the Finally tour today (still have the 25th anniversary and Nagoya disc to watch) and I was starting to well up when she saying goodbye to her dancers and when she spoke to the audience for the final time. Finally and How Do You Feel Now really were a perfect ending combo. I do have a soft spot for How Do You Feel Now. I wasn't sure how a Namie and TK song would sound in 2017 and luckily it sounds great! Also I always forget that Hope wasn't a Naoymt song as it sounds like a perfect sequel to Fight Together.

I've been feeling a bit melancholy all day and Finally has been stuck in my head. What version of the concert did everyone else go for?

It's so cool BoA posted about her!! I love a bit of BoA and never knew she was a fan.

I'm glad I have some other music to keep me going in the meantime. Being listening to Namie for the last couple of weeks and at least I have DNA and Trouble to keep me going. Feel like I haven't listened to Hatsukoi in a while either so that definitely needs a listen!

I'm not much for fireworks but those photos of the display are gorgeous. The Okinawa show looked like a great celebration of Namie.

And oh my god those HMV receipts, I want one! I love how far Japan is taking their celebration of Namie.