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codomomental bulletin #46

On August 28, a crowdfunding campaign was launched to raise funds for the Blu-ray release of Zenbu Kimi no Sei da’s Budokan show:

https://camp-fire.jp/projects/view/699108

The campaign was launched on Campfire, a Japanese crowdfunding service that many foreign fans have probably never dealt with, so I will try to translate and explain all the important points in detail so that everyone can support the group and purchase the video of this milestone concert without any hassle.

This is an all or nothing campaign. It doesn’t matter at this point because the campaign goal was reached on the fourth day, but if the required amount (4,000,000 yen) was not raised by the end of the campaign (October 15, 2023 at 23:59:59 (JST)), the Blu-ray release would have been canceled and all contributors would have been refunded (and thus the associated bonuses would not have been realized).

The money raised will be used to cover the following expenses:

  • Crowdfunding service fees;
  • Blu-ray production (design, video editing, packaging, replication and authoring);
  • Filming costs;
  • Personnel costs;
  • Contributor rewards costs.

Fans are offered 8 levels of support:

  • 3,000 yen – One of two sets (Set A or Set B) of photos of the members (6 pieces).
  • 5,000 yen – 3 songs re-recorded with the current lineup (Kisaragi Megumi, Motochika Kasane, Mei Yui Mei, Kotetsu, Nene Komochi) – “MonoNoKoiAware,” “MudaiGasshou” and “TadaKimiTo.” It should be noted that the song “MonoNoKoiAware” consists of unique segments written specifically for the members, so the re-recorded version will be significantly different from the original in both lyrics and music, while the re-recorded version of “TadaKimiTo” will contain an exclusive verse written specifically for Nene Komochi. Also, the song “MudaiGasshou” was last re-recorded before Komochi joined the group, so this is an exclusive opportunity to hear her vocals in a studio version of the song. It is highly unlikely that these three versions will be available anywhere else after the end of the campaign.
  • 10,000 yen – Blu-ray + your name in the credits.
  • 30,000 yen – Blu-ray + your name in the credits + exclusive concert footage focusing on your favorite member (over 30 minutes). Don’t forget to include the member’s name in the notes column.
  • 50,000 yen – Blu-ray + your name in the credits + a privileged (SSS) seat at the concert (?) to be held on March 15, 2024 (exactly one year after the group’s Budokan show), and all bonuses for that privileged seat will be included.
  • 100,000 yen – Blu-ray + your name in the credits + access to an exclusive concert featuring all (!) of the group’s songs. The concert will take place in Tokyo, date and time will be negotiated individually with the audience.
  • 300,000 yen Plan A – Blu-ray + your name in the credits + field trip with group members (3 days/2 nights). Date and time to be negotiated individually.
  • 300,000 yen Plan B – Blu-ray + your name in the credits + free one-year pass to all codomomental shows (including joint concerts). Valid for one year from date of issue. Issued from any date after confirmation and consultation with staff.

It is worth noting that when purchasing any level of support that includes the Blu-ray (and thus a place in the credits), you must include your name or nickname in the notes column. You should refrain from including third party names and profanity.
Also, levels that include concerts/field trip contain the note “Only those who are willing to accept whatever may happen.” According to Megumi’s words in the 12-hour livestream timed to coincide with the launch of the campaign, this is due to the fact that since the group is currently on hiatus, their future is uncertain and anything can happen.

The discs and other bonuses will be shipped in the second half of December. The Blu-ray will also be available in regular stores, but some time later.

For almost 8 years, Zenbu Kimi no Sei da lived side by side with “Patients.” And until now, the group is still living side by side with you.

“I want to perform at the Budokan” were words that suddenly came out at the time when Zenbu Kimi no Sei da had just been formed.

At that time, I didn’t think much of it and said: “It would be great if we could perform there one day. I’m sure everyone thought it was just a dream.

And after 8 years, we – Zenbu Kimi no Sei da – were able to perform at that dream venue.

Those 8 years were not easy, and it was very difficult to make that dream come true. The lineup changed many times, and we went through many difficult nights when it seemed that we couldn’t do anything on our own.

But each time, thanks to the fans who supported us, thanks to the “Patients” and the people around us who helped us, we managed to crawl forward and get to this place.

I promised the “Patients” many times, “We will definitely perform at the Budokan one day, so be sure to come!”, “Let’s go to the Budokan together!”

No matter what feelings were directed at us, thrown at us, we absorbed them, did not give up, and desperately looked forward:

“We will stand on this stage and have a good laugh with everyone!”

All those days we cried were for the sake of laughing that day.

And that’s why I’ve been dreaming all this time about this day when we can laugh from the heart together with you who have always been there for us.

For Zenbu Kimi no Sei da, Budokan has been a place of dream and also a place of promise.

On March 15, 2023, we all literally cried. And also laughed from the heart.

This day was only possible because you were there for us.

Really, thank you for all these precious days, for all these precious moments.

I want everyone who was involved in them to see this video.

I want to show you the miracle of how Zenbu Kimi no Sei da loved you and were loved by you. Thank you very much.

Message from Kisaragi Megumi on the crowdfunding page.

Now let’s talk about how international fans can support the campaign, since Campfire accepts foreign cards and even Paypal, but there is no shipping outside of Japan. Perhaps the easiest way is to use CDJapan’s proxy shipping service, since you don’t have to deal directly with Campfire, and it’s as easy as ordering from a regular online store:

https://www.cdjapan.co.jp/product/NEODAI-175372

However, please note a few details: cancellations and refunds are not available, a proxy shipping service fee will also be added to the order amount, shipping costs may change once the weight and dimensions of the item are clarified, and don’t forget to include the name you want to appear in the credits.
The disadvantage of this method is that you only have access to one support level for 10,000 yen (although you can probably apply for other levels manually).

Another way is to use so-called forwarding services, which provide you with a unique address in Japan to which you can order goods from any Japanese online store, and after they arrive at the service’s warehouse and you pay for shipping, they will be forwarded directly to you. So, using the automatic browser translator, you can log in to Campfire, pay for the level you want (as I said, foreign cards and Paypal are accepted), and in the address column enter the unique Japanese address you received from the forwarding service. Then, when a package arrives at this address, you will be contacted, the shipping cost will be specified, and after payment, the package will be forwarded to you.

You can use the following forwarding services:

If you have any problems or questions, you can ask on the Homicidols Discord Server.

Megumi also promises to come up with an even more convenient way for international fans to support the project:

As I mentioned earlier, on the day of the campaign launch, Kisaragi Megumi held a 12-hour livestream1 in which she recalled the history of Zenkimi in great detail and expressed how she felt at one time or another during the group’s existence – she also revealed one of the main reasons why the group went on hiatus. A lot of interesting facts and details were said and I would love to translate all the important points, but I guess that would be impossible unless someone could find a way to stop the world for a few months. If you know Japanese, I’d recommend watching the entire stream – it’s still available on the group’s official YouTube channel:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aYgbfWzNxqs

Nevertheless, I have tried to summarize a number of important and interesting points from it. First, some facts about the crowdfunding campaign:

  • The reason why the decision was made to run this campaign in an all-or-nothing format is because without reaching the goal, the release of this Blu-ray simply would not have been possible. Nobuhide Imamura (who appeared in the livestream a few times) points out that it costs about five times as much to release a Blu-ray as it does to release a DVD, and that’s not counting video work, etc. And the biggest catch is that the group is currently on hiatus and can’t cover all of these costs on their own anyway.
  • Megumi would like fans to purchase the ¥10,000 level (which includes the Blu-ray and name in the credits) because she believes that the 8 years of Zenkimi activities and the Budokan show were a miracle that was only possible because of the fans, and she would like to have their names in the credits of this momentous concert (although she realizes that the price is quite high).

Now the facts about the history of “Zenkimi”:

  • It was already known from various sources that Zenbu Kimi no Sei da’s pre-debut lineup included another member (of the green color) who eventually left before the debut. Megumi clarified that her name was Okusuri (“medicine” in Japanese).
  • The group’s first pre-debut lineup consisted of Megumi, Gomochi, Okusuri and Mashiro.
  • Okusuri had to leave due to her parents’ religious disapproval of such activities.
  • Aza joined the group next, then Okusuri left and Asuna joined the group.
  • Megumi still has an illustration of the group members drawn by Okusuri:
  • As we know, the group debuted with a solo concert at Club Zion. In order to promote this concert, the girls worked hard handing out flyers and were able to gain fans even before the debut. According to Megumi, there was a person in the chat during this livestream who had become a fan of the group back then.
  • Yotsu found out about “Zenkimi” thanks to the music video for “Neojealous Melochaos.”
  • The second music video for “MudaiGasshou” was originally made with Mene. After she left, it had to be reshot.
  • After Mene’s departure and before Togaren’s departure, auditions were held for a long time, but no suitable members could be found at that time.
  • During the release of the album NEORDER NATION, the group filmed a music video for the song “TadaKimiTo.” However, it was never released due to circumstances.
  • As many may already know, Komochi could have been a member of Zenbu Kimi no Sei da in 2020, but now more details about this case have come to light. Back then, after Yotsu and Bono left, a temporary group lineup was formed that included Megumi, Mashiro, Oyatsu, Amanechi, Kasane, and Komochi. Komochi ended up not becoming a member of Zenbu Kimi no Sei da at that time because “Seireki” had a very busy period and it would have been difficult for her to combine activities in two groups.
  • When Komochi actually joined “Zenkimi,” Megumi didn’t think much of it. The thing is, she says that she sometimes has a kind of epiphany during concerts, when she sees visions of the future. The first time was when the group released the single “Nudity la riot,” when she had her first vision of them conquering the Budokan. The second time was when she and Mashiro, Oyatsu, Amanechi, Kasane, and Komochi performed the song “Kimi Kimi Syndrome X” at a training camp. Even though Komochi didn’t join the group in the end, Megumi still had a feeling that they would be on the same stage one day. So when it actually happened, she wasn’t surprised at all.
  • On the day that Mei and Komochi joined “Zenkimi,” Megumi called Mashiro to ask her what she thought about it, as well as how she felt about Mei taking on a variation of her color, to which Mashiro responded with approval.
  • Throughout the group’s existence, Megumi knows of three times that their fans have died. In the last days of the group’s activities, she tried to look up at the sky during concerts, and she hopes that the sight of their performance at the Budokan reached those three fans as well.
  • Megumi doesn’t want to perform at the Budokan a second time, she wants to reach even higher.
  • Megumi also talked about one of the reasons why the group went on hiatus. I have translated this part of the stream:
  • Megumi also talked in great detail about the topic of the members’ departures from a side that is not usually discussed in public. And I translated that as well:
  • The girl once again told about her dream to build a mansion where she could live together with “Zenkimi” fans and in the basement there would be a concert venue.
  • You can also check out the translation of another part of the stream in which Megumi expresses her feelings towards the fans:
  • Megumi promises that she will give every fan the opportunity to get in touch with her personally when her showbiz career comes to an end.

And finally, some fascinating facts:

  • As Nene Komochi said, March 15, 2024 will be “the first step towards the group’s comeback.”
  • As fans can see, only Seireki13ya and TOKYO TEFUTEFU are currently active from the company’s idol groups. However, according to Nobuhide Imamura, Megumi and Mei are currently “preparing different things behind the scenes” as well as “something new is being prepared in another place.”

There are things Megu-chan can tell, but there are also things she can’t tell yet. We’re preparing a lot of different new things right now. And this crowdfunding campaign is one of them. We’ll probably have many opportunities to laugh and cry together again soon, don’t you think?

Nobuhide Imamura on Kisaragi Megumi’s 12-hour stream.

On August 28th, KAQRIYOTERROR tweeted the following message:

It seems that we should expect a resurrection of the group as early as this month.

TOKYO TEFUTEFU have revealed the title of their third album – Butterfly Dogma2.

The group also held a two-hour preview of their new song “Rinbu”3. Do you mind if we talk about it next time?

  1. https://twitter.com/zenbukiminosei/status/1696044121432232142
  2. https://twitter.com/tokyotftf/status/1697587788068389094
  3. https://twitter.com/tokyotftf/status/1697587788068389094

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