Novelist Tetsuya Ichikawa: ‘I Prefer BEYOOOOONDS’ Goofy Tonchiki Era, Like Gekikara LOVE’

Background and Key Points of This Discussion

Within Hello! Project, BEYOOOOONDS has been known for a comedic, skit-heavy performance style fans call “tonchiki,” and “Gekikara LOVE” is cited as a defining song of that era. In recent years, however, songs in the vein of “Tensei” and “Rosy Chronicle” — which foreground intricate choreography and vocal ability — have increased, and the thread sees this as the group shifting toward a “tsuyo-tsuyo” (powerhouse) image. Opinion splits on whether to view this change as natural growth or as the abandonment of the tonchiki identity that made the group distinctive. Some in the thread view it as a deliberate move to broaden the group’s female fan base, while others point to a broader homogenization of Hello! Project songwriting, with Juice=Juice reportedly getting first pick of material — a complaint that extends beyond this one group to Hello! Project’s songwriting policy as a whole. The thread cites the rankings from the 2021 Hello! Project Song Awards, though it’s worth noting that reflects a popularity poll from that year, not a current assessment.</parameter>

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