Konomi Yoshikawa – Konomin (November 21st, 2008)
Takeshobo
Catalog # TSDV-41206 – Region 2 Disc – 4:3 Aspect
Running Time: 82 minutes

The Skinny: This is Konomi Yoshikawa’s second video and her 3rd DVD has just been released. In this video it looks to me that Konomi has lost a few pounds about the hips and derriere (as compared to her 1st DVD). But I’ll tell you one thing she hasn’t lost – her enthusiasm and charisma. This lady is just filled with energy and the desire to engage her fans through the medium of video.

A spirited two minute montage makes way for the first of the main Chapters which is Chapter 2 on your on-screen menu. The gravure production houses always call the montage the first Chapter. I don’t, But it isn’t of consequence for the review. Anyway, Konomi does her best to charm us in her school uniform.

This is the kind with the white sailor shirt and short navy blue skirt.Soon the skirt goes the way of all skirts in gravure idol videos. That means off. Her shirt too.

But that’s not the end of this chapter. Konomi noshes on some fresh cut fruit. Juice flows. And still this chapter plays on as Konomi plays around in her bra and panties. This chapter ran about 12 minutes before ending.

Konomi appears in a white one-piece bathing suit and heads right into the pool. The camera goes right into the pool after Konomi for some wet closeups as well as some underwater shots.

You can’t help but notice how tight this bathing suit is. Konomi will drink from the ice bucket, and as expected an ice cube comes into play.

The third chapter finds Konomi in a red bikini posing in front of a wall, then on a wet wooden deck, and finally on a lounger by the pool. This is the 3rd straight outdoor scene. Will they run out of ideas about what she should do? If they do, she can always play the cute card. Konomi has the bright smile and is energetic enough to make it work.

Next up is Konomi in the gym for a workout. Something tells me this scene won’t be that long. She starts on a treadmill for some jogging. Less than a minute later she’s working with the machines including a stairmaster. Five situps later it’s time for some glam posing while we are still in the gym. And some more cute of course.

What begins as a tennis lesson doesn’t last long. Konomi will lose her tennis skirt and top soon enough. More of posing in her bra and panties is what we get instead of a tennis. The back drop is a wooden fence.

That must be a sub-theme of the DVD as the next chapter has Konomi again in a bikini posing in a small alley that has a house on one side and what else? – a wooden fence on the other side. Private? Certainly. Visually stimulating? Not even close.

Same costume – Konomi now poses before a sheet hanging on a line to dry in the sun. And when Konomi wraps herself in the sheet you’ll be asking why. Not very creative if you ask me. And Konomi herself looks puzzled as if to say, “Are you kidding me or what? Is this the best you could come up with?” No ‘cute’ in evidence for this one.

Konomi in bed is next. And they’ve got her in a shapeless nightie and her hair is somewhere under some sort of head band. Last scene the art director got a failing grade for his choice of location.

In this scene, they get a failing mark for costume and set design – white sheets and pillow cases, white nightgown, white headband, white paint on the wall, and the room is filled with sunlight. Not even some cleavage and butt shots can save this scene.

Finally we get a nice location in the next chapter. Yes it is a beach. Konomi wears a frilly yellow bikini and she spends a good amount of time brushing off sand. A small beach ball makes an appearance without much impact.

After the beach, a girl needs a shower. Okay, this scene was done pretty nicely, meaning it could have been better but it was still worthwhile. There were a few too many facial closeups, but there were also quite a few winning shots.

The sunset scene follows – usually an indicator of the fact that the video might be ending soon. Konomi wears a yellow sundress which she soon sheds to reveal another brief costume. The setting is the waterside. This was the closing scene as it included the credits, and unbelievably, the ‘direction’ that may have given to Konomi (I wasn’t there so I can only guess) was to NOT smile at all in this scene. So she didn’t.

A bonus chapter followed the credits. In this Konomi received a massage. She laughs and says, “Kimochi des” – it feels good. I wonder if the massage lady enjoyed squeezing Konomi’s boobs and butt?

And as expected there’s also some behind the scenes and making of clips. Plus some previews of other Takeshobo releases.

Summary: I find it hard to believe that this was a Takeshobo release. I think the direction was clueless. The music was okay, and Konomi tried hard to please the audience. But lousy locations and ugly bikinis, and woeful direction will bring down even the best model. Sorry Konomi (Gomen Na), you are very sweet. I loved you in your 1st video, but this one is a step in the wrong direction. To the suits at Takeshobo – man, I KNOW you guys can do better than this. Two point seven five.

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