HinaBitter
HinaBitter♪
HinaBitter♪ (ひなビタ♪), short for Hinatabi Bitter Sweets (日向美ビタースイーツ♪), is a media mix project that was first announced by KONAMI in November 2012. It is produced by BEMANI composer Tomosuke Funaki in association with FujimiShobo (富士見書房), an offbrand of Kadokawa Shoten established in 1991 that specializes in card games, anime, and manga.
Story
The main story of HinaBitter♪ consists of five girls that band together to save their hometown that's struggling financially.
Characters
According to TOMOSUKE, all the HinaBitter♪ girls are named after the lyrics in his song 凛として咲く花の如く. (Incidentally, a rearrangement of the song by tricot was used during the announcement of the series back in November 2012.)
Hinatabi Bitter Sweets
- Marika Yamagata (山形 まり花) - voiced by Rina Hidaka
- The central heroine of HinaBitter♪, Marika is the Saudade (サウダージ) music store owner's daughter, who's said to be good at improvising. She is an upbeat, cheerful girl. She's also childhood friends with Ibuki, her best friend. Her catch phrase is "I'm fine!" (大丈夫だよ). She plays the keyboard.
- Ibuki Izumi (nickname Eve) (和泉 一舞) - voiced by Minami Tsuda
- The Izumi couture (いずみ洋装店) clothing shop's daughter, she's a fashionable but easily irritated girl. Her blonde hair is dyed. She and Marika grew up together and are close friends, though she gets embarrassed when Marika calls her Eve (イブ). Ibuki has many hobbies, include dancing, sewing, karaoke, and home cooking. She plays bass.
- Meu Meu (nickname MeuMeu) (芽兎 めう) - voiced by Hiromi Igarashi
- The youngest of the girls, the energetic daughter of the Usagitsuki-do (兎月堂) seal shop owner loves putting "meu" at the end of her sentences. She also loves parfaits, specifically the Chikuwa parfait served at Chat Noir. There's even a song about her love for them, and her pop'n music sprite even features her running with them, one in each hand. In her spare time Meu likes to design outfits for cosplay and play rhythm games. She plays the drums.
- Rin Shimotsuki (霜月 凛) - voiced by Kaori Mizuhara
- The oldest of the girls, she is the Shimotsuki Shorin (霜月書林) bookstore owner's daughter. She is a mature, quiet girl, almost always seen carrying a novel in her hands. She is a fast reader, and able to do arithmetic in her head as well. Rin attends a different school from the other girls. She plays the electric guitar.
- Sakiko Kasuga (春日 咲子) - voiced by Ai Yamaguchi
- The daughter of the Chat Noir (シャノワール) Internet café's owner. She also occasionally works at Chat Noir, dressed as a maid. Usually a polite, soft-spoken girl, she has a deviant side that occasionally appears. She enjoys cooking (especially candy) in her free time, and enjoys watching anime, too. Despite her appearance, one of Sakiko's favorite music genres is metal. She plays the acoustic guitar.
Coconatsu
Coconatsu (ここなつ) are a rival unit of Hinatabi Bitter Sweets. As opposed to the more rock/soft electronic music of their rivals, these girls are more into EDM/technopop/electronica. In recent times, though, Coconatsu have teamed up to perform with the Hinatabi Bitter Sweets group.
- Cocona Shinonome (東雲 心菜) - voiced by Yuri Hinami
- First year high school student who's into EDM and Natsuhi's twin sister. Shyer than her twin sister, with a softer voice to match. She wears glasses, but she takes them off when performing her idol duties. She has a fondness for unusual animals.
- Natsuhi Shinonome (東雲 夏陽) - voiced by Ari Ozawa
- First year high school student who's into technopop and electronica, and Cocona's twin sister. A professional idol performer along with her sister. She was initially very prideful about herself, but has since mellowed down. She refers to the Hinatabi Bitter Sweets group by the name "Chikuwa Band" (ちくわバンド).
Music Contributors
Though HinaBitter♪ was founded by TOMOSUKE, there have been several musicians who contributed to the series. So far they include:
- TOMOSUKE
- ARM
- Tomoko Sasaki
- Junpei Fujita
- tilt-six
- sasakure.UK
- millstones
- DECO*27
- Junky
- Hige Driver
- pizuya
- Kisida
- shavadava
- MOSAIC.WAV
- Zyukucho
- YeYe
- Yuuya Kobayashi
- Akai Ryuusei
HinaBitter♪ Web Radio Drama Series
| HinaBitter♪ housoukyoku (ひなビタ♪放送局) | |
|---|---|
| 1. ねぇねぇ、バンドしようよ!! (12/12/2012) | |
| Marika and Ibuki introduce themselves and play a bit of music. | |
| 2. 大発表っ!? (1/27/2013) | |
| Marika, Ibuki, Meu Meu, and Sakiko appear. Meu Meu and Sakiko's first appearances. A practice version of 恋とキングコング plays starting at 8:37. | |
| 3. イブイブにしてやんよ★ (1/27/2013) | |
| Marika, Ibuki, Meu Meu, and Sakiko appear, with Ibuki the center focus as she talks to the others about their passion for music. A practice version of イブの時代っ！ plays starting at 5:37. | |
| 4. めうめうのグローバル萌えおこし大作戦?? (2/26/2013) | |
| Marika, Ibuki, Meu Meu, and Sakiko appear, with Meu Meu the main focus, as she lets the focus get a bit to her head. A practice version of めうめうぺったんたん!! is first played at 5:51, then a rock version of it is played at 7:59. | |
| 5. とってもとっても、ありがとう (4/9/2013) | |
| Marika, Ibuki, Meu Meu, and Sakiko appear, with Sakiko the center focus as they chat at Chat Noir. A practice version of とってもとっても、ありがとう。 plays starting at 8:07. The other girls are moved by her song. | |
| 6. ついに登場!?黒髪の天才ギタリスト (5/7/2013) | |
| Marika, Ibuki, Meu Meu, Sakiko, and Rin appear. Rin's first appearance, who gets overwhelmed by the other girls around her. A practice version of 虚空と光明のディスクール is played starting at 8:59. | |
| 7. マジカルちくパガールズ参上だよっ☆ (9/24/2013) | |
| Marika and Meu Meu talk about Chikuwa parfaits, which eventually leads into them making a song together about magical girls that use parfaits as weapons. A practice version of ちくわパフェだよ☆CKP plays around 5:39. | |
| 8. ぐ、愚昧な事ばかり言わないでくれるかしら…洋服屋 (10/29/2013) | |
| Ibuki messes around with Rin, feeling she should open up more since they're friends. A practice version of カタルシスの月 is first played at 3:23, then a different, rock version is played at 9:17. After they sing, Rin opens up a bit, but is shy about it. | |
| 9. ホーンテッド★メイドランチ (12/24/2013) | |
| At Chat Noir, a deeper-sounding Sakiko scares Meu Meu. Sakiko later apologizes before scaring her again, as they then sing a sing together. A practice version of ホーンテッド★メイドランチ is played starting at 7:39. | |
| 10. ずっとずっと一緒だよっ！ (3/4/2014) | |
| Marika talks to Ibuki about their childhoods, which embarrasses her. A practice version of 走れメロンパン is played starting at 10:01. | |
| 11. なぞの段ボールさん (3/16/2014) | |
| Rin and Sakiko hang together, as Sakiko rummages through an old box of hers. Rin does not want her to, though. Sakiko eventually finds out they are old, cute clothes. A practice version of 滅びに至るエランプシス is played starting at 10:40. | |
| 12. こんな感じが都会的だしっ! (6/26/2014) | |
| Ibuki and Meu Meu enter an audition together. Before that, they take pictures, and Meu Meu screws up. She gets upset, until Ibuki cheers her up. A practice version of 都会征服Girls☆ is played starting at 12:13. | |
| 13. 温故知新でいこっ! (8/22/2014) | |
| Summary to be updated. A practice version of 温故知新でいこっ！ is played starting at 8:33. | |
| 14. 滅亡天使 † にこきゅっぴん (10/7/2014) | |
| Summary to be updated. A practice version of 滅亡天使 † にこきゅっぴん is played starting at 9:23. | |
| 15. 舞御前と橘姫 (12/16/2014) | |
| Summary to be updated. A practice version of 乙女繚乱 舞い咲き誇れ is played starting at 15:05. | |
| 16. 水月鏡花のコノテーション (03/05/2015) | |
| Summary to be updated. A practice version of 水月鏡花のコノテーション is played starting at 10:45. | |
| Kuranogawa kankouka dayori (倉野川観光課だより) | |
| 1. 日向美ビタースイーツ♪新曲のお披露目です (08/19/2015) | |
| Summary to be updated. neko*neko is played starting at 2:49. | |
| 2. 日向美ビタースイーツ♪和泉さん新曲のお披露目です (09/25/2015) | |
| Summary to be updated. 激アツ☆マジヤバ☆チアガール is played starting at 2:00. | |
| 3. 日向美ビタースイーツ♪春日さん新曲のお披露目です (10/23/2015) | |
| Summary to be updated. 漆黒のスペシャルプリンセスサンデー is played starting at 3:03. | |
| 4. 日向美ビタースイーツ♪芽兎さん新曲のお披露目です (11/20/2015) | |
| Summary to be updated. 地方創生☆チクワクティクス is played starting at 2:20. | |
| 5. 日向美ビタースイーツ♪霜月さん新曲のお披露目です (12/16/2015) | |
| Summary to be updated. フラッター現象の顛末と単一指向性の感情論 is played starting at 1:27. | |
| 6. 皆様、ハッピークリスマスです☆ (12/24/2015) | |
| 琥珀のくちづけ ～二世代edition～ is played starting at 0:00. | |
| Coconatsu housoukyoku (ここなつ放送局) | |
| 1. ここなつ放送局の時間です (12/04/2015) | |
| Summary to be updated. |
HinaBitter♪ Singles/Discography
Single Releases
- 11/21/12 - 凛として咲く花の如く / tricot
- 01/09/13 - 恋とキングコング / 日向美ビタースイーツ♪
- 02/06/13 - イブの時代っ！ / 日向美ビタースイーツ♪
- 03/13/13 - めうめうぺったんたん!! / 日向美ビタースイーツ♪
- 04/17/13 - とってもとっても、ありがとう。 / 日向美ビタースイーツ♪
- 05/22/13 - 虚空と光明のディスクール / 日向美ビタースイーツ♪
- 07/17/13 - 凛として咲く花の如く ～ひなビタ♪edition～ / 日向美ビタースイーツ♪
- 10/09/13 - ちくわパフェだよ☆CKP / 日向美ビタースイーツ♪
- 11/11/13 - カタルシスの月 / 日向美ビタースイーツ♪
- 02/19/14 - ホーンテッド★メイドランチ / 日向美ビタースイーツ♪
- 03/19/14 - 走れメロンパン / 日向美ビタースイーツ♪
- 05/21/14 - 滅びに至るエランプシス / 日向美ビタースイーツ♪
- 07/16/14 - ミライプリズム / ここなつ
- 07/30/14 - 都会征服Girls☆ / 日向美ビタースイーツ♪
- 09/17/14 - 温故知新でいこっ！ / 日向美ビタースイーツ♪
- 09/24/14 - キミヱゴサーチ / ここなつ
- 10/29/14 - 滅亡天使 † にこきゅっぴん / 日向美ビタースイーツ♪
- 01/14/15 - 乙女繚乱 舞い咲き誇れ / 日向美ビタースイーツ♪
- 01/14/15 - ポメグラネイト / ここなつ
- 02/04/15 - ツーマンライブ / 東雲夏陽 meets 日向美ビタースイーツ♪
- 03/04/15 - キモチコネクト / 東雲心菜 meets 日向美ビタースイーツ♪
- 05/13/15 - 水月鏡花のコノテーション / 日向美ビタースイーツ♪
- 07/29/15 - ロンロンへ ライライライ！ / ここなつ
- 09/09/15 - neko*neko / 日向美ビタースイーツ♪
- 10/21/15 - 激アツ☆マジヤバ☆チアガール / 日向美ビタースイーツ♪
- 11/18/15 - 漆黒のスペシャルプリンセスサンデー / 日向美ビタースイーツ♪
- 12/16/15 - 地方創生☆チクワクティクス / 日向美ビタースイーツ♪
- 01/27/16 - フラッター現象の顛末と単一指向性の感情論 / 日向美ビタースイーツ♪
Five Drops Single Series
- 12/23/15 - Five Drops 01 -sunny orange- 山形まり花 / CV:日高里菜
- 01/06/16 - Five Drops 02 -honey lemon- 和泉一舞 / CV:津田美波
- 01/13/16 - Five Drops 03 -strawberry milk- 芽兎めう / CV:五十嵐裕美
- 02/03/16 - Five Drops 04 -pure grape- 春日咲子 / CV:山口愛
- 02/17/16 - Five Drops 05 -bergamot mint- 霜月凛 / CV:水原薫
Album Releases
- 09/18/13 - ひなビタ♪ ORIGINAL SOUNDTRACK
- 03/19/14 - Bitter Sweet Girls!
- 12/24/14 - ミライプリズム
- 03/25/15 - Chocolate Smile Girls!!
- 03/16/16 - シンクロノーツ
- 05/27/16 - 倉野川音頭 桜まつり♪記念CD
Radio Drama Releases
- 09/26/14 - 日向美ビタースイーツ♪～SWEET SMILE COLLECTION～ Vol.1
- 10/31/14 - 日向美ビタースイーツ♪～SWEET SMILE COLLECTION～ Vol.2
- 11/28/14 - 日向美ビタースイーツ♪～SWEET SMILE COLLECTION～ Vol.3
- 12/26/14 - 日向美ビタースイーツ♪～SWEET SMILE COLLECTION～ Vol.4
- 01/30/15 - 日向美ビタースイーツ♪～SWEET SMILE COLLECTION～ Vol.5
- 11/27/15 - 日向美ビタースイーツ♪～SWEET SMILE COLLECTION～side:spinoffここなつ
Trivia
- None of the BEMANI game cuts of any of the HinaBitter♪ songs have to date appeared on a BEMANI OST.
- None of the HinaBitter♪ songs are keysounded in pop'n music, making them the series' first KONAMI originals with this distinction.
- Of the ten current BEMANI series, beatmania IIDX is the only BEMANI series that does not currently have a HinaBitter♪ song in their songlist.
- Curiously, the Bitter Sweet Girls! album was listed at one point on the beatmania IIDX section of the KONAMISTYLE website, despite that none of their songs are currently in beatmania IIDX. This was later corrected and removed.
- All of the HinaBitter♪ housoukyoku episodes feature BEMANI songs in the background as background music, many of them composed, arranged, or featuring TOMOSUKE. Here they are in episode order:
- Episode 1: Dimanche (pop'n music 7), the long version of なまいきプリンセス (pop'n music 19 TUNE STREET), and the tricot remix of 凛として咲く花の如く.
- Episode 2: Orange AIR-LINE instrumental (pop'n music 11), instrumental version of pot-pourri d'orange save for Mobo Moga (GUITARFREAKS 7thMIX & drummania 6thMIX).
- Episode 3: Instrumental long version of なまいきプリンセス, instrumental version of Marmalade Reverie (beatmania IIDX 7th style).
- Episode 4: 恋とキングコング (the first non-TOMOSUKE song played in the background).
- Episode 5: Une mage blanche (REFLEC BEAT limelight), めうめうぺったんたん!!.
- Episode 6: Instrumental version of 恋はどう?モロ◎波動OK☆方程式!! (pop'n music 20 fantasia), instrumental long version of αρχη (GuitarFreaks V3 & DrumMania V3).
- Episode 7: Une mage blanche, Marie Antoinette (beatmania IIDX 16 EMPRESS).
- Episode 8: 虚空と光明のディスクール and the HinaBitter remix of 凛として咲く花の如く.
- Episode 9: Die Zauberflöte (GuitarFreaks V & DrumMania V).
- Episode 10: 恋とキングコング, イブの時代っ！.
- Episode 11: Instrumental version of みずうみの記憶 (pop'n music 16 PARTY♪), 虚空と光明のディスクール.
- Episode 12: イブの時代っ！ (full version), カタルシスの月, めうめうぺったんたん!!, pop'n music 14 FEVER! title screen music, めうめうぺったんたん!! again, and イブの時代っ! again.
- Episode 13: 走れメロンパン, practice version of 恋とキングコング, 滅びに至るエランプシス (full version) and 走れメロンパン again.
- Episode 14: めうめうぺったんたん!!, 恋はどう?モロ◎波動OK☆方程式!!, 恋とキングコング, 滅びに至るエランプシス and めうめうぺったんたん!! again.
- Episode 15: 都会征服Girls☆, 温故知新でいこっ！, an instrumental long version of 黒髪乱れし修羅となりて (pop'n music 18 せんごく列伝), イブの時代っ！, a piano arrangement of とってもとっても、ありがとう。 and イブの時代っ！ again.
- Episode 16: 恋とキングコング, ツーマンライブ, キモチコネクト, 虚空と光明のディスクール.
- SOUND VOLTEX III GRAVITY WARS features an original contest for Coconatsu songs, which can be seen here.
Staff Information
- Development, Original Plan and Music Supervision: TOMOSUKE
- Character Designer: CUTEG
- Background Designer: Kurono Kuro (くろのくろ)
- Logo Designer: sachi
- Deformed Character Designer: Nyain. (にゃいーん。)
- Web Production: Kabushiki Gaisha Alcor (株式会社アルコル)
- Script Collaborator: Adventure Planning Service (冒険企画局)
- Comic: Hiroichi (ヒロイチ)
- Light Novel: Keisho Hachinagawa (八奈川景晶), Ichigo Shimamoto (しまもと苺)
External Links
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