The Consequences of Your Opinion

What is written here is, undoubtedly, my opinion, and you may like it, you may not, and some will ignore it because they do not want my opinion. In the end, there will be someone who conflicts with what I say, what you say, what we all say - it is life. However, all of our opinions count, but please don't be so close-minded as to ignore someone else's opinion just because you value your own. Let yourself open your mind to what they have to say, and learn from both your opinion, and theirs.

I want to point out that, originally, I did write a rant post before this one, however I have decided against posting it because it was created from direct anger and hurt. However, it did help me to write this post, which is a reflection of what has happened.

I summarised my entire post in my Disclaimer. Are we done now?

I think that this image is a perfect representation of what I am going to talk about today, class.

So, opinions. We all have them, and we all use them at some point in our day to day lives, whether we are talking to someone we know at work, school or home, or if we are on the internet. No matter what, we openly voice our opinions, and in a sense, we know what to expect; either someone will agree with us, or they will disagree. It is a part of the by and by of life.

But, having an opinion is not a simple thing, especially when you are a part of a fandom that has a lot of strongly opinionated people. Whether it is a Justin Bieber fan (they are shit scary, and don't listen to reason; TRUST ME) or someone who closely follows the Jpop culture that we all love ourselves, there will be someone out there who will bite at your opinion, and not let you win because, like you, they are heavily passionate about what they believe in, and they don't want to listen to reason or take into account that, just maybe, you have said something they understand or something that is probably true. Heck, we have all been there, and some of us are probably still in that position.

The thing is, with fans like this, they can quickly turn an opinion into a hate speech, and will never look at the good in what you say, and only take in the bad of it all and immediately judge you on it. That is how internet fights in fandoms spark, and it is also one of the reasons why many fans of certain pop cultures stray away from them, because it seriously is scary and disheartening. I admit, I stray away from forums a lot now because of the fans, though I am not saying ALL fans are like this, just the ones who are so heavily opinionated that they don't listen to what someone else has to say, because they have already thought of them as a hater and someone to judge because of what they have said.
 This is why I stick to Facebook, though sometimes that is no better, but people are a lot more open there I have found.

Now, I bring this topic up because recently, I experienced something like this. After writing my article in 'The Issue With Berryz', it came to light from a friend on facebook that I had been, and I quote, "bashed" on an online forum for what I had said, and that they thought I should know. Now, because I rarely frequent online forums for this very reason, I initially would have had no idea that this was going on, but now that I did, I decided to take a look to see what had been said. Of course, it wasn't the worst I had seen from the person who had started the post, but it wasn't generally nice either in a way. I mean, knowing that someone has felt so upset by something you have written is actually very upsetting for the person who wrote it, and I did go and apologise, but in the end, it was my opinion and I did note that if you didn't like it, then don't read what I write. Of course, what they had said on the forum did spawn a few other posts from people who were like-minded to the original poster about me, and they did of course dish out that I was a hater, and someone who was unworthy of the Berryz fandom.

Now that is bashing.

Every person who disagrees with me because of an Opinion, and when I try to talk to them

The original poster was hurt by what I had said, and I understood that. I also understood the consequences I would have to take on by posting something as risky (for the H!P fandom, at least) as a post on Berryz and how I felt they should disband, otherwise I would have never posted it, and I knew that I would potentially get some dislike and hate for it. The thing is, I expected people to comment on my blog with the hate, but instead it was on a public forum, for fans who had the same mind-set to see, instead of commenting and talking to me about it. And yes, I did take a serious issue with it, and even now I find the original poster to be rather immature and scared to do that (but not bad), but in the end they made it public to other Berryz fans who would also take issue with it. Why? Because it's the safe thing to do, rather than come out to the original writer and take issue with them, and listen to their own reasons.

Now, my main issue with this whole bashing thing wasn't the person who originally wrote about how it affected them, but the people who posted afterwards. I highly doubt a lot of those who posted afterwards, calling me out as a hater and what not, had even read my post, let alone looked at it. If they had taken a read of it and decided to hate me afterwards, then fine, but it was that fact that it looked like they were all basing their opinions (oh look, that word!) on me from what someone else had said... and what that person had said was all the things that were, you know, bad. So yeah, it did rub me in the wrong way.

Of course, even after I did try and talk to the person about what had been said, and heck, I even apologised, I still received the same answer from them that they had originally started the topic with... as if they hadn't even read what I said, and disregarded anything I would say after that. So, I just left it at that afterwards (I did respond once more, after Wotutu, my Knight in Frilly Lolita, dashed to my defence on the forum without telling me she would do so... my hero <3) and I haven't looked at the forum since, because I don't want to know what has been said now, as how they feel about me and what they think has already been confirmed; they don't like me, and they think of me as a Berryz Hater who will never be a fan in their eyes of their Holy Group. The end, pretty much.

Honestly, it is really good to have an opinion, especially a strong one, but it is not good to have an opinion so strong that you are ignorant to everyone else's opinion and blatantly ignore what they have to say to try and help you see their point of view. Yes, this person had stated I could have my opinion, but even when I talked to them about it they answered with 'You hurt my feelings, I am still hurt, and nothing you can say will change that' (in a sense), and that just showed me how indifferent they were to what I thought and felt. They didn't care that I was willing to talk to them and let them show me what they saw in Berryz, or let me know information I had gotten wrong (they had stated Berryz did indeed sell out Budokan, but someone else said 'we know they did, who cares if she doesn't' as if to pass off my opinion was nothing, and that I would not learn because I was ignorant to what they knew... erm... yeah...). This person did not really care for what I had to say I think, and whilst I think their opinion of Berryz is as good as my own, I do take issue in the fact that they won't listen to what others have to say, and will only let in the like-minded souls who share their passion and love for Berryz, rather than allowing for a more diverse opinion to infiltrate their perfect image of the group.

But, this is what happens, and it is to be expected. When you are vocal, online or in the real world, there will be consequences that shall, at some point in life, be met, and even though you know that this will happen, it will still surprise and hurt you, and you won't like it. People will jump to conclusions, and they will think of what you say as hate speech, and because of what has been written or said, others will immediately judge you for it based on what someone else has said about you. They don't see the good, they only see the bad, and whilst that original poster has been hurt by what you have said, you will also hurt because people are calling you a bitch or a hater, and bashing you with ill-intention, and they do not understand that you are stating opinions, not facts. There will be some people who don't judge you straight away, not everyone is like that, but if one person talks to another person or a group of people who share their ideals because it is safer for them, then you will be branded as someone who is unworthy and evil, no matter what you say to help them see what you mean, or to show them that you are willing to talk to them and learn.

The thing is, to be willing to learn about someone else's passions and interests, you both need to be willing to learn. Sadly, not everyone is as open minded as you are, but that is life, and life is a bitch.

Let your opinions be open, but don't let yourself become so close-minded that you shut out what another person thinks just because you don't want them to break your ideal. Be willing to open yourself up to facts and theories, and let yourself learn more about the person, because then you will not only learn more about a group or culture someone else likes, but you will learn more about what you like, and why you like it, and the flaws that make it awesome.

Chiima~

The Issue With Berryz

All opinions within this post, and on this blog in general, are my own and no one else's. I know that my opinion is not favoured by most people, but it is my opinion and this is my blog, so please respect it, and I will in return respect yours. Thank you.

For a while now, I have wanted to write a post on Berryz Kobou and my feelings towards the group; You do not have to agree with what I say, you do not have to even read what I put, but if you do, just tolerate what I am writing. This will not be a favourable post with many people, but that is life, and honestly, I am not here to write what everyone else wants me to write, and that is that.

Let's get into the post, shall we?

I think that it is pretty safe to say that I am not the biggest fan of Berryz Kobou, and honestly, I make it very obvious that I don't care about them. Whether it is in my Digests or other posts, I make it aware that this group is so low on my list when it comes to most idol groups, and that I really can't be bothered to follow them sometimes. In fact, the only reason why I seem to tolerate the group right now is because they are in Hello! Project. That, and I have been waiting for a while now for this group and management to get their act together and produce something great, and to possibly look like a group again.

It's not that I don't like songs by Berryz Kobou or the girls themselves, because I do. Individually, the girls are wonderful. I have a particular fondness for Chinami and Yurina as we all know, and I have recently started to enjoy Maasa and appreciate how beautiful she is. Risako has also started to appeal to me more once again as of late, which is... weird. Concerning the singles that the group has released, I think that there are a few stand-out A-sides that have been released, but as a whole, I find that the group is an utter and complete mess right now.

Actually, the group has been a mess for a while now, probably around the time Heroine ni Narou Ka! came out. For some reason, after all their Anime songs were finished and the group were once again being given music that wouldn't be promoted alongside an animation, the group seemed to go downhill for a while. The strange thing is, it wasn't the music that was going downhill, but the group itself. It seemed like the girls no longer connected with each other, as if they had all grown up suddenly and became bored with their group mates. Watching the PV's as of late, it has become painfully obvious to me that all of the girls have gone in different directions, and don't seem to care about Berryz Kobou any more. Heck, the only one who does seem to care about the group is Shimizu Saki, and possibly Kumai Yurina, but that's it. The rest of them are clearly bored and done with the group.

I mean, looking at the group now, it just looks like a bunch of girls have been shoved together and told to perform and look pretty, and it's very awkward watching them sometimes... especially when they are told to perform a song that is 'sexy' and 'mature'. Most of the time, the girls look bored and uninterested in what they are doing, and other times, it's horrible to watch them as they try and pull off a more mature and sexual look to appeal to the fans watching the videos. It's not just their images that don't fit with the theme they are going for, but also their emotional impact towards the song. There is no emotional impact if you ask me, and I don't think that the members being so disconnected from each other helps, either.

Also, I think that their images don't help them much either. Especially Tsugunaga Momoko.

I think we know how I feel towards this girl by now, especially her character 'Momochi'. Now, I don't hate Momoko. In fact, she is a very good singer, one of the best in Berryz if you ask me, and she is very smart to take on such an annoying persona and make it popular, and also to be able to suffer through the torment she goes through from comedians and hosts. The thing is, it is very obvious that she does not suit Berryz Kobou... or at least, not now. Maybe a few years ago, back when they looked good together and were still young and genki, this persona would have still fit, but right now when the group is trying to promote a more mature and sexual Berryz Kobou, she sticks out like a sore thumb. Tsugunaga Momoko looks like a kid among women, to put it bluntly, and most of the time she ruins the serious nature or the mature tone of a PV with how she looks and acts, which isn't her fault, because you can't help how you look, but for me she ruins a PV because of what she is wearing or how she is acting in the video. Her voice fits the songs sometimes, (not all the time) but when it comes to her image, she really does spoil the mood of a video and makes it awkward to watch.

To be completely honest with you, Momoko is probably the only reason why Berryz is still around right now. She's the only one who has real popularity outside of the group, kind of like Sayumi when Morning Musume was still in its rut because promotion sucked and the group were boring and running dry, and Momoko is doing very well for herself I believe. I honestly think that Momoko, as she is now, should be given a solo career within Hello! Project. She's the only one in Berryz who has the talent and image to do it if you ask me. She also has the drive to promote herself which helps, so she should really just quit the group and become a soloist. That would honestly be the best thing for her, and I would possibly pay more attention to her if she did that, too, but as a member of this group... well, she annoys me, and she looks like she should be in S/mileage, not Berryz.

Other than Momoko though, the rest of the Berryz members don't seem to know where they want to go, whether it is in the PV or outside of the group. They don't mesh well together, and most of what they do looks awkward and forced. There is no group chemistry there at all, and whilst their songs sound pretty good (I swear, Motto Zutto is pretty much perfect for a Berryz song) the group itself is just one giant hot mess, and I don't see why Tsunku or UFP want to continue promoting them when the only thing that I (and others) can give them credit for is Momoko's great promotion of herself and Berryz, and some of their music. The group is on a very thin thread right now, one that is breaking ever so slowly, and I think that the promotion they are getting now is only there to try and salvage Berryz to see if they are still worth keeping together as a group, and not as individual members or singers.

In my opinion, I think that Berryz going to Budokan will probably be the deciding factor for whether or not UFP will keep them; I mean, I think the girls will have a good amount of fans come to see them, but I doubt they will sell out like C-ute did and gain a day two at Budokan. They aren't like C-ute, who undeniably came together so well after the graduation of Erika and proved to be a force in Hello! Project, and Berryz don't have that saving factor that Morning Musume and S/mileage have where they can add new members to revive the group - they are just one group with one set amount of girls, and it just so happens that those girls grew up and possibly lost interest in being idols, or lost interest in each other. It's sad, but it's true.

Unless Berryz comes together as a group again, one that meshes well together and where the other members genuinely like each other, I think that they should disband. Currently, they are in the spot Morning Musume were in a few years ago before the mass graduations and auditions happened, but like I said before, Berryz don't have auditions, but graduations are still an option, too; if the group happened to lose a member, possibly a lead vocalist, I think that it would refresh the group and probably be a good thing, but after being together for so long without any change in lead vocalists or line-up, it might also jeopardize the group. Who knows? Either way, Berryz is in need of a change, (and not a musical one) or they need to disband, and honestly, I don't even think that one member leaving will do much to save how the group works together, though it could possibly help their image a little.

I don't hate Berryz, I like their music enough to continue caring about them a little (being in Hello! Project also helps) but I think that they are past their sell by date... they need a wake up call, or they need to disband, and honestly, the latter would be the most preferable choice for me, because Berryz have truly become boring.

So, to summarise: Disband Berryz, make Momoko a soloist, and also, revive Buono! That's the logical step in my opinion, because damn, at least Momoko and Buono! would make money and be promoted for their talent and group chemistry.

... And that is all I have to say on this matter.

Chiima~

PING!!! Recommended Jpop♀ Reading: September 2013, Part Two

A Look at Beckii Cruel: Independent Idol

You know the usual - ALL opinions are my own and nobody else's. You don't have to like what I say, agree with what I say, or follow what I say, you just have to (somewhat) respect what I say, and I will respect you as well. We all have thoughts and feelings on a specific subject, and we will not always agree on every little thing, but if you can just respect my opinion, then we will get along fine. How about it?

It has been about two years since Beckii Cruel last released anything musically that is solely her own, and if you remember way back in October 2011, I did not take too kindly to the remix release of Miss Cruel's English song You Can't Kiss Me. Honestly, I preferred the original, but that is far beside the point, because two years later, three years if you were a fan of Beckii Cruel's Japanese Idol days, she is back with her latest Japanese single, and a documentary to tell you a little bit about the journey she has taken. Are you ready to take on Beckii Cruel: Independent Idol?

Now, I have not been the most favourable of Beckii Cruel since my days as an Idol fanatic and blogger, and I admit that whole-heartedly, but I recently realised that I have become very welcoming of her return to the Japanese Idol scene since she announced her newest single that I am sure her fans have been greatly anticipating since she broadcast the news on Nico Nico Douga way back when. Okay, so I am still not the biggest fan of Online International Idols, but it is actually nice to see the return of Beckii Cruel after so long.

Coming with her return to the Idol scene, Beckii Cruel has actually released a short documentary following her journey back into Idoldom, with added extras, and has been titled Beckii Cruel: Independent Idol. For someone who has learned about documentaries, and enjoyed making her own, I was really interested in seeing this one. To be honest, I actually really liked the first BBC documentary about Beckii Cruel that aired here in England a few years back, so of course seeing this one was a must.

Now before I get into the post fully, I know that this documentary and new single will be a touchy subject in a way, but also a lot of fun for others. It all really boils down to how you view Miss Beckii Cruel, whether you like her or not. It also depends on how you take my tone in this post, too, because I know you may or may not take offence to it. In the end, it all falls down to how you feel about what is written here, and how you take to Beckii Cruel as a whole. That said and done, let's take a look at Beckii Cruel: Independent Idol.

Shot on the Isle of Man and directed by youtuber Adam Spence, Beckii Cruel's first documentary since 2010 has been released on youtube and focuses on the return of Beckii Cruel as an Idol with her first Japanese single in three years. Now 18, Beckii has been doing various activities in her everyday life as she gets ready to release her new single and return to the Japanese singing scene as a new, Independent Idol.

Obligatory walking shot. Nicely done, though!

The documentary looks closely at how Beckii got into the dancing and Idol scene before her success as an Internet pop Idol back in 2009 when she was only 14, as well as her return to the music industry after a three year absence since she left the company that she had originally been associated with. Before now, Cruel has kept quiet until the recent announcement of her new Japanese single release, titled Future Fantasy.

In the documentary, we not only look into the life of Beckii Cruel, a normal girl and an Internet Idol all rolled into one, but we also take a look at Idols in general and what being a Japanese Idol is all about, and what you are getting yourself into if you decide to become a fan.

CGI Sparkles are even popular here in England! Oh my!

The documentary itself may seem short, but it is filled with a lot of information and insight into Japanese pop culture, as well as Beckii Cruel's life as a teenage Idol and what was expected of her three years ago, and what is happening now that she is returning. There are many facts present in the video for those who want to understand the Idol industry a little more that are explained well from a Wota's point of view, as well as a lot of focus on Cruel's Idol career, what happened, and what will happen for her in the present and possibly the future.

A look at Beckii Cruel merchandise that I am pretty sure

all her fans are drooling over!

Throughout the documentary, we look at past footage from Cruel's success in Japan back in 2009, her return to the world of Japanese fandom with her appearance at HYPER JAPAN 2012, footage from the recording for her new Japanese single as well as the announcement for her comeback into the music industry on Nico Nico Douga. We also see Cruel talk about being an Idol, hear her parents' thoughts and feelings about her career, and also hear insight from a fan on being a fan of Idol culture and what to expect from it.

When I watched the documentary for the first time, I was very impressed with how professional and informative it was. Not only did we take a look into Beckii Cruel as an Idol and her comeback into the Japanese music industry, but we also had great facts about the Idol industry in general and what it is all about, as well as what Beckii Cruel avoided despite her status in Japan as an Idol by releasing a photobook that contained no bikini or underwear shots. One of my favourite aspects about this documentary was that there was a lot of reference to the Idol industry and what it entails, and how it can be deemed different here in England and other Western countries that are not aware of how the Japanese Pop industry works. As opposed to being focused on solely Beckii Cruel and her return to Japan, the documentary, despite its short 15 minutes and 19 seconds, focused on a lot more and allowed insight and knowledge into what Beckii Cruel takes on as a part of her career, allowing the viewers and new fans of Idol culture to know more about this career, and what we, as fans, are getting ourselves into if we decide to follow Idols and their music.

Of course we also look into what has been happening with Beckii Cruel since she has been planning her comeback into the world she was a part of three years ago; we see many shots of what she has been doing, such as an appearance at HYPER JAPAN 2012 and footage of her recording her new solo song that she has released for her fans, but we also get to see what happened before now in the form of past footage of Beckii performing on TV, news clips about her sudden youtube fame as an Youtube and Nico Nico Douga dancer, and hear her thoughts on being an Independent Idol since she left her original company. All of this combined makes an interesting look into Beckii Cruel as an Idol preparing for her return to the world of music and online fandom.

Harunan is needed here because I say so! Also, Happy Daishii!

There is also a lot of great footage in this video in the form of Hello! Project press releases, and also images that are used, to detail what Idols are about and who their general fanbase is made up of. It was nice to see that there was footage used to backup any information used, as well as to show what a Japanese Idol looks like and what they do. I, however, would have liked to have seen more Idol groups sampled outside of Hello! Project within this short documentary, rather than focusing solely on one group or Umbrella project. I know that in the beginning of the documentary we see AKB48, Kyary Pamyu Pamyu, Perfume and Weather Girls with their popular song releases, but only a few seconds of these clips are sampled, and as a fan of various Idol groups and singers, I find that adding different groups' press release events and images would have given a lot more diversity and introduced newer fans to other groups, as well as given a broader spectrum of different Idols and groups within Japan. That said, it would have been nice to have heard even a small explanation about how all Idol agencies and groups in Japan work differently from each other, and that Idols have different looks, characteristics and themes that work in their favour. Given the duration of the documentary, however, they do explain a lot and let us know what we need to know, but I feel that whilst Hello! Project as a whole is a good example, and one of the most iconic groups of Japan internationally, there could have been one or more other groups outside of the Up-Front Agency shown in this documentary.

Also included in the documentary is a brief look at Beckii Cruel and the internet hate she receives from various online articles and internet users, something that many who venture online will know about (whether you partake in it or are a victim of it). Whilst the scene is only brief, we see Cruel express her feelings towards the comments she receives as well as how she handles it and what she thinks of the comments overall about her return to the world of Japanese Idol music.

Looking at that scene, I originally thought that it was not the wisest of choices to include the site in the documentary through ways of a blurred picture (no matter how notorious said site may seem), and I still wonder why it was included, however I do think that Cruel handled herself well when talking about how she deals with the hate comments and her thoughts on them, and how she has overcome trying to defend herself in recent years. The scene itself may not have been that necessary for some when watching it, however I do think it was a pretty good addition to the documentary to show just what being a Japanese Internet Idol from an International background can bring in terms of negative backlash from fans of Japanese Idol culture, as opposed to simply showing all of the positive footage of Cruel as an Idol.

Beckii Cruel: Independent Idol looks into the life of Beckii Cruel as she returns to the world of being an Idol, and the preparations she has undertaken in order to return to the world that she was a part of three years ago. Looking at this documentary as both a fan of Idols and someone who has an interest in documentaries and media, and Beckii Cruel herself, I think that this is a good look at both Beckii Cruel as a returning Idol, and a great way of finding out about Idol Culture and what it has to offer for fans, and what we should be prepared for when going into a fandom like this. The video, though short, has a lot to offer, and whilst there are things that I would have like to have seen more of, such as information on various Idol groups and different clips from different Idol Units within Japan, I do think that what we have here in this 15 minute documentary is a great look into not just Beckii Cruel's life as an Idol, but Idol Culture in general.

This documentary is the start of Beckii Cruel's return to the Japanese music industry as an International Idol. Since her departure from the world of Idols three years ago, she has matured and grown as a person, and is ready to return to the music industry, starting now. This video only shows a small part of what Beckii Cruel has been doing in order to prepare herself for a return to the world as an International Idol, but it offers us a lot in the form of information and insight into Idols and the fandom we are a part of. We see what we need to see, we hear what we need to hear, and it is all packaged in a beautifully filmed and edited documentary that is an enjoyable watch.

What to expect next from Beckii Cruel as an Idol and Internet personality is uncertain for now, but as she herself put it at the very end of the documentary;

"What's next? I can't predict the future, really. A lot of the things which I've done in the past, you just can't predict what's going to come next. You can get this amazing offer, or maybe nothing will happen at all. It's very difficult to say, and I don't want to spoil it by guessing, so I'll just wait and see." - Beckii Cruel (then 17) from Beckii Cruel: Independent Idol.

Are you ready for the return of Beckii Cruel: Independent Idol?

Chiima~

*(Apologies if any mistakes are made within this article. If any information is incorrect, feel free to inform me)

PING!!! Recommended Jpop♀ Reading: August 2013, Part Two

A Dummy's Guide To The Senbatsu: What It Is And Why It Is There

If I say anything wrong, then just remember this: I am still learning about AKB48 in general. Gimme time!!!! Also, I researched as much as I could. I tried... I TRIED!!!!

PS*** Yes, I am scared about posting this, but Nia says go for it... so go forth, post, go forth and be post-y!!!!

I recently wrote, and did a video, about the recent AKB48 32nd single Senbatsu Elections that took place on June 8th, 2013. The event itself was the first that I had seen and taken a part of for AKB48, and the experience itself was extremely enjoyable, but after posting my video on my youtube channel about my thoughts and experience with the election process itself, I received a comment that really got me thinking...

I was surprised by the comment, and honestly, I myself am a Dummy and a Nooblet when it comes to the Senbatsu system; this is, after all, my first election and also the first time I have really looked at AKB48 as anything more than a group to review or bash, but the challenge within the question itself made me think, and it made me want to write a blog post as well as ask Serenyty of Happy Disco if she herself knew of any articles that could explain the Senbatsu well. The post that she sent me, Details on AKB48s 2013 Senbatsu General Elections Released, explains the system quite well I believe, however I felt that it lacked when it came to explaining what the term 'Senbatsu' is as a whole, because when I read the question given, I felt that it was aimed more so towards what the Senbatsu itself is, and not just the voting system as a whole... and so, here I am to try and talk about what the 'Senbatsu' is, but also to learn with you all, because I am a Dummy too.

So, all of that said and done, let's venture into my latest AKB48 based post. Let's begin... Douzo!

A Dummy's Guide To The Senbatsu:

What It Is And Why It Is There

The Term 'Senbatsu' and Where it Originated

When you, as a fan or a casual listener, first venture into the realm of AKB48, SKE48, NMB48 or HKT48, you will find yourself stumbling upon a word that may seem rather alien to you, and that word is: Senbatsu. The word itself simply means 'Selection', and is often used to refer to the selected members in singles, events, performances and more. Due to the large number of AKB48 members, within the group itself as well as the sister groups now, it has become common practice for a certain amount of girls to be picked for singles and media appearances.
 The 'Senbatsu' system itself has been in practice since the single Skirt, Hirari, however at this time the members were simply picked by management for their hard work and determination within the group, and ultimately earned the right to be placed in the front.

The General Senbatsu

Whilst the general 'Senbatsu' system is not limited to certain members, there will, almost always, be certain girls in the front of a single. These girls most commonly appear in the Media, on the covers of the singles, and will also appear in the title song. This is due to their high popularity, or because Management wish to push a certain girl in order to try and sell her. These girls can be chosen at random, or they could be chosen through their hard work and dedication, or even by how popular they are in stage performances; As an outsider to AKB48's stage performances myself, I can only guess that these stages are used not only as a way to show off the talent of the girls in singing or dancing, but also to see which girls are popular, or up-and-coming in popularity, but I do believe that these performances do play quite a big role in finding out which girls are fan favourites, as well as the selling of merchandise and other things.

From what I, as a casual listener of AKB48 music, know about the general 'Senbatsu' as a whole though, is that there are very few changes in who is shown; these are the girls that sell well, and the faces of the group that management wish to push and sell, and very rarely do these girls unless a graduation occurs, or a scandal arises, or the girls themselves fall out of favour with the fans and/or management.

The General Election

Introduced in 2009, the first General Election was held. The idea behind the election was to allow the fans to ultimately determine which girls would become the 'Senbatsu' members for the single by allowing the fans to vote for their favourite members. The first single to feature this new 'Senbatsu' system was Iiwake Maybe, and featured Maeda Atsuko as the centre of the single.
 Originally, the elections were held for both AKB48 and SKE48, and would only feature a total of 30 members; 21 would be chosen for the main Senbatsu, and would be featured on the A-side single, whilst the remaining 9 would sing the accompanying song. Additionally, only the 12 most voted girls would be a part of the 'Media Senbatsu' and would be featured on the single cover, as well as promote the single for the Media.

For the first two elections, the singles included only the Senbatsu and Undergirls members, however as AKB48's popularity, fanbase and member number has grown since then, the new elections have included the ranks of the 'Next Girls' and the 'Future Girls', totalling the number of members for one single to 64, rather than 30 or 40 like the past two singles. This has also given the members of AKB48 and its sister groups a greater chance at becoming a part of either four of the groups present for the 'Senbatsu' single. Additionally, the 'Senbatsu' rank has decreased from 21 to 16, making the positions more and more valuable to members who hope to rank higher each year.
  By being ranked higher through voting, and also finding out who the fans support the most, these girls will become promoted and featured more than they previously had throughout the year until the next General Election takes place, however it should be taken note of that, before the voting process begins, management will possibly select the girls that they want or hope fans to vote for in singles by placing these girls in the 'General Senbatsu' for the single and music video that holds the voting ballot for the Senbatsu Election. Because of this, AKB48's summer singles have a larger senbatsu than previous singles do, as it features girls from all of AKS groups.

So far, there have only been five General Elections. The fifth General Election, held on June 8th 2013, was the first to feature a new centre from the previous four singles, where the centre positions were previously held by Maeda Atsuko or Oshima Yuko, and also the first where a member that was not from AKB48 (but, was previously a part of the group) was crowned centre. For AKB48 and its fanbase, the General Election is one of the most important elections of the year, as it can determine where a member stands in popularity, and her placement in AKB48 as a whole.

The General Elections have been held in the Summer since 2009 onwards.

The Janken Senbatsu Taikai

The final, and most recently introduced, form of the 'Senbatsu' system is the Janken Senbatsu Taikai. Introduced in 2010, this new system was a fresh and daring approach to how the 'Senbatsu' system as a whole worked; instead of the management or fans choosing who would be placed in the single, it would all be left to pure chance through a game of chance, namely, Rock-Paper-Scissors. This change in how the system worked would show a never-before-seen line-up, possibly eliminating all front girls that fans previously knew of, and also bringing the possibilities of introducing new faces to the front of the group and allowing these girls to earn promotion through a simple game of chance.

For the 'Janken Senbatsu' single, there are 16 spots that members can claim, and through various rounds, the girls will be eliminated depending on their choice of rock, paper or scissors. Through this process, any girl can win or lose depending on their choice, making this way of creating a 'Senbatsu' on that is, in a way, left to the choice of the member who is up against her opponent. By winning the Janken tournament, a member is able to gain exposure through the media such as magazine interviews, appearances and also as the centre of the single itself. However, whilst these singles are indeed left by chance, members who are regularly featured in singles already can also place because of how random the odds can be.

The Janken Tournament has been held every winter from 2010 onwards.

Why Is It There?

As I am still learning about AKB48 myself, I can only come to this conclusion; the Senbatsu is there to ultimately determine who is popular, and who Management wish to promote. Whilst there are fairer, or at least fair in our eyes, cases such as the Janken tournaments which are now held yearly, we as fans can only assume that the Senbatsu itself is a popularity contest, and a way for the members to get noticed. The 'Elections' are there for the girls to try and appeal to the fans in order to get votes, whilst the Janken tournaments are a way for the girls to get a chance to shine as Senbatsu members for one single. In general, however, it really is up to management when it comes to who they want to promote, though right now it does seem that the elections themselves help in just 'who' management decide to promote.

Helpful Links:

Details on AKB48's 2013 Senbatsu General Elections Released

AKB48 Wiki Senbatsu Elections Pages

Yahoo! Answers

Generasia Article

Wikipedia Article

Thank you to 554466551 for asking about this and also requesting it. It's helped me to learn more about the Senbatsu, and in turn I hope that it helps all of you to have a better understanding of it if you are, like me, new to AKB48 as a whole as well. Thank you for reading everyone~

Chiima~

PING!!! Idolminded Recommended Reading: June 11th, 2013

Graduation Shock: YuiKaori to Graduate StylipS and My Thoughts

There is one thing about Morning Musume and AKB48 that I have just found I truly appreciate; the graduations within these groups are expected, so as a fan, you kind of mentally prepare yourself for these graduations even if you don't want them, because in these groups it is a written rule; at some point, a member will graduate, and a new one will replace them soon after.

So when it comes to other groups that don't have this system, or never had this system from the beginning, it is shocking when it happens.

... Just like it shocked me when I found out that Ishihara Kaori and Ogura Yui had announced their graduation from StylipS.

I Reading this announcement, I think I went into a state of shock; I was probably being mellow-dramatic about it, but at 5am in the morning, there is not much you can do when you want to scream - so I resorted to crying and rocking back and forth for a few minutes as I talked to Nia on facebook about it, though I doubt I made much progress in trying to construct a decent sentence. Even now, about 45 minutes after reading the news, I am still in a state of shock over it. Disbelief too, but mostly shock and sadness.

I mean, really... this is completely unexpected. Why? Why why why is this happening? A few hours ago I was thinking I was so incredibly happy, and wondering what could happen to make me sad and ruin that happiness. Well, considering I just damn well jinxed myself, I am now completely sad, because YuiKaori are graduating StylipS... so of course I fear for YuiKaori as a duo itself, too.

YuiKaori are, to me, an awesome duo; I love them, and I don't want them to disappear... ever. If I knew that eventually they would leave I think I would be perfectly fine with this development, but because both YuiKaori and StylipS seemed to be stable line-ups, I never prepared myself for a 'graduation' like I did with Morning Musume and AKB48, so knowing that these two are now leaving, especially so suddenly, is extremely saddening and shocking to the system in a way. I feel so put out, like my heart has literally been torn out because they are leaving.

I still don't know what to think if they actually are graduating as YuiKaori as well, because if they are then I might just go into a short, miserable state like I did with Saki and Yuuka when they left S/mileage, which brings me to this point...

This reminds me of when Saki suddenly left S/mileage. Much like the new member announcements, it was sudden and unexpected, and many people did not react well to it. This is, to me, Ogawa Saki graduating all over again. It's unexpected, and it certainly is not welcome (for me). Of course I can't do anything about it, it's their choice to leave, but still... with a group like StylipS, and one like S/mileage before the newbs joined, you kind of expect to see the same faces until the group eventually disbands.

Sadly this obviously isn't the case, not that I want StylipS to disband anyway, but because YuiKaori are leaving, two girls who are a BIG part of Style Cube because of their activity in voice acting and singing, and are the two most recognisable members because of that activity and their past with Hello! Project. Okay, so Noto Arisa also has a good fanbase, but YuiKaori are, from what I know, the most recognisable because of their promotion and anime work.

Of course, considering their popularity, I don't think (or at least I hope) that YuiKaori will leave Style Cube, and especially not their duo unit together, because they certainly are popular and very hard working, and I think that right now Style Cube still needs them because they are still building their company.

So, the reason why they are leaving? Both Yui and Kaori have busy schedules and work loads, so they are leaving StylipS to focus on that. From what I know, Kaori is a University student, whilst Yui is probably in her last year of high school, and considering the fact that they both have a lot of seiyuu work... that could be a reason to leave StylipS. Hopefully it is only StylipS they are leaving though, or I would once again be a wreck and so devastated.

And, whilst I'm writing this post, I had better get this out there: When I saw the title on Tokyohive that 'two members of StylipS' were to graduate, I actually thought, and hoped, that it would be Noto Arisa and Matsunaga Maho. Yes, I like Maho, but when it comes to StylipS, I can only think that the two members who could fully carry the name around and still bring it popularity would be YuiKaori, so to hear that they were the ones graduating... well, I was speechless and shocked as I have already said, and even now I still kind of think that, however selfish that is, but it's true; I really think that StylipS is carried by YuiKaori... though mostly Yui.

I'm still shocked, and I still want to cry. Why wouldn't I? I love StylipS, and I love YuiKaori, and knowing that StylipS will go through the same change that S/mileage did leaves me feeling doubtful for their future. When S/mileage had four members, I loved them, and when they had new members, I embraced them only to be disappointed because their music was a shadow of their former selves, and seeing how StylipS is now, well... yes, I am scared. I think that they might go the same route as S/mileage did when they lost their two best singers, and one of the most recognisable faces.

Much like YuiKaori are to StylipS.

But that doesn't mean the new additions will be bad, because you never know; these new girls they may choose might just be great additions to StylipS and pull them forward, or they might go the S/mileage route and show a more lacklustre side in their singles, you never know. For me, I do hope that the new StylipS girls will be promising and show strength, and give StylipS a new kind of edge...

But I will still be scared for their future.

I am still upset over this, but writing down my thoughts has greatly helped me with the news; I wanted to rage and cry, much like I did after finding out about the graduation, but being able to have a blog to write on has helped me greatly with the news. Really, after writing this much, I feel a lot better with myself and more at ease with the news, though still a little put out.

But all I can do now as a fan and a 3rd party person is to wish YuiKaori luck, and to hope that they won't fade out or disband YuiKaori, and also to hope that the new girls who will be a part of StylipS will be just as wonderful as these two are. Right now though, all I can do is sit back and wait for more announcements to come out, and we will see where we go from there.

Chiima~

PING!!! Idolminded Recommended Reading: April 21st, 2013

Subtitles - Yay or Nay?

A recent development in the world of Hello! Project and UFP is the use of subtitles on their video's, more notably, their music video's. The first group to introduce this was Morning Musume with the full PV for Brainstorming. Of course Kimi Sae Wah Wah followed suit, as did Tasaki Asahi's new PV for her song Sakura Dokei. The thing is though, is this really necessarily?

I know that fans have wanted subtitles for a while because we like to understand what's going on, and when the video for Brainstorming was uploaded, there was a lot of positive responses from foreign fans of Morning Musume because they could now understand it a little better, even if English was not their mother tongue. However, when I was told by my sister that the music video had subtitles, I was a little less than happy by the news. I have my own reasons for this of course as both a blogger and a fan, and really, I am not overly excited by this sudden development... much like Japanese fans, I think. (read this for a better understanding of what I mean... Takamaruyo, I salute you guys!)

I know I may be a part of a minority, but that is how I feel right now about the subtitles, and I want to write this to get that across.

So first thing first: Why the music video's and not the announcement video's? I don't understand this at all. Currently, only one announcement video has been subbed, and that is the C-ute Budokan and Paris announcement, which I actually greatly appreciated the subs for because I could understand the video more, and it felt more emotional for me as a fan. But when it comes to other announcement video's, I also want to know what everyone is saying, such as the new video on Morning Musume's channel where the girls comment on the 12th generation auditions that are currently going on. Why not sub that? I know that subbing takes time and all, but I would rather see these announcement video's subtitled than the music video's. It is a lot more logical and it will give fans a better understanding of what is going on.

So, why the music video's? In my opinion, music video's do not need lyrics added to them, Japanese or English, because music is there for enjoyment.

I have always believed that music is universal, regardless of the language you speak or whether or not you understand it. I don't need to understand Morning Musume's lyrics to enjoy the song, and even if I wanted to understand the lyrics, I can just find them by myself by typing into google 'Brainstorming English Lyrics' or looking for a video that has the lyrics hard subbed onto them by a fan. I also think that a music video does not need lyrics added to the video because, in a way, it can be a huge distraction, especially if you just want to watch the video and not read anything.

In fact, for me the lyrics added to the video are very off-putting as both a blogger and a fan; I want to watch the video and enjoy the music along with it. I like looking at everything visually and seeing the different panning shots on a clean video without any distractions, which leads me to my next problem with the subtitles...

As a blogger, and one who actually relies pretty heavily on her pic spams to get her emotions across or even my lacking wit, this is a very problematic development; I comment on my screen caps, and that requires a clean slate. How can I now comment on these screen captions if they have subtitles there already, subtitles that we can clearly understand, with something I want to say that I think 'fits' the caption? I can't, because the video, or at least the picture I have taken, is telling me something different, and it won't feel right writing something 'new' there, because I now understand it and know what the scene is telling me, or at least what the scene wants to tell me, and that is very off-putting for me as a blogger and in fact stops me from wanting to screen caption video's with hard subtitles added onto them, which is actually my current dilemma with Tasaki Asahi's PV for Sakura Dokei which I desperately want to review, but the subtitles really put me off because I find that I feel restricted to what I can say about it now because of those subtitles.

As both a fan and a blogger, I find the subtitles a problem more than a blessing. Admittedly I did find it quite nice to understand the video, but that feeling does not last when I want to watch it a second time around because I want to look at it and not be distracted by the hard subtitles or because I want to take a caption and comment on it. Having these subs limits me now in my opinion rather than aid me in any way, and are just a big problem when I look at these video's.

I do think that, whilst these are a problem for me, these are some sort of blessing for other fans who want to understand the video's, but as I said earlier; music is universal, and you do not need to understand the lyrics to enjoy the music or the visuals. I got into these groups and singers because I enjoy what they create, not because I can understand their lyrics.

And whilst I think that UFP are doing something right by moving forward and appealing to their overseas fans, I do think that they are going in the wrong direction with the subtitles; use the subtitles on announcement video's or during concert MC's, not on music video's or during a performance, because it is off-putting and takes away the enjoyment of the video for some of us. And, if subtitles really are needed, then use the subtitle function that youtube provides. It isn't that hard, I assure you.

All in all: Nay to subtitles, but only on music video's. Announcement video's are fine, but when it comes to music and visuals, really, you don't need it.

But that is simply my 2 cents on the matter. What about you? Are you happy with the subtitles, or just as unhappy with them as I am? Let me know.

Chiima~

PING!!! Idolminded Recommended Reading: April 11th, 2013

[Guest Post] Spreading One's Juices (by Sarah in Kpopland!)

I first want to disclaim and say that all opinions within this post are entirely Sarah's and not my own. This is a guest post, so please respect the poster and what she has to say.

This post is my first guest post, and a post which is not made by me or collaborated by me either. Sarah asked a few other bloggers and myself if we would allow her to post her thoughts on a blog because her own blog is dedicated to solely K-pop and not J-pop. Because I love Sarah's writing, an also curious to know her thoughts on Juice=Juice, I accepted this... that, and I get to promote her! Amazing sauce, right?

Please visit Sarah on her blog at Sarah in Kpopland!

(Jump to see the full post )

Becoming the Wota I am Today: A Response to Ray's Fandoms Preparing For Other Fandoms

I thought about posting this as a response to Ray's post on Idolminded as an Idol Thought for the day, and then decided that that might be a cheap shot (haha, no idea how) and decided to write it here instead, because hey, I can let loose... Not that I really can let loose too much on this sort of topic, because Ray himself explains it magnificently in his post and I'm basically retelling it, just with my own words and experiences.

But it's not just Ray's post that makes me want to write this; I've been thinking about it a lot lately, what makes me the Wota I am today, and after reading Ray's post about his own Fandoms preparing him for being a Wota shed a little more light on how I have also mentally prepared myself for being a Wota, or at least, how my childhood prepared me.

The start of my geekiness, or at least my inner nerd, was awakened through my siblings; my younger sister and I are the babies of the family, so when we were a lot younger we naturally followed our older siblings around and basically copied them, trying to be like them. One of the things that they did avidly was play video games, the four most prominent being Super Mario Bros, Tekken 3, Street Fighter II and Sonic the Hedgehog. Of course there were other games that my sister and I weren't allowed to play, one being Silent Hill, but the four games I have exampled were the ones that we played religiously as children and the ones that stick in my mind mostly whenever I think back to playing games as a child.

Of course there were other games, Final Fantasy VII being a prominent one that I clearly remember my older sister playing as me and my sister watched, but my sister and I really only played on the NES and original Playstation at that point, and games like FF were a bit too lengthy and heavy on the writing for us to really want to play it. Thinking about it now, I actually don't recall if any of my female friends really played these games when I was younger. Then again it was the 90's, and most of my friends liked Barbie and the Bubblegum Kids franchise, as did I, but I don't recall talking about console games or anything with my friends.

Another game that became a big part of my life, though a lot later, was Kingdom Hearts; when my sister and I had just moved we were heavily into that game to the point where we were both obsessed and enchanted by it. I remember playing that game nearly everyday, trying my hardest to beat the damn bosses. It was great obsessing over something and making friends through that game, and honestly, I really wish that I could just find a PS2 and start playing again because damn, KH2 is an amazing game.

Then there was Pokemon; currently this is still a large part of my life, though it wasn't always so prominent because I actually didn't start caring about it fully until I was a little older, however this was the 90's, and every kid either had a deck of Pokemon cards or a tamagotchi on them, and in my case, I had a deck of Pokemon cards. This further enhanced my nerd levels I think (more so later on in life) and also helped me to learn how to, in no better words than what I am about to use, collect them all and become completely obsessed with collecting things and basically showing off just how much Nerd I have for a certain thing.

Later on in life Pokemon of course became more prominent; I actually have more to do with Pokemon now than I did as a child. I have plushies, cards, marbles, magazines, a Pikachu mask, a game of Pokemon Yahtzee Jr and probably a lot more that I don't remember ever getting, and honestly that has increased my Nerd more than anything, and is one of the things that I think really helped me to prepare myself for being a Wota. Where childhood games with my siblings helped me to understand the joys of enjoying something so amazing, Pokemon pretty much allowed me to prepare myself for a future of people never understanding just why I was into this sort of stuff and also for being ridiculed because of it, something which I am more than accustomed to today, I guess.

And then there was Anime and Manga, the obsession before Idols; Anime and Manga came about in my early teen years, a time when I was actually obsessed with cartoons such as Xiaolin Showdown and Teen Titans already, but also a time where me and my sister were a little more distant with each other to the point where we didn't talk much. I was 13 at that point, and I wasn't playing games or into Pokemon; I was actually doing regular, girly stuff that normal teenagers did like throwing tantrums and oogle over boys or the boy band Busted. Of course it changed (not the tantrums) when my younger sister introduced me to Anime by asking me if I remembered childhood shows such as Dragon Ball Z, Sailor Moon, Pokemon or Digimon. We then watched Fruits Basket, an Anime and Manga that her friends had introduced her to, and basically from there I became a major anime/manga fan.

My older sister actually helped my sister and I with our obsession early on into our fandom; she bought us our first manga books, one of which was Chobits, and basically aided us in our interests. Of course after that our love for Anime and Manga grew well into our teen years and allowed us to gain a good amount of friends with the same interests whilst also becoming our ultimate comfort during harder times, but it also allowed me and my younger sister to bond once again and become closer, something that I am extremely thankful for even till this day.

I can still remember pouring over my manga books religiously and avidly collecting series, with the first series that I ever completed being Fushigi Yuugi. It was wonderful reading each manga and taking in every detail, laughing or crying at whatever happened in the storyline and ultimately enjoying each experience with the more I read. I also had a fun little contest with my sister to see who could get the most manga, and during my time as a fan I won, however as my interest dwindled my sister has slowly caught up with me and now how more Manga books than I do, though I am still the reigning Queen in the fact that I have more completed series than she does.

Thinking of Anime and Manga is actually one of my fonder memories, and that's because of what it has ultimately lead me to. Can you guess what it is?

I was 16 when I first found out about Idols; it was the middle of 2009 and I had started a new Anime that included cute songs and a singing main character which ultimately served as a follow up to one of my favourite Anime's, Mermaid Melody. At that time I was heavily into anything cute that had songs in it that I could sing along to, and of course, being a fan of Kirarin Revolution ultimately lead me to PV's by the voice actress who also sung the same songs, Kusumi Koharu. Needless to say, I was enchanted, and did a bit of research on the girl where I also found out that she and Buono! were within a project together, because at the same time I was also an avid fan of Shugo Chara.

Of course my interest in Koharu grew (Buono, for me, was not a patch on Koharu and her cuteness) and I found out about Morning Musume through this research, though it should be noted that in 2007-8 a friend of mine showed me and my sister a clip of Morning Musume performing Go Girl ~Koi no Victory~ and we totally blew it off and had no interest, and gained a little bit of interest them... and I mean very little. At that time my sole interest was Koharu and no one else, so when I found out about her graduation I was obviously gutted. As I have said before in another blog post or two, I was ready to leave the fandom of Morning Musume, but I was pulled back and brought back into it pretty quickly after watching the Cinderella Musical and harnessing a massive girl crush on Niigaki Risa, and that pretty much brings me where I am today as a fan.

And you know what? I don't regret it, not one bit. Everything that I have been into has lead me to this point and made me the Wota that I am today; watching the Cinderella Musical introduced me to an amazing Idol group which I would have abandoned if I had not watched it for the sake of clinging to Koharu as much as I could, and becoming a fan over Pokemon, Anime and Manga and Kingdom Hearts allowed me to fully appreciate the nerdier things in life that people would have otherwise turned their noses at. I enjoyed being a fan of these things and knowing something that other people had no idea about, or learning new facts and information about something and telling other people with similar interests about it, and honestly, I still enjoy it; I may not be as knowledgeable in Anime, Manga or games like I used to be, but to know that I still harness that knowledge from my past makes me happy, and I am extremely thankful that I was able to experience these things at different points in my life, because it all allowed me to become the Wota that I am today.

And to finish this off, from Ray's own words;

"- something compelled us to seek out the different, and from there we’d see other different sparkly things to enchant us, and so on. So what story do you have to tell?"

Chiima~

PING!!! Idolminded Recommended Reading: February 24th, 2013

Idols and Boyfriends

This is a post that I wanted to write for a while, however my motivation to write it has been spurred on by a topic created by Ray on Idolminded. As always, please do not take offence at my opinion; take it with a grain of salt, rice... whatever you want to take it with, and let it broaden your views on things. Do not take my word for everything I say; I only want to share my opinion with you all and let you know what I think about this subject. Thank you.

In a recent Idol Thought For the Day on Idolminded, Ray touched on the subject of changing the public's perceptions of Idols to make their careers easier. One of the topics he brought up was Idols and Boyfriends, a topic which is a bit taboo in the Japanese Idol society that we all know about. Of course Ray has said that this is not likely to happen but I wanted to share some of my own opinion and insight on the subject.

It is safe to say that the Idol industry in Japan is different to any other; if an Idol, especially one who is from a highly acclaimed group, is found dating despite what the guidelines say, then she will either be kicked out of the group or withdraw because she has 'done something unforgivable to her fans'. Either way an Idol dating will most likely result in her departure from the group unless she is very popular and can get away with it or another Sashihara Rino case shows up.

But is it right? I don't think it is, but I'm a Westerner, and as one commenter on the Idol Thoughts post said, we Westerners don't understand, or at least (to me) we don't understand it as much as the Japanese do. In Japan the system is a bit more strict, and for an idol - a female Idol especially - to date is risky business. Even having an ex-boyfriend can be risky, because it ultimately destroys that 'pure image' that has been created for the Idol who has dated, ultimately destroying the hopes of their fans who think that they have a chance with the Idol.
 I would like to note that this system does tend to lax a little when it comes to male Idols though, with the males generally getting away with dating, but I do put this down to how Japan views certain things; after all, Japan is still quite a male dominated society, or at least it seems that way, hence why it may seem easier for a male idol to get away with certain things like dating. But this is just my view, so don't take my word for it.

Again, the system is strict - but it isn't completely different to the system in America or Britain, either. Most singers or Idols now in the Western entertainment industry are free to date who they like, but that doesn't mean that their agencies don't try to stop them. The 'no-dating' rule, or a rule that they were not to get caught, was a little more prominent in the 90's when boy bands were big. Why? So that the fans could feel like they had a chance with a member of the band that they liked. It's the same with Idols in Japan now - it's that sense of availability and the 'chance' that the Idol might like the fan that fantasises about them one day. Of course when that Idol does eventually date, it ultimately breaks that fantasy and brings you back into reality, making you realise that you may not have a chance with the Idol or singer you have adored for so long.

This is the reason why many of the younger singers in America or Britain don't date in the early points of their career; it's to create the illusion that they are there for everyone, and that they are available to their fans and only their fans, giving their hearts and souls to the girls and boys who support them adoringly.

The first and last time you will ever see Bieber on my blog, I hope

I want to use Justin Bieber as an example here of a modern day Western Idol. Why Idol? Because whilst he is technically a singer, he also sells more so on his looks and merchandise than anything else and what used to be that 'everyday boy next-door' image that everyone absolutely adored. It's also interesting to note that for the first two years of his career he was single. Why? To create the image of being available to his fans and only his fans of course. If he had begun his career with a girlfriend on his arm, I doubt it would have helped him as much as being single did because his tween fans adored him and liked the fact that they could think they one day had a chance with him.

Of course upon getting a girlfriend his popularity didn't waver at all, but there was a clear backlash; Selena Gomez, despite being pretty popular herself thanks to her Disney contract, received a good amount of abuse from female fans of Justin over the internet because she was his girlfriend. It doesn't sound right, but it happens still, and it's because Justin Bieber broke the fantasy of his availability for his own fans.

Not to say that all fans are like this, because not all of them are. There are actually a few British boy band groups out there now who have girlfriends and are readily accepted by their fans despite this, but for someone as big as Justin Bieber is in today's society, his availability played a huge part in how he was seen by his fans; he was a single young boy who all the girls could pretend would one day become theirs and no one else's. Once that fantasy was broken, the girls went to the internet to abuse Justin's girlfriend because they felt that she had done something unforgivable and probably thought that she had corrupted him in a way.

It may just be me who thinks this way, but I do see similarities between all societies and cultures in how we view our Idols and the ideals we have for them; Idols and singers are there for us to not just enjoy, but to also fantasise about and pretend that we have a chance with all of these Idols. Yes, the Western culture is a little more laid back in how we view things and we certainly don't kick out our Idols or singers for coming out and dating - if we did, then singers like Taylor Swift would probably be in debt by now - but there are similarities with how we like to see our Idols available and there for only us and staying pure for the sake of the fans.

When the commenter for Ray's post said that we Westerners don't understand that if AKB48 Idols date then they won't sell, I do think that they were wrong. To a certain degree we do understand; we're just a little more laid back about it and accept what comes, however we also use a different method of backlash if we are the sort of fan who takes our obsessive love to the next level; we threaten and rant about the person that our Idol is dating, not the Idol themselves dating. Unlike Japan, we Westerners tend to either take it out on the person who is dating our beloved singer or we sit back and don't care - it all depends on our maturity and/or obsessive levels, really.

We all know that the dating rule for Idols in Japan won't end any time soon, but it doesn't stop us from dreaming that it will go, does it? Maybe it's because of how laid back Westerners are that we wish the rule was gone, because whilst the rule itself applies to our own Idols it is applied very loosely and only stays around for a few years or so.

And I love my Idols, but I do think that the way Japan see's things can be a little sexist at times - especially where it concerns female Idols and their purity - and with a vast amount of the fans being made up of middle-aged male wota, the no-dating rule is currently impregnable. Will it ever go away? Possibly, but not until Japan becomes more aware of the fact that their Idols also need love and care from people outside of their fanbase. You really can't expect these girls to stay virgins forever, and you can't expect them to stay true to a persona they created for the sake of society. Girls can only act like dolls for so long, really.

Until then though, the no-dating rule still applies. Of course this is only what I think; take my opinions with a grain of salt, and think about what the no-dating rule in Japan's Idol society means to you. Would you keep it or not?

Chiima~

PING!!! Idolminded Recommended Reading: January 18th, 2013