Japan’s idol industry is a unique beast of a moneymaker. The girls who succeed on this cut-throat career path are supported entirely by their fanbase. While they may sing and dance, their live shows have more to do with their idol image than their actual talents, and it is ultimately their popularity which determines their level of success. These girls are famous for their popularity, rather than popular as a result of their fame and talents.

Supporting this industry at its core are the idol otaku, men and women who are obsessed with the girls in idol groups. Functioning as a sub-set of otaku culture, which is already criticized by greater Japanese society, one might expect these idol fans to band together tightly, and share in harmony their mutual love for miniskirts. But, this has not been the case. In fact, a large rift has apparently formed between long-time supporters of the idol industry and newcomers to the scene. According to the old-timers, it would appear that these fresh, new fans don’t understand what it really means to be an idol otaku. Just look at what they had to say about these newbies infringing on their turf!

“People new to the scene don’t acknowledge the difference between the image that the idol created for herself and the actual girl. They rank the idols based on their delusions and push their ideas, hoping for validation of their status as what…a fan? Otaku?”

“Idols wouldn’t exist without the monetary support of their fans. The narrative for becoming a true otaku is filled with large purchases and many handshake events from even before the idols became popular. As new fans advance upon the idol scene, the attitude gap separating new and long-standing fans widens. It’s so sad that our stories are being trampled by all of these newcomers.”

“Is the fandom about me or the idol? Old fans will favor the idol and say that their own needs are secondary, while new fans just direct attention to themselves by saying that they like idols. And here’s another divide: when it comes to the idol world as a whole, older otaku understand the structure of the idol industry and what they can do to support it, while newbies don’t really give it much thought.”

So, people who are just now becoming fans of idols are characterized as willfully ignorant of the girls and all that it takes to support them, so that they can hold their place within the idol industry. But if these fans don’t really care about the success of their favorite idols, then what are they in it for?

“Newcomers want the idol’s affection. At handshake events, they’ll ask, ‘Do you remember my name?’  And if the idol says yes, they really believe that they were recognized. Older fans don’t need that personal recognition, just a little bit of acknowledgement, to know that, ‘Ah, the idol noticed me.’ These newbies don’t understand the context in which idols work.”

“Those people don’t really like idols. They like to like idols by going wild in a group and making themselves known with crazy dances and loud calls.”

Ah, so they’re attention grabbers, are they? I take it that’s a no-no…

“Lots of guys wear perfume. Real otaku stop at deodorant and sweat wipes. They’re overly assertive. They say that they like idols, but I’d like to call them out on liking themselves even more.”

“Lately I’ve seen ‘city boy’ types showing up at events. If you’ve got enough money to buy fashionable clothes, then you should be using it to support the idols!”

“Girls with lip gloss, fake eyelashes, and colored contacts are certainly considered fashionable. But the star of the show is the idol, and yet it seems like you’re trying to grab your own attention.”

But that’s all conjecture based on appearances. Maybe the new fans said something to anger their more-experienced idol-loving peers!

“I heard some female newbie say, ‘I like cute girls!’ In response I really wanted to make the assertion that, ‘I support the girls that I find adorable. How’s that for cute?’”

“I hear a lot of new fans say ‘What’s wrong with making love to an idol? Is there some law against it?’ Otaku will spend loads of money for a pseudo-romance with an idol, but only on the condition that the maiden remains pure!”

“I can’t handle it when people slander my favorite idol group with comments like ‘Momo Kuro is god! But Nogizaka is trash!’ You will never hear me say, ‘It’s great that the world of idols is expanding.’”

So basically, what I’m getting is that according to long-time idol fans, people who are new to idol fandom are well-groomed delusionals who selfishly group together at concerts and events to dance and scream with the hopes of attracting attention from their favorite idols, unlike their long-standing counterparts who are more smelly and less delusional as they selflessly group together at concerts and events to dance and scream with the hopes of attracting attention from their favorite idols…

Frankly, the only real difference I see is in that elitist attitude! Can’t we all just get along and throw money at our miniskirt-sporting sweethearts in harmony?

Source: Nico Nico News via Jin115 (Japanese)
Image: Akiba Today

• How to date an idol: A guide to the highly improbable
• “Once-in-a-thousand-year” idol Kanna Hashimoto visiting ALOOK Tokyo and Osaka on the same day
• Japanese idol fan prepares to meet his favorite singer by filling out a marriage application
• In a shocking twist, some idol singers really will go out with you if you buy their albums
• Japanese Idols Pour Hot Water In Your Instant Ramen At Akihabara Cafe

Origin: Elitism divides otaku culture as the popularity of Japanese pop idols expands
Copyright© RocketNews24 / SOCIO CORPORATION. All rights reserved.

Diehard fans of popular Japanese idol groups like Arashi, Hey! Say! Jump! and AKB48 may want to double-check that signed poster they bought online. Japan’s Yomiuri Shimbun reported that Chiba prefectural police arrested three people last week for an elaborate idol merchandise scam. It seems that the scheming trio forged signatures of eight popular idol groups onto merchandise, put the fake goods on online auctions, then defrauded the winning bidder. Police believe that the three made about 3,700 of these items, which duped people out of 6,700,000 yen (US$67,000)!

The Oita Prefecture-based amateur counterfeit group consisted of a 51 year-old man, his 40 year-old ex-wife and the ex-wife’s 20 year-old daughter. Police said that the fraudsters practiced forging signatures off of images they found online.

In May, police searched the home of the amateur counterfeit group—a 51 year-old man, his ex-wife and the ex-wife’s 20 year-old daughter—and found that the daughter’s bank account had about 3,300 transactions from June of last year to this March. The transactions totaled about 6,700,000 yen (US$67,000) of which, 3,700,000 yen went to shipping expenses.

One victim of the scheme was a woman in her 20s in Kanagawa Prefecture who sent the trio a total of 8,340 yen for what she thought was the genuine signatures of all the members of Arashi.

It seems like idol fans have been taking a lot of slack lately with their addiction problems, environmental issues and now being victims of a nationwide fraud scheme. But let this be a wake-up call to all of us before we click that bid button online!

Source: Yomiruri Shimbun
Image: Blippitt

• Two Japanese high school kids arrested in “really bad” attempt at cash fraud
• Missing 80 kg of nose candy? Huge cocaine stash found off Japanese beach
• Japanese Man Arrested for Using Novelty Cash, Clerk Tipped off by Laughing Yukichi
• Let this be a reminder to everyone: There’s no such thing as easy money!
• Japanese man arrested for ripping Microsoft off for $157,000 after already being arrested for embezzling $1.3M from IBM

Origin: Trio busted for forging 3,700 idol group autographs
Copyright© RocketNews24 / SOCIO CORPORATION. All rights reserved.

A month ago, Japanese people all over the country woke up to this photo of Fukuoka-based idol Kanna Hashimoto of the group Rev. From DVL all over the internet. And just like that, her modest level of local fame on stage has been skyrocketing. Some are calling her an idol that you’d find once in a thousand years.

We’re not sure who came up with that title or how it was calculated, but certainly no idol has caught the nation’s attention without any gimmicks or PR stunts like Hashimoto has from simply a photograph.

Thanks to this new-found fame Kanna Hashimoto will be making appearances all over Japan. In fact, tomorrow those living in Tokyo or Osaka will have a chance to buy some glasses from her at the grand opening of ALOOK stores in each city.

■ Get your glasses handed to you by Kanna-chan

On 6 December, glasses brand ALOOK will be opening two new shops in Shibuya, Tokyo and Shinsaibashi, Osaka. To commemorate the event they are hiring Kanna Hashimoto to be “manager for a day.” Considering she’s only 14 she probably won’t be handling invoices, but she will be personally handing out the glasses purchased by customers.

Hopefully smelling salts and mops will be on-hand. It’s a drastic leap from having Kanna – who’s tapped to be the next idol to end all idols – on the computer screen to standing inches from your face. This may be too much for some idol fans to handle.

■ Rising star

It’s hard to pinpoint what exactly it is about Kanna that sets her apart from other idols. Of course she’s cute, but being cute is just a prerequisite for becoming one of the thousands of idols active today among which she seems stand out. There’s something else that people seem to be seeing in her.

Perhaps she has a girl-next-door vibe that guys are picking up on. Some say she gives off that nostalgic feeling of a girl in your class that was too cute to even try to speak to. Either way, people seem to be reading a lot of sincerity in her face rather than the artificial looks and acts otherwise rampant in show-business.

Personally, I like it because she looks like she about to shoot some kind of force beam or something. Actually…

Thanks Photoshop!

■ Whirlwind tour

For those in Tokyo looking to pick up some new specs from Kanna Hashimoto she’ll be appearing at the Shibuya ALOOK store from 11:30 am to 12:30 pm. Then she’ll make her way to Osaka where she’ll be handing purchases to customers at the Shinsaibashi ALOOK from 5:30 pm to 6:30 pm.

In both cases, you can bet there’ll be line-ups so be sure to arrive early. Also, the first one hundred customers at each ALOOK store will receive a free gift so for those looking to meet Kanna in Tokyo’s morning appearance might land some Kyari-Pyamu-Pyamu swag as well. We may just have to go down tomorrow ourselves and see in person what is so captivating about young Kanna Hashimoto.

Source: ALOOK, Hashimoto Kanna Blog (Japanese)

• Fresh-faced teen idol Hatsume captures Japanese netizens’ hearts
• Local Fukuoka idol already breaking big across Japanese internet
• Japanese magazine’s checklist for the ideal girl has a whopping 23 points
• How to date an idol: A guide to the highly improbable
• Elitism divides otaku culture as the popularity of Japanese pop idols expands

Origin: “Once-in-a-thousand-year” idol Kanna Hashimoto visiting ALOOK Tokyo and Osaka on the same day
Copyright© RocketNews24 / SOCIO CORPORATION. All rights reserved.

Recently, computer glasses have become quite popular and are sold in shops everywhere in Japan. I never really bought into the concept even though my work requires painfully long hours in front of a computer screen. However, a couple of days ago we announced that up-and-coming idol Kanna Hashimoto would be appearing at two ALOOK glasses stores in Tokyo and Osaka.

After wrapping up that article I wiped the usual blood from my tired eyes and thought maybe it’s time to try out a pair. And what better way to do it than by meeting this future star while I’m at it!

We headed down to the grand opening of ALOOK in Shinsaibashi, Osaka to meet the starlet and see what all the fuss is about.

■ Welcome to Osaka!

I arrived at the shop and prepared for Kanna’s arrival. Waiting outside the store I was able to enjoy the sights and sounds of Osaka. A large man in a leather waistcoat walked by screaming, “Tell me! You better start talking!” into his mobile phone.

Gradually the line of people waiting to meet young Kanna grew. I’ve never been to an idol event before but I’ve always heard talk of the “idol otaku” and was braced for the worst. However, a pretty diverse group of people was gathering. Both men and women of all different ages and dressed in varying fashions were waiting. If these were indeed idol otaku then it’s a hard group to stereotype.

A small group of teenagers were standing behind me when a woman talking as if she had some kind of mental illness asked one of them if she was the idol. The girl politely said no, and the woman yelled that she should be and promptly rode away. So far, so weird.

Then, Kanna Hashimoto made her first appearance. Emerging from the doorway she greeted and thanked everyone who came out. She then returned to her post on the second floor to start working. “Mecha Kawaii!!!” shouted the high school girls behind me as Kanna walked inside.

■ Service with a smile and a handshake

In small groups customers were taken to the second floor to pay for their glasses. Earlier, they could get their prescriptions taken care of and then return at 5:30 to have them handed to them by Kanna herself. One by one, we paid for our glasses then walked over to her counter for a small chat session and handshake with the idol.

I’ve heard of these kind of handshake events before but never experienced one in person. Watching the others, I soon realized that they seemed to have prepared something or at least had an idea of what they were going to say to Kanna. I most definitely did not. Before I knew it, I was standing in front of one of the most happening idols in the industry and had thought of zero to say.

“Um, hello,” I said plainly, to which she responded with a hearty English “Hello!” We continued the rest of the conversation in Japanese, and I was surprised at how normal and relaxed she seemed. She came across quite at ease but not aloof and wasn’t forcing the conversation at all. I began to feel so relaxed that I broke out my classic joke about the Mexican firefighter.

After trying out the, “Why does a gorilla have big nostrils?” joke, I felt satisfied that I said all that needed to be said. Kanna cheerfully handed me my PC glasses in a Kyary Pamyu Pamyu bag, gave me a surprisingly firm handshake and we said our goodbyes.

■ ALOOK around

Hanging out while the other customers got to meet Kanna, it was impressive to see how many of them opened up to the idol. To be polite I stayed out of earshot but some guys and girls seemed to be unloading quite a bit on her and she was giving them her full attention.

I’ve seen videos of these types of events and there’s usually someone holding a stopwatch ready to usher out any lollygaggers, but here no one was watching the time and everyone could speak at their own pace. On the other hand, the fans too seemed to know how long they should take, and no one overstayed their welcome.

At one point a college-aged guy walked up to the Rev. From DVL member then suddenly glanced over at me. He looked at Kanna and then back at me again. Finally, he asked her “Is that guy your father?” There’s a chance that might have been a crack at my age, but if someone’s going to assume I was in the same gene pool as her, why would I put up a fuss?

Prior to coming out I envisioned a more rigid and artificial meet-and-greet between Kanna Hashimoto and her fans, but everything about this appearance was surprisingly relaxed, normal, and fun. It’s hard not to hope the best for the young idol and look forward to see what my daughter accomplishes next in show business.

Oh – and best of all – thanks to my new ALOOK PC glasses, I finished this article without massive headaches and retinal bleeding!

Photos: RocketNews24

▼ For the sake of readers’ bleeding eyes I’ll crop myself out of the rest of the pictures.

▼ The ALOOK staff are easy to spot

• “Once-in-a-thousand-year” idol Kanna Hashimoto visiting ALOOK Tokyo and Osaka on the same day
• Local Fukuoka idol already breaking big across Japanese internet
• How to date an idol: A guide to the highly improbable
• Fresh-faced teen idol Hatsume captures Japanese netizens’ hearts
• Japanese magazine’s checklist for the ideal girl has a whopping 23 points

Origin: We buy a pair of glasses from up and coming idol Kanna Hashimoto
Copyright© RocketNews24 / SOCIO CORPORATION. All rights reserved.

The world of idols is a fast-paced one: A performer may achieve success in a matter of months and lose it in a fraction the time. New faces appear every day, but not all of them have the impact they might have hoped for.

Hatsume Motomiya, however, doesn’t have to worry about getting catching the attention of the online masses–it seems like half of the Japanese Internet is already in love with her!

Though only 15 years old, Hatsume is already making a name for herself having performed onstage in Tomoegozen Joubussha Densetsu with Meisa Kuroki, who is signed to the same talent agency, Sweet Power, as Hatsume.

▼Meisa Kuroki, whom you might recognize from Uniqlo advertisements.

However, what really helped the young actress catch the Internet’s eye was her appearance in the MISS iD contest, a competition for aspiring idols. Numerous photos of Hatsume’s smiling face along with a video of her playing the flute seem to have grabbed commenters by the heartstrings.

You can check out the video and some of the many photos taken for the competition below. Skip to around 30 seconds in to see a demonstration of Hatsume’s flute playing skills.

With as much attention as she’s already gotten for herself, we have a feeling that Hatsume will have a bright future in the Japanese entertainment industry. We’re sure that she’ll be gather crowds and helping to sell glasses by the end of the month!

Good luck, Hatsume! And if you happen to bump into Meisa, be sure to let her know that Mr. Sato is free for a date next Friday.

Sources: Sweet Power, Hima Tsubushi News, MISS iD
Images: Facebook, Hima Tsubushi News, MISS iD

• “Once-in-a-thousand-year” idol Kanna Hashimoto visiting ALOOK Tokyo and Osaka on the same day
• Local Fukuoka idol already breaking big across Japanese internet
• How to date an idol: A guide to the highly improbable
• Hot and sweet — these new Kit Kats are ready to be baked!
• Bake and feast — We try the new bakeable Kit Kats!【Taste Test】

Origin: Fresh-faced teen idol Hatsume captures Japanese netizens’ hearts
Copyright© RocketNews24 / SOCIO CORPORATION. All rights reserved.

While we here at RocketNews24 have no shortage of stories on geeky men in Japan, it should be noted that there are plenty of women that fulfill the otaku stereotype of being obsessed with anime, manga and video games. The recently published photo book Corrupted Rooms gives readers a peek inside the cramped living quarters of 50 self-professed otaku and shows the extreme level of dedication these women have to their hobbies. From rooms packed with action figures to racks of cosplay outfits, click below to catch a glimpse into the world of the female otaku!

Shiori Kawamoto, author of the 160-page book, said that she came up with the idea of a photo book after hearing stories of Japanese idols’ rooms that were filled to the brim with manga collections or video game accessories. Other idols living in the same dormitories would call these rooms “Corrupted Rooms” because the hobby had consumed and “corrupted” the woman’s life. Kawamoto began visiting these rooms and was amazed at the length some of these women went to in pursuit of their hobby.

▼Who wants to sleep on a bed full of stuffed Gloomy Bears, the pink, cute and cuddly man-eating bear?

The book, which went on sale for 1,995 yen (US$19.95) last month, shows the rooms of 50 different women in Tokyo and Osaka who have all dedicated their very limited living space to their personal obsession. The women represent all walks of life such as the unemployed living in their parents’ home or regular white-collar workers. And true to the somewhat murky definition of otaku, these women show an extreme obsession with just about every kind of hobby from railroads to eyeglasses.

▼Ever heard of an “eyeglasses otaku?” Well, now you have.

In the afterword of the book, Kawamoto explains that she was taken aback by how happy these people were to live their lives this way. Even though some of us might enjoy video games or manga, few of us would fill our rooms with action figures and anime collectibles. After observing these people so content to live their pleasant lives, she wondered if people would better off to to allow ourselves to be “corrupted” by our hobbies.

▼This megafan may lack adequate living space, but she seems perfectly happy in her idol-obsessed life

According to some of the reviews on Amazon Japan, some readers thought this book was just a cheap way for lecherous men to peek inside women’s rooms, while other readers thought the pictures gave a fascinating look into the secret lives of everyday people.

Take a further look below at some of the pages from the book and let us know what you think in the comments below! Do these otaku shatter your stereotype of the Japanese otaku by showing that women can be equally as dedicated to their nerdy hobbies? Do you have any geeky pleasures that you love to collect and display at home?

▼ Video game fanatic and Japanese idol Mirin Furukawa of the otaku idol group Dempagumi.inc plays a video game at home

▼The room of a NEET absolutely packed with anime and manga memorabilia

▼ A woman sits in front of her wall plastered with posters from the video game Persona 4

▼Despite not having room for a proper drying rack, this otaku knows her priorities: action figures

▼ Who needs art on the wall when you can have an assortment of maid costumes at your disposal?

▼This room’s impressive manga collection is accented by cute dangling figures

▼No, that isn’t the result of a urban decay, this is the room of an art fan who creates her own work inside a cramped Japanese apartment

▼This gamer isn’t content to handling guns in her favorite first-person shooter, so she’s got a collection of model guns on her desk

▼A display recommending Corrupted Rooms for customers at a store in otaku mecca–Akihabara

Source/Images: Akiba Blog

• Five reasons nerds make great boyfriends: Japan’s geeky otaku list their pros
• Find the Geek of Your Dreams at the 10th Otaku Marriage Hunting Masquerade Ball!
• Survey reveals that more than 70 percent of otaku would choose their hobby over love
• Men with ‘Nerdy’ Hobbies Describe Their Ideal Marriage Partner (And it’s Not Princess Zelda)
• Five hobbies that prevent guys from getting a Japanese girlfriend

Origin: Take a glimpse into the natural habitats of female Japanese otaku 【Photos】
Copyright© RocketNews24 / SOCIO CORPORATION. All rights reserved.

After years of boggling the minds of metalheads and J-pop fans around the world with their idiosyncratic music videos, BABYMETAL have finally released their first full-length album. Of course, we got our hands on a copy as soon as we could, and we are happy to report that it is everything we’d expected it to be!

With the album now available world-wide, you too can turn your day from “average” to “dangerously kawaii” with this soundtrack to the adorable apocalypse. And if you’re on the fence about picking the album up, check out some of these reviews found on the Japanese side of the Internet.

When we got the chance to talk to BABYMETAL last year, we were more than excited and immediately jumped at the opportunity. This writer is personally a huge fan of both metal in general and the cute-but-heavy music of BABYMETAL. Their music is just so much…fun! Nothing makes a morning commute on a packed Tokyo subway as tolerable as a few BABYMETAL track. And it looks like the famous Ladybeard agrees with me, too!

The disturbingly cute singer tweeted the following picture and message this afternoon.

I really love BABYMETAL! I think it would be like a dream to share the stage with them.

Even if you’re not really into heavy music, there’s still lots to be enjoyed about BABYMETAL’s album–they are, after all, as much about pop music as they are heavy metal. Though the riffs and drums are clearly inspired by everything from X Japan to death metal, there’s no doubt that the girls are as capable of singing  and dancing as they are at headbanging.

▼Fans lined up for at the album midnight release

Amazon Japan already has a few customer reviews up–each of them ranking the album with a full five stars. Here are some of the highlights from the reviews.

My general comments on the album (so far) is that the music and the mastering seem like they have been fine-tuned, and each sound is clearer and more distinct. Perhaps that is why songs like “Megitsune” that use traditional Japanese instruments sound better than the singles. At any rate, my impression is that they’ve created a really fun album that will prove to be a classic!

Also worth mentioning is the song order. Listening all the way through from the first track “BABYMETAL DEATH” to the last “Ijime, Dame, Zettai,” it feels like all 13 songs together create a series of stories. [...] In addition, the new songs like “Akuma no Rinbukyoku,” SU-METAL’s solo song where the power of her singing really shines, allow us to glimpse the member’s individual personalities.

Listening to this music, which takes a metal base and mixes it with everything from grindcore to dubstep to hip-hop, is really amazing.

Of course, anonymous Internet users aren’t the only ones commenting on the album. Rolling Stone Japan Edition gave the album 4.5 stars and said, “Without a doubt, this is a masterpiece that will become one of the representative albums of 2014.”

We have to agree with Rolling Stone on this one. The album is definitely a fun ride, from the silly pun lyrics of “4 no Uta,” one of the four completely new songs, to the driving intensity of “Megitsune,” this is an album that can safely find a home in nearly anyone’s collection!

The self-titled BABYMETAL is currently available world-wide via iTunes. For those of you residing in Japan, there are two versions available: A standard edition  and a collector’s edition with a DVD compiling their music videos and some live performances. The CDs are available from a number of different retailers, including Tsutaya, HMV, Tower Records, Rakuten, and Amazon Japan.

If you’ve gotten the album already, be sure to let us know which track is your favorite!

Sources: Rolling Stone Japan Edition, Amazon Japan
Images: Twitter (1, 2), Amazon Japan (1, 2)

▼For my money, the best song on the album is “Megitsune.”

• BABYMETAL invasion of the West marches on, everyone welcomes new kawaii overlords【VIDEOS】
• Monsters of Shamisen: New music for an old instrument 【J-Tunes】
• BABYMETAL plays first ever US show, bootleg videos leave us wowed
• Pleated skirts, Kewpie dolls, and death: The wild music and videos of Urbangarde【J-Tunes】
• A Month After Japan’s Strict New Download Law Comes into Effect, Survey Suggests that Consumers are Spending Less Than Ever on Music

Origin: BABYMETAL releases full album, metalheads and idol fans headbang in unison
Copyright© RocketNews24 / SOCIO CORPORATION. All rights reserved.

In the wake of the saw attack on two members of AKB48 and one man working with the venue, many readers of the news couldn’t help but think, “It was just a matter of time before something like this happened.”

Handshake and high-five events give fans and idols a daring level of closeness compared to pop stars in other countries. However, for years they have gone on relatively incident-free, which is surprising considering the thousands and thousands of people who participate around the country.

Despite the nagging feeling that something could go very wrong, these promotional events were hugely lucrative in an otherwise stale music industry. But now the company behind AKB48, as well as those handling other idol units who rely heavily on these events, have to find a way to ensure their stars’ safety without losing the sense of intimacy they’ve had with their fan-bases.

_________________________________________

“The AKB handshake has become a hot topic, but here, look at the Hatsune Miku’s handshake event.”

AKBの握手が話題になっていますが、ここで初音ミクの握手を見てみましょう。 http://t.co/QMPRavU80F—
TaiHokkeShishamo (@THShishamo) May 25, 2014

_________________________________________

On 25 May, about 5,000 fans flocked to the Iwate Sangyo Bunka Center for an AKB48 handshake meeting. The idols who attended were divided into four separate tents, each with a separate line-up. Participants wait in line to get a few seconds to meet their idol of choice, shake hands, say something witty, and then be guided out the back.

To manage the crowd, 100 security guards were on hand. Inside each handshake tent, two to four guards were standing by to enforce time limits and watch for anything out of the ordinary. However, according to other participants, only palms were checked and bags were not inspected at all before entering the tent.

According to police, the alleged attacker Satoru Umeda had kept the folding saw he used to attack the girls inside his bag for roughly four hours and was never once checked. Since the incident, the AKB48 Theater has been closed until 31 May, and sister groups NMB48, SKE48, and HKT48 have only just begun to resume events.

_________________________________________

“There was bloodshed at an AKB handshake event, but let’s look at Miyuki Torii’s handshake.”

AKB握手会での流血事件がありましたが、ここで鳥居みゆきさんの握手会を見てみましょう http://t.co/vP3dYDfYZL—
胃下垂 (@CVUKey) May 25, 2014

_________________________________________

During the hiatus the managing company behind AKB48, AKS has been mulling over possible ways to increase security yet still maintain the intimate meet-and-greets that have lifted them to the top tier of Japanese pop-culture.

Tokyo Metropolitan Police have advised that the AKB48 Theater install a metal detector, increase the number of guards, stop the high-fives between performers and the audience after shows, and leave the first row empty to prevent anyone from rushing the stage.

Security experts in the media have largely agreed that controlling a handshake event can be a nightmare on many levels. Of course there’s the mere arm’s length of distance between the young idol and hundreds of random strangers. Also, tickets are simply given out bundled in with CD singles which are sometimes binge-bought and thus distributed even more randomly at conventions or flea markets. This method makes finding the identity of a ticket holder virtually impossible.

With that avenue closed, the popular recommendations have been doing regular bag checks and full-body pat-downs of attendees. Many have also suggested putting an acrylic panel between the idol and guest much like at a gas station or liquor store.

_________________________________________

“About the recent AKB handshake event incident, many in my timeline are asking if it’s safe any more. And so many are debating whether it should be done more strictly, but take a look at this handshake event, held with complete freedom.”

今回のAKB握手会事件を受け、TLでは今後いかに安全に、そして厳重な方法で行うべきか討論されてますがここで解放感あふれる握手会をご覧下さい http://t.co/f2zrYNdpx8—
ゆっころ (@attoyukko) May 26, 2014

_________________________________________

The shape handshake events take from hereon in will largely depend on the fans. In the modern era of Japanese idols, fan-access has become a very valuable commodity. It’s quite possible that all of the idol agencies will agree that stricter safety measures are needed and start putting up plastic walls across the board.

As long as the fans aren’t turned off, the business will continue like in this way, but if the bottom line starts dropping too much we may start seeing the walls come back down. One the other hand, even if the idol corporations maintain rigorous security successfully there’s always a chance that a hungry up-and-coming unit will go back to the old style and the cycle will just continue again.

Source: Asahi Shimbun via Hachima Kikou (Japanese)

“From now, AKB48 handshake meetings will have to be like this.”

次からAKBの握手会はこうなるに違いない http://t.co/cQk9K9C63m—
足なんとか (@AshijiruP) May 25, 2014

• Newsflash: AKB48 members attacked by saw-wielding “fan” at handshake event【UPDATED】
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• Elitism divides otaku culture as the popularity of Japanese pop idols expands

Origin: Where do idol events go from here? AKB48 attack forces rethink on how handshake events are held
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Japanese TV has a tendency to be pretty ridiculous. Japanese commercials are even known to be some of the most ridiculous out there. Think Superbowl-esque non sequiturs, used to peddle the most mundane things! But you will never guess what this new commercial is promoting, even after the big reveal!

This commercial starts with the feeling that maybe you shouldn’t be watching it. The YouTube version is even labeled as a leaked video of private moments. Well-known idol Akari is the star of this particular leaked footage. It seems to be hidden camera footage of some intimate moments between Akari and her boyfriend. At first Akari doesn’t know that she is being filmed. Eventually she figures something is up and her boyfriend tries to placate her with some calming words, “it’s OK to take video, isn’t it? Just relax!” Maybe you should just watch it though. True to most hidden camera stuff, you’ll need to turn the sound up since the mic on the camera is a bit muffled.

We’ll wait for you to finish watching the video…

Image: Official Pompeii Tumblr

Pompeii! That’s right, it was all an elaborate advertisement for the upcoming release of Pompeii in Japan. Having not done particularly well in the US markets, the media machine has shifted into high gear for Pompeii’s debut in Japan. Perhaps that’s because Pompeii has a connection with another very popular movie franchise in Japan.

▼Zombie!!!!!

Not just any zombies though, Resident Evil zombies (Biohazard in Japan). The director of multiple Resident Evil movies is at the helm of this big-budget sword and sandal epic. Japanese studios hope that Paul W.S. Anderson will be enough of a draw to put some butts in some theater seats. If not name recognition, cute girls in private moments probably don’t hurt.

Source: NariNari
Images: YouTube (gagamovie)

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• Buy it…or don’t, this cat doesn’t really care what you do

Origin: Idol’s private moments caught on tape and used for a commercial
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Japan is known, fairly or unfairly, for weird music. We’ve introduced plenty of bands that simply produce great music and other groups that are a bit out there. And make no mistake–we love them all! Sometimes “weird” is just part of the music–after all, David Bowie wouldn’t be David Bowie if he didn’t leave us wondering what planet he was really born on.

Namakopuri, an “art idol” group that consists of two young artists dressed in nurse costumes, is certainly on the weird end of the spectrum. In fact, we might even go so far as to say that their new video, “Namakopuri’s Trap,” is the weirdest thing we’ve seen all week. It’s also insanely catchy; we promise you’ll be hearing it in your dreams–or maybe nightmares–tonight!

Normally, we’d give you some background about the group and the music first, but this is best experienced without introduction.

▼”Namakopuri’s Trap”

The video for this fever dream of EDM-based idol music was actually directed by namacolove, the taller girl shown on the right in the video, who is a self-taught artist/animator. The young woman captured the attention of Japanese Internet users in 2008 with the following video of a refrigerator magnet extolling his love for the young woman on whose door he hangs…in perhaps the creepiest way possible.

After a couple of years, namacolove’s videos–and disturbing characters–eventually became popular enough for her to release goods, open gallery exhibitions, and perform shows featuring bizarre videos. In 2012, she started performing with Mako Principal–usually shortened to Mako Puri–as Namakopuri.

While namacolove is a self-taught artists, Mako Principal matriculated from one of the oldest art school in Japan–Tokyo University of the Arts, which boasts a lengthy list of prestigious alumni. Having earned both an undergraduate and graduate degree from the university, Mako Puri’s artwork, which looks like a Lisa Frank acid trip, has appeared in numerous exhibitions and earned several awards.

▼It’s all starting to make sense…

▼She also does cosplay!

Though Namakopuri, obviously a combination of their names, have been working together for a few years now, their discography is still a bit limited. In addition to “Namakopuri’s Trap,” which was released with a couple of remixes, they’ve also released another song “Namakopuri’s Number 110″ as shibuya OIRAN warm up Girls EP, which is available on iTunes and Amazon Japan. The duo have also posted some songs on SoundCloud:

First, there’s “Namakopuri’s Shampoo.”

And next there’s this entirely disconcerting T.A.T.U. cover.

Though they may be artists, they’re not afraid of cashing in like any other idol group–Namakopuri has also lent their art skills to Tenga. In case you’ve forgotten, Tenga is the “masturbation aid” that was combined with an Oculus Rift to bring about the end of humanity. At least their sponsorships are as baffling as their music and art!

▼No comment.

Most recently, Namakopuri made a guest appearance in hell-themed Japanese rap group Hel Climb’s newest video, “Hell Ward 24 Hours.” The rapping could be better, but the Namakopuri sections are equal parts disturbing and entertaining.

▼This is probably not safe for work…

While Namakopuri is certainly the weirdest idol group we’ve come across so far, at least their intentions seem to be good. As they explain in a video for French TV and on their website, the group’s goal is to “soothe your heart.” We’re not sure how soothed we’re feeling after that Hel Climb video, but another listen of “Namakopuri’s Trap” should put us in a dancing mood!

Though it might be time to make another appointment with the psychiatrist. That sweaty mushroom is definitely going to give us Freudian nightmares…

References: Namakopuri, Mako Principal, namacolove, Oiran Music, Facebook
Images: Namakopuri, Mako Principal

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Origin: Namakopuri: The inexplicable “art idol” group you will hate yourself for loving【J-Tunes】
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Dancing is an important element of an idol’s performance even though choreography can be quite a task, especially when a group has so many members and the stage is small. One of the charms of Japanese idols is that fans can watch them develop; even if they aren’t the most talented, they’re still cute and fun to watch.

However, this doesn’t mean that all girl groups in Japan are like that! This is not to say that one is better than the other as they are both fun to watch, depending on the situation. We compiled a short list of a few groups that dance like they own the stage every time they’re on it.

• E-girls

What else would you expect from a girls’ group under the umbrella of LDH? EXILE, the mega-popular “bad boys” of the J-pop scene, along with all of their other groups are known for their dancing and this goes for E-girls as well. Comprised of members from Dream, Flower, and Happiness, as well as the defunct groups Bunny and EGD, E-girls are a whirlwind of dance floor melting energy. There are many good examples of their dancing ability but, the “Seifuku Dance” video for “Diamond Only” (2014) is particularly impressive since it takes place on a narrow subway platform and is set to a remix of Grandmaster Melle Mel’s hip-hop classic “White Lines (Don’t Do It)”, giving the feel of New York even though it was filmed at Yagiri Station in Chiba, Japan.

• Perfume

The trio from Hiroshima was another obvious choice based on the intricate, creative choreography that is their calling card. Nocchi, Kashiyuka, and A~chan dance with the entire being of their existence when they perform; even their finger movements are a vision to behold! They give a whole new meaning to the term “spirit fingers”! Picking just one video of Perfume to represent their dancing ability is difficult since almost all of them have a ridiculous amount of dance moves that look like they came from the future. However, “Nee” (2010) stands out with the visual effects creating doubles and even triples of the members.

• Fairies

Coming out of Vision Factory, the label responsible for multi-million selling stars of the early millennium Namie Amuro, MAX, and SPEED, it was no surprise that Fairies were more than just a bunch of cute faces. They exploded onto the scene in 2011 and won the Best New Artist award that year. With dance moves advanced beyond their young years, these Fairies are kind enough to have their rehearsal videos uploaded to their YouTube channel so you too can try to dance along with them. Can you keep up with the “Beat Generation”? If you can, you might just be a “HERO”!

• Morning Musume

The longest running group on our list, Morning Musume has gone through so many eras in their development to become the group that we know today. Back in the late 1990s there was almost no dancing in any of their videos and now they have dozens of songs from which to choose from when planning a cover dance performance! There are the classics “Ren’ai Revolution 21” (2000), “The☆Peace” (2001), and “Go Girl ~Koi no Victory” (2003), as well as the newer songs “SEXY BOY ~ Soyokaze ni Yorisotte~” (2006), “One Two Three” (2012), or “Brainstorming” (2013). Out of the dozens of Morning Musume songs out there, we decided to go with “Password is 0” (2014) for its extremely popular formation dancing.

• ℃-ute

Yes, another Hello! Project group but, the difference with ℃-ute is that their lineup has remained mostly intact in the almost 10 years that they’ve been active and it shows! It’s kind of crazy to watch the older videos when Mai Hagiwara was a tiny 10-year-old with big sunglasses on and now she’s one of the taller members of the group! As with Morning Musume, there were so many good examples to choose from like “Massara Blue Jeans” (2006), “Dance de Bakoon”(2010) or “Kanashiki Heaven” (2012), but in the end, we went with “Crazy Kanzen na Otona” (2013) for our example.

Let us know what you think about our list. We know there are still many others that we should have included, but given how many groups there are now and how many videos they have been putting out over the years, listing even this many groups was quite a task! Do you prefer it when a group shows near machine-like precision or when they’re just going crazy flying all over the stage?

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Origin: Dance! Dance! Dance! – Girl groups that “bring it on” 【Videos】
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We’ve seen plenty about virtual girlfriends, fun little apps that provide you with all the charms of an attractive girl (well, almost all) without the inconvenience of having to deal with a real person. Well, what if you’ve been waiting for the crossdressing male version…?!

In Dolly Kanon, the newly announced Nintendo 3DS game from Happinet, you can take on the role of musical producer as you manage your secret cross-dressing boyfriend’s career as a music idol!

Dolly Kanon, or to give it its full name Dolly Kanon Dokidoki Tokimeki Himitsu no Ongaku Katsudou Start Desu!! (got that?) is a game adaptation of the shōjo manga by Yū Yabūchi. Join junior high school student Kokone as she helps beautiful boy Soushi become a star.

Dolly Kanon (ドーリィ♪カノン ) has been running as a shōjo manga in Ciao since 2012. Using the stage name Kanon, teenager Soushi moonlights as an idol, thus combining the secretly-famous excitement of Hannah Montana with all the crossdressing thrills of a Shakespeare play.

▼ Kokone, Soushi and (could they be the same person?!!) Kanon.

As Kanon’s manager, your main task is to produce music videos for her:

This requires you to choose her clothes, on a four-point scale consisting of ‘cute, elegant, cool, sporty‘, which incidentally is the mantra I chant to myself every morning as I get dressed.

And ‘direct’ the videos, which seems to have the same meaning here as ‘decorate with stickers’.

▼ To be fair, it is ostensibly a game for little girls.

There’s also a collaboration with über-genki morning kids’ TV presenters Oha-girl, featuring brand new songs:

Dolly Kanon Dokidoki Tokimeki Himitsu no Ongaku Katsudou Start Desu!! is out November 20, priced 5,480 yen (US $52). Make sure to call it by its full name at all times, or it might ditch you for a new virtual player.

Source: Inside Games JP, Oha-suta
Images: Happinet via Inside Games JP, Dolly Kanon

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Origin: Live out your secret idol fantasies with Dolly Kanon for 3DS
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It’s a long-standing rule in the pop idol industry in Japan: performers should never become involved in romantic relationships. Doing so would, apparently, tarnish the reputations carefully designed to make these entertainers appear “accessible,” reducing them to the status of “regular people.” And that’s no life for an idol.

We’ve seen this rule lead to instances of head-shaving and weird YouTubers before in Japan. However, one idol management company is taking this rule to a new level and demanding compensation for damages as a result of performers fraternizing with fans–to the order of US$75,000.

In April, two members of the unit Aoyama☆St. Hacha Mecha High School (St. Crazy Wild High School), or Mecha High (Crazy High) for short, left the group unexpectedly. Afterwards at an event the group’s producer explained the reason for their disappearance was a “serious breach of contract.”

He added that Miho Yuki (19) and Sena Miura (22) had gone on dates with fans. Later on, the management company told media that a contract was signed by their legal guardians stating that they would “not become romantically involved with fans.”

▼ Sena Miura

As a result of this alleged breach of contract the company has sent letters to all parties involved: the two former members, their legal guardians, and the fans. These notices are demanding compensation to the tune of 8,232,400 yen (US$77,000) from the fans according to reports.

Online reaction felt that the company must be mecha high for thinking they can get money from fans who had never signed any contract promising not to get involved with the idols. Many also commented that since it was the legal guardians who signed the contract it was their responsibility to uphold it. Therefore the girls themselves should also not be demanded money from.

However, it seems telling that the management company hasn’t filed any lawsuits with the courts yet. Perhaps a contract forbidding a fundamental part of life like interpersonal relationships would not hold up in a court of law, so instead they went with the intimidating letter route.

We’ll just have to wait and see if they do take it to the courts, because it seems pretty hard to believe any of these people would or could give up eight million yen without a fight. Until then, one thing is certain: This is truly a Hacha Mecha High School.

Source: Yahoo! News Japan via My Game News Flash (Japanese)
Images: Amazon – 1, 2, 3

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Origin: Pop idols’ management demands 8 million yen in damages after two members caught dating fans
Copyright© RocketNews24 / SOCIO CORPORATION. All rights reserved.

Pop idols exist in this strange space between reality and fantasy. While they are living, breathing individuals, they are set on a pedestal and rarely get to interact with people one on one. While groups like AKB48 may be tied to a certain location to serve as a symbol of pride for one area’s people, outside of meet and greet events, fans cannot really get to know them. Of course, the biggest taboo of all is for a pop idol and a fan to begin dating. But one brave group has decided to step forth from the binds of their image. Meet the members of the idol group Happening Girls. These four lovely ladies depicted here are unique in the idol community because they are allowed to foster relationships, date, and even marry their fans.

The four eligible idol bachelorettes from left to right are Manaka (20), Saaya (22), Kaori (26), and Eri (25). While it is true that any gentleman smooth enough to capture the heart of one of these four ladies may date and marry her, there are still conditions. While fans are free to meet with idols during their private hours, the group’s producers at Kandou TV encourage fans to first take part in meeting the idols through the marriage interviews which will occur after live events. Kandou TV also reserves the right to produce, record, and televise any part of the relationship from the first meeting, all the way up to the wedding itself, which will of course be organized by Kandou’s subsidary bridal company.

If that was not enough to win fans over to the revolutionary new style of Happening Girls, here is another incentive. You may have noticed the interesting choice in attire that the four current members of Happening Girls. While it may first appear to be a quirky wardrobe based publicity stunt, you may be interested in the fact that Happening Girls is the only year-round swimsuit idol group in all of Japan. As their official page states, this group was born of the fact that “men love swimsuits” and that “there is no other swimsuit idol group in existence” anywhere.”

Happening Girls is currently taking applications from any young women who might be interested in becoming one of the world’s only swimsuit idol group members. The conditions are as follow: the applicants in question must be at least a first year in high school but be no more than 30 years in age, live in the Tokyo area, be able to attend all live appearance events, and above all, they must be comfortable singing and dancing in a swimsuit. However, unlike the four ladies noted earlier, it is unclear at this point as to whether or not the rest of the group will be available for courtship and potential fan marriage.

The current members of Happening Girls will be having their debut live event at AkibaDrug & Cafe on September 23 at 8:30PM. After the concert, the idols will be free to mingle with their fans. If all goes well, it may be the start of several beautiful relationships.

[Via Hachima Kikou]

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Origin: Swimsuit idols that you can date and marry
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Debt is a major problem facing people of all ages today. Many young graduates head out into the world already handicapped by a shrinking job market and crippling student loans while their parents have to deal with drying pensions and stagnant real-estate market. It’s a heavy burden that requires a combination of luck and hard work to pull oneself out of, but with some sensible fiscal planning it is possible.

Or, you could do what the nine young women in The Margarines did and pursue a career in the pop idol industry. Their mission is to sing and dance their way out of a combined 127.7M yen (US$1.17M) of debt in an already heavily over-saturated entertainment industry. How could it possibly fail?

■ Dance your debt away

Like other idol groups, the members of The Margarines were selected via audition from a field of around 500 candidates. The main qualification of joining the group was to owe money and be between 18 and 35 years of age, but musical ability was probably considered an attractive quality too.

The lion’s share of the debt belongs to member Mami Nishida who’s family is saddled with 100M yen ($915,000) in arrears after their factory went belly-up. The others have typical expenses such as student loans and expenses from moving to Tokyo ranging from 500,000 to 7,000,000 yen ($4,600 t0 $64,000) to push the group that little bit further into the red.

■ Big Debt = Big Dreams

The theory behind the creation of The Margarines is “people with big debt have big dreams.” So the producers of the group comedian Kayoko Okubo and director Makkoisaito feel that women with nothing to lose and a shot at redemption will work harder than any other idol out there. Although there’s a certain charm to that concept, it also feels as if the organizers are preying on people’s sympathies by trotting out insolvent idols for public consumption.

▼ Kayoko Okubo and Makkoisaito announce auditions for the “in debt idol group” last summer

■ There’s just one rule…

The producers of The Margarines have also stated that they want to create a “new idol” group to stand out from the rest. Aside from the debt angle, a unique aspect of these idols is that they are bound by only one rule: move 10,000 units. Beyond that it’s Thunderdome, baby.

Unlike other idol groups who are bound by strict no-dating clauses in their contracts or some that are allowed to date and marry but only in a reality TV setting, The Margarines are allowed to do whatever they want in order to meet their first sales target.

■ “Pillow Business”

It’s a risky move to break from the tried and true formula of the idol industry and give complete freedom to The Margarines. Obviously from a human rights standpoint it’s great, but idol otaku can be fickle folk and those restrictions were put in place for a reason.

During a press conference where the group was joined by Okubo and Makkoisaito, remarks were made about them becoming adult video stars. Although jokes about sleeping their way to the top – or “pillow business” as it’s called in Japanese – were thrown about, those tactics probably wouldn’t work out for the group in the end with their target audience. That being said, they’ll have to do something big with their freedom to win over fans.

■ Good Bye Debt Heaven

Oh, I almost forgot. In addition to all this, The Margarines are expected to make music too. Their first single “Gubai Shakkin Tengoku” (Good Bye Debt Heaven) will be released on 17 December. They will also make their first live appearance on 23 December at the Yakult Hall in Tokyo, presumably in honor of The Emperor’s Birthday.

Will The Margarines usher in a new era of self-governing idols, simply fade away, or lower the bar of idoldom so much that we’ll need to bend over to get a beer from the fridge? This and other questions like “Why the hell are they called The Margarines?” remain to be seen.

Source: Shakkin Idol (The Margarine’s Official Site), Sanspo.com, My Navi News, Naver Matome (Japanese)
Video: YouTube – TOKYO MX, ウォークウェブ, margarine

▼ Some of the intense interviewing process

The Margarine’s roster

Akino Fujiwara (aka Group Leader)
Debt: 7,000,000 yen ($64,000)
Reason: Student Loans

Ran Takahashi (aka Kabosu)
Debt: 500,000 yen ($4,500)
Reason: Owes mother for supporting her move to Tokyo to pursue dream of being an actor

Miku Ono (aka Subu)
Debt: 4,000,000 yen ($37,000)
Reason: Student Loans

Mary Christine Krause (aka Gel-san)
Debt: 2,200,000 yen ($20,000)
Reason: Owes parents for tuition to study in Japan

Miu Mishihara (aka Miuuuu)
Debt: 3,000,000 yen ($27,000)
Reason: Debt to parents after changing high schools

Kanami Yoda (aka Kanami-chan)
Debt: 3,000,000 yen ($27,000)
Reason: Started a new business and failed

Natsumi Watanabe (aka Okka-san)
Debt: 5,000,000 yen ($45,000)
Reason: Was taken in by a scam

Yua Kinoshita (aka Mouse)
Debt: 3,000,000 yen ($27,000)
Reason: too many spas and amusement parks

Mami Nishida (aka Plant Manager)
Debt: 100,000,000 yen ($915,000)
Reason: parents went bankrupt

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Origin: All insolvent idol group “The Margarines” to debut, total debt of all members: 127 million yen
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Japanese idol group la BIG 3 are the latest manifestation of this year’s chubby trend, which has seen the phrase “marshmallow girl” embraced (by some, anyway) as an alternative to other, less complimentary names for bigger girls. The trio released their first music video last week, an upbeat little number called “Pochative ~ Body mo Heart mo Glamorous”, a celebration of chubbiness that encourages women everywhere to – wait for it – “be positive!”

It’d be nice if the video wasn’t all about food, though. Was it really necessary for them to be gazing at fried chicken, and using ice-cream cones and sausages as microphones?!

la BIG 3‘s selling point is that the girls are a bit on the bigger side – the video’s short description even lists their combined weight. The single “Pochative ~ Body mo Heart mo Glamorous”, which takes its name from a portmanteau of pocchari (“plump”) and “positive”, sees them dance around holding, looking at, and sometimes eating plates of food, all the while singing about the importance of being positive. It’s a bit odd, to say the least.

▼ Group members Ruby, Sacchan and Ui Ando remind us that they like food. What with them being human and all.

Images: YouTube / lafarfa TV

You can watch the full video here:

Here’s a rough translation of one part:

Plump, plump, positive!
Hamburg, fried chicken, yakiniku,
Pancakes, macaroons, donuts,
Delicious, happy!
Find happiness!

la BIG 3 aren’t Japan’s first “plus-size” idol group: back in January, Avex put together a group that, with breathtaking self-awareness, they actually called “Chubbiness”. It’s worth pointing out, however, that Japan has one of the lowest rates of obesity in the world, and their “plus-size” models often don’t look chubby at all by western standards. “Pochative ~ Body mo Heart mo Glamorous” appears to take its thematic and aesthetic lead from Chubbiness’s first music video, “Manmadeiiya”, which was also all about how it’s okay to eat donuts, and you’re fine as you are.

So why are idol groups being marketed like this? Can’t they just be pop stars that happen to be bigger? Why do they have to be special chubby pop stars that sing exclusively about being chubby?

Conventional idol groups exist to sell things like records, concert tickets, and more generally the brand – merchandise, tickets to meet them at handshake events, and other products through extensive commercial tie-ins. But la BIG 3 weren’t put together by a record label. They were put together by La Farfa, the plus-size magazine which all three girls model for as dokumo – (semi-)amateur “reader models”.

So, what do la BIG3 exist to sell? Well, I bet we’re not going to see them announcing an album or a tour any time soon. But they might shift some copies of the magazine that made them.

Source: modelpress
Images: YouTube / lafarfa TV

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Origin: Plus-size idol group “la BIG 3″ made a music video, and they do a lot of eating in it【Video】
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Hatsune Miku made her American TV debut on Wednesday night, performing on none other than the Late Show with David Letterman. Miku, of course, is a vocaloid, a super-famous Japanese idol who just happens to be virtual. The turquoise-haired star surprised viewers by performing an English song, “Sharing the World”.

Mr. Letterman, meanwhile, looked a little nonplussed.

The veteran TV host dealt admirably with the challenges of appearing alongside a virtual idol, thanking Miku repeatedly before quipping, “It’s like being on Willie Nelson’s bus.” We don’t think he’ll be lining up to buy any Miku merchandise any time soon though…

▼TV history in the making!

“Sharing the World” is the theme song of the MIKU EXPO, although if you find her English a little difficult to make out (Japanese synthesisers currently sound better on Japanese songs than English ones. Who knew?!) you should check out some of her songs in Japanese too.

Miku got some decent exposure Stateside this year when she opened for Lady Gaga on sections of Gaga’s art-rave concert tour The ARTPOP Ball. The Letterman performance is a push for the New-York based MIKU EXPO, which includes an art exhibition dedicated to all things Miku, on at Wallplay until October 19th. She will also be performing “live” in Los Angeles on October 11th and 12th, and then back in New York to play at the Hammerstein Ballroom on the 17th and 18th.

Sources: Netorabu, MIKU EXPO
Images: YouTube

• Lady Gaga goes gaga for Hatsune Miku, makes virtual idol her opening act
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Origin: Hatsune Miku performs “live” on David Letterman! We love it, not sure he does though…【Video】
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Wotagei, Japan’s unusual form of otaku dancing, is spreading across the seas and capturing the hearts of foreign idol and anime fans, causing them to contort their bodies in strange but rhythmic formations. Read on for more about this unique performance art and watch some videos of afficionados in action.

What is wotagei?

Wotagei is basically a form of dance-like cheering that’s done in support of an idol at their concerts, and has grown into its own unique culture. The name comes from a combination of the words otaku and gei, which means performance or skill–the same “gei” that appears in the word geisha. It’s kind of like an otaku version of para para but instead of being linked to clubbing and fashion it comes from the idol scene in Akihabara where cute young girls perform to legions of young and middle-aged men. Wotagei routines are based around simple moves and Japanese phrases that have become standardized.

Each song by a particular idol will have its own specific routine for fans to perform, and people will often have pen lights with them that will be a different colour depending on the artist or song. Some fans will even have matching T-shirts or jackets. Everyone who shows up to these events already knows the correct moves for each song which creates a nerdy club of exclusivity where you’re not a real fan unless you can join in. The moves are fairly simple on their own but once strung together it can get quite complex and intense. Most importantly, you’ve really gotta put your heart into it! And make sure you have plenty of space or you could poke someone’s eye out.

▼ Wotagei “for beginners” actually looks quite difficult to me

▼ The ‘Narcissus’ move is a ‘soul explosion’, or a strange contorting of the body to express that you’re overcome with emotion. It can be used at any point in a routine. If you see someone doing this at an idol even they’re probably not, as you might first think, having a seizure; their soul is just exploding with uncontainable emotion.

Wotagei abroad

There are more and more opportunities to see wotagei in action in Japan at idol and anime-related concerts, and it seems like it’s catching on outside Japan now too. It’s still very much Japanese-influenced though as the mysterious moves and shouts have been exported as-is, and it’s predominantly popular with people who were already interested in Japanese anime and idol culture.

▼ At Japan Expo 2014 in France we see Rio Hiiragi and wotagei group PCF leading fans in an enthusiastic jump-athon.

▼ And it’s people of all nationalities who’ve fallen under wotagei’s bizarre spell. Here we’ve got a performance in central park, New York, by an American, Indonesian, Mexican, and French person.

The future of Wotagei

While there are many idol and anime song events that encourage wotagei, some places have banned it as it can be a nuisance, with overenthusiastic wotagei groups spoiling it for others who are simply there to enjoy the artist. This style of cheer-dancing was born as a way to support idols and participate in events but it’s now developing separately from that. People are discovering the fun of creating and uploading routines to YouTube and perfecting their skills themselves, and are coming up with some really cool stuff.

▼ Group Katotsuyo makes great use of their glow sticks in this nighttime performance.

▼ Team PCF performs wotagei to the Shingeki no Kyojin anime OP.

What do you think of wotagei? Have you ever tried it? Let us know in the comments section below.

Source: Naver Matome, YouTube

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• How to date an idol: A guide to the highly improbable
• Overseas reaction to Japanese My Little Pony dub is a little odd to Japanese people

Origin: Bizarre otaku dancing catches on as Wotagei spreads around the world【Videos】
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With the Japanese pop idol market in over-saturation thanks to a certain 48-member strong girl group and its related splinter and regional variants, the pop-music loving public are starting to get restless. Pretty girls singing sugary-sweet J-pop in unison is all well and good, but how about a little more musical talent to go with the eye candy? Enter LoVendoЯ (pronounced “Lavender” or, in Japanese, “rabendaa”), a girl group with actual musical instrument playing skills! Okay, so only two of them play instruments (the guitar). And one of these guitarists, Marin Miyazawa, (far right) has managed to snag a huge percentage of the fan adoration away from frontwoman and ex-Morning Musume member, Reina Tanaka (no mean feat!). So, why does everyone love her so much? Well, she’s not only super-pretty, she also plays the guitar quite well. Beautiful women doing things hype!

As we mentioned above, ex-Morning Musume member Reina Tanaka, known for her “gal” style, has managed to turn “graduating” from the once all-powerful idol group into an opportunity for musical reinvention (most girls sadly opt for, or are forced into, obscurity or, perhaps worse, daytime television presenting once their Momusu number is up). But even with her pop-idol pedigree, she’s been eclipsed by Marin Miyazawa, whose beauty has become a hot topic of discussion on online forum 2channel. However, this may have been Tanaka’s plot all along – after all, she had a hand in selecting the other members via an audition process. “The minute I saw Miyazawa, I knew I had to have her in the group,” Tanaka explains. “I thought, this girl is going to draw so many fans!”

Check out this video of Marin and fellow guitarist Yuki Miozumi in the recording studio!

And here’s the music video for their single “Coward”.

For all you Momusu fans, here’s LoVendoЯ’s live rendition of that classic hit, “Sexy Boy – Soyo Kaze ni Yorisotte”

What do you think of this group? Is the inclusion of guitarists nothing more than a transparent gimmick designed to cash in on the new trend of “idols with demonstrable musical talent”? Or do you actually appreciate pop stars who are more than just a pretty face?

Source: Koneta by AU News
Image: Rakuten

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• Pleated skirts, Kewpie dolls, and death: The wild music and videos of Urbangarde【J-Tunes】

Origin: Beautiful guitarist in new female J-rock band LoVendoЯ captures netizens’ hearts
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The former AKB48 idol Anna Mori is crowdfunding her first photobook after recently turning 20 years old (the “age of majority” in Japan, similar to turning 18 in the U.S.) and quickly raised 2,000,000 yen (about US$16,957) with a little help from some unique backer rewards. Mori offered threedates for backers who paid 200,000 yen (US$1,695).

All three dates are sold out. Backers could choose between a picnic and aquarium date with Mori in the Tokyo suburbs; lunch with the all-female photobook staff, including Mori, the photographer, and graphic designer Natsumi; or a “spocha” date with Mori in Tokyo. Spocha is catch-all center for sports, like rollerskating and soccer, and usually also has an arcade and karaoke.

Other rewards include invites to attend the photoshoot, photo ops with Mori, an invitation to the book launch party, and a VIP benefits card.

The campaign will end in 36 days and so far Mori has raised 2,494,000 yen (US$21,145).

Mori was a member of the popular AKB48‘s from 2009 to 2011 before “graduating” from the group and going to college to study childcare and be a nursery school teacher. She graduated with her degree last year.

Dating for idols is usually contractually forbidden outside of marketed video games, with heavy punishment like Minami Minegishi famously shaved her head as restitution for dating or i☆Ris‘ Serizawa publicly apologizing for wearing a ring. However, newer groups like the recently formed Happening Girls use their ability to date, and even marry, their fans as a selling point.

[Via Otakomu]

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Origin: Former AKB48 idol’s crowdfunding campaign includes date rewards
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