Japanese value reputation very much, trust is a rare quantity, and if either of them are broken, they have to personally pay for it; appearing personally, they apologize publicly and profusely. It doesn't matter if it's a high school teacher, a cop, the heads running Tepco, or the past prime ministers before Shinzo Abe.
As much as outsiders -- especially Westerners who aren't used to the whole idol thing -- want the system changed, it's a damn dog's chance in hell. Frankly it takes a through understanding of the Japanese culture -- and without the Western politically-correct goggles -- in order to see how that system works.
Sure, in k-pop, dating is allowed in some performing groups, but the fandom is far worse.
Let's bring up theater manager Togasaki:
Quote:
From AKB staff blog
Q. Why did you broadcast such video online?
A. Minegishi wanted to apologize to fans, so we prepared a video quickly. But when we prepared the set, we were notified that she “wanted to apologize bald” , and allowed her to appear as such in order to convey her strong feelings regarding AKB.
Q. Was it necessary to shave her bald?
A. Was it necessary? Was it not necessary? Probably not, but this was her choice.
Q. Could you not stop her?
A. When she entered the make up room she was already bald apparently. The staff tried to stop her but she apparently said that in order to be remorseful she took scissors to her hair.
Q. Isn’t the punishment for her unequal compared to other members?
A. For each member they each have different circumstances. For example, certain members may have been warned a lot or others may have been on their way to graduate or have had their past uncovered. Or they could have broken some other rule.
Each member is treated on a case by case instance.
Q. Minegishi uploaded a photo of herself smiling with first generations, is she properly reflecting on her actions?
A. Before her Team B performance she apologized to the crowd.
- Togasaki Tomonobu, AKB48 General Theater Manager
|