AKB 48 thread

[Azuma Denton]

Originally Posted by Azuma Denton

Shukan Bunshun reports AKB48’s Minegishi Minami spent the night at Shirahama Alan’s place

And Aki-P really got angry this time.
Mii-chan officially demoted to kenkyuusei and must shave her head (i dunno about 2nd one, but most people confirm this)

Guess the AKB management has taken it too far.
Shaving a girl head as a punishment is too much.

[sa547]

As it is the practice of Japanese to admit guilt, it was her personal decision to to have her head shaved off, and management didn't told her to do so.

Read closely:

I’m Minegishi Minami from Umeda team B of AKB48.

I’m very sorry to have caused enormous worry to members, fans, staffs, my families and a lot of other people with the article in the weekly magaizne that is published today.

(Deep Bow)

As the 1st generation member of AKB48, the group that has formed in 2005, it’s my responsibility to always behave as a good role model to juniors. I deeply regret what I did this time. It was a thoughtless deed and I was completely lacking self-awareness as a senior member.

My brain blanked out and I’m still unable to figure out what to do, what I can do. But after I saw the magazine a little ago, I couldn’t help but doing something. And I decided to shave my head without consulting any member or staff at my agency.

Although I don’t think I would be forgiven by doing this, the first thing that I went through my head was that “I don’t want to leave AKB48.”

This is a place where my dear members, who I spent my blossom of youth together, are. And it’s unimaginable to even think about leaving the group where I’m with so many wonderful and sweet fans.

I understand it’s wishful thinking, but if it’s possible, I would like to still be AKB48′s Minegishi Minami.

This is all my fault.

I’m truly sorry.

I will leave my hereafter to the hands of Akimoto-sensei and management.

Though I haven’t been able to tidy my mind up, but I just wanted to tell my current feeling to you.

Thank you so much for listening to me.

http://justyoujustme.tumblr.com/post...eam-b-of-akb48

[Utsuro no Hako]

Originally Posted by sa547

As it is the practice of Japanese to admit guilt, it was her personal decision to to have her head shaved off, and management didn't told her to do so.

Why is a twenty year old woman feeling guilt because she spent a night at a man's house? I think that says a lot about the culture AKB48 fosters for members, and none of it's good.

[sa547]

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:

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

[SaintessHeart]

Originally Posted by sa547

As it is the practice of Japanese to admit guilt, it was her personal decision to to have her head shaved off, and management didn't told her to do so.

Sorry, I can't buy that. Even if it is her decision, it would have taken some hinting or suggestion for her to do something as ludicrous as this.

[sa547]

Originally Posted by SaintessHeart

Sorry, I can't buy that. Even if it is her decision, it would have taken some hinting or suggestion for her to do something as ludicrous as this.

Goddamn, you still think the idol industry is like the Yakuza? Hey, they're getting paid well, they have their perks (not everyone gets to be an idol and the selection process is difficult), and yes sometimes they do have lapse of judgment, but this young woman had the balls to apologize in public in this unusual way; she's not Kim Kardashian.

[stormtrooper]

http://www.nikkansports.com/entertai...1-1079586.html
http://www.nihonbeat.com/2013/02/01/...mi-graduation/

Another big news regarding Tomochin.

[sa547]

Originally Posted by stormtrooper

http://www.nikkansports.com/entertai...1-1079586.html
http://www.nihonbeat.com/2013/02/01/...mi-graduation/

Another big news regarding Tomochin.

She had to; Itano did much as a member in good standing but already talent-wise she hit the glass ceiling. Now I'm okay with her preparing to move forward in her career, and glad for her decision to graduate, which would soon be of benefit to younger members.

[asaqe]

Originally Posted by sa547

Goddamn, you still think the idol industry is like the Yakuza? Hey, they're getting paid well, they have their perks (not everyone gets to be an idol and the selection process is difficult), and yes sometimes they do have lapse of judgment, but this young woman had the balls to apologize in public in this unusual way; she's not Kim Kardashian.

You know sometimes I wonder what will happen if Japan accepts same sex marriage, Idols can then safely play the lesbian card and maintain purity?

[Kazu-kun]

Originally Posted by sa547

Goddamn, you still think the idol industry is like the Yakuza?

Well, in the show must go on documentary, during a scene in backstage, you can hear staff trying to convince Acchan to go on stage even though she's hyperventilating. Afterwards, Takamina tells a interviewer that Acchan went on stage by her own accord while the staff suggested she shouldn't.

Was Takamin lying? I don't think so. She probably didn't really know what Acchan was told at the moment, and Acchan probably did say that it was her decision (and it probably was, but it doesn't change the fact that she was encouraged to do it by management first!!).

At any rate, this shows that what SaintessHeart said does happen, so even if it was Miichan decision to shave her head, I wouldn't be surprised to find out that she was following a "suggestion" from management. That's how AKB works after all.

[Azuma Denton]

@sa547
Do you think a girl, without any influence, will shave her head bald?
Sorry, but i am on SaintessHearts side. I dont believe that she did it on her own.
Yes, maybe no one is forcing her to. But what if someone influence her? No one can tell right now except the staff and herself.
And the video itself is unappropriate.

[SaintessHeart]

Originally Posted by sa547

Goddamn, you still think the idol industry is like the Yakuza? Hey, they're getting paid well, they have their perks (not everyone gets to be an idol and the selection process is difficult), and yes sometimes they do have lapse of judgment, but this young woman had the balls to apologize in public in this unusual way; she's not Kim Kardashian.

You said it. Being paid well means that they have the desperation to accept such a suggestion in exchange for a chance to stay with AKB48.

Then again, I don't think they are paid well. It is the sponsorships for their daily (idol) needs, and the perks they get from all those business ties the management has cultivated for them. What are a few compacts (1 compact of powder, with periodic touchup through daily usage, can last for close to 1 month) in exchange for a pretty face to bolster the brand of a cosmetic?

P.S I am pretty much an idol chaser myself : being a huge fan of Mizuki Nana, Jay Chou, KISS and a few metal/rock bands. But I am the odd one out because I focus more on music instead of eye candy. Mass girlbands like Afilia Saga East and AKB48 don't interest me much, and I am usually neutral unless there are outrageous antics like this performed that make the entire idol industry look ridiculously shady. Even if the anti-social forces are involved, I believe that they have good business sense not to get involved too much; they are just in it to wash money.

[Bikerider]

Every time I hear of an AKB48 scandal, my first thought is: "Why are they doing ? They should stop trying to be like SCANDAL. SCANDAL is SCANDAL !! Unless it's Scandal with Patty Smyth, but that's a whole different story. Don't mess with SCANDAL.. and then I think... oh.... Well... at least they're not trying to mess with SCANDAL.

[sa547]

Originally Posted by Azuma Denton

@sa547
Do you think a girl, without any influence, will shave her head bald?
Sorry, but i am on SaintessHearts side. I dont believe that she did it on her own.
Yes, maybe no one is forcing her to. But what if someone influence her? No one can tell right now except the staff and herself.
And the video itself is unappropriate.

With a tin-foil, living-in-a-bubble answer, are you implying that it's bullshit just for show? Is it like the WWE where they made everything up for drama? Or coerced by force?

With most people here having limited knowledge of the idol entertainment system (and I think they haven't even set their foot on Japan), fed by misinformation from second-hand sources, sensationalist websites or complete critics of the culture (and sorry, some people wrongly get their ideas about Japan only through anime or manga), I don't know how hard for you to imagine that it's a very complex world demanding a huge cultural leap from a closed Western mentality of black-and-white and an open mind to understand.

Put yourself in her shoes, know how painful it could be and she's crying for real, being caught between the devil and the deep blue sea, for crissakes -- it's hard for her whether she should keep silent and let the assholes do more damage or speak up before they do.

Personally, as someone who grew up in a multi-cultural setting, I am very disgusted by how people misinterpret things at whatever they see without getting the proper facts straight.

[SaintessHeart]

Maybe you should work backroom in concerts and listen to what is going on inside. Such opportunities are rare, so you might have to offer to work as a lowly paid porter. And you might want to avoid assuming that people put tinfoil hats on their scalps. Secondly, the media industry is never completely clean. Half a month as a Producer Assistant taugh me that.

Another way is to strike up conversations or make friends with people in the branded cosmetics business, Etude House is a good example. The media is effective at smoking everyone because it is their job to do so.

Then again, here is a proper one from news channels :

AKB48 Star Shaves Head After Scandal

Hiroki Azuma commented. So he is a complete critic too?

[sa547]

Then what ideas would you like to propose? Abolish the entire system?

Trying to impose Western ideals and expectations of the "politically-correct" and "acceptable" onto Japanese society is like cooking Spam over a lightbulb.

(I listen to most forms of music, not just AKB; I embraced them in reaction to the overwhelming saturation of k-pop and Bieber, so you may call me somewhat biased. Good God, you remind me of someone I defriended off Twitter because he sought "musical purity over eye candy".

You mentioned Mizuki? One of her fans is Mayu Watanabe; Another member named Rino Sasshihara organized the largest gathering of idol groups like it was Woodstock.

I like their imperfection. I like to see them grow up as genuine persons than just pretty faces on a magazine.)

[SaintessHeart]

Originally Posted by sa547

Then what ideas would you like to propose? Abolish the entire system?

Trying to impose Western ideals and expectations of the "politically-correct" and "acceptable" onto Japanese society is like cooking Spam over a lightbulb.

(I listen to most forms of music, not just AKB; I embraced them in reaction to the overwhelming saturation of k-pop and Bieber, so you may call me somewhat biased. Good God, you remind me of someone I defriended off Twitter because he sought "musical purity over eye candy".

You mentioned Mizuki? One of her fans is Mayu Watanabe; Another member named Rino Sasshihara organized the largest gathering of idol groups like it was Woodstock.

I like their imperfection. I like to see them grow up as genuine persons than just pretty faces on a magazine.)

You write like an angry fanboy, but I shall reply to you anyway since you replied to mine.

Add a "no humiliation/humiliating act to be performed as PR" in the contract? They are human beings and that act of head shaving is decadent. Those idols are still human beings, and this isn't imperial Japan as much as they have descended from the historical female entertainers without the physical sex option.

Whatever petty action you took on people who don't agree with you, I shall not comment further because that simply shows you don't listen as much as you play. There are people who listen to.music which they can inject themselves into, and subsequently, replicate playing it. These people listen for something called the "flow"; not just tolerating and appreciating whatever mashup iTunes provide.

Unfortunately, AKB48 are nothing more than pretty faces on a magazine. Their songs are plain as those factory-churned stuff we have from US popular billboards playing over my car stereo. I must admit, the girls are cute, but they don't seem to have any unique style other than its unique marketing and sales model.

It is just a cash cow of looks - that is why people categorise, albeit in an extreme way, as porn stars.

[sa547]

Nice. You sound holier-than-thou. Also insulting all the while the irony is with your avatar.

Pot. Kettle. Black.

[Utsuro no Hako]

Originally Posted by sa547

With most people here having limited knowledge of the idol entertainment system (and I think they haven't even set their foot on Japan), fed by misinformation from second-hand sources, sensationalist websites or complete critics of the culture (and sorry, some people wrongly get their ideas about Japan only through anime or manga), I don't know how hard for you to imagine that it's a very complex world demanding a huge cultural leap from a closed Western mentality of black-and-white and an open mind to understand.

Put yourself in her shoes, know how painful it could be and she's crying for real, being caught between the devil and the deep blue sea, for crissakes -- it's hard for her whether she should keep silent and let the assholes do more damage or speak up before they do.

Personally, as someone who grew up in a multi-cultural setting, I am very disgusted by how people misinterpret things at whatever they see without getting the proper facts straight.

Are you saying that in modern Japanese culture, it's perfectly normal for an adult woman to be ashamed if somebody finds out she's spending the night with her boyfriend? 'Cause that's certainly not the impression I get from mainstream Japanese literature or manga aimed at functional adults.

Originally Posted by sa547

Then what ideas would you like to propose? Abolish the entire system?

Trying to impose Western ideals and expectations of the "politically-correct" and "acceptable" onto Japanese society is like cooking Spam over a lightbulb.

I don't think there's anything politically correct about saying, "It's sexist and objectifying for the management to try to control the sexuality of members, especially when that management commodifies that sexuality with gravure photos and videos of the girls prancing around in bikinis or lingerie."

I'll even acknowledge that the rule against romance made sense when the group first started and all the members were young teens -- makes total sense that they wouldn't want a sex scandal involving a 14 year old girl. But the original members are in their 20s now; they're adults, and the management should treat them that way.

Even if we accept that management didn't pressure Minegishi to shave her head, they still demoted her, just like they did Sayaka Akimoto when she was in the same situation. That sends an awful message to girls, both in the band and in the general public, about what happens to women who dare control their own sexuality.

[raduccio]

Originally Posted by Utsuro no Hako

Even if we accept that management didn't pressure Minegishi to shave her head, they still demoted her, just like they did Sayaka Akimoto when she was in the same situation. That sends an awful message to girls, both in the band and in the general public, about what happens to women who dare control their own sexuality.

I don't know a lot about AKB48 but from what I read it probably makes a lot of its money from the most obsessive kind of fans who don't like idols that aren't "pure".
It's messed up but this obsession is also what drives them to spend a lot of money on AKB48 products.
Management wants to protect their profits and maybe redeem that girl in the eyes of her fans.
The only message here is that if you want to make money by pretending to be a "pure idol" you should at least allow the fans the illusion that you are. Otherwise you're gonna have to be good enough to attract mostly normal fans who don't care about what you do in your personal time.