Tag - idol

 
 

IDOL

Japan Times
CULTURE / Music
Jan 14, 2022
What can we expect from J-pop in 2022?
Ditch the downer sounds of 2021 for brighter bops, Shibuya-kei and breakout hits via TikTok.
Japan Times
JAPAN / History / JAPAN TIMES GONE BY
Jan 2, 2022
Japan Times 1972: Japanese soldier captured in Guam
A soldier who was under orders to "never surrender" is captured in Guam after 28 years of hiding in the jungle.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Music
Dec 26, 2021
Japan's local idol groups return to stage amid new COVID-19 rules
"Idol" singing and dancing acts in Nagoya such as Cool-X, Nanairo Milky Way and OSU are trying to revive close contact with fans after struggling under coronavirus-related restrictions.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Media / MEDIA MIX
Nov 6, 2021
‘Fanatic’ documentary deals with what happens when your favorite K-pop star breaks bad
A new documentary film titled u201cFanaticu201d explores the world of K-pop fandom. Can it also teach us something about the fans of J-pop stars?
Japan Times
CULTURE / Film
Feb 10, 2021
‘In Those Days’: Say hello to the fanboy life of days gone by
Rikiya Imaizumiu2019s bittersweet comedy-drama delves into the fan culture that flourished during the heyday of idol collective Hello! Project in the early 2000s.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Stage
Feb 13, 2020
Japanese students take idol worship to a whole new level
Take a look at the world of Unidol, in which teams of Japanese university students emulate the moves of pop groups in a battle to be the greatest idol copy dance club.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Film / Wide Angle
Oct 31, 2019
'Produce 101 Japan' marks the spread of K-pop diplomacy and offers a journey for J-pop
As the action on talent competition show 'Produce 101 Japan' hots up, we look at its origins in Korean pop music and the original "Produce 101" franchise
Japan Times
CULTURE / Music / Sound Off
May 30, 2019
Rino Sashihara: Can one 'idol' beat the system?
An idol group such as AKB48 is designed for members to be easily replaced. The performers existing in these environments constantly get shuffled around and eventually "graduate" — a term used for when they leave. Fans might become attached to a specific member and follow them on their musical journey.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Film / Wide Angle
Apr 18, 2019
Japan to be given a lesson in idol pop with 'Produce 101 Japan'
Last week, Japanese talent agency Yoshimoto Kogyo and South Korea's CJ E&M announced a new talent competition TV show for Japan, set to debut later this year. And it's not just another program to fill up the back end of 2019, but will be a test case to see if the traditional power structures of male idol music in Japan can be shaken.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Music / Sound Off
Apr 4, 2019
A look at some of Japan's lesser-known idol-pop players
I made my first trip to Japan just over 10 years ago to see concerts by Morning Musume and AKB48, two of the country's biggest idol-pop groups this century. What struck me most about the experience was the camaraderie among the fans, it was a closeness that was unlike anything I'd seen with Western pop music at the time. I recommend experiencing at least one idol show if you're a music fan, and here are five acts worth checking out if you can:
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Our Lives / TELLING LIVES
Feb 3, 2019
From cosplay fan to idol, Yuriko Tiger's journey has been a colorful one
It was 1964 when 19-year-old ye-ye singer Sylvie Vartan captured the hearts of Japanese cinemagoers in the French film "Cherchez l'idole," released here as "Aidoru o Sagase" and in English as "The Chase." Her track from that film, "La plus belle pour aller danser," was a hit here, selling more than a million copies.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Music / Sound Off
Feb 3, 2019
An idol's fans have the power to make change in Japan
Being a fan of any entertainer in 2019 can be a challenge, as scandals both old and new make blindly supporting artists an impossible task. That might be doubly true for Japanese idol-pop acts, who inhabit a corner of the country's entertainment industry made up predominantly of young women, which has always come under scrutiny for the way it treats those involved.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Society
Dec 21, 2018
The dark side of Japan's underground idols: Little pay, long hours and unbreakable contracts
Idol groups such as the iconic AKB48 are synonymous with Japan. Known for their cutesy, highly choreographed stage performances and film clips, they personify the nation's pop culture.
Japan Times
JAPAN / History / Defining the Heisei Era
Nov 24, 2018
Defining the Heisei Era: Examining the rise of otaku culture
With the number of children shrinking, popular entertainment naturally began targeting the otaku population that didn't hesitate to open their wallets for material many considered juvenile.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Crime & Legal
Oct 12, 2018
Family seeks damages over suicide of 16-year-old member of agriculture promotion idol group
In the lawsuit filed with the Matsuyama District Court, the family claims harassment and overwork led to the suicide.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Society
Oct 4, 2018
Released from reformatory, Japanese 'idol' launches support group for neglected children
Parental neglect, bullying and juvenile delinquency — these are the things the 20-year-old idol who goes by the name Kanano Senritsu says she has gone through. But she seems to be transforming the pain of her past into strength, having launched a group to support children who are struggling the same way she did.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Music
Sep 26, 2018
Seiko Oomori: J-pop's reigning rule-breaker
Pop music often opts for positivity rather than confronting the uncomfortable, but Seiko Oomori has never really adhered to J-pop norms.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Music
Jul 27, 2018
Sally Amaki's life as an animated idol-pop star
Though she liked anime growing up, Sally Amaki never thought she'd grow up to be an anime character.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Music / Sound Off
Jun 21, 2018
Online media pick up #MeToo stories the major outlets miss
The Japanese media love a scandal and so far 2018 hasn't disappointed in that regard. Two recent stories centered around J-pop idols have been mostly ignored by mainstream outlets, but both have taken off online thanks to web publications, hinting at a shift unfolding in the nation's news landscape.
JAPAN / Crime & Legal
Feb 24, 2017
17-year prison term sought for man who attacked pop idol in Koganei
Prosecutors on Thursday demanded 17 years in prison for the man who attacked a pop idol he was obsessed with in Koganei, western Tokyo, after she spurned his gifts and social media messages.

Longform

A statue of "Dragon Ball" character Goku stands outside the offices of Bandai Namco in Tokyo. The figure is now as recognizable as such characters as Mickey Mouse and Spider-Man.
Akira Toriyama's gift to the world