tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6531601964128518668.post3850414790707084350..comments2023-10-03T00:09:27.749+09:00Comments on The Adventures of a Foreign Salaryman in Tokyo: AKB48, Teddybears, Tiamat, Pizzicatto Five and ArashiMr. Salarymanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02874380653396343115noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6531601964128518668.post-38672310597426679122011-06-13T18:50:30.352+09:002011-06-13T18:50:30.352+09:00I agree with you. I like a lot of japanese things ...I agree with you. I like a lot of japanese things but I am phsically unable to listen to the music. I prefer korean music even then, I'm regretably reminded of how annoying some of the music actually is. However, not all their music is bad, some is actually not only tolerable but, tasteful.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6531601964128518668.post-11675147027149834402011-05-17T13:51:09.067+09:002011-05-17T13:51:09.067+09:00There's nothing creepy about being a man in hi...There's nothing creepy about being a man in his 30s or early 40s being sexually turned on by the AKB48 girls. That's your Judaeo-Christian guilt complex talking. Any normal heterosexual man would get turned on by their short skirts and knickers on display. I guess only choir boys or homosexuals would find it creepy.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6531601964128518668.post-91071774265595514102011-03-28T15:52:36.071+09:002011-03-28T15:52:36.071+09:00japanese indie rock is pretty good though.japanese indie rock is pretty good though.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6531601964128518668.post-48982125010517755492011-01-23T08:19:20.126+09:002011-01-23T08:19:20.126+09:00Hey, you didn't mention Pizzicato 5 at all in ...Hey, you didn't mention Pizzicato 5 at all in this. Though Shibuya-kei is an effectively out-of-style trend... :(Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6531601964128518668.post-86409337912519742572010-09-01T03:12:19.313+09:002010-09-01T03:12:19.313+09:00The tv shows are the secret to the popularity. SMA...The tv shows are the secret to the popularity. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SMAP" rel="nofollow">SMAP</a> wasn't popular until they appeared on tv.<br /><br /><a href="http://books.google.com/books?id=A9CDvNs35ooC&pg=PA199&lpg=PA199&dq=goro+inagaki+scandal&source=bl&ots=efNx9DZAbp&sig=V2hq_X6qFwsNxa4bqHS2hdeySuw&hl=en&ei=BkF9TKSeMoWEvAPuvqXWAg&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=3&ved=0CBsQ6AEwAg#v=onepage&q=goro%20inagaki%20scandal&f=false" rel="nofollow">I googled "Inagaki Goro scandal"</a> and found this. <br /><br />Mr. Akimoto's <a href="http://injapan.gaijinpot.com/2010/04/19/10-rules-for-creating-an-idol-group/" rel="nofollow">formula</a> for girl groups <br /><br />Basically, despite having less than average talent, looks, and ability, cookie cutter j-pop idols (Utada Hikaru is not included in this category because she is a DAM* good singer!) become popular through their characters. Veteran Johnny's groups almost always have their own shows where they can cultivate personality images. Whether the personality is real or not, I admire their ability to keep up the act in front of the camera. They're funny, good at talking, polite, nice, have good stylists, and generally act like genuinely good guys--the kind that many girls/women would like to meet in real life. It's like what a host does for his clients (escapism, comfort, makes them feel better about their lives, perhaps teaching them to be better people in the process) except idols don't force their clients into prostitution to keep up the habit. After getting hooked on the shows, wanting to support their favorite group is natural, and that means buying cds and concert tickets (Arashi's are going for more than 180,000 yen in some places). The music is well-produced if nothing else and catchy (since they're usually used as theme songs for shows... resulting in earwurms). <br /><br />I'm in between cynicism and being a fan right now since the ticket is so expensive... I'm reevaluating my liking of Johnny's.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6531601964128518668.post-46751372656580056762010-05-16T22:34:51.774+09:002010-05-16T22:34:51.774+09:00If the population that was asking for Hey! Say! Ju...If the population that was asking for Hey! Say! Jump? tickets when I exited Harajuku station the other week is any indicator, your guess is right on who's listening to Johnny's prefabricated idols : prepubescent girls.<br /><br />Teen-related feeling of uncertainty and insecurity plus sensitivity to mass marketing lobotomy might be a good reason for the appeal those asexual performers have on this strata.Foggiahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06336194434175740041noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6531601964128518668.post-72867283875477780422010-04-15T22:27:08.359+09:002010-04-15T22:27:08.359+09:00I only like the more mature series, and my toleran...I only like the more mature series, and my tolerance for stupidity has decreased as I age. <br /><br />But they have some great music.aimlesswanderernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6531601964128518668.post-41769288657053680252010-04-12T20:41:55.237+09:002010-04-12T20:41:55.237+09:00Aimless - Well, my lack of love for Japanese anime...Aimless - Well, my lack of love for Japanese anime probably makes that difficult... At the core of it, I'm more of an EBM and goth kinda guy...<br /><br />Climate - No? THis can't be? Are you... ... even suggesting that... ... gay men can have different tastes in music?! Just like "ordinary" people?! This will take some time to digest...Mr. Salarymanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02874380653396343115noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6531601964128518668.post-70696534469528635492010-04-11T01:42:35.308+09:002010-04-11T01:42:35.308+09:00I feel that i should stand up for the gay demograp...I feel that i should stand up for the gay demographic and say that we don't like them either.<br /><br />...then again, me and my demographic have often not seen eye to eye.<br /><br />Anyway, i feel your pain.Climate Moriohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15004418840196199507noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6531601964128518668.post-5066260307445172642010-04-09T23:18:38.818+09:002010-04-09T23:18:38.818+09:00Don't really like any Japanese popular music. ...Don't really like any Japanese popular music. Terrible cloned groups, high pitched teenagers, no thanks. My 2 favourite composers mostly do anime soundtracks:<br /><br />Yoko Kanno<br />Tank, a jazz inspired piece<br />http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BtxDGXS7BLQ<br />Free Bird, a lovely vocal<br />http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9rBJkis9QTY<br /><br />Yuki Kajiura<br />Canta Per Me<br />http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iexm5Xb8IG0<br />The World<br />http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xsK-X2vaQVY<br /><br />I really envy you ya know. If I lived there nothing short of the country getting attacked by Godzilla, Gamera and Mothra would have stopped me from going to one of Yuki's big concerts.aimlesswanderernoreply@blogger.com