Make Believe Mailer Vol. 55: The Stress
This, actually, might have been a good week to be overwhelmed with work and have to wave the white flag for this week's newsletter. Hopefully (fingers crossed!) next week you'll be able to see why I haven't had chance to devote proper time to this, but this article plus a variety of other deadlines I have to meet before going off to Seoul Tuesday night has forced me to phone it in this week. Should be worth it though! Even with the stress!
What makes the timing possibly OK is that there is only one story really worth zooming in this week in relation to Japanese music: TV Asahi pulling the plug on BTS' Nov. 9 performance on Music Station. The stated reason as listed on the show's homepage was because of member Jimin's wearing a shirt featuring a picture of an atomic bomb going off in Japan. This one is a fraught topic, featuring both a century's worth of geopolitical tension and having to dive into the deep end of modern internet discourse (when K-pop fans express the same views of the mainstream media as MAGA dumbos...modernity has failed us). Naturally, I'll be writing about it for The Japan Times over the next two days. So...saving thoughts for that. Though please enjoy this story I wrote in 2011 and in 2013 about similar issues.
Next week...expect much more! Especially as I try to hunt down the IZ*ONE store in Seoul.
News And Views
Johnny's Jr. group SixTONES released a new song...on YouTube!!! This is the first instance of a Johnny's outfit actually debuting something online, which is a pretty significant moment in J-pop history, for better or for worse.
Avex's new pop group INTERSECTION debuted this week. Who are they? From the official site: "INTERSECTION (intersection) is the place where the four people who were born and raised in different cultures, got together, and they will transmit music and activities from the center, Tokyo, to the world." This is probably going to be a greater trend in 2019 — groups with members from diverse backgrounds — so this is a significant arrival. And don't forget the song, which reminds that good intentions don't always stop a pop song from being a snoozer.
Really enjoyed this feature on Emamouse, one of the more prolific and flat-out interesting artists going in Japan's underground.
Oricon Trail For The Week Of October 29, 2018 To November 4, 2018
This is a tale of numbers vs. narrative. The release topping the album side of Oricon is...IZ*ONE, which is pretty significant, especially during a week where pop music is in the spotlight of Japan and Korea's ongoing political tensions. A win for AKB48? A sign of a brighter tomorrow? Well, maybe it is better to focus on the fact that the album — which is the Korean version, they haven't even properly debuted here yet (which is good for this week!) — moved a little over 11,000 units. Not bad in the modern Oricon age, but it also came during a week when it's only competition was a Mr. Children in its zillionth week on the chart (poor lol...coming in at fourth).
The single side? Kenshi Yonezu's latest single, with...228,566 units moved. Boring because he's dominated for two years now, but a reminder the top act sometimes lacks a flashy story.
Perfume's GAME (33 1/3)
My entry in the 33 1/3 Japan series is out now! Get a copy at Bloomsbury or Amazon. Or at Kinokuniya bookstores in the US.
Look At Me!
Wrote about the growing number of SNS comics devoted to different perspectives this week for Pulse.
Blog highlights: Yoshino Yoshikawa And ONJUICY, CHAI, Izumi Makura
Written by Patrick St. Michel (patrickstmichel@gmail.com)
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