日本のアイドル　（Japanese Idols）No.2

26th February -　如月

Last blog was mostly about girls idol groups, so this blog puts focus on boys group.

The most famous boys groups in Japan are basically from one company – Johnny’s Entertainment, established by Mr. Johnny Kitagawa. He passed away on July 2019, and it was such a huge loss for entertainment industry. Johnny’s idol groups only consist of boys and there are idols who are already debut and not debut ones called Johnny’s Jr. Johnny’s debut groups (famous ones are 嵐=Arashi, SMAP – already disbanded, V6) are frequently appear in TV media and gain fans. It is famous that Johnny’s debut idols have named weirdly by Mr. Johnny, for instance one called Sexy Zone and another one as Kis-My-Ft2, maybe he named like that to gain attentions. Moreover, Johnny’s idols were banned to use SNS, and controlled private lives (no romance allowed till 20 years old = however if they gets romance rumor even over 20, the medias disclose and report it).

Finally from 2018, Johnny’s entertainment started going into social media such as Youtube and instagram to gain more fans from overseas.

Boys idol fans have also the same mind as the girls idol fans. Idols show their immature side and let the fans glow together. In Johnny’s case, many people become fan while they are on Johnny’s Jr period, and with fans’ support, they accomplish their group debut. Both fans and idols glow together to win the debut position.

Those major big groups have their fan club and provide special contents to the fan club members. Furthermore, most idol groups sell their official goods in their concert venue which are only purchasable there. Some fans buy 100 of same goods! It is true that idol fans operates the economy!

For Johnny’s concert, there are fans’ implicit rules exist.

-When you go to the idol’s concert, do not wear the high heels, or make the hair style higher than your height.

-As it might disturb the back seat people. All the seats are reserved so you cannot switch or change the seat.

-You are allowed to bring decorated fans to the concert (this is common in Japanese idol concert) but you cannot raise it above your chests. Many people write actions that they want to see idols doing it, implying to get attention from idols.

Here are the relatively new Johnny’s idol groups who debut if you are interested: