Male Idol Groups in Japan

Japanese Idols:

Heavily promoted and merchandised singers, actors/actresses, Television personalities, models, and etc. in the Japanese culture.

History of the word Idol

The word “Idol” originally meant an image or other material object representing a deity which religious worship is addressed. This word evolved to a new definition meaning a person or an object that regards with blind admiration, adoration, or devotion in the 1940s in the United States. The adolescent fans of Frank Sinatra were called bobby-soxers (because of their poodle skirts and bobby socks) therefore Sinatra was called “Bobby-soxer’s idol”. Since then the word idol was used to point out celebrities that were popular to the young generation. In the 1950s Elvis Presley, and in the 1960s the Beetles were considered to be idols.

History of the word Idol in Japan

Since the word Idol originated in the United States, this word was used to point out celebrities from out side of Japan. Instead of the word “Idol” celebrities from Japan were walled “Stars”.　In 1966 the　BEETLES came to Japan and artists from all over the world, like The Tigers and The Tempters, started to visit Japan. The celebrities coming into Japan made the foreign idols very popular and the world idol became common in Japan, causing the “Stars” to be called “idols”.

History of Male Idols in Japan

In the 1960s Group sounds, and the 1970’s the Shin-gosanke (Goro Noguchi, Hideki Saijou, Go Hiromi) became popular and the idols that came out represented the era and what was popular in Japan at that time. In the 1980s groups from Jonny’s Jumusho (Johnny & Associates Inc.) became popular. The Idols from Johnny’s Jimusho stated to appear on TV shows in the 90’s.

Johnny’s Jimusho(Jonny & Associates Inc.)

Established in the 1962　by Johhny Hiromu Kitagawa. It is an talent agency that trains and promotes male idols and idol groups. These idols that debuted are collectively called “Johnny’s” and those who have not are called “ Johnny’s Jr.”.　SMAP, Masahiko Kondo, and Hiromi Go is currently belonging to or belonged to this talent agency.

Idols From Jonny’s Jimusho

1970s:Hiromi Go

When he 15 years old he auditioned for a movie. Unfortunately he did not get the role because of his figure, Johnny H. Kitagawa who was the judge scouted him to Johnny’s Jimusho. He debuted in November 1972 with Johnny’s Jumusho, but transferred to Burning Production in 1975. Still active with his music carrier.

(official web site:http://www.hiromi-go.net/)

1980s:Masahiko Kondo

He debuted in December of 1980 with his “Sneaker Blues”Single. He is still active with his music carrier and has collaborated with Question?(Johnny’s Jr.)in 2008. He is an artist, actor, and also an coach for the racing team “KONDO Rcing”.

(official website: http://www.sonymusic.co.jp/Music/Arch/SR/MasahikoKondo/　)

1990s:SMAP

An Idol group with Takuya Kimura, Masahiro Nakai, Tsuyoshi Kusanagi, Goro Inagaki, and Shingo Katori. Debuted in Septemver of 1991 with “Can’t Stop!! -LOVING-“ Their most famous song is “Sekai ni hitotsu dake no hana” released in 2003. They are considered an national idol that every citizen knows.

(official website: http://www.jvcmusic.co.jp/-/Artist/A002763.html )

2000s:Kanjani8

An Idol group with Sbaru Shibutani, Shingo Murakami, Yu Yokoyama, Ryuhei Maruyama, Shota Yasuda, Ryo Nishikido, Tadayoshi Okura. All of the members are from the Kansai area of Japan. They debuted in 2003 with “Iroha Naniwa Bushi” which is an enka ,an genera of music resembles an traditional Japanese music style. This was the first time an idol group came out with an enka single and they were featured because of their unique style of music.

(official website: http://www.teichiku.co.jp/artist/kan8/ )

2010s:Kis-my-ft2

An idol group with Hiromitsu Kitayama, Kento Senga, Toshiya Miyata, Wataru Yokoo, Taisuke Fujigaya, Yuta Tamamori, and Takashi Nikaido. The name of the group comes from the initials of the member’s last names. “Ki”tayama, “S”enga, “M”iyata, “Y”koo, “F”ujigaya, “T”amamori”,”Ni”kaido(Ni meaning two in Japanee). They will debut on August 10^th of 2011 with their single “Everybody Go”. They will have an concert in Tokyo dome on the 28^th of August, which will be the shortest amount of time(18days) in the Johnny’s History for a group to have a concert in Tokyodome after releasing their debut single.

(official website: http://avexnet.or.jp/kismyft2/top.html )

Rumors about child molest and Johnny’s

In 1988 Kita Koji, a member of Four Leaves group that belonged to Johnny’s Jimusho, wrote a tell-all diary which described being molested by Kitagawa and other Idols. Other idols like Goro Inagaki from Smap are said that they used to be molested by Kitagawa. These stories are considered to be true although idols are supposed to have a clean image.

Conclusion

The rumors that have come out in the 1980s are still continuing and Johnny’s Jrs. that appear in the media are said that they are molested by Kitagawa. This images of Johnny’s and Kitagawa has been associated with the fact that many young Japanese women are Boys love mangas. These are comic book that show pretty young boys having a relationship and romantic encounters. This image of Boys love in Johnny’s Jimusho may have made self identified gay men to have interest in these idols because they seem to have love lives with the same sex.

References

Wikipedeia:郷ひろみ

http://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/郷ひろみ

Go Hiromi Official Web Site

http://www.hiromi-go.net/

Smap Offical Web Site

http://www.jvcmusic.co.jp/-/Artist/A002763.html

Kanjani8 Offical Web Site

http://www.teichiku.co.jp/artist/kan8/

Kis-my-ft2 Offical website

http://avexnet.or.jp/kismyft2/top.html

wikipedia:bobby_soxer