Junior rankings!

[faded_lace]

Okay, so as promised, here's the complete list of 52 categories for the 20th annual Myojo Junior ranking! Anyone who's a junior is in; I'm pretty sure Nakayama Yuma is out. Myojo asks for a name and a reason, so of course, if you want to give a reason, feel free! I don't usually write reasons for all 52 because sometimes I don't really have a reason or don't want to write "because he's a nice person" several times in a row, though. XD; So... yeah! Let's have a discussion. Comment answering whichever ones you want, and we can discuss and argue/agree? :D?

1) Junior you want as your lover
2) Junior you want as your friend
3) Junior you want as your older brother
4) Junior you want as your younger brother
5) Junior you want as your class president
6) Junior you want as a teacher at your school
7) Junior you want as the prime minister
8) Junior you want to try kissing
9) Junior you want as a pet
10) Most fashionable Junior
11) Sexiest Junior
12) Funniest/most interesting Junior
13) Most beautiful Junior
14) Most mysterious Junior
15) Most perverted Junior
16) Most wild Junior
17) Most tsundere-ish*
18) Junior who seems like he's herbivorous but is actually carnivorous**
19) Junior who seems like he's surprise his significant other on a date
20) Junior who seems like he'd get married early
21) Junior who seems like he'll be a dominant husband***
22) Junior who seems like he'll be a good dad
23) Junior who seems like he'll be a good grandpa
24) Junior who seems macho
25) Junior who seems like he has pretty hands
26) Junior who seems smart
27) Junior who seems good at a foreign language
28) Junior who seems like he'd be popular in his class
29) Junior who seems strong in a fight
30) Junior who seems weak in a fight
31) Junior who seems like he'd look good in glasses
32) Junior who seems like he'd look good in girls' clothes
33) Junior who seems like he'd look good in Japanese traditional clothes
34) Junior who seems like he'd look good with blonde hair
35) Junior who seems like he'd eat a lot
36) Junior who seems celebrity-ish
37) Junior who seems good at cooking
38) Junior who seems like he wouldn't return texts
39) Junior who seems like he likes to keep things neat and tidy
40) Junior who seems like he has a 6th sense
41) Junior who seems like a natural character✝
42) Most otaku-ish
43) Junior who seems like a crybaby
44) Most narcissistic
45) Junior who seems like he'll become a novelist in the future
46) Junior who seems good at impressions✝✝
47) Junior who seems good at photography
48) Junior who seems like he'll become a newscaster
49) Junior who seems like he likes playing pranks on people
50) Junior who seems like he could become an Olympic athlete
51) Best pair (two names)
52) Pair that looks most facially similar (two names)

*tsundere is a Japanese trope, and describes a person who's brusque, cold, or harsh on the outside but secretly has warm feelings that he/she has difficulty expression on the inside.
**In Japanese slang, carnivorous means manly and herbivorous means effeminate
***亭主関白 or teishu kanpaku means "husband who rules the roost; domineering husband"... so I guess a husband who makes his wife stay at home and orders her around? I don't know, I find this whole question pretty offensive, so... yeah, I don't have much to say in Myojo's defense. XD;
✝tennen kyara usually means someone airheaded who does or says the first thing that comes to mind... sort of like Aiba from Arashi
✝✝monomane; think Jesse's Donald Duck impression.

So there you have it! It's a bit long, but I'm looking forward to seeing what people chose! Even if you just want to answer one or two, I'll be happy to chat about it :3 I haven't finished mine yet, but... I'm working on it. XD;;

Comments

Re: Okay, I'm game!

[faded-lace.livejournal.com]

1) Junior you want as your lover I shouldn't answer this but Iwamoto in the last episode of Shokura just seemed really... patient. It's always the quiet ones you have to watch out for.
Actually, he's kind of a goofball in real life. He sometimes hangs out with Jesse and Yugo and they're stupid together. But he does seem like a really good candidate, actually!

51) Best pair (two names) I do like Taiga x Juri
Awww, yes. These two are so sweet together.

Re: Okay, I'm game!

[nekobot01.livejournal.com]

He sometimes hangs out with Jesse and Yugo and they're stupid together.

I approve. XD I meant to edit this earlier to add that he gives the impression of being very exacting in his performance (at least via Bad Boys J) which would also make him a good candidate. Filthy thoughts on Monday morning! LOL!

And!! I think after last week's Shokura Teranishi Takuto should be up with in the prettiest juniors~ *chuuuu*

Re: Okay, I'm game!

[faded-lace.livejournal.com]

LOL wow. But yeah, he seems like he'd be a really fun guy to hang out with, and it helps that he's really attractive?

I don't really find him pretty. He looks sort of weird to me tbqh...

Re: Okay, I'm game!

[nekobot01.livejournal.com]

Quite attractive in an odd looking way--my favorite kind! I'll have to check the comments later to see what other people picked. The one question I really couldn't do was "older brother" because the concept is WAY too foreign from my experience. I can't imagine having an older brother at all......

(And really?? Well, he is kind of odd looking, too, but I think he's pretty. I like strong features I guess. XD Maybe I'm also influenced by his snobby character on 49. Hee!)

Re: Okay, I'm game!

[faded-lace.livejournal.com]

Please do check back~ I want to have discussion, so I hope other people will do it. :D And I have no brothers, and only one younger sister, so... I just make up what I think I'd like. XD;;

(Yeah, I think he's pretty odd looking. I also don't know where he came from when he suddenly was cast in 49, so I have no reason to like him, and frankly he's a threat... but hey, at least I'm honest about it.)

Re: Okay, I'm game!

[nekobot01.livejournal.com]

I can imagine other things but for whatever reason being the oldest child is SO ingrained as "me" that I can't imagine having an older brother or sister. XD

(Did he come from nowhere?! Weird!! Maybe he just caught somebody's eye in a casting sheet? Hmm.... well, I like him but I hope he doesn't bump out your faves. ♥)

Re: Okay, I'm game!

[faded-lace.livejournal.com]

Well, to each their own. ^^

(I mean, I think he had been in Johnny's for a while, maybe? But not in the front. So it's frustrating for me when he took a spot in a drama that could have gone to Yugo or Reia-- Yugo hasn't had a spot since Bakaleya, and Reia's never had one while most of his peers have. Additionally, he bumped Yugo from the most recent Junior Ni Q-- Yugo was the only Bakaleya guy who didn't have a card on the board, and I've never, ever seen Teranishi Takuto on the board before. So... Not trying to be an asshole, just explaining why it's really frustrating to me.)

Re: Okay, I'm game!

[nekobot01.livejournal.com]

No, I understand!! I didn't think you were~ Junior fandom is cut-throat I guess. There's a finite number of slots for debut and many more boys to fill them. It's like... how it's frustrating to see resources go to Jin (and I'll be honest--KAT-TUN, too, who except for Kame are fading) when ABC-Z are still wearing their Junior-era costumes from 2010 or whatever.

But I've got my fingers crossed for 4U. I've grown quite fond of them~ if ABC-Z can do it, maybe they'll get a chance.

Re: Okay, I'm game!

[faded-lace.livejournal.com]

Yeah, it really is. The atmosphere at Junior events is the worst. I agree about Jin, but I disagree about KAT-TUN-- all of them have work right now, and I honestly don't think it was their fault that they weren't getting it for a while. Judging by the sudden album release and concert announcement, it's clear that Koki was creating problems for all of them, so I don't think I can fault them for it. I don't think it reflects on their character or particularly says that they weren't working hard. On the other hand, I'm aggravated that resources are wasted on Yamapi, whose behaviour has been incredibly unprofessional, childish, and selfish over the past however many years, and who has cost Johnny's a lot of money. I know you like him, so I won't get into the details, but I'm much more frustrated to see Johnny's dump so much money on someone who doesn't treat his staff or coworkers with respect and who doesn't even sell that well, anyway.

As to the Junior-era costumes... Kisumai wear their Junior-era costumes, too. With those two groups, I think that since their fanbase was built up over many, many years as top juniors, it's more of a nostalgia thing. I wasn't really aware of ABC-Z as much as I was of Kisumai before, but I for one am happy to see it whenever Kisumai wear their Junior costumes. It's sort of a reminder of happy times to me. Additionally, Marius and Sou sometimes get relegated to wearing recycled costumes, and it's not even a nostalgia thing for them. That's just how the cookie crumbles for groups within their first few years of debut.

As for 4U... I find it highly unlikely that that sort of thing would happy. 4U just aren't on the debut-track, just like Question weren't. They're specifically grouped to be a support group to bigger-name talents like Tackey and Domoto Koichi. I can see some of them gaining popularity sort of like Yara, but (while I can't predict what sort of crazy thing Johnny will do in the future, since he's clearly off his rocker) I just don't see them as people who are on the path to debut. There's maybe one slot for a debut in 2013-2015 and one slot for a debut between 2016 and 2019, and those are the only two openings for non-volleyball that I can see until 2023. I really can't see one of those highly coveted spots going to 4U, who have a career laid out for them performing in theatre shows. 4U isn't like ABC-Z, who had a huge fanbase among Junior fans, especially as half of EbiKisu. They had tons and tons of girls whose favourite group was them even when they were only a Junior group. They had people asking for their debut. I've never met anyone, Japanese or otherwise, who has described themself as 4U fan before. Someone who likes x, y, and z and also 4U? Yes. Someone whose primary interest in Johnny's is 4U? No.

Sorry for writing you an essay~ I feel really strongly about this stuff so I always blab on about it forever.

Re: Okay, I'm game!

[nekobot01.livejournal.com]

Oh, I've never minded a tl;dr essay--they're my main form of communication. XDD

It's too bad if it was Koki causing problems because I ended up liking him in the end. He seemed like a nice guy, maybe just not cut out for idoling. No comment on Yamapi, I guess. I don't know what he's done to anger you but my interest lies as far as a) I liked his American travel show b) I have LOVED a handful of his dramas and c) his music hits my pop sweet spot. I had zero investment in NEWS until they became four, actually.

KT... I just can't bring myself to like them. I've tried. Their music is so mediocre, though, and the cool pose just does not work on me. CC: Kisumai.

But, you know, the Yamapi x Fujigaya pair song on A Nude is actually... good! I think it's the first thing of Fujigaya's I've liked. XDDD

Are the costumes a nostalgia thing? I just think it looks like they weren't given enough money to get new ones. But maybe that's playing to the main ABC-Z fanbase which is not people like me who found them this summer and then binged on performances.

Aw... way to pop my 4U bubble. *crying forever* If you don't mind, I'll just cling to delusion-land where 4U are awesome and funny. If they can stick around like Yara, that would be cool, though! Or maybe Akun can let them dance for his band Spicy Sol!! LoL! I'd love to see the audience for those shows.

Ah~ It's a cut throat world out there. Got to fight for those opportunities any way you can I guess.

Re: Okay, I'm game!

[faded-lace.livejournal.com]

To me, "deserving funding and management from Johnny's" and "being to my musical taste" are two completely different things. I totally understand-- I don't like KAT-TUN's music either, or their style, and I have absolutely no interest in them as a group. But to me, that means I won't put my money towards them, it doesn't mean that I think Johnny shouldn't put his resources towards them. To me, work ethic and whatever qualifies you to be an idol (whatever that combination of looks, drive, charm, personality, and talent is) is what Johnny should be focusing on. Clearly, lots and lots of people like KAT-TUN, so it's not that they're complete failures towards the people who like that sort of thing. (and for the record, I like KisuMai and not KAT-TUN, so they're clearly not exactly the same). On the other hand, Yamapi bit the hand that fed him, and I don't think that deserves to be rewarded. He has a record of irresponsible behaviour (rumor has it Johnny had to cover up underage smoking for him) and the way he held NEWS back for years and then walked in one day and essentially said "you're not good enough for me. I'm leaving. Peace," both to the people who had worked with him for years and to the management who had been trying to accommodate his selfish behaviour is really not impressive to me. I don't like his music either, but that's not really relevant in my opinion (and I like his singles better than I like much of KAT-TUN's music, so it's not to say I'm basing it just on my musical opinion.) I really just don't think that rude, unprofessional, and irresponsible behaviour should be rewarded with resources that are sought-after by harder-working, more responsible, more respectful people like ABC-Z.

The majority of ABC-Z's money-spending fanbase, as far as I can tell here in Japan, are people who have liked them for a long, long time. Unlike KisuMai, who suddenly garnered a ton of new fans upon debut, ABC-Z seems to rely on a steady if slightly smaller fanbase of people who have supported them from being Juniors to now. Like I said, KisuMai still wear old costumes too, and they have a huge fanbase and a much larger budget. So while money probably does have something to do with it, I don't think it's everything.

I'm sorry |D;;; Like you said, it's a cutthroat world, and I'm smack in the middle of the throat-cutting as far as fans go, so I'm definitely not the best person to come to for talking about Juniors who aren't the ones I follow. Honestly, though, I think 4U probably has a pretty dependable future as a Johnny's support group. Stageplays require talent like that, and frankly, it would probably go wasted on being a regular idol with cheesy dance routines. Like Yara and the other members of MA/MAD, I think they'll probably have work forever if they stick with Johnny's. That being said, as a Junior fan who spends a lot of her time acquainting herself with the geography of the popularity-landscape of Junior-dom, I don't even know the members of 4U's names.

Sorry again for all the TL;DR and Junior smackdown. I'm seriously invested in this shit so I get all >E about it.

Re: Okay, I'm game!

[nekobot01.livejournal.com]

No worries at all!! I know it's not personal (I hope lol!) and I'm the type who likes to have her opinions challenged so I can refine my arguments and positions. I definitely see where you're coming now from re: resources allocation and I totally appreciate that point of view.

I guess... because the root of my interest in JE is music, that's always going to be my main concern. My gut reaction was that it seemed silly to waste resources putting out singles for a band that didn't seem all that interested in putting out a musical product with any thought behind it other than "sell cars." ;PPP Strictly from a consumer point of view.

And hey there are A LOT of worse fates than having work forever and probably a steady small core fanbase of aunties to follow it. XD

Anyways.

More agreeable topics--you should do a pimp post for your fave juniors! Maybe you'll change some minds. ;)))

Re: Okay, I'm game!

[faded-lace.livejournal.com]

Definitely not personal. XD; It's more like, I'm not the type to back down from what I feel strongly about, and I don't want to let that get in the way of my relationships, but with people like you, who have told me that it doesn't bother them and who like to hear strong opinions, I generally let loose. XD;;;

I'm glad you see what I'm saying. While I'm not strictly in JE for the music, I can see where you're coming from, but I guess for me, it's a really important line to draw so as to not pit fans against fans. There's a huge difference between "I don't like what x group is doing musically, so I'm not going to buy their singles" or "I think y-san is a really bad performer, so I don't follow him or listen to his group's music" and "x group is a pointless existence and should be disbanded" or "y-san is a waste of space in Johnny's and should just quit and become a salaryman." To me, everyone deserves a shot as long as they're passionate, responsible, and dedicated to/about what they do, even if I don't like them and choose not to follow them or put my money towards them, I wouldn't ever wish something awful from the management on them. It's when they do something that I see as something that should be dealt with by the management that I start being annoyed about resources being allocated to them. That's my personal opinion when it comes to something like Johnny's, where musical talent clearly isn't the only thing pushing the industry.

I know that sounds a little bit hypocritical when it comes to my opinions on Juniors, but basically, while I might wish the opportunities had gone to Juniors that I like/Juniors I think are more talented or hardworking, it's not out of a desire for a bad result for the one I don't like, but out of sadness that there wasn't a good result for the one I do like. Whoever debuts next, in the end, I'm not going to wish badly on them (unless it's Kansai Juniors, then all bets are off!! Just kidding... sort of...) and I would never, ever wish disbandment on anyone. Even as someone who loved/still loves BI Shadow with every inch of my heart, even as someone skeptical of newcomers who don't demonstrate their work ethic before becoming popular like Shori, Sou, and Marius, I could never wish Sexy Zone ill. Sure, I was angry and hurt when they debuted, but in the end, I opened my heart to them, and they are giving it their best with the chance they were given, in the end.

omg so many words I'm so sorry. But yes, I do think that 4U can have a solid future, so hopefully they're happy~

And I know I should, but I have so much trouble with pimp posts, mostly because I don't want them to be half-assed and therefore take forever doing research and eventually lose my drive. My masterpiece is here, but of the countless others that I've started, I've never finished. I approach stuff like this like I approach a college paper, but as much as I like writing papers, without someone giving me a grade, it's harder to find the will to get it done... and publishing without doing my absolute best is, in and of itself, a failure.

Re: Okay, I'm game!

[nekobot01.livejournal.com]

YES! Strong opinions are great and I enjoy discussing things when both sides are actually listening instead of just yelling. I get enough of THAT at work. ;))

And I'll have to save the rest of my tl;dr for another time because I'm sleepy and off to bed. *yawn*

(4U rulz!!!!)

Re: Okay, I'm game!

[faded-lace.livejournal.com]

Haha, yes. XD;;; Sleep well! And I want to hear your response in the morning. ^^;