Report from today's Sexy Zone new single presentation event

[faded_lace]

From News @ Asahi TV.

Today, July 15th, Sexy Zone's Sato Shori (17), Nakajima Kento (20), and Kikuchi Fuma(19) held a presentation event for their new single in Tokyo's Yoyogi National Gymnasium. In front of 10,000 fans, they performed their new song for the first time, and announced that that same song would not include Matsushima Sou (16) and Marius Yo (14) but would instead be comprised just of Sato, Nakajima, and Kikuchi. The fan's shocked voices, crying out "Ehhhh???" rose up in the venue. Nakajima commented, "We want to move forward showing the fans many forms," while Kikuchi asked the fans to understand, saying, "If we work hard just the three of us, and each become stronger before returning to 5、I think the possibilities for our group will instantly increase." From here on, centered on the three with Sato, there's the chance that they'll become a fluid group with members being switched in and out, and Nakajima expanded what might be expected, saying, "It's possible that next year, we'll put out solos and stuff, too." In May, two derivative groups incorporating Marius and Matsushima respectively were born, and all five will appear in the summer concert starting on July 23rd.

I'm going to refrain from making a comment right now, because I don't want to let my emotions get the best of me, but as you might guess, I'm pretty much livid. All I'm going to say is, we'll have to wait and see how things pan out.

And just as I thought things were looking up, too.

[EDIT] snow has kindly translated a tabloid article about this event here. Please read the translator's notes on the actual translation and keep in mind, though, that these tabloids basically make up facts to sell copies. I think the jury's still out on whether this will continue in the future, but I figured for completeness, I'd add this more "sensationalized" view. Please, though, remember that this article is a tabloid, and not a reliable news source.

Comments

[rim1789.livejournal.com]

It s been almost 12 hours since I saw the new and I m still furious.

I don't even get what they re aiming for...I saw the ''fluid'' comment, in many places, but I didn't see it in reports for fans. Are they exagerating ? Or is JE going to do some sort of AKB48 thing, or rather Nogizaka46 senbatsu in which for every single they will choose (management) who get to participate ? This looks even more messy than the 2020 Jrs thing they tried to do

I was all for MatsuShow and Sexy Boyz, if only because MariSou would have activities. I was angry at fanevent announcement with only 3 of them, and Kobe...But nothing like this. This makes me rage.

I felt that Mari was feeling more down than he usually is, on his JWEB...He isn't so '' dark'' usually. I mean, he seemed pretty down, when he really isn't usually (but for that time when he was worried that Fuma may not actually like him)

Up to now, despite most of my band being under Ijima, I liked her a bit more than Julie who I pretty much despise for her management ...But right now, they are exactly the same for me, and I just want to punch them both.

And overall I don't even understand where this is going and why. Why suddenly did they seem to backtrack when KQJ happened and YokoAri happened ? I don't get it.

I feel bad for the 3 others, because it's clear they don't want that...Not with what they all said previously...

I m not getting this single, and I hope the sales will drop :( because that's the only way we can truly show that we re against that. I feel bad for the 3 oldest, but I m sure they would understand /: And I can't help but hope sales will crash.

[faded-lace.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I think the "fluid" and "members changing" might be an exaggeration by the news sources. The first place I saw it was Nikkan Sports, and everyone knows they're about as reliable as a high school rumour, so I don't know how much stock can be put in that. But it really worries me that the management seems so interested in mimicking AKB's management tactics. They're different groups with largely different fan bases and styles, and I think that it's absolutely ridiculous that they might try to copy AKB.

I'm really worried for Marius, too… struggling with culture shock and language barriers, and heck, just being fourteen is hard enough, he doesn't need this on top of it all (but recently it's been seeming that things are getting better between Marius and Fuma? At least from what Marius has been saying in magazines and stuff as of late. But Sou can be pretty negative about himself, too, so I feel really bad for him, too. I hope they don't get too depressed.

I haven't had much problem with Julie, but after Ijima destroyed KisuMai and is working on destroying Sexy Zone, it's really made me hate her. I don't understand what she thinks she's achieving by doing this.

I agree that it seemed like things were getting so much better… and now this. I feel bad for all of them, but I agree… I think the older three would understand if sales drop for this single.

Ugh. This is a mess. I hope that this ends soon.