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

[faded-lace.livejournal.com]

I totally agree with pretty much everything you said; your comparison of SMAP/TOKIO/Arashi with Yamapi and Yuma is sort of something I've been trying to say for years. I don't understand why Johnny's doesn't realize what's making them popular isn't just one or two "hot guys," but the group dynamics.

That is ironic. >__<;;

This is sort of sad and unrelated, but I really like your icon.

[chapstickmurmur.livejournal.com]

The old man's what, 83 this year? He probably did realise but then just forgot that he realised 10 minutes later ...

I know the boys are still young and none of them are to be blamed for this decision which would've ultimately been made by management, but as the leader I wish Kento wasn't so Kento about the situation. It doesn't show him as being strong or professional like what he might think his being but it just comes off as being a bit uncaring. Sexy Zone's your group and it's being toyed with and your commenting on how there'll probably be more solo activities to come in the next year anyway? Kisumai and Johnny's West fought to debut with all their members and ABC-Z fought just to debut.

Thanks btw ^^ It's always FumaKen but I thought Kento and Yugo's interactions were adorable back in the day. And even though I loved BIShadow, I was supportive of SZ from the start because I thought the 5 of them could do great things one day. Now it feels like I had to say farewell to my favourite Jr group for all this non-sense.

Conspiracy theory: JE is getting worried about EXILE's popularity and all the new groups Hiro is forming filled with young baby-faced boys and decided to shake things up by messing with SZ.

[faded-lace.livejournal.com]

LOL I guess that is a possibility. He really doesn't seem with it much anymore, but I really hope that he keeps chugging for a while longer considering what will probably happen when he passes on.

Wow… I… YES. Thank you. I usually get crap for complaining that Kento doesn't show his emotions/is too quick to be "professional" and "the perfect idol," but that's exactly how I feel. It feels good as a fan to know that the guys defend their group and their groupmates. They're human, and you want to know that they care about their friends. I know that he's only 20, but I really wish he'd break his image every once in a while and show that he's a human, not just an idol. KisuMai, JW, and Ebi were all really commendable that way, in my opinion, and the management has been known to listen to requests. I wish that he wouldn't be scared to speak his mind… but at least Fuma's comment, as futile as it might be on its own, comforted me a little.

Yes yes yes. I'm always really excited to find someone else who enjoyed Kento and Yugo together! I really love those two's interactions, so… I'm really excited to find another person who feels the same way! But… yes. Yes to everything you're saying.

Haha… I still think that they're trying to mimic AKB's method, to be honest. But AKB's model is completely different from Johnny's, as is EXILE's, so it's ridiculous. I saw a tweet today that said something like "Johnny's trying to become AKB is as impossible as Japan announcing that they're starting isolationism again today and western food is all banned." Lol... It's silly, but it feels true, to me.