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

[xanithofdragons.livejournal.com]

wtf? Fluid group? How is that supposed to work? I don't know how they think this won't end up in a mess... or if management even cares if it'll be a mess. I feel really bad for Sexy Zone fans. T_T

[faded-lace.livejournal.com]

Yeah, it really is a mess. As far as I can tell, Ijima is just out of her mind these days. I think what that's supposed to mean is that there might be different arrangements of members or solos or duets, not like… that they're removing or adding anyone. But who the fuck knows.

Thanks for the support… I feel really bad for us right now too T___T;;;; But most of all, I feel bad for the guys. They really shouldn't be subjected to this.

[xanithofdragons.livejournal.com]

I really worry about the direction of Johnny's. >_< I think I'm similar to you in that I'd much rather see the whole group working together over an increase in solo/unit activities.

Yeah, as rough as it has to be just being an idol, all this uncertainty over what will happen might be too much. T_T

[faded-lace.livejournal.com]

Yeah, absolutely. I frankly hate solo debuts and what have you; obviously it's natural for sub-units and solos in concerts or on albums to happen, but the point of Johnny's is the group. What got Johnny's to success wasn't their solo acts in the 70s and 80s, it was their groups. I honestly hate to see this trend towards removing the group dynamic and just focusing on marketing "hot guys," because I think the day that they lose the group appeal will be the day that Johnny's loses their corner on the market.

I know, it really makes me sad to think about what the guys must be going through ; they're all so young, too, that I'm afraid this will be really bad for them, emotionally. Fuma and Kento have already suffered so much with B.I.Shadow's breakup, none of them need this, too.

[xanithofdragons.livejournal.com]

This is reminding me of some magazine or another (I feel like it might've been OriSuta or something with one of their popular talent polls or something) that had fan comments about why fans liked Arashi, and a large portion of them mentioned they liked that how the Arashi members got along so well. >_< Like, look at your very own successful groups for what works! But yeah, the Johnny's groups I like the best are definitely the ones where the members seem very close with each other and where the group dynamic seems very solid.

But ugh, yeah, if they mimic other non-Johnny's groups or try to jump on trends too much, Johnny's will start looking way too much like every other idol. :/

[faded-lace.livejournal.com]

Yeah, it's really a mess. I feel like Johnny's was at least aware at the time that SMAP's success was because of their group dynamic, so I can't imagine what they're thinking now. Their method has worked for years. Why change it now? >__<

Ugh. I totally agree. It's a mess.