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

[mayura-news.livejournal.com]

I am really confused about Iijima. I kinda thought it was a bit better than Julie because as a NEWS fan, I always disagreed with her management (I'm feeling a bit better now since she's been doing a GREAT job with HSJ lately *_*). Right now, I just want Iijima to stop managing Sexy Zone. DX

I'd rather see Marius and So with Fuma, Kento and Shori than with the Junior boys. I mean, it's okay for MariSo to have solo activities, it's even great... but why adding the Juniors ? Marius is almost as popular as NakaKen, he does not need to draw more fans... I dunno. Shori has a solo con, MariSo could have had a solo con too... or they could have created sub-units or something, not add Juniors.

We'll see. I hope for everyone they'll be 5 soon again. =D

[faded-lace.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I don't know, I just don't like Ijima's current track record. She completely ruined Sexy Zone when she took over from Johnny. >___<

Sorry, what I meant was that Marius and Sou were being used to draw more fans to Juniors, not the other way around. But I totally agree, Marius and Sou are NOT Juniors and they shouldn't be grouped with them that way. They're a part of a debuted unit, dammit.

Me too. ;____;

[mayura-news.livejournal.com]

She kinda ruined Kisumai too... (even though it seems to get better), right? (I am just a Tama fan, I don't really follow Kisumai ^^").

I see. Yeap that's what I think too. I don't see why Marius or So should be used like that. What's the point of having them debut if it's only for putting them with (popular) Juniors ? It's stupid.

[faded-lace.livejournal.com]

Yeah, she did really mess up KisuMai, too. I hear from some people that it's getting better, but I personally don't really see it. I've stopped holding my breath for KisuMai; it was too upsetting.

I totally agree. They don't need them to bring in Junior fans (for an already tiny venue, to be honest), so it's just stupid and pointless to put them at the same level as Juniors. They're already debuted and they're members of Sexy Zone. She shouldn't separate them that way.

[mayura-news.livejournal.com]

I think Kisumai are starting to have the same outfits. Busaiki is strongly suppoprted by the fan so somehow it's (slightly) getting better.

We'll see. I'm pretty sure fans won't support the management's decision, so they may come back to 5nin Sexy Zone. =D

[faded-lace.livejournal.com]

I know Busaiku are getting more famous and fan support, but I really don't like that it's become "KisuMai 3" and "Busaiku" as two separate entities. I think it further drives the group apart with the image of "cool guys" versus "ugly guys" or whatever. And for their most recent PVs, their costumes were still different, so… I hope things are getting better but I'm not going to count my chickens before they hatch.

I really hope so. I guess all we can do is not buy the single.