This. Exactly what you're saying. I don't think people who are saying they're going to buy it understand that it isn't about not liking Kento or Fuma or Shori, it's about the fact that Sexy Zone is FIVE members, and nothing else. If they had called this a subgroup, with a different name, that would be a whole different story. But calling it Sexy Zone with only three members is completely wrong, and not only is it hurting Marius and Sou, but it's hurting Kento and Fuma and Shori, too.
What Pony Canyon comments do you mean? Was there an interview or something somewhere? Or just in this email and on their site?
I feel bad for Marius because like you said, being 14 in a foreign country is hard, and this definitely isn't helping. I really hope that at the very least Sou will be there for him, and the older members will stand up for him, too.
Yeah, I have hopes, but I'm trying not to get too optimistic just yet. Japanese fandom is a pretty rough place.
Don't apologize! I'm happy for the discussion.
And great, thanks so much. I've been really busy with work and other obligations over the past few days since it's the end of the term, so I just haven't been able to devote enough time to fandom. I apologize for my slow responses, too.
EDIT: I totally forgot to write about Fuma, I'm sorry XD;; I'm just going to copy and paste what I said in another comment to explain my feelings. Sorry!
It's been interesting over the last two and a half years to watch the management push change from the original Kento and Fuma, to just Kento, to Kento and Shori. I think that Fuma has always been the member who's the least willing to compromise himself for the management and for being an "idol," which is a double edged sword, I guess. I mostly respect it in him, for being honest about his feelings about his work and his art and the group, and I feel like I can trust him and like him more because I know that he's showing his real self a lot of the time. For example, it was obvious at Yoyogi that Fuma was upset about this single, while with Kento, his words were much more positive and professional. But it also comes out in ways that you'd expect for a 19 year old boy, I think, and I do think it leads to fans (especially kids?) thinking that he's not friendly, because he's not as eager to run and touch everyone's hands, or smile at everyone in the crowd if he's not into it. So I think in the end it's cost him some popularity next to the ever-perfect, ever-performing Kento and next to Shori, who just loves the attention and thrives in the limelight.
Those are my personal feelings, of course… I'm not really sure in the long run what the reasoning is, but I'm a teacher and hear a lot of 12-14 year old kids' opinions on Sexy Zone. |D;;; So I at least know what 12-14 year olds are thinking.
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timeasmymeasure
no subject
Date: 2014-07-17 02:12 am (UTC)What Pony Canyon comments do you mean? Was there an interview or something somewhere? Or just in this email and on their site?
I feel bad for Marius because like you said, being 14 in a foreign country is hard, and this definitely isn't helping. I really hope that at the very least Sou will be there for him, and the older members will stand up for him, too.
Yeah, I have hopes, but I'm trying not to get too optimistic just yet. Japanese fandom is a pretty rough place.
Don't apologize! I'm happy for the discussion.
And great, thanks so much. I've been really busy with work and other obligations over the past few days since it's the end of the term, so I just haven't been able to devote enough time to fandom. I apologize for my slow responses, too.
EDIT: I totally forgot to write about Fuma, I'm sorry XD;; I'm just going to copy and paste what I said in another comment to explain my feelings. Sorry!
It's been interesting over the last two and a half years to watch the management push change from the original Kento and Fuma, to just Kento, to Kento and Shori. I think that Fuma has always been the member who's the least willing to compromise himself for the management and for being an "idol," which is a double edged sword, I guess. I mostly respect it in him, for being honest about his feelings about his work and his art and the group, and I feel like I can trust him and like him more because I know that he's showing his real self a lot of the time. For example, it was obvious at Yoyogi that Fuma was upset about this single, while with Kento, his words were much more positive and professional. But it also comes out in ways that you'd expect for a 19 year old boy, I think, and I do think it leads to fans (especially kids?) thinking that he's not friendly, because he's not as eager to run and touch everyone's hands, or smile at everyone in the crowd if he's not into it. So I think in the end it's cost him some popularity next to the ever-perfect, ever-performing Kento and next to Shori, who just loves the attention and thrives in the limelight.
Those are my personal feelings, of course… I'm not really sure in the long run what the reasoning is, but I'm a teacher and hear a lot of 12-14 year old kids' opinions on Sexy Zone. |D;;; So I at least know what 12-14 year olds are thinking.