I don't think that there's anything personal or "not supporting the older three" about not buying a single labeling only three people as Sexy Zone when Sexy Zone has always been five members. It's not about not liking any one of them, or not liking the three of them together. As I said, I think that it would have met a lot more positive reactions if it had been introduced as a new subgroup putting out the CD. I also think that if Shori had a solo CD, or Kento had a solo CD, or Fuma had a solo CD, it would be met with a more positive reaction. The problem here is that they're calling three members "Sexy Zone," as if the other two count for nothing. I think that most fans are upset because those two do count for something to them, even if Kento or Fuma or Shori is their favourite. And frankly, I don't think that Kento or Fuma or Shori would fee hurt or as if the fans "don't support" them if the sales are bad, because it's pretty darn obvious that none of them are thrilled about this, either. They clearly want their group to be all five members as well, and I don't at all think that not buying this single would "give the impression [fans] don't support the older three" to any of the older three or to Johnny's.
Frankly, I don't personally think that it's too odd or surprising that fans are upset when their group is treated this way. I can't imagine Arashi fans would be thrilled if Arashi announced a single with only Jun, Nino, and Sho; I can't imagine that Eito fans would be thrilled if Eito announced a single with only Nishikido, Ohkura, Maru, and Hina. If it was announced that Tegoshi and Massu were releasing a single as NEWS, not as tegomass, I think that NEWS fans would be pretty upset too, considering that it's very different to release music as a subgroup that it is to reduce the members of a group. The hurt and anger isn't just focused on one member being featured or ignored, it's the fact that the idea of the group, the "family" feeling of the group is what's important. It's the same reason why just recently, Johnny's West debuted as seven and not four. The members felt that those other thee were important to them. They didn't want to release singles without them. In the same way, Marius and Sou are important to Sexy Zone, as a group.
I'm honestly saddened that I can't buy this single. I really am looking forward to hearing the new solos on Shounen Club and at the concert, because I love Sexy Zone's solo songs, too. But to me, it's like buying a box of strawberries from the grocery store that has mold on half of it. No matter how much I love strawberries and would still eat the ones that haven't molded, it doesn't change the fact that I won't pay money for something that's half rotten, and I don't want to give the grocery store the idea that it's okay to sell a half-molded box of strawberries, because it's unsanitary and unethical. No matter how much I want to listen to Kento and Shori and Fuma's solos, I won't pay money for something that's being advertised as Sexy Zone, but is not really Sexy Zone, and I don't want to give Johnny's the idea that I would.
And in my opinion, I don't think that the fans who feel the same way as I do are strange. In Japanese fandom, Sexy Zone fans have gained a lot of support from most other Johnny's group's fans; not only is #sexyzoneは５人 getting a ton of tweets, but also: #JUMP担は５人セクシーゾンを応援してます #NEWS担は５人セクシーゾンしか知りません #関ジャニ担は５人セクシーゾンしか知りません #キスマイ担は５人セクシーゾンしか知りません #ジャニスト担は５人セクシーゾンしか知りません #バカレア担は５人セクシーゾンしか知りません #Jr.担は５人セクシーゾンしか知りません #ABC-Z担は５人セクシーゾンしか興味ありません
They basically all say that the fans of those groups believe that Sexy Zone should be all 5 members, as well. So clearly, it's a feeling that resonates with a lot of people across a lot of Johnny's fandoms. And clearly they don't really think it's hypocritical, either.
At any rate, thank you for commenting and like I said, I just wanted to explain my opinion and why I disagree with you. I honestly am looking forward to hearing all the new solos.
[2/2]
Frankly, I don't personally think that it's too odd or surprising that fans are upset when their group is treated this way. I can't imagine Arashi fans would be thrilled if Arashi announced a single with only Jun, Nino, and Sho; I can't imagine that Eito fans would be thrilled if Eito announced a single with only Nishikido, Ohkura, Maru, and Hina. If it was announced that Tegoshi and Massu were releasing a single as NEWS, not as tegomass, I think that NEWS fans would be pretty upset too, considering that it's very different to release music as a subgroup that it is to reduce the members of a group. The hurt and anger isn't just focused on one member being featured or ignored, it's the fact that the idea of the group, the "family" feeling of the group is what's important. It's the same reason why just recently, Johnny's West debuted as seven and not four. The members felt that those other thee were important to them. They didn't want to release singles without them. In the same way, Marius and Sou are important to Sexy Zone, as a group.
I'm honestly saddened that I can't buy this single. I really am looking forward to hearing the new solos on Shounen Club and at the concert, because I love Sexy Zone's solo songs, too. But to me, it's like buying a box of strawberries from the grocery store that has mold on half of it. No matter how much I love strawberries and would still eat the ones that haven't molded, it doesn't change the fact that I won't pay money for something that's half rotten, and I don't want to give the grocery store the idea that it's okay to sell a half-molded box of strawberries, because it's unsanitary and unethical. No matter how much I want to listen to Kento and Shori and Fuma's solos, I won't pay money for something that's being advertised as Sexy Zone, but is not really Sexy Zone, and I don't want to give Johnny's the idea that I would.
And in my opinion, I don't think that the fans who feel the same way as I do are strange. In Japanese fandom, Sexy Zone fans have gained a lot of support from most other Johnny's group's fans; not only is #sexyzoneは５人 getting a ton of tweets, but also:
#JUMP担は５人セクシーゾンを応援してます
#NEWS担は５人セクシーゾンしか知りません
#関ジャニ担は５人セクシーゾンしか知りません
#キスマイ担は５人セクシーゾンしか知りません
#ジャニスト担は５人セクシーゾンしか知りません
#バカレア担は５人セクシーゾンしか知りません
#Jr.担は５人セクシーゾンしか知りません
#ABC-Z担は５人セクシーゾンしか興味ありません
They basically all say that the fans of those groups believe that Sexy Zone should be all 5 members, as well. So clearly, it's a feeling that resonates with a lot of people across a lot of Johnny's fandoms. And clearly they don't really think it's hypocritical, either.
At any rate, thank you for commenting and like I said, I just wanted to explain my opinion and why I disagree with you. I honestly am looking forward to hearing all the new solos.