SMAP

[faded_lace]

I was really shocked this morning to turn on ZIP and see the news that SMAP is disbanding. While they had had markedly fewer activities recently, in the modern age of Johnny's, I never would have expected this. While I was never a fan, SMAP were always the daisenpai to the boys I followed, and I respected the fact that they heralded in the current era of Johnny's with their variety appearances, acting work, and fanservice.

I was even more shocked to see that Kimura Takuya is the only one who will remain with the agency. I wouldn't have thought that the other four would want out, not at this point in their careers. For all intents and purposes, they seemed content and successful, and were all continuing to get acting, variety, and other jobs. I definitely don't follow them, but I feel like I still felt like I couldn't turn on my TV without seeing them, so I'm surprised by their apparent desire for a change in management.

According to the sports papers, Iijima resigned, as well. I don't know if the four who left left to stay under her management, or if she left because they wanted to, or what. I'm not even sure if she actually left, or if it's just rumour. But at any rate, I can only hope that it's true. Hopefully groups like Sexy Zone will benefit from this.

It's hard to imagine Johnny's without SMAP, but I suppose we'll all just have to wait and see what unfolds.

Comments

[yomimashou.livejournal.com]

It's really shocking. I might have expected them to eventually stop doing activities as a group, but they were all so active with TV and acting stuff--and it's hard to imagine Johnny's wanting to let them succeed at any of that after leaving. And a lot of them have been good senpai to our boys.. it's sad to see them go.

But I'm really curious to see what happens with the Iijima rumors... XD

[faded-lace.livejournal.com]

The official fax that came out midday yesterday said "nothing is confirmed" and they're still "in talks," so sadly it seems like maybe even the Iijima thing isn't true. But they did admit that the subject of the negotiations was the four members leaving, so we can hope about Iijima. XD; I don't know how I feel about SMAP itself since I was always mostly sort of indifferent to them, but… it definitely feels like the end of an era.

[xanithofdragons.livejournal.com]

I was shocked when I heard about SMAP (possibly?) disbanding too! I kind of expected them to just go on indefinitely until they were ready to retire. And, I think I could understand better if they were leaving to retire from the industry or something, but yeah, it's surprising that they want to leave Johnny's to presumably start out somewhere new or independent, especially considering where they are in their careers and how successful they've been. But it's a lot harder to take it all in when things aren't totally set in stone and rumors abound, so all I can do is what and see what happens. >_<

But yeah, even though I'm not a SMAP fan or anything, I've seen them enough through dramas I've watched for the story or for other actors in it or seen other talents guest on their shows, that it's still like, wow things'll be really different. But yeah, thinking about how they were kind of the basis for what modern Johnny's groups have become, it really feels like the end of an era. T_T

[faded-lace.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I felt the same way! I really thought that it would sort of be like Shounentai, where they just faded out, doing less and less activities as fit their lifestyles. I also agree about retiring vs starting over… it doesn't really make sense to me to try to start over now, when they're, if anything, on the downward side of the fame-hill. They're not really at a place where it seems like this change could possibly help their careers, but I guess if they really wanted to do other work besides music, it might make sense? I really don't understand, but I guess we'll have to wait until more news comes out, as you said x__x

I really hope that, at the very least, this doesn't have negative consequences for the kouhai groups. Already, I feel like Iijima leaving is making good things happen in terms of factions starting to fall apart, but who knows in the long run…

[britkit27.livejournal.com]

It's really, really shocking. If you had asked me a week ago I'd have definitely said I couldn't possibly imagine a Johnnny's without SMAP. Like what? SMAP, disband? lol no way, absolutely no way. I still can't really believe it. They've always been there in the background, and been such good senpai, and like you said, they always seemed content and successful and I figured they'd just slowly fade out into retirement.

I do hope all this mess spells good things for the factions breaking down, and Iijima if not actually resigning, at least moving into a position with less power >> c'mooooon Julie

[faded-lace.livejournal.com]

Yeah, all this stuff that's been happening has been crazy. The messages on SMAPxSMAP last night didn't really make any sense to me, but I really hope that it's true now that Iijima is leaving but SMAP is staying.