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

[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…