Nikkei Entertainment, September 2012 (part 3-end)

[shiisnikki]

Arashi’s style and ideas of global activities (part 3)

In Japan, in the past 2-3 years, we also see many entertainers from various countries entering the market, so how do you feel about it? Sakurai san, I think, since you're also a news caster, perhaps there are many occasions when you come in contact with discussions about the weakening of

Comments

[amyhboomerang]

Thanks for translating. It was a very interesting interview.

In terms of how they don't need to go abroad to sell, they are certainly right. Johnny's doesn't need to risk marketing them abroad to make them fly well. I just think its interesting how much time and money Johnny's then puts into limiting the access external fans have to things which you can access for almost nothing or free in Japan, but cannot access outside of it for little (for example, variety show subs, etc). In reality, they probably spend more money focusing on copyright infringement issues than they would lose trying to promote them and creating legal and less expensive options for overseas fans who want to be able to support them, but may not be able to afford to do it through traditional channels.

But that's a totally different topic, really... and one which I really would rather bring up with television studios who are in charge of dramas and their publication, 'cause I would *really* like to find official, legal copies of my favorite J-Dramas for less than $100, which I can tell are actually put out by the station... ahem...

[shiisnikki]

I was about to comment on this.

About TV shows, I think I heard in Singapore? VS Arashi is airing/aired?
I think it depends on the policy of TV Station. There are stations that sell their shows, so if your country TV, for example, want to air Arashi program, they can negotiate. The problem is whether there's enough demand for local TV to air it, right? Same goes with Dramas, I think.

Basically releasing English version of sub dramas is the same? The TV has the right of DVD production and distribution. They don't release it because they think there's not enough demand out there. Considering the price, maybe they're correct, though. I think they can't risk releasing an English subbed when piracy is everywhere.

thank you for reading and commenting

[amyhboomerang]

Perhaps so, but I think it could also be true that stations not producing alternative methods is one of the roots of the piracy among fans. Frankly, I would rather buy DVDs and apply subtitles to those than download them, but the prices are ridiculous, and I can't afford it. However, I can get shows from Korea, most of Europe, and South America for a relatively low cost legally, so I don't need to download them, and I can apply subtitles. Most of the DVDs you can buy of Japanese dramas in major media outlets are pirated versions, which are poorer quality than most legit DVD versions and have stolen fansubs applied to them, which would probably sell less to most people if they had a legitimate way of getting them... does that make sense? I'm a sociology major, so I am really just applying a lot of social theory to my reasoning, which isn't really absolute, if you know what I mean... :-P

Well, I will hopefully move to Tokyo in two years anyway and then I won't have to worry anymore, but the drama stuff does bug me. I even find the pirated DVDs at conventions and stuff being sold as official merchandise because the merchants haven't done their research.