[Johnny's] Shuukan Bunshun - 01/29/2015 (2/3)
Here is the second part of the 10-page exclusive interview which Mary Kitagawa had with Shuukan Bunshun. The bulk of this part is focused on the faction war issue, and a certain somebody makes a surprise appearance midway through the interview. Definitely give this a read!
Enjoy, and feel free to speculate/share your thoughts!
Part 1 can be found here.
Shuukan Bunshun - 01/29/2015 (2/3)
Because our publication wanted to cut straight to the heart of the matter, we daringly used the term "faction war" in our questionnaire. But Mary's voice was fuming with anger as she responded in reference to the expressions we chose:
"What I find rude here is (Bunshun's) questionnaire. You wrote here: 'For our interview, we'd like to hear about Fujishima Julie Keiko, a candidate to become the succeeding president...' but it's not up for discussion, is it? What's so wrong about that? What's wrong with my own daughter taking over (the company)? 'Presidential successor candidate' is just rude. She's the presidential successor. Shii-san, is our Julie a 'candidate'?"
"No, that's wrong." Shirahase responded immediately.
This was the first time an official statement had been made in regards to Julie being the official "successor".
When we informed her that the term "candidate" was only used because she isn't yet a president at this particular point in time, Mary raised her voice sharply.
"It's only natural, is it not! Johnny and I are still around, so why on earth would (Julie) be the president? If I'm sick then by all means she can be the president. I hate to disappoint, but I'm even healthier than Shii-san here. Look at how many talents we have now, and how difficult of a task my daughter has. Are you people able to interview every single one of our talents? You can't, can you? Even I can't go to their concerts (because I'm too busy). So Julie has her hands full just with helping me out alone. (When our talents) were few in number I did all of their management myself, you know. Johnny was in charge of the show productions.
When street hawkers tried to sell pirated copies (at concert venues), I'd take out bags from places like Isetan and just sweep all of (the pirated goods) into them. When they'd yell, 'What are you doing, you old hag!' to which I'd say, 'Come to our agency if you have a problem with this'. I lost track of how many times I got into fights. But even people from the yakuza would listen to people higher up than them, so despite getting into fights I still manage to confiscate those goods.
I haven't heard of anyone trying to start a faction war beyond Julie. If there really is a faction war going on within our agency, it's due to a lack of management on my end. It would be unforgivable if that's true, and if you people were led to think this way then I will give Iijima a warning. I would make (Iijima) quit. Because this is the sort of thing that is a very serious part of our work."
As if something just occurred to her, Mary gestured to the male staff and did something unexpected even to our own reporter.
"Go and call Iijima over for me, won't you? Call Iijima right now. Do you know where she is?"
It would appear that she'd like to ask Iijima for a direct explanation right then and there. Under this suddenly tense atmosphere in the room, the male agency staff who had been seated with us immediately made attempts to get in contact. Not at all caring about Iijima's circumstances at the moment, Mary calmly went on:
"You wrote in (Bunshun's questionnaire) that Iijima is going up against my daughter and starting a faction war, so naturally I would want to lecture Iijima, no? It's an embarrassment to us if there really is a faction war. Wouldn't you be embarrassed if there was a faction war going on within your own company, Bunshun-san?
You people don't understand our company at all. From the moment Julie was born, I knew I had to start grooming her to become a successor who can do a proper job of taking over the agency. At the very least, I made her learn three to four languages and took her with me to watch musicals since she was a small child. I had my daughter learn English and French so that she can read any book she comes across and do any job that is tasked to her. Even my grandchildren are being taught English, French and Chinese.
Knowing English is a must if she is to take over our line of work. She'd never be able to do any musicals, after all. A good script should be read in the respective language of whichever country it came from. That was the goal I had in mind when I raised her. How can someone who doesn't know English come and work for us? Johnny can speak fluent Korean as well, you know. Otherwise, you won't be able to take your own (productions) and explain them when you show them to people (overseas).
Even if you ask me what sort of faction war is going on, I don't even understand what this so-called faction war is in itself. You probably read something that was posted on the Internet or something, I'm sure, and the fans also read those things. Going one step further, fans have nothing to do with faction wars whatsoever. They're followers of our talents, not our agency; otherwise why would people stay fans of Matchy for 35 years?"
Then Mary asked the male agency staff, "Well? What's with Iijima." Once again, the meeting room was fraught with tension. "About 10 more minutes or so," the man replied.
In the end, Iijima rushed in around 30 minutes after being called to the room. A pale, slim woman entered the meeting room with her head down: she was Iijima, the woman dubbed "SMAP's foster mother". "It would be strange to thank you (Bunshun) for your support, wouldn't it? Good morning. Nice to meet you, my name is Iijima."
With her lips lifting up in a smile, Iijima greeted our reporter courteously and offered her business card. But there was no doubt that she was mired in confusion inside.
"Go on, interview Iijima. Please, do ask her about wanting to go against me. Ask her in what way does she want to go against me."
Our reporter asked a point blank question at Mary's insistence, to which Iijima responded with a serious expression:
"I am also very troubled by this, and I was thinking it was about time I did something about it as well. I think the things written on the Internet were done by fans themselves, but when magazines start reporting on those things too, some will start to wonder if perhaps there actually is truth to it. I don't think there is at all. I do think it's because I've been putting off handling this matter that people are saying these things, however.
My stance in all this is that of a victim's, and I believe Julie feels the same way, to have the entirety of Johnny's agency being viewed in this manner. But I honestly feel there are people out there who are trying to be a hindrance as well, seeing as the entertainment industry is such a fiercely competitive place. It's not completely out of the question..."
---What about the fact that Arashi and SMAP hardly ever work together?
"There isn't any particular significance to that, I think..."
Mary, who had been listening to Iijima's words intently with her head slightly cocked, chose then to open her mouth.
"Well, they can't dance, no?"
Right in front of Iijima, who had practically raised SMAP, Mary had this to say to our reporter.
"I mean, (even if they appear together) SMAP can't dance, no? Can't you not see the difference in dancing between different talents? It would be rude if you were to write about that. In the eyes of the kids who can dance, (SMAP) can't dance."
Only the empress could utter words with such immensity behind them. And Iijima couldn't offer a rebuttal.
"The Aoyama Gekijo is closing its doors this year, as you know. Theater troupes used to perform there all through the year in the beginning, but in the end it was our talents who held shows there. Only the kids who can dance are able to appear on that stage. Some of our children do acting, and some do interesting things, there's many different sorts. Those (on stage) are the kids who can dance. That's why we have a choreographer assigned to them, no? Travis is the man who was in charge of all the choreography for Michael towards the end."
It can be said that dance training is the essence of all Johnny's talents. However, even on TV variety programs which have nothing to do with dancing, Julie's faction and Iijima's faction hardly ever interact.
---When we take a look at the appearance history in different TV programs...
"You speak of this Iijima faction, but who are you in charge of right now again, Iijima?"
"Well, I'm doing SMAP, Kisumai and such..." (Iijima)
Mary continued.
"It's a no-brainer that Iijima would put the people she's in charge of into programs, is it not? If there is anything wrong, it may be the fact that this person (Iijima) has been with SMAP for far too long. Even Matchy, the top at our agency, has the occasional managerial change-up. He decides on which manager he wants.
It's Matchy's 35th anniversary this year. If we count from his Junior days, that would make it 39 years or so. That child has the longest history with us, but Iijima has been with us for around that long as well.
But, and I hate to say this, but I don't hand over kids who can dance to Iijima. Don't you understand that? Our children need to be able to dance to a certain extent."
Once Mary stopped talking, the vast meeting room was so silent that you could almost hear the sound of water dripping.
"Where did that talk of not interacting much with SMAP come from? Tell me what the order is like at our company. Who's at the top?"
The oldest would be Kondo Masahiko, then Shounentai... our reporter began to answer her, but Mary could not contain her irritation.
"Then SMAP should be interacting with Kondo before Arashi, no? Why aren't you asking about that? SMAP is not at the top. Don't you find that rude? I'm truly angry here. You just said that Kondo is the oldest, and next after that is Shounentai. Has Arashi interacted (with them)?"
Kondo Masahiko and Higashiyama Noriyuki (48) from Shounentai frequently interacts with Arashi on special programs.
"I've been furious at this person (Iijima) before. I'll be frank and say it had to do with Fuji TV, when Iijima axed our Takizawa (Hideaki, 32) from her own SMAP's TV program. Before I called them (a Fuji TV insider) up, I called Iijima over and asked about what happened, then asked that person, 'Was it really Iijima who axed him? Please confirm this with those in charge.'
Takizawa was supposed to be part of the show, and yet he was axed. Since his manager informed me that he was 'axed all of a sudden', I asked why. Iijima said she didn't know about that, and I said, 'You weren't the one who made the booking, were you?'. In that case, I said, she would need to tell those in charge precisely what had happened, and that I had made a phone call, and then come and report back to me.
A lot of people are wary of Iijima, you know. All of them. Because this person can be scary. She's scary like me, because she's imitating me. I don't think she's scary in the same way that I am, however."
As one would expect, Iijima cut in then.
"If you would allow me to speak, I don't think it's a problem of me being scary. It's possible that those people from TV stations are wary of me because they're blindly accepting the hearsay and rumors floating around on the Net as truth. I never said anything like that before, and I feel this has become an extreme case of defamation."
Iijima is asserting her "innocence" in all of it. As if obscuring that statement, Mary said:
"No, it's a huge problem. The reason why I called this person over is because I cannot just say to her, 'Iijima, there's such and such rumor around so I'm going to fire you' without any (proof) at all.
Since you're here listening to this sort of thing right now, I will say this to you, Iijima.
'Bunshun-san is here listening to every single word I say, so if you want to go against us then you can take SMAP with you and get out right now. I want you to resign'.
But, if no one says anything (to testify about the faction war), I want to let you know that you should do a thorough check first. Even with the issue of Takizawa being axed, I also called Iijima to me and talked everything out in front of them."
Mary is pressing for answers, but it appeared to us that the brunt of her words were being aimed at Iijima, who sat beside her.
Faced with Mary's stern words that seemed to to be pressuring her to take responsibility and resign, Iijima denied the existence of a faction war with utmost seriousness.
---Among the TV industry, it is said that younger talents such as A.B.C-Z, Sexy Zone and Nakayama Yuma-san (21) also belong to Iijima-san's faction.
"No, no. There is no such thing as a faction. Castings are decided upon by the stations. For example, I would think even if offers were made to appear in 'SMAPxSMAP' or getsu9 dramas [T/N: Dramas airing during the primetime slot on Mondays at 9 PM], there are times when scheduling conflicts may occur. And that is what is being fingered as odd by some people. I cannot help it if others listen to that.
As for this faction war, I swear to god that I don't recall ever once saying that, in my entire life."
That was the statement Iijima had made. The successor is Mary's daughter, Julie, and a faction war does not exist within the Johnny's agency... It was in this instant that the question plaguing our industry for many years was made perfectly clear.
However, there is one thing which not even Mary herself comprehended. It was due to this incident that the faction war issue caused a huge stir even among fans: the "neutrality statement" by KinKi Kids' Domoto Koichi (36).
to be continued
T/N: Mary and Johnny are referred to throughout the article as "Mary-shi" and "Johnny-shi", which is a more polite form of -san. I left it off because I'm sleepy and this flows better, but Bunshun did give them proper respect by referring to them with a higher honorific!
Enjoy, and feel free to speculate/share your thoughts!
Part 1 can be found here.
Shuukan Bunshun - 01/29/2015 (2/3)
Because our publication wanted to cut straight to the heart of the matter, we daringly used the term "faction war" in our questionnaire. But Mary's voice was fuming with anger as she responded in reference to the expressions we chose:
"What I find rude here is (Bunshun's) questionnaire. You wrote here: 'For our interview, we'd like to hear about Fujishima Julie Keiko, a candidate to become the succeeding president...' but it's not up for discussion, is it? What's so wrong about that? What's wrong with my own daughter taking over (the company)? 'Presidential successor candidate' is just rude. She's the presidential successor. Shii-san, is our Julie a 'candidate'?"
"No, that's wrong." Shirahase responded immediately.
This was the first time an official statement had been made in regards to Julie being the official "successor".
When we informed her that the term "candidate" was only used because she isn't yet a president at this particular point in time, Mary raised her voice sharply.
"It's only natural, is it not! Johnny and I are still around, so why on earth would (Julie) be the president? If I'm sick then by all means she can be the president. I hate to disappoint, but I'm even healthier than Shii-san here. Look at how many talents we have now, and how difficult of a task my daughter has. Are you people able to interview every single one of our talents? You can't, can you? Even I can't go to their concerts (because I'm too busy). So Julie has her hands full just with helping me out alone. (When our talents) were few in number I did all of their management myself, you know. Johnny was in charge of the show productions.
When street hawkers tried to sell pirated copies (at concert venues), I'd take out bags from places like Isetan and just sweep all of (the pirated goods) into them. When they'd yell, 'What are you doing, you old hag!' to which I'd say, 'Come to our agency if you have a problem with this'. I lost track of how many times I got into fights. But even people from the yakuza would listen to people higher up than them, so despite getting into fights I still manage to confiscate those goods.
I haven't heard of anyone trying to start a faction war beyond Julie. If there really is a faction war going on within our agency, it's due to a lack of management on my end. It would be unforgivable if that's true, and if you people were led to think this way then I will give Iijima a warning. I would make (Iijima) quit. Because this is the sort of thing that is a very serious part of our work."
As if something just occurred to her, Mary gestured to the male staff and did something unexpected even to our own reporter.
"Go and call Iijima over for me, won't you? Call Iijima right now. Do you know where she is?"
It would appear that she'd like to ask Iijima for a direct explanation right then and there. Under this suddenly tense atmosphere in the room, the male agency staff who had been seated with us immediately made attempts to get in contact. Not at all caring about Iijima's circumstances at the moment, Mary calmly went on:
"You wrote in (Bunshun's questionnaire) that Iijima is going up against my daughter and starting a faction war, so naturally I would want to lecture Iijima, no? It's an embarrassment to us if there really is a faction war. Wouldn't you be embarrassed if there was a faction war going on within your own company, Bunshun-san?
You people don't understand our company at all. From the moment Julie was born, I knew I had to start grooming her to become a successor who can do a proper job of taking over the agency. At the very least, I made her learn three to four languages and took her with me to watch musicals since she was a small child. I had my daughter learn English and French so that she can read any book she comes across and do any job that is tasked to her. Even my grandchildren are being taught English, French and Chinese.
Knowing English is a must if she is to take over our line of work. She'd never be able to do any musicals, after all. A good script should be read in the respective language of whichever country it came from. That was the goal I had in mind when I raised her. How can someone who doesn't know English come and work for us? Johnny can speak fluent Korean as well, you know. Otherwise, you won't be able to take your own (productions) and explain them when you show them to people (overseas).
Even if you ask me what sort of faction war is going on, I don't even understand what this so-called faction war is in itself. You probably read something that was posted on the Internet or something, I'm sure, and the fans also read those things. Going one step further, fans have nothing to do with faction wars whatsoever. They're followers of our talents, not our agency; otherwise why would people stay fans of Matchy for 35 years?"
Then Mary asked the male agency staff, "Well? What's with Iijima." Once again, the meeting room was fraught with tension. "About 10 more minutes or so," the man replied.
In the end, Iijima rushed in around 30 minutes after being called to the room. A pale, slim woman entered the meeting room with her head down: she was Iijima, the woman dubbed "SMAP's foster mother". "It would be strange to thank you (Bunshun) for your support, wouldn't it? Good morning. Nice to meet you, my name is Iijima."
With her lips lifting up in a smile, Iijima greeted our reporter courteously and offered her business card. But there was no doubt that she was mired in confusion inside.
"Go on, interview Iijima. Please, do ask her about wanting to go against me. Ask her in what way does she want to go against me."
Our reporter asked a point blank question at Mary's insistence, to which Iijima responded with a serious expression:
"I am also very troubled by this, and I was thinking it was about time I did something about it as well. I think the things written on the Internet were done by fans themselves, but when magazines start reporting on those things too, some will start to wonder if perhaps there actually is truth to it. I don't think there is at all. I do think it's because I've been putting off handling this matter that people are saying these things, however.
My stance in all this is that of a victim's, and I believe Julie feels the same way, to have the entirety of Johnny's agency being viewed in this manner. But I honestly feel there are people out there who are trying to be a hindrance as well, seeing as the entertainment industry is such a fiercely competitive place. It's not completely out of the question..."
---What about the fact that Arashi and SMAP hardly ever work together?
"There isn't any particular significance to that, I think..."
Mary, who had been listening to Iijima's words intently with her head slightly cocked, chose then to open her mouth.
"Well, they can't dance, no?"
Right in front of Iijima, who had practically raised SMAP, Mary had this to say to our reporter.
"I mean, (even if they appear together) SMAP can't dance, no? Can't you not see the difference in dancing between different talents? It would be rude if you were to write about that. In the eyes of the kids who can dance, (SMAP) can't dance."
Only the empress could utter words with such immensity behind them. And Iijima couldn't offer a rebuttal.
"The Aoyama Gekijo is closing its doors this year, as you know. Theater troupes used to perform there all through the year in the beginning, but in the end it was our talents who held shows there. Only the kids who can dance are able to appear on that stage. Some of our children do acting, and some do interesting things, there's many different sorts. Those (on stage) are the kids who can dance. That's why we have a choreographer assigned to them, no? Travis is the man who was in charge of all the choreography for Michael towards the end."
It can be said that dance training is the essence of all Johnny's talents. However, even on TV variety programs which have nothing to do with dancing, Julie's faction and Iijima's faction hardly ever interact.
---When we take a look at the appearance history in different TV programs...
"You speak of this Iijima faction, but who are you in charge of right now again, Iijima?"
"Well, I'm doing SMAP, Kisumai and such..." (Iijima)
Mary continued.
"It's a no-brainer that Iijima would put the people she's in charge of into programs, is it not? If there is anything wrong, it may be the fact that this person (Iijima) has been with SMAP for far too long. Even Matchy, the top at our agency, has the occasional managerial change-up. He decides on which manager he wants.
It's Matchy's 35th anniversary this year. If we count from his Junior days, that would make it 39 years or so. That child has the longest history with us, but Iijima has been with us for around that long as well.
But, and I hate to say this, but I don't hand over kids who can dance to Iijima. Don't you understand that? Our children need to be able to dance to a certain extent."
Once Mary stopped talking, the vast meeting room was so silent that you could almost hear the sound of water dripping.
"Where did that talk of not interacting much with SMAP come from? Tell me what the order is like at our company. Who's at the top?"
The oldest would be Kondo Masahiko, then Shounentai... our reporter began to answer her, but Mary could not contain her irritation.
"Then SMAP should be interacting with Kondo before Arashi, no? Why aren't you asking about that? SMAP is not at the top. Don't you find that rude? I'm truly angry here. You just said that Kondo is the oldest, and next after that is Shounentai. Has Arashi interacted (with them)?"
Kondo Masahiko and Higashiyama Noriyuki (48) from Shounentai frequently interacts with Arashi on special programs.
"I've been furious at this person (Iijima) before. I'll be frank and say it had to do with Fuji TV, when Iijima axed our Takizawa (Hideaki, 32) from her own SMAP's TV program. Before I called them (a Fuji TV insider) up, I called Iijima over and asked about what happened, then asked that person, 'Was it really Iijima who axed him? Please confirm this with those in charge.'
Takizawa was supposed to be part of the show, and yet he was axed. Since his manager informed me that he was 'axed all of a sudden', I asked why. Iijima said she didn't know about that, and I said, 'You weren't the one who made the booking, were you?'. In that case, I said, she would need to tell those in charge precisely what had happened, and that I had made a phone call, and then come and report back to me.
A lot of people are wary of Iijima, you know. All of them. Because this person can be scary. She's scary like me, because she's imitating me. I don't think she's scary in the same way that I am, however."
As one would expect, Iijima cut in then.
"If you would allow me to speak, I don't think it's a problem of me being scary. It's possible that those people from TV stations are wary of me because they're blindly accepting the hearsay and rumors floating around on the Net as truth. I never said anything like that before, and I feel this has become an extreme case of defamation."
Iijima is asserting her "innocence" in all of it. As if obscuring that statement, Mary said:
"No, it's a huge problem. The reason why I called this person over is because I cannot just say to her, 'Iijima, there's such and such rumor around so I'm going to fire you' without any (proof) at all.
Since you're here listening to this sort of thing right now, I will say this to you, Iijima.
'Bunshun-san is here listening to every single word I say, so if you want to go against us then you can take SMAP with you and get out right now. I want you to resign'.
But, if no one says anything (to testify about the faction war), I want to let you know that you should do a thorough check first. Even with the issue of Takizawa being axed, I also called Iijima to me and talked everything out in front of them."
Mary is pressing for answers, but it appeared to us that the brunt of her words were being aimed at Iijima, who sat beside her.
Faced with Mary's stern words that seemed to to be pressuring her to take responsibility and resign, Iijima denied the existence of a faction war with utmost seriousness.
---Among the TV industry, it is said that younger talents such as A.B.C-Z, Sexy Zone and Nakayama Yuma-san (21) also belong to Iijima-san's faction.
"No, no. There is no such thing as a faction. Castings are decided upon by the stations. For example, I would think even if offers were made to appear in 'SMAPxSMAP' or getsu9 dramas [T/N: Dramas airing during the primetime slot on Mondays at 9 PM], there are times when scheduling conflicts may occur. And that is what is being fingered as odd by some people. I cannot help it if others listen to that.
As for this faction war, I swear to god that I don't recall ever once saying that, in my entire life."
That was the statement Iijima had made. The successor is Mary's daughter, Julie, and a faction war does not exist within the Johnny's agency... It was in this instant that the question plaguing our industry for many years was made perfectly clear.
However, there is one thing which not even Mary herself comprehended. It was due to this incident that the faction war issue caused a huge stir even among fans: the "neutrality statement" by KinKi Kids' Domoto Koichi (36).
to be continued
T/N: Mary and Johnny are referred to throughout the article as "Mary-shi" and "Johnny-shi", which is a more polite form of -san. I left it off because I'm sleepy and this flows better, but Bunshun did give them proper respect by referring to them with a higher honorific!