Comments | winterspel: The World of JE from the n00b POV [INDEX]

winterspel

The World of JE from the n00b POV [INDEX]

Jun 20, 2006 06:51

A.K.A. My 'Coming out of the JE Closet' post

Hee, I've been scribbling this off and on for a few days, primarily for my own amusement, because I AM amused. Both at myself and by this whole new world of entertainment I've fallen into. :D

Yes, this post is probably ONLY of interest to about ONE person on my flist...catdecember...but perhaps some of the SMAP ( Read more... )

je coming out of the closet post, je, j-boys, kat-tun, j-pop

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sorry...somehow that posted before I was done, so here it is again... winterspel June 27 2006, 17:55:41 UTC

Heya, I'm thrilled you came back here to leave a comment because you could be describing my experience in coming to JE. I was introduced to Takuya Kimura through 2046 (which I adore) and his doramas Good Luck! and Long Vacation (also adore both) - this was late January/early February of this year. It was all downhill from there. I devoured his doramas, started listening to SMAP and watching the odd SMAPXSMAP episodes, and I branched out into KAT-TUN which led to Anego, Gokusen 2 and Nobuta wo Produce. Blah blah blah. I keep branching out (other JE groups and other doramas) - I have such a slate of doramas to watch this summer, starting with 1 Litre of Tears. I've given up watching about 60% of the U.S. television I was watching before to make room for all the doramas!

So. It's nice to know that others have had similar experiences.

Regarding the JE extravaganzas, when I first saw SMAP's MIJ & Sample Bang live shows I was taken aback by the production because I'm used to rock shows that are usually just music with video screen sometimes. But the costume changes, the dance-offs, the theatricality of it - that took some getting used to. Seeing KAT-TUN's Shounen Club perfs and Kaizokuban was another thing entirely, especially with the gaudy costumes, backflips, roller skates, and the back-dancing little boys!

None of it prepared me for Summary, though. Your use of the word "circus" is apt. A musical circus - musical not just in terms of music but also in terms of theatricality, because there does seem to be a vague storyline (without understanding any Japanese) that runs through the show, and circus because I think that it really is intended to showcase all the talents that JE trains these kids in.

Anyway, thanks again for sharing your thoughts and experience. And I love that you took the time to write a nice rambly response. :)

Oh, and if you ever FIND all those Shounen Club eps - will ya let me know? :D

Re: sorry...somehow that posted before I was done, so here it is again... ina June 27 2006, 21:11:52 UTC

If you are still looking for Shounen Club episodes, this is a good website http://destined.to/himitsu

And I gave up watching a lot of US TV shows either, much to the chargrin of some of my friends, who can't understand my fascination with the doramas. But I found it refreshing to only having to follow 9-12 episodes, and then seeing the actors in another role. And no fear of cancelletions either.

Re: sorry...somehow that posted before I was done, so here it is again... winterspel June 27 2006, 21:37:37 UTC

Oh, yes, that is a good site! I came across it only a couple weeks ago, and I'm thrilled that someone has taken up that kind of project! It's rather daunting, though.

I have a love/hate relationship with the short format of doramas. I love knowing that the story has a beginning, middle, and end, and that there is often a consistent voice in terms of a single writer as well as a consistent visual style. The short format means there is a pay-off for the viewer(usually, anyway) and story-fulfillment. It also means that (as you say) we can see these actors in different roles, and in the case of Kimura, there's some decent variety.

The bad part about the short format means that when you fall in love with characters, you have to say goodbye to them. And I hate saying goodbye. :(

My friends are amusedly tolerant for the most part, but I think they secretly think I'm out of my mind. I'm half a season behind on Lost and everyone's annoyed that they can't talk about it with me yet! And yet, I'm just not in the mood to catch up...I want to start in on a new dorama! :D

I'm so glad for LJ, which introduced me this world, and lets me continue to play in it.

Re: sorry...somehow that posted before I was done, so here it is again... emi_akachan June 28 2006, 00:03:16 UTC

Eurgh tell me about it. I've stopped watching American TV altogether (Sydney is too slow on getting shows from the U.S so I download those as well ^^), though I have tonnes of episodes from various series that I have readily on dvds. For some reason though, I always reach for my dorama stack instead XD Maybe when I'm done with all these doramas I will go back to my Dr. Shepherd ♥~

Yep I recently came across the Himitsu site as well. I was a bit amused at the photo of Jin on the homepage, despite it being such an Arashi-centric website XD The Shounen Club list there is quite amazing O_O One day I might just give in and download unsubbed episodes, but for now I'm hunting down English/Chinese subbed ones (ie. double the forums and sites to look through ^^").

The shortness of doramas kill me as well. I love that I can watch it all in one sitting (and in some cases rewatch them endlessly XD), but sometimes I'm really easily attached to characters and having to say goodbye so quickly leaves me sulking in the corner =(

!! 1 Litre of Tears is also at the top of my dorama stack, waiting to be watched. I've read so many raves over it, but just haven't quite found the time to sit down and watch it yet. Though term break starts next week so I'll prepare the tissue boxes for an emotional night in :)

Re: sorry...somehow that posted before I was done, so here it is again... winterspel June 28 2006, 20:00:49 UTC

Hee! You like McDreamy, too? :)

And oh, I'm so jealous that you've found English subbed SC. I guess I don't have the patience you have of locating these things!

I'm steeling myself to watch 1 Litre of Tears because everything I've read about it says it's a tearjerker from start to finish. Aaaiiiiii. If you get to it first, let me knw what you think, ok? :)

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