Johnny's vs SMAP Long Battle - The Chronology

[yanie02]

First of all, I hate this picture. They make it like it's a dispute between SMAP & Arashi. Arashi is innocent. They don't know anything, SMAP's battle with the agency has been going on since before Arashi members were born! Lol, okay, that's an exaggeration, since before Arashi made their debut might be correct^^

Comments

[himaori]

Yanie, I'm just a silent reader of your LJ but I read almost your entries about Smap. I have to comment on this post to say thank you for writing such an interesting entry. Thank you for sharing your thoughts on this issue.

About KAT-TUN, I've been their fan since 2005 and particularly Jin's fan. I'm not really sure about it but maybe the reason that Julie took KAT-TUN back to her is because Akanishi Jin left the group in 2010, after they made an appearance on SMAPxSMAP new year special. Julie really adores Kame, while she really hates Jin (he is a rebel and will not obey rules). So Jin's out of the group may be that reason.

[yanie02]

Ooh... thank you! That makes a lot of sense now! Jin does remind me a bit of Takuya. When Jin left Jimusho, I was suddenly wondering "hmm... why didn't Takuya ever leave?" ^^

Also... during Nobuta wo Produce, I heard Yamapi and Kame were Johnny's most favorites that time. So I'm still wondering why Yamapi was suddenly thrown into Iijima's golden trash bin when he decided to leave NEWS XD

[himaori]

Maybe YamaP is friend with Jin?!

I'm not sure about it but Akanishi troop was very famous and infamous, I think you also knew about it. The Akanishi troop had 3 Johnny's boys: Jin, YamaP, and Ryo. But usually Ryo is always the one that has least mention in any articles about this troop, the prominent ones are Jin and YamaP. Somehow Jin influences his attitude (rebel, disobey rules) to his friends, and JE feel it no good. And I read a rumour before that Jin really hates Tegoshi of NEWS, and whenever the article about this issue was brought up, it also included Akanishi troop, so implied that YamaP had something odd with Tegoshi despite being in the same group. Most fans read such articles, they only focus on Jin and neglect the fact that YamaP is also a part of this issue. Besides, Tegoshi is also another Julie's favorite boy. So, you may have gist of why YamaP was treated like now.

[yanie02]

Ahh... I see... if this is true then what every media say about Johnny and Mary is true. Johnny is the president, but Mary decides everything and even Johnny can't disobey what Mary says. And Mary seems to listen to her daughter so much, so if Julie doesn't like one boy, then I guess the dark fate is immediately decided for that boy XD

I heard Johnny really liked Yamapi, but I guess Johnny's opinion doesn't count for Mary.

So after Jin decided to separate himself from KT, there was a period of time when he stayed in the Jimusho, before he finally leave in the end right? And he was managed by Julie in that period of time, no? I'm surprised he wasn't thrown away to Iijima's trash bin immediately.

[himaori]

I think Jin is Johnny-san's favorite boy. After he left KT, Johnny-san directly managed him and he focused mainly on US market. I doubt Julie wanted to have him and even himself did not want it. Jin is the kind of person who wants to do what he wants. I think Ijima also liked him because when 47 Ronin movie released, though his role was very small in that, he was allowed to appear on Smap Bistro with the main cast.

Anyway, there is something I keep wondering about. The formation that Kisumai and Sexy Zone have now (Kisumai divided into 3/4 and SZ into 3/2), does this thing have any relation to Ijima? Fans keep saying that Ijima is the one who messes up these groups. But after reading your entry, I am not sure about it anymore.

[yanie02]

Ahh okay, thanks for enlighten me. I guess everyone under Johnny-san's direct management like Kinki and T&T can easily appear in SMAP's shows cos Johnny has nothing against them. Kinki appeared in Nakai's ongaku no hi, Tsubasa appeared in Nakai no mado. That explains why Jin could appear in SxS back then

[himaori]

I see. Thank you for giving me your opinions on this matter. Before reading your entries, I always thought that Ijima was the one who initiated the faction war and it was her who made JE being separated like today. But now I have to think twice

[yanie02]

Yes, actually when the faction happened, I thought it comes from both Micchi and Julie. That Micchi should be equally blamed. But after Mary's interview, my eyes are opened

[himaori]

Yup. Your opinions made a lot of sense to me!

If Nakai-san and Ijima's relationship is still on good terms, then I think what Nakai-san did for Busaiku is meaningful now.

Actually, when I read your translation of Mary's interview, I was quite impressed by her. She is indeed a strong-willed woman, that's why she was able to manage JE for a long time. I also remember a JE fan wrote a masterpost about JE and she wrote that while Johnny-san is in charge of finding out the new boys and producing them, Mary is in charge of management/PR. However, after reading the full interview translation, I felt that she did not make sense at all when talking about her daughter. The more she revealed, the more I feel that Julie is incompetent in managing the JE. In addition to it, she insulted Ijima and Smap right in front of the reporters. I felt really upset about it.

I really had fun talking to you about JE and their mess within the company. Thank you for sharing your thoughts with me.

[yanie02]

haha... ITA... when I read the summary, wow Mary-san is so frank, I admire her frankness. But after reading the whole thing, she's just a crazy granny, to me XD

[enneagram_four]

After Jin leaes KT, I think he was with Iijima. He was on Bistro and CDTV-SP that Nakai was host. There were tabloid articles mentioning he had connections with people in some company and Iijima was pleased with those connections.

[himaori]

Actually, I think Ijima was interested in him and wanted to have him in her faction due to his connections within the industry as one of the reasons that she liked him. But I don't think he was officially under Ijima's faction. I believe the reason he could get on Bistro and CDTV special was thanks to Johnny-san who can work with two factions.

[inay91]

I read all your conversation with Yanie. Wah, this is really interesting

[himaori]

Ah, If I remember correctly, it was Kobayashi who was interested in Jin and invited him to join this movie. At the time he released this single and Olympus, it was not Akanishi Jin of KT but it was named as LANDS (Jin x Kobayashi). Though J Storm got the credits for one of producers but as Jin's fans we knew that this work was almost separated from JE, he used his movie character when releasing the single and album, not his own name which is still related to KT at that time. In my opinion, that time Kobayashi-san was the one who did almost everything from the movie to composing and producing songs that were only for Jin to sing. But if you look at it in a business perspective, JE would not let this business profits come to only Kobayashi and Jin

[yanie02]

Regarding K8, how different? A better change or a worse change? And I'm surprised K8 is not under Julie since the beginning? So Johnny-san managed them first?

[himaori]

I'm not sure about it but this is just my friend's opinion and I don't remember it in details. It's just that during 2006-2008, K8's music had enka elements and they focused mainly on Kansai region. So they had a certain freedom in doing what they wanted. Apparently, they were out of Julie's zone at that time. Thanks to their effort and creating their own unique style of the group, their popularity soared. Then Julie came and take them. Since then, their music has had less enka soul, it is more pop music, more or less like Arashi, News, and Hey Say Jump. My friend even joked once about one K8's song before that K8's song is so Arashish.

I can't tell whether it's better change or worse. Long time fans feel the songs are too pop-oriented nowadays, but on the other hand pop style will be catchy and more easily be accepted by general public. But K8 still keep their unique style - Kansai style so it's not totally changed. I think at this moment from Julie's faction, K8 is the second best selling group after Arashi.