Hegemony in Johnny's Groups
I just found out that many fans blamed Iijima Michi, for the formation division in Kis-My-Ft2 (Top3 & Back4) and Sexy Zone (Top3 & Back2).
I have answered this in the comments area as a reply to himaori's question. But I will try to make it clear again here. First of all, I don't have the rights to say that it is not Micchi's doing. Micchi is in charge of the 2 groups' management so it's just obvious if fans thinks the idea comes from Micchi. I don't deny the possibility. I, myself, was very surprised the first time I found out abt Kis-My's formation division, thinking "Heh... nani kore? Micchi is this cruel?" She never discriminate SMAP members, and she herself had always been discriminated by Mary & Julie, she should know how afwul the idea is. I was wondering why she did that to Kis-My (and now Sexy Zone as well).
However if we look back to Johnny's history, dominance in a group, has already existed since V6. V6 were divided to Tonisen (older members) and Kamisen (younger members) back then. On their debut single cover, Tonisen's picture was so small compared to Kamisen. And, Iijima Michi had never interfere with V6 management, whatsoever.
I just found my discussion with my fellow Smappy friend back in 2006. She said "Another Johnny's management method that I don't really like is favoritism. If you pay attention to the Jr, there are always one or two members who always become the focus or stand on the center. Most obvious is KAT-TUN's Kame-Jin, NEWS' Yamapi, Ya-ya-Yah's Yabu and Hikaru, also J.J. Express' Nakajima Yuto. I feel upset about this because it's so unfair and you can obviously see how much they get special treatment. For example, when J.J. Express is performing, the one who always get close-up shot individually is Nakajima Yuto and he always stand on the center. In NEWS pictures, Yamapi always at the front and center. I hate this hegemony thing in Johnny's"
Fortunately, SMAP, TOKIO and Arashi never get this kind of unfair treatment from the Jimusho. All the members in these groups always get focus equally. Even before Micchi became SMAP's manager, there was never a dominance in SMAP. So, I guess V6 was the first group, ever, to get this kind of treatment.
I'm not saying Micchi is innocent, either. But I'm just saying this is a common thing in Johnny's Jimusho as it has happened before. It doesn't only happen to Kis-My-Ft2 and Sexy Zone. And I'm thinking maybe the Jimusho make the division formation after they observed the members' popularity among the fans too? I'm not sure of the reason though.
There are two possibilities of what happened to Kisumai and SZ:
1) Micchi agrees with the formation division idea that has existed before in Jimusho, and tried to apply this method to the two groups.
2) Mary or Julie instructed Micchi to apply the method to the two groups.
One thing caught my attention, though... when Nakai said to Kis-My "I feel sorry for you guys (the back4), how long do you have to wear different costumes than the other three?" and then in Busaiku show, suddenly Nakai said "I will make a song for the 4 of you!" ... it was like a declaration of war against the idea of this division. But it is really hard for me to believe that Nakai would go against Micchi, they have been together and went through hard times together too long as "mother and son."
I will quote what my fellow Smappy friend, noonew said about Kis-My's selling strategy.
As for Kisumai, I think whoever is responsible for promoting them is a genius. Honestly speaking, the back4 are average looking at best, thus Kisumai has been ridiculed by 2ch as the ugliest group. One has to admit it's hard to promote them as a Johnny idol. But Michi (or Nakai) just use the same strategy she (Nakai) used with SMAP. "You said we can't sing? Yeah, we agree and we're going to make fun of our bad singing before you have a chance" As a result, Michi (Nakai) gave the back4 "Busaiku" and had them announced loud and proud that "yes, we are ugly, we can't sing and we can't dance". Using Nakai's name as their producer and put them as a comic relief in UTAGE gives them exposure beyond the usual Johnny-wotas. And now that they have established themselves and gained more popularity (and even have their own CMs in addition to what they have with Kisumai), the division between the front3 and back4 is gone. They are now wearing similar costumes and are now rotating positions in magazine shoots and single/album covers. All these happened within just 3 years.
That left me a question. Why would Micchi make the formation division if she was gonna let Nakai produce Busaiku, in the first place? And it was quite a while too, the 4 had to be discriminated until Nakai helped to boost their popularity. If it was really Micchi's doing, it wouldn't take that long until she asked Nakai's help for the back4.
So my theory... it was Mary/Julie who decided on the formation division, Nakai couldn't take it anymore to see the discrimination and decided to help them.
I have a feeling Nakai really hates discrimination/division in a group. But of course, when one member is more popular than the others, they can't avoid the difference of treatment. When Takuya shot stardom alone and almost left the other members far behind him, Nakai made a very big effort thinking ways on how the other members could catch up to Takuya's popularity. He found his path in hosting, but he was so worried about the other members not getting their own show or drama's lead roles. I'm thinking, he always want everyone in the group equally popular. I'm sure he also owe Micchi's effort too, now that all SMAP members are more or less equally popular in Japan (well, except Goro... but ssshhh we dont have to talk abt that haha, and he has his own charm in antagonist role)
When Sexy Zone appeared in Ongaku no Hi, Nakai asked why there's only the 3 of them, the member explained and then Nakai said "That's something new!" like encouraging them in a positive tone, like he know that they must be feeling discouraged about this formation division. Fuma co-starred Nakai in Naniwa Kinyudo recently. So I'm expecting Nakai will do something to Sexy Zone too, sooner or later.
But of course, all my theories could be wrong.
I'm trying my best to be objective here, cause I hate to be biased. I'm sure Julie has her own good points too. But the more I read, the more I feel like siding Micchi. But I will give Mary and Julie a chance, they deserve a chance. I hope Julie and Micchi can work together peacefully and get along well with each other.
I have answered this in the comments area as a reply to himaori's question. But I will try to make it clear again here. First of all, I don't have the rights to say that it is not Micchi's doing. Micchi is in charge of the 2 groups' management so it's just obvious if fans thinks the idea comes from Micchi. I don't deny the possibility. I, myself, was very surprised the first time I found out abt Kis-My's formation division, thinking "Heh... nani kore? Micchi is this cruel?" She never discriminate SMAP members, and she herself had always been discriminated by Mary & Julie, she should know how afwul the idea is. I was wondering why she did that to Kis-My (and now Sexy Zone as well).
However if we look back to Johnny's history, dominance in a group, has already existed since V6. V6 were divided to Tonisen (older members) and Kamisen (younger members) back then. On their debut single cover, Tonisen's picture was so small compared to Kamisen. And, Iijima Michi had never interfere with V6 management, whatsoever.
I just found my discussion with my fellow Smappy friend back in 2006. She said "Another Johnny's management method that I don't really like is favoritism. If you pay attention to the Jr, there are always one or two members who always become the focus or stand on the center. Most obvious is KAT-TUN's Kame-Jin, NEWS' Yamapi, Ya-ya-Yah's Yabu and Hikaru, also J.J. Express' Nakajima Yuto. I feel upset about this because it's so unfair and you can obviously see how much they get special treatment. For example, when J.J. Express is performing, the one who always get close-up shot individually is Nakajima Yuto and he always stand on the center. In NEWS pictures, Yamapi always at the front and center. I hate this hegemony thing in Johnny's"
Fortunately, SMAP, TOKIO and Arashi never get this kind of unfair treatment from the Jimusho. All the members in these groups always get focus equally. Even before Micchi became SMAP's manager, there was never a dominance in SMAP. So, I guess V6 was the first group, ever, to get this kind of treatment.
I'm not saying Micchi is innocent, either. But I'm just saying this is a common thing in Johnny's Jimusho as it has happened before. It doesn't only happen to Kis-My-Ft2 and Sexy Zone. And I'm thinking maybe the Jimusho make the division formation after they observed the members' popularity among the fans too? I'm not sure of the reason though.
There are two possibilities of what happened to Kisumai and SZ:
1) Micchi agrees with the formation division idea that has existed before in Jimusho, and tried to apply this method to the two groups.
2) Mary or Julie instructed Micchi to apply the method to the two groups.
One thing caught my attention, though... when Nakai said to Kis-My "I feel sorry for you guys (the back4), how long do you have to wear different costumes than the other three?" and then in Busaiku show, suddenly Nakai said "I will make a song for the 4 of you!" ... it was like a declaration of war against the idea of this division. But it is really hard for me to believe that Nakai would go against Micchi, they have been together and went through hard times together too long as "mother and son."
I will quote what my fellow Smappy friend, noonew said about Kis-My's selling strategy.
As for Kisumai, I think whoever is responsible for promoting them is a genius. Honestly speaking, the back4 are average looking at best, thus Kisumai has been ridiculed by 2ch as the ugliest group. One has to admit it's hard to promote them as a Johnny idol. But Michi (or Nakai) just use the same strategy she (Nakai) used with SMAP. "You said we can't sing? Yeah, we agree and we're going to make fun of our bad singing before you have a chance" As a result, Michi (Nakai) gave the back4 "Busaiku" and had them announced loud and proud that "yes, we are ugly, we can't sing and we can't dance". Using Nakai's name as their producer and put them as a comic relief in UTAGE gives them exposure beyond the usual Johnny-wotas. And now that they have established themselves and gained more popularity (and even have their own CMs in addition to what they have with Kisumai), the division between the front3 and back4 is gone. They are now wearing similar costumes and are now rotating positions in magazine shoots and single/album covers. All these happened within just 3 years.
That left me a question. Why would Micchi make the formation division if she was gonna let Nakai produce Busaiku, in the first place? And it was quite a while too, the 4 had to be discriminated until Nakai helped to boost their popularity. If it was really Micchi's doing, it wouldn't take that long until she asked Nakai's help for the back4.
So my theory... it was Mary/Julie who decided on the formation division, Nakai couldn't take it anymore to see the discrimination and decided to help them.
I have a feeling Nakai really hates discrimination/division in a group. But of course, when one member is more popular than the others, they can't avoid the difference of treatment. When Takuya shot stardom alone and almost left the other members far behind him, Nakai made a very big effort thinking ways on how the other members could catch up to Takuya's popularity. He found his path in hosting, but he was so worried about the other members not getting their own show or drama's lead roles. I'm thinking, he always want everyone in the group equally popular. I'm sure he also owe Micchi's effort too, now that all SMAP members are more or less equally popular in Japan (well, except Goro... but ssshhh we dont have to talk abt that haha, and he has his own charm in antagonist role)
When Sexy Zone appeared in Ongaku no Hi, Nakai asked why there's only the 3 of them, the member explained and then Nakai said "That's something new!" like encouraging them in a positive tone, like he know that they must be feeling discouraged about this formation division. Fuma co-starred Nakai in Naniwa Kinyudo recently. So I'm expecting Nakai will do something to Sexy Zone too, sooner or later.
But of course, all my theories could be wrong.
I'm trying my best to be objective here, cause I hate to be biased. I'm sure Julie has her own good points too. But the more I read, the more I feel like siding Micchi. But I will give Mary and Julie a chance, they deserve a chance. I hope Julie and Micchi can work together peacefully and get along well with each other.