Jyaniizu Sekigahara
I didn't mean to bring this up again. But I stumbled upon this Japanese fan blog entry about Mary Kitagawa's interview with Bunshun. She's (he?) an Arashi fan but she seems to know alot about the Jimusho politics, Iijima and SMAP. She has a fair judgment, in my opinion, so I decided to translate and share this, cos her thoughts and predictions are
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So even an Arashi fan think SMAP/Michi invested in J-Dream like we do. The only difference is she thought the jimusho holds the bigger share while we think they're half-half or SMAP holds the bigger share. Hmmmm...I still think you were right in your earlier analysis that SMAP is holding a bigger share or at least 50/50.
Poor Kisumai. So this means if Michi declined the offer from Johnny to take care of them, they might still be the junior and never been debuted because Mary/Julie refused to manage them? I always thought if SMAP/Michi have to leave, they should go by themselves and handed all other Johnny's back to Mary/Julie. But Nakai is warming me up to BUSAIKU and now I think Mary/Julie probably are hating them more than they hate SMAP. Well, I think "resent" is the better word than "hate" in this case. Mary must be furious that she made the same mistake twice and letting Michi become more powerful. The kids have nowhere else to go but to stick with SMAP/Michi. I really do hope they will be successful, not for SMAP/Michi's sake but for their own sake now.
So she thinks the division in Sexy Zone was Johnny's idea? Yeah I saw a lot of people blaming this on Michi but I never believe she is the one behind that or at least she may have a plan that we'll have to wait and see. But Nakai does protest too much about the division in Sexy Zone that I don't think it's Michi's idea. If it's Michi's, he definitely can voice his opinion with her behind the camera and makes sure that it'll stop. Because I agree that Nakai is always right beside her in building the SMAP empire together. If Sexy Zone's division is Johnny's idea, then that explains a lot. But I still don't get why Johnny would want such a thing. I can understand the 4-3 split in Kisumai, but I can't figure out with Sexy Zone.
Speaking of Nakai, I also read he accompanied Goro to his first solo job as an MC. I don't know which show it was. But I read a fan account that said Nakai was there at the first recording, standing right next to the cameraman, giving Goro-chan cues, and acted pretty much like an AD for him. This reminds me of "Nakai" in Furuhata vs SMAP. Mitani Koki-san might not be familiar with SMAP yet back then, but I think he wrote the script based on what he heard from other people in the entertainment world. If true, what we saw in that SP is what the entertainment world thought of SMAP and Michi at that time.
OK, back to the topic. About HSJ. I really believe Michi did have them for a bit or at least they were with Johnny and he asked for her help every once in a while. They were still with her in Dec 2012 because they appeared in Kayou Kyoku SP. Hanzawa Naoki was during summer 2013, and it usually takes several months to plan/cast a drama. So I think Michi did get Yuto the role before they were handed over to Julie/Mary.
I don't know, Like I said on SCS yesterday, the dispute between Julie/Mary and Michi/SMAP is nothing new to us SMAP fans. We knew they hate/resent SMAP/Michi and they disagree on a lot of things since long time ago. It's just the same old thing we have experienced for 15+ years but is being escalated to a "faction war" probably because it now involves other Johnny's groups not just SMAP. But comparing to 10-15 years ago, SMAP as a group is interacting with Johnny's much much more now. I feel like the jimusho is warming up to SMAP/Michi, or probably it's just Johnny-san. I think I will do as Mary said in that interview then. I won't be worried about the faction war or the jimusho's successor as a fan. Though I will still continue to follow this epic real-life drama as a spectator. I will continue to support SMAP no matter what happens or where they go. I trust Nakai/Michi to make the best decision for SMAP as they always do. Somehow, I also see Nakai as the future president of the Jimusho too. He loves both sides and he is more than capable in managing an empire.
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>in J-Dream like we do. I still think you were
>right in your earlier analysis that SMAP is
>holding a bigger share or at least 50/50.
Either way is possible I guess, however even if it's true SMAPIijima holds half or a bigger share, or will happen that way, I think Iijima/Nakai wouldn't want to go half independent, they seem to have a certain reason to stay stick to Johnnys.
Also, I'm interested that even Arashi fan think Julie is incapable and sure that some other person with true skills is supporting her (other than Mary). I wonder how can she say that, I mean, based on what, can she judge her?
yeah, I thought Mary/Julie aren't good in dealing with troublesome kids like KAT-TUN (the reason they were transferred to Iijima for a while in 2009-2010?), but I guess Mary/Julie aren't good with ordinary-faced kids too? I wonder what did Julie not like abt Kisumai? haha... I wonder if they're not handsome enough according to Julie's standard. Yeah, if it's true, Julie really rejected them, then if SMAP/Iijima leave the Jimusho, Kisumai has no choice but to follow wherever they go, the poor kids XD
Actually I prefer to think that it's really Iijima's intention in separating the costumes in the groups, to make the audience remember each of their faces faster. Remember when SMAP members were young? The veteran comedian couldn't differ them from the others when they were all running around, they all looked the same to him, so he gave them colors so he can remember each of their faces easily. Maybe Iijima is using the same technique.
Ooh! I didn't know about NakaGoro... yappari Nakai is the assistant producer XD
>It's just the same old thing we have experienced
>for 15+ years but is being escalated to a "faction war"
>probably because it now involves other Johnny's groups
>not just SMAP.
Exactly! AND also, because Mary/Julie finally has a money-making machine of their own, so the whole company's finance doesn't depend on SMAP anymore.
Yeah I believe Julie will be the successor and nothing abt that will change. Although it'll be interesting if something unexpected happens XD
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