SMAP Crisis (10): Essay by News Media professor
No One Should Hurt Super Stars --- SMAP Disband Can Definitely Be Prevented
Kageyama Takahiko (a professor majoring news media)
translation by yanie02
source: http://ironna.jp/article/2673
I'm not a SMAP fan but I think as idols, they are super stars on par with Nagashima Shigeo (baseball) and Takakura Ken (actor). I wonder how many people realized that? There are many groups in Johnny's Jimusho now. But I think, the only group that deserves the word 'super' before 'star' is SMAP.
I think SMAPxSMAP's power played a big part on that. They dance, sing and act in SMAPxSMAP. They also do comedy. I have an experience in creating a TV show in the Kansai area and I teach entertainment in the university now. I'm amazed at the high quality of SMAP's comedy. They changed the concept of idol right away and they provides high quality comedy more than bad comedians. They have rarely done comedy skits in SMAPxSMAP now, maybe because they're busy, but even the comedians had once complain before "SMAP stole our job." Sometimes, I think SMAP's S should be "Smile" rather than "Sports."
SMAP members' brilliance as performers combined with excellent management, they've become unstoppable in Johnnys and they have become a presence beyond their Jimusho. This is why I think it is absolutely wrong for these 2 newspapers to expose the management's internal issues that the fans does not wish for. It doesn't matter whether or not it was leaked by the Jimusho side themselves. They should not make light of the fans' anger and sorrow and their effort to stop this madness. No one should hurt super stars. Just like in baseball, even when Nagashima or Oh Sadaharu's contracts renewal are under negotiation, they will say in public that they signed it smoothly. It should be the same for SMAP. This is exactly why the dark side of the entertainment world should not be exposed to the fans.
I disagree with SMAP's disband and I think it can be prevented. SMAP has to be protected whatever it takes. It is rumored that the Jimusho will punish the members who wanted to go independent, that is definitely something that should not happen. Even if they can only gather a few times every year, they have to keep the SMAP signboard until they've become grandpas. SMAP is Japanese entertainment world's treasure. The reporting media shouldn't abuse anything served for them and they have to understand what does valuable assets means. It will be an advantage for the media world to let SMAP shines longer. I'm not saying that we should always hide the truth. Of course, what has to be reported, has to be reported. I don't mean that they always have to praise them, but for example, just like Yamaguchi Momoe who has become a presence beyond people's likes and dislikes, the entertainment world needs a few people who should not be hurt. If the Jimusho was really the source of this uproar, then I hope they now realized the level of public concern and treat SMAP as a treasure. If they don't, Johnny's Jimusho's foundation will start shaking.
If they come to a situation where they have to disband, there's no doubt that it will affect the entertainment world. "SMAP Loss"... everyone will suffer "SmaLoss." There might be inestimable SmaLoss effect in the society, but people easily forgets. Even if SMAP disband, a few years later there will be new, young groups and people might lose interest in them. However, their disband's biggest damage might be the fact that the image of the entertainment world will largely change. Common people have always admire the entertainment world but they also feel it's a world hard for them to get close to. If SMAP disband, I feel that common people will less admire the entertainment world. The entertainment world is a business that sells dream. Even if the reality is the opposite, they still have to sell dreams. Showing people dreams is the most important thing for people who makes entertainment shows in the industry. That is why the most important part of the dream, the fact that there are different intentions among the members and all, should not be shown to people.
This is just my wish but I want Nakai Masahiro as a representative hold a press conference as a compromised solution. Even if there's the management's hand involved in this, even if Kimura Takuya wants to stay and the other four wants to go independent, I want Nakai-kun to say "Sorry for all the troubles. But SMAP will continue to shine. SMAP will not disband and the five of us will not change," As long as he convey this message, fans will definitely stay for them. I wish they just make the Jimusho upset and say "I'll talk. I will upload my comment in Youtube." Then it might become a battle of "Johnny's Jimusho vs 120 million people." I think the Japanese fans wants them to speak with their own words.
Furthermore, it's the internet era now, so people gets to keep their principles and position in some way. It might be a good chance to show how the Japanese entertainment has riped. In other words, this is an opportunity to change the biggest pinch into the biggest chance. Many people bad-mouth them saying SMAP's popularity is declining, but Nakai-kun's words can turn this over. People who has no interest so far, might realize how awesome Nakai's chivalrous spirit is. They are among very few super stars who can give dream to general public, so I hope they will do this.
I think this turmoil will largely change the future of TV. That's fine, in my opinion. It will be a good chance to make new shows and polish the skills of the creators. It's a chance for TV to be independent from certain agencies. Capable creators might feel a good chance but it's not something easy to realize. Many creators have become critics lately, I feel like telling them to stop criticize things and do something real. We have to make this negative turmoil become something positive for the TV world.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
bener juga ya si profesor ini, kok ya aib keluarga di-ekspos ke luar, apa si nenek udah ga ada urat malunya ya, mungkin memang sudah pikun... yang gue bingung kok masih ada aja pengikut-pengikut nenek2 pikun... tapi yaa kalau duit sudah berbicara haha, ternyata orang Jepang masih banyak yang mata duitan, saya pikir org Indo doang lol
Kageyama Takahiko (a professor majoring news media)
translation by yanie02
source: http://ironna.jp/article/2673
I'm not a SMAP fan but I think as idols, they are super stars on par with Nagashima Shigeo (baseball) and Takakura Ken (actor). I wonder how many people realized that? There are many groups in Johnny's Jimusho now. But I think, the only group that deserves the word 'super' before 'star' is SMAP.
I think SMAPxSMAP's power played a big part on that. They dance, sing and act in SMAPxSMAP. They also do comedy. I have an experience in creating a TV show in the Kansai area and I teach entertainment in the university now. I'm amazed at the high quality of SMAP's comedy. They changed the concept of idol right away and they provides high quality comedy more than bad comedians. They have rarely done comedy skits in SMAPxSMAP now, maybe because they're busy, but even the comedians had once complain before "SMAP stole our job." Sometimes, I think SMAP's S should be "Smile" rather than "Sports."
SMAP members' brilliance as performers combined with excellent management, they've become unstoppable in Johnnys and they have become a presence beyond their Jimusho. This is why I think it is absolutely wrong for these 2 newspapers to expose the management's internal issues that the fans does not wish for. It doesn't matter whether or not it was leaked by the Jimusho side themselves. They should not make light of the fans' anger and sorrow and their effort to stop this madness. No one should hurt super stars. Just like in baseball, even when Nagashima or Oh Sadaharu's contracts renewal are under negotiation, they will say in public that they signed it smoothly. It should be the same for SMAP. This is exactly why the dark side of the entertainment world should not be exposed to the fans.
I disagree with SMAP's disband and I think it can be prevented. SMAP has to be protected whatever it takes. It is rumored that the Jimusho will punish the members who wanted to go independent, that is definitely something that should not happen. Even if they can only gather a few times every year, they have to keep the SMAP signboard until they've become grandpas. SMAP is Japanese entertainment world's treasure. The reporting media shouldn't abuse anything served for them and they have to understand what does valuable assets means. It will be an advantage for the media world to let SMAP shines longer. I'm not saying that we should always hide the truth. Of course, what has to be reported, has to be reported. I don't mean that they always have to praise them, but for example, just like Yamaguchi Momoe who has become a presence beyond people's likes and dislikes, the entertainment world needs a few people who should not be hurt. If the Jimusho was really the source of this uproar, then I hope they now realized the level of public concern and treat SMAP as a treasure. If they don't, Johnny's Jimusho's foundation will start shaking.
If they come to a situation where they have to disband, there's no doubt that it will affect the entertainment world. "SMAP Loss"... everyone will suffer "SmaLoss." There might be inestimable SmaLoss effect in the society, but people easily forgets. Even if SMAP disband, a few years later there will be new, young groups and people might lose interest in them. However, their disband's biggest damage might be the fact that the image of the entertainment world will largely change. Common people have always admire the entertainment world but they also feel it's a world hard for them to get close to. If SMAP disband, I feel that common people will less admire the entertainment world. The entertainment world is a business that sells dream. Even if the reality is the opposite, they still have to sell dreams. Showing people dreams is the most important thing for people who makes entertainment shows in the industry. That is why the most important part of the dream, the fact that there are different intentions among the members and all, should not be shown to people.
This is just my wish but I want Nakai Masahiro as a representative hold a press conference as a compromised solution. Even if there's the management's hand involved in this, even if Kimura Takuya wants to stay and the other four wants to go independent, I want Nakai-kun to say "Sorry for all the troubles. But SMAP will continue to shine. SMAP will not disband and the five of us will not change," As long as he convey this message, fans will definitely stay for them. I wish they just make the Jimusho upset and say "I'll talk. I will upload my comment in Youtube." Then it might become a battle of "Johnny's Jimusho vs 120 million people." I think the Japanese fans wants them to speak with their own words.
Furthermore, it's the internet era now, so people gets to keep their principles and position in some way. It might be a good chance to show how the Japanese entertainment has riped. In other words, this is an opportunity to change the biggest pinch into the biggest chance. Many people bad-mouth them saying SMAP's popularity is declining, but Nakai-kun's words can turn this over. People who has no interest so far, might realize how awesome Nakai's chivalrous spirit is. They are among very few super stars who can give dream to general public, so I hope they will do this.
I think this turmoil will largely change the future of TV. That's fine, in my opinion. It will be a good chance to make new shows and polish the skills of the creators. It's a chance for TV to be independent from certain agencies. Capable creators might feel a good chance but it's not something easy to realize. Many creators have become critics lately, I feel like telling them to stop criticize things and do something real. We have to make this negative turmoil become something positive for the TV world.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
bener juga ya si profesor ini, kok ya aib keluarga di-ekspos ke luar, apa si nenek udah ga ada urat malunya ya, mungkin memang sudah pikun... yang gue bingung kok masih ada aja pengikut-pengikut nenek2 pikun... tapi yaa kalau duit sudah berbicara haha, ternyata orang Jepang masih banyak yang mata duitan, saya pikir org Indo doang lol