Mary Kitagawa "If there's such thing, Iijima may quit today and bring along SMAP with her!"

[yanie02]

A shocking interview with Mary Kitagawa, the vice president of Johnny's Jimusho has been carried out by Shuukan Bunshun.

~*START*~

source: http://johnnys-watcher.seesaa.net/article/412747661.html

Mary Kitagawa threatened Iijima Michi! Shuukan Bunshun

Comments

[hpswf1]

Thanks for the translation! Weibo already have whole scan of it ^^
But he’s genuinely a ‘woman’
I'm sure here should be "she" ^^;;

>And you should have interviewed Iijima first before me. That’s the ‘procedure.’
she is strange, it's not like Bunshun wanted interview her in 1st place just called to know what's happened on dinner xD

I don't care much of what she said, but I don't like this ><
"If there’s something wrong, then it’s the fact that she has been in charge for SMAP for too long"

[yanie02]

oops! thank you for your correction. I wonder if I did that in purpose lol. Do you have the link to the whole scan?

she is strange, it's not like Bunshun wanted interview her in 1st place just called to know what's happened on dinner xD

According to those who have read the whole 10-pages interview, everything she says is contradicting. She said "Everyone including SMAP are my boys" but then at another time "SMAP can't dance" "I only hand over those who can't dance to Iijima" lol

"If there’s something wrong, then it’s the fact that she has been in charge for SMAP for too long"

I wonder what she means about this? I thought she has the power to everything. If she don't like Iijima to stay as SMAP's manager too long, then she can easily give order to rotate all the groups between Julie and Iijima? Or Johnny doesn't allow that? It's not like it's Iijima's fault she always stick to SMAP.

[hpswf1]

yeah, here http://www.weibo.com/1930399455/C0KaYmH1z

It's probably just "whom I don't like or hopeless if it will be taken by anyone else", so SMAP is still her boys xDD the only question I have how Yamapi managed end with Michi x)

It seems so wrong( But I can't wrap my head around actual meaning. Like don't like her choices regardless recent SMAP work? Or not only recent. Or that she is more not a manager to them but someone else or being with SMAP gave her too much power...
But I doubt rotation of managers can help, look at Matchy xD

[yanie02]

Thanks! Yeah I agree... haha

Ooh speaking of Yamapi, I wonder what happened to him? He rarely show up together with SMAP lately. It's fact that I always criticize him that he doesn't have much talents, but I kinda miss him LOL

[shinobu_kujo]

thanks for the translation...it open my mind about these rumor.

" I still have faith in SmArashi... one day, I'm sure they will have a collaboration together."

me too...perhaps one day when Johnny and Mary not there anymore...and Julie can give the nicest lead...:)

[the_fey_girl11]

thanks for translating this Yanie. i was upset by the interview i had to admit and by the obvious hostility that Mary has for Iijima and SMAP. but as a Kitagawa and one of the powers that be in the jimusho, she can say anything she wants about her employees, i guess.

as regards to a SMAP-Arashi collab, i wouldn't care less about it. frankly, i don't think it would be a loss if the 2 groups don't collaborate. SMAP is a league of their own, both as a group and as individual artists which i can't really say the same for Arashi. just my two cents worth. :)

[yanie02]

Yes, I can understand SMAP fans who doesn't like or indifferent towards Arashi, definitely doesn't want to see a smarashi, after reading this interview, imagining SMAP side have to kowtow to Arashi side for that to happen.

But I love both groups. So I can't help but to keep wishing for that. It doesn't need to happen, yes. But I just want to see them together, because i love their interaction with each other^^

Maybe when SMAP's side doesn't have to kowtow to anyone anymore. The time will come^^

[ryomerisu]

thx for translating :3 i'm speechless reading this interview.. mary is a monster indeed but i think she has such burden too, to choose his family or the employee in the agency.. and lijima must be a patient and competent employee neee, not all groups she has managed are lack in dance, like kisumai!! and i didn't know there is such problem in this agency :v

[enneagram_four]

About Iijima being SMAP management for too long -> this reminds me of a rumor once that Iijima was to leave the company or someone wanted to change her managing SMAP but SMAP was against it and that's why she stays.
Her being with SMAP probably makes her look more powerful than other artist managers and Mary must be irritated that an employer has this much importance/existence.