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INTEREST: Voice Actress Yū Serizawa Apologizes to Fans For Wearing Ring

penguintruth wrote:

I hate to say it, but it almost seems like she's going way overboard in apologizing in a manner that suggests intentionally attracting more attention to herself. But if it's just more of that bullshit "purity" standard in Japan, they need to get over it. People screw, all right? People screw, they get engaged, they get married, they have kids. Just because there are dozens of hideous, unlikable, unf***able morons, doesn't mean everybody is one.

It's just the sad and pathetic "purity" standard in play, it needs to die as it breeds stalkers (something Japan has serious issues with) and other unhealthy behaviors. Also, don't those managers realize that true love is pure, a healthy marriage is also pure. I'd be happy if one of my favorite idols got married, people reaching their pinnacle of love and/or happiness is heartwarming.

It's just the sad and pathetic "purity" standard in play, it needs to die as it breeds stalkers (something Japan has serious issues with)

So idols have to maintain kafabe in the eyes of the public or face betraying the whole institution, just like pro wrestlers?

Alright, if you want to bare it down to its dirty core, I will say it:
idols and certain seiyuu make a living of that very cult around idol purity, so they know exactly what they get themselves into and who their supporters are.
If they want to continue their career based around exactly that kind of fan obsession, they should play by the rules.

For all people spouting "retarded japanese" or "grow up already, how about you grow up and accept the not so bright reality about the industry instead of being hang up about it in a state of culture shock or something.

Hoppy800 wrote:

It's just the sad and pathetic "purity" standard in play, it needs to die as it breeds stalkers (something Japan has serious issues with)

Where'd you hear that at? Japan has actually one of the lowest outputs of stalking. Japan in general's pretty crime free. In 2013 it was a surprise that stalking reports went up to 21,089. Meanwhile America reports 6.6 million stalker cases a year. You're much safer in Japan than in America. They even joke about it in the news and on TV shows in Japan how "Japanese don't know much about stalking compared to Americans". Ouch

I don't know, isn't that kind of like saying, "So what, some cultures are misogynist and we have to accept, grow up and stop whining."

But Morning Musume's fans are not run-of-the-mill teenyboppers. They are Japanese men in their late twenties and thirties, basking in the ardour of girls young enough to be their daughters.

What the girls themselves think of their drooling followers became something of a talking point in fan circles last year when audio footage was leaked of unguarded backstage comments made by Momusu's Rika Ishikawa (nicknamed 'Charmy' for her seemingly unshakeable beatific countenance). 'Look at them,' she shrieked, referring to fans in the front row. 'Grown-ups screaming like that! I can't believe it. So stupid!'

In the American market, the entertainment companies were never strict on the dating rules and celebrities are allowed to be in a romantic relationship in whatever way they want.

However, in the Asian artist industry especially Korea and Japan, most of the entertainment companies set a list of strict rules in which the celebrities especially the idol groups must follow and some even had dating ban with a specific time frames.

In the Japanese culture, the love-ban law is to ensure the idol groups (both male and female) maintained their pure and innocent image that appeals to most fans, since the public would see them as ‘potential partners’. The idols who are committed to such a law have given up on relationships, freedom and their private lives to achieve their dreams and hope. Many referred the no-dating rules as a dehumanizing rule and the entertainment company has gone overboard on the rules.

In Korea however, the representatives from several entertainment companies explained they prefer the dating ban solely because of management problems. They further explained the management are responsible for protecting the idols from getting hurt from scandals, especially during the debut stage because they are still inexperience in handling themselves in scandals.

However, secret dating is common in the K-pop world, as a lot of idols have been seen going out together. Some of the entertainment companies would quickly deny the rumours and end the relationship before it gets out of control or leads to a sex scandal. This is because sex scandals might be the end of the idol’s career life and even if they stay in the entertainment industry, the image is already ruined and the idols will have a hard time struggling with her career.

As for now, the dating ban in the Korean entertainment industry isn’t as strict anymore, because a lot of idols have stood out about their relationships to the public.

Chris Campion of The Guardian wrote:

But Morning Musume's fans are not run-of-the-mill teenyboppers. They are Japanese men in their late twenties and thirties, basking in the ardour of girls young enough to be their daughters.

mdo7 wrote:

Chris Campion of The Guardian wrote: But Morning Musume's fans are not run-of-the-mill teenyboppers. They are Japanese men in their late twenties and thirties, basking in the ardour of girls young enough to be their daughters.

I'm quite conflicted reading that.
Males being attracted or infatuated to youthful girls? What a surprise, this is some kind of breaking news!

I don't know, isn't that kind of like saying, "So what, some cultures are misogynist and we have to accept, grow up and stop whining."

KAT-TUN singer Jin Akanishi was forced by his agency to leave the GTO: Great Teacher Onizuka live-action television series remake and had his tour cancelled after he got married without permission.

Lynxikat wrote:

I don't know, isn't that kind of like saying, "So what, some cultures are misogynist and we have to accept, grow up and stop whining."

I do not think that it is like that at all.
This is about entertainment not culture. Being an idol is a profession, a job.
Maintaining a certain image is just part of the job.

Personally, I do not understand the obsessions that some fans have for idols. But there is a lot of entertainment that I just do not get.