(the) Road to the Deep East

One of the problems to export music to foreign countries is, needless to say, language.

This happens to every form of art which uses language. For example, literature, movie, drama. But this problem is clearer in music. In movies or dramas, we can use subtitles or dubs. However, in music, we can not use them, so people have to understand the foreign language spoken in an unfamiliar intonation, called rhythm or melody.

Especially, the genre which depends on the language, hip-hop or rap, this problem is more serious, and it had been a long standing barrier surrounding Japan Islands. While a lot of rock music or ballad, or other dance music were imported from United States or other countries and become platinum , as far as I'm concerned, it was only MC Hammer and Eminem who could sell as well as Mariah Carey in Japan.

However, finally, one genius appeared and invented an innovative way to remove that language barrier. In PV of ' Low' from Flo Rida , WARNER MUSIC JAPAN used the subtitle of translation for its Japanese edition , in a very unique way.

According to the article on this issue from Barks , the subtitle on PV itself was a common way to sell foreign music in Japan (I've never seen such a subtitled PV, though), but this time, this genius thought of using it in Niconico douga style to catch up the speed of this wordy song.

(I couldn't find this Japanese edition on the Web, but it was like this.)


The colorful letters and words flies on the screen from left to right, and people enjoy the the music, without being interrupted by lot of letters displayed at the same time on the screen. It is more friendlier than conventional subs, and it looks more suitable to this song. (comparison)


Especially, it's sure Japanese listners who are familiar to niconico douga will love it.

Not only this very unique style, to sell this song in Japan, WARNER MUSIC JAPAN changed its title from 'Low' to 'Konya ha low low low. (Low Low Low Tonight)'. It will help the people to remember the kick of this song.

Their new album 'Mail on Sunday' from Flo Rida will be released in Japan on April 8th. I don't think it will become a hit in Japan, but thanks to this newly devised way, it's sure this song could attract the attention from the audience who don't listen to American hip-hop earnestly (like me).

In the meantime, I don't think this niconico-style sub will become the standard to sell foreign hip-hop in Japan. The lyrics of 'Low' were humorous, hence they matched with this niconico style. However, what if we use this style for the artists like 50cent? The screen will be just filled with a lot dirty words to curse somebody, so I don't think it's good idea.

Now a boy is going to debut as a punk rocker, with his band.

Ryo and the Heartbreakers. Ryo, 11 year-old, was interested in Rock music when he was 3rd grade at elementary school, and gathered members of his band at a live house by himself. After he appeared in some shows with some Japanese representative punk rock groups like Guitar Wolf, he was discovered by another famous punk rock group, Laughin' Nose, and Laugin' Nose supported this debut.



His debut single includes 2 original songs and 5 covers from Sex Pistols, Eddie Cochran, And Johnny Thunders.Amazingly, the original songs are written by Ryo himself.

http://diskunion.net/punk/ct/detail/PNK0802-074

It's another case of Japanese precocious teens. While girls become idols and wear swimsuit or other indecent costumes , boys become punk rockers with a furious anger that he can't get such girls. And I remember the group named 'Fonk', who performs hip-hop dance also in early teens. It'll be a matter of time that we will hear the sex scandal of this little punk rocker and some U-15 idols. Then instead of his 'Student Riot', the riot from O-30 idol otakus will start.

However, is it so strange that a elementary school student plays punk music? I don't think so. When we look at the aspects of the both, we can find a lot of things in common. For example;

Anarchism
Punk rockers in the lower class are pressured by the upper class and complain about his financial situation which never allows him what he wanted to. Meanwhile, elementary school students are always pressured by rich people - his father and mother, and can't get what they want – Nintendo DS or Wii. Both of them soon denies the established system of their society. (*) And it's sure a boy sometimes says; 'I gotta pee!! Destroy!!' and demonstrates his destructive drive in pants.

Three chords Method
Punk rockers deny the sophisticated technique like progressive rock and try to express his music in the simplest way. But sometimes, it is not a political reason but just because just they can't play well. And so on, Elementary school students will also play the guitar in a very simple way, just because he can't.

DIY
And it's sure a elementary school boy is often told, 'Do if yourself!!' by his mother and set it as his motto, just like some punk rockers try to manage all the things by themselves in 80s.

So, in a sense, it was very natural such a boy was born in Japan. Some may not believe, but especially, in Japan, even kids are always pressured by fiercely competitive entrance examinations. Remember Nobita from Doraemon. If Nobida couldn't have Doraemon, he would become a punk rocker after he was scolded by his Mama for tons of times. And Kureyon Shin-chan is a good example of a boy with a natural-born punkism.

[EDIT]
http://ryohb.web.fc2.com/
Samples became available at the site above, but all can say is.. he is still young and too kawaii to start punk music lol.

It seems this blog is always reporting the Western culture consumed by Japanese.But finally, I can report its converse case. Japanese culture consumed by Western people.

JERO, 26 years-old, was born in Pittsburgh. His grandmother is Japanese, and to amuse her, JERO sang Enka when he was a boy, and he was attracted by Enka. And maybe thanks to Enka, he didn't have to leave from the straight and narrow. He studied computer science at the University of Pittsburgh and became a computer engineer. However, his passion for Enka grew more and more, and in 2003, he came to Japan to become a professional singer. He spent few years in Japan and won at some amateur karaoke contests. Hearing his rumor, Victor Entertainment, one of the most famous Enka agency, scouted him. After two years, he debuts with this single, 'Umiyuki' in this month.

海雪 (2008/02/20) ジェロ click the picture for the link to amazon.

(official site)
http://www.jvcmusic.co.jp/-/Profile/A021548.html

Here is the clip of 'Umiyuki', but it's very... unique.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yTvvc26rnVs

First, he dances like a hip-hop dancer, and tags with some Japanese hip-hop boys, but suddenly starts to sing Enka.


And some lyrics of this music is screened and emphasized in hip-hop-esque graffiti.


And there's also the scene which maybe took at hip-hop event, like B-Boy Park.

It's not kind of MAD movie. And as you can listen, his singing is amazingly great. When we listen to it with eyes closed, it sounds like perfect enka. When we open our eyes, for this image, it sounds like a variation of R&B, like the one from Crystal Kay, though.

Jero's appearance shocked Japanese, and he is now being invited a lot of TV shows in Japan. Now Enka music industry is falling off, but JERO may become a messiah comes from Pittsburgh. If the things go well, he will be invited to Kohaku in this year-end and make his grandmother happy again.

In the meantime, it seems his appearance was also an encouragement to Japanese pop music industry. For example, a Japanese hip-hop artist, Hammer from 2BACKKA , admires JERO on his blog:

“His way of singing is really great. His outlook in with cap and stadium jumper like B-BOY and break dance is also great. He is really shock to me. It's sure he realy loves Enka. How the person look like is not a huge problem. It'll be nice if he can become a start for the person who wouldn't listen Enka music.

For Japanese pop musicians who are always trying to recreate the Western music in this country in their own style, JERO's situation is very similar,and maybe they can't help feeling a sympathy.

But I have one question. Why doesn't he sing Enka in English? Like Japanese musicians do, if he had imported Enka and arrange it in his own style and language, it must be greater. At this point, I have to say, he is great, but musically, just a copycat.

It might be just a start, though. Just like Japanese hip-hop artists in early times like King Giddra or Rhymaster tried to be faithful to the original style in the United States, Jero sings Enka in Japanese, in Japanese style. 10 years later, supported by the success of thie pioneer Jero, there may appear some foreign enka singers who create his own style like SOUL'd out or Ketsumeishi does in hip-hop industry. Then Jero may disrespect the new Enka like King Giddra or Rhymaster does to them, but it is the true start of new Enka – 'B-ENKA' or 'U-ENKA'. I'd like to wait until then.

Apparently, I'm loosing an interest on idol music.

Incredibly, almost for two months I didn't go to any concerts or events related to the thing I used to love the most , and incredibly again, at this moment, I don't have any plans to visit some of them in the nearest future, too.

It seems I'm fed up with the smallness of the world of '地下アイドル'.(chika(underground) idol' ). Although the performers on the stages perform greatly and evolve, the promotion is poor, and otaku audience calls for another new otakus, and organize a small and closed society. I'll be still good if this community does something good for the group they like, but in reality, they are just are dragging their legs each other, and continuing the ugly battles on the Web.

Once trapped, will never be unleashed. Unfortunately, it looks the group I used to love the most dropped in this bottomless bog.

But when we analyze the structure of those underground idol world, it brings us another interesting view on Japanese society. Robert Whiting left us the greatest 'Tokyo Underworld' which spotlights the darkness of yakuza, which no other Japanese media can report.

Tokyo Underworld: The Fast Times and Hard Life of an American Gangster in Japan (Vintage Departures) Robert Whiting (2000/09/26) Vintage Books View Details

And in this entry, I'd like to highlight the darkness - which might be too stupid and shallow to be called dark - of those otaku community. Akihabara Underground.

--
The readers from my ISA era may have already known, but an unsuccessful idol group gathers only a small number of people which sometimes goes under 50 just like indy rock bands. The point is the small number of people gathering in those events consist of men who belong to the layer, can be called 'chika-idol-otakus.'

Those chika idol otakus are observing almost every cutest girls, or idol wanabes, since when they belong to some music schools, and sometimes they stalk the cutest beautiful girls even before they begin to think of working in the industry. *

(*Just in case, It's not the case of real Psychopath abductor, but the case of sisters of a famous idol girl.)

And just like other closed Japanese communities which gaijins are hardly allowed to go toward, there is an unseen rules to control and govern themselves. In a nut shell, the rule can be summarized: “the older, the better.” In those underground otaku comunity, the person who found the girls first, and devoted himself to the group the most is considered as the most important person of all, and he , (there isn't the single case that the person is 'she') is simply called 偉い人('erai hito, great person').

(*For instance, 'Perfume no erai hito no XX san.' 'Kare ha Bon-bla no erai hito desu.' )

And those groups, lead by the 'erai hito' are called 古参('Kosan' (old-timers)), and the fans who visit later are called '新参'(shinzan, newbies).

Interestingly, this structure - can be named 'erai-hito-top-hierarchy' can be seen among male idol groups' fans, such as Journey's. In those female idol world, the person like the 'erai-hito' is called 'トップさん'(top-san, Miss Top), and 'Kosan' is called 'オリキ'('o-riki', 'riki' comes from 'power' and 'o' is prefix of respectful word. Can be translated as 'Powerful Supporters'. And shinzan is 'イッピ'('Ippi', IPPan PIi(eo)puru = common people'.

It's a very interesting point that people from the opposite sexes organize the very similar structure automatically, although they don't contact each other and can't be influenced by each.

But it's not so odd. 'The older, the better' is a common rule for all Japanese old-society. The Japanese Throne continues for 2600 years, hence good. Horyu-ji in Nara is the oldest wooden building, hence good. Yamada-san is the eldest employee, hence he should be promoted, and Mr.Top-san of a company automatically becomes a president in the end.

According to a Japanese old proverb, there are only two Japanese products which can become better when they are newer: tatami and wives. Maybe in this 21th century, we should add another item: tatami, wives, and 'busty girls.'.

Thanks to Koizumi's reform began 10 years ago, in the real world, this 'erai-hito-hierarchy', or 'the seniority system' was destroyed, and Japanese society is gradually transforming to the merit system. However, like this otaku communities' cases, the community Japanese organize voluntary still tends to become the traditional one. I'm not sure, but among fans of some indy rock bands, there must be the similar 'erai-hito-hierarchy' system.

As it is mentioned in the first paragraph, it'll be still beneficial if this 'erai-hit-hierarchy' does good to attract new fans. But in reality, this kind of otaku community tends to become just a obstacle to promote the group. The old exclude newbies, and newbies envies the old. And the most disappointing point is that there are only a few 'erai-hitos' who can work and do something good to the group. If you can understand that only if you search for the fan sites and fan blogs on the web and realize how poor they are. Ironically, for some minor groups, the only fan sites exist in foreign countries, in foreign language(!).

It's very contrary to anime otakus' world. Different from idol otakus, anime otakus seem love to let the others know the thing they love. They are always desperate to promote the thing they love, and recommend something persistently just like the believers of a cult. This tendency is also seen among Morning Musume otakus.

However, those efforts result in a huge success. Those persistent advertisements could bring this crappy wonderful song into the grid of Oricon #2 !!!

The grestest Oricon Weekly #2 Song in History!!!!

Motteke Sailor-fuku

*We should also notice and respect the 'creativity' of those anime otakus, who creates tons of MAD movies to promote the song, though.

Maybe underground idol world needs Koizumi to destroy the old structure. I'd been looking forward to the appearance of Messiah who changes the whole idol world by her performance, but it seems Messiah should be born among fans. Or, just like it was a pressure from American Neoconservatism that motivated Koizumi, more pressures from foreign countries may be needed.

Until the appearance Koizumi Ota-ichiro, I'll take a refuge. It doesn't mean I was attracted by the Oricon #2 anime song, but now I'm feeling the infinite possibility among J-HIP-HOP world.

So, unfortunately, I have to say, when the readers of this blog come to Japan and visit that kind of events, the chance that the writer of this blog will be there is very little.

But don't have to worry. I'll leave the magical words here. When you visit the venue of concert or events, you'd better ask:

(For female idol groupfans)
ここのえらい人はどこですか？"Where is erai-hito here?"
(For male idol group fans)
ここのトップさんはどこですか？"Where is erai-hito here?"

It'll be better if you can add, "Excuse me, but I'm shinzan here, ..." before you ask them. Then kind fans maybe introduce you to the greatest preson in the venue. As he is called a such, he must be a generous person. But don't forget this is the begining of your life as a fuxk-off 'erai-hito-hierarchy.' Once you get trapped, you can't escape.