(the) Road to the Deep East

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.

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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.