(the) Road to the Deep East

As many knows, an ex-member of Morning Musume, who was taking a leave of absence after a scandal, Kago Ai, 20 year-old, has already come back to show business. After she confessed her painful memories during her break in some TV shows, she started her blog, and it looks she is wishing to become an actress now.

However, recently, a tragedy ocurred on this blog. She mentioned about the movie 'Almost Famous' (Japanese title 'Ano koro Penny Rain to') she watched , and she compared herself with the main character in this movie.

Then, one reader noticed that what she described on this entry was exactly same as the review from the official Website of this movie.

Kago says:
'It's very difficult to become an adult. I still have an anxiety. Sometimes I have rush it when it is no need to be in such a hurry. But 'the main character in this movie is always trying hard, and trying to be honest. And adults around her are attracted by her fairness with love.'

And Sony Pictures says:
'(She is) Always honest. And her fairness and honesty with love attracts adults around her. '

Some evil people regarded this as plagiarism, and now Kago-chan's blog is being closed for too many accesses from these people.

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...Personally, I don't think this is plagiarism. Many people enjoy watching movies, but not everybody thinks about it in its own words. Most of the audience just thinks about the theme exactly same as some reviewers or commercial films say. 'Oh, certainly, the main character is honest!!' ... and felt like he or she could understand the philosophy of the work.

Look around, and talk with your friends who are not interested in arts, about some artistic works. How many people will talks about an art in their own words, from their own perspective? Many common and sane people don't have enough time to delve into the arts. Official reviews provide them the words to enjoy instead of them. If they call this kind of reference plagiarism, movie companies have to ban all the comments from common people who talk about the movie with these words.

Of course, if a professional writer does this, he or she should be blamed as a plagiarist., But it's just a comment from a woman, who hadn't graduated even a high school... so, what's wrong? Just overlook it or laugh at her silliness, if you want.

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...But the scandal actually intrigued me was not this plagiarism, or nit-picking. In another entry, Kago-chan said, 'I don't have money', with some pictures. However, one reader found that the washer in Kago's house is actually 380,000 yens.($3,800) And then he shouted, 'Hey!! You are not poor!!'

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This washer is the Imported one from White-Westing house. And certainly, as he claims, this washer is being sold at that price in Japan. It's sure this washer is a kind of luxury model, and at least Kago chan has a 380,000 yens of assets, even if she bought it when she was still active as a member of W or Morning Musume.
http://www.tsunashimashoji.co.jp/tsunashima/www/seihin/itiran_laundry.htm

However, interestingly, when I searched the official Website of original White-Westinghouse, I couldn't find the one which is as expensive as Kago-chan's laundry. There were similar models, but its price was just around $1,000, never be over $3,000 like Kago-chan model.

Is this company producing special luxury model for Japanese market? Or... just selling the same products at the highest price? I'm not sure, but the one thing I can say is that the models sold at $1,000 in the United States or Canada is not available in Japan, but only over $3,000 models are available.

I thought it's very interesting. As far as I saw the catalog, it looks there are more reliable and less expensive models from Japanese companies. I think if we pay $3,000 for Japanese washing machine, it will speak 5 languages and suggests you which day you should wash clothes, collecting the data from the Internet. (*Remember, in this country, even a bending machine can speak. )

But for some rich people, it seems the ones imported from the United States look better than Japanese ones, and those Western electric equipments are still a symbol of richness, just like it's stil being in 60s, and some people can pay nearly $4,000 for it, even if it doesn't understand any language.

It reminds me of a tale of Ruson Tsubo. About 400 years ago, soon after Japan was discovered by a Westerner, one Japanese merchant visited Luzon Island, and found some pots used in a local village. Althogh these pots were just very common daily products among Philippines at that time, but he thought they can become a good teapots used in Japanese tea ceremony. Then, he imported those pots, and sold them to daimyos, powerful feudal rulers at that time, naming these pots, Ruson Tsubo(Luzon pots)' at the highest price, and earned a lot. It's 21 century version of Ruson Tsubo. America Sentakki.(Washer)

Anyway, I think one of the interesting point of blogging is that we can learn about the life we never experienced from others' . Now, I could know about one stupid life of Japanese rich people. I wish Kago chan will continue her blog, and introduce us such topics, even if she comes out she is actually rich.