( ^.^)( -.-)( _ _) ドウモ〜♪

How to be a Japanese Pop Idol

nobody@vox.com(Trish) — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 07:26:07 -0700

Not as difficult as it sounds if you have the looks.

While becoming a celebrity in any other country is next to impossible, the situation is absolutely different in Japan. To even get to act in your town's theater or to get featured in a magazine or an opportunity to sing on the radio - these opportunities are generally very competitive since you are forced to compete with people who have real talent. Interestingly, while the path to becoming a celebrity is long, frustrating, and painful, once you make it, you are all set for at least a few years. Actually so long that you can call it a career and some people will look at your face on TV and say that they have known you for a while. In other words, you can compare to the situation to becoming an American Idol.

How does it work in Japan?

Becoming an idol (or several versions of an idol in form of a model, talent, AV idol, movie actress, singer, race queen, etc.) in Japan has less to do with real talent but more to do with how marketable the person is. The companies active in using idols/talents to market products will take care of the rest. Once an individual is identified as a potential idol material and experiences some initial success, hundreds of people who work behind the screens will take care of everything else that a typical creative person is expected to. For instance, someone will compose the lyrics and music and all you are expected to do is to sing it. Is the song really a classic? It doesn't matter since it is possible to coordinate how many times that song is played and how the CD is marketed.

We analyzed how some of the idols have been made. Kazumi Murata, Mamiko Mise, Miho Kiuchi, Seiko Matsuda, Kyoko Fukada, Namie Amuro, Senna Matsuda, Gackt, Kaori Ohara, SMAP, Kinki Kids, and many others idols show some common features:

* Singing skills, at least for a karaoke party

* Dancing skills sufficient to move the body with the music

* Good looks that make the individual different in some ways in a country that is so homogeneous

However, it is interesting to note that some idols became idols simply based on one attribute - Namie Amuro looked ordinary in a country where everybody wants to look beautiful, Kyoko Fukada is just too cute, Kaori Ohara and Senna Matsuda have large tops, and the SMAP members have an un-Japanese attitude. The same can be said for the limited success that non-Japanese have had in becoming 'idols' in Japan. If you are an attractive Caucasian, you are hired regardless of your talents.

While a lot of people outside of Japan are still not aware of the Kano sisters, two women who claim to be sisters - Kyoko and Mika, they are the hottest idols in Japan at this time. These women call themselves as lifestyle consultants but are better known for their looks, especially their attractive bodies. Kyoko's chest size is 96 cm (38 inches) while Mika is slightly bigger at 98 cm (39 inches) and both of them have no embarrassment in showing it all off. In fact they have released a coffee table book by a simple title "Fabulous Body" that reportedly shows it all. The question that is very commonly asked by aspiring foreign models in Japan, "Is it possible to become a star just based on size?" can be answered by the success of Kano Sisters. These two ladies have no hesitation in taking their clothes off for the sake of publicity so that they can then stand up in front of hundreds of women who pay up to $250 to listen to their advice to how to sleep well.

The two sisters also maintain some degree of enigma about their origins and their lives so that the media has plenty to speculate about them. Surprisingly, despite the popularity of such female idols mostly among middle-aged Japanese salarymen, Kano Sisters are more popular among fashionable Japanese women.

While we continue to believe that being an idol in Japan is a combination of a nice body, some basic skills, and lots of luck, the success of Kano Sisters has been rather unusual in the sense that they have managed their own success and no one has brought them to their pinnacle by clever marketing. Does it change the rules of the game to become an idol in Japan? Is there a trend that can be seen? Probably not.

Source:

http://www.mynippon.com/culture/japanese_idol.htm

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[Duet] May 2008

nobody@vox.com(Trish) — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 23:51:47 -0700

うまちゃんｰｰ!! ヾ(*ﾟ▽ﾟ)ﾉ

ヾ(〃￣￣￣￣▽￣￣￣￣〃)ﾉﾊﾛﾊﾛｰ♪!
再び、うまちゃんのインタビューです~♪!

Q: How would you describe your personality?
A: I’m calm. I’m not hasty or restless often and that’s why people often say “Haruma time is passing”.

Q: What are you most crazed about right now?
A: Games. I’m into PSP’s “Monster Hunter” right now and I was talking with Gokusen co-stars that we should all play that together someday.

Q: Tell us what you always carry with you!
A: Something like manga, wallet, and iPod. For manga, I’m reading “Close” and “Kyou kara bokuwa!! [From today on I am!!]”.

Q: What’s your favorite type of girl?
A: A person with black hair, is something that haven’t changed. For personality wise, I haven’t had anything in common with the people I thought was wonderful, so I can’t say “that type of person”. But, I think I would be nervous if I was with someone opposite of me who is very restless person.

Q: What do you want to do most right now?
A: Soccer! There isn’t much open space in metropolitan area so, I haven’t played in a long time.

Q: If you were to give us your weakness?
A: I can’t stand female mantis. When they get mad, they lift their front legs and bottom. I can’t stand it because I’m really scared.

Q: What symbol do you often use on your cell phone?
A: The symbol (horse). It’s just because my name is “Haruma” (laughs). I put at the end even if it has nothing to do with the subject. Also, I sometimes put to my guy friends as a joke (laughs). Basically, I don’t use symbols that often.

Q: At what moment do you feel happy?
A: When I’m eating food. I sometimes eat food that I cooked with my friends and that’s when I feel the happiness. The other day, for the first time in my life I cut a squid and cooked it.

Q: Tell us a memorable story that happened on your birthday!
A: Last year, my parents bought me a cake and we ate it together and other than that I don’t have any. For once, I think I want to celebrate my birthday at my work. I never had one of those timings. Just imaging it makes me feel dandy (laughs).

Q: What is your favorite motto?
A: “Pleasantly enjoy”. The recording for “Gokusen” have started and from the recording onwards I would like to work with that kind of feeling with me always. It is my favorite motto and it is also my goal from now on.

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[Popolo] July 18, 2007

nobody@vox.com(Trish) — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 23:34:12 -0700

( ^ _ ^)∠☆PAN！

三浦春馬インタビューです~♪!

1. Three things he looks for in his girlfriend

- Black Hair
- humble/conservative
- Kind-hearted
" The girls I've liked are usually have black hair. I might be too pressurized or overpowered so I prefer humble and conservative. (laughs) When I'm with someone kind, I feel a sense of happiness."

2. Three members in the family

- Noisy and fun family
"Father, mother and I. Just what I feel personally but my family is fun and noisy. My father likes to tease my mother, so once in a while I also join in"

3. Four pets

- Gets really attached (laughs)
"I have 2 dogs, 2 cats so in total 4! We had them since I was really young. Really, being with them makes me really attached to them."

4. About five buddies

- We enjoy playing billiards
"When all my buddies gather, we almost always play billiards. There, we talk about the happenings in our lives and enjoy each other company"

5. A hundred in my manga collection

- In short, totally in love with manga!
"Recently, I read between drama shoots and when on the road. The genres I like are sports and yankee, etc. "Hajime no Ippo" is like my Bible and lately I am really into "Crows"."

6. Number of times been to Yuzu's Live... ZERO!

- I want to go to one this year!
"Frankly speaking, I've not been to any. Up till this year, I am just contented with watching the Live DVD. This year, I will make sure I go to one!"

7. Guitar repertoire is about twenty songs

- This was also shown in Yuzu's PV
"All are Yuzu's songs. I have mastered from the minor songs to the major ones. First song I could play was "Natsuiro". I actually was given the opportunity to cast as a young man in Yuzu's "Umaku Ienai" PV playing the guitar. The song I played at the shoot was "Eiko no Kakehashi". SO if you have the chance to watch the PV, please put attention on my mouth. I was mouthing to the lyrics of "Eiko no Kakehashi".

8. About a hundred and twenty items in my Mobile's address book

- I also have the numbers of the people from the drama
"Mostly my friends, and family members. Of course, that includes the buddies from the drama. We'll be like "What time's the shooting tomorrow?", just like how real friends in school communicate. (laughs)

9. Number of mobile messages received per day is five to twenty

- Using horse's pictograph
"At the least time, it is about 5, when there's a lot, there's about 20. I used to use a lot of pictograph but not so much now. But, the one i used to use a lot is using "Haruma" into a "Uma" pictograph. When I'm happy or at the end of the message exchange I will put it like a trademark sign."

10. Average sleep time: FIVE HOURS

- Falls asleep easily but waking up is bad.
"Since there's drama shooting, its about 5 hours average. Usually it is about 6 and half to 7 hours. Falls asleep easily. Really in a flash I will crash into the bed n fall asleep. But waking up is bad (bitter laugh). I usually try to wake up when there's work but when there's nothing on, I just slack off. (laughs) It's especially difficult in winter, I can hardly get out of the futon. I use my mobile to wake me up instead of alarm clock."

11. Takes forty-five minutes from waking up to getting out of the house.

- firstly, I will stare into space for a while.
" First I go to the toilet, then I stare into space/day dream for a while. This is the part that takes the longest time (laughs). I'm the breakfast type. When I'm running late for school, I might once in a while skip breakfast. (bitter laugh)

12. Bath time: fifteen minutes

- I also read manga in the bath.
" Recently I only take shower. But what I really think is ideal would be soaking in a nice bath. Now I am so busy, so I don't really have time for that though. When I soak in the bath, most likely i'll read manga. Sometimes I get so engrossed in the sotry I get dizzy from the bath. (laughs)"

13. Percentage Body Fats: thirteen percent

- I'm training up my body.
"My body weight doesnt change much. So I also dont do anything special to maintain my weight. But I train up my muscles. I started when I was preparing character of "Nanako". My back ache was cured. (laughs) It really works to stretch out your back and maintain at position for a minute. I still do it before I sleep."

14. Eye sight is twenty for both eyes.

- My eyes are good!
"Even as I read alot of manga and play alot of games...(laughs) It has been 20 since I was young."

15. Amount of cash on hand is eight thousand yen today

- Usually it is about 3000 yen and below (laughs)
"I don't walk around with so much cash usually. When I go to school it will be 3000 or less. Today since there is work, I have along more than usual."

16. Cleans the room once or twice a month

- Clean all up at once
"It's really dirty, sorry. (laugh). I'm not really good at tidying and cleaning. Once in a blue moon I just do a major clean up once and for all."

17. Time needed to cook is twenty minutes

- It's fun cooking with friends.
"I don't usually cook but when I go over to my friend's house, we will cook. Chicken Karaage and yellow tail teriyaki, etc. Full-scaled dishes. And its tasty. I enjoy chatting with friends while cooking."

18. About twenty pairs of underpants

- Like green underpants
"At the "Binbou Danshi" shooting, it was quite the in thing to give underpants to me as present. That's why I have quite alot of them now. (laughs). The one I like most is the one from Oguri Shun san, the green underpants."

LOOK INTO THE BAG! - Album Haruma is into right now

- Recently I have been listening to it alot
"Yuzu's newest album called "Wonderful World". Recommended would be "Umaku Ienai" which I have appeared in the PV. (laughs). Watch and feel the drama and the music together and you will get yourself hooked to the song and the feelings. It's my current "My Happy Tune"."

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「俺たちの青春」- 高木雄也

nobody@vox.com(Trish) — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 00:08:08 -0700

If you're copying, please link to me. :) Thank you!

LYRICS

ROMAJI:

Oretachi No Seishun
by Takaki Yuya

Oretachi ima shika
dekinai koto ga aru no sa sore wo
Kudaranai koto dato
muda na koto dato iwasenai

Taiyou yori mabushi imo no
Me wo toji teite mo mune made atsuku naru

Yuujou wakari aeru yatsu
Kanjou butsuke aeru yatsu
Inochi moyashite ikite iru
Oretachi ga koko ni iru
Kokoro wo zawatsuka seta mama
Kisetsu wa sugiyou to shiteru
Subete ga kawaru sono mae ni
Nani ka wo kae takute hashitta

Oretachi doko made
Itte mo doko ni mo ikenai you na
Kibun de itsumo no
Basho ni omoi wo tokihanatsu

Oka no uede miorosu machi
Chippoke na oretachi to hateshinai sora

Yuujou kesshite kowarenai
Junjou kizutsuki nagaramo
Kakegae no nai kono toki wo
Tomoni koeru koto no imi
Konna itami mo ashita ni wa
Kieru no kamo shirenai kedo
Matenai no sa oretachi ni wa
Ima shika deki nai koto ga aru

Oretachi No Seishun

KANJI:

「俺たちの青春」- 高木雄也

俺たち　今しか
できないことがあるのさ　それを
くだらないことだと
無駄なことだと言わせない

太陽よりまぶしいもの
目を閉じていても胸まで熱くなる

友情　わかり合えるヤツ
感情　ぶつけ合えるヤツ
命燃やして生きている
俺たちがここにいる
心をざわつかせたまま
季節は過ぎようとしてる
全てが変わるその前に
何かを変えたくて走った

俺たち　どこまで
行ってもどこにも行けないような
気分で　いつもの
場所に思いを解き放つ

丘の上で見下ろす街
ちっぽけな俺たちと果てしない空

友情　けっして壊れない
純情　傷つきながらも
かけがえのないこの時を
共に越えることの意味
こんな痛みも　明日には
消えるのかもしれないけど
待てないのさ　俺たちには
今しかできないことがある

俺たちの青春

Btw, this song is the insert song for Gokusen Season 3.

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Always Switch ;)

nobody@vox.com(Trish) — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 20:36:54 -0700

It's the door thing in 21. HAHAHA. Statistics yo. ;) Watch the movie, I think it's über cool.

Imagine that you are in a game show. There are three closed doors. Behind one of these doors is a car; behind the other two are goats. You do not know where the car is, but the host does.

The hosts asks you to pick a door and the host opens one of the remaining doors, one he knows doesn't hide the car. If you have already chosen the correct door, the host is equally likely to open either of the two remaining doors.

After the host has shown a goat behind the door that he opens, you are always given the option to switch doors. What is the probability of winning the car if you stay with your first choice? What if you decide to switch?

We will assume that there is a winning door and that the two remaining doors, A and B, both have goats behind them. There are three options:

1. You first choose the door with the car behind it. You are then shown either door A or door B, which reveals a goat. If you change your choice of doors, you lose. If you stay with your original choice, you wins.

2. You first choose door A. You are then shown door B, which has a goat behind it. If you switch to the remaining door, you win the car. Otherwise, you lose.

3. You first choose door B. You are then shown door A, which has a goat behind it. If you switch to the remaining door, you win the car. Otherwise, you lose.

Each of the above three options has a 1/3 probability of occurring, because you are equally likely to begin by choosing any one of the three doors. In two of the above options (#s 2 & 3), you win the car if you switch doors; in only one of the options (#1) do you win if you do not switch doors. When you switch, you win the car twice (the number of favorable outcomes) out of three possible options (the sample space). Thus the probability of winning the car is 2/3 if you switch doors, which means that you should always switch doors.

This result of 2/3 or 66.6% may seem counterintuitive to many of us because we may believe that the probability of winning the car should be 1/2 or "50-50" once the host has shown that the car is not behind door A or door B. Many people reason that since there are two doors left, one of which must conceal the car, the probability of winning must be 50%. This would mean that switching doors would not make a difference. As shown through the three different options, however, this is not the case.

What if there were 1,000 doors? You would have a 1/1,000 chance of picking the correct door. If the host opens 998 doors, all of them with goats behind them, the door that you chose first will still have a 1/1,000 chance of being the one that conceals the car, but the other remaining door will have a 999/1,000 probability of being the door that is concealing the car. Here switching sounds like a pretty good idea.

Reference: http://mathforum.org/dr.math/faq/faq.monty.hall.html

Yeah, I'm cool like that. 8D

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( ・＿・)————∞C< ／— ＿−)／ギュイー

nobody@vox.com(Trish) — Fri, 16 May 2008 02:37:27 -0700

三浦春馬

Miura Haruma
Actor and Singer
Birthdate: April 5, 1990 (Aries)
Birthplace: Ibaraki, Japan
Height: 178 cm
Weight: 63 kg
Blood Type: AB
Official Website: http://www.amuse.co.jp/haruma/index.html

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Don't U Ever Stop - KAT-TUN

nobody@vox.com(Trish) — Thu, 15 May 2008 22:00:45 -0700

If you're copying, please link to me. :) Thank you!

LYRICS

ROMAJI:

Shivers of fear might come in the night
Just let it go, you'll be fine
Moments of sadness might bring you down,
Remember the word: STOP!

Daremo Shirenai STORY (What?)
Hanashite yo SLOWLY (Haaa)
Umaku ienai kedo hitori ja nai

Wasurerarenai omoi
Sono mayoi
Ore ga zenbu daite dekakeyou

Uragiri no machikado ni
Saita kimi no hana
Kanjita yoru wa shoujiki ni
Hoshigatte

DON'T YOU EVER STOP
Wakatteru, DON'T STOP
Unmei wa DON'T STOP
Daremo minna kameshimete iru
STOP (STOP), kizu tsuite TOP (TOP)
Kono machi ni akogarete mayoikonda

Futari yoru kazoete koko de ikite kita
Kore ga saigo no koi dakara massugu mitusmete
DON'T YOU EVER STOP

I WANNA TELL YOU SECRETS
Ichido kiri no
PARTY hajimaru TONIGHT TONIGHT

Ushinau mono naize
Modorenai ze
Subete wo kakete LET THE SHOW BEGIN

Tamerai no roji ura ni yureru kimi no hana
Wakatteru koto wa iwanaide munashii dake

DON'T YOU EVER STOP
Wakatteru, DON'T STOP
Unmei wa DON'T STOP
Daremo minna kameshimete iru
STOP (STOP), kizu tsuite TOP (TOP)
Tabidatta ano hi kara

DON'T YOU EVER STOP
Wakatteru, DON'T STOP
Unmei wa DON'T STOP
Daremo minna kameshimete iru
STOP (STOP), kizu tsuite TOP (TOP)
Massugu ni mitsumete
DON'T YOU EVER STOP

Are you ready?
Hahaha, hell yeah.

From Chiba saiko rappaa nai ze hanpa
Kyou mo NUMBER ONE wa yappa wakare ANSWER
Po po tomete mina narasu SIREN
Honmono katazu nomi unarasu SILENT
YEAH hi no maru seoi, LOCK ON, ikiro ROCK michi
Gaki no koro egaiteta dasai otona ni

DON'T YOU EVER STOP (Anybody home? Knock! Knock! Knock!)
Wakatteru, DON'T STOP
Unmei wa DON'T STOP (Yeah Ever stop Never stop Come on Don't stop baby)
Daremo minna kameshimete iru
STOP, kizu tsuite TOP (TOP) (1985 jikoku rei jidai from Asia East side hisometa)
Tabidatta ano hi kara
DON'T YOU EVER STOP
(DON'T YOU EVER STOP)

Massugu ni mistumete
DON'T YOU EVER STOP

STOP!

KANJI:

Shivers of fear might come in the night
Just let it go, you'll be fine
Moments of sadness might bring you down,
Remember the word: STOP!

誰も知らない story (what)
話してよ slowly (haa)
上手く言えないけど
一人じゃない

忘れられない思い
その迷い
俺が全部抱いて
出かけよう

裏切りの街角に
咲いた君の花
感じた夜は正直に
欲しがって

DON'T U EVER STOP
分かってるDON'T STOP
運命はDON'T STOP
誰もみんなかみ締めている
STOP（STOP）傷ついて
TOP（TOP）この街に憧れて
迷い込んだ

ふたり夜数えて
ここで生きてきた
これが最後の恋だから
まっすぐにみつめて
DON'T U EVER STOP

I wanna tell you secrets
一度きりのPARTY始まる
tonight tonight

失うもの無いぜ
戻れないぜ
全てを賭けて
Let the show begin

ためらいの路地裏に
揺れる君の花

分かってることは
言わないで
空しいだけ

DON'T U EVER STOP
分かってるDON'T STOP
運命はDON'T STOP
誰もみんなかみ締めている
STOP（STOP）傷ついて
TOP（TOP）旅立ったあの日から
DON'T U EVER STOP
分かってるDON'T STOP
運命はDON'T STOP
誰もみんなかみ締めている
STOP（STOP）傷ついて
TOP（TOP）まっすぐにみつめて
DON'T U EVER STOP

Are you ready?
Hahaha, hell yeah.

From千葉最高ラッパーないぜ半端
今日もNO.1はやっぱ分かれAnswer
PoPo止めてみな鳴らすサイレン
本物固唾のみうならすSilent
Yeah日の丸背負いLock on生きるRock道
ガキの頃描いてたダサい大人に

DON'T U EVER STOP（Anybody home? Knock! Knock! Knock!）
分かってるDON'T STOP
運命はDON'T STOP（Yeah Ever stop Never stop Come on Don't stop baby）
誰もみんなかみしめている
STOP（STOP）傷ついて
TOP（TOP）旅立ったあの日から
DON'T U EVER STOP
(DON'T U EVER STOP)

まっすぐにみみつめて
DON'T U EVER STOP

STOP!

ENGLISH TRANSLATION:

Shivers of fear might come in the night
Just let it go, you'll be fine
Moments of sadness might bring you down,
Remember the word: STOP!

Let us talk slowly
About a story nobody knows
I can’t say it well enough, but
You’re not alone

That unforgettable memory
That hestitation
I’m gonna holding them tight
And leave

At the street corner of betrayal
Your blossomed flower
Honestly, I’m yearning for
The night I could really feel it

DON'T U EVER STOP
I know it. DON’T STOP
No matter who they are DON’T STOP
People reflect on their fate.
STOP (STOP) I’m wounded,
TOP (TOP) While longing for this city
I lost my way.

I’ve been living here
Counting our nights together.
Since it’s the last love
I’m straightforwardly fixing my eyes on you.
DON'T U EVER STOP

I wanna tell you secrets
Please let this one time party begin
Tonight Tonight

I have nothing to lose
I can’t come back
I’m betting on everything
Let the show begin!

At the end of the alley of hestitation
Your trembling flower

It’s just vain
To know things
Without being able to voice them out.

DON'T U EVER STOP
I know it. DON’T STOP
No matter who they are DON’T STOP
People reflect on their fate.
STOP (STOP) I’m wounded,
TOP (TOP) Since the day we started off
DON'T U EVER STOP
I know it DON’T STOP
No matter who they are DON’T STOP
People reflect on their fate.
STOP (STOP) I’m wounded,
TOP (TOP) I’m straightforwardly fixing my eyes on you
DON'T U EVER STOP

Are you ready?
Hahaha, hell yeah.

That from Chiba there’s no great rapper is a bad joke
Today too, we all know the answer to No.1
Po Po try stopping the chiming siren
Holding back the tense breaths of truth, growl and be silent
Yeah, with the Rising Sun flag on shoulder, Lock on, live the Rock way
The tasteless aduts we drew when smal

DON'T U EVER STOP (Anybody home? Knock! Knock! Knock!)
I know it. DON’T STOP
No matter who they are DON’T STOP (Yeah Ever stop Never stop Come on Don't stop baby)
People reflect on their fate.
STOP (STOP) I’m wounded,
TOP (TOP) Since the day we started off (The start of 1985 from Asia's East side is a hidden expectation)
DON'T U EVER STOP
(DON'T U EVER STOP)

I’m straightforwardly fixing my eyes on you
DON'T U EVER STOP

STOP!

----------

PLAY:

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( ^.^)( -.-)( _ _) ドウモ〜♪

How to be a Japanese Pop Idol

[Duet] May 2008

[Popolo] July 18, 2007

「俺たちの青春」- 高木雄也

Always Switch ;)

( ・＿・)————∞C< ／— ＿−)／ ギュイー

Don't U Ever Stop - KAT-TUN

( ・＿・)————∞C< ／— ＿−)／ギュイー