Fanservice

[scottishlass]

I think it was dangermousie who once asked in a thread over on dorama_chat if fanservice has always been so strong in Japanese pop idol culture and some of us were not sure, especially as we were all more or less drooling over shirtless Yamapi and/or Kame pics at that time.

BUT!!

There was fanservice - even SMAP did it. And I don't mean the casual ripping open of shirt as we are used to with them in concerts ... NOOOO! I mean short shorts tiny vests and lots of skin. Think Village People builder man going SM!! LOL
I just watched the Sexy Six Concert (1994) and there was a very disturbing dance/song duet with Takuya and Mori and ... err... well let's see for yourself ... if that isn't fanservice (though I think my eyes are bleeding) than I don't know :)








Oh and yes, they are NOT synchronized - and it is Tsuyoshi and Goro who are a beat too late EVERY time.

Comments

[alexandral.livejournal.com]

EEEEEEEEEEE! The last time I laughed so much was when dangermousie did that "hairy chest" post. This is so hilarious. But I can't help but notice Takuya's willowy figure. :D

[scottishlass.livejournal.com]

Yes, he is soooo slight, but you can see in the concert that he has very muscular thighs :D~~

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

It's first thing in the morning, I am exhausted from little sleep.

But it does not matter.

Because I am laughing so hard I am gasping for air.

Oh. My. God.

ROFL.

[scottishlass.livejournal.com]

It's hilarious isn't it? I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw this. I really need to rip this, it is just sooooo embarrassing :)

[rika-66.livejournal.com]

Oh, my gash... I didn't see it before. OOPS! Yeah, this IS a fanservice, that's it! What else? Even a bit vulgar to my taste...
But you make me laugh, Una! They look so funny there! If this is 1994, they are about 20+ already, but Takuya still looks like a teen kid.

But my, my, young Takuya... how it is possible for a man to have better legs than most of us, girls? :D I'm envy.

[scottishlass.livejournal.com]

WHat I cannot really bend my mind around is that it is the same year they all did that teen/football movie Shoot! and they all looked like kids there, and here, Taku-chan with 20 looks slightly more his age and then WHAM! a year later he did Kimi wo wasurenai (Fly, Boys, Fly) and he looked in his mid twenties.
And yeah it is a bit vulgar - that is more fanservice for gay fans.

[rika-66.livejournal.com]

And yeah it is a bit vulgar - that is more fanservice for gay fans.

That's exactly what I mean. And sincerely saying, this disturbs me a lot. Also because of it I dislike so much SMAP teen pics - when I look at them I always ask myself: whom are their target audience - teen girls or grown-up men who prefer young boys.

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

Hmmm. That's what disturbs me about a lot of JE in general. (Well, the concept of JE acutally freaks me out in itself, but that's another matter).

[rika-66.livejournal.com]

That's what disturbs me about a lot of JE in general
Completely agree.
Telling the truth, I hate JE. There are too many things about this agency and its boss, that feel disgusting for me.

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

There are too many things about this agency and its boss, that feel disgusting for me.

Exactly.

It really creeps me out, in a sort of 'if these people were under 18, I'd get the cops involved' kinda way.

[scottishlass.livejournal.com]

Yeah, JE is more than dubious and with all those allegations and out of court settlements in the 90s I can't help but think that there is never smoke without a fire. The fact that JE only has male talents is already highly strange, but that they are so young when they are hired ... it gives me the creeps. Next year SMAP will be with JE for 20 years ... that means they have been with and under the influence of Kitigawa for more than their lives. Shingo was 10/11, Kimura and Nakai 15, Tsuyoshi 12 and Goro 13 when they entered JE and became first the Skaterboys and then in 1989 SMAP. Creepy.

[rika-66.livejournal.com]

they have been with and under the influence of Kitigawa for more than their lives

Yeah, it makes me sad when I think about it. :(
If some of them managed to keep themselves normal, well balanced persons this is an achievement.