[TRANS] 100902 K-pop Girl Group Boom in Japan, and Tohoshinki

[TRANS] 100902
K-pop Girl Group Boom in Japan, and Tohoshinki
by
Oricon's Editor-in-Chief


QUOTE




The other day, I
successfully had some interviews with Korean TV stations MBC and SBS.
The content of the interviews were, "Why are Korean girl groups so
popular in Japan?" This spring, 4Minute debuted in Korea with a great
standing; KARA debuted with "Mister", becoming the first foreign girl
group to enter Oricon TOP 5 in the last 30 years; SNSD took the 4th spot
in the DVD ranking - with all the first achievements that Korean girl
groups already made, it's undeniable that the force from K-pop girl
groups are very powerful. Moreover, their popularity was again shown by
the amount of 22,000 audience members who attended the 3-session
showcase of SNSD at Ariake Colosseum. Korean media also pays a lot of
attention to this topic.

What on Earth is the secret of this
popularity? I asked this NHK producer Ishihara PD's opinion on this
topic to write the Korean Girl Group Sepcial Issue on Oricon in June.
Ishihara PD is a person who is greatly acknowledged by the industry;
and he is an expert of K-pop, idols, anime, voice actors/actresses and
even Visual Kei (Japanese visual rock). That's why on the programs that
he produced (MUSIC JAPAN, etc.), he always shows what is currently
happening in the music scene and satisfies the fans as well as the just
from observing the great sales of K-pop products, I am sure that his
prediction has become true. Reading every single piece of information,
checking the trend in CD stores and seeing how the K-pop corner has been
expanded in the stores, I have come to understand a lot about the music
scene now.

Of course, my understanding and knowledge are still
nothing compared to Ishihara PD. That's why I don't think my writing
would be completely persuasive. However, from going to see SNSD and
KARA's events and witnessing their popularity, I was shocked and asked
myself, "Why is this popularity!?" It's amazing how the groups targeted
on young female fans knowing that they would sell well, because from
watching, 80%-90% of their fans are young females. People would think
it's a relief that the female fans are supportive towards girl groups
like SNSD and KARA; but in contrast, the female fans must be drawn into
them because they are good-looking and cute with polished dances and
catchy songs. Moreover, would we consider the groups' fashion sense and
makeup style another secret of attracting female fans?

Japan
is already accepting Korean dramas and music. However, among all the
factors, one person who is undeniably contributed a lot to the
development and maturity of K-pop market in Japan is no one but
Tohoshinki. Besides them, there are also a lot more male groups, but
Tohoshinki is just extraordinary. Unfortunately right now, their group's
activities have been on hold, and each member is creating each own
standing with individual activities. Of course each member is also
greatly popular, but many fans love the 5 of them as Tohoshinki
together. Their fans are probably suffering right now and that has
caused a big loss in their hearts. Since the fans are mostly females in
their 10s-20s, is that why they are paying attention to girl groups now?
It's just my own thinking but…. If not, would the girl groups be able
to sell 30,000 CDs and DVDs and attract 20,000 people to their events by
themselves? Of course it's just my own opinion…….

From now
on, there will be more K-pop girl groups to debut in Japan, but just
like Ishihara PD has wondered - How much Japanese would they be able to
speak? Would they come out with good songs in Japanese? Would the groups
that already established themselves with heavy music and powerful dance
continue to sell with their concept like that? There are a lot of
approaches to this topic, but putting them aside and coming back to the
Japanese music scene, what would Japanese artists do in order to compete
against the high-leveled Korean girl groups?

…… But wouldn't it
be fine not to compete against them!? No, with the rate that the CD
market is growing, there's perhaps no choice but to have the artists
compete for fans. Moreover, besides girl groups, popular Korean
pretty-boy groups are also expressing their interests of debuting in
Japan, and K-pop will make their way in to influence the Japanese music
market.

J-pop shouldn't be careless.


Source: Oricon
Translation:
linhkawaii @ OneTVXQ.com
Credits: OneTVXQ.com { One World.
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