Japanese Girl Band AKB48 Spices it Up

[TaufikWidyanto]

AKB48 is not GIRLBAND, ,But IDOL GRUP

[katsuhito13takimoto]

AKB48 still be the one and only in my life

[younomehomie]

they got 62 million hits

[LeoCurrently]

KIS REACT TO AKB48!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[TheAlcanboy]

Why AKB48 is so popular in Asia? Very simple. They deliver *positive* messages and promote *positive* feelings in people! That's why their fan basis consists of men and women of all age groups. I'm just surprised see that these prestigious WSJ reporters don't seem to even know about that...

[MrPanduhhh]

looks like softcore porn? so US music videos must look like hardcore porn then? LOL

[arkroyalhms]

I think, this report is missing the essence of AKB!! Heavy Rotation has NOTHING OF SOFT PORN, Its true that lots of man likes AKB but also many women do!! Also you could have look for Kaze wa Fuiteiru, best selling single album in day in Oricon history, if they wanted referals about AKB. Though they-WSJ-did an interview with Aki-P, which kinda redemes this BAD analysis of AKB!!!!

[teknus2000]

(sorry for my bad english) May be someone say it first but, AKB48 are 48 girls, not 92, or they are really 92?

[SaintStreetFightHS]

@teknus2000 Well, there are only 59 official members right now. But if you count the 33 kenkyuusei (trainees), then there would be 92 members.

Even though they aren't actual members yet, I feel the kenkyuusei deserve to be acknowledged, because they work hard performing in the Theater while the more popular members are busy with their own projects. For example, in 2011 Izuta Rina, 10th Generation Kenkyuusei, performed 179 times in the Theater, while Acchan performed only 9 times.

[Eosuki]

Doesn't matter what country or culture you're from, Heavy Rotation still looks like softporn.

[Ryuga11]

@Eosuki lol to you maybe. maybe not to us.

[Abqarinooo]

i think most of their songs are great and very meaningful such as beginner, sakura no ki ni narou, kaze wa fuiteiru and show their cute side with bikinis like Ponytail to shushu and everyday kachuusha and i think they are the BEST!!!

[sheix0]

@ChikaChiii

kurumi wasn't about teen prostitution, more about thinking of sex for the first time. since team a girls are over 18, aki p said he wanted to write "realistic" songs about real life situation. seifuku was the only one about enjou kosai but they weren't supporting it, rather giving awareness to the situation. like how keibetsu was giving awareness to bully/depression/suicide.

[writerserenyty]

Don't know if anyone from the writing team is reading this, but I actually wrote a paper about the sexuality as seen in AKB48 for a course I took in college (my Mass Media and Popular Culture course). I uploaded it to my Japanese pop idol blog. Can't link it, but search for "Happy Disco" and it's the post entitled "Japanese Pop Idols: Sexuality as Subversion"

Thought it might be an interesting read, all things considered.

[writerserenyty]

@ChikaChiii Also, Seifuku ga Jama wo Suru may be about teenage prostitution, but it doesn't SUPPORT it; if you watch the music video it's very much against it. It's from the same era in AKB48's history as Keibetsu Shiteita Aijou, which is a very moving song/video about teenage suicide. In these songs/videos, it merely doesn't sugar coat the teenage experience.

[writerserenyty]

Also, the AKB48 theater audience does not equal AKB's audience in general. The majority of fans have never been to the theater, which tends to appeal to the original audience. Furthermore, there are often live events/shows that are female-only, which are much easier to get into than the stage shows.

[AliyahKaulitz]

-.- I feel like they don't give us fangirls a chance to shine. I'm a girl and love them xD

[writerserenyty]

Lost me at "soft-porn". Keeping classy, WSJ.

Honestly, how hard would it have been for you to speak with fans? I'm a 20 year old, female American fan of AKB48, and I'm only one of many English-speaking fans who would be happy to talk about a group we love. It would be better reporting than basically going "Oh Japan, a group only became popular because of sex appeal" and calling it a day when that's simply not true. Disappointed.

[NSS7]

I hate how some people think Heavy Rotation and Ponytail is the only song AKB have and then assume they wear bikini or lingerie all the time. AKB has around 60 pv so far and only 5 pv in that category. 5 out 6 AKB million seller has nothing to do with bikini or lingerie.

[babelfish567]

Soft porn. lol. I wonder if this lady has looked at Lady Gaga's "Alejandro" or Enrique Iglesias's "Tonight I'm Loving You" ??? :P

[TheAlcanboy]

It is evident that these "journalists" did not do their homework at all and came up with sloppy analysis of "soft-porn" non-sense! They are so-called cultural racists! WSJ, please remove these reporters from your shows. They are disgrace to your station!

[DeadlyChinchilla]

Why is this reporter obsessed with the soft porn thing? I don't see any porn-like qualities to this group. Its like para-para on a massive scale, isn't it? Its a huge dance fad, and singing groups haven't been a "new" concept for a long time now. So where is this soft porn she apparently sees? She could have asked some intelligent questions instead of pushing the "I see perversity everywhere" tactic.

[angiepiteira]

Spice Girls?? JA, no tienen nada que ver... =/ Las Spice eran de una época y de un estilo diferente. AKB48 porque tiene exito? Pues fácil, porque son bonitas, hacen canciones muy pegadizas y recalco lo primero jajaja. ^^ AKB48 Fighting! Mariko + Yuko <3

[Dorima]

Sheer stupidity and blatant ignorance from these two "journalists". If you don't know shit about what are you reporting about please STFU.

[Fan1deZakuAbumi]

@Dorima Totally AGREE.

[TheKaiupono]

i like how he explains their video. Americans just have a different view on the way things are supposed to be done.

[kororito]

"soft porn" x) LOL

[firajung]

how could you said them as japanese ver of spice girls ?

[Strut4BL]

If AKB48 is softcore porn, then English-speaking artists (some of 'em anyway) must be actual porn.

[ShindentheGreat]

It's the law of western-based media: Anything Japanese has to be delivered in the most backhanded-way possible. No exceptions.

[tombuckchannel]

i like that they are getting some international exposure but they could have focused on the many many good things that akb48 have done for japan!

[tokyonoakihabara1]

Great I like them<3

[popCORE48]

WSJ don't know anything. =_="

This news team don't know anything

[shikamarusgirl17]

lol "Japan's version of the Spice Girls" that's such a lie... XD

And seriously... soft porn? RIGHT... >.< Like, this will be considered soft porn when hell freezes over. *sigh*

[Saetamu]

Btw, laughing at the retarded tags.

[Saetamu]

Heavy Rotation was a song that attracted more females into the fandom. If you actually researched the meaning of the song, maybe you would understand. The song is supposed to have an innocent feel when teenage girls gather with their friends to show off their new underwear, it was something like that.

Anyways, nice one Wall Street.

[ChikaruMinamoto]

*facepalm* The guy explained pretty well though.

[titaniumoxideify]

I'm really offended as an AKB fan. OMG.... I mean... I really look up to these girls and trust me... I am not a 50 year old otaku. I can't believe she thought Heavy Rotation looked like soft porn. They have awesome songs like Begninner and River that have amazing messages... she was being biased because the band wasn't American.

[gag75]

@titaniumoxideify

I know right. If it was American it would be totally normal for the girls to be wearing slutty outfits and talking about boys. But because its from another country and a little different..its perverted -_-

[rey666xyz]

Soft Porn???? What??!??? WTF are these people saying..... give me a break!!!!!

[Domo869]

Wow really soft porn? I am a AKB48 fan and i feel offended what she said, wow when she said soft porn i had to make this account just to make my statement.

Go AKB48!!

[okwatever123]

anyone get pissed? bc i know i did

[elleanorlowell]

You think Heavy Rotation is soft porn? Or are you just judging the Japanese culture based on your cultural perspective?

In Japan, it's normal for ladies to be affectionate to each other. They shower together, hug each other and if they are close enough they will kiss each other because it's cute to them and is an act of friendliness. Clearly, this news anchor thinks HebiRote = AKB48. Which is quite stupid.

Please research what you are talking about before you open yo mouth. Tyvm.

[KazuuuX3]

I just think this woman shouldn't speak when obviously she's just judging AKB by comparing with her own culture. Japan has another culture and she should understand that it's not shocking for them, if it was shocking, AKB wouldn't do this. AKB isn't trying to shock anyone in Japan, they are normal idols who just make JPOP music and they really care about all their fans, males or females. Nothing shocking in all this... :s

[KazuuuX3]

and AKB isn't soft porn, OMG =__= If it's "porn", then why are they popular with kids and teenagers too (both males and females)? I remember last month, I think it was Acchan and Yuko who were choosed as ideal moms by kids. Would kids choose porn stars as ideal moms? LOL. and even for Christmas, some AKB members met with kids... and I remember fancams of Tomochin meeting high school girls and they were all fangirling. So yeah... AKB is popular with everyone and it's not soft porn. =__=

[KazuuuX3]

Besides, Heavy Rotation was popular with women. So? and for Seifuku, she only took one of the lines out of context, duh. If you watch the MV and read the lyrics, it's about a real problem that's happening in Japan with some teenage girls... I watched a movie about this so now I get the problem. The song is not shocking at all when you actually understand why it's happening.

[KazuuuX3]

That woman really don't know what she's talking about... First of all, why did she have to mention only the controversial songs? Heavy Rotation & Seifuku =__= as if AKB didn't have any other songs... please... Beginner? River? Kaze wa fuiteiru? even Flying Get. I mean, they had the better sales with these songs, why mentioning Seifuku and Heavy Rotation?

[hohohin4101]

it is japanese culture but not porn ==

a japanese family always bath together

and sex is not a taboo subject towards japanese

[sheix0]

cont.

Japan is different culture, just cuz you don't understand doesn't mean Heavy Rotation was soft porn, in fact i rarely hear any protest about the video and in fact, AKB popular boosted among females because of that video, search "the truth about heavy rotation" on google the director explained it.

4. HOW CAN YOU NOT MENTION RIVER, BEGINNER, KAZE WA FUITEIRU? Beginner is the 1st one million seller~ it show AKB can be cute but sing meaningful songs & hardcore arm ripping shizz

[sheix0]

1~ not every girl group = spice girl

2~ Best artist 2011 show did a demo graph, 50% are males, 50% females, with teens and 20s being main support, search it. just cuz alot of men were at their theater stage =/= most fans are men. I saw alot of kids, and girls at their handshake event, even children in wheel chair that look up to AKB

3~ Heavy Rotation wasn't "soft porn" it's normal for japanese girls to kiss and take bath together (bathhouse, onsen) japanese just think it's cute, including girls

[ellvahara]

I want to chop that anchor into pieces 

[FilipinoWota48]

The total songs of AKB48 in terms of singles is only 24. But their theater songs which are AT PAR with the singles number more than 200+ already. These theater songs are shown as a production set of 13-15 songs by different teams (scheduled) and performed twice a day for 6 times a week. That is why they are not the same as Spice Girls. AKB48 are Theater Girls & Japanese Idols at the same time.

Sample Theater Song: 2008 Acapella "Dreamin' Girls" - /watch?v=i_ynarlC6uU

[FilipinoWota48]

I have been following the idol group for more than 3 years now and they did a lot of hard work EVERYDAY at the theater performing dances and songs quite far from the "soft porn" outlook of the single "Heavy Rotation". That single alone does not represent AKB48. AKB48 has made songs that tackle social problems in Japan like sexual harassment and bullying. they also sang songs about perseverance (River), the fukushima nuclear plant disaster (Kaze wa Fuiteiru), change of thinking (Beginner)

[LLawliet81]

Majority of people really cannot understand Japanese logic even after they had internet and Google for free

[itscalledninja1]

@LLawliet81 thank u your the man

[SuperTungxeo]

Basically, she has 0 knowledge of AKB48. =__=

Again, HebiRote =/= Porn for the nth times

There are a total of 210 members in the 48 family right now

& no, they're not the Asian version of Spice Girls, they're AKB48, the awesome AKB48, the only musical band that I have ever got into.

Love from Vietnam <3

[dhthoa]

And excuse me old lady. Japan showbiz doesn't need to spread worldwide but only profit in their own country is enough. I'm from Vietnamese and i listened to many kind of famous name in Korea, China, Europe and America showbiz but I never think of going there to buy their CDs. But when i listened to AKB48 music, I just wanna go to Japan right away to buy CDs, DVDs, Magazine, etc,... SO its quite some reason why AKB48 is so popular in Japan. Searching in Google, you may know. I LOVE AKB48

[dhthoa]

WTF???Did she say porn or something??? Its nothing porn or something. They are angles. They are not spice girls. She has no idea about AKB48. We are fans of AKB48 from Vietnam and we don't accept how she comment about AKB48 without any idea about that wonderful musician. AKB48 is wonderful. We really glad that AKB48 know can be known around the world.

[999imba]

good producer and ideas

[jerrymlb]

92 member , kidding ?? now 48 project have total 210 member .

[lawliet354]

stupid anchor,,

[gunyu1]

the next spice girls??? oh no!!! you're very wrong!!, Hebirote is like a soft core?!?!?!? damm!! you must learn a lot lady!

[leoniczala]

56 million...? Hey, I saw it was 54 million yesterday..!!!

[FilipinoWota48]

@leoniczala - now it's 58 million :)

[takatoheavenly]

I love AKB48 !!

[DogooChan]

...Japan's version of the Spice Girls? Seriously? Idols have been popular in Japan long before the Spice Girls existed.

Pink Lady, who even had a short lived variety show and charting single in the US, are examples of hugely popular Japanese Idols from the 70's.

And larger Idol Groups similar to AKB (Though not nearly as big) have been popular since at least the 1980's.

AKB is more of an updated version of Akimoto Yasushi's earlier group Onyanko Club than any equivalent of the Spice Girls.

[wetanddry8181]

英語わからないけど、得体の知れない存在って感じなんだろうな。­

[yoro1201]

なんかすごいな