Idols are entertainers, typically females in their teens or early twenties, who sing, dance, or act. They may be solo performers or members of a group. While many have massive followings, they are not typical celebrities. Idols are depicted as cute, good-natured, and innocent. They do not sing about drugs or sexual topics but instead focus on happiness and romantic love. They are "dream followers" who realize their imperfections and work hard to become the best people and performers they can be.
Modern idols have close relationships with their fans, staging regular live shows, meet-and-greets, and handshake events. "Part of the appeal is that these performers are accessible" (BBC). Idol fans are dedicated and play a vast role in the idol experience. "From attending live concerts and handshake events to purchasing merchandise and participating in fan clubs, idol fans play an integral role in shaping the success of their idols" (Asian Journal USA).
The Reality of Stardom
Idols must often follow strict rules to preserve their image as good role models. Many are not allowed to date, drink, smoke, wear provocative clothing, or use foul language. They may be overworked or harassed when they do not perform their best. The suicide of a teen idol in 2018 showed how idols' strict work environments can have devastating consequences. Honoko Omoto was reportedly harassed by a staff member at her agency after expressing that she wanted to leave her idol group. Stories like this are not uncommon in the world of idols. "Nito [the head of a protection agency for teen girls in Tokyo] has heard horror stories such as teen idols claiming to have memorized dance moves late at night without getting any sleep to replace a member who had a fever; teens collapsing during dance lessons due to hyperventilation, idols working from early in the morning to midnight without getting paid in the name of being a trainee, etc." (Mainichi News).
Some aspiring idols undergo rigorous training to learn how to perform and behave, attending various "idol training schools" nationwide. Last spring, a school in Nagano prefecture launched a performing arts course to teach students the choreography and singing skills necessary to become idols. The six girls in the course are expected to debut before they graduate.
Idol History
Each year, Odaiba hosts the Tokyo Idol Festival, welcoming female idols and idol groups from across the country. This year's festival ran from August 4th to August 6th.
Popular girl group AKB48
Idol culture first appeared in Japan following the country's defeat in World War II. Japanese people wanted to discover something new to lift their spirits. Cherchez l'Idole, a 1964 French comedy film, captivated Japanese audiences, not only because of the plot but because of singer Sylvie Vartan's performance. "Following Vartan and the film’s monumental success, the Japanese music industry began to call home-grown talent “idols”" (The COMM). Idols were, and still are, a way for fans to escape reality and focus on more cheerful things in life. "We play the game of adoring cute idols because we cannot make ourselves talented and join the winning side. In short, the idol phenomenon is an escape act to get away from competing for exams, for employment, for career progression in the company," researcher Sakai Masayoshi argues.
Virtual Idols
As the quality of technology and 3D modeling software increased, Asian countries aimed to create idols in digital formats. Virtual idols are singers or groups who are animated characters. Typically, the music for virtual idols is produced by musicians, and then animators and graphic designers work together to help the idol come to life. Perhaps the most popular idol in the world is Hatsune Miku.
Miku is a Vocaloid, or a voice synthesizer, created in 2007 as a mascot for Crypton Future Media's synthetic voice software. To create her voice, producers sampled the voice of Saki Fujita, an actress and singer. Since her introduction, Miku has become a pop culture icon and a symbol of the idol genre. She began performing at concerts in 2009. She has sold out shows worldwide, including in Los Angeles, Paris, and Tokyo. Her concerts usually have thousands in attendance.
Idols have also gained prominence in anime and other multimedia formats. Love Live! School Idol Project Series is a multimedia franchise developed in 2010 by Hajime Yatate and Sakurako Kimino. Each title in the franchise, including Love Live!, Love Live! Sunshine!!, Love Live! Nijigasaki High School Idol Club, and Love Live! Superstar!!, follows a group of teenage schoolgirls who become idols. "Love Live! has released music CDs, anime music videos, live concert videos, a manga adaption, video games, card games, and an anime series" (Love Live! Wiki).
Male idols have also gained popularity in recent years. Idolish7 is a multimedia franchise that began as a rhythm game in 2015. It follows a group of seven aspiring idols with very differing personalities. They, along with their new manager, navigate the hardships of the entertainment world to find success. The franchise has spawned an anime series, manga, albums, drama CDs, live concerts, and more.
Hypnosis Mic: A Spin on the Idol Genre
Hypnosis Mic is a multimedia rap and hip-hop project created by King Records. The project was initially based around 4 rap teams: Buster Bros!!!, MAD TRIGGER CREW, Fling Posse, and Matenro but has expanded to include 2 new teams, Dotsuitare Hompo and Bad Ass Temple. In the Hypnosis Mic world, words, not weapons, are powerful. With women controlling the government, all men must resolve conflicts through rap battles. They battle using Hypnosis Microphones, special devices that amplify the abilities of their users. The music/style of each group represents the part of Japan they reside in and have control of. Hypnosis Mic now includes manga adaptations, a live stageplay, an anime, a game, and several albums. The franchise has gained immense popularity, even though it does not fit into the typical idol mold.
Hypnosis Mic uses a clever marketing strategy to keep fans interested. The franchise has hosted two Battle Seasons, known as Divison Rap Battles, during which the producers developed rap battle songs for the teams. Fans could vote for which teams they wanted to proceed to the next round and, ultimately, who would be crowned the victor. "Those that buy the first press edition of the CDs or purchase select official merch are eligible to vote via the website using a code that comes with the merch" (Hypnosis Mic Wiki). The first season of Hypnosis Mic - Division Rap Battle - Rhyme Anima portrays the first Division Rap Battle.
For live concerts and promotional videos, each character's voice actor performs as his/her character, making the voice actors an integral part of the franchise.
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