Forever Young: AKB48 and the J-Pop Idol Industry

Who wants to hug Minegishi Minami (Miichan)
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whats the name of documentary footage do you use.???

I knew that the idol industry was tough but this video just had me standing with my eyes and mouth wide open, not being to able to say anything. The complete insanity that is dressing 11/12/13 years old (or anyone under 18) in provocative clothing to attract middle aged men, I mean I knew that it was a problem in Japan, but the fact that it’s this bad, I just have no words. Maybe it’s part of the culture but I just find it disgusting. I can’t imagine going through puberty, feeling insecure about my body, trying to figure out who I am and developing my first crushes whilst people are telling me I can’t date because the middle aged men who should have their lives together enough that they don’t lose their shit over a twelve year old in provocative clothing singing about sexual subjects won’t find me as appealing anymore if I date someone. Absolutely disgusting.

AKB48 unreleased 2004 album!
"Together!!!"
1 Clover4-Aoi Sports Car no Otoko
2 Heart4-Akai Nikkichou
3 Star4-Kiiroi Sora de Boomboomboom
4 Clover4-Koko Ni Iruzee/Shabondama
5 Heart4-As For One Day/Do It Now
6 Star4-The Peace/Souda We're Alive
7 Clover4,Heart4 and Star4-Ai Araba It's All Right

I like the fact that these girls don’t look “perfect” - no cosmetic surgery to look like the perfect idol, just real girls following their dreams.

It’s a path. A dream. At least they have the option. Now if only parents would care more….

Omg I watched ur fantage vid a year or so ago then watched this one a couple days ago and only now I’m noticing you made both videos? Ur amazing! I regrettably haven’t been subscribed as I didn’t know u made both but now I am, ur vids are amazing 👏

ali come back we need u

As I've learned more this doesn't really seem to be accurate. I don't know anything about AKB48, but there are many parts of the idol culture that seem quite wholesome for all parties, particularily if you look at the non conventional scene full of women well into their 20s from the get-go appearing to really enjoy their group comradery and loyal fan dedication, even having concerts only for women, breaking the idea that this is all about creepy or sad men forcing suffering teenagers to dance for their pleasure.

It doesn't change the fact that the creepy and abusive parts of the industry exists on a large scale, but most of the videos like these tend to only showcase the creepy and sad parts.

im japanese. it's interesting vid.おもしろい

She deserves nothing, let her be cancelled and forgotten. She made her choice.

The hell..so she can’t have a private life. She can’t have a boyfriend all because fans don’t like it, I’m flabbergasted 😯. You can be a famous person and have a privacy with her relationships, a family. What goes on in her own life shouldn’t be anyone’s business at all and that shouldn’t be the fans business either. Idols are a human beings, as a matter of fact, she should not have been apologizing for something so natural and private.

This is an aspect of modern Japanese culture that is bad. The idol industry is exploitive of both the girls and their fans!

There are a number of factually incorrect things in this video, but I just want to address these 2:

- Minegishi's crying video was originally uploaded into Minegishi's personal social media. She did it all by herself, and the management didn't have any clue about this at all.

- The girls are not being replaced once they reached their 20s. While there were small percentage whose contracts were terminated (eg due to disciplinary issues), huge majority of the time, it was the girls themselves who quitted the group (various reasons eg pursuing their career for famous ones or getting married for not so famous ones). There's a girl even still in the group in her 30s today.

This video is misleading with the information it presents and shows the lack of research with idols.

On the American 48 Group contracts, it says that it will say that Dating will be allowed ONLY for members who are at least 18 years old.

very heartbreaking to hear about, i always knew the japanese industry was horrible, but it’s still awful to hear

The reason japan and Korea do this to pop stars. Because of Korea care about looks and japan care about looks also. Since Japanese are Korean. So from what I learned. Is Kpop is worse on girls group than japan would be. The reason Japanese guys are big fans of girls group. Not because of seeing them like daughters. They see them as a friend. Or crush. Japanese are bad when it comes to being crazy about stuff like not looking a way like cute. Because that money for the company. But That everyone in the world. Funny part is AKB48 and morning musume are the two girls group in Japan. That why they do a lot of members so everyone can have a favorite. If you come from a famous samurai family that why they get pay more and being popular. I just wanted to say that. Because you never noticed that.

This is why companies who market their girl groups to girls and women have a better chance at having global or western fame if you have a huge female fanbase just look at 2ne1 and later on Snsd they became legends in their industry and now Red Velvet

I think your documentary are kinda misleading. Those minors did not exposing their body like that.

Come back

Great video

いやもうやめたげてww

Just horrifying... I was aware of some of the problems of the idol and kpop industries in Asia, and experienced firsthand the gender gap when I lived in Japan, but I didn't know just how bad it was. That anyone would have to publicly apologize for being assaulted turns my stomach.

Thank you so much for bringing this to light in such a well-articulated video! Subscribed, and I look forward to your future videos!

also want to quickly say sorry for the ads! i used some copyrighted stuff so the owners place ads against my will :( but I hope it's still enjoyable!

I really liked this! :)

I really enjoyed watching this documentary, but it’s heartbreaking what it’s like for many idols 🙁
anyways, looking forward to your future works ! :D

This was a really well done video and I learned a lot! I hope these girls can be happy in a truly fulfilling way :)

Amazing video. The unreachable bar for idols of the east (akb and even kpop) is just absolute scrutiny for their minds and souls. The Japanese phenomenon of middle aged men preferring young idols / the anime world trend is a WHOLE realm of societal and tradition problems and is something that comes with the country's unchanging will. Everything just seems so stagnant.