Note: read the Prologue first!

An Omen

I had an anxious feeling in my chest prior to the start of Sharan Q’s 25th anniversary live tour.

When my throat was in good condition, I could go into the studio and have my demo vocals recorded in no time. But when it’s a tour you’re talking about, you’re expected to maintain your physical condition so that you can sing over 20 songs in succession per concert.

Demo vocals, by the way, are something I did when I was writing a song for an artist I was producing, like Morning Musume. They’re guide vocals meant to help the girls learn how to sing the song. I would always record the whole melody along with the finished lyrics. In the idol scene these days, the norm is having a hired professional vocalist sing the guide vocals, but in my case, I want to have the girls learn proper breath control and sense of rhythm, so I would always record the guide vocals by myself.

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April 4th, 2015.

The weather forecast for Osaka had promised rain, but it was a cloudy day. By the time the ceremony was about to begin, there were even hints of sunlight.

I was in Osaka with my family where I was producing the 2015 entrance ceremony for Kinki University, my alma mater.

I woke up at half past five and had the breakfast I’d prepared for myself earlier. Today would be the first time in a while that I would be getting up on stage. “Huh, it’s been a year and a half since I last had to put on makeup.” That’s what was running through my mind as I started to get ready.

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What makes a “genuine” idol for the true idol fan with a discerning eye? And what on earth are the differences and the similarities between male and female idols?

The Johnny’s-loving editorial department of Cyzo Woman went over to Hello Tribe in Akihabara, a music bar frequented by fans of Hello! Project. We sat down with three regulars and chatted about Hello! Project, Johnny’s Entertainment, and the dreams that idols allow us all to have!

Roundtable discussion participants (names changed):

Shibata Kyoko — 30’s, female, loves H!P and Johnny’s equally (favorite members: Sugaya Risako (Berryz Koubou), Onishi Ryusei (Kansai Johnny’s Jr.))
Murata Shigeyuki — 50’s, male, exclusive fan of H!P as far as idols are concerned (favorite members: Miyamoto Karin (Juice=Juice), Yamaguchi Tatsuya (TOKIO))
Otani Junichi — 30’s, male, has lots of friends who love Johnny’s as well (favorite members: Shimizu Saki (Berryz Koubou), Nakajima Kento (Sexy Zone))

── To start off, I’d like to ask all three of you to tell us how you first got into idols.

Otani: I’m from the generation where seeing idol songs ranked on the Oricon charts was an everyday occurrence in my childhood. Inspired by Hikaru GENJI, I got my parents to buy me rollerskates back in kindergarten, and SMAP started appearing on TV regularly by the time I was in elementary school, so I was constantly exposed to them. As for H!P, I got into them when everyone around me was listening to Morning Musume, and I’ve been hooked ever since.

Shibata: I was watching idols on TV when I was in elementary school, and I remember just feeling so envious of them in all their sparkliness. Morning Musume’s “LOVE Machine” came out in my first year of junior high and suddenly everyone around me was completely hooked, so naturally I started to like them, too. I’m a year younger than Goto Maki, and it just felt so new seeing someone my age being in the spotlight.

Murata: I’m in my 50’s which means I’m from the Matsuda Seiko generation, but originally I didn’t have any interest in idols whatsoever. It was only four years ago that I became hooked on Morning Musume when I happened to come across videos from the Platinum Era (a period of time between late 2007 and the end of 2010 when the group was barely appearing in the media and were instead focusing on polishing their performance skills on long, exhausting tours.) Just as when I was younger, I still obviously never see them as objects of romantic interest. (laughs) Instead, it feels like I’m cheering on my nieces or so.

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