I-do-ru

Highly recommended reading. Our own pengie responds to the True Life Seek article about Aibon and trust in idols by sharing her own take on the situation. She sees the relationship between fans and celebrities as more of an issue of faith than trust, then goes on to ponder why celebrities in Japan are treated more harshly for scandalous behavior than their American counterparts. It’s a great piece of writing: thoughtful as well as thought-provoking, and very well-written.

That said, I wonder if setting one’s sights on the broader issue of community versus individual – and how Japanese society stresses the communal role with the same fervor American society stresses individuality – would help illuminate the matter further. Students aren’t just individual students, but also representatives of their class and school; workers take great pride in standing up for their company and do not see it as a role they can shuck at the end of the day.

Outside of the imaginative space of entertainment products (where one can be as rebellious as one likes), geinou are prominent members of Japanese society – even role models – so a serious mis-step is seen as harmful to the community as a whole. Okada Yukiko’s suicide and the copycat suicides that followed is the worst case scenario, but other offenses are taken just as seriously. Thus, Koda Kumi’s provocative dance numbers aren’t a problem, but a silly comment about rotting amniotic fluid was a major issue. “Forgive and forget” only makes sense in this context if the contrition is made as forthright and public as possible, which may be why Kuu-chin was the one who volunteered to suspend activities after her scandal broke. (Though perhaps “volunteered” should be placed in quotes, I don’t know.)

Aibon’s underage smoking not only hurt the community in the same manner, but also endangered UFA’s standing in that community (socially and financially) if they didn’t act upon it, which they did. And when she got caught in a scandal again just as she was preparing a comeback, that was probably too much face lost for UFA – and, indeed, a break in the public’s faith and trust in Aibon as an idol. For better or worse, she was no longer seen as a responsible member of the geinou community and was treated accordingly.

In America, meanwhile, the emphasis on individuality has made it easier to dismiss celebrity misconduct not only as personal quirks and failings, but also a badge of honor that such people are above the rules of normal people. After all, how often do American celebrities brag that they’re not role models? (And even perceived role models get a pass, as seen by that High School Musical nudity scandal which came and went in a fizzle.)

With a year’s worth of distance and reflection, it’s good to see articles pondering Aibon’s idol career in a light that’s both more nuanced and broader in scope.