Volume Five: Sweet Sweet Jailbait (Pleasure Principled)

I must admit that the fifth volume in Ray’s Pleasure Principled series is by far my favorite.  Like Ray, I am a “tad” older than your average idol, and the whole “those girls are so young” factor comes into play when I discuss my J-pop fandom with my American friends.  Ray has given the task of tackling this controversial subject “head on” to some great writers.  And they have come through in fine style.

The interesting dynamic in these posts is the contrast in the male/female point of view.  SB and Kimitsu come to terms with how one justifies being a fan of these underage stars, when Western sensibilities tells us that this type of fandom is completely taboo.  There is a fine line between admiration and adoration, as Kimitsu illustrates in his entry.  Misa takes a great look from the other side of the table at how older fans may look to the younger generation.  And Vee has not one, but two posts on the subject.  One on the increasing presence of “tiny tot” idol groups, and is there a limit to how young an idol can be?  Vee’s other post details H!P’s subtle transition from “what was” to what “is” today.  All of these posts are great, but I must say that both of Vee’s entries captivated me from start to finish.

All five articles are highly recommended reading!