Apr 09 2010
Doom I Say!
So, long time no see blog.
I’m sure you’ve heard by now, but KAT-TUN will soon be embarking on an Asia-wide tour and releasing a new single. This sounds like great news, until you add the fact that they will be doing all this without Jin. Jin will be performing some solo concerts in America at this time.
Now, the official agency position is that KAT-TUN is not breaking up, and that Jin will resume activities with them as normal after his concerts are done. BUT, I don’t believe for a second that if given the opportunity to be successful in America and leave KAT-TUN, Jin won’t jump at that chance. Let’s face it, he’s been distancing himself from the group more and more for years now, and he’s in love with all things American.
They’re just keeping their options open. If things don’t go well for Jin in America, no harm done, and he can go back to the group. If things do work out, well, I believe that’s going to be a whole different story. So could he be successful? I think probably so, if marketed correctly. Lord knows he’s hot as hell, and his English is improving all the time. Do I want him to be successful? I’m torn. I loathe the idea of KAT-TUN without Jin, but at the same time, I know that this would make him much happier, so it may be selfish of me to think that way.
Sigh. I’m just feeling mopey about this whole thing.
~Celestia~
Hello! I’ve been checking your blog for MONTHS - was afraid you’d lost interest in KAT-TUN
Well, I’m just glad you’re back…
I did read about Jin not joining the concerts and going - again - to the US. Needless to say, I’m very disappointed and afraid that this time, he doesn’t intend to come back as A of KAT-TUN…and I can’t help but be afraid for my favorite band. Losing Jin may be catastrophic for the group.
On the other hand, I did enjoy the second album even without Jin in it, so I do believe that the group will survive the loss, although much diminished by it. And I will of course, continue supporting them. I also agree that lately, Jin has seemed disinterested in group activities - although again, he seemed happy enough during the BtR concerts. At the very least, he was interacting with more of the group (with Junno and Ueda), although admittedly very little with Kame. Sigh, such contradicting signals.
I love Jin - recalcitrant and moody child that he is, and of course I want him to be happy whatever happens in the US (I just think that he was a much happier camper before he went to the US the last time. Since his return he hasn’t been the same, no? Would it be safe to comment that the US is such a corrupting influence?). However, I must say that I have grave doubts about him making it in the US, unless he changes A LOT and is VERY lucky. Very few Asians succeed in that market, unfortunately.
Que sera sera…I suppose..
Welcome back!
Iiiiiiiinteresting. These groups, when successful, seem to stay together for so long, and I worry for the independence of their members. It reassures me to see someone confident enough to go his own way.
Also, I would really like to see some more Asian love in America; maybe this will help. I’ve been noticing more and more that Asian-American people are pushed out of leading roles in American shows and movies. If it’s demonstrated that actual Asian people, and not just anime characters, are marketable, that might change. However, I’m not at all sure how this will go.
Also, re:Charmaine’s comment about America’s corruptness: I would say Jin’s change in mood is not due to the corruption in America, but the independence he experienced there. Think about it: he wouldn’t be able to go anywhere in Japan without girls recognizing him and climbing all over him. On top of that, most people these days have the chance to go to college and to do things themselves and goof around and maybe be a little selfish. Jin, and a lot of the other idols, haven’t had that. They’ve been nigh on brainwashed from a relatively early age with this Johnny’s craziness. They skip straight to adulthood as pre-teen “workers”, but are then frozen in this unstable idol environment where their lives are simply not normal, where other people isolate and regulate them. I would think it would be difficult to come back to that after getting the chance to be a totally new person somewhere else.
Anyway, I’m not trying to be a downer, but this is where my mind goes. It would be a shame to see KAT-TUN fall apart, but I am always concerned about these idols and want them to be happy.
Well, Jin certainly has shown that he has quite the “American” personality. Anyway, @Jubilantia… wouldn’t he STILL be “controlled” by Johnny’s if he succeeds in America? If he becomes Johnny’s link to the States, and they probably wouldn’t want to let him run around on his own. If anything, success would mean tighter controls. Yes, he won’t have as many fans chasing after him, but success Stateside could change that. And does he really NOT want fans chasing after him? They are a testament to his popularity, after all. Yes, it is a hassle, but even he has to realize that his fans are the reason he’s got the clothes on his back.
As for breaking away from KAT-TUN- I can see this being a MAJOR blow to their popularity, given how big a role Jin plays in the group. When he left in ‘07, there was still hope that he would come back- and he did- so if he decides to leave KAT-TUN, Johnny’s had better word the announcement pretty vaguely if they want KAT-TUN to continue topping the charts.
Of course, I guess I’m underestimating the abilities of the other members, but you have to admit, KAT-TUN probably lost more than 25% of their draw without Jin in the mix. Maybe Johnnys would consider adding a new member if Jin leaves. Haha, that would be a other can of beans though…
I really don’t know how I feel about this. Jin is obviously an independent mind, and fits better into the American entertainment scene anyway. But even if he IS successful, does that mean that he’ll have more freedom? I mean, unless he is SUPER lucky and somehow climbs to some sort of mainstream popularity (and thus can cut ties with Johnny’s and sign on with someone else?)
Also, I would hate to see KAT-TUN break apart. I know the members have a reputation for not being very close to each other (like, their colleagues but not best friends), but I can really see being the final rip in the seams of their group.
Oh, the idol drama.
@cristelle- Yeah, you’re right. I thought about that after I posted, that Jin’s amount of handling won’t really change too much. Still, the American fame scene is a completely different atmosphere. I mean, somebody in Johnny’s gets arrested for under age drinking and they’re put on indefinite probation, but if it happens in America, there’s barely even a slap on the wrist. Although who knows if Jin will be able to break away from JE, or even really wants to. It will be interesting to see how these things play out.
Unfortunately, the worst (from the KAT-TUN perspective, anyway) has come to pass. I’m sure you’ve already heard from within fandom, though…
Sigh.
At least we know that Jin was successful in America.