Tokyo Idols

Tokyo Idols was showed at the Sundance Film Festival before gaining a wider audience and the director and creator of the documentary has experienced a strong and skillful beginning to hopefully a successful career. I had the opportunity to speak with her after the showing and found her perspective insightful and her courage to expose an interesting aspect of Japanese culture refreshing.

Having lived in Japan for a few years, the subject matter explored in this documentary felt extremely genuine and honest. The film delves into 'Idols" in Japan while introducing fans of the concept and the heavy influence this culture has had on the Japanese people. Furthermore, the content speaks volumes to the impact this can have for individuals and society and also what it could mean for the future of the growing divide between people.

This documentary also had the nerve to not only unravel the negative and disturbing ideas the "Idol" culture entails, but also some positive things that come to those entangled with these popular super stars. When looking at the narrative structure as a whole, the arch is cohesive and fulfilling. At times it's difficult to determine who is who since some of the cuts aren't as smooth as they could be. However, this is a minor flaw that feels insignificant when questions are eventually resolved.

The work is bound to grow in controversy when showings hit Japan since controversy has already been cultivating here in the United States. Despite the lash the creator(s) will receive regarding this highly accepted and touchy subject, Tokyo Idols is a valuable and important piece that should be shared for those who love or hate this Idol culture.

Anyone who is interested in this culture and learning more, this documentary is a fascinating portrait of a culture that feels different than ours. Even for those not interested, this feels like an important documentary that everyone should get around to seeing it. Personally, this hit several emotional chords that feel relatable since I lived there but it's definitely not exclusive to people who have lived there. Anyone can find this fascinating and that's why this documentary is highly recommended.

I saw this film at a doc festival and here's what I took away in my notes....not so pleasant... The film to me was a glimpse and commentary on the Japanese pop idol culture. Alongside the performance aspect is the social engagement side...managed interaction events between the fans (mostly men) and the younger (under 20) girls. This a marketed and controlled industry with the "fans" voting in competitions for the next big thing. Borne out of recession times it gave people something to socially "cling" to. My final note was "one screwed up society". Judge for yourself.

Will spark jealousy in Western Karens and those stuck with Western Karens.

I bet people do not surmise that the director is likely a femcel who sports short hair. And I say this not even knowing her.

To hate on a whole class of talent and despise nature, natural attraction and love for the opposite sex takes some kind of a temerity and that kind of temerity manifests itself in the form of a so-called documentary here.

For the rest of us normal, natural and seeing people: The film depicts idols (Japanese pop stars) who are attractive, sport healthy body types and work on their talents and for their audiences 24x7.

The film tries on a line of attack. It fails. No montage can stand in the way of beauty.

3/24/18. A disturbing look (there's no other way to put it) at the very popular Japanese cultural phenomenon -J-pop Idol Rio teen girl band. The band is not disturbing, but the fans sure are, made up mostly of mid-aged men ogling these young girls, an odd collection of male groupies who seemed to be too old for this kind of adoration. Oh, well, you have to watch this to believe it.

This documentary follows one up-and-coming performer's career as she starts to gain momentum in Tokyo. It focuses on her hardcore fanbase, and how the performer/biggest fans act and react around each other, and their motivations for doing what they do. As someone who views the culture with some distain it did a good job of presenting the fans fairly without holding them up in a cage on display. Some of them do seem to have genuinely innocent intentions and enjoy their lifestyles with this obsession in their lives. The documentary does touch on both the mainstream idols as well as the indie and even preteen idols - an area well known for controversy as to the morality behind it. However, it does not dwell deep into this as the people this documentary focuses on are all technically adults. One area I thought should have been covered was the people who actually make the majority of the profits from idols (i.e. the managers and record labels). Japan has not quite caught up yet (yes a massive generalisation) with gender balance and rights, which the film does touch on. In fact, many of the subjects of the film are aware of the outside view on the culture, and the cultural progression that this subculture seems to be working against. I'd recommend this documentary to anyone mildly curious about the mindset behind an idol's followers, or someone unaware of the idol/otaku subcultures.