Tokyo Idols

This is a good documentary movie. It really reflects the real life of an "average" idol in Japan.

However, there are much more to discuss about this "Idol Phenomenon" in Japan.

Unfortunately, this film didn't discuss much more beyond what other Japanese documentary has already covered. But for English speaking audience this may be their first time understanding a small part of this unique social event in Japan.

I did a bit studies in this phenomenon.

AKB48 is briefly mentioned in this film. As a milestone of idol industry, their new approach to audience and business model are already deeply discussed in many Japanese documentary movies. This is probably

There are also many "underground idols" struggle very hard to get more fans and publicity. They have to live a ghetto life because they aren't making enough money while they are chasing their dreams. A couple of Japanese documentary has revealed it.

Until now, there are only books but not yet a film discuss two new phenomenons in this industry.

The first one is the impact of the social network. It burst a huge change to this industry. And there are always new things changed every year. For example, SHOWROOM, which showed up during this movie, was a mainstream "idol-focus" live streaming website. It's the most important live streaming website for idol industry in year 2017.

The second one is how "local idols" start to really mean it. NGT48 was not the first idol group focus on local audience and work with local enterprise. But NGT48 was the first idol group actually boost up the GDP of the local area(Niigatta Prefecture in this case), acknowledged by local government, residents, and enterprise.

Japan is the only country that has so many idols and mascots that many festivals and conferences have audience and participants for more than 10,000 people, thus budget and income.

Girl bands and their pop music permeate every moment of Japanese life. Following an aspiring pop singer (Rio) and her fans, Tokyo Idols explores a cultural phenomenon driven by an obsession with young female sexuality, and the growing disconnect between men and women in hyper-modern societies.

To the western world, Japanese culture is quite a mystery, especially the sexual aspects. This is a country that sells used underwear in vending machines and makes animated pornography featuring squids. Even the school "sailor" uniforms have become highly fetishized (though, in fairness, so have Catholic skirts in America).

"Tokyo Idols" does not explore a topic that is explicitly sexual, but does seem to have that aspect lurking just below the surface. Die-hard fans of grown men called "otaku" practice what they call a religion of following young women around as they sing and dance. One man, a transportation worker, comes across as especially creepy, paying $2,000 each month to follow a teenager he admits he is romantically interested in.

Critics of the otaku say Japanese men "worship virginity" and "fear strong women"; but, again to be fair, this is not all that different from American pop stars and beauty pageants. The film is fascinating in how it covers so many angles of what could be a simple topic: the path to success for young women, whether the fans are creeps or father figures, and just the sheer abundance of idols (10,000) in Tokyo alone! "Tokyo Idols" screens July 26, 2017 at the Fantasia International Film Festival. For those who love cultural documentaries, this is a must-see. Japan is a strange place, and this film only adds to the mystery.

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.

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.

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.