Tokyo Idols

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.

An interesting glimpse to businesses, market, culture and a demographics by the accounts of the people on it. The documentarian is barely there, never to be heard. However the camera speaks by moving portraits of the people and the city. The comments of the executives are cold and brash compare to the hype and alacrity of the young women they work with, as well as the melancholic hope evident in the fans. Overall the documentary conveys a portrait of isolation and loneliness, a glimpse of how patriarchy and market can exploit both genders most sublimes human characteristics.

"Tokyo Idols" is a documentary about the very young (10 to 18 or so, generally speaking) Japanese girls who become pop singers and cultural "icons" to a segment of Japanese society, in particular certain men aged about 30 to 50. These girls are pretty, cheerful, energetic and very much conditioned to want to please their fans. While this sounds creepy, and in some ways is creepy, the world of these idols is very controlled - the singers will have "handshake" meetings with their fans, for example, but the men are only allowed to shake the girls' hands and there are "minders" standing behind the men and forcing them to move from one idol to another after a set number of seconds has passed. So the girls are relatively safe in what could be a very dangerous situation. This film primarily follows Rio, a relative elder in the scene given that she's 19 as the film begins, 21 at the end of it. The filmmaker, Kyoko Miyake, is very gentle with all the characters; even when you think some of these men are terrible, she always treats them with respect and dignity and, in the end, the viewer is more likely to feel sorry for them than anything else (well, except the young man who is only interested in girls around the age of 10 - they "no longer interest" him when they get older than that). It's a really interesting glimpse into another Japanese phenomenon, complete with commentary from journalists, sociologists and others who have a stake in the culture; well done.

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.

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.