Publication Date : 25-03-2013
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Boom in female idol groups, led by AKB48, shows no sign of stopping
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The boom in female idol groups, led by AKB48, shows no sign of stopping. Recently, many of these groups are emerging from regional areas outside Tokyo, with some local groups capturing the hearts of fans nationwide.
LinQ, a 29-member idol group based in Fukuoka Prefecture, released a single on an independent label in January, ultimately reaching fifth on Oricon's weekly chart. The group plans to make its major label debut in April with the release of the single "Chime ga Owareba" (When the chime ends).
The audience roared as soon as LinQ members appeared on stage at a Tokyo concert on March 2. So many people yelled at exactly the same time, it was almost as if the fans had practised it.
LinQ members responded with energetic dancing and singing. To call for an encore, members of the audience shouted, "Kaedama mo ippai!" (Another helping of noodles) over and over.
This is how customers at restaurants or yatai open-air stalls ask for more noodles in the Hakata area of Fukuoka city, which is famous for its Hakata ramen.
The concert venue was small, and the fans were so close to the group's members they could hear them breathing. The LinQ members' hard work made the audience want to support them.
Such feelings on the part of fans make it clear why AKB48 is such a success--AKB48 has its own special theatre in Tokyo's Akihabara area and has focused on live concerts.
LinQ members expressed their passion for their fans, and their special affection for Fukuoka and other prefectures in the Kyushu region, in a recent interview. "I wanted to become an idol to revitalise local communities," one member said when asked why she joined LinQ.
Another said, "I enjoy the times when we're creating a live concert together with our fans."
Perhaps the key to idol groups' success is close proximity between the audience and idol group members.
Idol groups fuel production
Recording production in 2012, including CDs, LPs and cassettes, was up from 2011, the first year-on-year increase in 14 years. While one reason was strong sales of greatest hits albums for veteran singers, such as Yumi Matsutoya, another was the idol group boom.
On Oricon's yearly singles chart for 2012, AKB48 had all the top spots from first to fifth. The sixth to 10th rankings were all filled by singles from Arashi of boy-band producer Johnny's Office and SKE48, the sister group of AKB48.
"Idol groups remain strong, so it's natural for record firms to bring more such groups on the market," a representative of a record company said.
In this environment, idol groups based in local areas have garnered attention. Some existed before AKB48 became a sensation, while others were formed amid the recent idol group boom.
Team Shachihoko, an idol group based in Nagoya, was named after a golden shachihoko statue--a mythical fish with a lionlike head, dragonlike sharp scales along its back--on top of the roof of Nagoya Castle.
Team Shachihoko belongs to the same entertainment agency as female idol group Momoiro Clover Z, which appeared on NHK's Kohaku Utagassen (Red and White New Year's Eve Song Festival) in 2012.
Negicco is an idol group based in Niigata Prefecture. Its name means onion girls, and refers to a kind of negi, or long green onion, that is a local speciality in Niigata Prefecture. The group releases its songs on T-Palette Records, a label of Tower Records Japan Inc.
"Even if an idol group is based in a regional area, it can easily release information through the Internet," said Hiroko Katsuragi, managing editor of Original Confidence entertainment business magazine.
"First, such groups hold live concerts to win over local fans, and then strategically promote themselves nationwide through the Internet," Katsuragi said. "If they can attract public attention this way, the mass media will soon follow," she added.
According to Ikuo Minewaki, president of Tower Records Japan, "Even if an idol group appears on TV repeatedly, it won't become popular unless it gives good live concerts."
"Many fans enjoy seeing their idols succeed as a result of their support," Minewaki added. Local idols are becoming popular because their fans can directly see the process by which they become big stars.
The success of other members of the AKB48 group--including SKE48 in Nagoya, NMB48 in Osaka and HKT48 in Fukuoka--which are deeply rooted in local areas, has been a great boost to other regional groups.
'There's no place like home'
Idol trio Negicco, based in Niigata Prefecture, released the single "Ai no Tower of Love" in February.
The group was formed in 2003 with three women who had attended a local entertainment school. It holds live concerts mainly in Niigata Prefecture, as well as in Tokyo and other areas.
The following are excerpts from an interview with the members.
Nao
"At first, we were told that we'd only perform for one month, to promote negi onions from the prefecture. However, our office thought it would be a waste to disband the group right after the campaign ended, so we've continued.
It was decided to release a CD, but at that time we just did what we were told, without knowing anything concrete.
After that, we started singing songs provided by the composer connie, who's been a fan of Negicco since the start of our activities. At first, I was concerned about the future, but gradually our songs have spread all over Niigata Prefecture."
Kaede
"We were gradually invited to various events in Niigata Prefecture. I fell over once while singing on a stage made out of compressed snow, but I kept going until the end. I feel bad when people say Negicco has forgotten its Niigata fans because the group has more opportunities to work in Tokyo."
Megu
"Some fans tell us they like Negicco because of our relaxed, warm-hearted manner cultivated in a local area, not Tokyo. We always have strong affection for Niigata. We want to carry Niigata on our shoulders as we advance to the national stage."
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