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So today I was at one of my elementary schools, and at lunchtime I was given some entertainment. I was sitting with one of the 6th grade classes, my favorite at this school. They are all great kids, and interested in learning English - and the teacher is first-class - very easy to work with, understands English, and just a very nice woman. During lunch, the kids were all asking me questions - In English of course - about my favorite things. So the topic of music came up.
I am familiar with the names of the popular Japanese pop and rock bands that the kids like, and there's one particular group called AKB48, which is is a particular favorite amongst the 12-16 year-olds, especially girls. If you don't already know (and why would you!!??), AKB48 is an all-girl idol group - a singing and dancing sensation, similar to the boy groups such as Smap or Arashi (but why would you know who they are either!!??)...
AKB48 is so named because they have 48 members (yes, that's true - 48 members!!), and they are split into three groups: one is named the A group, one is the K group, and one is the B group. Very clever huh? That's all I know about them. But just in case you're interested in knowing more about this popular girl group, here's their wikipedia entry: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AKB48
But the reason I mention this group is because the class convinced one boy to get up and sing a song for us. And since he's a fan of this AKB48, he sang one of their songs, complete with the dance moves! I found the video for this song, and thought I'd share it with you here:
It was unbelievably hilarious to see this kid singing this song, and doing the dance moves (which you can mostly see at the end of the video) - and I wish I'd had a camera or a video camera!
but I think it's mildly disturbing to think that these kids, who are just 12 or 13 years old, are watching videos like this, with scantily clad girls in very enticing poses, kissing each other, and erotically eating sweets, and dancing around looking both cute and sexy. I'm not sure I'd like my 12-year-old boy to be watching this kind of thing. And all of their videos are the same!
oh well. I guess it's mostly innocent - not really too pornographic compared to some things you can see in the U.S. And what's probably more disturbing than the way these girls dress is how terrible the music is - if you can even call it music!! and the fact that they need so many members! Seriously how can you even know who is who???
Anyway - it's just another slice of life from the land of the weird and absurd: Japan!
I am familiar with the names of the popular Japanese pop and rock bands that the kids like, and there's one particular group called AKB48, which is is a particular favorite amongst the 12-16 year-olds, especially girls. If you don't already know (and why would you!!??), AKB48 is an all-girl idol group - a singing and dancing sensation, similar to the boy groups such as Smap or Arashi (but why would you know who they are either!!??)...
AKB48 is so named because they have 48 members (yes, that's true - 48 members!!), and they are split into three groups: one is named the A group, one is the K group, and one is the B group. Very clever huh? That's all I know about them. But just in case you're interested in knowing more about this popular girl group, here's their wikipedia entry: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AKB48
But the reason I mention this group is because the class convinced one boy to get up and sing a song for us. And since he's a fan of this AKB48, he sang one of their songs, complete with the dance moves! I found the video for this song, and thought I'd share it with you here:
It was unbelievably hilarious to see this kid singing this song, and doing the dance moves (which you can mostly see at the end of the video) - and I wish I'd had a camera or a video camera!
but I think it's mildly disturbing to think that these kids, who are just 12 or 13 years old, are watching videos like this, with scantily clad girls in very enticing poses, kissing each other, and erotically eating sweets, and dancing around looking both cute and sexy. I'm not sure I'd like my 12-year-old boy to be watching this kind of thing. And all of their videos are the same!
oh well. I guess it's mostly innocent - not really too pornographic compared to some things you can see in the U.S. And what's probably more disturbing than the way these girls dress is how terrible the music is - if you can even call it music!! and the fact that they need so many members! Seriously how can you even know who is who???
Anyway - it's just another slice of life from the land of the weird and absurd: Japan!
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I am glad your students amused you, they sound like a good bunch :)
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*hugs*
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Sounds like you had a good day at school, that's great.
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yes, that was a good day. I love days like that:)
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Sounds like it was a fun school day though.
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it was a fun day!
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it was very funny to see a boy singing and dancing this. I was offered a similar performance by another boy in another class the next day, but then he sang a different song instead. one from 20 years ago!
oh and yes, Lost in Translation is a fantastic film. it means a lot to me since I've lived in Japan so much!
and your icon - BTTF - some of my favorite films of all time!
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I will definitely check out that site - though I probably wouldn't be brave enough to write a movie review there either. I write them from time to time here - just reviewed The Social Network the other day. I used to write movie reviews for the paper when I was in university years ago! but I'm sure I'm not as good as some people:)
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Then again, it's the same here, isn't it? I mean with Brittany Spears and that Justin Beiber (Beaver)?
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oh my god - Justin Bieber! the Biebs! what a sad excuse for a teen idol!!
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And... yeah... but really, looking back, most teen idols are pretty damn sad!
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and yes, their videos are all that way! kind of makes me nauseated! but the Japanese people don't seem to think it's strange, or unsuitable at all!!
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I've seen something much worse not long ago, but I can't find the link anymore. You probably know those mothers who believe their kids are practically born to be a star and dress them up like adults. The video showed a group of kids (American, I think, but that doesn't really matter), no older than 12 or so, dancing provocatively like those in the video, wearing sexy lingerie, doing all those *hot* moves. KIDS! This was like an invitation for all paedophiles. I nearly puked.
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of course this is not much different from someone like Britney Spears, though she's much more bold and aggressive with her sexuality. these girls, as you say, try to appear innocent, but the underlying theme is soft-core porn! I think what bothered me the most was the girls kissing each other and holding toys. that's just not right!
yes, Japan has always had that obsession with the sexy schoolgirl - and it's encouraged with the music and the manga (Japanese animation) - some of it which is really risque.
it's sad to hear that teen prostitution is on the rise in the U.S. = though it wouldn't surprise me. the economy is bad, kids are being raised in broken homes, and it seems easy for girls to think running away and selling their bodies - and doing drugs no doubt - is the answer.
of course Japan is really headed in a bad direction lately too. I see the girls at the junior high school already skipping classes, boys and girls smoking in junior high school - there are too many broken homes in this country too, and it's not something that is discussed much. this is not a culture that encourages discussion or opening up of feelings. that's one reason I have so many problems with my husband sometimes.
anyway - it's definitely an eye-opener living in a foreign country.