The downfall of J-pop? How the AKBG's biz model & culture get adapted in China

[Rika-Chicchi]

The election manifesto of a prominent member of the 2nd team of GNZ48 for the current General Election of SNHG:

SNH48 GROUP年度青春盛典

^ The towering girl is also a former captain of the team.

The one of a prominent member of BEJ48:

SNH48 GROUP年度青春盛典

 

[Rika-Chicchi]

Some awesome pics of a 15th-generation member in the 4th team of SNH48 posing as an ancient woman in the desert regions of northwestern China during the Tang Dynasty, posted by herself on her blog:

https://wx3.sinaimg.cn/large/008nm859ly1h47vfhfjfhj335s23ub2a.jpg

https://wx2.sinaimg.cn/large/008nm859ly1h47vf7kzcdj323u35s4qq.jpg

^ "I'm the dancing queen of the desert!"

https://wx2.sinaimg.cn/large/008nm859ly1h47vfolhacj356o3ggu11.jpg

https://wx4.sinaimg.cn/large/008nm859ly1h47vfcf98ij335s23u4qq.jpg

https://wx1.sinaimg.cn/large/008nm859ly1h47vj6hogtj30s3166wpo.jpg

^ The newbie member is playing the pipa, a traditional Chinese string instrument.

https://wx1.sinaimg.cn/large/008nm859ly1h47vff8ejoj335s23u1kz.jpg

https://wx3.sinaimg.cn/large/008nm859ly1h47vf9yxjdj335s23ub2a.jpg

^ Now playing the tambourine.

https://wx4.sinaimg.cn/large/008nm859ly1h47vfl8gpdj356o3ggb2e.jpg

https://wx3.sinaimg.cn/large/008nm859ly1h47vfs9ubtj356o3gge86.jpg

^ Photoshopping herself as a goddess.

 

[Rika-Chicchi]

^ Meanwhile, a prominent member of BEJ48 poses as a mythical creature (?) donning a costume of ancient Chinese women during the same dynasty - posted by herself on her blog::

https://wx3.sinaimg.cn/large/006M0NPJly1h47sklt1zqj32a83fc7wm.jpg

https://wx3.sinaimg.cn/large/006M0NPJly1h47sl2650vj33mo5g0u16.jpg

https://wx4.sinaimg.cn/large/006M0NPJly1h47slcbm28j33a74xbhdy.jpg

https://wx4.sinaimg.cn/large/006M0NPJly1h47slsz82ij339z4wyb2i.jpg

https://wx1.sinaimg.cn/large/006M0NPJly1h47smbqafrj33gg56ob2k.jpg

https://wx2.sinaimg.cn/large/006M0NPJly1h47smxoy2vj33gg56oqvg.jpg

https://wx1.sinaimg.cn/large/006M0NPJly1h47te7cudhj33pp5kknpn.jpg

https://wx2.sinaimg.cn/large/006M0NPJly1h47tc309kij33gg56onpn.jpg

Don't catch the avian flu!

[EDIT]
A graduated 1st-generation member of SNH48, now a solo artist of SNHG & the leading member of 7SENSES (an elite subgroup of SNH48 ), selling skincare products as the brand's spokesperson:

^ That's a cool outfit.

 

[Rika-Chicchi]

The election manifesto of the "sexy queen" of the 1st team of GNZ48 for the current General Election of SNHG:

 

[Rika-Chicchi]

A fan-made MV for the latest summer single of SNHG, featuring all those 18 members selected from various SNHG groups to perform the song & compiled from various official footage (the official MV hasn't been released - nor, in fact, produced - yet):

 

[Rika-Chicchi]

A former group ace of SNH48, now a solo artist of SNHG, as the spokesperson of a jewelry brand:

https://wx4.sinaimg.cn/large/006VxdWHgy1h4d68wjqw6j32x23zqu10.jpg

[EDIT]
The election manifesto of an immensely popular member of the 1st team of GNZ48 for the current General Election of SNHG:

 

[RebelOfDaNew]

I was never able to get into JPOP but did like some JRNB in the day. Did you happen to know of any JRNB singers or JPOP singers with a similar sound?

 

[Rika-Chicchi]

I was never able to get into JPOP but did like some JRNB in the day. Did you happen to know of any JRNB singers or JPOP singers with a similar sound?

J-R&B: Utada Hikaru, MISIA, Kuraki Mai, BoA (also a K-pop artist), JUJU, Hirai Ken, Kubota Toshinobu
General J-pop w/ an R&B touch: Amuro Namie, Hamasaki Ayumi, Koda Kumi, SPEED, Nishino Kana, Ayaka

(It's not meant to be exhaustive, of course - just some of those I'm familiar w/. lol )

 

[RebelOfDaNew]

I do know of Utada Hikaru/Amuro Namie because they performed with TLC (especially Hikaru, way back in the day). I'm sure most enthusiasts would know them and Hamasaki Ayumi for their fame. Would have to check out the others though.

 

[Rika-Chicchi]

I do know of Utada Hikaru/Amuro Namie because they performed with TLC (especially Hikaru, way back in the day).

Hikki (the nick of Utada) is an American Japanese born in NYC & can speak fluent English.

 

[RebelOfDaNew]

Hikki (the nick of Utada) is an American Japanese born in NYC & can speak fluent English.

Oh, I didn't know that first part...though I feel like I should've. I take it that was part of her appeal? I remember the stupid backlash surrounding Namie in the TLC performance, however. Also knew a couple who were into the BlackPink and [XX##] JPOP group (they're too many to recall besides AKB), but the only one of these I ever remember finding on my own and liking was eNue because of their hood video and TLC influence (loud alarm in the first 3 seconds).

 

[Rika-Chicchi]

^ Like BLACKPINK, that's a K-pop group.

 

[RebelOfDaNew]

I might know more K-pop than J-pop then. Are there any fundamental differences between the two? Isn't the first more difficult (now) or something to that effect?

 

[Rika-Chicchi]

I might know more K-pop than J-pop then.

That's quite understandable - the former has already eclipsed the latter around the world, & is popular even in Japan. lol

Are there any fundamental differences between the two? Isn't the first more difficult (now) or something to that effect?

K-pop is generally more hip & more suited to Western & international tastes, hence more outward-looking, as compared to J-pop. So in that sense, J-pop is more "difficult" to foreigners.

 

[RebelOfDaNew]

That's quite understandable - the former has already eclipsed the latter around the world, & is popular even in Japan. lol


K-pop is generally more hip & more suited to Western & international tastes, hence more outward-looking, as compared to J-pop. So in that sense, J-pop is more "difficult" to foreigners.

Would the eclipsing be because of the JPOP scandals? Or because the style of JPOP hasn't changed much? I generally prefer JPOP, honestly. That one song I linked above is the only KPOP song I've ever sat through (out of like 20, to be fair). But what I'm really guessing is it has something to do with the "group image" and JPOP having the less en vogue image for today. Like The Rugrats after SpongeBob became the new thing. That's what happened with those RnB-pop crossover groups from the late '90s-early '00s. They were regarded as experimental and not having the idealistic, regional image despite truly taking from the West as far as music was concerned.

 

[Rika-Chicchi]

Would the eclipsing be because of the JPOP scandals? Or because the style of JPOP hasn't changed much?

There're scandals in the K-pop industry too. lol K-pop is more oriented to international markets, while J-pop is comparatively more inward-looking nowadays.

To me, J-pop is more like a thing for nostalgia, much like Sailor Moon. lol

 

[RebelOfDaNew]

Why are they intentionally trying to limit their market? Weren't they much bigger before?

 

[Rika-Chicchi]

Why are they intentionally trying to limit their market? Weren't they much bigger before?

I don't think they try to limit their market to the domestic one - they're just not proactive enough & are outgunned by the Koreans. lol

 

[RebelOfDaNew]

I don't think they try to limit their market to the domestic one - they're just not proactive enough & are outgunned by the Koreans. lol

So what was the moment it shifted and kept shifting?

 

[Rika-Chicchi]

So what was the moment it shifted and kept shifting?

I think J-pop began to go downhill after the turn of the century or the early 00s. The 80s & 90s were its heydays.