[News] Who Japan wants to see Perform at the 2020 Olympics' Opening Ceremony

[Polyrhythm]

On October 10th, Japan Olympic Committee (JOC) announced the results of a public service and voters had to pick the idol they would like to see performing in the opening ceremony of the Tokyo Olympics 2020.


TOP 20:

01. Southern All Stars (8,939 votes)
02. Arashi (7,482 votes)
03. EXILE (6,820 votes)
04. SMAP (5,956 votes)
05. Yuzu (3,760 votes)
06. DREAMS COME TRUE (3,167 votes)
07. AKB48 (3,057 votes)
08. Utada Hikaru (2,952 votes)
09. B’z (2,840 votes)
10. Wada Akiko (2,336 votes)
11. MISIA (2,240 votes)
12. Mr.Children (2,146 votes)
13. Yuki Saori (2,114 votes)
14. Akikawa Masafumi (2,063 votes)
15. Fukuyama Masaharu (2,015 votes)
16. Kitajima Subaro (2,010 votes)
17. Kuwata Keisuke (1,944 votes)
18. Ikimonogakari (1,888 votes)
19. Hikawa Kiyoshi (1,876 votes)
20. Namie Amuro (1,814 votes)

On this day, JOC also announced the big success in the number of applications to collaborate in the creation of a commemorative t-shirt for this event. 103,537 votes were received from the JOC’s official site and 39,857 from postcards, making a total of 143,394 voters.

Source: http://aramatheydidnt.livejournal.com/5074806.html

Pretty solid list overall...though I'm sad to see that Perfume isn't there....but I suppose they will have disbanded in 7 years anyway...not sure AKB48 will even be relevant in 2020....even if they basically saved the entire Jpop industry.

Japan should just pass a law ordering Hikki to sing at the opening. She's basically the most influential Japanese singer of the past decade anyway. It's a freaking requirement. No Utada, no olympics. Hopefully she'll age as well as Namie has, who will probably still look amazing even then. Even though I'm not a huge fan of Namie, she's equally iconic and I could see her making an appearance as well.

[CoriKaru]

Group
Group
Group
Group
Group
SOLO ARTIST UTADA HIKARU

Seriously, What list doesn't Utada make?

She's the first solo artist you get to on that list and out of (what USE to be) the top 4 solo females, Namie is last on that list, Kumi is nowhere to be seen and ayumi.......avex will have dropped her donkey kong arse by then gUUUUrl bai.

Volumes Spoken Japan.....Volumes Spoken.......

[NintendoHTF1242]

Oh...Ayu isn't on this list...lol...

BUT UTADA PLEASE! PERFORM FOR US GIRL BLESS US!

[emi♡]

Hikki. Needs to be there.


I would say SNSD, but I guess Japan's 2nd rate groups will have to do.

[ExodusUK]

Of course Ayu isn't on the list...she's going to be in her forties..practically dead in Jpop world.

[YuriChan]

I see B'z, Utada, and Namie.

[owlflight]

I don't really know every artist on the list but I would hope for some traditional Japanese music and not necessarily pop or rock.

[Andrenekoi]

I hope Hikki finally take those singing lessons she needs if she is going to perform there. Her vocals are deteriotating fast, and this is pretty sad considering how imensely talented she is as a musician.

[amorphose]

^trololololol

[Polyrhythm]

^Hey watch it. I don't like people who make fun of the hearing-impaired. It's the Ayooomi fan in me.

[brener]

namie <3

[Delicious n Bold]

This article suggests that hikki will come out of hiding by 2020
I don't know what to say

[SKYia]

Originally Posted by ExodusUK

Of course Ayu isn't on the list...she's going to be in her forties..practically dead in Jpop world.

While Namie is going to be in her 20's?, lol, Namie is older and she made it anyway. Utada is also older, isn't she?

I just had to use google, I'm into Japanese music since 2004 and I NEVER heard of Southern All Stars and they are #1 on the list, at first I thought it's some new band but that would be kind of impossible for me to miss, now I see they are some older guys and I'm now wondering if I saw them in dramas, the faces seem a bit familiar.

[NintendoHTF1242]

Originally Posted by SKYia

While Namie is going to be in her 20's?, lol, Namie is older and she made it anyway. Utada is also older, isn't she?

Utada is 30. Ayu is 35.

[marty]

Well, I suppose Utada or Ayu (how isn't she on this, wasn't evolution like, a Japanese anthem or something?!) would be the logical choice, even if I would prefer Namie. Also, Namie already performed oversea, I don't really know about others, but whatever.
But, since groups are so tipical and famous in Japan, I guess a band would do as well. In the end, it should be what represents Japan best. There's still a looooot of time after all.

[Andrenekoi]

Originally Posted by Polyrhythm

^Hey watch it. I don't like people who make fun of the hearing-impaired. It's the Ayooomi fan in me.

<3

Really, I love Hikki and IMO her discography SHITS on almost everyone else's, Ayu included... But her singing technique sucks, and she has less and less range and control over the years. Neither Ayumi or Namie are good singers, but some Hikki lives make me unconfortable coming from someone who should be a professional singer.

I would love seeing Ayu on such a big event... But she isn't popular enough right now and she is way too much controversial... If Utada is going to perform to sound anything like those videos I posted I prefer she just does'nt. Namie is a a safer bet considering she is way less controversial than Ayu (or Koda), has a international fanbase and is popular right now... But I don't think her performances appeal to people outside of her market...

So, if it's about having a girl performing, I'm all for Dreams Come True. The vocalist can really sing (better than Ayu or Namie or Hikki together), has charisma, stage presence and the band is far more a legend on the industry than those other 3.

[emi♡]

Namie is safer to me because she can use backing tracks and just dance. Hopefully.

But tbh most Japanese singers make me cringe whenever I watch them sing live. I do my best to remember that they're trying and that they don't always care to use backing tracks or lip sync, but. Yuck.

I don't see why people/pop stars have to sing at all tbh.

I'd like hikki involved in the creative process at least though. That would be interesting.


Japan is hardly like England or something when it comes to music, so I hope they don't feel like they have to do something similar.

[Polyrhythm]

Japan is the biggest music industry in the world. They'd better have something to show for it.

[emi♡]

Just because they make and spend money doesn't mean they're influential.

[relmy]

Japan wishes they could have an opening boasting the music we had for London <3 All the music they put in made me so proud of British music.

Namie and Hikki should both be there, Ayu would probably love to do it (and I would be thrilled to see her do it) but I think Namie and Hikki are better choices. I hope they include some enka.

Not music, but I really hope they get Ghibli to do something.