Are Morning Musume bad for Japan's image?

[Weslicious]

Semi serious discussion.

I've noticed that a lot of their Japanese fanbase are older 'Gentlemen'. Japan also has the thing with young girls making swimsuit video's, which gives rise to the West having that image of Pedophile Japanese men in business suits fantasizing about little girls.
Do you personally feel that as a collective MM further re-inforce this stereotype?
It can't be denied that there have been 12 year olds in the group whilst the manager is fully aware of some of the audience's they'll be performing in front of. Some past members have already lashed out (Smoking/Pregnancies etc).

So, what do you think of Morning Musume from a non fan perspective?

[Foxxy_Fuyumi]

Naaaa.

[*Petit*]

No, not at all. I see your point, but someone have to entertain the drooling salarymen and wota too. I personally think most of H!P is tastefully done, compared to f.e.x dear my teacher by AKB48.

H!P has a wider appeal than just old men and it's shown b the widespread popularit of the project world wide ( I would think that MM/H!P is the third most popular female act after ayu and utada) they also appeal to female fans. Many of the foreign fans are drawn in by the music, H!P Is founded by great and innovative muscians, so I think there's much more to it than photobooks.

[truehappiness]

The photobooks and idol DVDs are only something that go along with the package of liking H!P/MM. Honestly though, not everyone who is a fan is in love with the constant photobook releases and stuff. Some people just probably glance at them and say "Oh, that's pretty." and shrug it off.

I don't think that it's much of a big deal that there are such young acts out there who have a large older-men fanbase. I mean, there are bound to be people like that in any fandom, it's just that MM/H!P has a larger concentration of them. But with all of the wota and crazies, there are the casual fans who sit in the family-seating that enjoy the concerts with their children and so on.. the ones who don't rip up PBs when someone has 'betrayed' them and fry the remains for the night's dinner.

H!P imo, is definitely a grand opportunity to showcase one's talent at a young age, and to say that it is bad for Japan's image is simply looking through the surface of something that is is a lot deeper than just photobooks and youngins. D:

[namiie]

I definitely see your point. I don't think there's much that H!P can do about their fanbase though....they pick girls to be in a group and sell stuff. They can't prevent people of a certain age group from buying the H!P merchandise...I don't particularly think that highly of gravure idols anyway (especially those who are like 14) but I haven't heard of any cases of H!P-related pedophilia. It's definitely possible (after all, Japan has the 2nd biggest porn industry in the world. Second to US. *sigh*) but so far I don't think it's anything too serious at the moment.

[ll moments ll]

i don't think MM is bad for Japan's image. MM/H!P is a talent agency, where they recruit up and coming stars. it's probably the biggest female idol agency in Japan. even though there are guys that prey over the them, you can't really help it. their primary target isn't those types of people. they're supposed to be role models for young girls. though, they've been having a lot of "scandals" as of lately. :\

i'm not a fan of MM/H!P (i sway the JE way ), but i do respect idols a lot. they go through the busiest schedules i've ever seen.

[Kobayashiwoof]

i totally agree with you, i dont exactly the whole Morning Musume thing because of their image and to be frank i dont really like there voices. I hate hate the fact that they are soo young and do alot of sexual things at such a VERY young age. I also think that they promote pedophilia with their PB's and stuff and... yeah.

Mini Moni was the coolest group of the H!P thing though

[fanmail]

totally. I'm definately with you on this one. It's so creepy knowing older guys are getting turned on by these young girls. *shudder*

[cloud♥honey]

Yes. MM is a bad image for all the countries. There are a lot of girls who don't have vocal and looks a lot of stupid girls tryin' to be idols.

I'm sorry for the fans but I hate these sucked girls.

[DA1SUK1DAY01691]

^^I have to disagree, since there IS talent in the agency (Goto Maki, Takahashi Ai, Matsuura Aya, Abe Natsumi), and even though they had to release a lot of material, they did end up NUMBER ONE in sales for a female group. Plus, they're songs are SUPER catchy.

Plus, if there really wasn't talent, they wouldn't have lasted THIS long. I mean, 10 years in the industry is a HUGE threshold, and thirty+ singles to boot. Plus have you even seen the auditions? Girls are STILL POURING in to get into Momusu.

There's no way this group will let up anytime soon. Not with the amount of chage and "scandal"s they can create.

[Plumeria]

I agree that they promote a sexualized image with (sometimes) very young girls. Like the photobooks with lots of bikini pictures and halters and super short skirts or shorts. I doubt they're aiming at the female fans with that type of thing!

[JimmyKoria]

Idols are suposed to entertain. If they don't then they clearly aren't idols. Being an idol doesnt have much to do with actual talent. You sit and look pretty and sing.

I dont live in Japan so I can't really comment on their image. I never assumed older buisness men listen to them because they where perverts. I just assumed it was the same as the boyband and britney spears effect here. young people liked their catchy beats.

[Mirai Noah]

I know that you're looking for a "non fan perspective", but I thought I'd throw in my two cents as well. I am an American female fan of Morning Musume. Personally, I think that a lot of girls in Hello! Project are talented, and I think that their songs are catchy. I wouldn't listen to them if I didn't think they had talent.

I don't think that Morning Musume gives Japan a bad image. Yes, they are idols. Yes, they have photobooks and DVDs. But I personally think that there are "worse" idol groups out there that could be more damaging to Japan's image. However, I think we'd need to visit Japan to see.

[Mirai Noah]

I know that you're looking for a "non fan perspective", but I thought I'd throw in my two cents as well. I am an American female fan of Morning Musume. Personally, I think that a lot of girls in Hello! Project are talented, and I think that their songs are catchy. I wouldn't listen to them if I didn't think they had talent.

I don't think that Morning Musume gives Japan a bad image. Yes, they are idols. Yes, they have photobooks and DVDs. But I personally think that there are "worse" idol groups out there that could be more damaging to Japan's image. However, I think we'd need to visit Japan to really judge.

[*Petit*]

IF anything, I think you might say that the ai-doru idustry as a whole is bad for japan's image. Ayu was never in H!P BUT she did bikini photos when she was baely a teen. And also at the moment only about 50% of H!P is in their early teens, many of them are above 20 and still releasing photo books. In this "departement" of H!P it's very similar to other idol artists on f.e.x pony canyon and GInza. (Aya Ueto being an example)

[Weslicious]

^^^I hate the pre avex Ayu photo shoots (That vid on a bike).

I am soo getting what you are all saying. I'm glad this thread didn't get a 'MM are love. You should shut up' response. Even fans give reasons for their answer.

I will say I don't think I'm talking to dirty old men when I come on AHN, so I'm aware that the MM fans on here aren't as I describe in my original post (Never meant as a bash to AHN fans).

I will add however, there is that 10th anniversary group with the popular members (I will say here, my first post mentioned nothing about talent. I've never denied certain members can dance and sing.) But who charts higher. Current MM with their young girl's ... or the talented edition with the girls on the wrong side of 20 for the fans I worry about?

[greggerz189]

YES. They're totally vapid, too. I watched them on an interview during PopJam while I was in Japan last month, and they couldn't even answer questions right. And then they brought back old Morning Musume Alumni, and they were stupid, too. Wow. Seriously. I get the whole nasty sexy thing, but I mean, come on. At least Koda Kumi's a relatively smart girl. She may be nasty sexy, but at least she's competent. Really.

It's disappointing that many outside, Western observers of Japanese idol culture immediately come to the conclusion that fans of this particular industry are sickos and the like. They see a middle-aged man cheering on a girl half his age (or younger), and automatically assume he is disgusting. "Why else would he be cheering for her? It's obviously not the stupid music!" These people may see Morning Musume as a reinforcement of the stereotype.

Morning Musume is a product of the decades-old Japanese idol industry. There are certainly things that do reinforce the stereotype in this industry, but from my perspective as a fan of Morning Musume, I don't believe the group is one of them. They have a rather wholesome image overall, like Petit said.

As truehappiness mentioned, there will always be crazy fans in any sort of fandom. To assume that the other fans are like this is very narrow-minded. As is taking a stereotype as truth.

[*Petit*]

Originally Posted by Cavi

"Why else would he be cheering for her? It's obviously not the stupid music!" These people may see Morning Musume as a reinforcement of the stereotype.

This sort of mindset always makes me go as it is so superficial! Just because the musicians aren't in dark clothes playing the instruments themselves and mostly being *male* doesen't mean it's a *lesser* form of music. there are actually more people working on morning musume songs than on such band songs (as an example) and tsunku has used many very talented and amazing musicians to work with the project, not to mention he's a great and creative musician himself. F.ex for those who think ayumi had "interesting" arrangements for songs like HEAVEN and M, you should listen to some of the songs Dance*man did for momusu fex souda! we're alive (yes, I mean listen, cause you don't really have to look at the girls to appreciate the music).

Maybe the lyrics aren't always that deep, but heck, they usually fullfill their purpose completely.

Also, I think that it may come off at not so serious because the songs and MVs are often very conseptual, sometimes so much it seems like a parody, kind of like a broadwayshow. But to be honest I think that's a problem for many japanese artists. The western music business has been focusing a lot more on the "girl/boy next door" and not, like david bowie and elvis did back then, make an unatural setting and take the listener into a "different world" using costumes rather than "casual clothes". Nowadays this is found in cartoons, sci-fi and other genres that before were for nerds and children, but recently turned more and more mainstream.

[elepop]

Whoever say that all Morning Musume members have no talent are simply ignorant.

And no, MM is not a bad image for Japan. Japan is generally a perverted country. Don't ever blame MM.