[Official Message] Ayu to be "correction support officer"

[douggn]

Originally Posted by Corvina

Correct me, when I'm wrong, but isn't Japan already one of the countries with the smallest criminal rate?
And what can an artist or a singer (everybody having a great life with lots of money and probably not one single bigger problem, to sum it up more or less, exaggerating) actually change for a criminal? How can they help them? Or the system?
Japan has bigger and wider problems, such as a high suicide rate, social and gender imbalance, sexual harassment and so on. Would made a much bigger impact, if they tried to improve something about that with the help of some celebrities.

Really. this feels like such a PR stunt (especially cause it's for Olympics) and I don't know if I like that Ayu is part of that. I'm not that naive to believe it will change anything at all.
But maybe this is her and Avex intention, to cause some good promotion and help her image.
Idk.

Just read that Ryōtarō Sugi, a celebrity, who seems to be somewhat the leader of this "program", is doing this for years already privately.
Now this is highly admirable.

Just because someone is in prison doesn't mean a famous person cant inspire them. Some people can feel touched that a famous person came out to talk, and ayu is still a big name and a name that's been around for awhile. It also acts as a special treat for good behavior. But also, avex wouldn't of said yes if it didn't look good for ayu, and ayu wouldn't of said yes if she didn't want to do it.

[SunshineSlayer]

Ok, Ayu looks sooo cute! lol This whole news is just.... haha, it's a good thing though.

Originally Posted by Corvina

Japan has bigger and wider problems, such as a high suicide rate, social and gender imbalance, sexual harassment and so on. Would made a much bigger impact, if they tried to improve something about that with the help of some celebrities.

This, I do agree with however. Japan has faaaar bigger and more important problems imo. Honestly, Tokyo is already the safest city that has ever been used for an Olympics as it is. Japan's crime rate is really not something that needs to be worried about (at least not more than other extremely bad social issues)

[kotora]

Originally Posted by SunshineSlayer

Ok, Ayu looks sooo cute! lol This whole news is just.... haha, it's a good thing though.



This, I do agree with however. Japan has faaaar bigger and more important problems imo. Honestly, Tokyo is already the safest city that has ever been used for an Olympics as it is. Japan's crime rate is really not something that needs to be worried about (at least not more than other extremely bad social issues)

Also racism exists in Japan.

[primavera♥]

^if one of them is already doing it, why not include more? I imagine, like ayumi said, she'll have to do a lot of learning about the situation, etc.

I highly doubt she's there to talk to prisoners about her latest Chanel bag or that they would just have celebrities do something without at least trying to make it effective.

People publicize a lot of things which they don't have to. But to me, if the outcomes are still nice, then I don't really see the concern.

[Corvina]

Originally Posted by primavera♥

^if one of them is already doing it, why not include more? I imagine, like ayumi said, she'll have to do a lot of learning about the situation, etc.

I highly doubt she's there to talk to prisoners about her latest Chanel bag or that they would just have celebrities do something without at least trying to make it effective.

People publicize a lot of things which they don't have to. But to me, if the outcomes are still nice, then I don't really see the concern.

Of course it depends on the people taking part in it.
And Ayu did have a quite rough time when she was younger. But it is the question, how much she still can relate to that time or if it's just too far away already.
Though getting in prison is still a difference than struggling in your youth.

[primavera♥]

Originally Posted by Corvina

Of course it depends on the people taking part in it.
And Ayu did have a quite rough time when she was younger. But it is the question, how much she still can relate to that time or if it's just too far away already.
Though getting in prison is still a difference than struggling in your youth.

I don't believe that you have to go through the same experience as someone to be able to empathize with them, learn about their experience, and try to understand them on a deeper level. That's also why it's important usually to have an open mind. Of course, it might be nice if you have someone who did have the exact same experience, but it doesn't work that way often, and that shouldn't be a prereq for people being able to try to understand another

I didn't grow up in the same neighborhood as the youth living in poverty that I worked with last summer. Nor did I have many of their experiences. But that didn't stop me from helping them and supporting them as my job.

I get that ayu is a rich celebrity lol, but she's still a person. All of them are.

And I get where you're coming from, I just don't see it as a big issue

[koumori]

Originally Posted by Corvina

Though getting in prison is still a difference than struggling in your youth.

As a large generalisation, people with a troubled youth are more likely to make the decisions leading to prison. I think what primavera said is right as well, and to be honest I'm not exactly sure how much time Ayu will spend personally talking to convicts, but I think she'll be able to empathise with what choices some of them made to be where they are today.

I say this because I spent a lot of time being a counsellor aide in the past; I definitely didn't have the same experiences as every single one of the people I listened to and guided, but it was still very possible to empathise and help them.

[Delicious n Bold]

Omg that cover!!! Ayu's guilty era part 2 tbh!!!!

[tokyoxjapanxfan]

Unfortunately Ayu's played up her diva image in the past years, so it's hard for people to take what she does as sincere versus image-driven (this isn't directed at anyone, just a general statement).

As we'll never truly know, it can only be interpreted by the individual.

Personally I think Ayu is still a good person, and this seems more like PR for the Olympics more than the celebs taking part. Atsushi is already extremely well liked and respected. He doesn't need much positive PR haha.

No celeb is required to give their time, money or effort to anything. Nor anyone else.

I think if the outcome is positive, then even if she/they were to gain an image boost, at least it was for a good cause. :-)

[Andrenekoi]

^I remember reading on an old interview sugestions that she maybe had part on more than one action that weren't really legal back at that time, so, as a troubled teenager, she actually may be close of taking decisions that would take her on that path...

[koumori]

Originally Posted by Andrenekoi

I remember reading on an old interview sugestions that she maybe had part on more than one action that weren't really legal back at that time, so, as a troubled teenager, she actually may be close of taking decisions that would take her on that path...

I also remember a few of her older interviews mentioning/hinting at such, but I don't remember the years of where they were unfortunately... but glad to hear I didn't just make this up. But yes, I do think this is a reason why Ayu has reached out; not just for PR, but because she may see herself as being close to this outcome had things been just slightly different.

[ayumisrael]

Even if it's a part of a PR she still has to be involved in this and it's still something that is important/good deed so there's nothing wrong with that (even though it's probably not for a PR to bring her back to... anywhere, not sales wise at least lol).

I'm glad that she can be a part of something like that and is happy to help. I wouldn't understand why she shouldn't if she was offered to and gladly wanted to do so, especially if other artists like EXILE's Atsushi or the AKB48 were asked and wanted to do so as well.

There's completely nothing wrong with that, and people shouldn't search what's "wrong" with that as well.
If it would be so, pretty much everything good she would do and people would know about it would be looked as "bad"/PR stunt.

I also agree that you can help and support people without experiencing the same things they have been through (from experience).

And how come forgiveness isn't a part of the A PRISON BEST tracklits? LOL

[_dandy_]

So, Ayu's going Johnny Cash now?

[Leaf King]

I see this as a good thing. She has a lot of songs in her repertoire, and there's wisdom to be found in her lyrics, some of which I hope will reach those to whom she'll sing.

On another note, she looks lovely (even if that outfit seems to swallow her up)

[chronos]

LOCK ME UP!!! Despite what some have said, I agree with those who says Ayu looks bomb! She can rock anything.

Originally Posted by holy_arrow

I must say that she is the most beautiful woman in the group !

I thought the same thing. Her look keeps getting more refined with age.

[Uemarasan]

A good deed is a good deed. Have we really entered that age of cynicism wherein charitable and humanitarian actions are ascribed a ranking system? God help us all.

The truth of the matter is you will never fully understand or comprehend a person's true motive for doing anything. In the end, all you have is the action speaking for itself. So I commend Ayu on doing this, whatever reasons motivate her.

[Kazeyomi]

I prefer when people are biased on her music rather on when she's doing charity, to be honest. Even if Japan has the lowest criminal rate compared to other countries, it doesn't mean prisoners have the happiest life neither :/

I'm proud of her. Whatever the true reason behind this is, she's still doing something helpful at least.

[Uemarasan]

Originally Posted by Kazeyomi

I prefer when people are biased on her music rather on when she's doing charity, to be honest. Even if Japan has the lowest criminal rate compared to other countries, it doesn't mean prisoners have the happiest life neither :/

I'm proud of her. Whatever the true reason behind this is, she's still doing something helpful at least.

Exactly. I don't see why an issue that isn't supposedly as "important" is any less deserving of attention. So we should just pretend that the social reintegration of prisoners is a problem that can be just swept under the rug? If AHS members really wanted Ayu to tackle the most "pressing" social problems in Japan, then perhaps they can give some helpful suggestions as to how on earth she might go about addressing historical revisionism, educational reform or media self-censorship, especially since she lacks any means or conduits of influence in these areas unless she runs for office or something? And how is she not addressing gender imbalance/parity? That theme has been woven into the fabric of her music and image since time immemorial. She herself and the life she has lived are her own answer to the problems of women in Japanese society!

Sometimes this forum can be just unbelievable. Negativity for the sake of negativity.

[SunshineSlayer]

Originally Posted by Uemarasan

Exactly. I don't see why an issue that isn't supposedly as "important" is any less deserving of attention. So we should just pretend that the social reintegration of prisoners is a problem that can be just swept under the rug? If AHS members really wanted Ayu to tackle the most "pressing" social problems in Japan, then perhaps they can give some helpful suggestions as to how on earth she might go about addressing historical revisionism, educational reform or media self-censorship, especially since she lacks any means or conduits of influence in these areas unless she runs for office or something? And how is she not addressing gender imbalance/parity? That theme has been woven into the fabric of her music and image since time immemorial. She herself and the life she has lived are her own answer to the problems of women in Japanese society!

Sometimes this forum can be just unbelievable. Negativity for the sake of negativity.

What me and the other poster were saying, really has nothing to do with Ayu at all. Ayu doing this, is a great thing. But, this whole thing is also just so indicative of the problem in Japan of real issues never actually getting any attention at all. While the - relatively - non-issues get show boated around.

[njanjayrp]

Originally Posted by SunshineSlayer

What me and the other poster were saying, really has nothing to do with Ayu at all. Ayu doing this, is a great thing. But, this whole thing is also just so indicative of the problem in Japan of real issues never actually getting any attention at all. While the - relatively - non-issues get show boated around.

I live in a relatively undeveloped country and it's pretty much the same. To me it's a bit odd as you'd think that a country like Japan should have the majority of major issues well resolved, so it would make sense for less important things get show boated around.

I think it's nice she's doing this, but to me it doesn't seem like a most important thing in the world - doesn't mean no one should be dealing with it.