Honey Popcorn - News, showcase & Dance ver.

[benihime99.livejournal.com]

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Honey Popcorn Expresses Gratitude And Discusses Divided Opinions About Their Debut

New girl group Honey Popcorn talked debuting as idols in Korea and their careers as AV (adult video) actresses.

On March 21, Honey Popcorn held their first showcase for their first album “Bibidi Babidi Boo.” Consisting of three Japanese members — Mikami Yua, Matsuda Miko, and Moto Sakura— , the group is called Honey Popcorn in order to become as sweet and exciting as the popcorn in theme parks.

In the showcase, the girls talked about how it felt to debut as a girl group in Korea. All three members used to be in groups in Japan: Mikami Yua was in SKE48, Matsuda Miko was in NMB48, and Moto Sakura was a member of Bakusute Sotokanda Icchome.

Mikami Yua said, “It doesn’t feel like I debuted yet. I’m very happy. The teaser came out at midnight last night, and I was so nervous. I couldn’t sleep because I was watching it repeatedly.”

During a question and answer time with the press, the topic of their time as AV actresses was mentioned. Mikami Yua explained, “It is true that we are AV actresses in Japan, and it was work that we were doing sincerely.” However, right now, we want to focus on our activities as Honey Popcorn.” She added, “We know there will many people who will find it hard to support us. Still, we are going to cherish the people who are supporting us now.”

Matsuda Miko said, “While preparing for [our debut], I expected there would be a difference of opinion because of the cultural gap between Korea and Japan. However, since we have people who support us, I want to work harder in order to meet their expectations.”

Mikami Yua, who used her own finances to produce this album, revealed, “I wanted to do this because I have a dream I really would like to fulfill. There may be various opinions, but I was able to do this because I have a dream that I want to fulfill no matter what.”

When asked which K-pop star they would like to meet, they picked TWICE. Matsuda Miko said, “I’m from Osaka, and I know the three Japanese members of TWICE are from the Kansai region. So, I would like to meet and talk with them.” Moko Sakura commented, “I would like to learn dancing from TWICE.”

Honey Popcorn revealed that they have many plans after this album, some which involve going back and forth from Korea and Japan. They said, “Although there are many obstacles right now, we want to overcome all of them and show cool sides of us. We hope you will regard us warmly in the future.”

source: soompi, xportsnews, TongTongTv 통통영상 1, 2, 3, 1theK

Comments

[pikapika217.livejournal.com]

music listeners?

[msgrottesca.livejournal.com]

I love how we're not allowed to say this or be critical consumers at all without ppl getting super defensive lol

[belintuchiha.livejournal.com]

or how people are like completely ignoring it lol

[naruhoe.livejournal.com]

Omg I had to hijack an ancient journal account just to physically reply and agree to this even though I haven't been active on Omona in 84 years lol

[dior-chic.livejournal.com]

I really enjoy this debut :)

[premonitioner.livejournal.com]

I'm just so weak to turquoise/red outfits and I really want theirs

[pikapika217.livejournal.com]

TBQH i find it odd that just because they are/were JAV actresses that people are being extra critical of their 'intentions' as if a majority of companies aren't also targeting audiences and/or taking advantage of the members of groups.

Like, where is this ~concern~ for ALL the groups? Why is their dream somehow a big trolling effort? The fact that they are all former idols themselves makes me feel like this is more genuine then ever.

[vintage-boom.livejournal.com]

That concern is literally in the majority of posts for gg. Especially when fan encounters and pandering are done.

It’s not the girls themselves people are being critical of but the company and the fanbase they’re catering to. If the company was just pushing them as idols and then post debut it came out they were jav that’d be different. Using it as the main ~thing for this group is a problem.

You don’t see something wrong in pushing an innocent concept while also putting “they’re ex-porn stars”? Both for the group themselves and other girl groups.

[pikapika217.livejournal.com]

See I only know them from this so I'm not sure how popular they were during their time in girl groups and then as JAV stars but if people will recognize them why not address it right away? If it's going to come out eventually at least it's on their terms.

[vintage-boom.livejournal.com]

Addressing it is different than using it as their only marketing gimmick. Especially post p-101’s wholesome porn comments everything about this debut is suspect.

I wish the girls well seriously this isn’t rly even about them as individuals it’s about the implications of presenting this to perverts and having that then be the assumption of all girl groups (which lbr it already basically is because men are dumb and awful).

[benihime99.livejournal.com]

Did they use it as a marketing point?
The only pre-debut post I remember was the insta teaser which did not advertize it, I think
Did they have promo prior to that?

[vintage-boom.livejournal.com]

they did use it as a marketing point. it was in all their press releases pre-debut.

[pikapika217.livejournal.com]

Hmm in a 'they used to do this and now they don't' pre-emptive way or a 'hey look at these sexy girls doing songs now!' way?

It's not that I can't understand the concern about girl groups in general and the audience they have to cater to in order to be successful but it seems that a lot of times people just roll with it for other groups and it's all anyone can talk about with this one, which might be a bigger problem then.

[benihime99.livejournal.com]

I'm pretty sure it was the first
and from what I've seen, it was always news outlets who decided to spend time on it while completely ignoring they were first in an idol group (a popular one at that)
And if it was all about money they would have stayed in Japan (flop group there make more coins than some established group in SK)

The level of hypocrisy regarding this issue is astonishing
You have people who themselves have been sexualising underage girl in this community being all up in arms about ex-AV actress debuting in kpop because and I'm like...

[pikapika217.livejournal.com]

I just.....don't get the discourse for them because if you take away the knowledge that they're former JAV models they look.....pretty much like every other girl group?

So bringing all this up about male gaze and innocent concepts that seem to be accepted here or at least something people have an understanding about - that these girls work hard and deserve to live their dreams and are marketed like this because it's what the market demands, despite how unfair and how cautious GG members have to be - so why the hyper fixation on this group? If anything, addressing their former careers head on is the right way to me and all of the members being women in their 20s makes them less vulnerable because they presumably have a better sense of self.

I just can't understand kicking all this up for this group when other ones just exist presumably with less agency than these girls who funded it themselves.

[benihime99.livejournal.com]

I get why people are being cautious, I really do. We know this industry is shit towards its artists and women especially
But at a certain point it starts looking more like prejudice than anything else.
I rather give them the benefit of the doubt, espeically after doing research into their group because the girls seems really genuine about it
And there isn't this amount of outrage for dance group who we know for a fact are being used by their labels (some offer 'escort service' option -or are forced to perform lapdance on male fans and so on)

[pikapika217.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I'm not dismissing the caution but where is all of this for every girl group all the time?? If we're going to focus in on the potentially problematic aspects of this group then we need to do that for every girl group from now on and not let up OR just let this one live until there's actual proof of harm.

And there isn't this amount of outrage for dance group who we know for a fact are being used by their labels (some offer 'escort service' option -or are forced to perform lapdance on male fans and so on)

What?! Who is this?? I missed this news entirely

[benihime99.livejournal.com]

I don't think it was ever posted here
But after I looked into Laysha for some post I also did some research on dance group and that's not a place I want to go to ever again. Laysha seems hppy enough but those lapdance fancam... oh boy

[benihime99.livejournal.com]

nah, the concern is only in some girlgroup post
No one said a word when Rina (16), Lucy (15) & Lua (17) did a sexy choreo in sexualised school girl outfit...

[msgrottesca.livejournal.com]

girl I am in literally almost every girl group post being critical of the concepts, to the extent that most ppl on here hate me lol

[benihime99.livejournal.com]

Hadn't heard a joke that funny in a while
thanks

[msgrottesca.livejournal.com]

rme. I've been called a misogynist on here more than once for criticizing pure concepts, I had my inbox blowing up for hours when I criticized JYP for putting sexual moves in Twice's debut, I was literally just in your post about banned lyrics criticizing Cube's insistence on giving CLC lyrics that pander to lolicons and the male gaze. Sorry, but the people I've seen on here criticizing this group's marketing have been mostly consistent in their criticisms.

[benihime99.livejournal.com]

I'm not really interested in the reasons other people have to be unhappy with you
I've seen enough of your comments to forge my own opinion and know that I do not wish to engage with you on any subject
I'm sure you don't care about my opinion so we can just part in a civil manner and leave it at that

[msgrottesca.livejournal.com]

👌

[belintuchiha.livejournal.com]

Don't mind them lol
A lot of people prefer to just turn the other cheek in some of these issues.

[msgrottesca.livejournal.com]

sigh... you're right lmao I guess it just frustrates me that ppl don't want to even discuss this stuff when it's pretty important imo. it's so confusing to see ppl on here say "I'm really concerned about how women in the industry are being treated." in one post, but then see them get pissed if you bring it up else where.

[belintuchiha.livejournal.com]

It's really hypocritical tbh, I actually appreciate your comments a lot! Because you are always willing to talk about these issues in any post, no matter what group it is.

You basically always say everything I want to say.

[vintage-boom.livejournal.com]

I mean it’s still there tho it’s not like this is the first instance of people saying “wait a minute”. It should be more blanketed and apply to all gg but it’s not like it’s ignored.

[msgrottesca.livejournal.com]

it's honestly this simple... ppl are being obtuse imo. I'm constantly critical of girl group concepts, lyrics, etc, so it's not just this group.

It pisses me off that kpop girls have to deal with their companies marketing them to men who film up their skirts at the venue. On top of all the harassment in the industry, they then have to go up every day in their little outfits singing "oppa don't hesitate, no means yes!" type lyrics for a crowd full of pervs. It's... a lot.

This case is even more obvious in it's intentions which is what makes many people so suspicious of it, especially since their company has the members bankrolling it themselves so when they flop and the gimmick runs out, their hands will be clean.

[moonsuns.livejournal.com]

“It’s not the girls themselves people are being critical of but the company and the fanbase they’re catering to.“
about the company bit, but aren’t they self-funded? i read somewhere that one of the girls invested her own money to make this happen. sorry if i’m mistaken tho

[vintage-boom.livejournal.com]

i only remember seeing mention of a company name itself, not if one of the members started it. if that's the case...idek what to think tbh

[izumichan31.livejournal.com]

In the op it says that Mikami Yua used her own finances to produce the album.

Apparently she really likes kpop and she's done a lot of dance covers and such on Youtube so this just seems like something she's genuinely wanted to do.

[benihime99.livejournal.com]

do you mean KYUN CREATE?
Iirc it's only their distriutor not a label per se, I could be wrong though

[moonsuns.livejournal.com]

whoops just realized the post mentions it

'Mikami Yua, who used her own finances to produce this album, revealed, “I wanted to do this because I have a dream I really would like to fulfill. There may be various opinions, but I was able to do this because I have a dream that I want to fulfill no matter what.”'

[vintage-boom.livejournal.com]

Ah I was skimming this earlier while working. Idk how to feel about knowing this tbh I appreciate the working and drive the girls have but it’s also kind of mmm sad in a way that I can’t quite articulate

[hozrien.livejournal.com]

I actually really like the song.

[dior-chic.livejournal.com]

Just my two cents -

I know how they're being promoted is problematic, and I'm always wary of companies and how girl groups are treated, as well as cringing at messages being promoted. But I still want to support them. They are pursuing something that they like and are working hard, and receiving a lot of harsh attention that they don't have control over. They deal with so much bullshit from their employers and male fans, It's simple to say you have an issue with the company but the truth is many will write off this group without giving them any chance and the girls Are most affected, that's what bums me out. So this is all they deserve, either being constantly reminded their company has bad intentions or people calling them sluts and whores for their other profession?

I know I'm not the intended audience for girl groups but I still want to support them since they need any support they can get. Plus a big reason while I enjoy some boy groups songs and in general, I don't go hard for any boy groups because while I am the intended audience (...ish, I'm too old for both lmao) is that it feels like they're pandering and why am I going to be super supportive of men who are more than likely has a piss poor opinion of women. I know many members here can easilyyyy overlook it, but I'd feel like a fool.

[thomaswilmoore.livejournal.com]

i'm with you

[evilcoc0nut.livejournal.com]

Though I'm mainly a bg fan at least this is a consistent opinion lol. I side-eye most of the strong opinions here on this topic coming from huge bg stans. 😶

[vintage-boom.livejournal.com]

to me, there's really no winning in any situation with kpop really and compartmentalizing aspects of it is the only way to continue enjoying the genre and industry. personally, i can take big issue with this and also with a lot of the BGs, even ones I support.

i agree with wanting the girls to do well for themselves but really hate a lot of what them being a GG can imply to men about other girl groups.

[myrrhcat.livejournal.com]

your first sentence is exactly why i think in-depth criticism of concepts/marketing is a waste of time at best. the whole kpop industry is rotten to the core, and there isn't a single girl group that isn't marketed toward the male gaze in some way, to say nothing of all the exploitation behind the scenes. so, despite the fact that i love doing feminist analysis in my daily life, i take girl groups at face value.
i mean everyone has the right to criticize but seeing it in spaces like this usually just bums me out. i want to watch girl groups doing sexy concepts and lez out without thinking about the straight male target audience. i want to enjoy the cuteness of cute concepts without wondering if there's a pedo agenda behind it. reminding myself of those things when i'm trying to relax, enjoy the music and root for my faves just feels masochistic.

[dior-chic.livejournal.com]

THANK YOU yes I completely agree with this

[vintage-boom.livejournal.com]

I get where you’re coming from. I think it’s hard to turn off that part of your brain sometimes and I think this group especially is like seeing a switchboard light up with red flags based on the societal issues going on and it’s very polarizing.

[pikapika217.livejournal.com]

Yeah them funding this themselves endears me to it because they're really putting themselves out there and the songs are genuinely good so I want to support them going for it.

[krispy-bacon.livejournal.com]

MTE on both counts. I'm also all for these girls doing want they want because they love it. The debut song is good so I'm all in to support~