Overkill Could Damage Korean Wave, Oricon Chief Warns

[ashiva.livejournal.com]

A senior figure in the Japanese entertainment industry has warned against the flood of Korean singers, manufactured bands and actors who rush to perform in Tokyo, which has become something of a rite of passage for entertainers who made it in Korea. "I'm afraid that the rotation of Korean acts [through Japan] is too fast," said Koh Koike, the CEO of Japan's Oricon, which supplies statistics and information on music and the music industry.

The Oricon chart has become something of a Bible for Korean musicians. Established in 1967 and using album sales data collected from around 26,000 music stores across Japan to come up with daily, weekly and monthly rankings, it is a highly respected barometer of Japan's entertainment industry, comparable to the Billboard Top 100 Chart in the U.S.

Koike made the remarks in Korea, where he attended the first Gaon Charts K-Pop Awards on Wednesday. His advice paints a less-than-rosy picture of the future of K-Pop in Japan. "Right now, there is a fan base for K-Pop due to the physical appeal of groups like Girls' Generation or Kara, but I think what will matter in the future is the variety of music that Korean singers are able to offer," he said. "Korean singers who have recently become popular in Japan tend to stay in the country briefly and tour only major cities, but this won't help them win broad popularity there," he added. "The precedents set by leaders Dongbangshingi (TVXQ), Girls' Generation and Kara are very important for other Korean singers in Japan. If their album sales fall, this could impact other Korean singers as well, and that would lead to the perception that their popularity was just a flash in the pan."

He said the polished image and strong fan base are the main reasons for the success of Korean acts on the Oricon chart. "Korean acts who did well on the Oricon chart have unique visual concepts and their singing and dancing skills are outstanding," Koike said. "Many fans find out about them from the Internet even before their Japanese debut, so they get a huge welcome."

Asked about the abrupt cancellation of an advertising campaign in Japan featuring Korean actress Kim Tae-hee due to anti-Korean sentiment, Koike said, "That sentiment is being expressed by only a small group of people. I think that Kim Tae-hee's side may have overreacted to the negative opinions. Most Japanese people do not express opinions. They just like K-Pop and Korean TV dramas."

Source: The Chosun Ilbo

Comments

[my-faux-pas.livejournal.com]

Well, what a huge pressure on Tohoshinki, Kara and SNSD then. But more so on Toho's part since they're the sunbaes, and let's face it, carrying the burden when you're a duo is so much harder than when they were complete. But Bigeasts are awesome people anyway. Lol

[sai12.livejournal.com]

This is what I've been thinking for awhile. But not just in Japan...they're really over saturating the local market too.

[funkaliciousss.livejournal.com]

korean music entertainment industry, please listen to this wise samchon.

[xxkumorixx.livejournal.com]

yes wise words..too bad they won't be taken to heart :/

[eishastan.livejournal.com]

Need Phoebe's brand new information gif.

[rikayla.livejournal.com]

ikr lol

[luvey.livejournal.com]

TVXQ should not be put in the same category as Girls' Generation and Kara as leaders of the wave. TVXQ actually did their time in Japan, learning the language, and created something special outside the realm of what these "wham bam lets go to Japan" groups have been lately. and i'm not even a TVXQ stan, but them and BoA did something that will keep them as a lasting group in Japan when the K-Pop over-saturation backlash happens.

i am curious to see how HoMin hold up as a duo there.

overall, with the amount of new groups that debuted in the last year, Kpop is over doing it within it's own market in SK.

[laeryn.livejournal.com]

IA with this whole comment, tbh.

[lydzi.livejournal.com]

Entirely agreeing with you here.

[rikayla.livejournal.com]

+1 !!

[luvey.livejournal.com]

exactly. they weren't just your regular run of the mill kpop act in Japan,

[epinette.livejournal.com]

IA

[hibohabu.livejournal.com]

Koike isn't the first to say this about K-pop but does sound more than merely tolerant of its popularity in Japan, which is in its own way encouraging. I chuckled a little when he said most Japanese people didn't express opinions, though, and kind of agree. They seem pretty chill in general.

[cuethemusicc.livejournal.com]

I agree wholeheartedly. Groups that have debuted only MONTHS ago in Korea, are already debuting in Japan.

[asnindie.livejournal.com]

You can't really call DBSK a flash in the pan but I agree with the article, bring some variety Korea.

[cagallisakura.livejournal.com]

lol I'm a SONE but please do not put DBSK and SNSD as leaders in the same sentence. You don't even have to like DBSK to know they are beyond SNSD's level. Please don't embarrass the girls and yourself.

[miki-831.livejournal.com]

didn't everyone already know this?