As you may have heard by now, Japanese comedian/personality/cross dresser/fat dude in a dress Matsuko Deluxe has made headlines recently for calling out K-pop on Fuji TV‘s “Nakayoshi Terebi Golden Iitai Hodai SP” in an episode which is set to be aired in full on January 17th.
Put it this way, I can just see my college professors going insane and pointing out all the logical fallacies and tragic debate flaws in this exchange.
Announcer: First, Matsuko would like to call out the hugely popular K-pop genre.
Ryu: Metaphorically, Japan’s entertainment industry is amateur baseball level. Korea’s entertainment industry is professional baseball level.
Matsuko: Wait! I really can’t agree with that at all.
If we’re looking at the entire entertainment industry, Ryu’s statement is obviously full of shit, but I believe he’s talking specifically about pop music, and honestly? Ryu is right.
In a general sense, K-pop idols are professionals and J-pop idols are amateurs.
K-pop acts spend years training and perfecting their craft before the public is even allowed to know they exist, so when they debut, they are expected to be finished products. On the other hand, while there are J-pop idols who are trained and talented (EXILE/E-Girls), as a whole, J-pop idols are marketed based on the fact that they are unfinished products. The creators of groups such as Morning Musume and AKB48 admit as much, so what’s the problem?
Oh right, it’s national pride, because Ryu’s saying Korea is better than Japan at something, so there has to be a fucking argument, right? It’s the law!
Ugh.
Host: Oh, why?
M: Well, in the end, when I look at K-pop, I only see them copying American music. You keep on saying that they are taking influences from all over the world earlier, but what is this “world” that you’re referring to? Wait, I’m still talking! It’s okay if they say that they’re selling the fact that it’s just Asian faces copying American music, therefore they’re being international.
1) K-pop is copying American music. Any rational fan can admit that. They take every opportunity to not only put themselves in the same vein as American artists but hire their producers, writers, and choreographers. Hell, the idols themselves admit they idolize them. It’s a fact, deal with reality. Who cares?
2) J-pop has basically developed into its own genre over time, but back when J-pop got started, guess where most of the ideas were taken from? Yeah, America.
Conclusion?
IT’S ALL DERIVATIVE BECAUSE IT’S FUCKING POP MUSIC
R: But K-pop has landed in America!
M: They’ve only landed!
K-pop has landed in America the same way Captain James Cook landed in Hawaii: multiple visits that eventually annoy the locals before being killed slowly and burned beyond recognition.
R: The proof is the fact that there’s a Billboard K-pop Chart. Even if we take America out of the equation, J-pop can’t even achieve that.
M: But we’ve never aimed for such achievements!
1) It’s not an achievement if you basically pay for it. Korean companies actively work with foreign companies to spread K-pop on sites like YouTube, whereas Japanese companies are fucking useless pieces of shit that try to get everything banned from YouTube that they possibly can. Are Korean companies smarter? Yes. Does that prove K-pop has made it? No.
2) I hate to break it to that Ryu fellow, but J-pop already has their own chart on Billboard and it has been around far longer than K-pop’s chart.
The J-pop chart started at Billboard on May 10th, 2008. The K-pop chart started at Billboard on September 3rd, 2011.
Facts, they are hard.
R: That’s…
M: Are praises from America everything to you?
Actually, this is a relevant point.
I’ve said this before, but K-pop’s obsession with conquering America instead of regions that are far more profitable and open to their music is confusing.
The factor that always comes into play is the pride thing, which is why Korean companies are willing to risk wasting millions of dollars, because they want to be able to say they were the ones who conquered America.
Conversely, J-pop doesn’t really do this. In fact, I would say they are almost resentful of their overseas fans, seemingly doing everything in their power to fuck them over. Once again, they are useless dicks, and K-pop is eons ahead of J-pop in that regard.
R: It’s not everything! But…
M: Is it a proof of success if there’s a Billboard K-pop Chart?
R: That’s definitely a plus.
Can we please stop with this charade where people pretend that paying for publicity is equal to actual market penetration?
Thanks.
Hyun Ki: But what about Japan being totally into Lady Gaga? What about that then?
M: So what? We also accept music from your country!
Fair enough.
I suppose it is a bit ironic that Korean fans and media waste so much breath on how Japanese netizens hate Hallyu Wave yet three K-pop groups are mainstream relevant in Japan.
Once again, the crazy minority always overshadows the reasonable majority.
H: Then isn’t that everything?
M: It’s all good! Why are you complaining about this country? We’re a country that accept cultures from all over the world! Why are you complaining? Tell me, is there any other country in the world that is as open-minded as Japan! Get out! If you don’t like Japan that much, get out! We accept you guys over here!
A hilariously bad ending to a hilariously stupid discussion.
Honestly, the last part reminds me of American rednecks.
“IF YOU DON’T LIKE MY OPINION, THEN GET THE FUCK OUT OF JAPAN!“
That has to be one of the most ridiculously terrible arguments I’ve heard in a while, and hanging around the Asian pop scene, I hear a ton of them on the regular.
Pathetic.
—–
That’s not even the best part though, as comments from delusional fans are what truly vault this debate into epic territory.
Click To Enlarge
Click To Enlarge
Click To Enlarge
Click To Enlarge
Click To Enlarge
“LET ME SHOW YOU HOW MUCH BETTER MY ETHNICITY IS BY DEMONSTRATING TO YOU HOW DUMB AND RACIST WE CAN BE!“
Same old shit, every fucking day.
Unfortunately, I couldn’t find insane or racist comments from J-pop fans, most likely because a majority of their reaction revolves around them sackriding everything Matsuko Deluxe said without any rational thought, but if you find any, be sure to tip me.
—–
This debate has truly highlighted for me why I love K-pop and J-pop, but detest much of the culture that comes along with it.
The political undertones, culture wars, and prideful dick swinging that gets involved in what is still just fucking pop music is both insane and pathetic.
![[Review] [Album] Infinite – “INFINITIZE”](http://www.asianjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/2012_infinite_infinitize-134x90.jpg)
![[Review] [Music Video] JYJ’s Junsu – Tarantallegra](http://www.asianjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/JYJJunsu1-134x90.jpg)
![[Review] [Album] Infinite – “INFINITIZE”](http://www.asianjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/2012_infinite_infinitize-50x50.jpg)
![[Review] [Music Video] JYJ’s Junsu – Tarantallegra](http://www.asianjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/JYJJunsu1-50x50.jpg)
![[Review] [Album] A Pink – “Une Annee”](http://www.asianjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/A-Pink-Une-Annee-50x50.jpg)
![[Review] [Album] Taetiseo – “Twinkle”](http://www.asianjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Taetiseo-50x50.jpg)
![[Review] [Album] Hello Venus – “Venus”](http://www.asianjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/2012_Hello-Venus_Venus-50x50.jpg)
![[Exclusive] MR for SNSD’s “The Boys”, Super Junior’s “Mr. Simple”, and T-ara’s “Roly Poly”](http://www.asianjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/SNSDTheBoys-50x50.jpg)
“No U.S. pop is a TERRIBLE imitation of k.pop.”
HAHAHAHAHAHAaaaaaaahahahAHAHAHAHA.
I was reading through those comments laughing.
Why are you so fucking smart? HUH? I think you should just make your own TV show, go to Korea and explain the flaws of KPOP, argue with fans and make some enemies but help some people wake up and see the truth haha
lol
Not smart.
Simple logic and a healthy dose of cynicism is all.
I’m convinced both sides only do this for attention.
No?
Also those comments are fucking scary.
Possible.
I guess Korea benefits by inflaming K-pop fans everywhere to be more loyal and Japan benefits because the show gets better ratings.
I’m waiting for the actual episode to come out before I start calling people stupid.
Japan does everything in its power to stop people overseas from seeing their shit on the internet. J-pop is doing well enough that it doesn’t need the support of foreign fans like how k-pop does. There’s almost no money to be made in Korea these days, but a ton to make in Japan.
I also feel that a lot of the indignation Japanese people feel about Hallyu has more to do with socioeconomic issues than the actual Hallyu Wave. There’s the Dokdo bullshit going on, and then there are still Koreans around who hate the fucking shit out of Japan for taking over Korea once upon a time. And then there are Japanese people who think it’s pathetic that Korea is sending EVERY idol group to Japan NOT because they want to reach out to Japanese people, but because of $$$. (There can be no other explanation for songs like the Japanese version of “Bang” and “I am the Best”. -_- )
Most of all, people just need to get the fuck over it and companies need to get their shit together. And since neither of those seems to be happening anytime soon, I’ll be popcorning this petty argument for as long as it lasts.
I’ve heard enough to be quite sure that they’re stupid.
Yes, Japan completely screws over potential markets around the world with their tactics.
Always has more to do with it than just entertainment because the aforementioned insane people want to use it as a vehicle for their stupidity.
Bring me Solo and the Wookie. They will all suffer for this outrage.
MY SITE BRINGS THE NERDS OUT
I think is trued the kpop is better than jpop but in the same time I have heard better music coming from japan than korea
so I fell the kpop looks better than jpop and thats why some people think is better the artist are better prepare sing better look better dance better and perform much better but when it comes to music I think they are about the same(the two of them suck)
I think if the korean companies really want to beat japan they have to improve in the thing the matters the most which is the music
I watch kpop I dont hear kpop because their music really sucks 90% of the time but when they finally improve that and they stop trying to be little wannabe virgins they will really offer something all around good and maybe become truly international
“K-pop has landed in America the same way Captain James Cook landed in Hawaii: multiple visits that eventually annoy the locals before being killed slowly and burned beyond recognition.”
;ASHDF;HAS;FHKASGHA;HFDA;G;AKSHFAHAHAHHHAHH;ASDHASHDFA’KA
Disappointed by the lack of people who got the perfection of that analogy.
as a history buff & a fan of k-pop/j-pop, i totally approve of this analogy =P
Man I should’ve gotten a site like this. When I say things like this on my twitter or tumblr people get mad butt hurt about it. But this is totally the truth. Why can’t people just enjoy music without all the politics?
If Asian Junkie becomes more and more popular, eventually the commenters will be butt hurt by various things.
Happens to every site.
Right now though, I’m guessing the audience is primarily ones who understand what the site is about and were drawn to it specifically because of that.
The butt hurt comes in when it becomes more mainstream and everybody starts reading it whether they actually like the concept of the site or not.