It’s been a very long time since I’ve actually significantly written about Jpop. It feels each unsuitable, and proper that my foray again into writing about Jpop is about The Rampage from EXILE TRIBE. It’s not for enjoyable causes, sadly.
I’ll attempt to preserve this quick, however simply know you’ll have to buckle up for this one. Like significantly, that is the longest put up I’ve written ever even with edits and re-phrasings.
First, I’ve to do a fast(ish) background each about myself as a fan, and The Rampage from EXILE TRIBE in 2023 occasions is required for this. Beginning with myself, I’m what is named an organization stan of LDH Leisure. What meaning, is that I’m a fan of nearly all of skills, artists, teams, soloists, and so on that LDH Leisure at the moment manages. Being an organization stan is a reasonably widespread follow in Japan, and even in South Korea. The time period ‘firm stan’, nevertheless just isn’t used usually.
Focusing in on the music particularly, I might categorize myself as a fan of the next teams at the moment energetic on LDH’s roster: EXILE, Sandaime J Soul Brothers, Generations, The Rampage, Fantastics, Ballstik Boyz, Mas55ive, Dream Ami, Dream Shizuka, PKCZ, Miyavi, Girls2, iScream and SG5. These are teams that I put in effort and time to observe their actions, together with however not restricted to: streaming their music, speaking about them on my weblog, attending performances or stay occasions, following them on social media, shopping for their merchandise or releases, and so on.
Any group I didn’t identify above, I’m conscious of and vaguely have a background on whose within the group, loosely their music, and so on. I might not go as far as to love pay to see them in individual. Simply to attract these traces. I used to be additionally and stay to be a hardcore fan of E-Women, Flower, Dream and Happiness from their disbanded teams as one other reference level.
Turning again to my involvement as a fan of The Rampage from EXILE TRIBE or RMPG for brief, I’ve adopted since their debut. In some unspecified time in the future turned my favourite boy group on the above listing and at LDH Leisure. That’s only a reality. Whereas I don’t have a ton of posts that includes their music, I adopted their actions usually. Particularly when it got here to any of the members, there are sixteen of them, in dramas, films, and so on because it’s an intersection of JPop tradition I actually take pleasure in.
I’ve purchased a majority of their albums digitally over time. I adopted each member on my private social media accounts (Instagram, FB, and Twitter). I usually championed their music to anybody I believed I might get to pay attention. I used to be even fortunate sufficient that over my 5 years in Japan, that I might go their tour Ray of Mild (2022) as soon as, and 16Boosters tour (2023) twice. Much more fortunately, I bought to see my absolute favourite members my ‘oshis’ if you’ll, Riku and Urakawa Shohei within the 2023 musical “Widerstand”. It was a dream come true, and I used to be hooked. Leaving Japan didn’t change that reality, simply solely how I participated in following my favorites.
A type of modifications was trying to the worldwide fanbase, and leaning on them extra for updates and data. Followers posting fan experiences of live shows, stage performs, and so on, followers who translated information articles and interviews, followers who subtitled movies on Youtube and extra. I additionally leaned extra into utilizing CL or CL Stay which is an LDH Leisure app with movies, posts, and so on of all artists. A number of followers who have been extremely devoted and extra on the heartbeat of what different RAVER’s (the RMPG’s fan identify) and the RMPG on the whole have been doing.
Simply because I by no means appeared an excessive amount of additional past the superficial on-goings of the RMPG, didn’t imply unhealthy issues hadn’t occurred earlier than. Nor did it imply they couldn’t occur once more. Different RAVER’s have been way more within the know and let me find out about some snafu’s the group had confronted over time. I had my coronary heart damaged by some translated gossip, and vowed to remain in my very own lane of fandom.
LDH Leisure had made some questionable decisions leading to unhealthy conditions for his or her artists earlier than that might be chalked as much as intention verses crowd response over time. The one associated essentially the most to our principal matter being the 2021 EXILE TRIBE tour being referred to as “RISING SUN TO THE WORLD”. Exile Tribe does have a music referred to as “Rising Solar” which was a 2011 launch. It was a charity music for the 2011 tsunami aid efforts, with all of the earnings going to aid efforts. It’s not particularly common within the fandom, however it’s a music that’s been usually within the efficiency rotation since launch.
Why I’m bringing this up, is how the tour of the identical identify was interpreted poorly by worldwide followers. As many know the time period ‘Rising Solar’ is rooted in Japanese imperialism from WWII, and stays controversial to at the present time. Naming the 2021 tour such a factor, was for me a bit distasteful however not outright damming. The tour didn’t go overseas, and actually didn’t have another additional commentary on it different then that wasn’t the most effective title for a tour.
There have been different such issues over time, Sandaime J Soul Brothers had the same concern with their 2019 tour “Elevate the Flag”. There’s been some on-going rumors and gossip concerning the precise workers being right-wing, and different regarding however once more, not outright damning factors. Understanding that concern just isn’t completely a RMPG concern, however an company/firm concern will probably be essential to remember. It establishes an essential historical past of LDH, nevertheless skinny that will probably be related as we leap ahead.
All of the brings us to what the RMPG was as much as nearly all of 2023; they toured extensively in Japan, in addition to holding performances in Thailand, and a fan assembly in South Korea. In addition they had a collaboration music with the Thai group BOOM BOOM CASH referred to as “What is completed”. It was launched in November of 2023. Put a pin on this as nicely.
We’re now on November eighth 2023. The RMPG formally announce their first better of album “16Soul” and “16Pray” for launch on their seventh anniversary on January twenty fifth, 2024. The lead observe for “16Pray” is “Solider Love”. The lead observe for “16Soul” is “Starry Love”. The remainder of the tracks are beforehand launched songs from the RMPG’s discography that was voted on by followers. Put a pin within the lead observe “Solider Love”, as this music is principal level of concern going ahead.
We leap ahead to December 1st, the place the RMPG announce they are going to be acting on TV Asahi’s “Music Station Tremendous Stay 2023” which will probably be aired December twenty second 2023. They haven’t said what music will probably be carried out but.
That is my opinion in the mean time: Music Station just isn’t a culturally hip program to be on. It’s a music present staple that’s previous it’s prime in relevance within the popular culture panorama. It does stay to be a cultural contact stone for Japanese musicians to show you’ve ‘made it’ in Japan. The RMPG have carried out on this present earlier than, on the whole and former Tremendous Lives. Tremendous Stay’s although are well-watched and might web you loads of new followers relying on how you’re employed it.
December 4th, the RMPG begins their marketing campaign for the most recent observe “Solider Love” as a brief preview on Youtube in addition to a couple of promotional campaigns. December seventeenth 2023, the promo campaigns for “Solider Love” relating to LINE MUSIC, itunes, Spotify and X are detailed. On December 18th, a complete information for the promotional actions relating to this digital single, together with advantages are posted.
Which simply to be clear, are normal fare for any digital single an LDH artist has as of late, and within the J-pop sphere on the whole. This isn’t a brand new, or odd factor to do at this level. The digital single being boosted, in flip sometimes boosts curiosity within the bodily album gross sales and common fan engagement. Engaged followers are going to stream/promote/purchase it in an effort to try to win no matter little promo goodies include it (often unique merch, polaroids, and signed stuff).
It was round this time, the nineteenth or twentieth that I really bothered to hearken to the observe itself “Solider Love”. Being utterly sincere – I believed it was mid. The opening slightly bombastic taking part in too closely into navy themes. I used to be listening to it within the background so the lyrics didn’t do a lot for me, nor did they notably catch my consideration. I chalked “Solider Love” as being one of many title tracks that simply didn’t do something for me, and or one I wouldn’t like.
Till my newer fandom buddies rightfully identified that “Solider Love” wasn’t only a boring title observe I didn’t like.
That the lyrical content material of the music was really blatant Japanese imperialism propaganda. If not simply straight up glorifying struggle and militarism.
Which I do know, seems like a attain with none substance to it. Even an over response maybe on followers’ half. However let me deliver you up to the mark on what was written within the lyrics and the way it interprets. I will probably be utilizing this web site’s facet by facet comparability for reference.
The most important level of concern within the fandom was this line specifically:
“ここFar eastの地から神風吹き荒れたなら”
It interprets to “If a kamikaze blow from right here within the Far East”. Granted “Kamikaze” might be learn and pronoucated as “shinpu” within the music when it was sung. Which means completely little or no with the state of affairs at hand. They used that kanji mixture particularly. There’s no hiding behind on’yomi (unique Chinese language studying) and kun’yomi (Japanese studying). The connotation, denotation, full implication of utilizing that set of kanji specifically – there’s no room for debate. There’s no excuse these days. Kamikaze is about Japanese imperialism. This isn’t up for interpretation.
Furthering the priority is the fifth stanza the place the road “Yup 上書きする地図(map)” or very actually “Yup, overwrite the map”. Which could have had nuance if it was in another music, another context. However once you’ve bought kamikaze in a music there’s no different solution to interpret that line different then within the militarism sense of that is about conquest and re-writing the map so different nations not exist. The complete music with context or not, is simply unsettling within the glorification of Japanese imperialism.
Worldwide followers, have been naturally extremely distraught by this. That they had launched their collaboration music with Thai unit BOOM BOOM CASH simply the earlier month. The RMPG had gone overseas, particularly to Thailand and South Korea in the identical yr, two areas that have been straight affected by Japanese imperialism. The boys (let me be clear, they’re all adults) within the RMPG smiled, carried out, and did every thing proper to allure their present worldwide followers, and win over new ones at these occasions. I can’t think about how followers from these nations felt listening to this as a observe up.
I received’t go into particulars or nitty gritty about who mentioned what and when on-line. Largely as a result of it’s not the info. Nonetheless, loads of followers, not simply RAVER’s however different LDH Leisure fandoms have been additionally elevating their forehead and questioning what was happening. Worldwide and home followers have been having in-depth public conversations about this music. Even Japanese followers, who for higher or worse are likely to downplay each incident as ‘q didn’t imply it’, have been questioning the precise intent of the music. Lots of people, myself included, despatched in feedback, commentary concerning the music to LDH Leisure. It was a really huge second in fandom that I haven’t seen in Jpop for a really very long time.
I, being cowardly and hoping it might all simply go away, didn’t do a lot past that inquiry. I started to clear my following lists of the RMPG accounts on FB, Twitter with relative ease. Simply to make a degree that it wasn’t cool. It might be simply as straightforward to re-follow them when it was over and forgotten. I’ll admit my resolve wavered when it got here to Youtube and Spotify, as a result of what if it was all simply one thing that might go away?
However, with an extremely heavy coronary heart I did it. Instantly after unfollowing, going so far as to report the video and audio on Youtube, and Spotify. It’s price noting that whereas this could not occur till after December twenty fifth, “Solider Love” just isn’t obtainable to hearken to or stream legally on the RMPG’s channels. The primary time I’ve EVER reported music and audio in my life. All I had left was Instagram, which I couldn’t quit as a result of I didn’t have the resolve then. However I had made respectable progress in making my level identified.
It was simply suppose to be a brief factor. One thing to make a degree, nevertheless small that the RMPG couldn’t simply ignore our issues with the lyrics.
Which leads us to early December twenty second, 2023. The day of the Music Station efficiency, the place it was confirmed that the RMPG was performing “Solider Love” for the primary time publicly. And Avex Portal, a department of Avex Leisure who distributes the RMPG’s music posts this assertion relating to “Solider Love”.
The assertion to summarize for everybody, is essentially the most “we’re sorry you are feeling this manner, however that’s not how the music is meant to be interpreted so that you’re unsuitable. 🙂 All of us stand behind this music so cope with it”. A google translate will get you a bit additional, and be way more formal assertion. However that’s how the assertion felt as a fan. It additionally was revealed by Chinese language RAVER’s that “Solider Love” had been pulled from Weibo Music. Which, regardless of tensions, is a giant deal though I received’t go to far into that right here.
After which the precise Music Station efficiency occurred.
And folk, as somebody who didn’t watch it stay and solely noticed clips as a result of I couldn’t deal with watching everything of it: once I let you know breaking a bone might need been simpler to bear – it bought worse.
Rather a lot worse.
The break your coronary heart, stomp on it, and look you useless within the eyes whereas doing it sort of worse.
The Rampage doubled the fuck down on nothing was unsuitable. The lyrics have been in full and unchanged. They goose stepped of their choreography. The aerial view of their choreography revealed the goddamn “SS” signature. And the killing blow, the place I want I might erase it from my reminiscence?
The Rampage from EXILE TRIBE did the god rattling Nazi salute to complete their choreography.
….
….
….
To say I used to be devastated can be an understatement. I used to be outright offended in a manner I hadn’t been in many years at this level. I had by no means wished one thing to be deep faked, AI generated, or in any other case fabricated in my life. I used to be god rattling numb between December twenty third by way of the early twenty fifth – my holidays have been ruined. I couldn’t escape the gnawing thought in the back of my head {that a} group I cherished, supported, gave cash to and had actively promoted to buddies, household, and strangers on the web have been cosplaying nazi’s.
The SNS commentary completely blew up since now non-fans had seen what RAVER’s had been fearful about all alongside and leaping in on. It bought heated because it circulated additional, particularly Japanese talking Kpop accounts, social justice in Japan accounts noticed what occurred and started to remark. When you have been wherever in an LDH fandom you might. not. escape the commentary.
Which as a fan, I used to be torn about. That sort of response was one thing worldwide RAVER’s had scrambled to warn LDH/AVEX/The RMPG of with our inquiries and feedback. With folks reporting the music on numerous platforms. With followers educating different followers on what, the place, why and the way doubling down on one thing as pathetic as “Solider Love” was unsuitable. We had tried so laborious, regardless of the RMPG’s large oversight, to assist them. Dare I say, even attempt to save them from the very factor taking place.
I wasn’t shocked within the slightest to see it go up in flames on twitter. On one hand I cried, as a result of that was my group being flamed and belittled publicly. This was one thing they’d have to hold the remainder of their careers. This was one thing as a RAVER, I might have the clarify for the remainder of my time within the fandom.
However, if the voices of RAVER’s, followers who cherished, adored the RMPG couldn’t attain these companies: possibly sufficient voices of scorn and mock on numerous SNS would.
What was worse although, was watching in actual time what number of worldwide RAVER’s left. I don’t assume I had ever witnessed such a mass exodus from a fandom in my life.
I awakened on December twenty fifth, after mulling it over and realizing this wasn’t one thing they may brush off. I couldn’t with a transparent consciousness be a RAVER, anymore. I unfollowed the RMPG on my personal Instagram. I managed to clear 14 out of 16 accounts. However I couldn’t bear to unfollow my oshis, aforementioned Riku and Urakawa Shohei.
Though… I used to be planning on doing so later. Once I regained some energy and extra resolve.
I don’t say that to vindicate myself both. It’s the minimal of effort on my half. It was a coward’s transfer, hoping that with Christmas Day festivities I might be capable to overlook what I did and transfer on. It labored by the best way. Particularly since that each SNS account the RMPG had simply ignored the state of affairs.
However a pal did level out that the RMPG administration had really posted an apology. On December twenty fifth 2023, they did announce that “Solider Love” was being pulled off platforms. That it was being re-written lyrically, and the choreography was being re-done as nicely. Along with this, each albums “16Soul” and “16Pray” can be delayed, and wouldn’t be launched on their seventh anniversary on January twenty fifth 2024. The assertion is minimize and dry, PR produced assertion with none frills or actual feeling behind it.
It was one thing that I used to be not anticipating. One thing to be fairly sincere no RAVER, home or worldwide thought would occur.
It was one thing that was too little too late.
I hated the truth that in my coronary heart and thoughts, for a cut up second, it was a free move to return to being a RAVER and following the RMPG.
Till I spotted that this apology was by no means pushed on Twitter, Instagram or another social media web page. Not one of the members posted about it both. And that made me not solely upset, however simply unhappy another time.
As a result of it wasn’t over.
Not by a protracted shot.
December twenty sixth 2023, Yahoo! Japan new experiences on the topic, as soon as once more inciting extra feedback. December twenty seventh 2023, The Asahi Shimbun experiences on the topic – each in Japanese and English as soon as once more kicking up extra flames in direction of the RMPG. That very same day the RMPG quietly introduced that the promo marketing campaign was over and that they’d nonetheless distribute prizes, and so on.
I had been made conscious of all of this by fellow followers, not by any SNS or my very own will. I used to be touring and visiting with folks, individuals who mattered extra and never a boyband I exploit to…
nonetheless do…
A boyband I’m making an attempt to not help.
Granted, there have been some developments in January. January twelfth, they introduced that that “16Soul” and “16Pray” are going to be launched on February 14th, 2024. January fifteenth, was the album launch detailing with packaging and title tracks together with “STARRY LOVE”‘s pre-release. Gonna be sincere, I can’t get myself to trouble with “STARRY LOVE” regardless of all of it. It’s additionally price noting that “SOLIDER LOVE” was pulled from all PR supplies, and seemingly have been changed with “100 Levels” a 2018 launch of their’s. No official assertion saying that, however from what different followers have advised me (and even some public performances) that appears to be the case.
So now we’re at the moment. January twenty second, 2024 and I’ve given you the run down on this example as a lot as I can. And for what?
To carry myself accountable.
As a result of as a public fan, whose supported The Rampage from EXILE TRIBE prior to now, I do have to reckon with how I’m going to go ahead with this.
As a result of as sick to my abdomen the entire fiasco made me final yr, I do nonetheless imagine that the 16 members of the RMPG aren’t unhealthy guys. That they’re actual human beings that by alternative, probability, ignorance, made among the many largest errors of their profession. That they’re not Neo-Nazi’s hiding behind smiling facades. I actually do imagine that deep down about them, as human beings.
Regardless of that, I do know my reckoning needs to be easy. A set of easy phrases I exploit to make use of when speaking to different fandoms when related shit occurred. “Your group did a horrible factor. You must cease supporting them totally. Transfer on.”.
That’s a literal qoute from me. I exploit to say that to different fandoms on a regular basis. It’s really easy to say to another person a few group you don’t care about.
And as a lot as that is continuously used as a protect, excuse, no matter, it does stay true: there’s nonetheless loads of nuance lacking to this. The who accredited this, how, when, the place, and a bunch of different elements are usually not addressed. There was no concrete statements from any member of the RMPG on their emotions concerning the music.
The exception being that there’s a fan report about feedback Hokuto made throughout a December tour date on the topic. Nonetheless, there’s no solution to inform if that fan report was correct for one. For 2 if Hokuto genuinely felt that manner concerning the music, or if administration advised him to say what was mentioned. There’s a handful of different elements at play too, like how the federal government in Japan teaches WWII and stuff, however that’s not a subject at hand to delve into.
When trying again on it now, there’s a glimmer of hope buried beneath all of it. In a genuinely shocking transfer after a double down, LDH/AVEX/the RMPG did apologize. They’ve pulled the music from their professional platforms. They listened to followers, too little too late, however they’re altering the lyrics and the choreography. They did delay the discharge of “16Soul” and “16Pray”.
Whereas that doesn’t vindicate them totally – it’s a begin to being redeemed. However merely a begin. I don’t intend to run again with open arms till the albums are launched… and music movies too…
It’s not misplaced on me that the RMPG, or an affiliated get together might completely make this even worse. Simply because they’re ‘altering’ the lyrics and choreo doesn’t imply it’ll really be for the higher. I can speculate for days, however we don’t know something about what’s happening.
As for me, I’ve caught to my weapons and when and the place I unfollowed the RMPG and people have caught to that. I nonetheless observe Riku and Urakawa Shohei. I’m a flawed human being and regardless of my earlier ideas on dealing with conditions like this, I’ve modified my stance. I actually do discover pleasure in maintaining with them as people. So I’ll proceed to observe them as people.
It’s a messy state of affairs that I’ve grappled with privately for over a month. I didn’t actually wish to say something and ignore it.
However I had already carried out that earlier than, and nicely… it occurred anyway. In order belated and with a heavy coronary heart it’s, I do really feel I needs to be clear about how I’ll check with and or speak about them on my weblog. Right here’s my present stance:
As of this put up going up, I can’t be posting about The Rampage from EXILE TRIBE on my weblog. I can’t speak about their music, previous, current or future. I can’t talk about or weblog about sub-units i.e. Ma55ive the Rampage. I can’t speak about or check with particular person member actions. I can’t be posting critiques, commentary, and so on about any dramas, movies, or TV appearances the RMPG has as a gaggle or as particular person actors.
-Rise, January twenty second 2024
Relating to my weblog posts about The Rampage from EXILE TRIBE that I’ve beforehand posted: I can’t be deleting or censoring them. I don’t see any level in doing so. All of what I wrote was earlier than this catastrophe, and isn’t a mirrored image of how I understand them now.
Nonetheless, I will probably be clear relating to my personal life interactions: I’ll nonetheless watch dramas, movies, and TV appearances that members of the RMPG have made and make. I think about the actions of the RMPG as a musical unit, completely different from the RMPG as particular person actors on reveals. They need to be thought of one in the identical, however I don’t see them that manner. It’s a hair splitting thought course of that, as trite and overblown because it sounds, helps me sleep at evening. I do acknowledge that if I reviewed these items, that’s platforming them. Due to this fact, I received’t.
It’s the logic of a fangirl by way of and thru, and I’m not embarrassed by this. Regardless of every thing, the unhealthy, ugly and worse of this example – I do wish to give The Rampage from EXILE TRIBE the grace that they will do higher. That regardless of all of it being company statements there’s some advantage and need to do higher in 2024 after this totally heinous taking place.
It is going to extra possible then not, be an uphill battle for The Rampage from EXILE TRIBE, no less than to win me again over. I’ll stay open to the likelihood, however guarded on the topic till then.
One other level of transparency, is that I’ll feedback open for now. I do reserve the proper to shut them at any time, and can achieve this as I please.
