柏木由紀のファンブログ ｜ ゆきりん推し
My Thoughts on Yukirin and the Bunshun Article
Posted on Jun 22nd, 2015 in Personal | 10 comments
Note: Most of this was written 3 days after news broke, but I wanted to wait a bit before I write anything more or post my thoughts on the scandal. For one, I am a realist, I am not one to jerk react to things (I never cared about these 48 “scandals”). I wanted to gather my thoughts, see what management will do and see what the online community thinks.
I have received quite a few requests for translations on stuff relating to the scandal, etc., the past two week, I won’t be doing that. I have no doubt other sites that cater to that curiosity already have done it. I will summarize the two main points from the AKB Bunshun Article of June 10, 2015, the article not only talks about Yukirin, but other members as well (Mayu, Tomu, etc). Of course, the main one is Yukirin which included pics of her with Tegoshi Yuya of NEWS and a 3rd pic of Yukirin leaving a hotel or something.
The 2 Main points:
– Yukirin was on a snowboarding trip with a group of people, the published photo is Yukirin in snowboard gear with Tegoshi
– Yukirin was at a Hakone Onsen, the published photo is with Tegoshi wrapping arm around Yukirin’s neck while he was dressed in an onsen bathrobe
These are the main points, anything else from the article is speculative and I won’t go into those.
Any time this happens, people who may not care about AKB will have a say on the topic. Especially in a day where our identity is somewhat anonymous, we can say whatever we want online, regardless of morals. People will create twitter accounts just for this purpose to bombard someone with negative comments. This is essentially harassment and it’s a crime. Online bullying/harassment is a prominent thing. Regardless of country, language or culture, it exists.
Not to my surprise, management has decided to keep quiet on this scandal. AkiP was rather coy when he appeared on a radio show on June 13 and was asked about scandals. I am surprised at how some people do really think that AkiP knows nothing about Yukirin’s scandal. What he said was half-truths. Half-truths is an important thing to remember when hearing anything related to the Entertainment world.
The evolution of scandals in 48 Group, from Ayarin to now, the biggest difference (maybe they never really were in the first place) is that they are not a conventional idol group. Even more so now, they are a main stream girl group with idol beginnings. While they definitely still cater to that illusion of pure idol, because of course, male fans are their core, the overall image has faded. Firing Ayarin at that time seemed to be the “correct” thing and what other idol group managements would have done. Nowadays, AKB is setting their own rules. Keeping silent seems to be their preferred way. Prior to Yukirin’s scandal, there were the leaked photos from an ex-staff who secretly filmed and took pics of members changing, etc. That was then followed with Takamina and Miichan partying a bit too hard with AKB staff a few years ago which included some half naked pics of the staff.
Such events will bring out the Antis in drove. The antis will kick up a fuss for as long as they can. I spent the past 2 weeks skimming through the 2ch threads a lot, I wanted to gauge that community to see what the reaction is to the scandal. I also followed it quite a bit during the scandals of Sasshi, Miichan, Sayurin, etc. With each scandal, the impact seemed less and less. This Yukirin scandal certainly showed that. Even if 2ch may not be as popular as it once was, even on twitter, people seemed to lose interest fast. The same antis continue to make a fuss and they’ll take any opportunity to bring it up again and again, but overall, this scandal is showing signs that fans are just having enough of these bunshun scandals.
One of my motto in life is 自業自得 or Reap What One Sows. Yukirin is a public figure and more importantly, she’s part of AKB48. The scrutiny over their so called ‘Love Ban’ rule is well overplayed. Yukirin took photos with Tegoshi. The result of those photos made public is now this Yukirin scandal. Yukirin will have to live with the consequences of that.
My reaction when news of Yukirin scandal broke was that I laughed and thought, “why can’t you pick a better a guy Yukirin sweetie?” Of course, after that initial reaction, it turned into worry for Yukirin. My gut feeling was that they will keep silent and not say a thing, but in the 48 world, you also have to expect the unexpected. Yukirin World was turned silent. Rena’s graduation announcement added to that. I wasn’t able to gage the reaction from Yukirin World which added to my worry. But, when Yukirin tweeted about shooting on location for Tabi Shoujo, I was relieved. Yukirin World is still Yukirin World. We support Kashiwagi Yuki, not the idol/artist/singer, but just simply Kashiwagi Yuki. As fans have said, “There are no exits once you enter Yukirin World.”
Yukirin will not be allowed to comment on this, she can’t apologize nor even directly thank fans for their support through this. Though I’m sure she’ll Thank Fans indirectly somehow. I think silence in itself is punishment for Yukirin. She has no say on this what so ever so she’ll have to face the fans (not just her own), but everybody.
My support for Yukirin has not changed. I still love her lots and I will continue to support her, even more so now (Many many Yukirin fans feel the same way). There are tough times ahead for Yukirin. Anything Yukirin does from here on out, it’ll be criticized and scrutinized by the antis, but Yukirin World will be there for her, just as we have always been in the past.
I’m forever the #1 Yukirin Fan from Canada!
Maddie
maddie
I never been a fan of Yukirin, maybe our points of view are different, you say “once you entre Yukirins world…” that completly bullshit. She’s an idol after all, she entered this world and whenever or not you want she have some rules to obey.
If want she wants a boyfriend she MUST graduate, after all she’s old and loosing appeal for a lot of people. I know you like her and you want to support her, that’s fine and I understand, but breaking the rules is breaking the rules. Even if Aki-P ain’t saying anything about it.
Thanks for taking the time to read my post and comment~
ah yaah. anything is fine.. still love her anyway..
Don’t we all~
Awww… u said it all.. we yukirin world is here for kashiwagi yuki. . Not other than yukirin.. we love her as who she is.
Yup yup. We support and love her!!!!
Canada you say?
*Takes notes for next trip*
Anyway, you are too strong! I for one I’m so weak that I couldn’t even visit any Yukirin threads at all on any site! In fact I still haven’t and I am sure it will be a while! Some even commented on my blog about this and I just deleted those comments. Not gonna touch this.
All I have to say is that my love for Yukirin hasn’t changed at all. She is my Kami and it will take much much more for me to get away from her! AKB means nothing to me without her and with Rena going, once Yukirin leaves that’s it for me with this fandom!
I pray for Yukirin!
This really was her unluckiest year, huh…Damn those lucky rankings! I am sure they knew something…
Like I said, I am a realist. I do read ppl’s comment, good or bad. It is what it is.
Overall, I didn’t read much of any of the English or Chinese fandom comments on this scandal. Sometimes, I wonder if they read what they write.
What can safely be said is that most of the residence of Yukirin World is and always will be behind her. Hoping that all will be much, much better for her.
Thank you for your perspective. I wrote about the issues a while back:
https://dennysinnoh.wordpress.com/2015/08/06/deli-wisdom-article-27-why-the-akb48-no-dating-rule-is-not-such-a-bad-thing/