Sorry for massive update today. Been lazy to post for the past two days ^____^ TADAIMA!
100115 Japan Melts At TVXQ's Musicality-Humanity
It was reported that Oricon compiled the album sales for each singer from over 20,000 stores and online sites and found that last year (2008.12.29~2009.12.27), TVXQ earned 6.8 billion Yen (83.3 billion Won). It was a swift leap from their sales in 2008. However, these numbers did not include what TVXQ earned from concerts and TV show appearances, so it can be estimated that TVXQ earned a total of 100 billion Won in Japan alone.
TVXQ also has the biggest fanclub in agency AVEX with around 180,000 Japanese people registered.
The majority of TVXQ's Japanese fandom is not made of middle aged women or grandmothers like the fandoms of Bae Yong Joon and other Hallyu stars. Instead, their fandom is comprised of a large fanbase with people in their 20s and 30s as well as those in their 40s and 50s. It can be seen that a stepping stone for TVXQ's ability to capture the hearts of the Japanese better than Hallyu stars was 'Kouhaku Uta Gassen', a performance hosted by NHK that boasts a viewing rate of over 40% annually. Last year, they participated in the event on New Year's Eve for the 2nd time and received the biggest applause out of all of the participants.
Kimiya Mariko, wife of Professor Kimiya Dadashi of Tokyo University who specializes in Japan-Korea relations, stated in a phone conversation with Hangyureh that, "I was first introduced to TVXQ and their music by my daughter three years ago. I saw them for the first time on Kouhaku Uta Gassen two years ago and fell for them." She believes that TVXQ's charm lies in the fact that, 'unlike Japanese idol groups who focus on the visual aspect and dance, TVXQ shows us their hard work to improve their music and their humanity.' She sees their good manners as a bonus. She also thinks of them as her children. "If my 9th grade daughter had liked any other group, I would have stopped her. But since she likes TVXQ, I say 'Just work hard as much as they do.'"
She has all of TVXQ's music software including CDs and concert DVDs released in both Korea and Japan. Not only that, she visited Korea last June to watch TVXQ perform. She said, "TVXQ was able to rank third in Album Sales abroad because of their persistence and hard work, it proves that their musicality and humanity are digging their way into the hearts of the Japanese population," as though the feat was her own personal victory.
The fact that TVXQ's activities not only spread their music, but also shaped them as the spreaders of the Hallyu Wave, and as ambassadors of Korea, cannot be ignored. Kimiya said, "I learned about Korean singers through TVXQ and now I enjoy songs by Shin Seung Hoon, Big Bang, and Girls' Generation as well." She also said, "I know a lot of people who started studying Korean because they liked TVXQ." She added, "TVXQ is not only Korea's treasure, but Asia's treasure as well."
However, Korean and Japanese fans are unable to hide their sadness as the dispute between three members of TVXQ and SM Entertainment over their exclusive contract continues. Kimiya said, "When I saw TVXQ in Kouhaku Uta Gassen, they looked as though they had no energy in them; it was completely different from what they were usually like." Last November, Kimiya sent an e-mail to reporters criticizing the actions of the agency and asking for the Korean media to focus more on the issue.
"Although this problem is quite important for society as it deals with old work ethics of the entertainment business and the basic worker's rights, I feel as though many see it only as fuss kicked up by an idol group or a problem only dealing with fans and the younger generation.
The agency is not taking on the responsibility it needs to take on with so many Asia fans. We are being neglected."
Source: [Hangyureh+DNBN]
Translation credits: jeeelim5@tohosomnia.net
Shared by: tohosomnia.net
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