Hiryuu Level: 207 Posts: 8633/14435 EXP: 127636019 For next: 2148135 Since: 07-06-07 Since last post: 11.8 years Last activity: 11.7 years	Posted on 04-24-09 03:08:45 AM Link | Quote
	Wow, I actually heard about that earlier on Sankaku. Does this kind of thing happen often...because I'm pretty sure I heard of more people in Japan cracking in a mental case more often than stateside...maybe it's just the media...I dunno. If it's not this, it's some kind of suicide trip. ____________________

Erika Catgirl 미안합니다 Level: 68 Posts: 694/1088 EXP: 2637800 For next: 91000 Since: 07-19-07 Since last post: 9.5 years Last activity: 9.3 years	Posted on 04-24-09 03:09:43 AM (last edited by Erika at 04-24-09 12:10 AM) Link | Quote
	People in general, non-celebrities do have a tendency to crack from stress, so you are absolutely right Hiryuu...the suicide rate amongst college students and highschool graduates is the highest in the country =\ it says volumes about the kind of obligations and stress put on our people by the society in general...I'm none too proud of that aspect really... ____________________

Xenesis Roy Koopa Actually a Doctor Level: 101 Posts: 358/2732 EXP: 10487816 For next: 229859 Since: 07-28-07 Pronouns: She/Her From: Orange Star's Retirement Villa Since last post: 10 days Last activity: 1 day	Posted on 04-24-09 07:27:54 AM Link | Quote
	Oh man, SMAP. I haven't heard that name in years. Then again, I haven't been to Japan since my exchange in High School. But yeah, they were absolutely undeniably everywhere. Frightening that the cultural elite have that much power there, too.

Erika Catgirl 미안합니다 Level: 68 Posts: 695/1088 EXP: 2637800 For next: 91000 Since: 07-19-07 Since last post: 9.5 years Last activity: 9.3 years

Posted on 04-24-09 07:55:21 AM (last edited by Erika at 04-24-09 05:00 AM) Link | Quote

It's beyond scary, really...to be completely honest with you it sometimes feels as though the media is the ultimate controlling factor of that country. The entertainers and their promoters, the agencies, the TV stations...its absolutely frightening just how much power they really have when you think about it. The more important you are, the more you get away with. I guess this kind of thing isn't too uncommon for the culture really...its mainly an influence-based country. Everyone goes with the general populous. Japan is really just a country based on who can control the most crap while you just sit back and do what you're supposed to lest you be cast out from society for being different. I love my country but I'll be the first to admit this is a serious issue. Sad part is, getting rid of this would cause us to lose a fair bit of our identity. But yeah, its safe to say Johnny Kitagawa has absurd amounts of power and influence based on his impact on our culture for decades, and I wonder if even he realizes just how powerful he really is. ____________________

Hiryuu Level: 207 Posts: 8637/14435 EXP: 127636019 For next: 2148135 Since: 07-06-07 Since last post: 11.8 years Last activity: 11.7 years	Posted on 04-24-09 10:18:16 AM Link | Quote
	I can't compare because I've never been but I can't say it's not too much different here...especially anymore...and I'd imagine it's more or less the same worldwide but dependent on where you are in the world for how much power they have. Media controls an awful lot with anything anymore...too much, honestly. ____________________

Erika Catgirl 미안합니다 Level: 68 Posts: 696/1088 EXP: 2637800 For next: 91000 Since: 07-19-07 Since last post: 9.5 years Last activity: 9.3 years

Posted on 04-24-09 03:27:39 PM Link | Quote

More or less the person, yes...considering the image he's built up for far over a decade, this got blown wildly out of proportion. Besides like I said, Japan is too much stuck in their own societal cycle and have a fear of going against their set little system. You know if this was anywhere else in the world (except maybe America where they'd have just taken his picture a bunch of times), someone probably would have just thrown a blanket on the poor guy and helped him on his feet. But over there its more an "I don't want any trouble" kind of mentality where heaven forbid anyone gets caught up in something that questionable they too would be shamed. ____________________

Hiryuu Level: 207 Posts: 8660/14435 EXP: 127636019 For next: 2148135 Since: 07-06-07 Since last post: 11.8 years Last activity: 11.7 years	Posted on 04-24-09 03:33:57 PM Link | Quote
	Or you have situations like this where you either have people that don't want to do anything when it happens or are afraid to do anything because the legal system may fuck them over if they do something out of line even in an attempt to help... ____________________

Erika Catgirl 미안합니다 Level: 68 Posts: 697/1088 EXP: 2637800 For next: 91000 Since: 07-19-07 Since last post: 9.5 years Last activity: 9.3 years	Posted on 04-24-09 03:40:00 PM (last edited by Erika at 04-24-09 12:40 PM) Link | Quote
	Oh what the heck....I don't know what the law is like in Japan but that's really sad if you're really not capable of helping out injured people without repercussion. What a world =\ ____________________

Hiryuu Level: 207 Posts: 8661/14435 EXP: 127636019 For next: 2148135 Since: 07-06-07 Since last post: 11.8 years Last activity: 11.7 years	Posted on 04-24-09 03:41:30 PM Link | Quote
	Well, you could literally make someone's medical condition worse which, if they pursue, could land legal action against you...especially in the case of this guy since any wrong movements could have killed him and family members might've just gone 'you know what, I'm suing that rat bastard for killing my father/grandfather/what have you'... So yea... ____________________

Erika Catgirl 미안합니다 Level: 68 Posts: 704/1088 EXP: 2637800 For next: 91000 Since: 07-19-07 Since last post: 9.5 years Last activity: 9.3 years

Posted on 04-25-09 08:40:12 AM (last edited by Erika at 04-25-09 05:43 AM) Link | Quote

So, their staple show, SMAPxSMAP was supposedly put on hiatus and rumors are going around that all Kusanagi's posters and campaigns have been pulled. Now the asian tabloids are perhaps the single most unreliable sources around, I really wish I was back there to get the full scoop...but there's even rumors surfacing of the band being put on hiatus (similar to NewS' prior situation) or worse... a terrible business decision of course. I don't ever believe rumors until proven, buuut...that won't keep me and the rest of the country from being up in arms about it all. One thing's for certain, Kouhaku is going to suck shit this year. ____________________

VGFreak877 Level: 34 Posts: 92/220 EXP: 239772 For next: 13879 Since: 07-23-07 Since last post: 9.2 years Last activity: 8.3 years

Posted on 04-25-09 03:32:56 PM Link | Quote

Level 17, 642 Days, 92 Posts, 22365 EXP, 2378 EXP Next, 364 EXP per post YouTube is riddled with clips from news broadcasts on this subject. I was watching one of those clips of a news conference and when Tsuyoshi Kusanagi entered the room, a wave of flashes from cameras ensued -- it was insane. As he looked up, I could tell that he was having a hard time focusing in on people and ultimately couldn't get the words out. ____________________ NFF needs more members -- come over and post! Stats: Views = 6,300; Members = 4, Posts = 44

Erika Catgirl 미안합니다 Level: 68 Posts: 838/1088 EXP: 2637800 For next: 91000 Since: 07-19-07 Since last post: 9.5 years Last activity: 9.3 years	Posted on 05-20-09 08:30:43 AM Link | Quote
	He was let off!! Apparently he makes too much money for his company, sponsors, and the country in general, not to mention Japan decided to have a brain and agree being naked was really not a big deal compared to drugs and the like. I'm relieved like no other right now... ____________________