I just found a really interesting Swedish TV documentary (with English subtitles) online, about two Swedish guys who write songs for Japanese pop bands, and get the chance to visit Japan to write with Japanese production teams and see first-hand the effect their music has on its adoring fans. It’s also really helpful for me as I’m learning Swedish to follow along the words with the subtitles.
The craziness of the Japanese fans makes me sad that we no longer have that in this country – kids are quite blasé about their favourite acts these days, often treating them as fashions that’ll be in and out in a few months. In Japan the girls really throw themselves into their devotion and it may be slightly scary in its commercialism, but they do look so happy and excited and it brings the girls together, so I really don’t think it’s a bad thing. From my own experience, I’ve made lovely friends through being a fan of an artist, although I never went travelling around the country to follow anyone, but it shows the potential of being a fan to bring great things into a young person’s life. Maybe it is just rich old blokes cynically making money out of the naivety of young girls, but if they enjoy it then does it really matter?