I Spent a Day with a REAL Japanese Idol | Exposing The DARK TRUTH

[@TheAnimeMan]

Get Surfshark VPN at surfshark.deals/theanimeman - Enter promo code THEANIMEMAN for 83% off and get 3 extra months for free!

[@magicigconito3134]

not sure were to post this. Will you do a coin game against Ladybeard? I love when you challenge you friends to those crane games.

[@c.k.1933]

@@magicigconito3134 You mean Connor not Joey?

[@ThatOneSceneDude]

no

[@potatoxgaming9466]

Wait isnt she still in contract?? Isnt risky to disclose the information??

[@PharoahOD]

What will you be watching Joey?

[@xMelliferax]

Thank you so much for having me! it was really fun meeting you 💗

[@laboon344]

Hello 🙂

[@SenneWMichiels]

You did great :D

[@ItsShaz1]

You were great! This was very insightful.

[@othinus]

Thank you for sharing your experiences.

[@Hamza.Han38]

You sound like you’re an amazing person. Glad you’re finally free from this bs

[@PyraXadon]

Hearing Takanashi Kiara as the one person who 'made it big' from the agency threw me for a loop. Hearing her stories from her time as an underground idol were absolutely terrifying, and this interview confirms that maybe, maybe this company is one of the sketchier ones to be scouted by.

[@autohmae]

Basically: you don't want to be in the underground idol industry, you might get lucky and find a good group/company, but it's unlikely. And maybe with enough hard work and lots of luck you'll make it out of the underground and into a bigger idol agency. And then the hard work won't stop, but at least you'll get paid enough you don't need an other job.

[@erufailon4723]

Kiara's an Austrian, isn't she? A native German speaker like Jess in this video. Interesting coincidence. Many of these scouts probably target foreigners in particular whom they think would make good "exotic" idols to stand out among Japanese idols.

[@sphygo]

I watch her casually and so I didn't know anything about her backstory. Hearing her name come up here really caught me off guard.

[@jasonkeith2832]

@@autohmae It honestly sounds like you (an individual, not personal) don't want to be a part of any part of the idol industry, since it all seems to be rotted to the core.

[@autohmae]

@@jasonkeith2832 I would put it this way: being part of underground idol group is really bad, as we've seen in the video. Being part of a more mainstream idol group is sadly probably very similar to being part of lots of Japanese companies in any field.

[@watamesshepherdjesuschrist6792]

She was born in Germany Mother is Korean Father is Russian Lives in Japan Speaks English Had an interview with an Australian/Japanese She's the Ms. Worldwide Idol at this point.

[@Dash_ishere]

Pitbull wishes he was her

[@xMelliferax]

i actually even speak 9 languages ✌️

[@Pokemonleafmon]

@@xMelliferax actual insanity

[@ItsShaz1]

@@xMelliferax thats incredible!

[@SmellySpirit]

@@xMelliferax NANI?

[@BagoPorkRinds]

Su-metal (Suzuka Nakamoto), vocalist for the kawaii metal band Babymetal has an older sister Himeka who quit being an idol for Nogizaka46 because of her own mental health and after being diagnosed as bipolar. She went on to get a certification as a mental health therapist to help other idols in the industry.

[@juampisito]

I wonder how demanding are babymetal work policies, we only know Yui had to leave for health problems but we cannot reach conclusions over that

[@BagoPorkRinds]

@@juampisito Physically Babymetal concerts are far more demanding. The amount of energy and preperation expended can't be compared to other idol pop groups. But they're not your typical idols. They don't have to be constantly out in the public eye, meeting fans, doing weekly performances sometimes twice a day, and always on social media trying to garner more fans to elevate their status within the idol group. The three Babymetal ladies have to be the most guarded kept in the dark secretive performers in the history of entertainment. We haven't seen or heard a peep from Su, Moa, Yui about their private lives since they became adults.

[@NostalgiaVivec]

@@BagoPorkRinds you seem to know a lot about babymetal, im going to a concert early next year and theyre a supporting band so i was thinking about getting into thier music what are some good songs by them to get into?

[@SchwarzeRitter]

@@NostalgiaVivec just random person giving an insight here. Personally the one that get me into Babymetal is Megitsune, and still is my fav to this day.

[@gomichu]

@@NostalgiaVivec i really really love gj and road of resistance personally but honestly just check out any of their live performances. cos the studio versions seriously dont do suzuka's voice justice + theres a live band

[@Keirabug]

I figured Idol culture was toxic, but never did I expect that it was THIS toxic. Thank you for shedding light on this Jessica and Joey!

[@aliasfakename1375]

Not just Idol culture... this happens in EVERY entertainment culture around the world.

[@potatoxgaming9466]

Yeah every entertainment has a scandal

[@Veristelle-]

Entertainment is, world wide. The most obvious and notorious in North America being Hollywood as an example.

[@azizulfikri8392]

Man Idol project was a lie

[@mariuspuiu9555]

it's actually a lot more toxic than she let on.

[@sandwichmonster7067]

Idol manager: "Stop being so negative! 😡" Also idol manager: *Makes idols' life as miserable as possible*

[@usernamegirls1]

Her coworkers/team members were all like brainwashed as well and said to her the same thing "stop being...." and their whatever idol industry culture is a bad cycle its sickening!

[@yurikuki]

50 minutes of pure interview? Joey really stepping up his interview game. 🔥

[@maineman5757]

He's been doing this for years though...

[@Brex10]

And I didn't have to read subtitles this time, my adhd mind can actually get through this video

[@Brex10]

@lukeskydive reading subtitles takes a lot more focus, iboften get distracted when trying. My thoughts trail off, and I end up having to replay the same 2 minute segment 5 time, and that happens constantly, especially something like this interview, where there's really nothing keeping my eyes on the screen, when it's in English I can basically just listen to it while doing other things, but if it were subbed, like the other interviews I'd get 5 minutes in, that would take me 10 minutes, then I'd stop watching the video all together and never return.

[@reajlila7595]

@@Brex10 lol I just realized my method is to watch the vid and read the comments at the same time. Try that if it's works idk. I just jump back and forth once I'm bored of the other

[@yurikuki]

@@maineman5757The other interview vids he did haven't been 1 hour long in the YT Channel.

[@yui7star]

I was a translator for a bit at a smaller anime convention in Switzerland, where they invited one Japanese band (male members, rock, leaning into visual kei). The ones who organized the band to come looked after them, housed them and drove them around to show them one two places in Switzerland, before the event started. Their manager didn't come, due to budget and time schedule. They had fun, felt really well taken care off and I was wondering why they were so happy, since they did have their bigger fanbase in Japan and almost no one knew them here. But now, I see similarities to her stories, with the polaroids selling, the constant touring, having to perform and leave immediately again. No wonder they always said we should invite them again. Man.

[@nairagar7338]

man, that's sad D:

[@theoneandonly3945]

I live in Switzerland, so I'm wondering where they were. I assume Zurich, Bern or Basel?

[@kimchipunch]

Speaking from my own experiences as someone who has and is still working in the South Korean entertainment industry alongside other foreigners and Korean idols for close to 10 years now, I can vouch for everything she said. The industry out here is toxic and a major scam. Too many young naïve people, mostly girls, get scammed into it under this flowery image projected by kpop and kdramas. It goes even higher than these criminal agencies, because the government is more than happy to keep projecting this flowery image to the world as well, cause money. If being an idol, actor, or professional entertainer is your passion, then the person making the most money off your name and image should be you. You don't need an agency, or a plane tocket to Japan or Korea. With modern social media and platforms like KZbin, Twitch, Tiktok, Instagram, etc., you can make a name for yourself. That's what we all try and do eventually once the honeymoon phase is over and we, as foreign entertainers realize how shit our situation is. Get ahead of the curve, and good luck. Always take care of yourself.

[@TheMan21892]

and China. Don’t forget China.

[@nicoinformatics]

Welcome to the entertainment industry or any high-competition industry for that matter. Selling "hope" is not exclusive to kpop. If you think getting into the kpop industry is akin to toxicity and scam where young "naive" people are being sold this notion and promise of fame while being exploited? Try getting into hollywood or any of the top modeling industry in the west, not only it's just as bad if not worse, they're not even pretending to be nice and polite about it either. The only difference between Kpop and any other is the exposure of the reality behind the screen. But here's the thing. Yes you can make a name for yourself via KZbin, Instagram or Tiktok. But think about it for a second, which is easier, trying to be an idol in Kpop, or trying to be an idol in KZbin? Being an idol and being famous are two completely different things. If Pokimane, the most famous twitch streamer on earth, at the moment announced she'll be going to the times square today, how many people do you think would show up to see her? Now, say Jungkook or Taeyeon announces the same thing, how many do you think would show up? You know the answer to that, and that, is the difference between an 'idol' and a 'famous person on the internet'.

[@Slowhand707]

While there are some idols who made it big through KZbin, the reality is that the majority of self-produced/self-managed idols struggle to even find enough bookings in a week. There is a reason why the role of a producer/manager exists. Secondly, the image of an idol is not the person behind an idol, it is the persona that the producer creates for her. There is a lot more work going on behind the scenes than it is to the eye, so suggesting that the idol herself is doing most of the work is just plain wrong. Her work that fans see is just the tip of the work a well organised team is putting together behind the scenes, producer, composer, choreographer, costume designers, teachers etc.

[@Wlerin7]

The Korean idol industry is not the Japanese idol industry.

[@KurniawanRamadhan213]

Agreed. If it's truly is your passion to become an idol, just try it alone first, you don't need such agencies. Nowdays there's so much means to get popular whether be a vtuber or socmed celeb, if you start having traction then you can hire your friend to be the manager.

[@graceblakemore177]

People were furious at One Directions management for how they treated the boys and yet a decade latter with the rise of idols, management and organisations have been working these idols to the grave and treating them way worse yet we are doing nothing about it. I find that quite infuriating because these people deserve to have a life.

[@StriderVM]

Thats because in Japan that kind of sadness is basically cultural. Doesn't make it right though.

[@anirudhviswanathan3986]

And before One Direction itself, people were outraged that NSync and Backstreet Boys hardly got paid anything. IIRC, one of the NSync members even said after a whole year of touring, they didn't even make enough to pay rent.

[@graceblakemore177]

@@anirudhviswanathan3986 exactly! We know it's horrible and yet it's happening again

[@antisocial-gamer7293]

Sounds like what happened with Avicii which sadly was the main reason for his death

[@usernamegirls1]

An example of a type of modern slave, literally.

[@ViviDimension]

I always kind of knew the idol industry was problematic and wondered how bad it was. It sounds like the child pageantry stuff in the west, but maybe even worse in terms of the time taken and reward given and mostly just the scale of it all. Working that much for so little pay at any age is a travesty and I mean... practically slavery for the agencies forcing so much work for almost nothing on these people. Pretty sickening.

[@kingmanic]

Some of the low end Kpop companies and I imagine idol orgs are just escort agencies (human traffickers). For the very rich, even the top end ones will arrange things. A while back a medium fame kpop star committed suicide with a note saying her agency had pimped her out a small group of rich men and she couldn't control her life even who she had sex with. Amber Liu of FX leaked that she knew people pressured to sleep with people and was vague about if it had happened to her. Keep in mind she was recruited at 14 and had been in the kpop system for year by her debut. This is not that different from hollywood or even elite modeling agencies. Some countries will not let girls who are citizens leave if they put modeling as a reason why they're travelling and many will flag 'models' for more scrutiny. Jeffrey Epstein controlled a modeling agency and would move girls with it. Once he met Trump and became good friends, trump bought a modeling agency a year after and was said to be a very pervy presences there and at the teen beauty pageants he ran. There is a lot of sleaziness around.

[@takanara7]

@@kingmanic A lot of the boy bands that were popular in the 90s were produced by this one guy, Lou Pearlman who would basically sleep with all the boys. He was later convicted of running a Ponzi scheme.

[@aajohnsoutube]

Those scouts stick around for years, decades. They often come before the agency. The agencies are more legit. The scout is the owner of the talent

[@alexander1989x]

Idol companies in Asia are just predatory af

[@user-qm7jw]

Many of these girls have become idols even though they know it's hard. No one is forcing them to become idols, so if they don't like it, they can quit.

[@AntaPengoon]

coincidentally Kiara spoke about idols like a few days ago and about her life as one from time to time and is exactly how jessica describe it

[@takanara7]

They apparently worked for the same guy.

[@AntaPengoon]

I mean yeah Jessica said so herself

[@therevolutionary5148]

Possible that they know each other well I also gravitate to other German speakers around me in Japan even though I speak Japanese

[@potatoxgaming9466]

Kiara also got accepted in akb48 but she didnt continou cause she like the other group who rival akb which is a real flex

[@AntaPengoon]

@@potatoxgaming9466 yeah she mention it in the same stream that she meet Joffrey(idr the name of the actor) I think

[@serapiel]

As someone that works in the venue business, in the US, there's a lot of concerts where you're not allowed to have your phones. It's by request from the band themselves.

[@starman6468]

Like which or who? I cannot think of any besides Tool

[@serapiel]

@@starman6468 Most concerts at the Mercedez-Benz stadium have phones banned, such as Metallica, etc. You'll see the warning on the TV screens, etc. Eagles had their phones banned when I was at the Canada Life Center a few weeks ago.

[@tandapanda7222]

@@serapiel I've seen Metallica live in the UK and phones were fine so in that case I expect it to be the stadium. Actually, now that I think about it, none of the concerts I've been to have had a no phone policy

[@Macalicious]

Okay, but am I the only one who's kinda scared for Jess? Her 'image' is still owned by this company for at least 1,5 years, like Joey said, would this video cause troubles for her? What if some of her former fans see this and go complain to the company? Or the company sees this and goes after her? 😟

[@azazelreficulmefistofelicu7158]

They own the idol character image not the real person image. As an idol she was playing a character, different nationality and so. I may be wrong but I don't think she will get into any trouble with the company or fans for being herself and talking about her own life experiences.

[@HitRegBroke]

This is such a valuable video, revealing the behind the scenes on things that are paradoxically massive but are so closely guarded that most of its inner workings are secret and kinda messed up. This is fuckin sick Joey

[@PermaJeff]

your use of sick in this context is kinda confusing.

[@Tumnus.B]

Read Oshi No Ko

[@JaclyneChin]

Read Oshi no Ko manga (well, it's not really 100% idol because it's also talk the dark side of entertainment as a whole but more on idol & actor) or wait for Oshi no Ko anime coming soon 2023

[@danielquinlan2457]

I dunno, it seems to me that a lot of the issues with the Idol Industry are pretty well documented to me.

[@usernamegirls1]

Its either the boss who wants to earn guilt money or the fans are just delusional as if the idols are innocent girls living a happy life that Japan want this bad culture to continue....

[@arhusdk2916]

Sad truth. But it is happening in all entertainment industries. In Japan, I think this dark side of idol could be apparently observed from underground idol groups. Many idols aren't treated well by manager but they cannot complain about it because of their contract that why the most important thing is to look carefully for the contract. For Jessica's case, I feel sorry for her for the horrible experience she got during her work. This thing is quite similar to the case happening in KPOP industry. Many girls devote their time for practising in the industry. Some spends ten years as a trainee without salary and sadly cannot debut as they wish.

[@YourKurohime]

Bruh, that idol interaction skit makes me wanna die just from second hand embarrassment... How you did that even as a joke...you are a stronger will than I Joey. How did she deal with that for 2 years?

[@takanara7]

@@grayarystorjz35 Well, at least the idol fans actually want to meet you, whereas the karens basically hate you.

[@tunafllsh]

weak

[@SuperFlanders123]

Exactly. Looked dead awkward.And there's alot more going on behind the scenes,as far as who controls all of this,and so on,but,W/e...

[@sdarkpaladin]

Wow! Didn't expect Takanashi Kiara's name to pop up here. Now that I heard Jessica's stories, I can sort of understand why Kiara was quite stressed during that period.

[@viceasimo3532]

Timestamp?

[@SapinoPhilimoan]

Damn ya don't gotta be like that. The vids almost an hour long, so it's understandable that most people wouldn't wanna sift through for one specific part. The conversation that leads up to it starts at 15:33

[@ObsceneVegetableMatter]

@@SapinoPhilimoan Has it been edited out of the video somehow? I can't find it. She only mentions her senpai, but no name.

[@Spyduck]

@@ObsceneVegetableMatter Probably. There's a jump cut at 15:43. But either way, it is what it is.

[@EVOGenesis666]

So aggretsuko's idol arc wasn't far off at all. This was super informative!

[@melonlord1414]

That sounds way nicer than what was said in this interview. At least Aggretsuko's boss cared a little bit.

[@SkribbleNL]

Hearing this I feel like we always villainize the fans but it's actually the agencies and the bosses that are the center of the toxicity around the idol culture

[@Xynic48]

True. Back in the day, I thought japanese idols are cringe. But after going to idol events, it's actually more innocent than I thought. While there are definitely perverts and weirdos, most are just nerds that wants to have fun. Idol events are basically rave parties for nerds.

[@dum462]

i mean, she did mention the fan acting like he was stabbing one of the girls @ 28:30

[@juampisito]

It's both creepy fans and crazy work policies

[@JacobM.S]

@@Xynic48 nerdism isnt bad things if you have something what you like but you need to know separate real world from fake one but i would like to come to some nerd group actions like comic con or anime con you know... meet other peoples wit same interest and make friends

[@Circurose]

I can say I hate the fans more.

[@immanuelganzentspannt]

Living in germany, knowing the workers rights, etc. I just can't imagine how hard that must have been(I am completely shocked under what conditions Idols have to perform/work). Pretty much working full time and getting paid little to nothing is bad enough but on top of that there is also the huge amount of pressure, getting yelled at from bossman, favoritism, racism (and probably sexism aswell). How did this ever become a thing and why isn't the government at least improving working conditions? Those agencies seem like the most disgusting scam artists, completely ignoring the mental health of their Idols, letting them do all the work and basically steal their hard earned money. I'm fascinated but mostly disgusted. Props to jessica to speaking up for your mates and also for leaving, best decision you could have made.

[@tsukemen2061]

I feel it's because it's ingrained in their culture that it's going to be difficult to make a change. In the video it seemed like some of the girls in her group just accepted the way things were, made it seem like she was the one at fault because she's so negative. There's this saying that "it's easier to learn a new habit than to unlearn it". Add to that, the bosses are old and has this boomer thinking. Seems like gaslighting is normal for boss man. Mental health is also difficult in Japan. In Trash Taste, it was mentioned that there are not much doctors that treat mental health. It's so sad that the idol industry is like this. Idols are just humans. I'm glad she got out of it and sincerely hope for her healing.

[@milanotfound]

watched anime that show that ,paripi komei i think explain that there and yeah sad truth

[@FaySmash]

Germany isn't that much better tbh. We don't have idols to exploit but eastern Europe guest workers which get treaten like slaves

[@noiredautremonde8289]

In Japan change is forbidden. It is only done when absolutely necessary. And any change will be reverted the moment the Japanese see it possible.

[@takanara7]

The US is pretty terrible when it comes to workers rights but we at least have a minimum wage law. Like, you would at least have to be paid like ~1k yen/hour ($7.25) of actual work.

[@ozyssah]

Its so crazy hearing from her and even hearing that Kiara worked for the same agency too

[@pakshiiii]

Joey literally had a heart attack when roleplaying as an fan... Edit- Mom I'm famous. Thx for the likes...

[@SetiKt]

This is the perfect time to post the upset aki meme

[@nourmuhsen]

You could see the CRINGE on his face lol.

[@anuragraut5101]

He can finally feel the embarrassment that Connor feels in each of his video where he tries different stuff

[@amal-chan]

This reminds me of Yuimetal from BabyMetal… Yui had to quit because of illness, people say she has depression and eating disorder but her company is keeping tight lips about the whole thing, and lot of people/fans are hating her. This is sad. They’re gaslighting her to think she’s negative when the truth is ugly, they want to become idols at whatever cost and companies are exploiting them. Edit: I’m glad she left, even though those two years probably felt like living hell for her.

[@autohmae]

Here is my perspective as a Babymetal fan who actually very much hesitated and rationalized before becoming a Babymetal fan. Judging by what was visible, I don't think she was depressed or had an eating disorder, but a back problem is what made her have to quit performing. That said it's not impossible she had an eating disorder. Lots of people in entertainment and outside of it who care about their image have this. So I definitely wouldn't rule it out completely. The way she changed over time is probably more related to her growing up and growth spurts. Compared to western companies (especially western/northern Europe), the average Japanese company: not a great work place. Amuse (which owns Babymetal, Sakura Gakuin, etc.) is a Japanese company after all so don't expect heaven. But she was probably getting paid well. Every leaked private photo of her and Su and Moa always wore very expensive clothing. These are clothes they choose and bought on their own (unless of course they all have rich parents, but even now Su and Moa are adult most recent private photo it still applies). Here is an other way to look at it: if Yui was treated badly she would not still have a contract with Amuse 5 years later. They are keeping her under contract so the investment they made into Yui isn't lost to an other agency when she gets back into the spotlight. She is probably still getting paid every month some token amount. Probably that amount is more than Jess in this interview was making during those 2 years in the idol every month. Some other signs about how Babymetal and the girl group they came from Sakura Gakuin, didn't have have personal social media presence, etc. says a lot about how the company. And how long others keep working for the company. I would say Amuse is a lot better than any underground idol group and probably a better place to work than being part of AKB.

[@marcjigz9299]

She left and the agency respected that. They already moved on

[@flowtaku]

I love babymetal a lot however the fans annoy me sm bc most of them are metal heads and sexualise the members it’s honestly heartbreaking and needs to be stopped

[@marcjigz9299]

@@flowtaku I don't see any fans sexualized the members. They don't wear any revealing clothes or maybe you mistaken them from another band/group.

[@autohmae]

@@flowtaku I wonder where you hang out, because the Babymetal fans I know most appreciate their image isn't sexualized, etc.

[@princereptar2578]

i always love videos like these, diving deeper into topics you normally dont have much knowledge on

[@dudie966]

This was a really interesting interview. I would love to know more about the differences between underground vs. full professional idols. I'm really into the love live franchise and I've always wondered how they are treated behind the scenes and how much they really get paid. I imagine Bushiroad is making money hand over fist, but an idol franchise like that also needs alot more background people to support it too. The only idol groups I know in the US are born out of Japanese idol cover groups that then decide to start their own thing and amke their own music. They don't make much money and put in alot of time and effort, but they're also usually amateur/semi-pro groups of friends, so they aren't forced to do it or have horrible managers hanging over them.

[@ItsShaz1]

This is going to be interesting! Diving into other Japanese topics like the idol industry has always been intriguing to me. It’s nice to see Joey making these types of videos. Respect to all the idols going through this horrible stuff.

[@dunzek943]

No. Not all the idols; those that took advantage of each other.

[@ZRovas117]

I love how this is the same concept as Anthony Padilla's "I Spent A Day With X" but Japan version, but I'm all for it. Japan has such a varied amount of people Joey can interview, I can see this lasting as a series for as many as Joey can think of people to interview.

[@entropybear5847]

The hard work routine is one thing, but basically getting paid nothing is what must really mess with their heads. Japan needs stronger labor laws.

[@bennieboi3683]

This video hits even harder with Oshi no Ko just came out not too long ago. So many things Jessica said matched with the anime/manga like screw-up staff management, shitty pay, horrible contract, events, idols' mental health, and idol who doesn't good at singing being popular. It's just mind-blowing to me accurate Oshi no Ko is, and how the idol industry can still stay afloat.

[@JerkyMcJerkface]

The idol industry can still stay afloat because the companies which own these idol groups are the also the ones producing your mindblowing anime. These issues have been known for ages, and Oshi no Ko is not the first manga series to bring it up, the powers that be in Japan just choose to ignore it.

[@iron_Will]

So glad you made this. There's always been something about the idol industry that's rubbed me the wrong way, and I'm always a bit annoyed whenever I see the elements that have been grandfathered into the vtuber scene from it. But at the same time, the level of secrecy that the idol industry has always operated with makes it fascinating to learn about.

[@horusfalcon]

Thanks for doing this interview, Joey. This is the kind of thing that sets you apart from many other anime' channels. Jessica, all the best, girl. Win your freedom every day.

[@thetruth3068]

Remind me of Keekihime story when she was still in Idol business. She got into that weird wrestling match, and the men ends up humping her. It's very weird and creepy, and no one stopped the show. She said she cried after that show Glad she is successful now.

[@maineman5757]

That's strange

[@shinsuikyoraku6101]

Any video about that?

[@ThatGuyWhoComments1]

Seriously??? I thought it was just the camera guy having his thing out. I can see why she has so much trauma of guys and other things. I'm so glad she's at a good spot right now.

[@thetruth3068]

@@shinsuikyoraku6101 my comment kept getting removed, idk why. But it's on KZbin

[@laboon344]

Yeah same really like watching her and her other gen mates ! 🧡🧡

[@leeboonkang2]

The dark truth doesnt apply only for japan, almost throughout the world alot of new artist in showbiz are being exploited like its normal and openly. The industry normalize this kind of behavior and process that people that are being exploited basically get brainwashed to think its normal and maybe even a privilege to them. We definitely need more exposure on these kind of stuff, though it might have very little impact but it might save some individuals out there from getting trapped into it.

[@DacianGradaMusic]

this was very interesting and i love these conversational interviews! As others pointed out, it would be cool to manage getting an interview with a VTuber as well to see comparisons and similarities of these idol categories. Maybe KSon? Either way, great job Mr. Manga Lad!

[@YURIKOTIGERjp]

I totally can understand. I feel you J! It was the same for me and I still have debit for it… Is a very dark world and you need to be patient and strong at the same time! Like as Jessica said.

[@hollysano03]

I think this was a really important interview thank you to both Joey and Jess for making this happen.

[@lolitaku7229]

I never really liked idol culture, but the dark side of idol life always drew me in. Thank you for doing this interview so more people will get a better idea what it means to be an idol in Japan

[@PaulGirdlestone]

Mr daughters love idols and stuff like that and wanted to become idols. I told them exactly what it is like in Asia to be an idol and they were like 'No, thanks!' They are 8 and 5 years old and they are already aware how BS it is. We are in HK where that think kind of happens but on a much smaller scale.

[@Harkz0r]

Thanks for being a good father in that sense. I've often wondered how people find themselves drawn to or working in these kinds of conditions even after the detailed information is publicly available. The entertainment industry especially at the underground level sounds like a form of borderline human trafficking and slave labour.

[@PaulGirdlestone]

@@Harkz0r It sounds like that because it is that. If it looks like a duck, sounds like a duck and acts like a duck.....

[@gumitown1179]

There is indeed a chika idol scene in Sydney, running very similarly to the indie band scene. Majority of these groups are cover groups, and I presume are run mostly, if not entirely by the idols themselves. Despite not being a follower of idols/idol culture myself, its a super cool experience to see all these groups and fans being supportive for everyone coming up on stage. Theres no real "weird, creepy fan" or "manager-cxnt" type of thing happening, as far as I could tell. There's a nice sense of community going around, and everyone is just trying to have a good time.

[@k.nananthanandanan3540]

That was a great interview, I liked the way Joe straight away asked very relevant questions and deep dived on different aspects of the industry and kept the interview interesting till the end. Side note to Joe, I could hear your necklace/chain rubbing against the mic, which kind of swayed my attention at times.

[@thecipher8495]

*Joey Obligatory: Who's Joe?

[@CreatrixTiara]

I'm a performance artist who's worked in Australia and the US and we also don't often allow audience photos, especially if there's an official photographer hired for the event. This is mainly for 2 reasons: (a) you want some control over your image and audience photos may show you in a not-ideal light, while pros know how to get good shots (b) it can get very disruptive very quickly, especially with flash - I'm strobe/flash sensitive and camera flashes can easily give me a debilitating headache. (To be fair, I've also had this issue with pros who use flash as a crutch even when there's enough lighting to not use it)

[@ricku7765]

worth the 50minutes of watching because im genuinely curious on how idols in japan operates and how they feel inside or outside of their job

[@ZombiePro3624]

I read oshi no ko so I know that the idol industry was messed up, but somehow this was able to surpass my expectations

[@melonlord1414]

Aqua totally safed his sister by making sure she didn't join some random group, but built one for themselves.

[@02Funny02]

I knew i'd find an oshi no ko comment somewhere

[@NuukaYT]

I watched Zombieland Saga, but I didn't see any mention about idol zombie agency, sad :(

[@staticdice5958]

The Takanashi Kiara connection was a hard curve ball like damn it's like we're in some reality show and everything is connected

[@MeMe-gm9di]

I mean, there's not that many idol groups out there, how many will hire foreign women? And of course she'd remember Kiara, they probably both speak German, etc.

[@vectorifix3218]

Absolutely fantastic interview! Jessica is such lively and obviously very smart. "You have to sell your own character rather than your skills" - caught my ear, this was surprise for me when watched my first documentary of the idol world and Jessica put it very well out. I hope all the good for her and as interview seemed to got a bit carried away towards the end, I hope Mr. Bossman didn't get too upset :) Subbed to the channel and Jessica's twitter - funny stuff!

[@sseukaitorelsedoyoungwilll6548]

Respect to all the idols

[@Rebsxo3]

Bless her for sharing her story. It’s so sad to see and hear all these stories happening to K pop groups or idols. With so much coming out now with these dark stories on idols I hope the idol industry gets torn open and has to make changes for ppls mental health. They seem to just brush anything under the rug it’s so bad and toxic and only going to get worse yet these idols would keep putting themselves through it 😢

[@Squisky]

It shouldn't even be an industry. People who listen to, follow, and support this sort of "entertainment" is the root cause of the problem. Shithead bosses exist in every industry.

[@360AnimeList]

Work without pay is a red flag. Thankfully she did not reach the killing point. Shes almost there if she continued idoling. I am grateful for her and have a happy life. 😊

[@allgameplays]

It's crazy to me she stayed for two years

[@Hexra_]

Oh wow how the worlds collide. The fact that Jessica was in the same agency as Kiara (and the fact that she's also German) is such a great coincidence

[@animeking17]

Which Kiara? The vtuber?

[@Hexra_]

@@animeking17 yeah. She mentioned Kiara Takanashi was in her agency for a while, quit, joined another one and became popular

[@stevensiegert]

Isn't Kiara Austrian?

[@Hexra_]

@@stevensiegert yeah she is, I was talking about Jessica being German lol

[@XO2HKIM]

With the anime Oshi no Koshi premiering soon, this interview really came at a great time.

[@nnneeooooo]

usually idols cannot take pictures with people because those people can use it as harm against idols to start scandals and such

[@Scudboy17]

In retrospect "Perfect Blue" was almost an optimistic view of idol culture. Kind of like Robocop vs modern actual Detroit.

[@jotaro2105]

What's really mind-blowingly worse in all of this is a blatant anti-Korean discrimination in Japanese entertainment industry

[@joannejones363]

Yes I pretty much feel she got treated like that because she is korean

[@kimsewoon0904]

I'd say its mainly because of the whole Japan colonising Korea back then and their belief that they r a superior species which still lives in some of the older generations in Japan, tho speaking as a korean, our old folks aint much different but i guess maybe theres a difference in justification between the victim and the perpetrator.

[@Buttsceatcgee]

@@kimsewoon0904 that’s what i think too. It’s also possible that korea entertainment industry is taking some ideas from Japan, such as the cutesy look, the drama, and such.

[@eksen7221]

Vice-versa Ig

[@fallenlegend8888]

​@@eksen7221The Kpop industry is more welcoming to Japanese considering there's a lot of Japanese kpop idols nowadays

[@katscozycorner]

Thank you for making this video and putting this information out there and unpacking what happens in the idol industry in Japan. I was not aware of the extent of just how toxic and scamming it is and I am shocked and appalled! The fact that you, Jess, can got out and can laugh and smile now is such a strength, and possibly the biggest f*** you to the boss man and the industry. So, keep laughing and smiling and being who you are. You are a beautiful soul 💜

[@starman6468]

Babymetal technically is an idol project and they are a complete international succes, which btw they recently announced a new album and tour for early 2023 🔥

[@makesmewannadie647]

The one❤️❤️❤️❤️

[@mbalazs3544]

24:44 there is block function n phones :D or silent mode :D that can come in handy for stuff like this, also having 2 phones one for family one for work is a good ideal

[@volgg]

This is a very insightful view into the idol industry, thank you joey for making this video and Jess for giving us the info on it!

[@UncleAndyArt]

When I was in middle school, I discovered Japanese idols and quickly fell in love, only to just as quickly go to learn more about the idol industry and realize all of the dark webs that lie underneath. I was quickly trapped in this awkward situation when I was split between "Do I support the industry in the hopes that even a penny goes to these idols that I love or do I boycott it completely despite knowing it will do little to nothing since, as an American, I'm not even their target audience?" Because of this, I always bring up this discussion with fellow idol fans whenever I meet them. Most of them are at least vaguely aware, but are open to discussion. But for some reason, the one group of Idol fans that never want to even entertain this discussion (that I've met) are the BTS ARMY. Specifically ARMY that follow BTS and essentially no one else. It's not a KPOP thing - hell, if anything, I would argue KPOP fans are even more aware of it than JPOP fans since almost every KPOP Idol that's got an international platform has at least one fainting compilation on KZbin. With dedicated ARMYs, however, every other sentence they're cutting me off to talk about how BTS is different from the others. Like I mention the little to no pay and they'll say shit like "Actually one of them owns a shoe company so he makes plenty of money" like okay??? Cool I guess. What does Big Hit pay them though?

[@allgameplays]

Fans like that are blind to reality they know the truth but don't want to acknowledge it/them

[@namjoondimples2389]

That's because BTS is different when taking about the industry they have a big amount of the money they made they owns stocks on the company are the biggest artists there and have creative freedom over their work and they don't have the obligation to create personas they're Very open about the difference of they personal life and between the idol also expressing what they want through music the agency isn't the Best none is but their situation is better when compared to others idols

[@joannejones363]

Well I'm sorry to say you are wrong in that aspect because Bighit is a company that listens to BTS as Artist and their fans ARMY. Which the members themselves have spoken about. They have a lot of creative and monetary control and they don't force their artists to do things that they don't want to do. These are the members words not mine. So I would say it is totally wrong of you to include BTS into your mess because they are actually well taken care of. Heck, if they are mistreated in any way people will be up in arms. Rest of the kpop industry is pretty dodgy including the other major labels like SM, YG

[@sayest]

@@joannejones363 with the culture the company exists in I find it highly unlikely that it escapes that … but with how big they are now their experience is not even close to the norm if what they are saying is completely honest. They have infinitely more leverage and power to throw around to do what they want with their level of fame. They are a product and the company is more happy to keep them content so they rake in millions or even billions of dollars. Billionaires don’t become billionaires without some sort of exploitation in most cases it’s their employees 💀 I think it’s important to acknowledge that idol culture and major music industries have a problem with taking advantage of artists as a whole and we should never assume any of them have an artist or group’s best interests at heart in the end

[@dainobu10]

Everything Jess said reminded me of the idol trio in Oddtaxi more than the one in Aggretsuko.What a hell she had to went through. One question that is maybe in the patreon bonus is, how aware of the situation were her parents? If bet they were more than happy when she finally quitted.

[@rapthor666]

Hearing from for example Sera, Jess and other former idols...stuff gotta change in Japan and SK. SK is slowly improving a bit for now, Japan not much so. Joey improving his interview skills once more, great vid Really, compliments to Jess for saying bye-bye to the toxic environment and living a better life as she deserves

[@pauloazuela8488]

KR had the worldwide popularity to back it up so they don't want to afford a bad rep but if it's niche like Japan , I doubt it . The same for every company outside idols , we think they're correcting out of their good heart but it's more of just a Pr stunt like companies going green but it's technically isn't like some green products are a load of lies

[@fallenlegend8888]

The only reason SK Idol Industry is improving is because of global popularity which means more people are paying attention and being critical of the industry

[@Angel..L]

Thank you so much for the interview. I’ve been reading Oshi no ko and it’s been really interesting to see some behind the scenes. I could never put myself through 2 years of that.

[@dustykatt]

On the phone video thing, I JUST saw BandMaid (japanese hard rock girl band, look em up) twice in the last week. And at both we all had phones out getting a song or two. we also cheered and yelled and sang along which is NOT allowed in Japan at the moment. The band was so into it and having such a great time.

[@redfish337]

You can't in Japan. And for the most part it's better. I do like having the option. A lot of groups where they allow it, people will only record from the front, back or edges. But someone in front of me was recording literally the whole show and blocking my view. Screw that guy.

[@dustykatt]

@@redfish337 True, I never block another's view. I usually get my fav song then put the phone away until the end of the show and then photos of the band and gear. being 6'2" tall I block enough .

[@ggPAiDA]

I think the Australian group mentioned might be Amuse-Project, very talented group I recommend! The end of the interview they spoke briefly about idols outside of Japan, and there are quite a many of us!! We are all mostly independent and operating in a more western entertainment industry, so the personal experience is what we make it, we have struggled too but don’t face those types of hardships. If you have an interest in idols please support all of us! We are working hard to show there is a market for idol music culture outside of Japan❤

[@Sputnik_]

The fact they made an anime out of this is insane

[@angelsambition2179]

Somehow Oshi No Ko brought me to this video and I’ve watched all of Joey’s videos but somehow missed this one lol, great interview

[@JensWelten]

since i watched aggretsuko season 3 with the idol arc, i was very interested in this business. "is it really like that?" but this video here made me shake my head every 10 seconds. what this girl went through i felt so sorry. greetings from germany

[@SakuraStardust]

The idol industry is as absurd as it is tragic

[@l4nny444]

i used to be chika idol like her and i can say i can relate to some stuff. Luckily the idol group i was in had a somewhat good management and still got paid. I don't miss being an idol it was so bad

[@vincentchow6917]

I just finished watching Oshi no Ko episode 1 and this video came up on my Recommended. Scary coincidence!

[@HeavyMetalfps]

I actually agree with the no video at concerts, it's really akward when the entire crowd is just a sea of phones, and there will be better pro shot media out there afterwards anyways.

[@autohmae]

Exactly, the ideal would be a discount ticket you can buy after the show to get the pro-shot easily. Bands like Metallica and Red Hot Chili Peppers have a way for people to buy for example the audio of every show they did you can buy online. No discount as far as I know.

[@tsuaririndoku]

It’s funny because I just finished reading Oshi No Ko and this pops up in KZbin. They tracked me every move now.

[@JohnnyBautista]

Please have her back. She seems like a really nice person.

[@leherion4276]

Damn girl, u speak german, english and japanese at least (russian, korean?) and u did idol stuff. Ure definitely worth so much more. Wish u the best

[@xMelliferax]

i spak 9 languages in total! :)

[@leherion4276]

@@xMelliferax 9 Sprachen, irre. Wenn das kein Talent ist weiss ich auch nicht. Damit kannst du dir eine wunderbare Zukunft aufbauen ;)

[@xMelliferax]

@@leherion4276 das hoffe ich sehr!

[@Shchetkin]

@@xMelliferax, поразительно! Вы безумно крутая!

[@DieAlteistwiederda]

Not that unsual to at least speak two or three languages here in Germany I would say. I speak two completely fluently like they are both my native languages and a third well enough to get by.

[@gustinex]

she looks so happy and cheerful now, so happy for her

[@haowig]

i literally was researching this topic yesterday, i find it such a morbid interest of mine and joey just uploaded this video in perfect timing. legend

[@LordIronfist]

Ah, now, I finally understand the scenes of the idol group performing and then trying to sell merch in Odd Taxi! Thanks for this, I didn't really know how to even phrase it to try googling what was going on, since it's so different from the concert scene I'm familiar with in the states. This is fantastic bc I hate not being able to answer questions I have! Thanks again

[@behelitquest]

I'm early this time haha, never have been. I wasn't interested in idol industry but if Joey the madlad does something, I'll be there for it

[@antzerobooks]

the producification of the idol industry has always seems weird to me, it's good to see them highlighted more, i learnt a lot from this

[@ashura_amane8499]

I'm glad that someone is talking about all these things

[@froufroudeluxe]

She’s lovely. I’m glad she felt safe to discuss her experience

[@merelyChirs]

Really enjoyed this, Joey. I'm really impressed about how respectful and informative your questions were. Thanks for the upload.

[@BIGBASCH]

At 51:08 the second it takes Joey to realize what she just said makes it perfectly comedic

[@bunny15539]

Joey is such a good listener and great guy to chat with. Love these types of interviews. keep up the good work man! much love from canada

[@GrantyoRT]

Joey's really good at longform content. Maybe he should start a podcast...

[@leonmystique9372]

Oh! Nice idea! Might I also suggest add a British monke and a Main Protagonist in the cast too while he's at it?

[@bijoychandraroy]

@@leonmystique9372 also an affable guest too

[@leonmystique9372]

@@bijoychandraroy And some VTubers too! They're on the trend nowadays, big opportunity!

[@AnastasiaIvanova03]

He should definitely have a podcast that goes on for almost two hours or more... if he doesn’t already 🤔

[@thecipher8495]

And most importantly, talk about Anime.

[@inoob26]

13:49 If I had to go through this kind of human interaction I would crumble and die from social anxiety

[@potatoxgaming9466]

Yeah and im a man

[@zacharysnyder2520]

I love how open the interview became. I hope they stay friends. I’m glad she got out of her shit situation.

[@Mr-pn2eh]

Jessica did say that she is a fan of Joey's channel and does watch his content

[@zwiemon]

In the Netherlands there's very specific laws around children performing/being on TV and stuff for the simple reason that they consider it child labor if they perform more than 24 days per age year (with a max of 3 days per week)

[@DArkrAIIIIIII]

I really enjoyed your interview here, and your interviews in general. You speak with great fluidity in terms of the questions asked and transitioning between topics. I really hope you could do more interviews in the future!

[@spiele_maus]

I was never interested in the idol industry but man there’s so much toxic things going on in the general entertainment industry.

[@FailzorLP]

my take on the "no photo or video"-policy is, that its a thing of maybe respect for the group, because you are watching them for their music/whatever they are doing, and you shouldnt be distracted by your phone taking videos and stuff

[@catgirlsz]

i knew the idol industry in japan was super, super toxic but it's a lot worse than i thought

[@ACEsParkJunheeWreckedMeHard]

Same. And I allready thought that some of my fave artists had it hard. I mean for example I follow a boygroup who is super popular in Japan who's leader was interviewed by a YT-channel and he said he was training each day from 9am to 10pm and than when he was back home even 1 more our and he said if they are about to release a new CD he was training longer and mentioned that on such days he would train from 7am to 1am and I was shook tho and thought that this was allready super hard

[@_console]

There are some documentaries on it online, what she experienced is just the tip of the iceberg, it gets way worst. Korean Idols are also in the same situation.

[@hana7334]

But just like everywhere it is different depending on who you sign your contract with. "Lower Idols" usually always get treated poorly.

[@Ok-oo2kh]

Idol industry in korea is way worse lol. Changing their faces to fit more in korean beauty standard. Infernal diet.

[@Ok-oo2kh]

@@_console Dude dont compare jpop idols industry with kpop idols industry. Kpop idol industry its all fake , their faces , their lives , etc. Its all fake and everybody knows this

[@majimadayoyoyo]

I'm just glad she is free from the stress of being an idol, she seems like a nice person she deserves peace and just enjoy her life.

[@LordChaos11]

Yeah.. found what group she was in. Zenith Code under the name Elena.. I remember seeing the MVs while searching idols back then. Poor Girl..

[@apertureabroad]

So happy to see my baddass model friend end up on a video with Joey. She's here to take over the world 🌎

[@StormCrusher94]

This needs get trending. It's the second "inside" look I got into the idol industry and it is the same.

[@alexjustalexyt1144]

Which is your first?

[@Akram_kirito]

Thank You for opening my eyes.... Hope you are doing good well... And have a healthy life now.... Jessica I am happy you are out of this idol stuff... Thanks to Joey who always bring these matters into light....

[@z-mashupz8069]

Longtime K-pop fan here and I have dabbled in J-pop idol music and honestly I was somewhat shocked at how bad the underground scene is in Japan. I thought K-pop idol contracts were bad, and they are but I feel like it isn't as bad as Japan. Then again who knows what goes on behind closed doors.

[@polishicecreaman]

This was a great interview, some high quality content of looking into something many of us don't know. It's insane what she had to go through I couldn't imagine living that life just hearing about it gives me anxiety. I'm a student teacher and like my workload I have been complaining about because it is a absurd amount, but jfc this idol stuff is actually so insanely messed up it's actually constant non stop work.