The Tangled Web of Confusion – Bitch-Assery

Recent events at an AKB48 handshake event promoting Flying Get have caused an uproar among those in the idol fan community and have brought up the question of how one should act at any idol related event. Are there strict rules or are fans given free reign to do whatever because of their undying support?

As always the following is my own opinion and does not necessarily reflect those of the other Selective Hearing staff.

Code of Conduct:

A set of rules outlining the responsibilities of or proper practices for an individual, party or organization.

Bitch-Assery

A person, place, thing, event, circumstance or situation that is so extreme in it’s unfortunateness as to warrant a designation of being bitch-assed to the utmost degree.

Everyone should have an idea of what a Code of Conduct is. You live by one or many every day of your life. These rules govern society and when they’re not followed we end up with… Yes you guessed it. Bitch-Assery.

For those of you who don’t follow any idol or AKB48 news the deal is that some fans were acting like total jack asses towards certain girls and in the process upsetting them.

Before I continue I would like to note that I know jack shit about AKB48 outside of the more popular members and some sub-groups. I have however done my homework and referred to more knowledgeable sources to get my facts straight.

First up is Tomomi Kasai. She was openly upset on Twitter for people calling her “Ero” when they came to shake her hand. I guess “Ero” is a derogatory term in Japan? Like being called the equivalent of a “Ho” possibly? Perhaps it’s because she’s been shown with an new sexy image that fans feel it’s alright to call her that? She even blames herself for possibly promoting the idea that she might be “Ero”.

One, she shouldn’t blame herself since she’s only doing what the company is telling her and two, who the hell are these idiots calling her “Ero” to her face? Could they not find some sort of tact or eloquence to express their opinion on her sexiness other than “Yo bitch, you’re fine!” For people who spend all their time listening to girly love songs they can’t string together some sort of poetic verse stolen from or inspired by various lyrics of their favorite group’s songs? Pathetic.

Second was Reina Fujie who has the unenviable nickname of “Uzareinyan” which translated means “Annoying Reina”. This I could not find the reason behind (I didn’t do THAT MUCH homework) but it hurt her so much that she threatened to ignore fans if she heard the nickname again at other handshake events.

Probably the most heinous (and rather dangerous) acts was when a fan decided to flip Team K leader (and super sexy half Filipina) Akimoto Sayaka the bird and run away. If there’s one thing you don’t do ever, it’s piss off a Filipina. It’s like asking to get kicked in the jimmy with a spiked shoe.

According to reports she asked for this fan to be brought back up to her and she ripped him a new one and then got the dumb ass to apologize. After which she shook his hand with a smile. Now there’s a class act.

These actions are very disappointing to hear about. The proper thing to do at events like this is to display some manners and follow basic codes of conduct. I mean even if you don’t like a certain member of a group you should be mature enough to at least fake enjoying meeting them until you get to your favorite(s). Showing open disdain only makes you (and possibly) the general fandom look like a bunch of ungrateful, spoiled brats.

Fans are not entitled to treat idols as they please because they invest a large amount of their personal income supporting them. Idols are like you and I and are being paid to do a job. Much like every other person earning a living they deserve a safe work environment where they are free from harassment. Would you like it if someone came to your place of work & started harassing you? Some you probably don’t care but those of you who take pride in your work would probably become as upset as these idols.

Upon further research I found out there are lot of jerk fans out there who do a lot of unpleasant things at these events that usoverseas fans only wish we could attend such as:

• Pleasuring oneself before a handshake event and not washing hands after. Supposedly this is supposed to be some sort symbolism for an indirect hand job. I hope the AKB girls have A LOT of hand sanitizer around them at these things
• Holding up signs during fan club only two-shots (another thing that overseas fans never get because there are no international fan clubs) with crude messages or false statements
• Asking members to do stupid or embarrassing poses not related to their group, image or character

There are many more deplorable acts but these probably are the easiest to pull off in public. Well maybe not the jerking off one, but apparently it has been successfully done before.

I am shocked at just how much inappropriate behavior goes on at these promotional events. I personally have been to these kinds of things at conventions in North America and have never seen anyone act out like these fans. Perhaps it’s a fan culture difference? Or maybe it’s because in North America people are more prone to react in violence should someone screw up the chance of everyone meeting their favorite idol(s).

I know people who vehemently claim that the Japanese wota are the overseas fan’s role models and we should be doing everything in our power to emulate their super fan godliness. If they’re going to be pulling stunts like the above? I’ll take my chances being a stupid gaijin fan instead.