Watanabe Junnosuke

IDOL Anarchy in the UK – An Interview with JPU Records

/ Cal

If you’re a regular concert-goer in the UK, then you’ve probably been to any number of the “WACK in the UK” gigs over the past year and a half. ASP have been bringing along their friends from the most notorious company in Japan, and giving our dreary little island a taste of their unique brand of glorious, noisy chaos. In fact, the next one is this week, with ASP themselves, ExWHYZ (formerly EMPiRE) and MAMESHiBA NO TAiGUN on the 5th and PIGGS (Pour Lui), MAPA (Coshoji Megumi) and ZOCX (Oomori Seiko) on the 6th.

These shows are possible thanks to JPU Records, arguably the most successful label working with exclusively Japanese artists outside of Japan… well, ever! You’ll know them if you’re a fan of Japanese music outside of the idolsphere for sure, and around last year, they added ASP to their roster.

Recently, we had the chance to sit down with Tom Smith from JPU and subject him to our (self awarded) prize winning journalism. We got to talking about a few things WACK fans had been wondering regarding his recent foray into things, so if you’ve ever wondererd what working with your favourite groups can be like, come step behind the curtain with us and take a peek.

A cheki with Tom Smith of JPU Records and Cal from Homicidols

Homicidols: So… I guess a good place to start is, well, how did all of this start?

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WASTED with WATANABE: The Junnosuke Watanabe Interview

/ Cal

Some enchanted evening, under a moonlit summer sky, a drag queen is performing her cabaret number at London’s Ku Bar. Watching her show with our intrepid reporter is none other than the person behind acts like BiSH, BiS and GANG PARADE: Junnosuke Watanabe. The man in question is kicking off the night with a pint of Staropramen , while Cal from Homicidols and Porin from the band Awesome City Club (who just happened to be in town) both enjoy a pornstar martini each.

Junnosuke Watanabe and Porin from Awesome City Club

Homicidols: You always get beer don’t you?

Watanabe: Oh yes (laughs). Cocktails are too sweet for me.

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Debate Erupts Over Watanabe’s Illegible Hat

/ Kerrie

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The Future of the Idol World is in YOUR Hands. Again.

/ Cal

Just like WACK’s Audition Camps have a redemption challenge, so does the online version! Everyone that didn’t make the top 50 has a chance at victory once again, which means we’re in for another week of idol adjacent antics.

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The Future of the Idol World is in YOUR Hands

/ Cal

Remember that online WACK audition where anybody from any country of any gender could participate on Twitter? The chaotic mixture of WACK fans, girls from previous streamed auditions and children who should really have their internet usage monitored by their parents? Great news! It’s reached a mass voting stage so YOU, the reader, can be more involved than ever!

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EMPiRE’s Early EP Release is SUPER COOL

/ Cal

WACK and Avex’s collaborative group (no, the other one) have decided to get a little 70’s to switch things up and boy do these EMPiRE SOUNDS feel SUPER GOOD.

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For Him? For Her? It’s POUR LUI

/ Cal

Is this the longest downtime between albums in idol history? Seriously, we’ve been waiting for 10 years!

Today the sequel to Pour Lui’s original solo album “Minna no Pour Lui” aptly titled “Minna no Pour Lui II” drops and oh boy was it worth the decade long wait.

As you can see we have a full double album here! Eight brand new songs and a second disc of re-recordings from the original Minna no Pour Lui.

The initial sound is what you’d expect from a WACK and SCRAMBLES production – it’s solid alt-rock that makes you want to slam your head back and forth, with opening track “I’m in love” featuring some guitarwork that wouldn’t go out of place on an Iron Maiden album. Pour Lui would kill Run to the Hills but could Bruce Dickinson do THIS? No, because he can’t speak Japanese.

 

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A WACK Way to Deal With Cancelled Shows

/ Cal

If you’ve been keeping up with the news, both regular and idol, you’ll probably know that Abe Shinzo issued a countrywide order temporarily banning all large scale public entertainment events because of Novel Coronavirus fears. ZOC cancelled their entire FINAL INNOCENT ZOC tour, Aya Eightprince cancelled a smaller public appearance and Pour Lui cancelled the shooting for her upcoming idol group’s music video to name a few. Things have been cancelled harder than a celebrity who’s angered a kpop fanbase.

Currently, WACK are meant to be embarking on their nationwide WACK FUCKiN’ PARTY tour but alas even Watanabe Junnosuke who has objectively more clout than the prime minister can’t get around a ban on public events.

Just kidding, yes he FUCKiN can!

This Saturday at 6pm JST, the show will go on! NO AUDiENCE LiVE is exactly what it sounds like – nobody is going to be there. You can’t cancel a public event that isn’t a public event. The entire thing is going to be broadcast on Niconico so everyone will be able to be there in spirit. A premium subscription is only around $5USD too, so hey, if you’re spending your time indoors as a health precaution why not spend it with the idol fanbase’s favourite women’s prison colony?

It’s been a rough week for a lot of people on Earth because of the you-know-what, but in a dire time things like entertainment are what make it manageable! So, cast aside your worry, wash your damn hands regularly and enjoy your time at home.

And if you’re in need of a little something extra, BiSH and EMPiRE made a few previously limited broadcasts available on their YouTube channels as a sorry for cancelled shows too.

Remember, while this is a lot of fun content for us overseas, fundamentally it’s a sorry to people living in a country that’s tightening it’s grip attempting to deal with a pandemic, so remember to be respectful! Or if you’re living in a country that’s going through the same thing do what you want, we’re not the reaction police over here.

Watanalien Vs Predator-chan

/ Cal

Our apologies to AKB fans, women and anybody with any kind of common sense – that man Kuro-chan is unfortunately relevant again.

Remember the hot new unit from WACK who became so popular overnight they gained upwards of 1.5 million views a day? They debuted on a segment on the most popular prime time TV show in the entire country? They had an extremely successful “vote with your wallet” sales campaign? Those MAMESHiBA NO TAiGUN girls! They’re back with not one but TWO new songs and of course, a campaign to go with it:

 

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Can Anyone Be Ready for this BiS?

/ Papermaiden / 4 Comments

The people have spoken(?) and Watanabe has reaggregated BiS as a nine-member unit. Not one to do things halfway or with subtly, the infamous adult patient neglecter has endowed the group with their own “Bohemian Rapsody”, which is a whopping 11 minutes and 47 seconds.

Grab your coffee or tea and sit comfortably to take in this grandiose venture:

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