Fans on the Move:

1
Fans on the Move

• Akogare and Japan

2
Introduction

• This study will look at a specific group of
  Singaporean Johnnys fans who travel to Japan to
  attend concerts, musicals and visit idols-related
  sites.
• By looking at this group of fan-tourists, I hope
  to explore the relationship between popular
  culture and tourism where
• On one hand, popular culture influences the
  profile of tourism and
• On the other hand, tourism becomes a tool where
  the Imagination comes through.

3
Johnnys JimushoFounded by Johnny H. Kitagawa
in 1962, Johnnys Jimusho is a Japanese talent
agency that produces popular male idol groups who
sing, act, dance and host.
4
Some Basic Questions

• a) Why do Singaporean Johnnys fans go to
  Japan?
• b) Why is it usually with fellow fans?
• c) What is it that they are looking for?
• d) What have they ultimately consumed?

5
Akogare

• Akogare longing, yearning, looking forward to
• Karen Kelsky (2001)s work where she uses the
  notion of akogare to explain Japanese womens
  fascination with the West through personal and
  professional investment such as foreign
  language study, study abroad, work abroad,
  employment in international organizations and
  foreign-affiliate firms (gaishikei), and romantic
  or sexual involvement with foreign men (pg 2).
• Following Kelsky, I argue that the concept of
  akogare sets the basis of fan-tourists
  motivation to travel to Japan

6
The Process
Nihon (Japan)
Popular Culture
Akogare (longing and yearning)
The Reference Point (need not be a place)
The Imagination
7
The Importance of Study

• Has been neglected in the field of tourism and
  popular culture.
• Particularly meaningful in the current context of
  Singapores active popular culture consumption
  and exchanges with Japan.
• To discuss the larger sociological issues such as
  fandom, processes of consumption and the
  production of the targeted economy (tourism)
  and its unintended consequences.

8
Various Issues

• Fandom
• Fan discourse
• Social Structure/Social Stratification
• Consumption
• from textual to spatial consumption
• actualizing your Imagination
• Unintended Consequences
• Proliferation into the other related industries
• Eg merchandizing, hotel, etc
• Impact on the locals?

9
Methodology

• Ethnography
• ? consumption of the texts
• ? personal interactions
• ? participation

10
Case Studies

• Respondent A Went to Japan in December 2002 to
  attend KinKi Kids concert and the last J-Friends
  concert.
• Respondent B Went to Japan in July 2003 to
  attend a language course for a month and at the
  same time, attend SMAPs concert.
• http//community.webshots.com/user/luneuk