Several days ago there were some news telling that Johnny-san, the founder of Johnny’s Associate as well as the producer of many J-pop talents, had passed away. Well, at first, I was just considering it as an ordinary news. All people someday will leave this world anyway. The death of Johnny-san didn’t really have any specific impact in my life.
As days go by, I read some of the artists from Johnny’s Entertainment writing their condolences regarding this news. Well, it’s also not something extraordinary since they grow there and have a success life in the entertainment industry, thanks to the company.
Unexpectedly, the condolence messages come from the outside of the company too, especially those trainee (or we call it Juniors) who quit the company due to no chance of debuting, or even the debuted artist who got into scandal and forced to leave the company. Well, for those who got into the scandal, they had no choice since it was their wrong-doing and they had to be responsible for it. But imagine, those who practice hard everyday for years, for dozen years, or even decades, they had the talent, they were even quite famous as a Junior, but they still couldn’t make it. It was even more heartbreaking when the young infamous newbie Juniors, which people didn’t know who and why, suddenly make a debut in the same time with the resignation of the other talented Juniors.
Never heard the exact explanation, but I always assume, the talented Juniors were tiredly waiting for their debut, and they resigned because it ended up the newbie ones were the chosen one. And I somehow believe, more or less, it’s a true story. Because life sometimes seems not fair, doesn’t it?
Don’t know what were the reasons behind those Johnny-san and the management’s decision, however, they had their own wisdom, I guess. One thing that I’m quite sure is that Johnny-san cared about each of the Juniors, each of their talents. Even after those heartbreaking incidents, the ex-Johnny’s still can send those heartwarming messages, even telling that they won’t be there if it’s not because of Johnny-san. I wonder how Johnny-san touched each of the Juniors they raised.
This story of Johnny-san, somehow makes me think a little bit. When we put our hearts into our works, maybe we can deliver loves into others. They might not feel it right now, they might hate it right now, but one day, they might thank us because of our sincerity.
Lastly, I just want to thank you for those good moments, those fandom experience I got in the high school and university, in my teenage days. Thank you for raising KinKi Kids and Kis-My-Ft2, my favorite J-pop artists ever. Thank you for raising Question?, my favorite not-yet-debut-then-disbanded Juniors which I always regret it. Thank you, Johnny-san!
