What can we do with Koda Kumi ?

Hello,

I have temporized the much I could but it's time to have some words about Koda Kumi's words.

for those who are unaware of the scandal, here is a good abstract :

倖田來未 [Koda Kumi] has been one of the most successful Japanese female solo-artists during the last few years.
Link to her English wikipedia-page with listed sales here, click.

To put it short, earlier this week in a radio-show ‘All Night Nippon’ (which is the most popular radio-show in whole Japan) she insulted all Japanese women that are older than 35, saying that after reaching that age the “amnionic fluids get rotten and you become dirty”. That is a rough translation from the clip, but pretty clear for it’s message.
When now some western people might think that “what’s the big deal? Bet everyone in America has said something even worse than that.”, that is beside the point.
This is Japan we’re talking about and Japanese women are very touchy about the subject. And she just basically told everyone over 35 that they are something dirty. Not to even mention the issue about Japanese women + career&family.

From the tape you can clearly hear that she didn’t actually mean this to come out the way it did. She is just big-mouthed and the kansai-ben (a “rough” dialect) she uses is definetely not helping the case.
That, however, is no excuse.
It was very wrong and extremely careless of Koda to say anything like that, and it’s even worse when she is mostly an idol of young girls. In Japan, an idol is an idol and negative comments and/or attitude do not lead to anything good.

She released her album ‘Kingdom’ just a few days ago, having gained the following, respectable sales ‘to-date:
84,116 + 61,034 + 38,530 + 23,486 (x1.7) = 352,182.
Sales-drop is expectable for today’s numbers that will come out tomorrow, since this was in the news yesterday-evening.

Also, her company Avex panicked and to avoid anyone questioning Koda about the matter (and to show the public that they’re punishing Koda from her actions), they’ve called off all promotion of the album. Also a few of Koda’s projects (f.e. with Visée, a make-up-company) have been erased.

I don’t know how this “temporary suspension” of Koda will come out. At the moment there are rumours of her 2008-tour to be cancelled, but on the other hand.. there are always rumours in the J-ent-world.

The official apologies on her minimal-made Official homepage (japanese).

To an article about the case (in Japanese, no new info provided) on Sanspo (japanese).

SOURCE

Hi chemist,

That is sorta rude.
Did she apologize ?

Gross person confused

Hello Sakura,

It seems that this is a good english article about her apologies.

Kumi Koda’s Tearful Appology
February 9, 2008 | by Claytonian | Filed Under Celebrity News |

In this video, Kumi Koda, sans garish nails and other “fashionable” accessories, apologizes for the radio incident in which she was saying that older (35 year old) women’s amniotic fluid “is rotten.”

There are some shots of women about the street saying things like “That’s really unforgivable.” And a doctor saying that she is full of it.

I find it interesting that her phrases seem carefully worded to avoid actually saying things in polite-form Japanese (keigo). That could just be my imagination (very likely), because I am far from a native speaker, but I thought it was odd. If you have an opinion on her language use, please weigh in with a comment.

Here is a bit of how I would translate some of what she said, “Anyways, toward the women who were opposed to Kumi Koda’s [speaking in the third person is cute, right? Totally the time to be cute] words, anyways um, I was like, I want to apologize, anyways, from the self reflection from when I properly took on what people were saying, I was like, I really need to [apologize]…

SOURCE

Rotten womb... gosh O_O

I really can't believe what she said had such a huge impact O_O. All she said was that when girls turn 35 their acids starts rotting. I don't get whats the big deal about it. Then again, I am a guy.

I can hardly forgive her. Some things are not to be said this way.

Yep --- not speaking like that in interview

Hi Momoko,

I did not know she was a doctor, she mixed something or it is the japanese translation of amniotic.

Sakura,

she is not a doctor and have not used the right scientifical terms to speak about this fact. but I agree this was not the best place to speak about this and this was not the best word to use, refering a degrading vision of womans biology.

Fake tears. She is punished.

Hello Fumiko,

I've never been fan of her work, she have some good songs but I don't like her image, her dancing is not attractive for me too. saying that and reading in detail your comment (as each of them) I have a divided thinking, this must be do to the fact that I am western-korean but not japanese native. piece per piece I realize that I become in better vibes with you because I work hard and open my mind to integrate a similar japanese thinking. I had in mind Erika's bad manner with this interviewer, and in a smallest proportion these so-called mini scandales with the H!P crew. I have not seen Erika's video nor her apologies but for me, only for me, Erika have done nothing bad. she was forgiven before I learn what happened really.

so once can ask what is the difference between Koda and Erika. I will say that I have spent outrageous time rambling in Erika's world, I have most of her movies, dramas, songs, videos, some Jiv, talks and whatever else graphic releases and I have a closer understanding who is this absolute desirable young woman. for me, and almost half of the human population on earth, Erika IS a nice person, sweet and gentle and ultimate cute model.

in other hand I have Koda who is not in my heart. I know little about her and I don't want to learn something really because I see Koda as the antithesis of Erika. in other word I don't like Koda because she does not ressemble to Erika. she's NOT gentle and she's NOT cute.

in such context, you can understand why my sword will strike faster on Koda's neck. she had not the minimum positive quota in my mind to make me doing the effort to forgive her.

I'm curently packaging this video, as we could have a durable archive in case this youtube link will broke. I've seen sincerity in these tear drops, she seems affected by her act and coming with a decent amount of humility was the minimum expected from her. Nevertheless, it will take me time to forgive her.

she should have excuse just after saying these words not day after.

Hi, best chemistry! Your posting is very fine, its meaning is closely aligned with mine too, but I see your life is also closely aligned with mine, since both are Asian living in western world. I don't know Koda very well, I don't listen her music, I don't read about her, so she and I are not together in virtual community as Erika and I or Fujimoto and I are together. I think you are saying same.

We have only perception of Koda from distance, and from distance she appears to be flashy bar hostess showing off body and talking sexy to attract tips! This may be persona devised by management company to sell products and recordings and tickets, we don't know, although we know she has many fans because her recordings sell easily! But perhaps this same management company does not make her true personality and life available to us? When I see her without nails art and makeup, wearing wrinkled suit and crying, I have more feeling for her as person than ever before! because I see one part of truth of Kumi Koda.

Namie Amuro is also sexy singer and dancer, although different personality, but I know all her life story and failed marriage and murdered mother and etc. She is real person, close to me as audience even I have never seen her live performance! and I have all her albums and my cell ring tone is her song! Her truth as person is always available to fans, we include her in our magical virtual community for this reason.

I think I am not making sensible words? Too early! just woke up! must prepare for work! but I hope that Koda will somehow become properly closer to audience and public.

P.S. to kanabun: many times we do not know how much we have offended some other person immediately, we must be told by someone (like our management company?) because causing offense was not our intent, we were just silly.
_________________
Fumiko

alot to read Shocked

I say ok this is true. I have nt see that like way said in your reply.

Hello Fumiko and Momoko,

you both are tickling a very sensitive part of me. indeed she is sincere in this video, and following your idea Fumiko, she is offering the true image of herself, without useless dazzling accessories.

this is the Koda I discover only now, and we have watched and rewatched this video several times, I would not like to be in front of the camera this day. I will say she looks human in it, a girl like you and me.

let's stand on our ideas, she done something silly thinking she was funny, but it was not that funny. the end.

all gone, I forget and I forgive. it's my best day today.

You should have to see the dancing competition on UtaWara with her geek