Episode 44: Bou! Nen! Kai!

In this off-the-rails Bou! Nen! Kai! episode of the Idol Cast I bring back Johnny’s & Associates fan Brigit from episodes 39 and 40 and we’re joined by another long time Johnny’s & Associates fan to discuss the State of Johnny’s in 2022; the mechanics of Johnny’s Festival; and a whole lot more!

The article we keep mentioning is available here.

And if you make it to the end, do check out Hi Hi Jets!

The tracklist to the episode (as well as Johnny’s Festival) can be used as a sampler of what Johnny’s & Associates has on offer in 2022. The only group I think I didn’t manage to squeeze in was King & Prince, who have pivoted from their original teenybopper image to doing some pretty great smooth bedroom songs, like personal favorite “Naughty Girl”. If you’re a J-Rock fan, I’d also suggest taking a deeper look at SixTones recent discography. “Rosy” and “Mascara” are fantastic. Plus there’s their First Take performances.

But like I mention in the episode, personality is a huge part of what makes Johnny’s & Associates so appealing and a large number of short, subtitled videos have been made available on YouTube that showcase the groups and give you a taste of the members’ personalities. You can watch four members of Snow Man attempt to guess different foods using their limited English skills; SixTones play the telephone game; HiHi Jets trying to draw portraits of each other; and so on.

The songs played are:

  1. “Bou! Nen! Kai!” by A.B.C-Z (Music Video)

  2. “Sukiyanen, Osaka” by Arashi (cover of Kanjani8’s third single performed live at Johnny’s Countdown 2009-2010)

  3. “Za ABC Five Stars” by A.B.C-Z

  4. “Imitation Rain” by SixTones (Music Video)

  5. “Chankapana” by NEWS

  6. “Musekinin Hero” by Kanjani8

  7. “Interactional” by Domoto Koichi

  8. “Summer Joujou” by A.B.C-Z

  9. “Lady Diamond” by Sexy Zone (Music Video)

  10. “Bye Bye Dubai” by Sexy Zone (Music Video)

  11. “Heat” by Sexy Zone

  12. “Otagai Summer” by Kawai Fumito

  13. “Ganbarimasho” by SMAP

  14. “Wish” by Arashi (Audio; referenced in the episode is an impression of Arashi member Matsumoto done by A.B.C-Z member Kawai Fumito that has become legendary.)

  15. “Step and Go” by Arashi (Audio)

  16. “Mr. Zudon” by SixTones (Concert call and response song)

  17. “Music For the People” by V6 (Music Video)

  18. “Dance” by Hashimoto Ryosuke (performed live on Shounen Club, 2014)

  19. “A.B.C-Z” by A.B.C-Z (from the Playzone ‘11 soundtrack)

  20. “Kimi Dake Ni” by Tokio (cover of the Shonentai original from the album TOK10)

  21. “Kimi no Karsehi ni naritai” by Snow Man (Music Video)

  22. “D.D.” by Snow Man (Music Video)

  23. “Navigator” by SixTones (Music Video)

  24. “Big Shot!” by Johnny’s West

  25. “Keep the Faith” by KAT-TUN

  26. “Weeek” by NEWS

  27. “Ubu Love” by Naniwa Danshi (Music Video)

  28. “Cheat Time” by A.B.C-Z (Music Video)

Filmi Girl

I’ve been a fan of Asian pop culture for over 20 years and want to help bridge the gap between East and West. There is a lot of informal (and formal) gatekeeping that goes on and I’d like to help new fans break through the gates.

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Episode 45: The Big Three

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Episode 43: Chinese hackers launch “virtual jihad” against South Korea boy band fans