So close to a career you could…

Sadly, most general knowledge of Japanese idol girl groups (outside of Japan – within the country’s boundaries is a subject I’m not qualified to touch on) is limited to two things. The avex image hipsters, SPEED (though you can replace this with other avex girl groups like dream, usually it’s limited to only one of them), and the doggedly persistent institution of Hello! Project. If you dig deeper, you’ll find people who know of AKB48 – but more for their sheer numbers (which Bishoujo Club 31 never quite accomplished) and for acknowledging their otaku fanbase. Which doesnt bode well for acts like Bright (who, despite tinging their act with gospel, still managed to have me find their debut mini-album on the $7 shelf at Book-off the same week it came out), nor assure us of the future of now disbanded SweetS. Never mind any recognition for much lesser-known groups like Earth and Pipo’s Angels. The age of the female idol in Japan is over -you have to be something, most preferably sexy, or be left aside. Considering how long female pop idols held court in Japan – and I think back to the days of Super Monkeys, never mind Pink Lady and Onyanko Club – and the constantly evolving image of the female ideal, it’s about time. It’s a sad truth for people like me who like girl groups but don’t like the music of H!P or AKB48. (On the bright side, the pretty boys are girly enough to be girl groups with additional “appendages”…)

So it’s been four years now since I first (and last) heard of AKINA, the former lead vocalist of girl group Folder 5. After Folder 5 disbanded, she had what seems like a short solo career – only three singles to her solo name. But it was one single a year up until 2004, when she shut up completely. Three years for only three singles (Touch me, which this post touches on; One wish; BEST OF LOVE) out of a girl who had pop singing and dancing chops, along with a gorgeous face, established fanbase (there was a reason they pushed her in front for Folder 5 though she was the youngest), slight creative capabilities before it became mandatory to have something to do with your music for popularity’s sake, and industry experience – was avex just wasting away the rest of her contract with them then? (Because after four years of musical silence – and a radioshow doesn’t count - it’s pretty moot now.)