Tohoshinki 16th Japan Anniversary
For those of you who are not aware, this month is Tohoshinki’s 16th Anniversary of their debut in Japan.
This may not seem like a big deal to most newer kpop fans, since so many always think that success in the West is more deserving of praise, but let me explain why Tohoshinki’s Japanese debut (and following immense popularity) is something to appreciate:
Prior to TVXQ, BoA was the only other kpop act to truly be successful in the Japanese music market. But BoA went about her debut and her Japanese promotions a bit differently than TVXQ did. BoA debuted in both Korea and Japan, so she started as both a kpop AND jpop artist. At the time, most Japanese people who listened to her music didn’t realize she was actually Korean. She had been trained in Japanese language and culture so that she would blend seamlessly into the market at the time.
TVXQ however had debuted in Korea two years prior to their Japanese debut. They had turned out incredibly successful in Korea and had started pushing into the Chinese market as well…so SM Entertainment decided to work together with AVEX Entertainment in Japan to get TVXQ famous just like their label mate, BoA.
Here’s the amazing part though…TVXQ didn’t speak Japanese, nor were they at all famous or known in Japan at the time of their debut. Remember, back then, Japanese and Korean music wasn’t exactly shared equally between the countries and kpop wasn’t as big a thing as it is today. The internet also was not as widely used and very few people knew of their existence in Japan, so TVXQ literally had to start at the bottom of the industry and work their way to the top. They had told stories in later interviews that they lived in one apartment while promoting in Japan and could easily walk down the street and go shopping without wearing masks because no one knew who they were. Their first performance was on a staircase at a smaller public venue (I cannot remember where specifically) and only around 100 people attended along with some basic press photographers.
TVXQ has also mentioned that they had all made a pact together that they would earn their spot in the Japanese market honestly. They didn’t want to be famous in Japan off the back of their Korean career, they wanted to make it because they put the hard work in to earn it. Apparently TVXQ were given the option to not have to learn Japanese at the beginning, but they refused. The members said they wanted to learn the language because not knowing the language would prevent them from understanding the songs they were singing, therefore incorrect emotions would be put into the vocals and come across as insincere. So they said they would study Japanese at all hours of the day, whenever they had free time in between going back to Korea, performing or promoting new singles. They also wanted to be able to easily communicate with interviewers, TV show hosts and their fans.
On top of all of that, they not only studied the Japanese language, but put efforts into taking on Japanese mannerisms, learning the Japanese culture and how the Jpop market differed from the Korean one. You could watch the changes happen to the boys as their promotions in Japan continued and their Japanese discography became more varied. They were still the same TVXQ, but they were now also a new Japanese version…they were also Tohoshinki.
I was there as a fan from their Korean music, watching as TVXQ slowly became more and more famous in Japan and in the jpop scene. And mind you, I had been into jpop even LONGER than I had been into kpop at the time…so I was honestly very interested in TVXQ’s Japanese success and seeing how far they could go. I can honestly say that I did not see wide-spread recognition of Tohoshinki until around 2007, when “Summer Dream” came out. And at that time, so many of my Japanese friends (I worked as an RA at the US Campus of a Japanese Women’s University, so I lived with hundreds of Japanese 18-20 year old women) finally knew who they were and usually referred to them as “those Korean guys….do they speak Japanese?”
But, then…then….then “Doushite Kimi O Suki Ni Natte Shimattandarou” came out. AND HOOOOO BOY! My goodness, suddenly EVERYONE knew who Tohoshinki were. Suddenly I was watching Tohoshinki concerts with my Japanese host sisters and I had made connections with Bigeast members who would help me run Shimjjang Forum….their popularity just sky rocketed. It only kept getting more insane after Tohoshinki sang “We Are!” and “Share the World” for the anime, OnePiece. OnePiece is a phenomenon in Japan, everyone has seen at least ONE episode and knows at least ONE character’s name. To be given the honor to sing the opening for OnePiece, and a classic opening at that, is not something to be taken lightly.
Then, sadly…as we all know, Tohoshinki/TVXQ split. At that point I figured Tohoshinki was over.
But actually…Yunho and Changmin came back and honestly, I was surprised by how much the Japanese fans still adored them. I honestly think that Tohoshinki have become more popular in Japan as just Yunho/Changmin than they ever were as a 5-member group. I cannot explain exactly why that is though…I have ideas and hypothesis about it but…I won’t go into it much right now.
The biggest thing I think Tohoshinki did to really cement themselves into the Japanese music market, even more than BoA did, was set that foundation. They grew on their own merit. They succeeded because they worked their ass off to prove they had the talent and knowledge to be a JPOP ARTIST, not just a kpop artist. They’ve hit the point now in their career in Japan where they have gained the respect of industry veterans such as ARASHI, Kat-tun, Kinki Kids, AKB48, EXILE, Gackt and Hyde. They are beloved by Japanese music show hosts because of how respectful and intelligent they are while on set. Tohoshinki are considered Jpop now. They aren’t just “those korean guys” anymore. The Japanese people know that Tohoshinki speak Japanese, sing in Japanese and perform in Japanese.
When I spoke to a Japanese Bigeast at the Tohoshinki “WITH” concert, I asked her if she liked Tohoshinki because they were from the Kpop industry and she said, “I do not like kpop very much but I love Tohoshinki. Tohoshinki are different.”
NOW…I am not trying to say that any other Kpop group that has debuted in Japan differently than Tohoshinki/TVXQ did is incorrect or that any of their future success is not valid. All I am trying to say is this:
TOHOSHINKI ARE CONSIDERED THE BIGGEST FOREIGN ACT IN JAPAN FOR A REASON. THEY DESERVE YOUR RESPECT FOR A REASON. They worked their way to the top for years and are considered Jpop artists by other Jpop artists, industry professionals and most Japanese people. Many other kpop artists (such as Twice or B/TS) are famous in Japan, but not as Jpop artists. They are famous as kpop artists. As outsiders. Tohoshinki is not considered an outsider. THEY ARE JPOP. Just do yourself a favor and watch their “Begin Again” concert, because if that doesn’t show you how much Tohoshinki is loved, I do not know what else would.
Tohoshinki’s 16th Anniversary is such an incredible achievement and I am always going to be in awe of Changmin and Yunho and the amount of success they have accomplished. They’ve worked so hard for so long, and I truly hope we get to watch them continue to perform for many more years to come.
SO…WITH THAT….HAPPY 16TH ANNIVERSARY TOHOSHINKI!!!
