As a Käärijä fan, I realised that this is the second time I've celebrated his birthday, which means that it has already been a year and a half since I fell in love with him.
In the past year and a half, his music, personality, words, videos and photos have given me a lot of energy and courage.
And thanks to him, I've been able to connect with fellow fans from all over the world on social media, which has been a lot of fun.
But at the same time, the past year and a half has also been a time when the cruelty and ugliness of humanity has been shown to me more openly than ever before.
I use various social media to provide information about him to Käärijä fans in Japan and to help Japanese people who do not yet know him to like him, but everywhere I look, not just on twitter, I find daily hate posts against Käärijä.
Some people simply don't like him.
Some still bring up ESC 2023 even though it has been a year and a half already, put him down just to praise Loreen.
Some loudly insult him out of their humanitarian convictions, saying they cancel him, and yet they are back in fandom nonchalantly.
Others say they are true fans and are criticising him for his own good, so this does not constitute slander, but they speak ill of him, his friends and his family with foul language.
Some, feeling an unnecessary obligation to educate him, impose their opinions on him, ignore his human rights and try to turn him into someone they like.
And even between fans, drama is created every day.
Even I, who am not Käärijä himself, go crazy when I see these posts day after day, but I can only imagine how Käärijä himself feels when he receives all this hate, directly or indirectly, and it brings me to tears every day.
Most people, not only those who hate him, but even those who say they are his fans, don't care what one person, Mr.Jere Pöyhönen, would think of these posts.
They all believe they are absolutely righteous and just and are desperate to have their righteousness recognised and agreed upon in the small world of social media. Most of the things you don't like about him and "his mistakes" end in one sentence: "That's not for me." or "It's not my thing." You don't have to spend tens of millions of filthy and mean words to justify yourself.
In Japan and South Korea, a very large number of young celebrities commit suicide due to social media slander, which has become a major problem.
A few years ago, I was greatly shocked when a young and talented female professional wrestler in Japan committed suicide because of social media slander.
I wonder if those who never tire of slandering Käärijä and speaking ill of him have ever once considered that he might die because of their posts.
Sometimes I’m seriously scared that he might commit suicide someday.
Just imagining how he'd feel when he received slurs and death-wish messages from thousands of people around the world, instead of legitimate criticism, is enough to break my heart too.
In a world where we can do anything at our fingertips, have we lost the ability to imagine things happening in places you don't know about or how other people are feeling?
Of course, when he is clearly doing something wrong, it's right to criticise him.
But criticism should be factual and dispassionate. Thinking badly of someone based on imagination alone and using dirty, strong language is just slander. And it's also slander to speak ill of something that the other person has no control over themselves, such as their appearance or background.
People who don't know the difference should not post their opinions on public accounts on social media where everyone can see them. You "criticise" and insult someone all you like, but when you post your opinion where everyone can see it and you are dismissed for it, you say, "Am I not even allowed to criticize?" That's hilarious.
If you don't want your "opinion" to be rejected, or if you want to "criticise" in abusive language, then you should only express it in closed places where only your yes-men gather, or in front of family and friends, or write down on your diary.
Once a post is on the web, it remains as a digital tattoo, no matter how much you delete it, just as you cannot take back the words that came out of your mouth.
You have freedom of speech and thought, and your right to criticise someone should not be violated, but remember that with freedom and rights come obligations and responsibilities.
Recently in Japan, there has been an acceleration in the legal crackdown on slander on social media.
If you feel comfortable hiding behind anonymity, you are wrong.
Remember that there is always the possibility that you could one day be sued by the person you have slandered, subjected to a disclosure request, criminally prosecuted and made a criminal.
I am fascinated by the thoughtful words Käärijä sometimes speaks at his gigs.
Love and peace, that's all we need.
I hope that the world he, his loved ones and his fandom will create in the future will be a world full of love and peace💚
Hyvää syntymäpäivää, Happy birthday, お誕生日おめでとうKäärijä!!
With your charisma and the power of your music, you succeeded in getting one Japanese fan to go to Finland, a country she had never been to!
I admire your kindness, your strength without fear of weakness, and your dedication to what you love.
Please please pls take care of yourself and continue to entertain us with your wonderful music!
Rakastan sinua Käärijä💚💚💚
🌟the Japanese written in the top left-hand corner is an old-fashioned Japanese version of some of the lyrics of People's Champion👑
And 【民衆之王欧州席巻図】 in the bottom left-hand corner means that the People's Champion is sweeping Europe💚
August is the summer festival (Natsu Matsuri) season in Japan.
The movement that Häärijä often dances to is similar to the Japanese Bon dance(dance held during this season), so I drew the image of a Japanese summer festival.
This costume is called Jinbei, which is one of the traditional Japanese kimono which is often worn during summer festivals🌞
Are you a writer/artist in the Käärijä fandom age 18+? Want a place to discuss and promote art, post WIPs and get constructive criticism? Want to connect with other creatives in the community? Then why not join Käärtist Central?
There are a few basic rules under the cut, but as stated above this is strictly for artists and writers aged 18 and up! This is for both safety and to stop the server becoming too overwhelming <3
Hope to see you there - please feel free to reblog so more people can see it!
JOIN LINK
Basic rules (please note this is not the full rules, just the basic most important ones. The others mostly regard where content should go in the server)
This server is strictly 18+. We do allow NSFW content and by joining this server you agree that you are both an adult and ok with potentially seeing such content. If you are found to be under 18 you will immediately be banned for your own safety.
This server is for artists and writers. We aim to keep numbers small and the purpose of the server focused to avoid it become too overwhelming for its members. You do not have to be actively posting your content to join - but we kindly ask that if you do not feel you fall into one of these categories you do not join the server. <3
We tolerate absolutely NO bigotry whatsoever, including racism, sexism, homophobia, transphobia, antisemitism, islamophobia and ableism. Engaging in this behaviour - whether in general or towards other server members, will result in a ban.
Personal reclamation of slurs or derogatory language -- eg. a lesbian calling themself a dyke -- does not fall into this.
Please note that the server mod is openly pro-palestine and anti-ebu/esc and its bias and treatment of artists. While the subject of the genocide in gaza and occupation of palestine is unlikely to be a topic, we ask that you leave if this is something you feel staunchly against and engage in the community elsewhere.
We also do not tolerate any harassment, bullying or making fun of anyone. This includes talking about other people behind their backs or reposting their art with the purpose of making fun of it. Engaging in this behaviour - whether in general or towards other server members, will result in a ban.
Please only provide constructive criticism and feedback if asked for in the relevant channels! And hype up your fellow creatives <3
Hi everyone! Sorry for posting other than fanart BUT!!
I'm thinking of a project to send handwritten messages to Käärijä from the Japanese fandom. I'm planning to deliver this gift at Allas on July 5th!
If you have Japanese K fans around you, I’d appreciate it if you could help us spread this project🇯🇵💚🇫🇮
vaporwave
stormborns
turnnoffyourmind
gracieabrams
gamechangershow