I saw a poll today on Arama about which group comes to mind when you think of 'Johnny'? and I saw that TOKIO ranked at number, what, 15. I am actually glad that they are ranked low in the list because the first time I got to know them was through Nagase when I watched My Boss My Hero (heh, popular choice to get to know TOKIO through the vocalist's drama). :P
At that time I've never heard about Johnny's Entertainment and its idols. To be really honest, I never really care about Johnny's idols and TOKIO for me is like a stand-alone band without Johnny's label attached to them and I still stand behind that sentiment. Of course, when they released their albums/singles/DVDs we saw Johnny's logo being plastered all over the place. But that's just a name and not more than that. TOKIO could be in any other entertainment agency and I am sure they will still remain the same.
They do their own stuff, sometimes break the rules, being badass, being the biggest perverts and remain relax and laidback about it. The fact that their 'don't give a damn' attitude about ranking and being in a rat race are what make them awesome. They may not appeal to these sections of idol-worship fans but for me who is living outside of Japan think that they are awesome enough as a band.
Of course I would like them to be more popular in the music charts but NOT in Johnny's idols polls because let's face it, when you have a band who states that being nude as their official uniform, do you really expect them to act like idols? Watch The Tetsuwan DASH! if you want proof. XDD Or maybe a certain ad which featured the wild yet cute frontman wearing his innerwear and shoved his crotch on to the TV screen for the brand promotion in a morning breakfast show.
Among other things are their Leader standing in their dressing room wearing only his underwear while waiting for someone to come into the room or maybe the vocalist always flipping the bird to the audience in their concerts. Yeah, so much for being idol-like. Like the OP on the Arama said, "Contrary to the results, when I think of 'Johnny' the image that comes to mind is a shady old man sitting in his apartment looking through his list of 'boys' -- I mean, idols." and TOKIO is not one of them.
