Yeah, that.
So, well. I don't know.
Much as I refused to believe it until there was a clear, incontrovertible statement, I guess it makes sense. For Jin, for KAT-TUN, and for Johnny.
It's Jin's dream, and he's worked hard for it, and I respect that. It's also been clear for a long time, I think, that he's not happy going along with all the stuff that's required of an 'idol' in Japan. He said himself he's not suited to being one, and it's true. There are aspects of the job he loves (the music, acting) and aspects he hates (the games, promotion). In the U.S., he can focus on the elements he likes. So... for Jin it makes sense.
It makes sense for KAT-TUN that they don't want to act, or feel, like a group in limbo while Jin tries to make it in the U.S. Acting as a five-member group is what makes sense if they want coherence in their shows and presentation, and it'll also make Kame's job a hell of a lot easier if they don't keep having to think in terms of some phantom sixth member who may or may not reappear. Some certainty there is good.
And it makes sense for Johnny to have clarity in the organisation about what's actually going on; to let Jin do what Jin is good at and most motivated to do; to give KAT-TUN the freedom to act as five; and to finally make a statement to stop the speculation. (Leaving aside here the personal stake Johnny seems to have in Jin's success in the U.S.)
I don't think it means that anybody there hates each other or no longer gets on with each other, or has abandoned each other, been kicked out, or whatnot. It sounds, to me, like a rational business decision taking the interests of all members and the company into account.
I'm not sure - yet - what it means for me as a fan. I love Jin and love to see him. I love Kame and love to see him. But above all, I'm a shipper, and shipping gets kind of difficult when you don't ever see your pairing interact, or even on the same stage, again. I like the rest of KAT-TUN, but they aren't what makes me a fan. I'm not downloading, say, Shounen Club episodes to see them; right now I'm downloading for Kame only. I don't know how long I'll sustain being a fan simply of a singer, or an actor. I've never done this before, never got into real person fandoms at all because usually, what interests me is the music and/or the characters on screen, not the people behind them. KAT-TUN changed that; or rather, AKAME changed that, but without that part of it to keep me going, I don't know how much will last. I'll never stop supporting Jin, and I'll never stop supporting Kame, and I wish KAT-TUN all the best, and I'll still listen to their music and... and I don't know.
I guess time will tell.
Much as I refused to believe it until there was a clear, incontrovertible statement, I guess it makes sense. For Jin, for KAT-TUN, and for Johnny.
It's Jin's dream, and he's worked hard for it, and I respect that. It's also been clear for a long time, I think, that he's not happy going along with all the stuff that's required of an 'idol' in Japan. He said himself he's not suited to being one, and it's true. There are aspects of the job he loves (the music, acting) and aspects he hates (the games, promotion). In the U.S., he can focus on the elements he likes. So... for Jin it makes sense.
It makes sense for KAT-TUN that they don't want to act, or feel, like a group in limbo while Jin tries to make it in the U.S. Acting as a five-member group is what makes sense if they want coherence in their shows and presentation, and it'll also make Kame's job a hell of a lot easier if they don't keep having to think in terms of some phantom sixth member who may or may not reappear. Some certainty there is good.
And it makes sense for Johnny to have clarity in the organisation about what's actually going on; to let Jin do what Jin is good at and most motivated to do; to give KAT-TUN the freedom to act as five; and to finally make a statement to stop the speculation. (Leaving aside here the personal stake Johnny seems to have in Jin's success in the U.S.)
I don't think it means that anybody there hates each other or no longer gets on with each other, or has abandoned each other, been kicked out, or whatnot. It sounds, to me, like a rational business decision taking the interests of all members and the company into account.
I'm not sure - yet - what it means for me as a fan. I love Jin and love to see him. I love Kame and love to see him. But above all, I'm a shipper, and shipping gets kind of difficult when you don't ever see your pairing interact, or even on the same stage, again. I like the rest of KAT-TUN, but they aren't what makes me a fan. I'm not downloading, say, Shounen Club episodes to see them; right now I'm downloading for Kame only. I don't know how long I'll sustain being a fan simply of a singer, or an actor. I've never done this before, never got into real person fandoms at all because usually, what interests me is the music and/or the characters on screen, not the people behind them. KAT-TUN changed that; or rather, AKAME changed that, but without that part of it to keep me going, I don't know how much will last. I'll never stop supporting Jin, and I'll never stop supporting Kame, and I wish KAT-TUN all the best, and I'll still listen to their music and... and I don't know.
I guess time will tell.