#fuji blogs

I observed there’s a system to their FC content, and its always the same. Single/album/dvd pre-release video where they play games. A christmas and new year message. A birthday video. Mostly announcements, if a video message is needed. When IG wasn’t there, FC and jweb is the only thing with media that we can consume that’s similar to sns. Now that it’s (ig) here, we get to see them for free. So what will happen to their fc and jweb blogs? 🤔

I hope opening the account won’t hurt their FC numbers and this will still be as attractive in the long term. (I think it will be tho, mainly because of the ticket perks and the itsudemo jump app. I still really don’t care for the physical newsletters and cards.) But i also hope that their IG will bring more fans, especially international ones. Based on their recent content, they bring a different kind of intimacy. However if they still want the paid jweb running, they have to make sure their IG is only like a gateway and we need jweb to still get the good stuff 😂

Then again looking at my own world, we also have dreams of going to other countries. But that’s because there is little to no opportunities here in the Philippines. But in Japan, they already have all the opportunities and paying audience that they need. So it’s still kinda confusing to me 😅

Maybe it’s just that they see the US as their gateway for popularity because it’s usually like that. The world look to the states and a lot of mainstream media is from them. If they do think of that, they have to be viral to get fast popularity, or else they’ll just struggle to get fans there as in Japan. They’ll even be at a disadvantage because they don’t speak the language or know the culture enough.

But I guess these boys have very big dreams and since the need for them to debut has been very vocal for some time, this might be a step in the right direction?

And don’t get me started with Traja in LA being a first in JE history. For an agency that’s known for being “local first”, this is a very surprising move. Whatever this is, I know it’s gonna be big.

Part 1 here!

So in this part I’ll be doing a general reaction on how jump promoted the single. And again, watch out for spoilers!

Who knew we’d be getting 9 different music videos, with each story intertwining to get to a common plot? I usually get bored with the solo clips in LE2 versions since nothing interesting happens. So this really brings everything up a notch. We also get to see their acting talents, especially since they’ve been expressing their dream of doing a drama or movie together. Sadly they still don’t have that offer but I’m actually impressed that they took matters to their own hands with the Your Song short movie and this.

This is actually a huge improvement from the Your Song short movie, for me at least. Their acting is better and more believable. Maybe because this is a different genre, and doesn’t use dialogue? I’m not really sure lol. And I also really enjoyed the story.

For me, the best part of the whole story is that all of them are victims. All of them are cursed and sent to the looped dimension. It just so happens that Chinen, that poor kid, got possessed and his earthly body was used to curse the other members.

I also love how they maximized the use of their promo pictures as part of the clues to their story. Everyone got to be Sherlock with their deducing abilities by checking every detail in their LE cover photos. It also intermittently changes to another set of pictures that would make us question everything what we assumed so far. I also remember times when covers from certain singles disappear, which I think is just part of the scare. Their RE cover is also blank up to the release day, which is very unusual for a single release. Because yes, it contains the answer to the million dollar question: who was the possessed member that cursed the others?

And how did they present this? By showing the backside of their group promo shot.

If you can see, only Chinen is the one whose hand isn’t shown in the front photo. The rest has at least one hand visible. So of course it’s his hand that cursed them! Geniuses!!

I also enjoyed that the answer is Chinen all along. A lot of the clues given by the reporter point to him, and there were even fans who analyzed the handprint in the teaser video and said that it’s Chinen’s. But it’s still hard to suspect him because none of his clips in the released videos show any indication that he’s the possessed one. And with using the backside of their group photo as the RE cover to reveal him, it means that the answer is literally in front of us all along ever since they released that picture, it’s just that it’s hidden behind their backs, much like how the cursed world is.

What JUMP did was to create an experience for their fans for this release, and maximized the use of SNS very well. It’s not just some single with a song and dance performance. It felt like we read a horror book and lived through the world that they built. Members were cursed and disappeared (and coincidentally the Olympics were ongoing so they also had no media appearances, strengthening their “missing” status), images from the jstorm discography site change intermittently, and the best part is that the fans felt heard by them.

Through the reporter writer, we find hidden messages and answer puzzles, get cursed, and even got an “operation rescue daiki” event lol. Even reporter san simply saying “thank you” for helping him get out of the cursed world, or for just following his adventures, is enough for me to feel like my presence is acknowledged.

So I was listening to rajira last night but not really paying attention, mostly because I can’t understand them lol but also I’m very excited to listen to YabuHika instead of a lonely Hikaru last week. Before they said their goodbyes, Hikaru sounds like he’s announcing something. His voice is so ominous, straight and low toned. He was apologizing. But for what? I can only understand something about his right ear (it’s apparently his left ear that’s bothering him). I remembered a recent concert when he was wearing a headset instead of an earpiece and fans were worried.

After that, Yabu talked. His words I get more. His voice was gentle and reassuring. He was saying something about not to worry too much as he promised JUMP’s life is long and will be here for a long time. Hikachan’s the usual free spirited guy but right now it’ll be different. Hang on, what the eff is happening?? I immediately checked the JFC page. His play sched is still a go so I was confused (In retrospect that make sense because the announcement is still ongoing hehe)

A few minutes after the show ended, I received an email about his play since I applied for a ticket. It says that he will withdraw from the show and the ticket lottery is cancelled. Eh? Is he leaving or something? Similar to what happened with the Keito announcement, my hands started to tremble and I can feel a deep pit in my stomach. A few minutes more, another JFC email. It says that he had dizziness and tinnitus since December and will be on hiatus to focus on his recovery. The pit in my stomach became deeper. I feel like I wanna throw up.

So he was not feeling well since December? I clearly remember telling my friend that I was worried for Hikaru when I saw that he doesn’t seem like himself in Janifes, Countdown and the Janino Janifes vlog. He wasn’t dancing much, and he looked awfully tired in the vlog. She brushed it off because there can be lots of reasons why he seemed like that. In a recent Fab Arena tour con, he was wearing headphones instead of the earpieces and she was worried. It was my turn to brush it off this time for the same reasons lol. But my observation from those December shows still stand. Now it all made sense.

I’m actually more angry than worried when I read the announcement 😅 why did he force himself to perform when he felt dizzy and hear ringing?? I understand that he wanted to do and finish the tour and the end of year concerts, but to do it in his condition I can’t forgive him. It sounded like he was in a lot of pain for a long time. I don’t want that. Also, I’m not worried for any inconvenience with him backing out of the play and his other jobs. I’m not worried that jump will be 7 for now. I’m more worried that he’s sick and struggling. I hope he takes this time to focus solely on his recovery. I know the members will always be there for him so he won’t be lonely.

I know if he ever comes back, he’ll be at a disadvantage. And that’s fine. Jump will adjust, we’ll adjust. But still, everything’s up in the air again, like during Keito’s time. Whatever his and their decision will be, I’ll be behind it no matter how painful it might be.

I keep seeing his red eyes and tired face at that Janino vlog, and I don’t want that my last memory of him is that. We’ll wait for your smile again, Hikachan. I don’t care how long it’ll take. The 15th anniv is just a date, please don’t force yourself to come back at that time. I’ll most definitely miss you, but we want you to be your best self again, whenever that will be.

I hope he’s not feeling guilty as the media’s chock full of Yamada right now 😅😅 I feel like drowning with his too perfect face everywhere but it’s a nice distraction. And he’s promoting a movie anyway. Thank u as always, Yamada. 😅❤️

For context: Nenchi’s covid positive right now. He had a slight fever (my poor baby 🥺😭) days before their Hokkaido performance for the Fab tour. Inoo’s also positive for the 2nd time. As of writing this, a lot of other Johnnys talents are also testing positive and showing symptoms. I hope everyone is resting up and the fans are okay with missing out on cancelled events.

I find it weird that a person with no relations to me getting covid is affecting me so much. But maybe that’s always the case when it comes to idol-fan relationships. That’s why I get it that these johnnys idols uphold their image so highly. And honestly I understand it now their lack of SNS or personal/private life presence. They’re the positive and light and hopeful blob in the fan’s lives that something trivial like getting sick kinda brings a rain in their parade, or any other trivial thing that does not align with the fans’ image of them. Of course no one wants that.

A lot of things ran through my mind during that 6 minute highlight video.

i remember being very frustrated than excited when they announced the concert, mainly because it’s now very hard to go to japan with the covid situation. Just when i now have the money, have the fc membership and have the courage to travel alone, this all happened. I even got angry when daichan mentioned that he still wants this live concert more than their virtual one last april. I thought they didn’t care about people like me who can only attend their concert through that. I know i was being selfish there because this is one of my best moments with them and them saying its not enough just hurts my feelings.

But when i saw how bright their smiles are during the Last Forever clip, i understood them. Their main job is after all, being an idol. And idols have a special relationship with their fans and how do you maintain relationships? You meet up! and i also understand that as an entertainer, you get the energy to perform onstage through a live audience. Thats why yamada has the courage to perform at great heights, his fans are his strong foundation

But honestly it still kinda sucks that even after years i still am not able to see them live. I spent most of last year thinking and hoping that they do something to acknowledge that they have intl fans. I also spent most of last year deciding if i’m gonna invest my time, money and hope into seeing them live, since i saw a lot of filipino fans who got to see them in their taiwan con (and some lucky ones on their jp tours). i joined the fc, planned and imagined what ill do in japan if i win a ticket lmao. I even went as far as asking my friend in sg if i can crash at her place or go with me in taiwan if ever jump will do an intl show again.

Maybe this is part of why i feel hurt and damaged rn 😅 i realized now that this is all so delusional. why tf am i imagining going on a vacation in japan, if i should be worrying and fixing my petty life here at home. And besides it might take years before i feel its safe to board a plane again and maybe i wont be a fan anymore. it doesn’t feel like worth the worry and hoping. I think i made a post about it here and there, but yeah. I really hate this frustration, and the jealousy i feel knowing that these fans are so lucky to be able to watch them live and wave to them and receive flying yama hearts or air gunshots.

I might (or will) never get to see them live in my lifetime but i’m already happy just to see them happy in what they’re doing. I hope they continue to share this happiness to their fans. I love them so much.

But other than that, i love their production. I love the dark themeing of their sets. Gunjo was world changing. Break the wall was cool. Asap felt like a very proud moment for daichii. Senya ichiya and Ookami was like a dream come true for them to finally perform that to a live audience since its yt surprise. And Sing Along, my god. Its an anthem of hope, and at the same time when jump circled within themselves first before looking out at the fans. I know its part of the official choreo but weirdly i remembered when they sang h.our time on keito’s last perf, when they sang to each other before looking out to the fans(cameras). Jump will always be jump first. They look at each other for reassurance before going out. And based on what i see, they really do have each ofher’s back. So there’s nothing to worry about.