AKB48
member’s ‘penance’ shows flaws in idol culture February 1st 2013
Pre Questions
What (do you think) happened?
What (do you think) happened?
The Original Article
After being caught leaving the home of Generations boy-band member Alan Shirahama by weekly gossip rag Shukan Bunshun, AKB48 Team B member Minami Minegishi was instantly demoted to the idol group’s “trainee” team. More shockingly, a video was then posted on the group’s official YouTube channel in which the newly shorn Minegishi gradually works herself up into a torrent of tears, punctuated with long bows of supplication and gasped apologies, as she begs forgiveness from her “wonderful and sweet fans” for her “thoughtless deed.” She claims, implausibly, that the decision to shave her head was hers alone.
In Japan, the cutting of hair is often symbolic of a new start, or in more extreme cases of penance. Minegishi’s only crime, however, was having a boyfriend.
AKB48′s members are contractually forbidden to have any kind of romantic relationships and they are punished if they do. However, Lawyer Hifumi Okunuki pointed out that this is probably illegal under Japanese labor laws.
Reaction to Minegishi’s video among AKB48 fans online has generally been of the variety that she only has herself to blame and that the punishment is deserved.
Minegishi, who celebrated her coming of age last month — supposedly her final step into adulthood — will submit to her training and re-education; she will prostrate herself before the fans and beg for their acceptance, which they will gracefully bestow once she is deemed to have done penance.
After being caught leaving the home of Generations boy-band member Alan Shirahama by weekly gossip rag Shukan Bunshun, AKB48 Team B member Minami Minegishi was instantly demoted to the idol group’s “trainee” team. More shockingly, a video was then posted on the group’s official YouTube channel in which the newly shorn Minegishi gradually works herself up into a torrent of tears, punctuated with long bows of supplication and gasped apologies, as she begs forgiveness from her “wonderful and sweet fans” for her “thoughtless deed.” She claims, implausibly, that the decision to shave her head was hers alone.
In Japan, the cutting of hair is often symbolic of a new start, or in more extreme cases of penance. Minegishi’s only crime, however, was having a boyfriend.
AKB48′s members are contractually forbidden to have any kind of romantic relationships and they are punished if they do. However, Lawyer Hifumi Okunuki pointed out that this is probably illegal under Japanese labor laws.
Reaction to Minegishi’s video among AKB48 fans online has generally been of the variety that she only has herself to blame and that the punishment is deserved.
Minegishi, who celebrated her coming of age last month — supposedly her final step into adulthood — will submit to her training and re-education; she will prostrate herself before the fans and beg for their acceptance, which they will gracefully bestow once she is deemed to have done penance.
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Easy Version
AKB48 member, Minami Minigishi was seen leaving a guy’s house in the morning. Band members are not allowed to have romantic relationships. So she cut her hair really short and apologized on YouTube bowing and crying. It was shocking. In Japan, cutting ones hair shows you are sorry or will have a new start. She was instantly demoted to the trainee team.
AKB48 member, Minami Minigishi was seen leaving a guy’s house in the morning. Band members are not allowed to have romantic relationships. So she cut her hair really short and apologized on YouTube bowing and crying. It was shocking. In Japan, cutting ones hair shows you are sorry or will have a new start. She was instantly demoted to the trainee team.
Conversation Starter Questions
- How do you feel about this story?
- Which are you more shocked at, Minegishi breaking the rule or shaving her head?
- Do you believe that the decision to shave her head was hers alone?
- Did she deserve that punishment?
- What do you think about AKB40’s no-love-life clause?
- If you were Minegishi, would you stay in the group?
- Do you think it would be possible for the idols to sue the agency over this rule?
- If they were able to sue, what reasons are there that they might not sue?
- What reasons are there for people cutting their hair really short (crew cut).
- What do you think of weekly gossip magazines? Paparazzi?
- Have you ever been caught doing something you weren’t supposed to?
- Have you ever caught someone doing something they weren’t supposed to?
- Why are people demoted? Give examples of demotion that you know.
- What things have been shocking to you?
- Do you watch YouTube? If so, what channels do you like? What kind of videos do you watch?
- Do you ever apologize for something you didn't do?
- Do people in your country forgive easily or hold on to grudges for a long time?
- Have you ever begged for forgiveness before?
- Has anyone ever begged you for forgiveness before?
- In what situations do people bow?
- What other gestures equivalent to bowing do people do around the world?
- Have you ever punished yourself for doing something you felt was wrong? Would you?
- What examples of thoughtlessness can you think of?
- What things are symbolic of something?
- If you wanted to make a new start, what would you do?
- What things are illegal under the labor laws in your country?
- What have you done before where you only have yourself to blame?
- What is the coming-of-age age in your country? What customs do you have.
- Have you ever done penance for something?
- What are you gradually doing / accomplishing?
- Do people beg in your country? What for? Why? Many?
- Who are you a fan of?
- What is romantic for you?
- How do you celebrate ________?
Practice making sentences using the prefix re- Examples
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re-education
retry redo replay reapply rewrite remake reinvent reelect re.......... |
We need reeducation as technology changes.
I will retry Eiken level 1 next month. Please redo this assignment. He replays songs he loves over and over and over. There was a mistake in my application so I have to reapply The more I rewrite it the better it becomes. My nephew destroyed the sand castle and asked me to remake it. Don't waste time trying to reinvent the wheel. Japanese prime ministers are very rarely reelected. |
Further Practice
instantly
newly
gradually
gracefully
implausibly
supposedly
wonderful
sweet
thoughtful / thoughtless
extreme
romantic
forbidden / not allowed
gasp
torrent
among
any kind of
however
be deserved
be deemed (to)
be caught ~ing
post on (a blog)
_____ if _____
reaction to ______
____has generally been _______
only have oneself to blame
work oneself up into a
trainee, employee, examinee, interviewee, attendee, absentee
instantly
newly
gradually
gracefully
implausibly
supposedly
wonderful
sweet
thoughtful / thoughtless
extreme
romantic
forbidden / not allowed
gasp
torrent
among
any kind of
however
be deserved
be deemed (to)
be caught ~ing
post on (a blog)
_____ if _____
reaction to ______
____has generally been _______
only have oneself to blame
work oneself up into a
trainee, employee, examinee, interviewee, attendee, absentee