Ten years ago, when light novels with very long titles were not as prevalent as they are now, a "business novel" with a long and strange title once defeated the "Harry Potter" series. The final work topped the annual Japanese book sales list with millions of sales, and caused a widespread sensation in society. The name of this novel is "If the female manager of the high school baseball team read Peter Drucker's "Management" ("If Drucker")", and the prototype of the protagonist Kawashima Minami is a member of the female idol group AKB48 One member, her name is Minegishi Minami.
——Nakagawa Masaya, the author of "Tokyo Tower"
On November 15, 1992, Minegishi Minami, nicknamed "Mi-chan", was born in Tokyo, Japan. No matter how you look at this girl with eyes as big as a doll and a round face, you can't connect her with the female manager of a high school club. However, Mi-chan has been an active member since she was a child. When everyone played together in the kindergarten, her friends rushed to imitate the characters in the animation, but she liked to tie her hair back into a ponytail to play Kimura Takuya, or hold up a The plastic microphone loudly sang classic songs of the idol group "SPEED". Mijiang started learning ballet when she was 4 years old, and has been receiving training from professional dance and theater companies ever since. In school, she would not let go of any opportunity to shine. She would sign up for music, painting, sports, and performances as long as there were activities. Mijiang, who has outstanding talents, always received praise from everyone.
If this momentum continues, Mijiang will definitely continue to become the most active girl in the class when she enters junior high school. It seems logical to become the female manager of a sports club. things. However, her life reached a turning point in 2005. Sudden opportunities made Mijiang's growth begin to move forward on a trajectory she had never foreseen.
Mi-chan decided to participate in the audition for AKB48 out of confidence in her singing and dancing abilities. For such a pure newcomer group that emphasizes the cultivation of amateurs, there is no reason why it should not stand out with its extraordinary abilities. However, she will soon learn that reality is not as beautiful as she imagined.
If the hard work of training and performing is not enough to really hit the strong Mi Jiang, the feedback she received from the audience really made the girl who has been accustomed to standing in the center of the stage since she was a child feel aggrieved and bitter. . At that time, AKB48 was an underground idol with no hope of improvement at all, and the few voices of support it received were often not given to Mi-chan. In addition, her self-confidence has also been hit for the first time - Mijiang, who was originally selected for the lineup of the single "Floating Skirt", was considered unsuitable for the style of the song because she danced too hard. , and was eventually replaced. There is no reason, no way, but to force yourself to face the helpless fact. After constant efforts, Mr. Yasushi Akimoto finally came and wanted to establish a central figure, but that person was still not himself, nor was he even a better member than himself. On the day Atsuko Maeda became the center, two girls made earth-shattering cries backstage at the theater - one was A-chan who was so frightened that she didn’t think she was qualified at all, and the other was so wronged that she collapsed and didn’t want to Mi-chan concealed her disappointment. Although most of the members were probably muttering in their hearts, they were at least calm on the surface. Everyone was shocked by Mi-chan's straightforward venting. Her older sisters told her that even if she wanted to cry, she shouldn't be seen by A-chan, so she really hid in a place where no one was around to cry. After the result came back, I heard that A-chan was also very reluctant. Mi-jiang suddenly felt that she didn't know whether to continue to be angry or laugh out loud. She honestly asked the people around her, "If you don't want to be a part of it, just give it to me."
Perhaps this kind of performance does not conform to the beautiful script that people expect of a young girl growing up, but it is real enough, and even real enough to make people feel a little distressed. Japan is a society that places great emphasis on obedience and "reading the air." Even these little girls know how not to reveal their disappointment easily, as if admitting jealousy and envy is a shameful thing. But Mijiang is not like that. She is obviously outstanding and hardworking. Since she has worked hard, why can't she be recognized? Only when you are disappointed will you feel sad. If you are sad, you should cry. If you are not convinced, you should ask questions. Although Mijiang didn't get an answer after crying, at least she expressed her emotions, which inadvertently eased her mood. In this case, let's continue to work hard to prove herself.
At least at the time, this effort was quickly answered. For the first song of the next A3 performance, "Evening Primrose," Mijiang finally got her wish and stood in the center position. But the result was beyond her expectation. Those voices that had previously expressed sympathy and encouragement to her online suddenly turned into sarcasm and criticism. Mijiang finally began to realize that the C position of a performance group is not just about singing and dancing ability, but what you gain from standing at the center of the stage is not all glory and beauty.
After that, Mijiang almost never had the opportunity to hold the center position, and even standing in the front row became a luxury. There are too many outstanding and unique members in AKB48. After a long period of dormancy, those outstanding ones who transformed into butterflies quickly grew into the most dazzling stars together with this team.
As Mijiang grows up, she also begins to learn to face and understand the gap between reality and dreams. Her childhood specialties are indeed not enough to win more rewards for herself. If she does not recognize her own strength, she will not be able to go further. Fortunately, the current situation is not that bad. As one of the few Yuan AKB first-generation students who persisted, Mi-chan failed to become a legend like the "God Seven", but she was still able to stand beside them and witness the group slowly grow stronger. . She became the much-loved "little sister" among the first generation of Yuan Dynasty. Who wouldn't like such a straightforward and lovely girl? Mijiang has outstanding abilities and works hard enough, but is not so dazzling that she threatens the status of others. She is in a very balanced middle level in the group. Top members are all close friends who have formed a deep bond with her through thick and thin. She, Takahashi Minami and Kojima Harina formed the "no3b" team to debut, sharing the aura of leader and "king"; her skin is like a doll As cute as she is, she is the key target of Uncle Yu's "sexual harassment". When recording the location program, the warm interaction between Mi-chan, Yuko and Hina, who often lives in the same room, is like a harmonious family of three; and of course Mi-chan herself They will not let go of a cute junior like Yo-Yo Ma, and they will love and please her every chance they get...
At the same time, the juniors do not have the same sense of superiority and distance towards Mijiang as other seniors. Since I can't be the center, I just want to live a more free and easy life without pressure. Mijiang has become the "lubricant" that everyone can talk to about their innermost feelings and play with everyone. At the same time, she herself often loses her temper and needs to be coaxed. She suddenly becomes sad and then becomes dejected and seeks comfort everywhere. She is the most active ordinary person in the class. She is not a central figure but not low-key either. She is not pretty but has her own charm. Everyone can see their own reflection in her. Her strengths and weaknesses are so real that many people can find confidence in her, but there will also be times when they need her to comfort and heal. Mijiang is also very happy to be positioned as a pistachio + regulator in the team, which allows her to experience the happiness of being taken care of and needed at the same time - for things that she can't do, her sisters will take care of her; while for most ordinary members He said that he is also someone who can be trusted and entrusted.
Back on the stage, Mijiang has not lost her enterprising spirit. Since dancing has not become a competitive force, there is always something that can get her more recognition. As expected, she quickly found her own weapon in the field of variety shows and became the "Queen of Variety Shows" of AKB48.
Mijiang brings her best ability to enliven the atmosphere to the stage. It turns out that she is extremely talented. She can make jokes and pick up jokes, and she can think quickly and freely. In addition, Mijiang also cleverly integrated her own characteristics and experiences into the meme. In the show, she is positioned as "stealing the spotlight". Because she loves to be in the limelight but is not the center, she will always try her best in various aspects. Fighting for the camera. Or maybe he is a "muscle boy" who dares to try all kinds of difficult challenges that girls are not capable of. Although being strong is not an advantage for idols. But these are the true appearance of the strong Mi Jiang in reality. She is generous without stage fright, innocent and straightforward, loves to express herself and never admits defeat. It is precisely this kind of new approach that allows Mijiang to really "grab" more scenes and gain more attention and recognition. She was even more lucky when she found her own suitable route. She won third place in the guessing game and finally had the opportunity to stand in a more prominent position in the single MV.
However, just when everything seemed to be going smoothly, twists and turns appeared. It was not an accident. This was Mijiang's own mistake. She violated the prohibition on dating and was exposed as a scandal by the media. In fact, members who are bigger than Mi-chan, such as Sashihara and Kashiwagi, have all made some mistakes in this regard. But even they did not create as sensational effect as Mijiang - because the impulsive Mijiang chose to shave her head online to apologize. On January 31, 2013, an apology video from member Minami Minegishi, who appeared as a bald head, appeared on the AKB48 official channel on YouTube.
Such a bold move caused a stir that far exceeded Mijiang’s expectations. The apology video on YouTube reached millions of views, including BBC, Global Times, CNN, Der Spiegel, Countless international media including Al Jazeera and The Guardian have officially reported on this. Especially in Western society, people are very shocked and incomprehensible to such incidents, and fierce and serious discussions about Japanese idol culture and even women's social status were born online. From Mi-chan's own point of view, violating group rules is the most serious offense and the biggest shame for an idol. She feels deeply disturbed by this, so she doesn't think there is anything wrong with an apology of this level. In fact, in the larger world, what people are questioning is "Why does a 20-year-old girl not have the right to fall in love?", "Why does such a non-criminal behavior need to be publicly shaved to apologize?"... As a result, the operator of AKB was caught off guard and had to delete the apology video. Fortunately, the members came out to support her at critical moments, especially Minami Takahashi who was convinced at first that Mi-chan was forced to cut off her hair, and even got furious and asked which staff member made the decision.
At this time, Mijiang herself fell into greater self-blame and pain. She did not expect that her behavior, which was intended to clarify her will through self-punishment, triggered a larger whirlpool, from a personal mistake to a problem for the entire society. The group brought denunciation and doubt.
In the end, Mijiang was demoted to a trainee. As the earliest veteran member of AKB48, after her teammates all reached the top, she had to train with the trainees who were not even official members and start from scratch. But this is Mijiang's own choice. She has to bear the consequences of her mistakes. Since she has not quit, she must stay well. Turning 20 is a coming-of-age ceremony for Japanese people, and it was after such an unforgettable year that the former "Little Sister Yuan A" finally grew up. Mijiang finally began to no longer always look at the surroundings from her own point of view, no longer just thinking about being more photogenic and being in the limelight, but truly understanding and appreciating the relationship and value of individuals in the group from the bottom of her heart. She once shared honors with the most dazzling group of seniors, and now she has to get along day and night with the immature new generation. Few people understand AKB48's struggle process and team spirit better than Mi-chan, just like she is a fellow Just like Shihara who has also made mistakes and been demoted as the "Variety Show Responsible", Mijiang needs to find the meaning of her efforts and respond to the care she receives with actions and contributions. At this time, she finally understood what Teacher Akimoto Yasushi once said -
Mijiang put on a wig and began a life of hard training with the juniors, and put her knowledge of stage performance and conversation into practice. The understanding of communication and display of talents is imparted to teammates. To her surprise, she gained respect and love that she had never expected. At the handshake meeting where she was prepared to accept the bloody criticism, countless people who were not fans came to support her and encourage her, although this may just be because of her head shave. The social benefits of the incident brought about a one-way and one-sided sympathy, but these precious recognitions allowed Mijiang to finally find the courage and sense of responsibility that could support her to continue working hard. During the dome tour that summer, she was promoted together with the 13th and 14th graduate students to form the returning Team 4, and Mi-chan became the captain for the first time. In the second year's Top 200 Songs Concert, Team4's song "Innocent Fuse", with Mi-chan as the captain, won first place. Afterwards, she became the captain of TeamK in the new group. In the subsequent AKB48 All-Team Games, Mi-chan, as the captain, led TeamK to finish second. During the competition, she took the lead and rushed to the front, constantly cheering for the participating team members. During the obstacle race event, Teamk members rushed to the track and ran forward side by side with their lagging peers. Even the host couldn't help but sigh, "It's like an atmosphere where students are working hard all their lives in the summer." This scene reminded countless fans and members present of Team K, the strongest sports team that was "organized and undisciplined" and led by Oshima Yuko and Akimoto Saiga. That kind of "Koshien" spirit that Akimoto Yasushi calls, that kind of passion that is bold and wild but full of fighting spirit and unwillingness to admit defeat, after all members of Yuan K graduated, it finally made people feel in this group of juniors led by Mi-chan. I saw the long-lost inheritance and emotion.
Yes, everyone is gone.
None of the sisters standing in the front row who made Mijiang look up at their backs are gone. As AKB48 reached its peak, starting from Atsuko Maeda, the core members gradually graduated and left. 10 years have passed by, as if it was just a moment of recovery. The little sister who was the group favorite of the "Yuan A underworld" back then shyly said in AKB's first documentary, "I will definitely not be around in 10 years." The little girl who is in the group has now become the only member of the first generation who is still enrolled. Minegishi Minato is the oldest member of the entire 48-series girl group, which now has more than 500 members. The former Mi Jiang has become the "Lao Mi" in the mouth of fans. Therefore, regardless of whether she is a fan of Mijiang or not, she has become a unique existence in everyone's hearts. When the stars are shining, people often don't care about ordinary characters who are in the middle and are familiar but don't pay attention to them deliberately. But when those seniors left, the legend came to an end, and the remaining Mi-chan became the carrier of all the memories about Shenqi and AKB - as long as she is still here, everyone will feel at ease, and those who are about this miracle The mark of her starting point will never be forgotten. She is the "living fossil" of the entire AKB48. Throughout her thirteen-year idol career, she was never the one who shone brightest, she never stood in the center, and she never entered the selection group again - but she was the only one who persisted until the end.
Going back to the opening chapter of "If Doula", which broke the sales record of the publishing house and the ORICON book department, the author Iwasaki Natsumi is Akimoto Yasushi's apprentice. He found a question about AKB48 based on his experience while working in AKB48. This story is told from the perspective of management. The protagonist in the book, Kawashima Minami, is cheerful, energetic, and stubborn, but also has low self-esteem and a weak side. These are indeed the true portrayal of Mi-chan. As for his management as the manager of the baseball club, it comes more from another member Minami Takahashi.
What is more realistic is that when filming the movie of the same name adapted from the novel, taking into account factors such as popularity, it was Maeda Atsuko who played Kawashima Minami, while Mi-chan herself could only play a supporting role in the play, Hojo Fumino. The role is obviously based on me, but I am not qualified to play it. This kind of experience is exactly the same as the feeling of standing behind Ah-chan as a backup dancer - Mi-chan has never been the protagonist.
As mentioned in the 23rd issue, the relationship between idols and fans has never been as summarized by laymen as "between opposite sexes - admiring lovers" or "between same sexes - I want to be them" A simple relationship, but an "Avatar" mode similar to an RPG game. Fans don’t really want to become the idol themselves, what they need is an indirect sense of substitution. Just like in a hot-blooded boy manga like "Naruto", the highest-ranking character is Kakashi-sensei, an important supporting character who has outstanding charm but does not have to bear the responsibility of the main line, rather than Uzumaki Naruto. Although he will definitely succeed in the end, first of all The real protagonist who has to go through the hardships of great suffering and deep hatred. Especially after Naruto truly becomes a powerful Hokage, readers may lose their previous love for him and even turn to ridicule. Because this idol has "succeeded" and can no longer give himself the satisfaction of "counterattack", it is difficult for readers to grow up and achieve their own success like Naruto in reality. This sense of gap eventually leads to the end of the synchronous relationship. As a fan of idols, there is more or less subconscious self-rejection and lack of confidence. Although people emphasize that idols should be real and diverse, they still hope that their chosen target can become the protagonist - and they can Appreciate and feel the glory and satisfaction achieved by the protagonist without having to experience failure and frustration personally. This is a very wonderful contradiction. No one is born to be a supporting role, but everyone agrees that it is easier to be a supporting role and help the protagonist succeed. This actually stems from the frustration in everyone's heart. And the instinctive escape from suffering - neither embarrassed to admit his yearning for the protagonist, nor willing to admit his unwillingness to be a supporting role.
Mijiang is a supporting character who accompanies batch after batch of protagonists to the end of their respective stories. Therefore, it is destined that not the most people will choose to use her as a carrier to achieve a sense of substitution, but towards the end, this way Only the supporting roles can really make most ordinary people excited. In the story of "Jodoula", Minami Kawashima suddenly found inspiration for running a baseball club through the works of Drac, the father of management. She analyzed baseball games and club activities according to the most basic business theories. Afterwards, it was discovered that the ultimate meaning of the so-called Koshien is neither the game nor the baseball itself, but - creating and selling emotions. This is also the business significance of sports and idol societies including AKB48. The essence of dilemmas and conflicts is to show growth and hard work. It's just that the producer of AKB48 is Yasushi Akimoto and the executive is Minami Takahashi. But the backbone members like Mi-chan don't actually have access to the level of a manager. She is like the one in the baseball club who really just wants to play good baseball games. Just like the players who proved themselves, they were really just working hard for their small and pure dreams from the beginning.
After the head-shaving incident that year, although Mijiang felt deep self-blame and introspection, she never regretted the apology that caused greater controversy. Precisely because she is an ordinary person and immature, she makes mistakes. She used the simplest logic to figure out that her mistake was not a love problem, but a disregard for professional rules and fans' expectations. After all, Mijiang is not a manager. She cannot rise to a higher level to consider the meaning and rationality of the rules themselves, but at least from the perspective of a team member, she has made a responsibility and decision. There is no need to read any complicated and profound "Management". Mijiang understood the meaning of this rule in an instant with her love for her career and respect for her dreams.
Koshien is the romance of Japanese young people, but 99% of people are destined to experience a summer of disappointment every year, because there is only one champion. And when the champions enter the more cruel world of adults, they will find that these achievements are actually nothing. This is what Mi-chan calls "AKB's guardian". Their success is only in a small enclosed world. obtained. On the contrary, those other participants who regretted their failure have a layer of yearning for the championship that can never be obtained and therefore becomes more precious and shining. This will give people a warm and powerful force. Those few in AKB48 who are proud to stand at the top can also experience this kind of cruelty and blow when they go to the larger entertainment circle after graduation, but this is the challenge that the winners have to face. And people like Mijiang have already experienced cruelty in this small world. They are the most real existence that is closer to all ordinary people.
The world is full of misfortunes and rarely gets what we want. The protagonist always appears on the stage but rarely the supporting role. Most of us may have been pretentious when we were young, or we may have been with outstanding companions. We also had bold ideas when we made progress together, but in the end we may not be able to follow the footsteps of the most outstanding people and lead to a larger world. However, it is realistic to analyze baseball games from a business perspective, but before selling, someone still has to create excitement first.
Those athletes who sweat and sweat on the field in order to compete for glory and prove themselves. Their clear and pure dreams cannot be belittled or misinterpreted. That is the greatest courage and persistence in growing up. Mijiang is such a player. She not only respects the fact that she cannot be the center, but also shows off her talents in variety shows; but she also falls into inferiority and sadness from time to time like a stubborn little girl, caring about every time. Ranking in the general election, caring about others' evaluation and recognition of oneself, and never concealing this true expression that may be looked down upon by others. This reality started when I first confessed that I couldn't accept A-chan becoming the Center. People should have the right to care about whether their efforts will be rewarded. Mi-chan envies Maeda Atsuko, but this envy does not include any ugly jealousy or false compliments. On the contrary, it is because of this that she becomes close friends with the equally straightforward A-chan. There are some things that people can't do anything about, but there are some things that can be persisted to the end without concealment. Mi-chan is not a manager, but she is one of the few people who truly understands the famous saying of Minami Takahashi, the "AKB manager".
Yes, this is not a simple proposition about process and results, but respect and praise for the dream and oneself working hard for it. Mijiang has indeed never become a protagonist that everyone recognizes and admires, but she has also completed a legendary and wonderful story with her unique experience. In the most difficult time, Akimoto Yasushi replied to a text message to encourage her not to lose her confidence, and believed that with her talent and eloquence, she would be able to survive well in the entertainment industry at any time even if she really left AKB. But since you have chosen to stay and face your mistakes, it is also a determination worthy of respect. Mi-chan is actually far more important in the hearts of the members than she imagined. Many people have said that they are very dependent on Mi-chan's existence. It will be flattering to receive the attention of the general supervisor or center, and a companion like Mijiang who can make different members feel stable and relaxed is an important link that maintains the team's bond in daily details. She would act coquettishly in front of her seniors, cry and throw tantrums when A-chan graduates and ask everyone to calm her down; she would also lead her juniors to learn how to mess around, and during the general election, she would hug and comfort those who were frustrated for the first time during the general election. She will carefully detect the determination and goals of juniors such as Takahashi Juri and secretly encourage them; she will also appear in Yuko's graduation trip challenge to cheer her up; she will complete the dangerous backflip challenge by herself Later, when Takahashi Minami was hospitalized due to illness, she completed the extremely difficult rakugo challenge on her behalf, and received overwhelming praise from the master; she will also face the audience's efforts at the great disaster relief event that unites the whole of Japan. The little girl in the disaster area who was presented with flowers naturally knelt down, making this classic picture an eternal silhouette symbolizing AKB48's social responsibility and bringing healing and hope to the people...
This is Minegishi Mina's image What’s lovely and charming about her is that people see in her the person who was once unwilling to be mediocre, and later reconciled with reality, but never gave up in the end, gritting her teeth and persevering until the end. People often say that their children are the cutest, and that something/achievement of their own is the most proud of. To others, these topics can only be responded to with polite compliments. After all, people can only understand that everyone feels the same. Your own is the best and most unique aspect. And only the person involved will understand that we really feel from the bottom of our hearts that we have been truly proud of something, even if this pride cannot be shared with anyone else. But people always try to hope for more understanding and recognition. Everyone has had dreams that begin with "if..." sentences. Who doesn't want to live like the protagonist from the perspective of others?
If I had been chosen as the Center, if I had been born with a cuter and sweeter face, if I had not made that mistake... But there are no ifs in the world, if there was regret and correction, AKB48 Nor would there be so many high-quality idols born, each with their own shining points. The so-called idol next door that everyone can become does not rely on the admiration caused by "outstanding strength", but the excitement caused by "living oneself". Fans will not ignore this member who has also become one of the legendary representatives of AKB48. She has big eyes and rabbit teeth. She may not be elegant and refined, but she has unforgettable and cute features. She can penetrate deeply like a cartoon character. People's hearts. Mijiang is not only the variety show queen who crazily steals the spotlight in the show, but also the most popular pistachio backstage. She is also the responsible senior captain and the veteran who sticks to it until the end. Just like what Mi-chan sang in the lyrics of "I am me (private)" written to herself, she no longer looks up at the back of her companions in front of her because she has found her own unique existence.
And any character who exhibits a sufficiently rich and strong characteristic style will always reveal a deeper and little-known side at certain specific moments. Mi-chan, together with four variety show directors, Rino Sashihara, Sato Kitahara, and Miho Miyazaki, formed the extremely popular spoof air band "SONE". They sang the reserved disbandment song at the annual concert, the well-known song of the ZONE band. The classic divine song "Secret Base ~君がくれたもの~".
Every time their funny performance is the most anticipated part of the audience, but every time when Sashihara and others try their best to go out of tune or howl in a funny way, only the lead singer Mijiang will sing this song seriously and fully. song. When the audience was made to laugh again and again by this contrasting effect of seriousness, they had to marvel at how dedicated Mijiang was when she sang seriously. Her clear and sweet singing voice could make people feel inexplicably moved. .
If possible, everyone would want to be an idol who can win applause from all over the world just by singing quietly.
But the unique true idols represented by AKB48 do not rely solely on songs and dances, but through years of long growth and experience, they carefully demonstrate the brilliance of each member. and transformation. If it is a hypothesis after all, time can never be looked back, so AKB48 chooses to lay out countless spreading youthful veins horizontally at the same time, so that everyone can see how every girl chooses her own path and works hard for it. In the real world, no female high school student has read "Management", there are no assumptions and regrets, and there are no magical theories that can be perfectly applied. Only after experiencing real training and unforgettable growth can people finally find the courage to sweat heartily without being bound by past failures and future goals in an instant.
Just like Minami Minegishi who finally dared to throw away her wig in a cool and unrestrained manner many years ago, and stepped out of the haze to re-enter the stage with her companions, she understands the true meaning of it. She chose to join AKB48 back then, but now she chooses to stick to it until the end. She has grown from an ignorant and stubborn girl to a gentle and reliable senior. She has already found a weapon in her heart that can compete with all regrets and unwillingness. That's baseball's ultimate trick: the home run.
Ignore the fence and hit the ball out of the field. You can't rely on preset tactics. You don't need to worry about the consequences of failure. You no longer rely on managers and coaches. The so-called youth has no regrets. This is the last blow of all your strength as a player who bets all your dreams. ——
Next issue: "Behind the Music (Part 1) - Production and Presentation"