Yoshimoto Kogyo and CJ E&M to Co-produce Produce 101 Japan

Japanese Netizens

Source: Sponichi Annex, Yahoo! News Japan

Korean Audition Program that Produced "IZ*ONE" and Others Lands in Japan. Reiwa Era's ASAYAN

It has been decided that Korean's blockbuster audition program "PRODUCE 101", which produced the Japanese-Korean unit "IZ*ONE" and others, will land in Japan. The MCs, comedian duo Ninety Nine, met in Tokyo on the 11th.

Ninety Nine were the hosts of "ASAYAN", the TV Tokyo talent search program that ended in 2002, which birthed "Morning Musume" and others. Ninety Nine's Okamura Takashi (48) commented, "I'm excited to see the birth of today's stars up close". He hopes to create another legendary program: "Heisei era's ASAYAN and Reiwa era's 101".

ASAYAN: The program that discovered Morning Musume and CHEMISTRY. An ASAYAN audition produced by Tsunku (50) found talents that later became part of the national idol group Morning Musume. These auditions also found Kawabata Kaname (40) and Dochin Yoshikuni of the male pop duo CHEMISTRY, and Suzuki Ami (37). Many others, like EXILE's Atsushi (38) did not pass the auditions but later debuted after their talent was discovered through the program.

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1. [+12916 / -416]
"They gave me a hard time in Japan"
I wouldn't be surprised if I heard this in a few years.

2. [+11772 / -377]
They shouldn't use Korean people
In around ten years time, when they talk about it, the word "coercion" is going to be used.

3. [+10912 / -741]
When I go to Shin-Ōkubo* nowadays, it feels like the youth have been quite contaminated [with Korean culture].
I want young people to, even if it's a little bit, pay more attention to history and politics. If they do, they won't want to go to Shin-Ōkubo anymore.
*Neighbourhood in Shinjuku, Tokyo, Tokyo's Koreatown. Known for its big Korean community.

4. [+3501 / -61]
Why do they want to come to Japan!?

5. [+3588 / -112]
Even though the anti-Korea sentiment is getting stronger (laugh)

6. [+3147 / -55]
Ninety Nine, or should I say, Yoshimoto should make smarter business decisions.

7. [+2985 / -47]
Enough with this K stuff.
Don't associate with them.

8. [+2834 / -40]
If they're going to do this, they should just revive ASAYAN.

9. [+2669 / -39]
Not interested

10. [+2235 / -77]
I wonder if anyone will watch this

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Chinese Netizens

Source: Weibo

Yoshimoto Kogyo and CJ E&M to Co-produce Produce 101 Japan

Yoshimoto Kogyo and CJ E&M to co-produce Produce 101 Japan. Recruitment starts on April 11th (deadline May 31st). The best 101 trainees will be selected to participate. The final 11 contestants will be voted in by the Japanese audience and they will be due to debut in 2020.

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1. [+631] Is the whole world going to do Produce 101 now?

[+14] At most Asia, this concept won't work in the West.

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2. [+380] It doesn't matter what it's like, people will only watch the original version 

[+25] This is the Japanese version, done in collaboration with CJ. There are no copyright issues, unlike some who completely plagiarise.

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3. [+335] Tonight I'm the main character!
*今夜の主人公は僕だ！！  Konya no Shujinkou wa Boku da!! written in Japanese. Japanese translation of lyrics in Pick Me - Produce 101 Season 2.

[+13] Hahahaha, I sang it out, the rhyme is good.

[+12] Pick me~ Pick me~
*written "Boku da"

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4. [+131] The whole world is doing Produce 101 now 

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5. [+107] Universe 101

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6. [+105] This PD's influence has such a wide reach.

[+1] There's also the Thai one  I still remember that one 

[+1] Korea did it, China did it, now Japan is also doing it.

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7. [+43] Is it because in recent years Japan's idol industry has reached a bottleneck? For such a country who's so particular about local culture to unexpectedly collaborate with South Korea, perhaps their goal is to borrow K-pop's worldwide influence to increase their world exposure and expand their influence.

[+20] It's only Yoshimoto, who wants to get a share of the male idol market, Johnny's is currently flourishing with King & Prince, and there's also EXILE. I'm not too optimistic about this program Japanese being anti-Korean and Chinese is more realistic.

[+0] They want to get a share of Johnny's popularity I assume. Japan's anti-korea sentiment is much worse than you'd think.

[+7] I don't think the anti-korea sentiment is that bad. I feel that they've been enjoying Korean culture for the past two years.

[+7] After all they have their own Johnny's, if other people want a share of that market, all they can do is collaborate.

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8. [+20] So basically they want to go up against Johnny's?

[+8] Even if they wanted to fight they'd lose , it'd be good if it were that easy 

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9. [+34] Awesome Awesome. Anyone who's slightly good-looking and gets training can debut now. Is the entire nation raising idols now?

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10. [+18] As if Yoshimoto will worry! Once Arashi goes on hiatus there will be a huge gap in the market. It would be more strange if they don't take advantage of this situation.

[+0] King & Prince sure are capable, their sales this time were good too.

[+0] King & Prince is on the rise. Even though Arashi is going on hiatus, beating the other Johnny's groups won't be easy either .

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11. [+2] So will celebrities like EXILE and Suda be there? 

[+13] First of all, EXILE are not idols, they're artists, next Suda Masaki is already a super popular actor, what would he go there for? 

[+3] There's no need for Suda to degrade himself and participate in this. Idols have a really low status in the Japanese Entertainment Industry.
*The Weibo post does not provide much information. This Chinese netizen thinks that already debuted celebrities can participate like the Korean version.

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12. [+19] So now for award ceremonies, is there a possibility that Produce 101 - China, Japan, Korea will perform on the same stage?