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--- Akari, from Idol, Burning
I'm going to post another review, this time, it's about the novella that I had just recently finished reading. Since the theme of this novella is related to the reason why I started a blog, I would like to share my random thoughts about it. 😁
Basically, the reason why I started having my blogging account is, of course, for fangirling purposes. I actually initially created a blogging account in Livejournal so I can grab some online contents related to my idols, which, unfortunately, were only available within the corners of the "dark web" back then. Since Japanese entertainment in general is restricting their contents only within their country, and they are also really strict with copyright, some kind souls within the fandom had shared these contents for the fellow fans. Thinking about the consequences related to copyright infringement, these contents would be shared under locked posts, which will only be accessed by the "genuine" fans that can prove that they are such by writing blog entries, in addition to statements promising the sharer that they'll only take these contents for personal use only, since some would really take advantage and sell these contents. So, from that, I had learned to convey my fangirl-related thoughts through writing in a blog. Coincidentally, the main character in the novella is a fangirl running her own blog dedicated to her oshi (bias, a favorite member in an idol group).
Idol, Burning (Japanese title is Oshi, Moyu) was written by Usami Rin, and this has won the Akutagawa Prize, a prestigious literary award, in 2020. The novella revolves around Akari, a high school student who considers Masaki, her oshi, as her "life support". She tried her best to understand and trust Masaki even when a rumor that he allegedly assaulted a fan had brought him under fire. Being a dedicated fan she is, she frequently updates her blog related to anything about her oshi, wherein she gained likes from her followers, her fellow fans. Despite having a cool personality online, in real life, she is a teenager who struggles at school and has relationship problem with her family. Her social awkwardness has resulted into thinking that no one but her oshi understands her, hence, her devotion towards her oshi became her way of coping up with the harsh reality of her life.
Upon knowing that this novella would have an English translation, I had looked forward to that time until this would be released in bookstores, so I immediately picked this up when I had an opportunity to passed by a bookstore before the start of my shift during our "return-to-office" day. Its relatable theme about idol fan culture is the main reason why I considered it as one of the books that I wanted to read, and I can say that Usami-san really conveyed the truth about what a fan culture is and how it can affect an individual, both in good and in bad ways. Most of the details about the fan habits are too relatable, that I actually giggled while reading it! But the last part of the novella somewhat stabbed me, as it is a hurtful reality.
"I stan by my oshi in sickness and in health"
This is an unforgettable statement that Akari had mentioned in the novella. As a fan, I also tend to be very loyal to my idols, in spite of the rumors, criticisms, scandals that they had, but with the fact that we really don't know about their true selves, I wonder how long we can trust them. Is the one that we can see onscreen their true personality offscreen? Being part of the fandom for a long time already since my teenage years, one of the things I noticed is that, many fans consider their idols as perfect beings, so they tend to hate or cancel them once their idols commit mistakes. This mentality, however, had taught me that idols are human beings too - they get tired, they make mistakes, they fall in love... They indeed have feelings just like us, the ordinary people. Idols, or any other celebrities, are considered public figures, so there may be the thought that watching every little action that they are doing is normal, but being human beings, they also deserve a private time for them to get enough rest from the work they had, much like how we, the ordinary people, get rest after those tiring days we had.
Another thing mentioned in the novella that I can relate to, is the moment when Akari considers her oshi as her backbone. Being active most especially on Twitter, I had witnessed several co-fans expressing themselves how they were "saved" by their idols from the hopelessness they felt in their real life. I, myself, has also consider being in the fandom as my only escape to the stress and sadness brought by the real world. This can be a positive thing of being a fan, but of course, too much of anything is harmful. When admiration turned into obsession, we tend to spend most of our lives chasing after the idols who they don't even know that we exist, hence, parasocial relationship may develop, though there is a certain extent applicable to every fan - the feelings toward the idol can be platonic or just merely a simple admiration. We are also thinking more about them rather than our own selves, so we also tend to do something to satisfy these desires - best example would be spending our hard-earned money on merch and concerts to support them. In the novella, Akari had sacrificed her health just to work hard to earn money for the concert ticket - something that many of us, the fans, can relate.
Some other minor details such as Akari's friend that had changed fandoms from mainstream idols to indie (or underground) idols, Akari who is bulk buying CDs just to get more voting tickets in order to support her idol achieve the higher ranking, as well as having her "shrine" filled with merch, are actually part of the idol fan culture.
Janiwota culture rarely have that "voting" or "ranking" thing though (more common thing is acquiring multiple versions of a single/album being released to get access on special contents lol), but I am pretty sure that voting is part any other idol fan cultures. I'm also sure that most of us have "fandom switching" and "shrine building" phases in our lives as fans, as well.
Overall, I love how this novella ended, that left me thinking, "How far would I go in terms of being in a fandom?" I also realized for a long while that fandom should only be a hobby or a pastime, rather than a job, so we should not be pressured to always be updated with our idols, most especially when we have our own lives outside the fandom.
I truly recommend this novella, not just for fellow idol fans, but also for the people outside the fandom, in order for them to understand more about idol fan culture and to also lessen their negative stereotype about fans having this hobby being considered as weird.
I'm going to post another review, this time, it's about the novella that I had just recently finished reading. Since the theme of this novella is related to the reason why I started a blog, I would like to share my random thoughts about it. 😁
Basically, the reason why I started having my blogging account is, of course, for fangirling purposes. I actually initially created a blogging account in Livejournal so I can grab some online contents related to my idols, which, unfortunately, were only available within the corners of the "dark web" back then. Since Japanese entertainment in general is restricting their contents only within their country, and they are also really strict with copyright, some kind souls within the fandom had shared these contents for the fellow fans. Thinking about the consequences related to copyright infringement, these contents would be shared under locked posts, which will only be accessed by the "genuine" fans that can prove that they are such by writing blog entries, in addition to statements promising the sharer that they'll only take these contents for personal use only, since some would really take advantage and sell these contents. So, from that, I had learned to convey my fangirl-related thoughts through writing in a blog. Coincidentally, the main character in the novella is a fangirl running her own blog dedicated to her oshi (bias, a favorite member in an idol group).
Idol, Burning (Japanese title is Oshi, Moyu) was written by Usami Rin, and this has won the Akutagawa Prize, a prestigious literary award, in 2020. The novella revolves around Akari, a high school student who considers Masaki, her oshi, as her "life support". She tried her best to understand and trust Masaki even when a rumor that he allegedly assaulted a fan had brought him under fire. Being a dedicated fan she is, she frequently updates her blog related to anything about her oshi, wherein she gained likes from her followers, her fellow fans. Despite having a cool personality online, in real life, she is a teenager who struggles at school and has relationship problem with her family. Her social awkwardness has resulted into thinking that no one but her oshi understands her, hence, her devotion towards her oshi became her way of coping up with the harsh reality of her life.
Upon knowing that this novella would have an English translation, I had looked forward to that time until this would be released in bookstores, so I immediately picked this up when I had an opportunity to passed by a bookstore before the start of my shift during our "return-to-office" day. Its relatable theme about idol fan culture is the main reason why I considered it as one of the books that I wanted to read, and I can say that Usami-san really conveyed the truth about what a fan culture is and how it can affect an individual, both in good and in bad ways. Most of the details about the fan habits are too relatable, that I actually giggled while reading it! But the last part of the novella somewhat stabbed me, as it is a hurtful reality.
"I stan by my oshi in sickness and in health"
This is an unforgettable statement that Akari had mentioned in the novella. As a fan, I also tend to be very loyal to my idols, in spite of the rumors, criticisms, scandals that they had, but with the fact that we really don't know about their true selves, I wonder how long we can trust them. Is the one that we can see onscreen their true personality offscreen? Being part of the fandom for a long time already since my teenage years, one of the things I noticed is that, many fans consider their idols as perfect beings, so they tend to hate or cancel them once their idols commit mistakes. This mentality, however, had taught me that idols are human beings too - they get tired, they make mistakes, they fall in love... They indeed have feelings just like us, the ordinary people. Idols, or any other celebrities, are considered public figures, so there may be the thought that watching every little action that they are doing is normal, but being human beings, they also deserve a private time for them to get enough rest from the work they had, much like how we, the ordinary people, get rest after those tiring days we had.
Another thing mentioned in the novella that I can relate to, is the moment when Akari considers her oshi as her backbone. Being active most especially on Twitter, I had witnessed several co-fans expressing themselves how they were "saved" by their idols from the hopelessness they felt in their real life. I, myself, has also consider being in the fandom as my only escape to the stress and sadness brought by the real world. This can be a positive thing of being a fan, but of course, too much of anything is harmful. When admiration turned into obsession, we tend to spend most of our lives chasing after the idols who they don't even know that we exist, hence, parasocial relationship may develop, though there is a certain extent applicable to every fan - the feelings toward the idol can be platonic or just merely a simple admiration. We are also thinking more about them rather than our own selves, so we also tend to do something to satisfy these desires - best example would be spending our hard-earned money on merch and concerts to support them. In the novella, Akari had sacrificed her health just to work hard to earn money for the concert ticket - something that many of us, the fans, can relate.
Some other minor details such as Akari's friend that had changed fandoms from mainstream idols to indie (or underground) idols, Akari who is bulk buying CDs just to get more voting tickets in order to support her idol achieve the higher ranking, as well as having her "shrine" filled with merch, are actually part of the idol fan culture.
Janiwota culture rarely have that "voting" or "ranking" thing though (more common thing is acquiring multiple versions of a single/album being released to get access on special contents lol), but I am pretty sure that voting is part any other idol fan cultures. I'm also sure that most of us have "fandom switching" and "shrine building" phases in our lives as fans, as well.
Overall, I love how this novella ended, that left me thinking, "How far would I go in terms of being in a fandom?" I also realized for a long while that fandom should only be a hobby or a pastime, rather than a job, so we should not be pressured to always be updated with our idols, most especially when we have our own lives outside the fandom.
I truly recommend this novella, not just for fellow idol fans, but also for the people outside the fandom, in order for them to understand more about idol fan culture and to also lessen their negative stereotype about fans having this hobby being considered as weird.
