Music Elixir
Eavesdrop on a conversation between two friends about their favorite Asian artists and music and how music is their tonic of life.
Music Elixir
K-Pop Intrigue and a Journey from J-Pop Idol to Host
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What if every moment of your life felt like a scene from a musical? This whimsical idea drives our exploration into the joy of spontaneous singing, from how a G-Dragon anthem can boost your confidence to the challenges of sing-alongs during movie screenings of the much-anticipated Wicked. We chuckle at the idea of imposing no-singing policies in theaters, while also considering the cultural love for karaoke in places like the Philippines. Let’s imagine how creative solutions can preserve cinema etiquette while still allowing audiences to revel in their musical passions.
In the world of K-Pop, power struggles and controversies make headlines, with Min Hee Jin's resignation from HYBE taking center stage. We look at the complex web of allegations, lawsuits, and industry politics surrounding her label, ADOR, and its popular artist, NewJeans. As speculation swirls about the group’s future and Min's controversial work with V from BTS sparks investigation, we delve into the precarious balance of power and artistry in this competitive industry. The drama unfolds amidst a backdrop of rumored disbandments and corporate maneuvering, leaving fans and critics alike pondering what’s next.
Shifting gears, we celebrate the unexpected career path of former KAT-TUN member Junnosuke Taguchi as he embarks on a new journey as a host in Fukuoka. From legal woes to entrepreneurial ventures, Taguchi's post-idol life is nothing short of intriguing. His latest endeavor invites us to speculate on his charm and talent, whether on television or in the hospitality scene. With light-hearted fantasies about interacting with him in his new role, we reminisce about his enduring appeal and wish him success in his latest chapter, all while encouraging listeners to join us in this musical odyssey through the world of entertainment.
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DJ Panic Blog:
OK ASIA
Welcome everybody to another episode of Music Elixir with me, sarah, and.
Speaker 2Miss Panic. Do-do-do, Miss Panic.
Speaker 1Lately.
Speaker 2I've been doing like singing, just like, instead of like yelling. You know, I'm just, I don't know, I blur out some word with like a tune, or you know I gotcha. So just to belch out the anger.
Speaker 1I'm going to talk like singing.
Speaker 2I know I do that I did one that I was like, wow, that really came out good, kind of like a satire, and I'm like I'm proud of myself for thinking of that. No, I can't remember it, but it was good.
Speaker 1Oh man, well do you use like actual lyrics for something, or do you just take what you're thinking and sing it?
Speaker 2yes, okay so like I don't know a word, but maybe add a tune out of a fear for tears, for fear song, or a of you know and other songs or whatever.
Speaker 1I do a mix of both sometimes, like if there's a certain lyric that works with how I'm feeling at the moment, I'll just sing the song. Actually, I was singing I got the power, power power the other day. Oh really yeah. Someone was like, oh Sarah, she's in charge of that, and I was like, yeah, I got the power, power power the other day. Oh really yeah. Someone was like, oh Sarah, she's in charge of that, and I was like, yeah, I got the power. So thank you, g-dragon.
Speaker 2Giving you that boost.
Speaker 1Giving me that boost yeah.
Speaker 2So, yeah, that's what I've been doing lately and I was like I kind of like this well, and then it makes your life like a musical which, yeah, yeah, you know adventure exactly, I like that. I do like that. Oh, speaking of musicals, so fami and I can't wait to go see wicked, which is already is already out, oh yeah, yeah. But the thing is that you know, it's a musical and it's a very popular musical and people just like to sing along to the musical and we want to enjoy the movie.
Speaker 1Well, only if they already know it. I mean, I don't know that, were any of the songs from wicked actually like?
Speaker 2yeah, no, it's, it's wicked the movie version. Yeah, no, no okay.
Speaker 1Well, I've seen the musical. Like years ago I saw the musical, so I don't actually remember any of the music well, do you know there's die hard fans that you know they know all the songs yeah, that's true and they're just gonna come out and sing, so anyway.
Speaker 2So I hear uh family said, hey, they're gonna be sing-along versions of wicked and I'm like, well, that's awesome, but it's still it's. It's not gonna stop the person who's gonna be in the regular and not in the sing-along yeah, that's true there's always one. So we're like thinking, should we just go on a matinee when there's nobody there during the week?
Speaker 1well, you know, you know like when we, when we went to see, say, record of memories or permission to dance on stage, we were in movie theaters with people I mean, granted, they were concerts- that was a concert though this is not. Everybody was singing along. Still, you know what I mean. For me, it's like you are a concert, you know?
Speaker 2okay, so wicked is different. You see it different, okay, yeah, I know that's true, because you wouldn't.
Speaker 1You wouldn't actually sing along in the theater either, although I've seen people do it. Oh yeah, so yeah, yeah. Or I should say, heard people do it exactly so that's one thing.
Speaker 2They were like, oh man. So, with that being said, out in the philippines a movie theater put out an announcement that when you go to see wicked you are to not sing the lyrics because apparently it's very. You know, the philippines do love karaoke, so did you're gonna start belting out the songs. So they have put out disclaimer all over the movie theater do not sing at the theater. Well, you know there's gonna be one only for singing this one. You do not sing, let people enjoy that. It's like can we go there? Can everybody, and you know, take that same announcement and say, hey, do not sing on this one if you want to sing along, go to this one.
Speaker 1You know, there's going to be people who just don't care and they're going to start singing. Are they going to get removed from the theater? Well, that's the thing.
Speaker 2If they do implement that on those specific theaters, then yeah, get somebody out. Get somebody out and wait for the sing-along one Go to the sing-along one. You cannot be singing here, buddy if the sing-along one is full, it's, you know, it's a sold out, you know. Then you have to wait. Don't be coming over here singing, because I do just want to watch the movie.
Speaker 2Enjoy, yeah, exactly so anyways it's still music related yeah, no, it is, it definitely is so I was cool when your family said look at this what this theater is doing, because it's everywhere. I I didn't share the meme with you, but it was cool. Maybe I can just pull it up and uh, and maybe I'll find it and uh, and I'll read it for you, but yeah. So anyways, there has been. Should we call them dumpster fires or shisho?
Speaker 1they're a little both actually right there's been a plethora of incidents. Let's say oh, oh, I found it.
Speaker 2The oh, the meme the wicked one, yeah, the wicked. Okay, so this theater is saying to our guests seeing wicked, we ask that you allow everyone to enjoy the cinema experience. Please reframe from singing during the show. A sing-along version will premiere on december 25th.
Speaker 1Wow that, but that's like a month after the release. Then you have to wait but they put a disclaimer.
Speaker 2I mean, you know, yeah. So, in other words, manager, get this one out, I don't want to stop singing, get them out, see, so that's awesome. So this is at a theater out in the Philippines. They had to put a disclaimer out there. Yeah To all our guests seeing the Wicked, so that's cool, awesome. So, anyways, yeah to all our guests seeing the wicked, so that's cool, awesome. So, anyways, let's talk about some of the dumpster fires that are happening in the k-pop industry.
Speaker 1There's so many to choose from too, actually which one you know?
Speaker 2which one do you want to start?
Speaker 1this just though it see. It goes to show, though, that I mean there's crap in every entertainment industry, every entertainment company. It just happens to be a downfall of the entertainment industry in general, and, of course, in everything I mean. There's bad apples in every aspect of any type of business, any company you work for.
Speaker 2These just seem to be particularly big and bad apples, right oh yeah yeah, I don't know where we want to start do you want to start with the uh main, he gen that shares resignation from uh hive? Oh yeah and I think she is probably also going to be suing the company. That was another report I saw um well, yeah, this was.
Speaker 1This has been an ongoing thing. As some people may already know, this has been happening for months and months. It's she claims they've been unfair and undermining. They claim that she's been stealing secrets, sharing things um, that she's been trying to do a hostile takeover, and this is, of course, a very difficult like this is a tricky sort of thing to navigate, because we don't know the whole story.
Speaker 1We know how women tend to get treated in the industry period Right, so but there's also things that were contradictory with what she was saying, and the only thing I see as a negative for her is the fact that she's resigning, because people who are in the wrong resign before they can get in trouble. Like nine out of 10 people who resign from something, they do it because they're trying to avoid a bigger issue. I'm not saying I think she's wrong or guilty of anything. I'm just saying that doesn't look good for her, because when you're in trouble, if you resign, you just give up. You confess to whatever you. You know what I mean.
Speaker 1It's a mild admission of guilt, or at least knowledge of wrongdoing. You know that somewhere there may be something that can get you in trouble. We have a lot of that going on in our country right now, but we won't talk about that. Like you know that it's somewhere there may be something that can get you in trouble. We have, we have a lot of that going on in our country right now, so, but we won't talk about that. But so it's um, yeah, I don't know how to really fairly look at it, because I think both sides have been doing a lot wrong yeah I don't know how do you, how are, what's your take on it?
Speaker 2I don't know. Yeah, I'm also divided, but also knowing how the country does treat women well, that's what I was, so it's just for for her. It's just like I'm just gonna throw my hands up and you're gonna be like eff it, whatever you know, like it, I'm not gonna win either way well, and wasn't there something also?
Speaker 1I guess a bunch of the other sort of higher ups in that or the Adore part of this have also left.
K-Pop Company Power Struggle Resignation
Speaker 2So this is a report that came out on Forbes on November 20th. By the way, everybody, we're recording on November 23rd, so of course, more has more articles have come out after this article. So I'm going to read just a little bit on this article from Forbes. After seven months internal power struggle between K-pop creator, previous CEO Min Hee Jin and South Korean entertainment conglomerate HYBE, the former is officially announcing her resignation from the later or latter. Uh, Min joined. Okay, now they're gonna tell you know when did she started and all that stuff. But, um, let's see if I can find something, okay. So HYBE announced an internal audit into Min this past spring, alleging that the executive and her team attempted to take full control of a door and call for her to step down.
Speaker 1Min refuted jeez, I need to start reading again.
Speaker 2The claims and said the accusation was retribution for internal complaints and whistleblowing. After a couple of months filled with tense words and multiple lawsuits yes, we saw that between the parties, which included key moments like the dismissal of previous shareholders in adore, min being dismissed of ceo in august before being offered an internal director role, and members of new jeans and their parents stating support of min reinstatement as ceo and various teams under hype filled complaints and lawsuits against the men against men.
Speaker 1the men yeah, he's the man, that's what they said against the men okay, I was gonna say I should also probably amend that it doesn't necessarily mean guilt, but like resigning is sort of allowing the other side to say you were guilty. How's that? And despite all the pressure, if you don't stand up and fight? Yeah, I don't know. And the fact that by leaving she also sort of abandoned new jeans, like they've sort of got no one now.
Speaker 2There was a blur out there saying that maybe the girls was well with this band. Oh really. I didn't see that yet, but that was a blur, but then again it was a rumor, so I don't know if it's true, but yeah, I don't know.
Speaker 1This is tough because there was also just a thing also connected to Min Heejin. She worked, she was the design concept director for V's solo album, okay, and she had been talking about how he sent her birthday wishes and whatever, and her birthday is the middle of December. And she had been talking about how he sent her birthday wishes and whatever, and her birthday is the middle of December and he'd already been sent to training. So annoyed aunties and whatever people against V filed a complaint to the Ministry of Defense to investigate whether V was getting special privileges because of what this woman said. Now, apparently the ministry of defense did look into it. Like they don't have better things to do but, anyway.
Speaker 1I guess enough people made a petition for this. Whatever, anyways turns out, he did not in fact do this. They're like she must have had her timeline wrong, blah, blah, blah, blah. But like now this is turning into another whole thing where, where fans and aunties are getting you know wars about she's trying to destroy BTS and that's been a big thing. People have been like she's trying to bring down BTS.
Speaker 1I'm like, well, I think she's just trying to take control of what she had control over prior to HYBE becoming the umbrella for several different music groups. You know what I mean Music companies, you know? I mean like of course she wants to fight for. But then again, when HYBE offered to help everybody out, give them financial support and whatever, you kind of don't step on the toes of the people who basically saved your company, because I think all of those subunits went under the umbrella of Hive because they needed backing and financial support. So you know again, hive, everybody just blamed big bad company. But you don't ask again. You don't ask for help and then bite the hand. That's feeding you.
Speaker 1So this is such a like he said she said or they said she said kind of situation that it's hard to tell you know what's going on, because it's dragging in all of these other artists, all these other companies in the subunits. Again, she's left New Jeans high and dry now, and that's. We've got another incident attached to New Jeans, right Well, so, now that she resigned, adore, let's see.
Speaker 2Currently, new Jeans is Adore's only artist which the label states acknowledge and commits to help to chart the topping group. Let's see in parentheses grow and thrive even further. In parentheses, grow and thrive even further. New Jeans had previously shared their position and hope that Hive's leadership will reinstate Min as CEO of Adore. While a New Jeans album for the fourth quarter of 2024 was previously hinted at in earlier reports and expected by fans before the year ended, there do not seem to be any new music releases scheduled for the quintet ah, yeah, but then they're saying that they're going to help the group, but then what happened to this?
Speaker 1well then they wouldn't. They would have to get signed under one of the other things, because at this point it sort of sounds like a door is just getting dissolved yeah, well, that's the thing.
Speaker 2This is the only artist under that company.
Speaker 1And if they're well, she got demoted to director, but, like I said, I thought I saw something about three other people were either fired or forced to resign, so like there's basically no a door, exactly. Other than there's an artist attached to this name.
Speaker 2Exactly.
Speaker 1Oh my God, it's a mess.
Speaker 1And since, because I haven't followed it really in depth, I've just been sort of seeing things as they come out, and there's been so many, you know. I mean I guess hybe did some illegal well, not illegal because questionable, questionable right. They, they did some underhanded investigation. Okay, like the audit was brought up sort of for no apparent reason, other than somebody was annoyed with Min and said something. So they were like, oh, we need to look into what she's doing. Do you know what I mean? So like that's how all of these things you know. And then she's like, oh well, they've been doing this, so she hired lawyers to investigate that Right. And so everybody, as far as I can tell, everybody's just been sort of sneaky and underhanded which is business, exactly.
Speaker 2But then, of course, and I'm and I'm thinking is it a gender issue? Like, right, hey, there's this female very powerful, now, like she's making more money than me. You know we can't do this, I don't know. You know, that's another thing that you can think of. Could it be, you know? Uh, some guy's ego got, you know, trampled by, you know by because there's this powerful female ceo that is getting shit done, or maybe there is something that she might be doing shit, you know sketchy not shitty, but sketchy and shady, yeah.
Speaker 2So somebody's like oh no, no, no, she needs to be stopped. Blah, blah, blah right exactly see. So that's why I'm like, if she's doing that, you know, like you said this, it may look bad on her side because of it. But then I'm also you as a woman. I'm thinking I'm never gonna. Now I'm either. Am I that exhausted and drained? And you know, I'm so, uh, drained mentally because of this?
Speaker 1right, I'm just gonna throw my hands up in the air and be like eff it, right yeah, well, that's why I'm saying there's, there's the one out of ten that is someone who's innocent, but it's just, it's too much, you know what I mean, and because it's been going on for so long, right that horrible, horrible things, but it's just sort of the nature of business and the girls like her new jeans, don't have a problem with her.
Speaker 2They love her. Right according. You know just like what's going on with her. She's she's like. You know it's not like the girls on, I know she's a complete you know like she's not really she's mistreating us or anything like that. No, they, the girls, like her. They they supporting her. The she's supporting her group.
Speaker 1So they're just like what's going on but that's also the only person in their corner and the parents of the girls.
Speaker 1I mean also their parents aren't there seeing what's going on. True, so, but this is one of those I don't know if you would call it like sometimes, when nobody else is backing you up. Yeah, even if the person who's backing you up isn't the best person, they're sort of all you have to turn to. Yeah, I sort of get the impression that New Jeans has always been sort of just a little bit on the outside of everything because they were so new and so young, bit on the outside of everything because they were so new and so young. The bigger people within the organization maybe didn't want to take the time to develop a relationship and work on whether or not they were worth the effort. They wanted to just stick by already established groups, which you stick with your moneymaker and yeah, so it's of where.
Speaker 1Where I think fans get a little out of control is saying that all the artists within the company are pitted against each other, because I don't think that's necessarily the case. No, I saw a lot of, especially like little tiktok things and in instagram, reels of all of the groups working together, doing little dance challenges for a group's thing and dance challenges for B groups thing and C group. So you know, I don't think it's necessarily the artists are at war but that the fandoms are making it about the artists. Right, this is about company politics and really like again, business is so cutthroat.
Speaker 1Yeah like, again, business is so cutthroat, yeah, and everyone will throw anybody under the bus to keep themselves ahead and afloat. You know what I mean. So it's very hard to say. As we know, and we said before, women in this industry really have a hard time. And it's hard to say like, did she try any underhanded stuff? Because she was not happy when they went a door got absorbed by a hive. That was a known thing. So maybe she did do something, maybe she didn't, maybe somebody's setting her up, we don't know. Yeah, but this is a bad, bad situation. I think both sides have been caught in some let's see exaggerated storytelling of events. You know what I mean. So nobody's innocent, but they're all doing what they need to do to save their own heinies. And it's just too bad because it's affecting the artists. These little petty squabbles within the company are affecting the artists.
Speaker 2It's affecting the employees.
Speaker 1Yes, but they're not employees. Remember because that's this is going to go into something else we're going to talk about and that they are not employees, and that's why, which is you will think they were employees.
Speaker 2I mean, they're under contract, you get paid, you know, you think, you know yeah, but it's not their, their contract, contractual obligations.
Speaker 1Which is different? That they don't go into the office nine to five, and you know what I mean. They don't do like what we do in an office job.
Speaker 2They have obligations based on contract that they get paid for but, that being said, that's why you see a lot of like these artists. They're like yeah, we don't want to sign any labels or any, any, any, you know we don't want to get paid.
Speaker 2Yeah, I'm being an artist because I want to get paid for my, my music and my stuff, you know or not not, give it to some agency and then they'll take 90 or more of my winnings and then they just give me whatever they want, you know. So, with that being said, this is a report from billboards and the headline goes new jeans member Hany's bullying case dismissed by Korean employment ministry difficult to regard her as a worker Wow, yeah, wow. Guard her as a worker, wow, yeah, wow. So the case uh filed by the singer uh said that a rival k-pop group manager instructed their acts to ignore her at hybe's headquarters in seoul whoa.
Speaker 1It was another girl group under the label that was supposedly doing this, so I I don't know who she was putting the the case against, but right, this case is because the artists are not considered employees.
Bullying in K-Pop Industry
Speaker 2So on this article. Uh, the sole regional office on employment and labor announces on wednesday, on november 20th, that it has closed its investigation into a case alleged at harassment against New Jeans member Haney, after determining that the singer cannot be considered an employee under the law. Wow yeah, according to the statement from the Labor Office, it is difficult to consider Haney a worker under the labor standards act, so the case was administratively closed.
Speaker 1so what would she have to do like a civil suit against people for bullying, because there still has to be some protection. I guess you could.
Speaker 2So now this that's messed up, though, so hanny was actually was not born korean she's vietnamese right. Yes, so now I'm thinking this, is it because she's not korean?
Speaker 1oh, yeah, I. When I was reading the article, I noticed that I forgot I was like what?
Speaker 2that's right. Yeah, she's honey born. Uh fam, not han. Uh made her debut as member of the first girl group signed to the high labor adore in 2022. So after the vietnamese, australian singer, so she's a half okay.
Speaker 2Claim during a youtube live stream in september that a manager of another k-pop group, uh, under the hype umbrella, instructed okay, let's say they put the name here I was gonna say I know who it was instructed their artists to ignore her inside the hype headquarters, and his fans file a complaint with the ministry of employment and labor, as well as one with civil rights organization good, yeah, because it is, because I was like what do you do in that case?
Speaker 2exactly a civil suit so honey gave a tearful testimony about the alleged incident last month, telling the national assembly in uh environment Labor Committee. We have a floor in our building where we do hair and makeup and at that time I was waiting in the hallway because my hair and makeup was done. First I said hello to all of them and then they came back out five or ten minutes later. On her way out, the manager made eye contacts with me, turned to the rest of the group and said ignore her, like you didn't see her, whoa, and she goes.
Speaker 1I don't understand why she will say something like that in the work environment yeah, well, there's plenty of reasons jealousy, just thinking you're better than someone else, and it could also be see. Unfortunately, though, going back to the whole thing with min is her behavior is gonna because this is a huge thing right, her behavior is going to reflect badly on her artists. So if the whole rest of the company already has a problem with men, then they're going to have a problem with new jeans. Do you know what I'm saying? So there's probably a lot of different things going into what happened, yeah, and then, of course, I mean not everybody gets along at a workplace, nope, and you may not come right out and be like don't talk to them, but there's sometimes just like unspoken people are like they're trouble, I don't want to talk to them, I don't want to deal with that. You know what I mean, and I'm not saying honey is trouble, I'm just saying this is the way people deal with it. When you're concerned about somebody else's image affecting you, you don't want to deal with the repercussions, so you just but to come right out and say ignore her, like it's a little bit much.
Speaker 1It is, and I feel bad because it seems sort of like you know, hani didn't have anyone really there to sort of back up her side of things? Right, have anyone really there to sort of back up her side of things? I mean, you know, she's also, like I said, in a tough situation because their whole organization, their whole group is under scrutiny because of what's going on. So sort of like kids on the playground, oh, don't talk to them, because they snitched earlier, right before recess. They told us it's just too bad. It's just too bad. Not all the artists get along, but I do know other artists have collaborated with New Jeans and have complimented New Jeans. So it's not everybody, just a mess. The poor girl. I hope she gets somewhere with a civil suit maybe.
Speaker 1But again without someone on her side, it's going to be kind of hard it is.
Speaker 2Oh my god, I feel bad for them and like it. Yeah, we don't have all the details and we're just seeing reports from here and there and these are translated reports too and yeah, plus well, forbes is pretty, yeah, you know solid.
Speaker 1But a lot of other news agencies we're just hearing translated things that aren't necessarily uh, you know reputable right, I was trying to you know how do I put this delicately yeah, they're reputable they're rag mags and you don't want to take what they say at face value so wow so, yeah, there's a lot going on with poor new jeans and yeah, it's really too bad.
Speaker 2It is too bad. I mean I do like the group and I like the you know production that they have for the group and yeah, well, we talked about a couple of their songs, yeah, before.
Speaker 1I mean, they were catchy, they were cute, they were, yeah, they were fun. You know they've got their own little bt21 character world too. So you know right, they're the bunnies.
Speaker 1So yeah, they're the bunnies yeah, it's just everything about it is a mess. I I think that there may have been a little bit of uh, underhandedness on both sides of things and we just we don't know all of the details on it. We weren't there, we don't know these people personally, so you can't be sure. But everyone wants to CYA cover your ass. And when you're one little group under the big one and you only have one artist to rely on, that puts you in a very vulnerable position and, as a female ceo, that put her in an even more vulnerable position. You know jealousy and just control. People want control. Yeah, who knows what happened there. Hopefully things will work out for the artists. You know, no matter what the higher-ups say or do I know, maybe someone will step up and take care of the group, but it's hard to say. What other news?
Speaker 2Ooh, this one just came out.
Speaker 1Oh, really what.
Speaker 2Former Catoon member. Oh no, hold on, I know which one. I know, I know, I know I know, because when I said that, I was just waiting for you to like. Former Catoure member Junosuke Taguchi makes host debut, marking another unexpected career shift.
Speaker 1Oh, all right Awesome. I'm like hold on, he was my favorite. He was my favorite. Oh, there you go. He's going to be a host now. Well, not that kind of host, but you know, because he was already a host. Now, well, not that kind of host, but you know, because he was already host. He apparently has been doing his own little like youtube cooking stuff.
Surprising Host Debut for Former Idol
Speaker 2So oh, good for him. Awesome. So the report goes. This is from tokyo hive uh. Former cartoon member junosuke uh taguchi has surprised fans once again by announcing his debut as a host in fukuoka on november 21st. The announcement, shared on his instagram stories, marks a bold new chapter in his post-idol career well, he hasn't been an idol for he. He let okay this is right here, since leaving cartoon in 2016 okay, yeah, I was gonna say 10 8 years, 8 years, 8 years, yeah, because okay, it's only seven.
Speaker 2I'm like no, I put me now. I'm not the beater that long I'm having like timeline drama here eight years ago, yeah, so taguchi has pursued a variety of ventures, from launching his own agency to working as a solo artist. His career took a significant turn in 2019, when he was oh, was this the? When he was arrested on charges related to cannabis law violation? Hey, yeah, that you needed to be in america for that, but then that was in 2019, though. Is that when that? No, no pot wasn't legal yet, or no?
Speaker 2yes, here oregon when the or, yeah, one of the.
Speaker 1I think this wasn't his first time either with the can. I'm serious. I think that that is part of the reason why he left ah, I think it's a bad boy, well he also. He also had um sustained a pretty bad back injury earlier in his career with cartoon, so that may have led to him leaving as well, which would also, though, explain the cannabis use, because, you know, okay muscle relax and painkiller.
Speaker 2But okay, yeah he did.
Speaker 1He got in trouble. Yes, that's how you know, he's my favorite right because like the ganja too much.
Speaker 2Oh, my goodness. Uh, let's see he's so.
Speaker 1He's been, you know, on and off doing his thing, so I think he and his girlfriend of a very long time got busted together.
Speaker 2They're not talking about her.
Speaker 1Well, because I don't think she's like. She's not an idol, she's a general general general woman.
Speaker 2So you know. So, yeah, so you know, hey, he's back doing something.
Speaker 1What kind of what kind of host, like a variety show? Or does it have to do with his cooking thing? I mean, I don't know they don't specify no former.
Speaker 2You see a surprise announcement his debut as a host in fuguoka all right, well, hey or do they?
Speaker 1mean a host. I know he's good looking enough for that. Yeah, he is I mean hello yeah, yeah, no, he's yeah tag makes host debut.
Speaker 2Maybe he is in fuku? Oh, are we going to fukuoka? Try to find him. Oh, he's gonna make a lot of money he would definitely be raking in it, yeah save up, save up. Miss between you and I. Let's get one of those champagne things. People are gonna be like how you all know about that. You've never been in japan. Listen, there's a lot on youtube oh, just read some manga yeah, there's even manga talking about host clubs. Jeez, so they say host. I don't think it's a TV appearance.
Speaker 1Oh, that's Well all right.
Speaker 2Well, this is non-idle the thing, okay. Oh, they focus on some of his past jobs. Let's see, in recent years, taguchi has focused on the hospitality sector.
Speaker 1The cooking.
Speaker 2Taking on the role of producer for the show club a man's tokyo in shinjuku oh, wait a minute, he is a host.
Speaker 1Oh my god, I wonder how his girlfriend feels about that she probably, maybe they're not together anymore.
Speaker 2I don't know. And opening June's table, a cafe designed around the Ikemen handsome man concept in Shibuya. He is a host.
Speaker 1So his cafe is for? Okay, so the cooking wasn't just cooking, it was for host purposes. So the cooking wasn't just cooking, it was for host purposes.
Speaker 2Oh, oh, my God, my boy became a host.
Speaker 1Your boy became a host.
Speaker 2Okay, oh my God, oh Sarah, please, oh my God. He's not singing and dancing anymore. He's not doing any acting career either. He got to get paid somehow. He's like you know what there's money hosting. They're not just going to do that. That's true. These guys make a lot of money yeah, they can. Oh my God, that's so funny. We need someone in japan.
Speaker 1Please investigate and let me know exactly what they mean. Is my boy a host like a host host? Oh my god okay.
Speaker 2So now I'm reading more into this article taguchi's direction to enter the host industry. Oh my God.
Speaker 1My boy, what are you doing? Well, at least I can pay to go see him. Right, you can be next to him.
Speaker 2You can actually be next to him and talk to him, and he has to like I don't know, hang on my arm and look pretty while I do things. He needs to entertain you and tell you that you're pretty and that your hair looks good. What do you do? You look so fine, girl, girl, go for that. This is better than go see him on a cartoon show, I know right.
Speaker 1I get a personal experience out of this.
Speaker 2There you go, even though you have to pay out the wazoo. But if I'm there helping out, I'll be like I don't know, I'll put some of it in there too. I just want to look. My boy is a host, your boy's making money. As the host, however, has raised eyebrows not for sarah. Sarah did raise her eyebrows like yeah, however, has raised eyebrows Not for Sarah. Sarah did raise her eyebrows like yeah, she's excited about this. Her eyebrows are of excitement. This gives me a shot now.
Speaker 1Even if it's all pretend, I've got a shot now.
Speaker 2Girl, yes, yes, girl yes, oh, my God. So, according to sources within the industry, his move comes after expressing concerns about the financial viability of his previous business ventures.
Speaker 1Ah, the financial viability of his previous business ventures. If he's still got the looks, man, do it while you cani, just, I just make some money.
Speaker 2there's this candid a picture of him, just like some paparazzi just taking a picture of him, even with a mask on. He looks fine, he always was. He's got the best smile and he's even a top. Did you see no product on his hair? I know it's just tousled and he's just. I'm like, damn, that's a handsome boy, beautiful smile.
Speaker 1He's got just gleaming, shining, beautiful smile, and I love his eyes. They're so gentle and soft looking.
Speaker 2So there you go. He's perfect as a host, if it is so there you go.
Speaker 1He's perfect. That's the host. It is, and I mean he. He rocked the host hair back when cartoon were doing the.
Speaker 2You know they all had that particular. There you go.
Speaker 1He was in host training he was like hey, just so everyone knows the host hair we're referring to, there was a period of time where everybody had the same hairstyle and in all of of the dramas and the mangas that had host themes to them, this was the hairstyle they had. So all of these idols Arashi even had it, except for Ono. Ono kept his hair short, but everybody else had the hair. Katoon had the hair, oh yeah.
Speaker 2Heisei Jump. Oh my God, little Yamada.
Speaker 1Yeah, yeah, what 12-year-old Yamada with a host Se hair? Oh yeah, he said jump. He said jump.
Speaker 2Oh my god, little jack, yeah, yeah, what 12 year old sexy zone. Oh my god, yeah, that that host era. Everybody had that hair. It was insane. I mean I'm sure that the uh product cost for just that era is I know right skyrocket just for that, because you need to keep your hair up, um, but anyway.
Speaker 2So it's believed that hosting could offer significant earning potential, especially consider, okay, the especially considering the new career path. It's clear Taguchi continues to seek new opportunities outside of the traditional idol mold. His host debut reflects his willingness to explore unconventional venues, avenues and adapt to an evolving entertainment landscape, even as he steps further away from the world that made him famous. Wow, okay, so we got shinjuku. What's the other place he's going to? Well, fukuoka is the new place that he's gonna go.
Speaker 1Uh, oh my god, so I thought it was just like a cooking show, it was actually a cafe. Thing for entertainment.
Speaker 2But wow, I thought he was gonna be like yeah, I so misunderstood. A tv host, I thought, and no, he's going to be a host.
Speaker 1Now I definitely Wow. Oh my God, he ain't going to be cheap either.
Speaker 2No, no, no, nothing in this article says that he's hosting. He's not hosting. When you're hosting, you really got to pay. So he's still cheap.
Speaker 1Rel cheap relatively because right now he is he's got the former idol background going in his favor because there'll be fans like me from ages ago who are like what I can go girl oh my god, it's gonna be a line, yeah, but you can also play it dumb.
Speaker 2It's like oh no, he's kind of cute, I want him yeah, well, I have the benefit of being a foreigner. They will be like she probably doesn't know who he is exactly you can say you look kind of awfully familiar.
Speaker 2Have I seen you somewhere you know, you know, or you can say I'm like God, you're so beautiful, you could have been an idol. And maybe something like that will come up when Cartoon Never heard of that Meanwhile in your head you're like, yeah, cartoon never heard of that. Meanwhile in your head you're like, yeah, I got your first album. That'd be funny. You go in there with the first album. You're like can you sign this?
Speaker 2for me please oh my god, no it's too funny oh my god, yeah oh my god, yeah, we're over here yes, I'm sure a lot of people in japan are like oh my god, no, I'm like, please, not for us this is like a golden opportunity for us oh yeah, oh yeah, having drinks with him, that's just be cool. Yes, right, just having drinks. Isn't that something we always wanted to do? Just have, you know, a drink, a conversation with your favorite, you know.
Speaker 1Well, we've talked about that before. Like I just want to sit in a bar with arashi chilling out having a cocktail even if they're just talking with each other and just whatever.
Speaker 2I just want to look at them and listen and have my drink put your pinky, out. Nod yes, oh yes, sip, sip right, so now you can go and I'll see uh taguchi.
Speaker 1All right, wow okay, I don't think we can top that man. We started with some serious heavy stuff and we ended on a very good, happy note.
Speaker 2Yeah, no, I don't know if I find another. If I find another article, I don't want to.
Speaker 1I don't want to well, that's because I was like there was another one I knew about, but I it'll bring everything down okay, then I think we're in a good place right now.
Speaker 2We are now that we found this out he should get in touch with oho.
Speaker 1They could both do it, right, what?
Speaker 2are you putting out there in the universe Ono Satoshi, I know his birthday coming up soon, I know. A few days For his birthday, badge Ono become a host just for that day. Whoa will he be ranking in money?
Speaker 1Because people want to be with Ono. I I would be.
Host Fantasies and Idol Memories
Speaker 2My credit would be maxed out so I will fly over there, wait outside the streets of wherever in japan be sitting there just waiting for her time to be with. Oh no, oh, my goodness. She will be sitting there dressed in blue, with my blue hair, your blue hair, your bad boy blue the two.
Speaker 1They could work in the same place and at least they know each other. They could hang out and trade notes and reminisce about the old days, right how old is he? How old is uh taguchi?
Speaker 2I think he's probably like 38.
Speaker 1Is he younger than? Oh, no, oh yeah, yeah, definitely, because ono's gonna be 44 and he's already older than his own members and katoon was like the same age as the rest of our sheet, or younger, younger, so I think he might be no way.
Speaker 2Yeah, he's 38. 38. Okay.
Speaker 1See, guess his height. Oh, I think he's like 6'2", 6 feet, oh, okay, he's tall, well, he looks really tall compared to everybody else.
Speaker 2Oh my God, him and Oral get next to each other, father and son, even though the son is taller than the father. Wow, see, I'm looking at pictures now of him back in the day. Oh yeah, he is handsome.
Speaker 1he is a handsome man, very handsome, yeah, he just he had this sort of like boyish glint and charm to him, but also while being very handsome. So you're like, oh, he's like a quadruple threat, cause he can sing, you can dance, you can charm the socks off you.
Speaker 2Hmm, okay, he's been charming the socks of the ladies out in Japan for quite some time now. And he still looks very young. Wow, wow, wow, wow. Okay, sarah, quite some time now, and he still looks very young. Wow, wow, wow, wow. Okay, sarah, we have goals.
Speaker 1Yeah, we have goals. I wonder.
Speaker 2Now you see why he was my favorite now I'm thinking okay, so now, with this report coming out, is there gonna be a waiting list? I know right you need to start looking.
Speaker 2Start looking now at the host. I mean like, is there going to be a waiting list? I know right. You need to start looking now at the host and be like is there a waiting list for Taguchi? You know like, if he's ahead, let's see. Three months from now, let's book now. We'll give us time to save up and travel over there just to meet him. It'll be like like, hey, we have a podcast can we talk to you about this?
Speaker 1yeah?
Speaker 2let's talk oh my god, that'll be awesome.
Speaker 1It would putting it out there in the universe manifesting, oh yeah um, you know, get that gucci I think, if I remember correctly, it's just pronounced junsuke. Like you don't pronounce the, the o doesn't actually come through junsuke okay, I could be wrong okay but he is definitely, yeah, my cartoon guy for a long time okay, all right, I know when I when I read that first.
Speaker 2you know free, I said three words and you're like, oh my god, what happened? I'm like wait, because I know you're saying you know, I've been, I've been having him in my head too. I've been thinking about about him, like what's going on? It's been quite some time. Yeah, we haven't heard diddly. Is this going to be another, like years of hiatus Could be? This is.
Speaker 1His particular.
Speaker 2Yeah.
Speaker 1The other cartoon member that has been in the news recently.
Speaker 2Cartoon members. They all have some kind of drama. They all have.
Speaker 1But his was like little by little. I don't know if he can come back from his. That's all. That's worse than the cannabis arrest, right, you know right part is nothing.
Speaker 2Okay, let's leave it like that girl.
Speaker 1Yeah, definitely like I said I had other stuff but I don't want to bring it down. No, that was a perfectly good end note. Okay, good.
Speaker 2So we're going to be, you know, ending our Rants and Rambling with this. If you are in Japan and you like ex-member of Cartoon Taguchi, go for it. He is a host. Just have plenty of money, yes, so you can spend some time with him. You can chit chat or he can tell lies that you look amazing.
Speaker 1That he loves your nails. Exactly. Your outfit is perfect. Exactly, you know.
Speaker 2Oh my God. So try not to fall in love with his lies. That's all I have to say, because you'll be spending a lot of money.
Speaker 1Table service Champagne.
Speaker 2Champagne. I'm like no, no, no champagne Because I gotta go back to the US.
Speaker 1Oh my.
Speaker 2God. So thank you everybody for listening to this Rants and Ramblings. Please rate, review and share, share share.
Speaker 1Please give us five stars because we love our constellations and become a subscriber, so we can maintain our website podcast archives and bring you new content. Keep up the craziness.
Speaker 2Yes, yes, we are fangirl comedians. We do want to stretch that out. You know this is for entertainment only. Some kind of reporting. I mean we're reading from uh uh articles that we have found like. That's why I translated articles right that's why I like to mention where I'm reading these articles from and hearsay from here and there, exactly. Exactly so have an amazing whatever.
Speaker 1Yeah, I'm thinking I'm ending it like the show have an amazing week, and then you know like yeah, no, we usually say till next time. Yeah.
Speaker 2Bye, bye, bye.