One of my Japanice New Year’s resolutions is “to
promote J-Pop” in Manila. I get to do this through a J-Pop dance cover group
named “KIS-MY-BOYS” that covers the J-Pop group KIS-MY-FT2 or KISUMAI (check myearlier blog entry on “what is KISUMAI”) in which I am a member. The group have
had some changes in the members’ line up since we started in June 2012 but the
members as they are now seem to have steadied. The members are all into Japanese
Pop Culture. Common interests such as anime, J-Pop, J-Rock and cosplaying make
the group solid (I will no longer mention what “other interests” that are very common
XD). All the members enjoy our performances and remain committed to rehearsals.
As the main proponent of the group, I make it a point that everyone has fun in
doing what we do. Our performances and the very group itself have also become an
advocacy in not only promoting J-Pop Culture here in Manila but also to form
invaluable friendship with other members of the local fandom. As basically the
first (and so far the only) all-boys J-Pop cover group, we take a little pride
in being instrumental to fuel the local fandom’s vibes and enthusiasm in J-Pop.
And so, it is very important for us to stay
close to each other even if there are no rehearsals and J-Pop events that are
upcoming. We are after all, friends and not just mere dancers who happen to
belong in the same group. That is why for our first get-together this year, we
decided to go to a theme park and dubbed the activity as “KIS-MY-BONDING”. It
was very fun-full and thrilling for the boys to spend some time somewhere apart
from rehearsing and playing Tekken (although we also spend a lot of time in the
karaoke XD). It was really great for our other friends and fellow J-Poppers to have joined us in
our simple excursion.
I also recall everyone singing Kisumai songs
when we’re all about to go home. They just had to sing a Japanese song inside
the van we rode from CCP going to EDSA that the driver must have felt awfully
out-of-place. LOL And finally, the irony of it all is that there were at least
five (5) instances that our group was persistently referred to as “K-POP” by
other park-goers. Blame the hair and the fashion and the aura?=D K-Pop is the
Asian Pop genre that’s mainstream locally so the reference is certainly
inevitable. XD Trying to illustrate to other people the distinction of J-Pop
and K-Pop is definitely an exercise in futility. But yeah, the torment of being
misidentified can sometimes be burdensome. If you’re a J-Popper, you would
know. =D
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| From Mall of Asia to Star City |
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| At Mall of Asia |
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| We fancied the wall bearing the KISUMAI member colors except Kitayama's LOL |
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| KIS-MY-BOYS & FRIENDS |
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| At Star City |
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| There are two boys missing-in-action |
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| Another group shot |
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| Nikka gave the boys Valentine's Choco. It's customary for Japanese girls to give chocolates to boys around Valentine's Day |
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| Off home. Energy drained. XD |
