Hiro-Iro: KIS-MY-BONDING in Star City

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

Here are some snapshots of the bonding we had that is so “KIS-MY”. ^_^ More photos in our facebook page: www.facebook.com/kisumaiboys