The Divide Between Mainstream Fans and Otaku -What is the Prime Age for Idols? (Part2)

最強の学年とは何か？後編 : 世間とオタクの間のズレ／ネクストサブカルリーダー・岡島紳士のTokyo Idols' Update 第3回

| Idol | Posted by Shinshi Okajima on Feb.13.2016

The Divide Between Mainstream Fans and Otaku -What is the Prime Age for Idols? (Part2)

Emphasizing that “my the second year of junior high school in the past” now dwells within the first year

中1に宿る“僕の過去の中2性”を重んじたい

The fourth person I’ll be introducing is Reibon, a 37-year-old theater director. His otaku history began with Morning Musume, Berryz Kobo, and SKE48, and his former favorite idols were Tomomi Oe (AKB48) and Sawako Hata (SKE48). He believes the first year of junior high school is their prime.
4番目に紹介するのは、37歳、舞台演出家のれいぼんさんだ。モーニング娘。、Berryz工房、AKB48、SKE48というオタ歴で、かつての推しは大江朝美（AKB48）と秦佐和子（SKE48）。彼が最強とするのは「中1」だ。

Reibon-san

“Before I believed that the best grade was the second year of junior high school. But as society keeps changing, I think is also changing, too. For example, speaking for my own generation, when we entered junior high school we suddenly became more aware of the opposite sex, and it was like a whole new world had been laid out before us. I think that awareness, as well as the physical changes experienced at the time, really became a part of you in your second year of junor high school. But now with the internet and smartphones, I think that happens sooner than before. So I though it over again and decided that the second year of junior high school in the past is probably the first year of junior high school now.”
「昔は中2が最強だと思ってたんですよ。でも社会の変化にともなって、最強の学年も変わって行ったんですよね。例えば自分の世代で言えば、中学に入学した時にいろんな異性に対する知識が入り、新しい世界が広がりました。その知識が、体の成長とともに自身の血となり肉となるのが、中2だったと思うんです。でも今はインターネットもスマホもあるし、それがもっと早くに訪れるんじゃないか。昔の中2が今の中1にあたるんじゃないかなと、思い直したんです」

I was amazed at how much he continued to talk about his “favorite age”, regardless of being unrelated to the topic of idols. When I pointed this out to him, he explained that, “Idols are a symbol of the opposite sex, so it’s the same as with the prime age of idols. Where the confusion of adolescence and idol activities meet, there you’ll find the real charm.”
全くアイドルに関係なく、ただの「好きな学年」についてのみ話し続ける彼に度肝を抜かれる。そのことを指摘すると「アイドルは異性の象徴なので、最強のアイドルも同じです」と、ようやく説明してくれた。「思春期特有のモヤモヤをアイドル活動にぶつけている、そこに魅力を感じるんです」。

He went on to say that this is why it’s better to focus on the grade rather than the exact age.
そして年齢ではなく学年にこだわる理由について、彼はさらに話を続けた。

Think of a grade as a certain environment and background. More than just recalling my own youth, idols give me a basis for inserting myself back into that moment. I can also feel the underlying desire I felt during boyhood rise up again. Somewhere I want to be able to put myself back into that time again, to actually be a part of it again. So in that way, more than with girls in their second year of junior high school, I feel like “the second year of junior high school in my past” lies within girls who are in their first year. I don’t want to run away from my past, nor do I want to lie about myself during that time.”
「学年だとその生活環境や背景が想像できるじゃないですか。自身の過去を思い返して、よりそのアイドルに自己投入できるというか。あとは少年時代回帰願望が根底にあるから。どこかで自分もまだその学年でいたい、現役でありたい、という思いがあるんです。そういう意味で、実際的に中2である子より、中1である子の中に宿る“僕の過去の中2性”を重んじたい。過去の自分からは逃げたくない、あの頃の自分に嘘をつきたくないんですよね」

How stoic. Such a description perfectly fits Reibon. This time I won’t get into whether this stoic interpretation is correct or not. I sincerely want him to be happy.
ストイック。そんな形容がれいぼんさんにはピッタリだろう。ストイックの方向性が正しいかどうかは、今回は言及しないでおきたい。彼の幸せを心から祈っている。

Finally, the last person I’d like to introduce is KETA, a 39-year-old public servant. Originally a fan of Seifuku Kojo Inkai (Ski), through AKB48 and other groups, currently he into the Harajuku Ekimae Parties. His favorite members are Haruka Iwasaki and Rurika Yoshizawa, both in the sixth grade of elementary school. However when I asked him about the prime idol age, he spoke vaguely.
では最後に5人目、39歳、公務員のKETAさんの話を紹介しよう。彼は元々は制服向上委員会のファンだったが、AKB48などを経て、今は原宿駅前パーティーズにハマっている。中でも推しは岩崎春果と吉澤瑠莉花、ともに小6だ。しかし最強の学年について聞くと、言葉を濁した。

Rurika Yoshizawa (Right), Haruka Iwasaki (Left)

“Well… When it comes to age or grade, I’m not sure that I personally have a preference. I think their sweet spot is somewhere between the sixth year of elementary school and the third year of junior high school, but when I go to see idols, I’m not particularly concerned with their age. I think I have a tendency to fall in love with girls soon after they make their debut. But I know there are many idol fans who are particular about age or grade.”
「う～ん…。年齢や学年に、自分自身はそこまでこだわりはないんですよね。スイートスポットはおそらく小6から中3ですけど、アイドルを見るとき、特に学年を意識することはないんですよ。デビュー後すぐの子を好きになる傾向はあると思うんですけど。ただ、学年にこだわるアイドルファンが多いことは理解できます」

Not being concerned with age or grade is usually something common with those new to the idol scene. There aren’t many idol otaku like him. Nevertheless, he seems to think the prime age sits between junior high school or just below.
年齢にも学年にもこだわらず、新人であることに執着するタイプ。こういうアイドクオタクも決して少なくはない。しかしそれでも、彼が最強だと考える学年の範囲は、中学生以下なのだ。

The reason for the “prime age” divide between mainstream and idol otaku fans

世間とアイドルオタクの間に“最強の学年”の乖離が生まれる理由

We’ve heard from five different idol otaku. All of them shared common points, like being in their mid-thirties with over 10 years of experience as idol otaku, including being fans of AKB, so I admit that there may have been some bias in my sample. However, as an author with around 20 years of experience of being an idol fan, and having encountered idol fans of all ages and tastes during that time, when talking among other idol otaku about their opinion on the “prime age”, I don’t think there is much difference in opinion from what these five shared with us. Idol otaku feel that the ideal grade is the second year of junior high school. And even if there might be those who don’t agree, in the very least none of them think it is somewhere in high school or past that age. It might feel like I’m pushing my own opinion, but I feel rather certain about this.
以上、5人のアイドルオタクをピックアップして紹介した。みな30代後半で10年以上アイドルオタクとしてのキャリアがありAKBファンを経ている、という共通点があり、アイドルオタク全般のサンプルとしてはバイアスが掛かっていることは認める。が、筆者がアイドルを好きになってから約20年間、様々な年齢や嗜好のアイドルオタクと出会い、言葉を交わしてきたが、「最強の学年」についての意見は、この5人とさほど違いはなかっように思う。アイドルオタクが最強と感じるアイドルの学年は「中2」。そこまで断言できずとも、少なくとも高校生以上ではない。あくまで主観だが、確かな実感として、それを感じている。

So why does the prime age of most mainstream fans differ from the prime age according to idol otaku? Let’s try and analyze why.
では何故世間にとっての最強の学年と、アイドルオタクにとっての最強の学年の間に乖離が生まれるのか。理由を推測しよう。

gakunen-saikyou-part2-02

First of all idol fans, who are interested in the idol genre as a whole, have a tendency to recognize a number of idol artists that may not have much name recognition, but “could break out at any time”, unlike mainstream idol fans. Although idols who get their big break may be in high school or past that age, but before that most inevitably got their start when they were younger. Among idol otaku, there are many that believe in “buying the field while it’s still green”, “that idols are most interesting while working toward their big break”, “following idols from their debut”, “and that before an idols gets their break, concerts are closer and handshake and other events more enjoyable when there is less distance between them”… and so on. For that reason, many put their interest in idols who are in junior high school or below. Therefore it’s no wonder that the adage exists and is repeated by many idol otaku that, “the first year junior high is elementary, and third year junior high school is the first year of high school,” or in short, “only second year high school students are true junior high school students”. On that note, there’s even an unspoken rule on members of the 23-year-running musical group featured on children’s variety series as part of NHK Education, Tensai TV-kun, that child actor regulars(Terebi Senshi) must graduate after their second year of junior high school. Although the theme and the focus of the program is different from the topic of idols, I just wanted to mention this fact. The Tensai TV-kun Series is the best.
まずアイドルオタクであるならば、アイドル全般に興味を持っているため、一般層と違って、知名度がさほど高くない「これからブレイクする」アイドルのことを数多く知っている、という傾向が強い。ブレイクアイドルに高校生以上が多いならば、必然的にブレイク前のアイドルはそれより下の学年が多数ということになる。アイドルオタクならば、「青田買いをしたい」「ブレイクに向かうアイドルが一番勢いがあって面白い」「デビューから追いかけたい」「ブレイク前のアイドルの方がライブ会場が狭く、握手会などでもよりアイドル本人との距離感の近さを楽しめる」…そういった感覚を持つものも多いのではないだろうか。よって、結果的に中学生以下のアイドルを興味の中心に据えることとなる。中でも中2が最強とされるのは、前述の格言「中1は小6、中3は高1」、つまり「真の中学生は中2しかいない」が、多くのアイドルオタクにとって頷けるものだからではないだろうか。ちなみに23年続いているNHK教育のキッズバラエティー番組「天才てれびくん」シリーズでは、番組のレギュラー子役、通称「てれび戦士」は、中2を最高学年として卒業するという暗黙のルールが課せられている。番組の意図と今回のテーマは関係ないかもしれないが、情報としてここに書き置いておきたい。天てれ、最高。

But what about those who aren’t idol otaku? The swimsuit gravure trend for idols who are junior high school age or below, referred to as “junior idols”, isn’t welcomed by mainstream audiences. In fact it’s often forbidden until idols are high school aged or above. This isn’t the only thing shunned because “they’re too young”. In general, society feels strongly against cheering on idols who are junior high school aged or younger, or thinking about their cuteness as a member of the opposite sex. Perhaps the element of pseudo-love that is deeply tied into cheering on idols is another major factor behind it.
一方、アイドルオタク以外にとってはどうだろうか。中学生以下のアイドルは「ジュニアアイドル」とも呼ばれる年代であり、水着グラビアは世間から歓迎されない風潮がある。高校生以上になると水着グラビアが解禁されることが多い。「幼すぎる」という理由から敬遠されるのは、水着だけではない。中学生以下のアイドルに対して「応援していい」「異性として可愛いと思っていい」という気持ちを持つことも、世間的には“NG”とされる傾向が強いように感じる。アイドルを応援することに擬似恋愛という要素が深く絡むことも、この風潮を後押ししている大きな要因だろう。

So with this, I’d like to conclude this volume about “the prime idol age theory”. Although much of it may not be more than speculation, for those of you reading, I hope you’ll give the topic of “what is the prime age” some thought. Thinking about it is sure to put a smile on your face.
以上が「アイドル最強の学年論」だ。推測の域を出ない内容ではあるが、今回の記事が読者にとって、アイドルの「最強の学年」を考えるきっかけとなれば幸いだ。きっとそのテーマを考えるとき、あなたはいい顔をしていると思うから。

And to close out this volume, I’d like to give you this author’s opinion on what “the prime age” is. As an Idol Expert and Writer, I, Shinshi Okajima, think the prime age is elementary school sixth grade. The reason is a little embarrassing for me to state here, but should we should ever meet face to face, please feel free to ask. I’ll whisper it to you secretly. I’d like to thank you all for reading and sticking through this volume until the end.
では本稿の結びとして、筆者の考える「最強の学年」を書いておこう。アイドル専門ライター・岡島紳士が最強と考えるアイドルの学年は、「小6」だ。理由は恥ずかしいので、どこかで会ったときに直接聞いてみて欲しいな。そっと耳打ちして教えてあげたい。最後まで読んでくれて、どうもありがとう。

Cover photo
Model : 美由 (Miyu)
Photo by Fuchizaki

Translated by Jamie Koide

Author

Shinshi Okajima

Born in 1980. Idol writer. His works (includes joint works) : "Group Idol Shinka-ron" "AKB48 Saikou Kousatsu" "Idol Gakkyoku Disc Guide" and so on. Worked as a main adviser for "Media/Idol Museum" exhibition organized by Saitama prefecture. Manager of the idol contents website "IDOL NEWSING".