Frequently Asked Questions
Before starting with this page, we’d like to direct you to a more summarized FAQs @straycat about EXILE and their family:
http://tumblr.straycat.me/LDH-FAQS
With that being said, let’s start with the questions that the chapters of this blog won’t fully answer.
1.-What’s a Performance Group?
http://tumblr.straycat.me/LDH-FAQS
With that being said, let’s start with the questions that the chapters of this blog won’t fully answer.
1.-What’s a Performance Group?
As explained in our first chapter, a performance group is a vocal & dance group where not all of the members are required to either sing or dance. The most important thing in a group like this is the dance. This means that it’s not all about making a fancy choreography that matches the song while you’re singing that has certain key moves which the audience can identify the song with but putting the whole focus on the dance parts instead.
Although there are groups that have had just dancers as members in Western countries such as B2K, Pussycat Dolls or Mis-Teeq; in Japan seeing groups that put the focus on the dance or just don’t require those members whom dance to also sing is more normal. Dance has been an important part of J-Pop ever since the early 1990’s, whether it’s jazz dance or simple moves like idols do. Within the years there’s always been groups that put special focus on that.
This blog is already dedicated to an agency that started with one of the most famous groups: EXILE. But you can trace Performance groups way back to ZOO, with the likes of TRF, Global, etc. It’s not just something Hip-hop based groups do. Some idols also follow that structure like Stardust’s group Chotokkyuu.
This blog is already dedicated to an agency that started with one of the most famous groups: EXILE. But you can trace Performance groups way back to ZOO, with the likes of TRF, Global, etc. It’s not just something Hip-hop based groups do. Some idols also follow that structure like Stardust’s group Chotokkyuu.
2.-Why aren’t they idols?
In Japan the word idol is synonym of a whole profession. Idols started to exist as professional talents around the 1960’s and it is said that they started getting involved with the music industry in the late 1960’s - early 1970’s. That is for the purist meaning of the word idol, applied only to girls. If we consider Johnny’s (Japanese agency that currently only has male acts) idols too, then you can say they go back to the 1960’s when they ventured into the music industry in Japan.
Using the word idol in Japan freely can be dangerous. General audiences would do so and mistakenly always label acts such as E-Girls as idols. People usually make this mistake due to the fact that idols were the first to do media-mix in Japan at its fullest. EXILE as entertainers also try to do that but being an idol in Japan also means applying to a series of really strict rules. For Orthodox idols the talent is not a synonym of singing and dancing well (that doesn’t mean they cannot) but it means the girls have something special that makes them reach their audience. That is the reason why the profession of idol wasn’t involved with music at first and there are certain idols that aren’t dedicated to music.
However, after the Idol Golden Age (1980’s) there were several agencies that kept using the word to launch their acts. Some of these acts that were and still are labeled as idols do sing and dance, having a lot of similarities in style with LDH acts. That is the main reason why a lot of people still don’t see the difference between one type of act and the other.
In the early 2000’s labels like AVEX or Pony Canyon and agencies like Rising Production (old Vision Factory, it’s using its original name again) launched their own share of ‘modern idol groups’ such as Sweets, Folder5 (first a co-ed group named Folder) or D&D. Dream was also an idol group during their first 7 years, from their first line-up with 3 members to the times they were 7. However. Dream dropped the label (idol) and became DRM. Since then, they haven’t been identified as idols anymore.
Acts like SPEED, Lead, W-inds, MAX (before with Namie Amuro they were called the Super Monkey’s), ºC-ute, Fairies or V6 do sing and dance, putting special input on their dance performances and their respective agencies call them idols. Even when purists (mostly Orthodox idol fans) refuse them as idols, their agencies still market them as such. LDH just doesn’t, so we should all respect that, as well as understand that their acts won’t apply to rules such as Renai Kinshi Jurei (they can’t date).
3.-Are they all trained at EXPG?
Using the word idol in Japan freely can be dangerous. General audiences would do so and mistakenly always label acts such as E-Girls as idols. People usually make this mistake due to the fact that idols were the first to do media-mix in Japan at its fullest. EXILE as entertainers also try to do that but being an idol in Japan also means applying to a series of really strict rules. For Orthodox idols the talent is not a synonym of singing and dancing well (that doesn’t mean they cannot) but it means the girls have something special that makes them reach their audience. That is the reason why the profession of idol wasn’t involved with music at first and there are certain idols that aren’t dedicated to music.
However, after the Idol Golden Age (1980’s) there were several agencies that kept using the word to launch their acts. Some of these acts that were and still are labeled as idols do sing and dance, having a lot of similarities in style with LDH acts. That is the main reason why a lot of people still don’t see the difference between one type of act and the other.
In the early 2000’s labels like AVEX or Pony Canyon and agencies like Rising Production (old Vision Factory, it’s using its original name again) launched their own share of ‘modern idol groups’ such as Sweets, Folder5 (first a co-ed group named Folder) or D&D. Dream was also an idol group during their first 7 years, from their first line-up with 3 members to the times they were 7. However. Dream dropped the label (idol) and became DRM. Since then, they haven’t been identified as idols anymore.
Acts like SPEED, Lead, W-inds, MAX (before with Namie Amuro they were called the Super Monkey’s), ºC-ute, Fairies or V6 do sing and dance, putting special input on their dance performances and their respective agencies call them idols. Even when purists (mostly Orthodox idol fans) refuse them as idols, their agencies still market them as such. LDH just doesn’t, so we should all respect that, as well as understand that their acts won’t apply to rules such as Renai Kinshi Jurei (they can’t date).
3.-Are they all trained at EXPG?
For starters: NO.
At one point they all end up doing some training there.
However, some of the acts like Dream members come from a very different background than being EXPG students.
That goes as well for reminding readers that EXPG is not the only dance & arts school in Japan. A lot of kids go to learn dance of all sorts at a lot of different schools. Most of these kids enter dance groups and that is one of the big resources for scouting new talents, whether they will debut as idols or non idols. That’s the case with Sora Nomoto from Fairies, who was already a famous kid dancer for the fact that she’d won many contests before being recruited for the group.
AVEX has its own academy, where most of their vocal&dance acts have come from (AAA, Prizmmy, DREAM5). There’s also the Okinawa Actors School (Super Monkey’s, SPEED, Folder, D&D) or CALESS (Paradise Go!! Go!!, Matsushita Yuya, BRIGHT and Dream’s Shizuka).
At one point they all end up doing some training there.
However, some of the acts like Dream members come from a very different background than being EXPG students.
That goes as well for reminding readers that EXPG is not the only dance & arts school in Japan. A lot of kids go to learn dance of all sorts at a lot of different schools. Most of these kids enter dance groups and that is one of the big resources for scouting new talents, whether they will debut as idols or non idols. That’s the case with Sora Nomoto from Fairies, who was already a famous kid dancer for the fact that she’d won many contests before being recruited for the group.
AVEX has its own academy, where most of their vocal&dance acts have come from (AAA, Prizmmy, DREAM5). There’s also the Okinawa Actors School (Super Monkey’s, SPEED, Folder, D&D) or CALESS (Paradise Go!! Go!!, Matsushita Yuya, BRIGHT and Dream’s Shizuka).
4.-Are they all in AVEX?
As you can see in our released chapters, EXILE started already as JSB in AVEX but not all of their acts have been or are signed to that label.
LOVE (vocal duo) were under Sony and so are Flower.
LOVE (vocal duo) were under Sony and so are Flower.
Happiness used to be under Universal before changing to AVEX.
Shionoya Sayaka is under King Records.
Shionoya Sayaka is under King Records.
When CASISS existed, they were under Pony Canyon.
5.-E-Girls and EXILE TRIBE groups aren’t sub-units. Except for THE SECOND.
As explained in different chapters of the blog, both groups are the compilation of all the Performance (in case of E-Girls, vocal&dance*) groups inside LDH. The groups are part of that family and that is why they use the name E-Girls or EXILE TRIBE on their releases.
For starters, the main reason why they aren’t sub-units is the fact that most of the groups were created before the mega-units.
Another reason is the fact that a sub-unit is usually created in order to give activities to a certain member/s of a group and with the hopes to show a different side from that group and to also gain new listeners. With the case of E-Girls it’s the complete opposite: The group was created to try and join the split fandoms of Happiness and Dream together, as well as bring more fans into the newly debuted group Flower. EXILE TRIBE was put all together so the younger units such as 3JSB or GENERATIONS could rise better and widen their audiences. In both cases it worked. For E-Girls however, it is more necessary to keep the mega-unit releasing songs as often as the individual groups do or should do (currently only Flower can do that) in order for it to keep the success and to try and expand their market which in turn gives the individual groups a chance to release their own songs.
Another reason is the fact that a sub-unit is usually created in order to give activities to a certain member/s of a group and with the hopes to show a different side from that group and to also gain new listeners. With the case of E-Girls it’s the complete opposite: The group was created to try and join the split fandoms of Happiness and Dream together, as well as bring more fans into the newly debuted group Flower. EXILE TRIBE was put all together so the younger units such as 3JSB or GENERATIONS could rise better and widen their audiences. In both cases it worked. For E-Girls however, it is more necessary to keep the mega-unit releasing songs as often as the individual groups do or should do (currently only Flower can do that) in order for it to keep the success and to try and expand their market which in turn gives the individual groups a chance to release their own songs.
Another fact is that Dream’s tragectory goes way back to the year 2000 and its current members whom had been there ever since 2002. One doesn’t simply demote a full-time group (regardless of it’s success or non-success) to a sub-unit. Even when this group had so many marketing problems where they hardly released anything in 3 years, the fact was that they needed the E-Girls’ push the most. The same goes for EXILE or even Happiness.
The only sub-unit created for the purposes a sub-unit is THE SECOND. They are all already in the same full-time group (EXILE) and is not the same as NAOTO and NAOKI being into two full-time groups (EXILE & 3JSB) and now Mendy, Iwata Takanori and Shirahama Alan. The Second only gets activities when there are no plans for EXILE activities on the sleeve.
The only sub-unit created for the purposes a sub-unit is THE SECOND. They are all already in the same full-time group (EXILE) and is not the same as NAOTO and NAOKI being into two full-time groups (EXILE & 3JSB) and now Mendy, Iwata Takanori and Shirahama Alan. The Second only gets activities when there are no plans for EXILE activities on the sleeve.
6.-The Second are the same thing as Nidaime J SOUL BROTHERS?
NO.
As told above and its respective chapter of this blog, The Second was created way later than Nidaime J SOUL BROTHERS had debuted and passed the baton to Sandaime JSB.
The Second wears the word ‘From EXILE’ on its name as opposed to ‘From EXILE TRIBE’, which means they are a part of EXILE and a sub-unit from EXILE TRIBE (from one of the groups that form the mega-unit).
The Second does have the 5 members that originally formed Nidaime J SOUL BROTHERS before NAOKI and NAOTO were added, but let’s not forget that Nidaime JSB debuted with the 7 members, not just the first 5 that were recruited. Nidaime JSB still means NESMITH, SHOKICHI, KENCHI, KEIJI, TETSUYA, NAOTO & NAOKI.
Also, The Second refers to their status as the second generation from EXILE, and reminisces’ the name they had while being JSB, but let’s not forget that JSB was a different group than EXILE. It was the start and previous step but, still, a different group and that is the reason why it’s been revived 2 times already.
The reason why NAOKI and NAOTO aren’t counted as part of this second generation of EXILE TRIBE, despite of also being members since the merge, is because they lead the third one and are counted as third generation members in the steps of EXILE’s Pyramid.
It may seem complicated since 3JSB appears as the second step since the second generation was absorbed into the Pyramid’s top, but whenever you feel insecure about generations, just take a look at the Pyramid. Yes, since 2014 there’s a third batch of members added into EXILE, but generationally (TRIBE) they all belong to different steps:
Iwata Takanori (Gun-chan) is already a 3rd generation member (3JSB) while Mendy and Alan are 4th generation members (GENERATIONS is the next step after 3JSB) and we could say Sekai and Taiki are 5th generation or simply uncategorized as happens with AKIRA and TAKAHIRO that came in after EXILE had debuted (althought they are commonly admitted as first generation members).
As told above and its respective chapter of this blog, The Second was created way later than Nidaime J SOUL BROTHERS had debuted and passed the baton to Sandaime JSB.
The Second wears the word ‘From EXILE’ on its name as opposed to ‘From EXILE TRIBE’, which means they are a part of EXILE and a sub-unit from EXILE TRIBE (from one of the groups that form the mega-unit).
The Second does have the 5 members that originally formed Nidaime J SOUL BROTHERS before NAOKI and NAOTO were added, but let’s not forget that Nidaime JSB debuted with the 7 members, not just the first 5 that were recruited. Nidaime JSB still means NESMITH, SHOKICHI, KENCHI, KEIJI, TETSUYA, NAOTO & NAOKI.
Also, The Second refers to their status as the second generation from EXILE, and reminisces’ the name they had while being JSB, but let’s not forget that JSB was a different group than EXILE. It was the start and previous step but, still, a different group and that is the reason why it’s been revived 2 times already.
The reason why NAOKI and NAOTO aren’t counted as part of this second generation of EXILE TRIBE, despite of also being members since the merge, is because they lead the third one and are counted as third generation members in the steps of EXILE’s Pyramid.
It may seem complicated since 3JSB appears as the second step since the second generation was absorbed into the Pyramid’s top, but whenever you feel insecure about generations, just take a look at the Pyramid. Yes, since 2014 there’s a third batch of members added into EXILE, but generationally (TRIBE) they all belong to different steps:
Iwata Takanori (Gun-chan) is already a 3rd generation member (3JSB) while Mendy and Alan are 4th generation members (GENERATIONS is the next step after 3JSB) and we could say Sekai and Taiki are 5th generation or simply uncategorized as happens with AKIRA and TAKAHIRO that came in after EXILE had debuted (althought they are commonly admitted as first generation members).
7.-Do they have a graduation system?
Sort of but not strictly.
The answer may sound contradictory because Japanese agencies and media use the word ‘graduation’ whenever a member leaves a group, like how NEWS or KAT-TUN from Johnny&Associates also used the word when members Yamashita Tomohisa, Nishikido Ryo or Akanishi Jin left their groups, but LDH groups have their own Pyramidal system that’s not strictly a graduation one.
For that, we may explain what a graduation system is:
-A group based on a system like that requires of new members being added in a regular basis as well as the program to have members leave at some point, and not because they are too old to perform. The group is seen as a passing stage for the members and the idea is for the group to keep living through that.
That is not the case of any LDH group. They don’t start groups with the idea of members leaving one by one some day (soon). It just happens sometimes, mostly with the girls, because they start in a really young age and people do change their minds through their life. Especially if you’re growing. Most of the times members have left LDH groups it has been because they wanted to do something else or they felt the group didn’t fulfill their needs. In that case, they use the word graduation, but it’s not like they are bidding them farewell with a ceremony, a concert or a special song like they do in groups from Hello!Project. Also, when the girls leave they are not always instantly replaced and you won’t see new generations being added just because one has left.
Only Dream members have celebrated their departures with especial concerts, but that is due to the fact they started as idols (when Mai Matsumuro or Ai Risa left they still were idols) and they’d been together for a long time they see themselves as family (and they still keep all in touch). However, after the second batch of members were added, they had never kept a system of additions to replace the members or enlarge their group. And it won’t happen unless they decide to do so.
The answer may sound contradictory because Japanese agencies and media use the word ‘graduation’ whenever a member leaves a group, like how NEWS or KAT-TUN from Johnny&Associates also used the word when members Yamashita Tomohisa, Nishikido Ryo or Akanishi Jin left their groups, but LDH groups have their own Pyramidal system that’s not strictly a graduation one.
For that, we may explain what a graduation system is:
-A group based on a system like that requires of new members being added in a regular basis as well as the program to have members leave at some point, and not because they are too old to perform. The group is seen as a passing stage for the members and the idea is for the group to keep living through that.
That is not the case of any LDH group. They don’t start groups with the idea of members leaving one by one some day (soon). It just happens sometimes, mostly with the girls, because they start in a really young age and people do change their minds through their life. Especially if you’re growing. Most of the times members have left LDH groups it has been because they wanted to do something else or they felt the group didn’t fulfill their needs. In that case, they use the word graduation, but it’s not like they are bidding them farewell with a ceremony, a concert or a special song like they do in groups from Hello!Project. Also, when the girls leave they are not always instantly replaced and you won’t see new generations being added just because one has left.
Only Dream members have celebrated their departures with especial concerts, but that is due to the fact they started as idols (when Mai Matsumuro or Ai Risa left they still were idols) and they’d been together for a long time they see themselves as family (and they still keep all in touch). However, after the second batch of members were added, they had never kept a system of additions to replace the members or enlarge their group. And it won’t happen unless they decide to do so.
-A graduation system group don’t necesserily need members (individualy) to graduate to add new generations in. EXILE does have its generation system but it doesn’t work exactly on the same way graduation system groups work.
LDH groups have replaced or added members that left when that was required or needed. Not because it was the time to find and add a new generation.
EXILE did replace SHUN and added AKIRA when the group seemed to need a new performer.
The merge with 2JSB was that: A merge.
LDH groups have replaced or added members that left when that was required or needed. Not because it was the time to find and add a new generation.
EXILE did replace SHUN and added AKIRA when the group seemed to need a new performer.
The merge with 2JSB was that: A merge.
It was required because as a group they wanted to take on bigger challenges on the entertainment and their performances, so they thought a bigger group would helpt them reach that level they wanted to fill big arenas.
EXILE does have its own generations, but that happened after a certain time and it became something natural rather than planned from the start. It wasn’t quickly stablished as a group basis on the beginning or before that. The generations came in more for the idea of extending the family with younger talents and extend their legacy than the fact of wanting a rotational system (that often comes within’ the graduation one).
They added members into Happiness and Flower in their process to their major debuts. Then, they decided to add two new members after a period of Happiness being in hiatus due to one member leaving (MIMU) and another being ill (MAYU). They added members from EGD that had already been with E-Girls to Happiness because they felt it was necessary for their performance. But nobody expected when both groups were first settled to debut that girls would leave.
GENERATIONS decided to add from their support dancers a member (Yuta) to replace Machida Keita after he withdrawn during their Musha Shugyo to debut.
-A group with a graduation system it surely looks pretty similar to what EXILE is nowadays, but their additions happen more quickly than it actually happened with EXILE and they are required due to demand of the market and the hopes of seeing the group survive, because usually those groups are idol groups and idols graduate at a certain age, even if they transition to other types of entertainers. Only that AKB48 has settled the bar of the graduation age really high in comparision of more older groups like Morning Musume, that usually see their girls go once they surpass the age of 20.
EXILE’s generational change is more due to the fact their original members grow old to keep developing their talents professionally. They have in mind to keep the group going through the years, even when they retire (which doesn’t equal graduation) as performers or vocalists and that is why they created their own system: The Pyramid.
The Pyramid is there to assure the group will stay there, at least, after the original members have all retired. But new members don’t enter as often as you’ll see in groups that use the original graduation system and get scouted in auditions to find the new generations (that will go straight into the group after some training).
The Pyramid allows for new groups to be added, those new groups get displayed on a step of the Pyramid according mostly to their age rate and that grants them a chance to be someday members of EXILE.
In E-Girls’ case, the Pyramid is there to put some order between the debuted and non-debuted groups, as well to assure the special unit will continue if new groups get formed and added.
Which brings us to:
8.-HIRO didn’t graduate from the group, he retired from dancing. Is he still a member?
YES.
And he’s also the leader still.
HIRO just retired from performing, because he’s on the way to his 50’s and because the agency grew so much in the last 2 years before his retirement (and they had plans to keep growing) that he wanted to focus on the CEO position he holds.
HIRO still leads the group, decides importan stuff (although he likes to discuss everything and get members ideas and agreement) and is a member of EXILE having the role of its producer.
In E-Girls’ case, the Pyramid is there to put some order between the debuted and non-debuted groups, as well to assure the special unit will continue if new groups get formed and added.
Which brings us to:
8.-HIRO didn’t graduate from the group, he retired from dancing. Is he still a member?
YES.
And he’s also the leader still.
HIRO just retired from performing, because he’s on the way to his 50’s and because the agency grew so much in the last 2 years before his retirement (and they had plans to keep growing) that he wanted to focus on the CEO position he holds.
HIRO still leads the group, decides importan stuff (although he likes to discuss everything and get members ideas and agreement) and is a member of EXILE having the role of its producer.
9.-Why there are only EXILE TRIBE-related acts on this blog?
When we created LDH-mania we did it to explain EXILE on its full and that required naming certain LDH talents that had been more strictly involved with them as family members than others like, let’s say THE ROOTLESS, that were merely signed to their agency but hadn’t the same close relationship in terms of music and production involvement like LOVE, DEEP (COLOR) or ACE OF SPADES.
There’s also the fact we focused mostly on vocal groups and Performance groups or dance & vocal groups (Dream, Paradise Go!! Go!!) that were part of this family creational process of the agency. All of them, musical acts.
There are other type of acts such as actors, models, songwriters or athletes under LDH, but we created this blog following the previous Spanish fanzine that had the same purpose to explain a little bit better and with a chronological order the process of EXILE and its nowadays Family of acts.
10.-Why there is info that doesn’t appear on the sources you’ve provided?
Because some info comes directly from us. The first issue of LDH-mania (the fanzine) as well as the second was mostly constructed through the memories of a few fans whom been there for a while now and knew certain things and had lived through others. The rest of the work was filling on gaps or simply confirming facts we remembered a certain way but might happen differently. The gaps, was mostly trying to find info on acts we knew that existed but didn’t even had that much back on the day or that existed way before any of us started following EXILE or any of the groups under LDH.
Everything that we needed to confirm or find, is listed on this site with its proper source. Other stuff, comes from the people you see listed as writers that you will whether find on One Hallyuu message boards, tumblr or twitter.
When we created LDH-mania we did it to explain EXILE on its full and that required naming certain LDH talents that had been more strictly involved with them as family members than others like, let’s say THE ROOTLESS, that were merely signed to their agency but hadn’t the same close relationship in terms of music and production involvement like LOVE, DEEP (COLOR) or ACE OF SPADES.
There’s also the fact we focused mostly on vocal groups and Performance groups or dance & vocal groups (Dream, Paradise Go!! Go!!) that were part of this family creational process of the agency. All of them, musical acts.
There are other type of acts such as actors, models, songwriters or athletes under LDH, but we created this blog following the previous Spanish fanzine that had the same purpose to explain a little bit better and with a chronological order the process of EXILE and its nowadays Family of acts.
10.-Why there is info that doesn’t appear on the sources you’ve provided?
Because some info comes directly from us. The first issue of LDH-mania (the fanzine) as well as the second was mostly constructed through the memories of a few fans whom been there for a while now and knew certain things and had lived through others. The rest of the work was filling on gaps or simply confirming facts we remembered a certain way but might happen differently. The gaps, was mostly trying to find info on acts we knew that existed but didn’t even had that much back on the day or that existed way before any of us started following EXILE or any of the groups under LDH.
Everything that we needed to confirm or find, is listed on this site with its proper source. Other stuff, comes from the people you see listed as writers that you will whether find on One Hallyuu message boards, tumblr or twitter.
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