An Appeal to the Overseas Fandom (Updated 30/6)

Let me start off with an experience of mine that happened to me recently.

A few weeks ago, I was surfing on Google+ and exploring other people's profiles. There, I stumbled across an open Akari Suda fan club circle started by a bunch of Japanese wota. Casually, I just +1'd a few posts here and there, even going so far as to join. What I didn't expect was that the owner of that Google+ community later commented, in Japanese of course, on one of my (albeit very old) Google+ posts. He was just curious as to my language skills (which were hopeless I can tell you that right now), but nevertheless welcoming, seeing that someone like me, all the way from Australia, has Akarin as an oshimen. So I made my intro post on the community front page, piecing together something simple with whatever Japanese language skills I had at my disposal, and I was in.



Then they wanted to organise a gift to give to Akarin, congratulating her efforts on Kanjani no Shiwake 8 (the limbo competition), so they collaborated together and decided on a trophy as well as a bouquet of flowers. 'Course, they wanted donations. I wanted to contribute (I mean, they were really only asking for $5-$10 from each person), so I put my hand up. Unfortunately, I didn't realise PayPal was effectively a Western institution, of which none of the other community members had (an account), and that they also mentioned bank transfer fees on my end would be outrageously high for what would only be a $10 transfer of money. So, due to the technical difficulties arising from me being overseas, they suggested I just pitch in with the thoughts and feelings behind it (and then we could work out something for her birthday down the track). Nevertheless, I did feel some sense of inclusiveness in this community, despite the huge language gap and physical location differences.

What impressed me most, however, was their quick turnaround. After the TV show had aired, the time it took to decide what to give (and with what design), all the way through to requesting people to pitch in and, later on, procurement/delivery, was completed within a week. People contributed, gave feedback on G+, pitched in money and the work was done. No questions asked, no antagony, no politics. The members had one common purpose, stuck with one design and procurement decision and went through with it.

So what am I trying to say here? I'm saying I see a fundamental issue with the culture of this very fandom that presents itself so explicitly overseas.

As you all know, I participate and am somewhat invested in the international side of the fandom, obviously because I don't live in Japan nor am I fluent with the language. In all my time here, however, I have seen a lot more bickering, politicking and what we sometimes like to call "drama", more so than any actual "results". I see virtually none of this in the Japanese fandom, yet it abounds overseas. Why? There can be many reasons:

• People come from all different backgrounds, ages, cultures, sensitivities, have different skill sets and have differing values on things. Consequentially, that leads to people with differing opinions.
• People live all over the world, making any form of logistical co-ordination difficult. Local "chapters" of the fandom aside (for example, a Singapore or HK community of fans), we have none of the geographical advantages that the Japanese have, and I'm strictly talking about cross-border collaboration here.
• People have different objectives, reasons for participating in (an aspect, or the whole, of) the fandom. For example, some may be more SKE48-biased, others far more heavily invested in NMB48, etc. Heck, it's a fandom driven by emotion and desire, such that objectivised "reasoning" may not even exist. 

I mean, the list could reasonably go on forever. But I don't see how any of these factors could not be mitigated. As one reasonably well contributor in the fandom succinctly put it, "Too many chiefs, not enough Indians".

Now you might think to yourself: "Who is this guy trying to make himself out to be? He's lecturing us on how to behave in the fandom yet he hasn't done anything at all for the fandom". I don't claim to be someone great in the fandom, nor do I put myself out to be one. I only started following the group since the RIVER days (and not since 2005). I don't run a news blog, nor provide other "services" to the community at large. I don't purchase every single and album that has ever been released in the 48 Group. I've only been to Japan twice, watched only two stage performances live, and participated in a few events here and there, but nowhere near to the extent that others I know have done. I've never been on Japanese TV representing the overseas fandom. I only run this blog to express my thoughts and opinions on things pertaining to this very fandom I'm deeply committed to, despite my new (real-life) work commitments.

All I want to say is that if we are serious about what we love and our interests within the fandom, then it's time we start putting aside our differences and work together for the benefit of the fandom as a whole. Where is the inclusiveness and consensus of decision making? The openness to new ideas and valuing (not shouting down) differences in opinion? The ability to balance our time to "get things done" and produce results? The sacrifice of oneself and the willingness to be accountable for whatever task you're given, whether you're in charge of managing the overall work or doing more menial tasks - i.e. respecting hierarchy? The ability to appreciate difference of character and sensitivities whilst valuing fun and diversity - i.e. being a team player? The integrity to the work and the commitment to learn? Just because it's an idol fandom, and an online one at that (and one that's heavily emotionally driven), doesn't mean we can disregard the principles of a sound, people-focused work culture, nor have clear and open heads. And that's certainly not to say I am a perfect man demonstrating clearly every single principle I just mentioned above either. We can be fans, MIXing and expressing emotion both online and elsewhere, yet at the same time, why can't we also be people that can do the work? It's no wonder some people avoid trying to make contact with other people in the fandom online because of the perceived antagony that goes on.

It's not about promoting "I", "my brand" or "my experience". It's about how you and I can bring in whatever skill and/or experience you have to work for the benefit of the whole. This entire fandom is very much a people-oriented culture, yet from what I have seen recently, let's just say none of this so-called "drama" would ever be tolerated in the firm that I work for - you'd all be screened right out during the employment process - nor any other multinational firm that prides itself on the work and the people that work there. There are no big egos dominating the course of conversation, but as well as being inclusive and diverse with the differing backgrounds and opinions that we have, we organise ourselves into different levels of accountability, decide what to do and get things done. Humility, politeness and group mentality is often cited as one of the key traits of Japanese culture/society at large. Yes, Japanese society and cultural norms may have its own flaws, I think it's useful to learn from them in this regard.

It's not to say none of this cannot be done. Yet if local fan groups in each country can be successful at planning and executing whatever they want to do (whether it be fan meets, event attendance, etc.), why can the same not be said if we expand our borders via various online media?  The less we focus on internal drama, and the more we focus on being fans, the better. Please. I don't have time for this, given my busy life nowadays. And I suppose none of you do either.

During our strategy day discussion at the firm that I work at, one of the directors liked the idea that when it comes to maintaining our people culture, just like one national sporting club has implemented, we should have a (excuse the crudeness for a second) "no d***heads" policy. I think the same should be done here.

ADDENDUM (7:45pm 30 June 2013)
After reading a wide range of reactions to my post, I think I need to clarify my position a bit.

If people don't want to be a "producer" of content or services, and purely participate as a "consumer" of content and services, then that's fine. (When I mean "consumer", I mean someone who just watches shows, listens to music, comments on G+, reads blogs, goes to events... that sort of thing. A "producer" simply implies anyone who is involved in producing something for the benefit of the fandom at large, whether it be organising birthday projects, translation services, management of news content or other websites like blogs/Tumblr/etc., and so forth). I don't think it's appropriate to necessarily "force" someone to become strictly either. What I was focusing on in my post above was on the "producer" side of things rather than the "consumption" of content. That's not to say the two can't cross over, but when people in the fandom talk about collaboration and wanting to do something, that's where most of the internal fandom drama arise.

Also, I want to stress that I'm not trying to advocate either a diversified or a unified approach to the international fandom. My issue is not the fact that everything is spread out onto different Tumblrs, blogs, Twitter accounts, forums etc., and whether a unified, "one size fits all" approach would be better (or not). Personally, whilst a unified approach would theoretically work better, I can understand some people may wish to "do their own thing" and be separate. The point of my post wasn't to target the form and structure of information and "produced content" within the fandom, or "how things should/should not be done". Rather, I was seeking to address matters related to attitude, or "the manner in which we approach issues" in the fandom. Whilst I realise the line between the two is quite blurry, the reality is, most of the "drama" that props up time and time again arises less because of disagreements over idea and concept, and more because of attitude and character differences.