Question 11.
Is it really true that Japanese fans don't cheer at concerts?

No, that is not true. If a Japanese fan tries to shush you from cheering at a rock concert, ignore that person and carry on cheering. Anyone who doesn't cheer at a rock concert is doing it very, very wrong.

Question 12.
Now that I know the basics,
can you debunk some of the myths
spawned by that JaME article on visual kei concert etiquette?

Ah, yes, you must mean this article. I’d really like to debunk the myths this article propagates.

It's true, the author of this article is absolutely right that as a foreigner in Japan, you are representing your country to the Japanese population. As a foreigner, your behavior doesn’t just reflect on you, it reflects on your whole country. Japanese people may make stereotypes about your country based on how you act, so take that into consideration and try to behave in a way that will reflect well on you and your nation. When you're traveling abroad, you're a cultural ambassador for your nation. Acting like an asshole is never okay.

However, the author of this article also insinuates that in order to comport yourself well at visual kei shows (or other rock shows in Japan) you must ascribe to the arcane code of behavior developed by the Japanese fangirl diehards, and in my opinion, that's childish and ridiculous. Every band has its crazy fans, and every crazy fan following has its own crazy rules, but you don't have to be a part of it. You don't have to pay any attention to it. Unless you want to become friends with the crazy fangirls, you don't have to give a damn about their petty, bizarre rituals. Just go to the show, enjoy the show, and don’t act like an asshole. If people treat you badly anyway, it’s their problem, not yours. For more information on fangirl behavior and psychology, read my article The Fangirl Phenomenon.

A few more myths I want to debunk:

Does line number manipulation actually happen?—While it’s possible that at some shows crazy fans may rig ticket sales so they always get the lowest line numbers, it's uncommon, especially for older bands. But if you didn’t manage to get a low line number to the show you’re attending, don’t bother worrying about it. Line numbers don’t mean much. You can usually get pretty close to the front even if you have a high number. However, shoving people out of the way in order to get to the front is never acceptable.

What the hell are these jouren, saizen, and shikiri, and what do they have to do with me?—If you don't know what I'm talking about, read the original article, but actually, you don't really need to bother - this stuff is very rare outside of the visual kei scene. According to the author of this article lots of bands have complained about the "shikiri" practice anyway, so there you have it... if the band asks you not to do something, don't do it. You won’t find stuff like this happening at Buck-Tick shows, that’s for sure.

However, if you do end up at a show where girls are jealously guarding spots on the front railing and kick you, elbow you, or cat-scratch you if you try to get too close to them, like I said, this is their problem, not your problem. Though I don't advocate violence, long years of concert going has taught me that if a fangirl hits you, the most effective tactic is to hit her back as hard as you can. If you demonstrate that you're stronger and you won't take shit, the fangirls will generally get the message and leave you alone. More on this here.

What about the hand dance thing?—Yes, some fans of some bands get together before shows to choreograph and practice dance moves for every song. Once again, this phenomenon is pretty much province of young visual kei bands only. If you end up going to a show where people are doing these dances and you want to follow along, it’s pretty easy to learn by watching, but if you don’t want to follow along, don’t bother. Dance however you damn well please, and if someone tells you you’re doing it wrong, tell them to get a life (more on this here). Just make sure not to hit people or step on their feet by accident.

Do I have to participate in crowd rotation?—The author of the JaME article urges you to join in crowd rotation - i.e., only stand in the front during the set of the band you came to see. While it’s true that crowd rotation is the general practice at shows by young visual kei bands, I personally wouldn’t worry about participating in it. Stand wherever you want to stand, you paid for the ticket to the whole show, after all… plus, you might discover a new great band that way. Lesser-known bands benefit a lot from playing events alongside more popular bands because it gives them a chance to perform their music for a wider range of people who might not have heard of them before, but nevertheless might be interested in what they are doing. I've had the experience multiple times where some band I'd never heard of turned out to be even better than the band I came to see. Having tunnel vision and never paying attention to artists you haven't seen before can be kind of a waste. So long as you are there, give the other bands a try. Though if you’re going to stand in the front it’s polite to cheer for the band currently on the stage and act like you’re having fun, otherwise it’s true, both the band and their fans will wonder why you’re there.

In conclusion, while my general advice to travelers is, “when in Rome, do as the Romans do,” this doesn’t extend to me endorsing participation in fangirl power games. Yes, Japanese culture is different from Western culture, but as I've been saying all along, trust your instincts and your common sense. If you think something is rude, chances are, so will Japanese people. On the other hand, if you think someone is a crazy fangirl and you don’t want to get involved in her shit, you’re probably right on that one, too.

<< Sending gifts to band members

Back to Index

<<Back to Visiting Japan: Helpful Guides<<