As Japan Ages, Pop 'Idols' Aren't as Spry as They Used to Be

Hey! I was quoted in an article that ran in the New York Times:

As Japan Ages, Pop 'Idols' Aren't as Spry as They Used to Be
Japanese culture is renowned for its obsession with the impermanence of beauty, and many a poem has honored the brief but perfect life of the cherry blossom. 

In human terms, the Japanese “Christmas cake” maxim celebrates feminine beauty, but dictates that a woman is past her prime at 25, when she should avoid turning into leftover Christmas cake. In show business this has long meant that female pop “idols” should marry and retire by their early 20s.

But with the number of Japanese older than 65 rising from 7.1 percent of the population in 1970 to a world record 22.7 percent in 2009, the Christmas cake dictum is showing signs of age. The Christmas cake example is the singer Momoe Yamaguchi, whom Japan swooned over in the 1970s. After stealing the nation’s heart, she married in 1980 and disappeared forever into domestic bliss.

Go to original article here. Or here (if NY Times wants you to pay money... Ha!)

My Latest Article on Lew Rockwell: Junko Mihara Runs For Political Office in Japan...

By Mike in Tokyo Rogers

Once again, today, just for a moment, I'd like to ask that you good folks take a moment away from the Social Marketing and the advertising, PR and promotion.  Drop the Twitter, blogs, video blogs, Mixi, Facebook, Pick and anything on the Internet in general for just 5 minutes.

Here I always blog about Marketing Japan and how to do intelligent business in this country... But, you need to understand what kind of animal Japan really is if you are to do business here. That's the reason for today's blog.

Former J-Pop Idol singer Junko Mihara is running for political office in Japan

That's why today I'd like to ask you to take a short trip with me to see just how wacky Japan can be.... I love Japan!

Later today, on Lew Rockwell, my latest article about Japan will be published, but here's a chance for you to read it first.

A famous J-Pop Idol, former teenybopper singer and former actress named Junko Mihara is running for political office and this is absolutely hilarious. It is even more hilarious when you consider the fact that these people are dead serious about their business. You just cannot make this stuff up!

I promise that this will have you laughing out loud. It did me.

Check out the article here: http://www.lewrockwell.com/rogers/rogers236.html

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