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Rumors are flying around the Japanese internet that facial recognition technology may be introduced at least partially at the Arashi concerts being held later this week.
Getting your hands on a highly coveted concert ticket is difficult in any country, and Japan is no exception. Now, word is that Johnny & Associates, the entertainment company behind some of the most successful boy bands in Japan including Arashi and SMAP, may be using some form of facial recognition for the ARASHI LIVE TOUR 2015 Japonism concerts taking place at Tokyo Dome on Dec 23, 24, 26 and 27, as fans entering the draw to purchase additional seats that have been made newly available will apparently be required to submit a photo of themselves.
Because of the group’s enormous popularity, it’s become common practice for Arashi concert organizers to open up what would normally be equipment space and make additional seats available shortly before the event for the myriad desperate fans who haven’t been able to purchase tickets. And while the additional seats for the concerts are being allocated in a slightly different way than usual, fans have been sharing information on social media this week that those lucky enough to have been selected to participate in the draw for the seats are receiving e-mails stating that they need to register their mugshot in order to submit their entries.
The photo submission is apparently required just for the additional seats and doesn’t apply to the regular seats that have already been sold, but fans nonetheless seem to have been surprised by this development, with many people commenting online that this must mean they will be introducing some form of facial recognition for the upcoming Arashi concerts. If indeed that is the case, the logistics of scanning the concert guests may take a little bit of getting used to, but the technology has already been used at concerts of other popular performers such as Momoiro Clover Z and Mr. Children with satisfactory results.
In the face of this information coming out, there have been a few negative remarks from internet users who feel the facial recognition process is a pain, and people even wondering half-jokingly, “What if this means they choose attractive-looking people to get the seats so that they can fill the concert hall with pretty faces?” But considering the huge demand for Arashi concert tickets, the majority of fans seem to think this is a great idea that will prevent the reselling of tickets at immensely inflated prices. Hopefully, it will allow genuine fans to enjoy the performances of the artists they love at reasonable prices, because we all want quality entertainment to be as accessible as possible, after all, don’t we?
Source: J-Cast News
Read more stories from RocketNews24. -- We ask Arashi fans why the boy band is so popular… because we couldn’t figure it out ourselves -- Proposed facial recognition system would send warning emails to families of pachinko addicts -- Japanese idol unit plans concert for men only, draws complaints from women’s organization
© Japan Today
11 Comments
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theeastisred
Will that help us to distinguish between the members of the group? If so, a very welcome and necessary step.
Novenachama
Unfortunately it is not a perfect system and there are factors that could get in the way of recognition and even the facial recognition corporations admit that the more use the technology gets, the higher the likelihood of identity theft or fraud. So there are drawbacks and the manufacturers still need to enhance the usability and accuracy of the system. Another ingenious application of this developing technology allows it to distinguish fake from true emotional expressions. In other words, it can tell you if you're lying by not only identifying but distinguishing authentic expressions from false expressions with a pretty high accuracy rate. So if you add voice detection to face recognition you can actually get a complete lie detection package.
daiana05
I wonder if anyone even cares about international fans who spend little fortunes in order to get to attend an Arashi concert. It's the only way we have. Can't do nothing but pay whatever these opportunists ask and take the risk to be treated like criminals. I'm sick of this bullshit! As long as JE keeps pretending that we don't exist I'm afraid you won't get rid of us so easily. Your system sucks JE!!!!!! our money's no good enough?
Kobe White Bar Owner
Facial recognition at concerts police drones planned in the sky, scary scary future!
Pukey2
Thank god I have absolutely no interest in these acts.
Will facial recognition still work if you have thick black paint over your face?
NG12345
The music industry in Japan need to expand beyond their own borders like their animation and video games.
Cogito Ergo Sum
These monstrously EVIL people used me as a guinea pig when setting- up this facial recognition system, just the way they use gaijins at airports for drugs- busting tests sans ones consent. Truly evil monsters!!
Scrote
Why not just print the buyer's name on the ticket and require some ID at the entry point? If the facial recognition software makes a mistake the concert organisers could be sued.
dagon
First World Problems extra lite version
DaDude
You can make a fortune on the Internet selling Arashi tickets. There are people who join the fan club just to have the right to purchase the tickets so they can turn around and resell them. It drives me crazy when people do this......but I have thought I about doing it too hahaha Money makes the World go round.
gogogo
You sold the ticket you got the money, this is just a way to stop re-sale of tickets which is stupidly (IMO) illegal in Japan.