entertainment

First official SMAP magazine goes on sale

21 Comments

The first official SMAP magazine, published by Magazine House and titled THE SMAP MAGAZINE, went on sale on Wednesday. The 176-page volume was developed this year in collaboration with the editing teams behind popular magazines Popeye and anan.

"SMAP are a national phenomenon who are always leading the pack and have won fans of all ages. Why do they endlessly attract fans like that? We wanted to explore the secret of their immense appeal, so we concentrated all of our efforts on creating this magazine," explained a Magazine House spokesperson.

The magazine covers a lot of ground including photography from fashionable new shoots overseen by popular stylists as well as a wide variety of shots from the 1990s spanning most of the band's career. It also features conversations between the band and other celebrities. Actor Takuya Kimura and Softbank President Son Masayoshi appear and Goro Inagaki chats with manga artist Naoki Urasawa.

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21 Comments
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Get your copy before they're gone!

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S = Small M = Men A = At P = Play

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OH NO!

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Well, I'm off to the bookstore!

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Do they have a roll edition?

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run for the HILLS!!!!!!!

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this is desperately needed. (cynical)

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These guys are more or less washed up as a group. If they actually had any talent as individuals (including as actors), they might go solo and strike it big. But alas, given that they cannot sing well at all, cannot play any instruments, cannot dance, and cannot write their own songs, they wouldn't get very far.

Sorry, but all the 'cool kids' have moved on to Arashi, and this magazine is a last-ditch attempt to regain some of the former glory this Sports Music Assemble People group had.

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I thought that SMAP could at least cook,watching them in action on their Monday night cooking show for the famous people..

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I don't think they're washed up, and they are already quite big ... but most of it is thanks to Kimura Takuya (he's the best actor, singer, dancer, etc...). He also has been in some foreign films...

It's true that a lot of people have moved on to Arashi, but SMAP are still popular... just not with the younger 'kids' (either way, they are managed by the same company so the money still goes to the same place).

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Sorry everyone I bought every copy printed. I'm selling them for twice the price if anyone's interested.

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I was just in FUK last week & was near the dome there & there were swarms of people about so I asked someone if the hawks were playing, nope, was a smap concert, clearly they still have the ability to fool the locals, there is not escape unless you leave these isles!

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Tigerguy - a chap I know who works at the TV studios told me that the cooking segments of their TV show are carefully edited, to show the members of SMAP in full-length shots, stirring pots and pans diligently (but not showing the contents, and any close-ups of hands putting things onto plates, being decorated or skilfully carved and assembled are actually the hands of real chefs who do the real work.

I don't know if there's any truth in that, but it's not difficult to believe.

In any case it dopes seem a bit late in the day to bring out a magazine for these blokes. They seem harmless enough, but it would have been a shrewder move to publish 10 years ago.

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IvanCoughalot - thanks for the info, I think I can believe what you said about SMAP being portrayed as top chefs by the editing...

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Is there anything which doesn't have SMAP on it anymore?

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Is there anything which doesn't have SMAP on it anymore?

Hello Kitty Engine Oil. ;)

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SMAP magazine about SMAP that's pure genious !!!!??? Don't they have twitter SMAP or facebook SMAP ?? Is there anything that can't do ? SMAP magazine ??? Sugoi ne !!!

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@smithinjapan

Sure about that ? I don't believe these guys are washed up at all, they are still very popular everywhere around Japan. As for talent, if these guys didn't have any, they wouldn't have made it this far.

Nakai kun probably can't sing for peanuts but this guy can dance, have you seen his dance moves ? Also he's a superb actor, you should watch some of his movies and he sure as hell is one entertaining talk show host.

Kimura Taku, this guy is gifted with talent. With stunning looks that drive almost all women nuts, this guy can model, great acting, watch his movies ? great chef and he fronts for so many commercials, you loose count.

Don't get me wrong, I think Arashi are superb, young, energetic and highly talented but SMAP has always been king. Maybe SMAP is starting to loose some shine now to Arashi but in no way does that mean they are not talented individuals.

From a foreigners perspective, SMAP might seem a talentless bunch but this is Japan and these guys rule the entertainment world here and that's all that really matters.

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southsakai-- I am a far bigger Arashi fan but you've made some good points. And yeah, KimuTaku is awesome. I think if and when the time comes for SMAP to quietly fade out into obscurity, he will be the last one to go.

It's funny, with a lot of Johnny's groups, I see them as individuals rather than as a group. As a group, SMAP cannot sing, and their music is OK, not that amazing. But when they're apart or being themselves on TV, I am fascinated.

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SMAP, I'm not into boy bands, but we have to agree that they're a powerful force in japanese showbiz.

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So Arashi is truly catching on? The comments made me wonder, if matching SMAP means being number one in Japanese entertainment business.

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