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On Yamate-dori not far from Nakameguro Station stands a structure that is now building a bad reputation. Just behind the main street is a quiet, upscale residential area.
What Shukan Post’s reporter saw there was a group of young men dressed in what would be described as "typical" to that particular type of group -- with a dark tan, wearing dark glasses and wide pants. The young men in their early 20s were talking loudly, cracking jokes and seemingly just hanging out. One smoker dropped a cigarette butt to the asphalt, stepped on it and left it there.
The location happens to be the Tokyo branch of “EXPG" (EXILE Professional Gym), a dance school produced by the popular band and dance performance group EXILE. There are six schools across the country, where children and youngsters who hope to become professional dancers one day are enrolled.
The training school for future EXILE members is enjoying great success as a business but quickly becoming a headache for the residents in the area who are disgusted with the behavior of the school’s students. A woman living in the neighborhood comments, “It’s a bit intimidating when there are so many young boys gathering in a group outside my home. There are cigarette butts thrown everywhere, empty cans and bottles left behind. It really is a nuisance.”
Such behavior does not seem to be limited to the young students. According to a self-employed man running a business in the vicinity, “Cars driven by parents sending or picking up their children make a long line on the road, blocking the street-parking lots, extending to the doorway of houses and stores as well. I’m at a point where I feel like I could shout at them to move their cars elsewhere, but of course I can’t. One look at the parents and you see they’re all dressed up like EXILE members. But I heard that some of the neighbors have started to file complaints to the school.”
Last year the group even performed before Emperor Akihito to celebrate the 20th anniversary of his coronation. In recent years, the group has also been engaged in various charity activities.
But will the poor manners of the students affect the image of the pop group?
Shukan Post reported various complaints heard in the area to the staff at EXILE’s agency involved in the management of the school. Said one representative, “We deeply regret the inconvenience caused and offer our apologies to the residents in this neighborhood. The school aims to be a place of training in character building, including common courtesy. We accept with sincerity the complaints that have been made, and promise to address the matter appropriately.”
© Japan Today
13 Comments
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tkoind2
So let's get this straight. A hip hop wanna-be cheezy pop band opens a school for legions of young ones who dream of being hip hop kings and queens and the locals are not happy. Is this really news?
Let's think it through. Japanese hip hop types want to look tough and ghetto like their icons. They act "bad" but in reality they are not. They are not dangerous, though their music may harm some people, and they are not real gang bangers.
I grew up where the hip hop kids are truly dangerous and often well armed. If they are hanging around there is a good chance that drugs are trading hands and gang involvement is nearly certain.
So residents of Nakameguro, just tell them to keep it down and complain to the company about them hanging about and the problem will go away. Try that same solution in a lot of other countries and you may end up on a slab. So be happy your problem with hip hop Japanese is really not so serious.
nath
I thought this is how Japanese behave at hanami nature loving parties...
fds
and of course the police do nothing about their littering or blocking traffic....
bicultural
Hey, look on the bright side. Maybe some local old folks will get together to start a volunteer "clean up the streets" group. The streets around my apartment are super clean due to these people. Gets them out of the house, gives them something to do, it's good exercise, and they can socialize.
JA_Cruise
I am sure the problem will work it's way out as the school has been notified of this. Anyway, this issue has nothing to do with the school, but rather these people need to have some simple courtesy and manners. Cigarette butt throwers should be punished and given civil duties to clean up the city...
electric2004
So the character building does not go into the right direction.
benhur
they should all be exiled.
nath
LOL
Proffesor
One look at the parents and you see they’re all dressed up like EXILE members
Am I missing something here?
dolphingirl
benhur: Good one!
'The young men in their early 20s were talking loudly, cracking jokes and seemingly just hanging out.'--OOOOO. Cho yabai!!
It's great for young people to get involved in dancing. Probably keeps them into getting into much worse trouble than throwing a cigarette butt on the ground. Just provide an ashtray and a garbage can and tell the students to use it!
paulinusa
Delinquents Japanese style!
gogogo
OMG!
soothsayer
"One smoker dropped a cigarette butt to the asphalt, stepped on it and left it there."
Evidently a future salariman. Mind you he'll need to learn not to step it out to really fit the suit.