Lauren Bird comments

@Psyops "this is probably why Japan doesn't have any world famous singer/band". Yoshiki from XJapan is repeatly invited as a soloist and with XJapan to play venues across the globe. They only put off their next tour due to Pata's declining health. They were projected to sell out in both New York and London. ONE OK ROCK, Dir en Grey, Miyavi, and even The Gazette have gone on/will be going on world tours. The Gazette has sold out nearly every location they're playing. Visual Kei artists, are known for going on European tours, regularly if not yearly. Babymetal has straddled both the idol and metal charts, going on to sell out solo concerts, and play metal festivals to warm receptions by both idol and metal fans. Even Kyary Pamyu Pamyu and Perfume usually sell out when they go to Europe and America.

To say Japan has no world famous musicians is simply not correct. Are they popular the same way as Western musicians are? No, but they are known globally.

My own personal opinion is that fan mindset needs to change. I like the freebies like posters, or postcards that come with a new cd. It's something I wouldn't otherwise buy for myself. What I dislike are the 'fans' that glare at me for only buying one copy of a cd, while they buy 10+. Not every fan is going to shell out thousands of yen for cds; I'd rather that go to buying a ticket to the concert.

Companies aren't going to cut out the fan engagement. As someone who got to meet their favorite band by one of those 'freebies'; I'm so grateful. It meant the world to me to have my 2 minutes of a photo and chat with my favorite group. It's addictive to do since it feels good to meet them, even if they'll never remember you.

I wish they put limits on how many fan engagement tickets, whether it be photos, hand shakes, whatever, by stating that if you buy X amount, you get only X amount no matter how many stores you go to, or how many editions you buy. But that takes a lot of companies and groups banning together, and the potential revenue lost isn't worth the artist's health to them. Or to limit the events in some other ways so the musicians aren't constantly having to bounce between preforming and engaging the fans in one-on-one.

@Tessa Sugerical masks are for the prevention of spreading diseases; they're usually not perceived by the common Japanese person as shady, unless it's dirty and written on. (Which is associated with fashion, or bad behavior.)