JKT48 Article in Kosmo! Malaysia Translation
by Angga · November 24, 2013
AKB48 group is very popular in Japan and have their own history, while JKT48 from Indonesia is AKB48 first franchise outside of Japan.
With the same organization as AKB48, JKT48 have as much as 49 members ranging from 13 to 22 Years old.
Having met with 6 of their members, Melody Nurramdhani Laksani (21), Jessica Veranda (20), Haruka Nakagawa (21), Cindy Yuvia (15), Nabilah Ratna Ayu Azalia (14), and Rona Anggreani (18), it is obvious that these groups shows the other side of Indonesian music industry.
Wearing shiny green uniform designed with Japanese fashion in mind and music oriented to J-pop, JKT48 got their own point of interest.
“JKT48 is not just your another music group, but it looks more like a music school. Different compared to K-Pop where they got their own intensive training for years before they decided to take their first step in the industry.
“We, after we were chosen from the audition, assimilated into JKT48 entirely. The training and learning process will goes hand in hand with our career,” said Melody when we met them at JW Marriot Hotel, Kuala Lumpur not a long time ago.
Too many members is not a problem from them every time they have a show. Melody said, every show will consist of 16 members out of their 49 members.
The group even got three sub unit, Team J with 23 members, KIII (17 members) and Trainee with 9 members.
JKT48 got their own answer to the critic that said that their vocal isn’t good.
“In addition to stage performances throughout Indonesia (Concert), we also have our own theater show in the f(X) Sudirman mall in Jakarta.
“Fans can buy the tickets and watch our show everyday in turns. Not only we could meet the fans directly, theater is the best stage for our training,” said Melody.
The group that have released an album titled Heavy Rotation and three other single: River, Yuuhi wo Miteiruka, and Fortune Cookies in Love also have an exchanged member from AKB48, Haruka Nakagawa.
After being in the group and stayed in Indonesia for almost a year, Haruka looks like she already in one with the Indonesia’s culture and language. She is not awkward at all to speak a very fluent Bahasa Indonesia.
“I’m indeed came from Japan, but I think it is really interesting if I transferred over to Indonesia. At first it was hard since the language is so different, but as time went by, it became easier.
“My friends help me a lot to understand the culture and language of Indonesia very fast. For me, being in AKB48 and JKT48 poses not much of differences.
I still wear the same uniform, sang the same song. It is only the language that translated to Indonesia,” said Haruka.
Asked about groups like them that usually gave a good dance performance with mediocre vocal quality, Ve said that every members got their own unique ability.
“Maybe there are some of us who don’t have a great vocal quality but have an amazing dancing skill. When you combine it into a group, both our advantages and disadvantages complement each others.
“We also try to fix our shortcomings by attending the class for both dance and vocal. For us, being in JKT48 is not only for popularity but it is counted from our talent,” Ve explained.
Maybe there are lots of opinions that JKT48 is just for teenage girls and will not live long in the industry.
But for Melody, they have a big dream. Not just being known in Indonesia, but also Asia and the whole world.
“For now, we are known well only in Indonesia and for a couple of times, a concert in Japan together with AKB48.
“Our target is bigger, we want JKT48 to be known across Asia and the world. For me, it is not an impossible mission if we all try our best and our music can attract various listeners around the world,” said Melody again.
AKB48は日本では大変有名で、その歴史もよく知られている。インドネシアのJKT48はAKB48の最初の海外フランチャイズである。AKB48の組織と同様に、JKT48も13歳から22歳まで49人ものメンバーを抱えている。
そのうちの6人、メロディ。ヌランダニ・ラクサニ（21）、ジェシカ・フェランダ（20）、仲川遥香（21）、シンディ・ユフィア（15)、ナビラ・ランタ・アユ・アザリア（14）、そしてロナ・アングラエニ（18）の6人に会った。明らかに、こういうグループの存在はインドネシアの音楽産業のもうひとつの現状を示している。
J-POP風の日本ファッションを意識したと思われるキラキラしたグリーンの衣装に身を包んだJKT48は、自分たちなりの視点を持っている。
「JKT48は、普通のミュージック・グループではありません。どちらかと言えばミュージック・スクールのようなものでしょうか。例えば、事前に何年間も集中してトレーニングを積み、満を持してデビューするK-Popとは様子が異なっています」
「私たちはオーディションで選ばれた後、JKT48というものを徐々に理解して馴染んできたのです。トレーニングや学ぶことそのものが、私たちのキャリアと密接に関係しています」と、先日クアラランプールのJWマリオットホテルでメロディは語った。
メンバーが多すぎて公演が大変だというようなことはない、とメロディは言う。公演は毎回49人のメンバーのうち16人が行う。このグループは三つものサブ・ユニットに分かれている。チームJが23人、KIII（17人）、そして研究生が9人だ。JKT48はボーカルがもうひとつという批評にもちゃんと答を用意してくれた。
「インドネシア全土を回るコンサートに加えて、私たちはジャカルタのf(X)スディルマン・モールに自分たちの劇場を持っています」
「ファンはチケットを買えば、毎日私たちの公演を見ることが出来るんです。劇場はファンに直接会えるところであるだけでなく、私たちのトレーニングにも最適な場なのです」とメロディは語った。
このグループは「ヘビーローテーション」というアルバムと、シングルを3枚発売している。「River」「夕陽を見ているか」、そして「恋するフォーチュン・クッキー」にはAKB48からの移籍メンバー、仲川遥香がいる。
メンバーの一員として一年ほどインドネシアにいるはるかは、インドネシアの文化や言葉にすっかり馴染んでいるように見える。大変流暢なインドネシア語を苦もなくあやつるのだ。
「日本人なんですけど、インドネシアに移籍出来たら面白いだろうなって思ったんです。最初は言葉も違うし色々大変でしたけど、だんだん慣れてきました」
「メンバーがすごく助けてくれたから、インドネシアの文化や言葉もどんどん分かるようになりました。私にとっては、AKB48もJKT48もあまり変わりません。衣装も同じだし歌も同じです。インドネシア語に翻訳されているというだけで」とはるかは言った。
この手のグループは普通、ダンスが主で歌は二の次ではないかという質問に、フェイはメンバーたちはそれぞれ固有の能力を持っていると語った。
「たぶん、ダンスはすごく上手くても歌唱力はもうひとつというメンバーもいますけど、グループですからそんな長所や欠点をお互い補い合えるんです」
「それに、ダンスやボーカルのレッスンを受けることで欠点を克服しようと努めています。私たちにとってJKT48のメンバーであるということは、人気を得るのもさることながら、才能を磨くことでもあるんです」とフェイは説明する。
JKT48はティーンエイジ向けゆえ、音楽業界ではそう長続きしないだろうという観測も少なからずあるようだ。しかし、メロディは大きな夢があると言う。インドネシアで知られるだけではなく、アジアや世界でも知られるようになりたいのだと。
「現在、私たちはインドネシアでもよく知られるようになりましたし、日本でもAKB48と一緒に何回かコンサートもしました」
「私たちの目標はもっと大きいんです。私たちは、JKT48がアジアや世界中で知られるようになりたいと願っています。私はそれが不可能なことだとは思いません。一所懸命努力すれば、世界中の色んなリスナーに聴いてもらえると思います」とメロディは繰り返した。
Source from Kosmo! Online Malaysia which written by HARYATI KARIM
Japanese Translation by Tokyo Pop
you know, this is a great article done by the writer. Now JKT48 already feature in Malaysian newspaper twice already plus the tv coverage on them. They will be known soon in Malaysia and I like it. Hope they going to do a show in Malaysia soon. BTW, I don’t know what ‘picisan’ actually means. Is it something like mediocre or something like so-so kind of thing…you know what I mean
picisan ≈ lame
Anyone know how big are Kpop/Jpop scene in Malaysia?
Do they have GB/BB with Korean flavour like in Indonesia? Just curious. :’)
I think that Kpop/ Jpop scene in Malaysia is average…maybe most of the genre and different kind of music is almost the same…
They like all kind of music and it depends on the promotion I think.
Well, they also always host an international concert like MTV World Stage and have some amazing artist like YUNA, Zee Avi, Pop Shuvit and Siti Nurhaliza.
BTW, I like YUNA and she seems have signed with ‘THAT’ David Foster.(sorry, out of topic)
Overall, JKT48 have a big chance to popular in Malaysia and they always welcomed foreigner artist like Indonesian artist, so no problem for JKT48
Foreword: I don’t claim to represent “Malaysia” as a whole.
The K-pop scene is reasonably big in Malaysia. They’re on everything from political rallies to my phone bill (no really: http://i.imgur.com/fGmkzHY.jpg)
Without going too deep on the internal dynamics of Malaysia, K-pop is one of the few things that the different races can find a common ground. Because of the language barrier, the average Malay in Malaysia has no idea who Guang Liang and Nicholas Teo and Leehom Wang is, and the reverse is true: the average Malaysian-Chinese only knows the SNSD Yuna, and any mention of Ariel Noah draws blank stares. Priyanka Chopra transits in KL International Airport and all the baggage handlers (without stereotyping, are generally Malaysian-Indians) drop everything go to meet her (personal experience), while everyone at the luggage carousel is wondering who she is.
Malaysia doesn’t have the equivalent of Cherrybelle or S4, and there has been no attempt to “Koreanise” Malaysian acts. The thing is the Indonesian entertainment industry has a strong influence over Malaysia, and it is not uncommon to hear Indonesian songs being crooned out of karaoke.
(Complete with “bisa” and “kangen” in the lyrics) (For international readers, [Indonesian] = [Malay] = [English]: “bisa” = “boleh” = “can” / “kangen” = rindu” = “missing you dearly”)
Malaysia got the tail end of the Japanese wave in the late 90’s, so the J-pop scene barely had time to develop before it died when the Japanese lost decade started to bite. Then the Hallyu wave came, and here we are in this day.
While I appreciate the PR for JKT48 in Malaysia, I suspect JKT48 will have trouble getting a foothold in Malaysia. They are not Japanese enough to get a foothold in the Malaysian-Chinese community, but not Indonesian enough to be an alternative to Amy Mastura. For the Malaysian-Chinese they are too Malay to be considered a East Asian franchise group, and for the Malay’s it is alien enough from what they usually associate with the Indonesian entertainment industry.
A good explanation. Now I see it clear. A looooong way for them to build a strong fanbase in Malaysia. It’s okay cause they can only do it one step at a time
I see…
Yeah, I agree with you. Honestly I don’t know anything about Malaysia’s music industry, but I feel that JKT48 still got a long way to go to get a steady feet there. They have to fight Hallyu wave (although,IMHO, I feel that Korean craze is already on their peak this year).
Even in Indonesia, I think that JKT48 still aims a niche market. As much as I love them, I don’t think their music can beat Noah, Ungu, or other local bands popularity.
Deep down inside, I hope JKT48 will have a special song that will attract much more general audience. I don’t really know how 48 family works, but how about if JKT48 have a special song created by local songwriter like Melly, Bebi Romeo, Dewiq, Pongky Bharata, etc.
Well, sad news that 48G have to sing all songs created by Aki-P. I don’t think JKT48 will get exception for this rule just because they have different language, because there’s SNH48 here. I just wonder whether JOT has made any discussion with Aki-P about original single or not. One year could be accepted, but two years… And Also, I’ve been noticing that their record in song, for example First Rabbit, has become so much smoother and stable than previous songs. No wonder if some people think that First Rabbit should have been the single than KFC, because even I aggree with that. Now, at this point they should have at least new single. But I don’t know, I’ve been always guessing that Aki-P expects more of JKT48. Maybe something like expanding popularity outside Indonesia, besides Japan?
Well if Aki-P wants to expand JKT48’s popularity outside Indonesia, then he should just translate AKB48 song in english. IMHO, english version of KFC is much better than the Indonesian version. And there is an artist on youtube called Gille, she cover AKB48 songs in English and it sound really damn good!
Gille – Flying Get cover: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tfmrZfdvhgk
And yes, original single please. And I hope when he (Aki-P) make original single for JKT48, he can make a song which has different character from JPN48 songs, so people can easily recognize, “yes this is JKT48 song for sure!”. For some reason, I always think that AKB is more towards elegance, NMB is the sexier group, SKE is more energetic and HKT is more fun and cuter group. (no comment about SDN and OJS
) And I hope someday JKT can have their own distinct character.
And I hope Stella will be the cente…oh wait… *crying alone in my bathroom*