6th Single Election: The Game We Don’t Want to Play but Have To
Since JKT48 was formed in November 2011, the one question that has remained in the back of everyone’s mind is “When will JKT48 hold a member election?”
With the spectacle of the AKB48’s annual Single Senbatsu Sousenkyo, it’s no wonder that fans in Indonesia want to see their idol group achieve the same national craze. Last year’s AKB48 Sousenkyo reached 20 percent viewership rating and peaked when almost a third of Japanese households watched Rino Sashihara’s crowning moment. JKT48 does not come close to this level of national recognition, yet the hype among fans across the country is certainly present.
Management has flirted with the concept of elections before, most memorably the election for Pajama Drive Revival Show. In addition, management has utilized text message voting in selecting members to be featured in Hai magazine and the JKT48 calendar. Such cases, however, are uncontrolled experiments and cannot serve as scientific basis for the outcome of the upcoming 6th single election. Text message voting is unlimited and requires little effort.
However, the outcomes of 48 Group elections do defy logic. Case in point, the most recent AKB48 Sousenkyo, where Rino Sashihara, who had essentially been exiled from AKB48, unexpectedly rocketed to the coveted center position. Such surprises are what make these elections so exciting, but at the same time so frightening. JKT48 fans want to feel the ecstasy of their own election, but at the same time there is much fear and uncertainty in what will occur after the dust settles.
Indonesians are not new to elections. Even under Suharto’s authoritarian government, elections were regularly held, if only symbolically. But for an overwhelming majority of Indonesian millenials today, democracy is the only form of government they have known. They witnessed the overthrown of authoritarianism in 1998 and the subsequent wave of political reforms. They are raised with the mindset of participatory governance, founded on the social basis of gotong royong (mutual assistance). They demand a voice in decision-making. Ultimately, they demand transparency. That is why JKT48 fans are frustrated when they have no say in management of the group. This is perhaps one fundamental difference JKT48 has from its Japanese sisters.
Yet despite this desire for transparency, there is a fear for the truth. Will the result of the election be the one they want to see, or will it be a different JKT48 from the image which has been carefully sculpted over the past two and a half years? Fans want an election, but at the same time don’t want it. An imperfect, yet stable status quo is more desirable than unstable and transparent reform. The public only sees what they want to see.
Most coalitions for the Pajama Drive Revival Show benefited only one coalition member or none at all. Fans were forced to face the reality that they will not always get the result they wanted. Furthermore, some fans may be accused that they were not hardcore enough to support their idol when she needed their support the most. This breeds distrust and goes against the concept of mutual assistance in promoting JKT48.
Fans aside, the result of the election will test the mettle of members the most. Some may have to face the truth that their position in the line-up is not as secure as they might think. For the less popular members, will they be forced to resign to the possibility that they have no future place in the group? This is the harsh reality of what will happen after the dust settles. This event is the capstone of the idol industry, and it is also its most denigrating aspect that these teenage girls will have to face.
Even so, the election is a game we cannot avoid. It is a necessary evil.
This article is inspired by a 2009 article written by SaeYaka Paradise in the days of the first AKB48 Sousenkyo.
Thank you for the article. I especially liked and concur with the conclusion; it is necessary evil, and surely will increase anxiety between members and fans (who have not-so-popular oshis).
One thing I would like to point out is that the nature of the 6th single will influence a lot the impact of these elections. If it will be the long-awaited original one, it would make this new JKT senbatsu into a milestone in the history of the group…thus raising the members’ and fans’ enthusiasm to unprecented levels (making us hope for a performance to remember too); but if it will be another cover, well…I dunno, it will leave a not so sweet taste in our mouths, I fear.
yep, i absolutely agree with you. i really hope the next single will be an original…but somehow, deep down inside, i doubt it
I’m wondering why the writer of the article you refer to was not willing to buy the single and considering the election was like a bullshit, another helpless fan i suppose.
Afterall, 48 group election is none other than a popularity contest, though it’s a bit vague whether the popularity comes from good or bad deeds (Sasshihara case) #ulala
I’m agree with you on this local idol election is promising and so frightening at the same time, and we are eager to know the result ironically, don’t we?
When we’re talking about tranparency, i’d rather remain calm, at least until the first preliminary period
A sharp piece, sir.
Haruka’s G+ post just after the shuffle seems to say just that: its the “frightening” stuff that makes 48 group different and exciting (“AKB48Group itu ada yang banyak kaya gitu!!tapi kalo gak ada apa-apa semuanya bosan kan??”etc) though perhaps it’s just because she’s doing so well like in the calendar election hahaha…
one other thing, no one is forcing us to spend money on these elections, it’s our choice. mind you, though, the same thing can be said by Pachinko corporations to their bankrupt “clientele”, and when AKB held an event for one such companies all hell broke loose. but when it comes to elections, it’s all kosher after all hahaha… (no offense, peace)
Selamat datang tahun pemilu buat Indonesia.