Honestly you really need to have money to fully enjoy being an jpop idol fan.

My heart hurts every time I see people say "don't share paid content, pay for it!" because growing up I literally could not afford to ask my parent's for money just to view idol content. Now i'm a adult with a job I can afford it, but it still sucks to see.

jpop is especially hard because so many things are locked behind paywalls. You want to listen to their music legally? Buy it on itunes or physical copies. Want to watch their variety content? Purchase their dvd's. Want to understand them? Pay XXX to learn japanese or fuck off!

It sucks even more seeing people being so inconsiderate to other fans in this context too. Its so easy to say "if you want to watch this content pay for the ticket!" as someone who can afford it, but please think about those fans who can't.

If you can afford it and want to support your fave idols, of course you should pay for idol content. But if you can't I don't think you should be shamed for seeking out that content for free.

Idk this has been on my mind for a while i just had to get it off my chest.

this is also probably most likely but 100% the reason why there are a shit ton more kpop fans than there are jpop. its so readily accessible. SM even hosting a FREE CONCERT and end of year concerts always live and free but you need a japanese account to watch kouhaku loooool

BEFORE you send me your think pieces please note i've been a j+kpop fan since 2009 I KNOW how to get behind the paywall for free and i have a huge community of kind jpop fans to connect with and share content with. i'm just talking about my experience as a fan for over 10 years.

It's not about being 'dedicated enough' to be a fan. That alienates anyone who doesn't have the physical (money) or mental strength to actively follow idols they love. I've put effort to learn to understand basic japanese and got my first job to afford merch lol

I can afford my idol merch/content and choose where to spend my money. I can fly to japan if i wanted to. That's a PRIVILEGE. But I know how it feels to not have that and watch my idol graduate without ever seeing them. If my experience doesn't align with yours, just let it fly.

I'm happy to discuss it with you but there's no need to be a condescending arsehole about it. I know the industry is not marketed towards me. Kpop wasn't marketed towards me either back then and a bitch struggled lmao Anyway that's all i'm gonna say on the matter. :)