Junnosuke Watanabe, the mastermind behind Japan’s most controversial alternative idol agency, WACK, has launched several big names in the world of J-pop, including BiS, BiSH, and AiNA the END. Earlier this month, he took to the creator stage at AnimeCon London, hosted in the (quite chilly) former IKEA-turned-rave warehouse, the Drumsheds, for his inaugural talk in front of an English-speaking audience, and his first time attending an anime event.
Accompanied by JPU Records head, Tom Smith, a somewhat apprehensive Watanabe delved into the significant impact anime collaborations have had on artists in Japan, albeit to a sparse audience, following their relocation from the event’s main stage.
After the discussion, amidst Watanabe discovering Funko Pops, Electric Bloom Webzine had the opportunity to catch up with the troublesome idol industry figure for an exclusive interview to discuss WACK’s history and the future trajectory of the agency.
Junnosuke Watanabe perusing Funko Pop offerings at AnimeCon London
Entering the realm of idol music in 2010 as the manager of the first generation of BiS under TSUBASA RECORDS, Junnosuke Watanabe embarked on this journey with no prior knowledge of idols. Nevertheless, he went on to establish WACK (Watanabe Artistic Creative Corporation), ultimately transforming it into one of Japan’s most infamous idol agencies. Presently, WACK oversees approximately 45 individual talents across seven groups and one solo artist.
WACK’s Global Expansion
In 2023, aiming to broaden WACK’s international footprint, Watanabe made the decision to relocate to London, a city that has captivated him since his youth due to his deep-seated passion for rock music.
“My roots are in the UK because I love UK music, for example Sex Pistols, David Bowie, Radiohead, Blur. Also, I was impressed by the fashion, particularly designers like Vivienne Westwood. I feel like my cultural origin is rooted in the UK, and that’s why I’ve chosen to live here in London. I aim to further develop and expand my music industry connections within the UK, so that’s why I’m here! (laughs)”
However, the transition posed numerous challenges, as Watanabe continued to actively manage all the groups under WACK.
Electric Bloom Webzine (EBW): “Is it difficult managing idol groups in Japan while you’re based here?”
Watanabe: “It’s really hard (laughs)”
“I think the biggest challenge is the language barrier- Japanese people don’t speak English (laughs), perhaps due to Japan being an island nation similar to the UK. Japan has a large population, so there’s less necessity for its residents to travel abroad or engage in foreign languages. As a result, they don’t want to learn foreign languages.”
WACK in the UK: Watanabe’s Debut on the UK Music Scene
Also in 2023, Watanabe launched WACK’s inaugural international artist showcase, ‘WACK in the UK’, in collaboration with London-based label JPU Records. The event featured multiple WACK groups in the heart of London, despite facing logistical challenges. Reflecting on the event, Watanabe highlighted its positive aspects, emphasizing the opportunity to showcase the world of alternative idols and express Japanese culture.
“I just want to express the culture of Japan, and I want to convey to people in the UK that WACK’s groups are not merely about pretty faces, but also energy.”
“One annoying thing is it’s too expensive to come to London (laughs)”
The event, set to return to The Underworld in Camden on March 27th, will feature breakout hopefuls ASP, alongside GANG PARADE and KiSS KiSS. The London showcase signifies WACK’s entry onto the international scene, although currently, the event has primarily garnered coverage from Japanese media.
Junnosuke Watanabe at WACK’s inaugural ‘WACK in the UK’ event in 2023
Navigating Controversy: Junnosuke Watanabe’s Unconventional Path to Success
2024 marks the 10th anniversary of WACK’s founding. Reflecting on how WACK has evolved since 2014, Watanabe acknowledges the impact of his own scandals, which made headlines in Japanese gossip magazines and music news platforms.
“In 2014, WACK was a bit famous, especially within the music industry and the Japanese idol market. However, now in Japan… I hate to admit it, but I’ve become somewhat famous because of scandalous reports about my love life in weekly magazines (laughs). It’s very different from before, but I’ve found that I have more opportunities now than before. So, in a way, it’s a good thing.”
EBW: “Do you receive more attention than your artists?”
Watanabe: “Haha, yeah.”
EBW: “Do you feel like the main character of WACK?”
Watanabe: “Yeah (laughs).”
Inspired by AKB48 and the Sex Pistols, Watanabe has never shied away from controversy. In WACK’s early years, he employed unconventional methods to garner attention for his groups in the Japanese media and expand their audience. From 24-hour one-man live events to a fully nude music video, and even obscuring talent’s faces until they reach a certain number of followers on Twitter, these strategies have kept WACK in the news cycle for the past decade.
EBW: “Due to your more unconventional methods of promoting idol groups, some people have labeled you as a psychopath.”
Watanabe: “Haha, yeah.”
EBW: “Is that a label that you hold proudly?”
Watanabe: “Yeah, I think I was proud… to be labeled a ‘psychopath’ (laughs). It’s good for me! When people call me a psychopath, it feels like a celebration!”
Despite being viewed as an unconventional figure in the world of Japanese idols, Watanabe’s scandal hasn’t derailed his career; instead, it has boosted his popularity and reinforced his reputation.
Watanabe: “When the scandal was reported, my Twitter followers went up! (laughs).”
EBW: “So bad news is good news?”
Watanabe: “Yeah! Especially for me!”
However, Watanabe acknowledges the need for caution and has adopted a more subdued management style in recent years, although he harbors no regrets for the risks he’s taken throughout his career.
“I believe people’s thinking style has changed, especially regarding issues like the gender gap and attitudes towards love affairs or sex scandals. Consequently, I’ve had to adapt my mindset and adjust the management approach accordingly. So, really, it has changed a lot.”
EBW: “Are there any risks you took in your career that you regret?”
Watanabe: “Ummm… I don’t regret… I hardly regret things…”
EBW: “So do you think all the risks you have taken have contributed to your success?”
Watanabe: “Yeah, I think so!”
Watanabe discussed the inspiration behind the 24-hour live events, stating, “In Japan, there’s a popular annual TV program called ’24-hour Television’. I found inspiration from this program, which led me to come up with the idea for the 24-hour live events.”
“Yes, it’s quite a challenging endeavor. When you’re fully immersed in the band, you experience an indescribable emotion, which we all share. It’s truly a moving event, although, I must admit, the 24-hour event can be quite exhausting!”
Junnosuke Watanabe alongside JPU Records founder Tom Smith at AnimeCon London
WACK’s First International Collaboration with WARGASM
In a bid to further expand the agency’s international presence, WACK’s emerging talents and recent signees to JPU Records, ASP, collaborated with Sam Matlock, one half of the UK-born alt-metal duo WARGASM and the son of Sex Pistols bassist Glen Matlock. This collaboration marked WACK’s first venture into collaboration with an international artist.
Discussing the collaboration, Watanabe emphasized the swiftness of the entire process.
“One day I was watching YouTube to check out music, and I clicked WARGASM’s ‘Do It So Good’ music video, and I was really impressed. I immediately wanted to approach them to create music for one of our artists!”
“We had one meeting on Zoom, I said that I love WARGASM’s music, and I wanted to create something like WARGASM. So he said okay, and I think within a week or two, he sent me some fantastic music, which became ‘MAKE A MOVE’. He’s truly talented and awesome!”
The track, ‘MAKE A MOVE’, was included as the B-side on ASP’s 3rd major single ‘Heaven’s Seven’, which debuted at #1 on Japan’s Oricon Daily Single Ranking.
RELATED: ASP TOPS ORICON DAILY SINGLES CHART WITH ‘HEAVEN’S SEVEN’
Regarding future collaborations and artists Watanabe hopes to work with, he expressed, “I’m definitely open to collaborating with other artists in the future. When it comes to collaborations, particularly international ones, it really depends on the circumstances. So, I can’t mention any specific bands at the moment!”
AiNA THE END’s Evolution Under Watanabe’s Wing
In the past decade, WACK’s most notable group was BiSH, which achieved multiple chart-topping records in Japan, had their music featured in blockbuster anime series, garnered numerous awards at MTV Japan’s Video Music Awards, and staged massive shows before disbanding in 2023. From the ashes of BiSH’s disbandment emerged AiNA THE END’s solo career, under the management of Watanabe, witnessing a meteoric rise within Japan’s music scene. However, transitioning from a group member to a solo artist hasn’t been without its challenges.
“When AiNA THE END was part of BiSH, her focus was solely on performing as part of the group. But now, as a solo artist, she has to face challenges independently. I believe she feels nervous about this change because in BiSH, as one of six members, her role was significant, but she didn’t have to consider everything on her own. Now, she has to take on a broader perspective and consider all aspects of her career. Despite her nerves, I’ve noticed she’s become more responsible for her performances. It’s nice!”
Regarding AiNA THE END’s creative control over her career and her recent one-man live performance in Tokyo, Watanabe mentioned, “Yes, she has full creative control over her career, and yes, I still manage her. Her recent one-man live in Tokyo went very well. We had numerous discussions about the concert, and I believe all the audience members were pleased with the experience. It was truly great.”
RELATED: AiNA THE END SHEDS HER OLD SKIN IN MUSIC VIDEO FOR SURPRISE SINGLE ‘SAIL’
He also discussed the demanding nature of AiNA THE END’s career, stating, “Her demand is bigger than before. It’s important for me as her manager. She is at a point where she needs to grow up! (laughs)”
Despite their longstanding working relationship that began in 2014 with the inception of WACK, Watanabe initially didn’t see eye to eye with AiNA.
“The first time I saw her, I didn’t like her (laughs). But my business partner, Kenta Sotobayashi, who is a costume designer and photographer, highly recommended her to join my agency. However, I was reluctant to have her join! Looking back on my memories, it was really lucky, and it turned out to be a good thing. I wonder if I had denied his proposal, that I wouldn’t be here. I’m not exactly sure what I thought about her at that time, but I think she seemed uncontrollable to me, so I didn’t like her initially (laughs).”
Despite disliking her initially due to her perceived uncontrollable nature, parallels between AiNA and WACK’s first idol signing, Pour Lui, the founding member of 1st generation BiS, could be drawn, highlighting WACK’s penchant for rebellious talent.
EBW: “Was Pour Lui as uncontrollable as Aina?”
Watanabe: “Hmm, yeah, I think so (laughs).”
EBW: “How about you, do you think you’re uncontrollable?”
Watanabe: “Hmm, a bit uncontrollable (laughs).”
AiNA THE END
WACK in 2024
In 2024, WACK faces its biggest challenge yet: replicating the success of BiSH while grappling with the declining popularity of idol music in recent years. Having peaked in the late 2000s to mid-2010s, it’s becoming increasingly challenging for idol groups to make the same impact in the industry.
“I believe the Japanese idol scene reached its peak maybe five years ago, and now it’s getting weak, so we need to take action to regain the power of Japanese idol music.”
EBW: “How do you plan to revitalize Japanese idol music?”
Watanabe: “I have to create another BiSH! (laughs)”
EBW: “Out of the seven groups you currently manage, do you see any potential successors to BiSH?”
Watanabe: “I think the closest is ASP, but it’s hard to predict the future, so I’m not certain.”
RELATED: DINE WITH ALT-IDOLS: ‘WACK IN THE UK VOL.2’ ANNOUNCE EXCLUSIVE VIP LUNCH
Despite the waning popularity of Japanese idols in recent years, Watanabe shared some motivational words for those aspiring to pursue a career in the idol industry.
“JUST DO IT! (laughs) Even I can become a music producer, but I was very lucky, it was an accident! So if you want to be a music producer then just wanting, and hoping, and doing it… I think your dream can come true!”
Junnosuke Watanabe’s journey from the inception of WACK to its status as a pioneering force in the Japanese idol industry reflects his unwavering passion for music, unorthodox approach to management, and bold pursuit of international collaborations. Love him or hate him, Watanabe remains committed to pushing boundaries, fostering talent, and expanding WACK’s global footprint. As he continues to navigate the ever-changing landscape of idol music, one thing remains certain: Watanabe’s determination and innovative spirit will continue to shape the future of the industry for years to come.
Links
Junnosuke Watanabe: Twitter | Instagram
WACK: Official Website
JPU Records: Official Website | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook