2/28/2005

SMAP is a popular Japanese "idol" group, formed by Johnny’s Entertainment office. Current members are Masahiro Nakai, Takuya Kimura, Tsuyoshi Kusanagi, Goro Inagaki and Shingo Katori. (Please note, names are given in Western personal name-family name order.) The members of SMAP have dominated Japanese pop cultural landscape from their debut in 1991 until the present time (as of 2004), showing incredible longevity for a manufactured group. They produce not just numerous hit singles, but also star in numerous television variety programs, dorama, commercials, movies, etc.

SMAP has been one of the most famous groups in Japan for the last 15 years, and are unrivaled yet in their immense popularity among younger, and especially female, Japanese.

History

SMAP was first formed in 1988, though their debut single came in 1991. SMAP officially stands for the English words "Sports Music Assemble People". SMAP originally consisted of the current five members plus Katsuyuki Mori (森 且行) who left in May 1996 to pursue a career in auto racing.

SMAP was started as an idol group by the famous "Johnny’s Entertainment" office, known for their boys only singing and dancing cuties. Their debut, in a time when there weren’t many music programs, was not immediately successful. But with their unique personalities and outlaws in the Johnny’s group, they broke the "goody goody" image in Japanese idol society. Their TV variety program "SMAP X SMAP" (in which they cook, act as comedians, play games and do other things) has been one of the most well-known TV programs in Japan since it started. They tried their best at anything, including mountain climbing and other things that other idols never did, and so they won popularity of a new range in Japanese TV society. As "the super idol group that does anything", they began starring in many wide ranging programs from live stages to music, dancing, hosting programs, acting in movies, commercials, etc. SMAP are said to be the most famous stars in Japan. Though a comparison to American groups like The Backstreet Boys is not entirely musically inaccurate, even at the peak of their popularity, no American boy band has come close to the pervasiveness of SMAP.

In 2001, Inagaki was involved in a traffic altercation. There were allegations of wrong doing on his part, and he briefly retreated from the public spotlight following the incident. However, the ultimate result of the incident was to put SMAP in the public eye once more, which only increased their popularity. Inagaki has since returned to full involvement, and starred in a 2004 drama about an investment banker killed in the events of September 11.

To give a sense of the popularity (and ubiquity) of SMAP, note that in 2003, SMAP leader Nakai was identified as the highest tax payer of any entertainer in Japan by the Japanese National Tax Bureau. That same year, he was involved in at least four television shows simultaneously, in addition to commercials.

Music

SMAP has released over thirty singles, and two of them, Yozora no mukou (夜空の向こう; "Beyond the night sky") and Sekai ni hitotsu dake no hana (世界に一つ丈の花; "The only one flower in the world"), have sold more than one million copies. This especially impressive considering that the Japanese market has only half the population of the US, and SMAP’s audience is mostly domestic. "The only one flower in the world" was still very popular in Japan more than one year after its release in 2003 and sold over 2 million copies. It was the only single selling over a million copies that year, since CD sales have been falling due to the Japanese economic slump. The song is about individuality, and since it gained fame during the lead up to and aftermath of the 2003 Iraq war, many saw it as a plea for peace. A line from the end of song, "You don’t have to be the best. You’re the only one in this world and special as you are," became especially famous in Japan.

Members

Singing is only a small part of the reason for SMAP’s current fame. All of the members of SMAP have acted in numerous television dramas, variety programs commericials, and movies, but each also cultivates a distinctive image and personality.

• Masahiro Nakai (中居 正広) is the "leader" of the group and has hosted numerous television programs through out the years. He is a notorious bachelor and trickster. He is known for his bad singing. He frequently wears a hat and has long hair, though his look also changes frequently.
• Takuya Kimura (木村 拓哉) is a world-famous actor and has appeared in many extremely successful television dramas. Many of them, such as "HERO" and "Beautiful Life," have held records for Japanese viewership. He has also been said to be the "sexiest guy in Japan". He cultivates a heartthrob image, as well of that of a devoted husband. His name is often shortened to "Kimu-Taku" by fans.
• Tsuyoshi Kusanagi (草彅 剛) speaks Korean and is known as the best dramatic actor. He has soft features and projects a "sensitive" image.
• Shingo Katori (香取 慎悟) is known for his use of English and even has a guidebook, "English Berabera," published in his name. (English speakers who watch SMAP may dispute claims that he can speak the language.) For a while he dyed his hair white, making him stand out in the group.
• Goro Inagaki (稻垣 吾郎) is self-absorbed but also a good singer.

Acting

Their variety program "SMAP x SMAP" is notable for showcasing their wide range of talents with segments ranging from cooking, comedy, and games to singing and dancing, often with celebrity guests, even Western ones like David Beckham and Sheryl Crow, though most guests are Japanese tarento ("talents"). Almost every season for the past few years, you can see at least one drama on TV with a member of SMAP starring in it. In the first season of 2004, Kimura and Kusanagi each starred in one, both the most popular of the season. Kimura’s "PRIDE" was also popular. Inagaki sang the song for Kusanagi’s program, selling first place for the first week and on. First, the fact that Inagaki was singing the song was kept a secret, but after numerous fans called "Fuji TV", it was revealed to the public. Nakai’s "Mohouhan" (The Copy Cat) was a hit for the cinemas, and Kusanagi’s "Yomigaeri" set a record for Japanese DVD sales.

Other projects

Besides singing and acting, the group also manages to be active in numerous forms of media fields as well.

In the year 2003, three of the books ranked in the years best selling 10 books were released by SMAP: Kimura’s "First Essay," Katori’s "English Berabera," and also Katori’s "Diet Shingo".

In 2002, the group released a soft drink called "Drink! SMAP" in order to promote a CD of the same name.

(Source: Wikipedia)