by Starra » Mon Apr 06, 2015 8:26 pm
I think I've worked out why this is so sad -- other than the most obvious reasons, of course.
Tsunku has given so many people a voice through his own. Because of Tsunku's music, literally hundreds of people have been able to fulfil their dreams. He's helped so many people grow as not only performers, but as people. He's changed so many lives, and even in cases where the girls weren't exactly "happy" in H!P (Asuka, Koharu, probably others sadly), he's at least had a huge influence on them. And he's made them realise other dreams and given them the foundation to chase them.
Outside of H!P and other idols he's directly produced, I'm sure many other young women/girls in the music industry were inspired at least somewhat by Tsunku's music. Several idols initially auditioned for H!P (even AKB members like Kashiwagi Yuki and Satou Sumire), indicating that they may have become interested in being an idol because of Tsunku's work. I can't think of any specific examples, but I know several idols have talked about how much they loved H!P growing up and that love inspired them to become idols themselves.
All because of Tsunku and, ultimately, his voice.
Yes, he can still be influential without his voice, but not in the same way. He's been very involved with H!P since the beginning (and sadly isn't as much anymore) and we know he mostly chose the members himself. He's always seemed to have a vision stronger than most, and he can only do so much of it behind the scenes.
Many H!P members were given a voice of their own by Tsunku. And now that Tsunku doesn't have one, he has to express his voice through the girls who he is most likely a father figure to. I wouldn't be surprised if he returned to regular lyric writing for this.
It sucks a lot, and I'm sure nobody's suffering as much as Tsunku himself, but I really admire how brave he is. He gave up what was most important to him because he had to keep going. And he still intends to stick around in the industry -- he very well could've retired. But he didn't.
I didn't think I could respect him any more before all this happened, but it turns out I can. He's amazing, and I really wish there was some way I could convey to him how thankful I am for everything he's done other than a shitty soppy tweet in broken Japanese.
To quote the man himself: life is one time.
♡中澤裕子・紺野あさ美・萩原舞・金澤朋子・山﨑愛生・梁川奈々美・加賀楓・須藤茉麻・田村芽実・平井美葉・清野桃々姫・福田真琳・松本わかな・岸本ゆめの・松原ユリヤ♡