More cup noodle commercials! this time with a 研究生
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I0fJUd6Es10&feature=g-u-u

Hmmm. I am pretty sure I am remembering this right. Let me find the lesson.

Edit found it. I already had some of it in my notes, but this is the full thing.

Today’s grammar point is tokoro, a noun meaning “place”, that, through Japanese
interpretation of Chinese literature, has also acquired the meaning of “state” or “result”. When
modifying a verb, adjective or noun, tokoro is used to indicate the exact time or
circumstances under which an action occurs (or almost occurred). The meaning of tokoro
depends on the tense and aspect of the word that precedes it.
-After a verb in plain present form, it means “to be just about to do something”.
-After a verb in plain past form, it means “to have just done something”.
-After a verb in present progressive form, it means “to be in the midst of something”.
-After a verb in past progressive form, it means “to have been in the midst of something”.
-After adjectives, tokoro means “to be in the state of the adjective”.
-After nouns that represent time spans, such as shuumatsu (weekend), tokoro is used to
represent that period of time, or the state that existed during that time equivocally.
Tokoro may be followed by the copula, or any one of the particles ga, de, ni, e or o.
V.plain/plain past + tokoro – just about to/just (V.past tense)
行くところ/行ったところ
iku tokoro/itta tokoro
about to go/just went
V.plain present progressive/past progressive + tokoro
食べているところ/食べていたところ
tabete iru tokoro/tabete ita tokoro
in the middle/midst of eating/have been eating
i-adj + tokoro
忙しいところ
isogashii tokoro
someone is in the state of being busy
na-adj + na + tokoro
静なところ
shizuka na tokoro
something is in the state of being quiet
Noun + no + tokoro
週末のところ
shūmatsu no tokoro
the state in which someone is on their weekend

Edit 2; is ている V.plain present progressive or as you say V.plain present? I know most of my grammar through Danish so I am not really good with grammar words and their meaning in English…

• This reply was modified 12 years, 6 months ago by  マーク・ウェーバー.
• This reply was modified 12 years, 6 months ago by  マーク・ウェーバー.
• This reply was modified 12 years, 6 months ago by  マーク・ウェーバー.

今、「狼と香辛料」という本の９巻を読んでいるところです
VOLUME = 巻

http://www.textfugu.com/bb/topic/where-is-everyone-from/

Well, for me it was a case of watching AKBingo(variety show with AKB members). After watching a few episodes of this hilarious TV-show one member caught my attention – 横山由依. This sparked an interest, and I searched around looking for videos. This lead to a lot of different youtube videos(like this http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wfrb5OGHiyw) which made me more interested in her personality, and thus starting to follow her on shows etc. This then led to starting following her on google plus, and from there I started to notice a lot of different, thus finding more members which I liked. At this time I would say there are 2 members fighting for my vote at next senbatsu, but all members I follow on google plus are members I think are cool. Also, getting in to idols is really good training for your Japanese! atm I am watching Akbingo & 自動車部 on a weekly basis, and a load of other programs on and off. And then also reading 20-40 updates on google plus a day. ^^

If you search, then you should be able to find some old episodes out there with subs. I remember ep 73 being pretty good ^^

I didn’t find your comment offending at all. Sometimes when on the internet I just write whatever I would say, and it can seem harsh. Sorry about that ^^ To start off, I actually don’t mind having this conversation, you seem like a down to earth guy, and aren’t trolling so it is fine by me. Also, me and missing only use this for the occasional chat, but we chat so much on skype that this is really just a place to catch each other when we are not online lol – so why not have a discussion about this here and thereby give the thread a meaning? ^^
To clarify what I meant on p1,(which clearly can be misunderstood, or just understood different depending on who you are) was that this was a place to share idols. Discuss what they do, new info, study methods regarding idols etc etc – and not discussing why idols are here, etc etc. Sorry if this is vague once again, but I can’t think of a better way to put it :b.

Now to the actual discussion at hand!
So, what you said originally was that Japan is the only place in the world where idols could be this popular. This I do not agree with, as I see a rising interest from China, and an already established interest in Korea. So to me it could just as well be one of those countries, or some other country for that sake. What momoiro made an argument about, is that Japan is a good place for idols because of the repressed culture. This I agree with, but I think this also exists in other countries. I do also agree with the second thing momoiro pointed out, which was related to the US being very egocentric, which caused people to not care for groups. I agree with that as well, but this is a thing which is specific to US, and ain’t as big in many European countries for example. So to put it in other words. I agree with the argument momoiro made, but I do believe these factors also exist in other countries, so while Japan is indeed special, I still think other Asian countries has the potential for becoming just as “idol-happy”.

Is this more understandable? Also, thanks for being so chill, I hate when people get all upset, it leads to nothing good.

Btw, I am glad you read the article^^ – have any idols you like?
Same for momoiro, which is you fav member? you have only given the group away.

• This reply was modified 12 years, 6 months ago by  マーク・ウェーバー.

I think idols would work in any country. I can’t see any specific things that would make Japanese more prone to follow idols. You argue that it can only be done in Japan, because of the culture, but I can’t see how that works out? What points of Japanese culture would make you more prone to follow idols? It is just a concept which is unique to Japan, but if you look at China you will see how much they love Japanese idols. Same goes for Korea, which also have loads of idols. Let alone all the foreign fans who like idols despite having to work through a language barrier.
“Idols you can meet” is indeed what makes idols unique, but there are also a few other aspect which I feel is critical to include in why idols are popular. Idols are somewhat normal people. You can meet them, they don’t live in huge houses isolated from everyone, and they love their fans because the fans determine their future. Another thing is that you are able to follow their development, and fans are able to determine who will become big, and who will stay forgotten. This is because of things like the senbatsu, where fans vote for the idol which they want to see in the media. Idols who don’t get ranked high pretty much get forgotten, so fans can directly influence the development of the individuals within the group. As mentioned earlier, you can follow an idol’s development. They are not the best at anything really, so you will be able to see how they develop and become better, let alone see how they grow from being a 研究生 to becoming a 20y old idol graduating.
Because of what is mentioned, most people will choose an 推しメン, a member they support, which they will vote for, and they will support fully(buy goods, watch they programs etc), to ensure that they will get highly ranked in the next senbatsu, and to make sure that their beloved idol does good. To some it almost becomes a child.
So yes, I think you are indeed wrong in your observations

I could write a lot more on this, but I will stop here, because this is not the purpose of this thread(and because I was in the middle of writing a journal). Please, if there are further questions about Idols, ask them in a separate thread, because this is a thread for talking about idols, not discussing what they are(as mentioned on page 1)
-excuse typos, I CBA to correct this.