Image is Everything: On being “kankeisha”

They say “image is everything” in the world of entertainment. In Japan, no other statement holds more true. Managements, record labels, and publicity companies go to extreme lengths to ensure their artists’ meticulously sculpted images are the only thing the public ever sees. Rock stars, pop idols, actors and actresses alike are all very careful in what they choose to share with the public. Very rarely will you see candid private shots of artists in their private time posted on the internet by someone else. Artists will sometimes share self-taken photos of themselves with their fan bases on their blogs, but if you’re considered “kankeisha” (関係者) or “authorized person,” a silent decree dominates your status: upholding privacy.

Kankeisha is a loose term that describes anyone who has anything to do with the artist — whether you are management, industry, press, or just a guest, you are considered “kankeisha.”  If you happen to fall in this ambiguous category, it is understood that you are someone who will also abide by the rules of being kankeisha. These rules include:

1. No screaming, cheering, racous applause, arm-waving, performing furi, jumping, or anything else that fans do during concerts. You are there to enjoy the show as a guest, not act as a fan. Kankeisha are not fans; as such, they must act accordingly. Usually, kankeisha stay seated during the show if they can see the stage; oftentimes, entire sections in the audience are blocked off as kankeisha seats for that very reason.

2.  No hogging of the artist’s time during uchiage or aisatsu. Uchiage and aisatsu are the after show meet-and-greet with the artist. The only difference between them is that uchiage involves food or drinks being served to guests who have one toast with the artist before greeting them, whereas aisatsu is strictly a meet-and-greet. When taking place in a large room with all the kankeisha at once, usually guests only spend a few minutes talking with the artist. To take up too much of their time is very rude, as they have to greet all the kankeisha individually.

3. Do not talk about what you know about the artist. If there is anything you know about the artist which is not public information, even if it involves something as seemingly mundane like the artist’s hobbies, you absolutely can NOT divulge it publicly.

Of all rules to remember, however, one of the most important is:

4. Never EVER post any pictures or video of you with the artist anywhere public where fans might be able to get a hold of it, meaning blogs and any form of social networking (MySpace, Facebook, etc.) are all off limits, unless they’re private/friends only. It is okay to share pictures or video privately with friends, but displaying it anywhere public is absolutely not allowed — especially if you’re female and the artist is male. (Or conversely, if you’re male and the artist is female.)

All kankeisha are expected to act the part and to follow the rules. Any violation of the rules can result in kankeisha status being revoked and access to the artist taken away — even if you are press or good personal friends with the artist. Kankeisha privileges are only just that — privileges, not rights. In this industry, there is nothing more important than protecting the artist and keeping their best interests in mind. Image is everything, after all.