Tokyo Idols - Japan Cuts 2017

Tokyo Idols http://www.japansociety.org/event/tokyo-idols DOCUMENTARY FOCUS EAST COAST PREMIERE Video introduction with director Kyoko Miyake This revealing, thought-provoking new documentary by Kyoko Miyake traces the budding career of RioRio (the stage name of 19-year-old Rio Hiiragi), an aspiring pop singer climbing the ranks of stardom as an idol in Tokyo. One among 10,000 teenage girls considered idols, RioRio is part of a billion dollar industry and a unique, male-dominated otaku culture of obsession that has grown exponentially since the 1990s and gradually infiltrated mainstream Japanese popular culture. With a journalistic approach, Miyake uses RioRio’s journey (as well as that of her number one fan Koji, a 43-year-old former salaryman) as an opportunity to explore the multifaceted and often complicated issues of gender dynamics, female sexuality, fame and consumerism in the internet age inherent to idol worship in Japan. “A lively inquiry that reveals more contradictions than consensus.” —Justin Lowe, The Hollywood Reporter World Premiere, Sundance Film Festival World Cinema Documentary Competition. 2017. 88 min. DCP, in Japanese with English subtitles. Directed by Kyoko Miyake. With Rio Hiiragi. Part of JAPAN CUTS 2017. ------ Visit: http://www.japansociety.org/page/calendar Like: https://www.facebook.com/japansociety Follow: https://twitter.com/japansociety Watch: http://www.youtube.com/user/JapanSocietyNYC Join: http://www.japansociety.org/page/support Teach: http://aboutjapan.japansociety.org/