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Tokyo Idols

Kyoko Miyake

2017

In recent years, ‘‘idols’’—broadly defined as young girls performing in public—have become a major social phenomenon in Japan. Millions of predominantly middle-aged men spend their time and money on these idols. Thousands of girls work as idols and many more dream of becoming them. The idol culture is all about accessibility. Idols and fans meet at concerts, handshaking events, and through incessant online communication. The film follows three aspiring singers and their fans as each girl attempts to get to the next stage in her career by responding to the fans’ demands and trying to become the most desirable idol. It explores the gender dynamics of these virtual relationships and how the idols’ lives are affected. It is a story about loneliness and disconnection between men and women in a hypermodern society.

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CREDITS

A United Kingdom-Canada Co-Production
Eyesteelfilm & Brakeless Ltd.
Written and Directed by
Kyoko Miyake
Produced by
Felix Matschke, Bob Moore, Kyoko Miyake
Executive Producers
Mila Aung-Thwin, Daniel Cross
Director of Photography
Van Royko
Additional Camera
Felix Matschke, Kyoko Miyake
Editor
Anna Price
Original music
David Drury
Developed with the assistance of
Super Channel
Produced in association with
Super channel, BBC, IKONDocs
A Co-Production in association with
WDR, ARTE
Produced with the financial participation of
Rogers Documentary Fund, Rogers cable network Fund, Crédit d'impôt cinéma et télévision Gestion Sodec, Sodec Québec, Canada Media Fund, Canadian Film or Video Production Tax Credit
With the support of
SVT, NRK, DR, Creative Europe- MEDIA Programme the European Union, Daiwa Anglo-Japanese Foundation, The Great Britain Sasakawa Foundation
PRESS

Tokyo Idols is a fascinating and well-made look into a world where teenage girls seek fame and fortune and men get first-hand access to the women of their dreams, and the problematic sexual politics that follow

— Benjamin H. Smith , The Decider