Fans of multi-member Japanese groups usually have a so-called oshimen, the personal number one favorite member of the group. Then there might be the oshi-wrecker, the person who makes you doubt your choice for oshimen every now and then. In my case, that’s usually the one with blue hair. And if you follow such a hierarchy, there must be a member that is your least favorite of the group as well…
I had written this article a while back and waited for a good opportunity to publish it. Well, today is the last opportunity. MAD JAMIE was formed early 2021 as the successor group of MAD VIOLET, all under the umbrella of Kimiiro Project. Three of the five members of MAD VIOLET formed the core of the new group, which has idol punk-rock as both sound and image. After the graduation of one member it now is a quartet with my oshimen (and closest thing to group leader) Akubi Kanjosen, blue haired Uni Eikura, cutie-pie Runachi Suzuki and, there she is, Saki Panyoru.
On their debut album “Fuck forever” hardly any song is longer than three minutes, including classics like “Fuck lonely summer” and “Shout the fuck up”. It’s hard to get an image from any of the members without them flipping the bird. And their motto is “Kawaii is fxxk”, this time censored… don’t ask me why. So these girls are pretty deep into the anti idol thing that BiS and BiSH have been active in for almost a decade now. It’s not the most original stuff, but it’s the type of kick-in-the-ass punk rock that makes you scream for more since it at least as contagious as a summer cold at a cosplay convention. Just watch a recent single like “Makuake” as an example.
So what triggers a member’s appearance, attutude or behaviour to become my oshimen? I really have no clue. I just watch a group and then there’s somebody that sticks out. Trust me, the hyperactive peroxide blonde with the squeaky voice is not my usual type. Uni, for example, plays bass, has a neck tattoo and loves jumping into the audience during performances. That’s more my style. But still, it’s Akubi. Then we have the little sister Runachi who fits the whole female idol character best. And finally, there’s Saki.
To be honest, in any other group, Saki could be my oshimen. But in this gathering of idol misfits that still form the perfect idol group, she happens to end up somewhere else. It’s all about perspective. And not taking any of this too seriously. I just hoped they would stick around for a while in this line-up, “through thick and thin, in good times and in bad, for better or worse”. That’s Saki’s catchphrase, by the way…
Today, March 7th 2023, will be the last performance for MAD JAMIE in this line-up. Or who knows, in any line-up. Kind of a sad day, because of all the good days they brought. Now I’m just going to curl up in a corner and silently say goodbye to Saki.
UPDATE April 8th 2023
What happened next? Saki and Uni joined a new group called OMG shortly after. MAD JAMIE was re-launched as a solo / band project just with Akubi as remaining member. She’s performed in Sweden during the summer of 2023 and is preparing for a European tour right now. Runachi became support member in CARESS VAN END but recently graduated there as well.