darkvision

^ Rio is definitely 1 of the prettiest HP members around. She definitely deserves her own PB.

My comment regarding Western's sexualization of kids is just for the self-righteous xenophobic comments Westerners always make against Japanese or Korean or Asian culture in general whenever this topic arises. 

Japan can't give a damn about your moral values. Rio just did gravure and most Japanese fans are happy for her. She did nothing wrong and, if anything, she might grow in popularity as an idol. Unless her parents steal all the money like Kago, but that's a different story.

Netflix is a global corporation that will look for profit by aiming at global audience. They wouldn't greenlight Cuties if it won't appeal to mainstream audiences . Very simple logic. And no, I don't want to waste time screen shooting bunch of statistics lol. Believe it or not, couldn't care less. Oh, and also teen pageants are quite common where teenagers dress in sexy outfits so yeah, sexualizing teens is as American as it gets. 

Many teenagers want to show off their sexual attraction. Whether they do it in photobook or not, makes no difference. Rio wants to make money showing off her body, like it or not. The world can't give a sh*t about your worthless feelings lol. It's her body - her choice. Don't like it, don't buy it. UFP has been doing teen gravure since Momo from what I remember as a new fan. It won't change anytime soon. 

 

Westerners push shows like 'cuties' as something progressive but complain about Japanese teen idols all the time. It's truly the worst mix of xenophobia and hypocrisy. And teenagers have sex here in the west all the freaking time and viewed as normal. Heck people praise the cross-dresser 10 year-old boy stripping in a gay club as revolutionary. Everyone says it's their body - their choice. But of course anything out there that is targeted toward the 'dirty-oppressive-patriarchy' straight men, suddenly everything is perverted and offensive. This modern generation is nothing but worthless hypocrites lol.

Anyways, enough rant. I think Rio is the most beautiful among 15ki so it's surprising to see that she's the last to get her pb. Hopefully she doesn't get left behind by her fellow gen-mates in terms of popularity.

You do realize that Cuties was not only heavily disliked, but heavily critiqued and trended for days not on the account that it could've potentially had a significant impact at looking at the sexualization on young girls (which essentially is what the Director/Writer was trying to accomplish), but because people felt that they had went WAY too far with trying to convey a message and felt terrible for the position that those young girls were put in? There were literally hundreds of viral tweets, calling for the directors, movie production, and parents of the girls to be arrested/investigated. So let's not try to play that game because for the most part, people WEREN'T okay with Cuties and did not try to justify it, at all.

Western failures also don't minimize what happens in the Japanese industry as well: For the most part, almost every music industry has it's own deep dark secrets that only few have ever been able to speak about due to NDAs and fear of being blackballed. There's no such thing as a "perfect industry", especially when there's children involved unfortunately, because children are far more likely to be manipulated into doing things they have no interest in doing or don't know not to do, and parents who get their children involved in the industry, will practically sign off to anything as long as it gets their children (essentially the parents, since children can't control their own finances yet.) a check. We've seen this in Hello! Project before, not on the abusive side, but Shimamura Uta's early graduation after her parents had a dispute with UFP on how much Uta should get paid, because she was becoming a very popular member very quickly. And we've seen it with Okai Chisato, who doesn't have nearly as much money as she should have from C-ute, because her parents pocketed it all. We can all say "They're her parents, they'll make the right/best decisions for her", but when money and potential fame becomes involved, that's not always the case.

Rio is a beautiful girl, she has amazing visuals and I think they should be pushed, especially if they want 15ki to make a name for themselves in the group as 9-11ki slowly graduate off. But they can achieve the same goal, without bikini photoshoots of a minor: regardless if she's "16, which is better than being 12 years old". A minor is still a minor and a 16 year old may be more conscious of their decisions, but that doesn't always mean they're going to make the most sensible ones.

 

Many were against it but many also were in support of it. And also the child and teenage pageants that are held regularly throughout the States that sexualize even toddlers. So, it is quite normalized in the West as well. 

Of course there is no such thing as 'perfect industry'. Heck, nothing is perfect in this world lol. It never was it never will be. 

Unless Rio was forced to do it, then there is nothing wrong with it. And photobooks definitely bring profit and very likely more popularity. Riho did it when she was 12 and has been doing it every year until she graduated. UFP wouldn't greenlight it if photobooks ain't beneficial for the business. After all, they still would have to spend money to produce and promote it. 

And photobooks ain't prostitution. It has nothing to to with minor. Many teenagers wear revealing clothing to show off their body all the time, at least in free liberal countries. Heck most will wear thong on the beach. Rio wants to show off her body just like most teenagers do. it's her body, her choice. 

Westerners push shows like 'cuties' as something progressive but complain about Japanese teen idols all the time. It's truly the worst mix of xenophobia and hypocrisy. And teenagers have sex here in the west all the freaking time and viewed as normal. Heck people praise the cross-dresser 10 year-old boy stripping in a gay club as revolutionary. Everyone says it's their body - their choice. But of course anything out there that is targeted toward the 'dirty-oppressive-patriarchy' straight men, suddenly everything is perverted and offensive. This modern generation is nothing but worthless hypocrites lol. 

Anyways, enough rant. I think Rio is the most beautiful among 15ki so it's surprising to see that she's the last to get her pb. Hopefully she doesn't get left behind by her fellow gen-mates in terms of popularity.

It's hilarious how Westerners are against idols dating, which will usually lead to sex, but complain with this kind of sexual segment. Teenagers talk about sex all the time and many have already been sexually active. Heck, it's pretty common to hear someone having teenage pregnancy or abortion. At least that's how it is in the West. Oh and sex education is taught at high schools, so any high school teenagers, unless they don't attend school, should learn quite a bit about sex already.  And Miki isn't even a teenager. She's a freakin' adult. So, no, as long as Miki consent to it, there is nothing wrong with her segment.

The only problem with the segment is when they coerce every girl who came into the show to say those naughty things even when they don't want to. But that's more of their free will rather than this whole prude bs.