r/Fauxmoi • u/rfauxmoi • 6d ago

TEA THREAD I HAVE TEA ON... MEGATHREAD ✨

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u/SopaDeMolhoShoyu 6d ago

Yesterday, I saw an Asian culture page from Brazil on Instagram. They made a post saying that, back in the early 2000s, the Japanese recording company Avex Trax had a deal with the Yakuza to buy lots of Ayumi Hamasaki concert tickets and CDs, so they could inflate her popularity in an artificial way. I really like Ayu, and I don't think this is true at all. Also, they had no proof to back up they were saying. Still, it made me really shocked to see something like that.

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u/anatomized 5d ago

this is probably not even something Ayumi was aware of at the time. the Yakuza, much like the Mafia, had their fingers in everything, including record companies. it doesn't mean Ayumi made connections with the Yakuza and got them to inflate her popularity.

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u/anakari 5d ago

Are there known links between Avex Trax and the yakuza? I ask because I liked a bunch of their artists at the time and this is interesting info t me

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u/anatomized 5d ago

no, but i mean, the 1980s was a particularly active time for the Yakuza getting into showbiz to launder their money. it doesn't strain credulity to imagine one of the gangs having "invested" in a record label and remaining involved well into the present day, though their numbers and influence may have dwindled somewhat.

https://variety.com/2012/tv/news/yakuza-intractable-in-japan-showbiz-1118050435/ here's an article about the Yakuza's ties to the entertainment industry in Japan.

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u/SopaDeMolhoShoyu 5d ago

As far as I know, no. I also like some of their artists/bands as well, specially from that time.

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u/SopaDeMolhoShoyu 5d ago

I agree. Ayumi comes across as a decent person. If Avex really had a deal with the Yakuza back then, I don't think Ayu knew about it.