Getting on Japanese TV is not especially challenging, but don't expect
fame and fortune to follow. This ain't Hollywood, dude.
Here are a few tips to help get you started in Japanese show biz.
Go to Ginza on a Weekend
TV camera crews abound on the main drag in Ginza during weekend
afternoons. Hang around them, and they may ask you for a street
interview. Not all of them are seeking foreigners, though.
Roppongi Hills and Akihabara might be better bets for us gaijin, but I
see far more camera crews in Ginza.
I recommended avoiding IMO Talent Agency because they're founded upon
scheming corruption and selfish lies, but are there any good talent
agencies for us foreigners here in Tokyo? I compiled a brief list:
Zenith, Inc.
While at an IMO job, I met a fellow American that pointed me in the
right direction by
Most foreigners interested in working in Japan's entertainment industry have heard or will hear of the agency known as Inagawa Motoko (aka IMO). It's one of the largest, if not the largest talent agency specializing solely in foreign talent. But this does not mean it's respectable or professionally managed. In fact, the reality is quite the opposite.
In writing this I hope to expose this sham of an agency for what it really is--a den of common thieves. Furthermore, it is my wish that others sharing my plight may join my crusade to spread the word about these con artists. Ultimately, my goal is total shutdown of their unethical business practices--which equates to their entire business model. If nothing else, I want the public made aware before more unsuspecting foreigners are
If you're in America right now, I'm really jealous of your horn of plenty that is American TV. I took my home country's TV for granted, and now I realize how good I really had it. The USA makes the best freakin' TV shows in the world, and to quote the most awesome guy in the universe Joe Donatelli, "right now is the Golden Era of Television." I soon realized shortly after moving to Japan that Japanese TV sucks ass. Let me explain the primary reasons...
Recently a friend of a friend contacted me with questions regarding my experiences in the Japanese entertainment industry. Below is my reply.
How hard has it been for you to break in? The biggest advantage with my comedy has been simply being a foreigner. This obviously really helps in getting me noticed. People remember me, and I stand out at auditions. I've never met another foreigner doing comedy in Japanese, and I'm always the only non-Japanese at comedy auditions or live shows. There are a few I've seen on TV, but almost never consistently. The biggest one I can think of is "Bobby"--an African guy that speaks fluently.
But there have been major challenges with breaking in. I certainly don't fit "the pattern" often seen on mainstream Japanese media. I sing funny songs in Japanese, and sometimes they're about taboo topics. Japanese comedians rarely reference politics, but I dabble in political satire as it provides a well of comedic sources (How could you NOT make fun of the drunk Japanese finance minister!?). The one time I got on a major
I recently partook in a gig as an extra in a new Japanese drama coming out in April. 8:00am - 5:00pm and no pay.
So I show up at this abandoned Japanese elementary school at 8:00am. 50 Japanese and 1 white guy (me). Guess who stands out? No worries…I’m used to that. …or AM I?
The Good: * 80% hot-ass girls that wanna be on TV wearing mini-skirts and stockings in 1 degree C weather. In their defense, we were asked to dress for spring. But since it was so cold, they kept jumping and bouncing (insert cartoony sound effect here). I felt like I was 13 and hanging out with the boys on the playground again. * Saw 3 celebrity model actresses in school girl outfits. They were even hotter. My pants looked like a summer camp tent at this point. * The PAs directing us were actually pretty nice. Didn’t expect that considering the guy on the phone the day before was kind of a dick.
The Bad: * Standing around doing nothing shot after shot. * Thinking there’s no way I’m even getting on camera in these shots. I'd walk 2-3 steps, then hear them yell, "cut!" * The ever-growing feeling that I’m wasting my time here.
The Ugly: * Being the only foreigner and really feeling out of place. The setting was supposed to be a Japanese high school. Why the hell would a white dude be at a Japanese high school? Don't answer that. * Thinking to myself: “They don’t need a white dude extra for these scenes. I’m just gonna stand out, and extras probably aren't supposed to stand out since they're just meant to be in the background.” Why did they even call me? * Being told (albeit politely) that a foreigner wouldn’t really work for some of the shots. Ah ha! I was right!
The Resolution: I guess extras aren’t supposed to stand out! Lesson learned. A random white dude walking into a Japanese high school stands out. Whoops. Luckily, I didn’t waste my time. I just ditched around 11:00am. No way I’m gonna do that til 5:00pm. I went home and enjoyed the rest of my day off. I’m happy I learned a lot from the experience of it all. And knowing is half the battle.
