Ok, the original title of this article I got from Allkpop.com is “TVXQ banned in Japan?”. But I think that title is ridiculous and too exaggerated because they aren’t actually banned in Japan (for goodness sake, Japanese people love them that’s why they were able to make Oricon Charts history!). I guess it is to make the article more intriguing (well, I honestly think the topic of the article is really intriguing). Anyway, I thought of a more appropriate title fot this because I refuse to use that title. Mine isn’t any better but at least it’s a bit more on topic. =) Here’s the article from Allkpop.com:

According to S-San’s Blog (a Japanese staff member for TVXQ/Tohoshinki/DBSK) the rumor that TVXQ has been blocked from Music Station was confirmed. On his blog he wondered why TVXQ was on Music Station’s #1 list this week, yet weren’t invited to perform. Music Station is a highly popular music show in Japan, similar to MTV’s TRL here in the states.

Rumors and conspiracy theories were created when TVXQ received many #1’s on both the Oricon Daily and Weekly charts, yet weren’t invited to the Music Station show. Almost every other artist who were in the top 10 let alone the artists who’ve reached #1 were invited to perform. Many people believe the reason for this is because Johnny’s Entertainment has a secret pact with Music Station. Some people think that TVXQ poses a threat to Johnny’s therefore the non-invites.

This is an unfortunate situation, but at the same time if the situations were reversed – I could see Korea doing the same thing to a Japanese artist. (thanks to Melissa & Sandra for the tip)

There’s only one thing I can say on this issue: IT’S MUSIC STATION’S LOSS AND NOT TVXQ. They’re actually foregoing a chance of guesting such talented artists on their show. Although it is a popular program in Japan, TVXQ was able to survive even without its help. THEY BECAME SUCCESSFUL AND POPULAR IN JAPAN EVEN WITHOUT GUESTING ON THAT PROGRAM. So I really think it’s Music Station’s loss. I also think that sooner or later, Japanese fans will begin to ask them why the boys aren’t guesting on the show despite their achievements in Japan. Good luck to them in devising reasons to appease those fans. ;p And IF ever the secret pact between Music Station and JE is indeed true, then sucks for both of them. Is TVXQ really that scary? Well, can’t blame JE because TVXQ is really a force to be reckoned with.

EDIT: I found a translation of S-San’s original blog entry from this site. Here’s the translation:

Brief summary/translation of his post:
He hasn’t written in a while. It’s been really hot in Japan and he’s been thinking about various things when working.

The boys wonderfully reached #1 in the weekly singles chart with the fans’ strong support.

Also the members are really happy, and their self-confidence has been boosted.

The TV-promotion continues busy this week. They’re being in more shows than ever before this time, they’re for the first time in 「THE M」 and 「CDTV」

T/N: I translated this part sentence-for-sentence because I think this is what interests people:

There’s a certain really popular program where the boys haven’t been able to appear since they’ve [the program] been rejecting any interest the [Avex] promotion-team’s been showing that way.

The promoter in charge has been fighting hard and will keep trying. The boys have reached #1 in this program’s ranking, but when it comes to the offer about guesting in the show and a performance…Even after three weekly #1s, there’s nothing from that direction.There hasn’t really been any kind of an explanation offered about the issue either, but the team will keep working hard for an appearance in that show!

But if it continues like this and the inquiries keep coming from the viewers as well, how can a music program explain this kind of behaviour?

T/N: Here we go for the record store-issue:

Of course the promotion-team is striving for the best possible set-up in the stores (but obviously, so are all of the other artists’ promotors as well).
It depends on every store (chain) where they put the releases; and some of the stores have the Tohoshinki in the “Foreign acts” -section instead of “Jpop”.

The store’s bought the CDs so naturally they can advertise it how they want to and how they think it will sell the best.

They’ve been trying to have some type of an agreement on this, but especially now when they changed the release date for “Kimisuki” in such a short notice, it became even harder to get the majority of the shops to put the single in the Jpop-section instead of Foreign acts.

It’s better when you have time to talk to the stores way before the release and assure things, because all the things are mostly decided abour 6 months before the release already. So a date-change doesn’t make things easier at all.

So they had to cancel the space reserved for the CDs in the stores for the original release week, and ask for another setting for the new week.

Of course that messes up the stores’ plans and they have to be quick and get a Plan B up. And most of them decided to give the maximum exposure by putting Kimisuki in the foreign-shelves.

-more stuff about the Jpop- and world-corners in the shops-
Tohoshinki will continue releasing Jpop (with good results).

They hope that the fans will understand the managing team and the stores’ policies. The team will keep working and he believes that the sales will do well during the next few weeks.

He apologizes for the long entry, but thinks that it will be useful for the people interested in the music industry in general.

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Source: S-Diary – http://ameblo.jp/s-diary/entry-10119576243.html
Blog entry dated: July 24, 2008 12:41:30
Translation Credits: aleyna @ JpopMusic Forums