In recent years, the Japanese concert industry has seen incredible growth. In 2006, there were 47,632 concerts attended by 24.54 million people. Last year, there were 56,042 concerts attended by 44.86 million people. Along with this growth, a problem has reared its head: ticket scalping.
Concert ticket scalping is a big problem in Japan. Scalpers buy multiple tickets at the original price, leaving less for the public to buy at face value. They then sell these tickets online at an increased price, with some fetching as much as 10 times their face value online. The public is cheated by paying these high prices, but some do pay them. Between less tickets being available at the original price and the high price of scalped tickets, much of the public can’t go to concerts as frequently. They also can’t buy the tour merchandise at the concerts.
To stop this problem, the group Tenbai No (translation: Resale No) has been formed. Today, the group took out full page ads in 2 of Japan’s biggest newspapers, Asahi and Yomiuri (the Yomiuri ad can be seen above). The ads read “Hantai shimasu” (“to be opposed to”) in large type followed by a statement in Japanese which reads: “We are against the high-priced reselling of tickets, which is depriving music of its future.” The ad then lists the 116 music acts, 24 events, and 4 music organizations that agree with Tenbai No. It’s a veritable who’s who of the Japanese music industry.
These ads are accompanied by the launch of the Tenbai No website. On the site, Kadoike Mitsunori, president of the Federation of Music Producers Japan, wrote: “Artists and concert staff work hard every day to present great performances to as many music fans as possible. High-priced reselling of tickets is a problem that can destroy the positive relationship that exists between artists and music fans.”
This is the first time such a large scale industry-wide effort has been made regarding ticket scalping. However, acts already have anti-scalping measures in place. Facial scanning systems were used by Arashi earlier this year to prevent single buyers from purchasing multiple tickets. Momoiro Clover Z, B’z, and Mr. Children have used such technology since 2014.
This may sound like a good solution, but what does this mean for international fans? Many fans have to go to Japan to see their faves live, and scalpers are one of the biggest ways to obtain concert tickets, since so many concerts require a Japanese address, credit card, and / or ID.
See which acts, events, and organizations agree with Tenbai No below!
Acts:
aiko
ASIAN KUNG-FU GENERATION
amazarashi
Namie Amuro
Arashi
[Alexandros]
Leo Ieiri
Ikimonogakari
VAMPS
UVERworld
A.B.C-Z
Every Little Thing
m-flo
Oda Kazumasa
GACKT
the GazettE
KAT-TUN
KANA-BOON
Tomomi Kahara
Kanjani8
Kishitani Kaori
Kis-My-ft2
Kikkawa Koji
KICK THE CAN CREW
Kyary Pamyu Pamyu
KinKi Kids
Mai Kuraki
GRANRODEO
Chris Hart
GReeeeN
GLAY
KREVA
Gesu no Kiwami Otome.
Ketsumeishi
Koda Kumi
Hiromi Go
Golden Bomber
The Gospellers
Kobukuro
Masahiko Kondo
THE YELLOW MONKEY
Saito Kazuyoshi
Sakanaction
Southern All Stars
now Masashi
The Birthday
the HIATUS
the pillows
THE BAWDIES
THE ALFEE
THE ORAL CIGARETTES
Zeebra
Johnny’s WEST
Johnny’s Jr.
JAM Project
Shonan no Kaze
Sukima Switch
Spitz
Seikima-II
sexy Zone
Takahashi Mariko
Takeuchi Mariya
Tackey & Tsubasa
TUBE
Teshima Aoi
DEPAPEPE
10-FEET
Tohoshinki
Dohatsuten
TRICERATOPS
Dragon Ash
DREAMS COME TRUE
AAA
Naoto Inti Raymu
Miyuki Nakajima
Nagabuchi Tsuyoshi
Nishino Kana
NEWS
Hi-STANDARD
Hata Motohiro
back number
Perfume
Ayumi Hamasaki
Hamada Shogo
B’z
Himuro Kyosuke
Funky Kato
Masaharu Fukuyama
Fujii Fumiya
flumpool
BREAKERZ
Love Live!
Hey! Say! JUMP
BABY METAL
Hoshino Gen
Porno Graffitti
My Little Lover
Yumi Matsutoya
MAN WITH A MISSION
MISIA
Mr.Children
May J.
May’n
MONGOL800
Yamazaki Masayoshi
Yamashita Tatsuro
Yamashita Tomohisa
Yusuke
YUKI
Yuzu
UNISON SQUARE GARDEN
Unicorn
RADWIMPS
The Rainbow
LiSA
licking
Events:
Animelo Summer Live
ARABAKI ROCK FEST.
AIR JAM
a-nation
Augusta Camp
Kyotodai Sakusen
JOIN ALIVE
Jounetsu Tairiku SPECIAL LIVE SUMMER TIME BONANZA
SWEET LOVE SHOWER
TV Asahi Dream Festival
TOKYO・OSAKA METROPOLITAN ROCK FESTIVAL
TREASURE05X
NANO-MUGEN FES.
NUMBER SHOT
KNOTFEST JAPAN
Haha ni Kansha no Concert
VIVA LA ROCK
FUJI ROCK FESTIVAL
MONSTER baSH
RISING SUN ROCK FESTIVAL in EZO
RUSH BALL
RADIO CRAZY
ROCK IN JAPAN FESTIVAL
WILD BUNCH FEST.
Organizations:
Federation of Music Producers Japan (FMPJ)
Japan Association of Music Enterprises (JAME)
All Japan Concert & Live Entertainment Promoter’s Conference (ACPC)
Computer Ticketing Conference Association
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