Oshi-Katsu Chronicle 1984: The Checkers, Dragon Ball's Debut, Ticket Pia and Nausicaä on the Big Screen
In 1984, Ticket Pia began full-scale ticket sales in which a computer manages the seats. Phone reservations and over-the-counter sales made it possible to apply for a seat to go see a show.
On the music shows, the Checkers and Koji Kikkawa drew attention, and in manga, the serialization of Dragon Ball began. Comic Market, where fans bring doujinshi (self-published fan books), kept growing too, and the challenge was finding venues and ways to run the event that could take in everyone who wanted to take part.
The Checkers and Koji Kikkawa: Costumes and Performance Draw Attention Along With the Voice
The Checkers, who had debuted the year before, widened their popularity with “Namida no Request” (“Tearful Request”), released in January. A seven-piece band, they were also known for their checked costumes and the members’ hairstyles. ORICON NEWS (in Japanese)
In February, Koji Kikkawa debuted with “Monica.” It was also the theme song of his own starring film Sukanpin Walk, so people had a chance to meet the newcomer through both song and film. Record of the debut song (in Japanese)
On the music program The Best Ten, three Checkers songs, including “Namida no Request,” ranked at the same time. ORICON NEWS (in Japanese)
The band Anzen Chitai had a hit with “Koi no Yokan” (“Premonition of Love”) and drew fans with the singing voice of vocalist Koji Tamaki. TOWER RECORDS / Mikiki (in Japanese)
Ticket Pia Starts in Earnest: Applying for Shows by Phone and at the Counter
In April, Ticket Pia began full-scale online ticket sales by computer. It followed the dedicated sales system for the Shiki Theatre Company’s Cats the year before. Pia Corporation (in Japanese)
“Online” here means a system that links the computer handling seat information to points of sale over a line. The tools were different from today’s web booking, and fans applied by phone or at a shop.
Reserve by phone
Tell them the show name, your preferred date and so on, and apply for tickets.
Buy at a shop
Through the person at the counter, buy seats for the show you want.
The same April, the “Pia Card” membership program also began. Service in the Kansai region started two years later, in April 1986. Pia Corporation (in Japanese)
- 01Find the sale dateLearn when and how to apply
- 02ApplyBy phone or at a shop counter
- 03Seat is matchedA computer manages the seats
- 04Go to the showIf seats remain
For popular shows, seats were limited even with the new system.
Comic Market Reaches the 30,000 Scale: Rethinking Exhibit Space and Moving Books
The 26th Comic Market on August 19 drew 2,400 circles (the creators and groups of friends who sell their books at a table) and an estimated 30,000 participants. The chronology also records that, because of venue constraints and other reasons, more than 800 circles were asked to sit out. Meiji University Yoshihiro Yonezawa Memorial Library (in Japanese)
- 2,400
- Circles taking part
- 30,000
- Estimated participants
- 800+
- Circles asked to sit out
Venue limits meant not everyone who wished to exhibit could do so.
Source: Meiji University Yonezawa Memorial Library (in Japanese)
The Nausicaä Film and the Start of the Dragon Ball Serialization
In March, Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind opened in theaters, and in July so did Super Dimension Fortress Macross: Do You Remember Love?. In Macross, the theme song sung by the in-story idol Lin Minmay also became well known. Studio Ghibli (in Japanese) / Macross official site (in Japanese)
In October the TV anime Fist of the North Star began, and in the issue of Weekly Shonen Jump that went on sale November 20, Dragon Ball started its serialization. Toei Animation (in Japanese) / Dragon Ball official site (in Japanese)
On the Famicom too, software such as Golf, Lode Runner and Pac-Man appeared. A distinguishing feature was that after buying the console you could add software and play different games. Nintendo: Famicom timeline (in Japanese)
More CDs, and a Service for Reading Information Over Phone Lines
Domestic CD production in 1984 was about 6.37 million discs. In the Recording Industry Association of Japan’s statistics, it rose to about 20.64 million the following year, 1985. The CD, only recently on sale, gradually spread as a format for buying music. Recording Industry Association of Japan (in Japanese)
- 6.37 million
- Discs made in Japan in 1984
- 20.64 million
- Discs made in Japan in 1985
Records and cassettes stayed in use, so fans chose among formats.
Source: Recording Industry Association of Japan (in Japanese)
In November, Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Public Corporation (Den-Den Kosha), the telephone operator of the time, began commercial service of the Captain System. Using phone lines, it calls up text and graphics on a TV screen. Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, White Paper (in Japanese) / Record of the service launch (in Japanese)
The Captain System service continued until 2002.
Key Events of the Year
- Jan.The Checkers go national with "Namida no Request"Idols
- Feb. 1Koji Yoshikawa debuts with the single "Monica"Music
- Mar.The animated film Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind is releasedAnime & manga
- Apr.Ticket Pia begins full-scale computerized reservation salesBusiness
- Jul.The animated film Macross: Do You Remember Love? is releasedAnime & manga
- Jul.A new facsimile communication service beginsMedia & tech
- Jul.–Aug.The Los Angeles Olympics are held, with the women's marathon as an official event for the first timeSports
- Aug. 19Comic Market 26 (2,400 circles; an estimated 30,000 attendees)Media & tech
- Oct.The TV anime Fist of the North Star begins broadcastingAnime & manga
- Nov. 20Dragon Ball begins serialization in Weekly Shonen JumpAnime & manga
- Nov. 30NTT begins commercial service of the "CAPTAIN System"Media & tech
- Dec. 23Comic Market 27 switches to one space per circleMedia & tech
- Dec. 31The 26th Japan Record Awards create the Album Award and the Best Star AwardMusic
- All yearSoftware for the Famicom (Nintendo Entertainment System) suddenly multiplies, with titles such as Golf and Lode RunnerGames
- All yearAnzen Chitai's "Koi no Yokan" becomes a hitMusic
- Namida no RequestThe Checkers widen their popularity
- Koji Kikkawa debutsWith "Monica"
- Nausicaä opens in theaters
- Ticket Pia begins in earnestComputer-managed seats
- Macross film opensDo You Remember Love?
- Comic Market 262,400 circles
- Dragon Ball and Captain SystemSerialization begins November 20
Ways of getting to a show, a book or a story were multiplying.
The Year’s Buzzword Awards
- New words · GoldOshin shindorome ("Oshin Syndrome," after the hit NHK drama Oshin)
- Jane Condon (freelance journalist, Time)
- New words · SilverSuzumushi hatsugen (the "bell cricket remark")
- Yasuhiro Nakasone (Prime Minister)
- New words · BronzeSukizo / Parano ("schizo" and "paranoid" types, Asada's labels for two ways of living)
- Akira Asada (assistant, Kyoto University)
- New words · Special AwardTokushu yokujo ("special bathhouse," the new name for Turkish baths)
- Ilhan Oguz (counselor, Embassy of Turkey)
- Popular phrases · GoldMarukin / Marubi ("rich" and "poor" classes)
- Kazuhiro Watanabe (illustrator)
- Popular phrases · SilverKurenai-zoku (the "won't-do-it-for-me" tribe, people who complain others won't do things for them)
- Staff of the TBS Friday drama "Kurenai-zoku no Hanran"
- Popular phrases · BronzeGiwaku ("suspicion")
- Shukan Bunshun editorial staff
- Popular phrases · Special AwardSen-en pakku ("1,000-yen pack")
- Morinaga & Co., Ltd.
- Popular phrases · Popular AwardSu-go-i-de-su-ne ("It's am-az-ing, isn't it")
- George Tokoro (entertainer)
- Popular phrases · Popular AwardKyokan! ("Instructor!")
- Chiemi Hori (singer)
This was the first year of the awards. The gold prize in the new-word category, “Oshin Syndrome,” was a term born from the huge response to the drama Oshin. The People’s Prize in the trendy-phrase category also went to “Kyokan!” (“Instructor!”), a line from a drama in which Chiemi Hori appeared. Jiyu Kokuminsha: winners of the first awards (in Japanese)
In 1985, the idol group Onyanko Club emerged from Yuyake Nyan Nyan, and Super Mario Bros. became a huge hit on the Famicom.
FAQ
When did Ticket Pia begin?
According to the corporate history of Pia Corporation, it ran test sales in October 1983 on a dedicated system for the Shiki Theatre Company's Cats, then began in earnest in April 1984 as Japan's first computerized online ticket sales.
How big was Comic Market in 1984?
According to the chronology from the Meiji University Yoshihiro Yonezawa Memorial Library, the 26th event on August 19 had 2,400 circles and an estimated 30,000 attendees, and more than 800 circles were asked to hold off on taking part. From the 27th event on December 23, a one-space-per-circle system was adopted.
Who won the Japan Record Awards in 1984?
According to the Japan Composers Association, the Grand Prix went to Hiroshi Itsuki for "Nagaragawa Enka." That year the Album Grand Prix and the Best Star Award were newly created, and were won by Mariko Takahashi's *TRIAD* and Akina Nakamori respectively. The Best New Artist award went to Yukiko Okada for "Koi, Hajimemashite."
Which singers debuted in 1984?
On February 1, Koji Kikkawa debuted with the single "Monica," which reached No. 4 on the Oricon chart and sold 339,000 copies. The Checkers, who had debuted the previous September, became nationally known with "Namida no Request," released in January.
How many CDs were produced in 1984?
According to production figures from the Recording Industry Association of Japan, CD production in 1984 was about 6.37 million discs, valued at ¥14.439 billion. In 1985 it rose to about 20.64 million discs and ¥47.931 billion, roughly 3.2 times as much in a single year.
What won the Buzzword of the Year awards in 1984?
It was the first year of the awards. The gold prize in the new-word category was "Oshin Syndrome," and the gold prize in the trendy-phrase category was "Marukin, Marubi." The People's Prize also went to "Kyokan!" ("Instructor!"), a catchphrase from a drama starring Chiemi Hori.
