Oshi-Katsu Chronicle 1989: The Heisei Era Begins, the Ikaten Band Boom and the Game Boy Arrives
Japan’s calendar year 1989 carried two era names. Emperor Showa died on January 7, and from the next day, January 8, the era became Heisei. Within the same year, it was both Showa 64 and the first year of Heisei.
In February, the TV show Yuji Miyake’s Ikasu Band Tengoku, where amateur bands competed with their playing, began, and in April the Game Boy went on sale.
- Heisei beginsEmperor Showa died on January 7
- Ikaten beginsAmateur bands on TBS
- X debuts, Game Boy launchesBLUE BLOOD; handheld play
- Hibari Misora diesShe was 52
- The Best Ten endsEpisode 603
- Comic Market movesThe 37th, at Makuhari Messe
New bands, new machines and the end of a weekly ranking show.
“Ikaten” Begins: Cheering Bands on TV Before Their Debut
On February 11, Yuji Miyake’s Ikasu Band Tengoku began on the TV network TBS. Its nickname was “Ikaten.” Amateur bands appeared, and judges rated their playing. Program record (in Japanese)
Viewers could hear the songs and watch the playing of bands not yet widely known, and pick out the groups that caught their interest. FLYING KIDS, BEGIN and Tama became known through the program.
X Makes Its Major Debut, and Princess Princess Heads for the Budokan
In April, X made its major debut with the album BLUE BLOOD. A band that had put out a record on its own independent label the year before now began delivering its work through a major record company. Sony Music (in Japanese)
Princess Princess played their first shows at Tokyo’s Nippon Budokan arena on January 23-25, another step up to a bigger venue from the Shibuya Public Hall show the year before. Official live report (in Japanese)
The Death of Hibari Misora, and the End of The Best Ten
On June 24, Hibari Misora died at age 52. The year before, she had held her “Phoenix Concert” at Tokyo Dome. That year she was awarded the People’s Honor Award, the first woman to receive it. Hibari Misora official (in Japanese)
At the year-end Japan Record Awards, “Kawa no Nagare no Yo ni” (“Like the Flow of a River”) won the Gold Prize and the Work Award, and Hibari Misora received a Special Honor Singer Award. Japan Composers Association (in Japanese)
On September 28, the music program The Best Ten, which had run since 1978, ended at episode 603. The final No. 1 was Shizuka Kudo’s “Kosa ni Fukarete” (“Blown by the Yellow Dust”). The program’s highest rating had been 41.9%. Re:minder (in Japanese)
Meanwhile NHK’s New Year’s Eve song show, Kohaku Uta Gassen, was split into two parts beginning that year. The Japan Record Awards went to Wink’s “Sabishii Nettaigyo” (“Lonely Tropical Fish”). In the Kanto region, Kohaku’s first part drew a 38.5% rating and its second part 47.0%. Video Research (in Japanese) / Japan Composers Association (in Japanese)
Prejudice Against “Otaku” Spreads, and Comic Market Runs Three Times
That year, coverage of the serial abduction and murder case of young girls repeatedly took up the videos, manga and other items the culprit owned. As a result, reports and reactions spread that tied a negative image to people who like anime and manga as a whole. Bunshun Online’s review (in Japanese)
Reporters also swarmed Comic Market, where people who make doujinshi (fan-made books) gather. The preparation committee’s chronology records that staff were busy handling the media at the summer event. Comic Market Preparation Committee (in Japanese)
- Mar.
35th, Harumi
8,900 circles / 70,000 attendees combined
- Aug.
36th, Harumi
10,000 circles / 100,000 attendees combined
- Dec.
37th, Makuhari Messe
11,000 circles / 120,000 attendees combined
Each is the total for two days. Attendance figures are estimates from the organizer's chronology. Comic Market Preparation Committee (in Japanese)
- 70,000
- 35th, March
- 100,000
- 36th, August
- 120,000
- 37th, December, at Makuhari Messe
Estimates from the organizer's chronology. A circle is a group or individual selling at the event.
Even as prejudice against the hobby grew stronger, the activity of making books and distributing them at the venue continued. The image spread by the coverage of the case and the activity of each individual fan enjoying their works were not the same thing. The attendance figures above show it: participation kept growing through the year.
The Game Boy Goes on Sale: Playing Without a TV, and Outside the House
On April 21, Nintendo released the handheld game console Game Boy. The unit had its own screen, and you could swap cartridges to play different games. It was a machine you could carry anywhere, with no need for the family TV. Nintendo: chronology (in Japanese)
In June, Tetris went on sale, a game of stacking falling blocks and clearing a line by completing a horizontal row. Connect two units with a link cable and two people can play against each other. Nintendo: software list (in Japanese)
Dragon Ball Z Begins, and the Film Kiki’s Delivery Service Is a Hit
On April 26, Dragon Ball Z began airing. The series continues the story of Dragon Ball, following the grown-up Goku and his friends. Toei Animation (in Japanese)
In film, Kiki’s Delivery Service, released in July, took first place among Japanese films that year with distribution income of ¥2.15 billion. Distribution income is a statistic of the time showing the distributor’s share, not the total box-office revenue from theater admissions. Motion Picture Producers Association of Japan (in Japanese)
On TV
- Ikaten on late-night TV
- The Best Ten ranking show until September
- Dragon Ball Z, week by week
On stage
- X's major debut with BLUE BLOOD
- Princess Princess at the Budokan
- Small live houses for new bands
On the go
- Game Boy, no TV needed
- Tetris with a link cable
- Kiki's Delivery Service in theaters
A favorite could be found in the living room, the club or the pocket.
Key Events of the Year
- Jan. 7Emperor Showa dies; this was the last day of the Showa 64th yearSociety
- Jan. 8The era name changes to "Heisei"Society
- Jan. 23–25Princess Princess plays the Nippon Budokan for the first timeMusic
- Feb. 9Osamu Tezuka dies at age 60Anime & manga
- Feb. 11TBS begins broadcasting "Miyake Yuji no Ikasu Band Tengoku"Media
- Mar. 25–26Comic Market 35 (70,000 total visits over 2 days)Fan works
- Apr. 1Consumption tax (3% rate) is introducedBusiness
- Apr.X makes its major debut with "BLUE BLOOD"Music
- Apr. 21Nintendo releases the Game BoyGames
- Apr. 26The anime Dragon Ball Z begins broadcastingAnime
- June 24Hibari Misora dies at age 52Music
- SummerCoverage of a crime spreads prejudice against "otaku"Media
- Aug. 13–14Comic Market 36 (100,000 total visits over 2 days)Fan works
- Sept. 28"The Best Ten" ends its run after 603 episodesMedia
- Dec. 23–24Comiket 37 is held at Makuhari Messe (120,000 total visits)Fan works
- Dec. 31The 31st Japan Record Awards; the Grand Prix goes to WinkMusic
The Year’s Buzzword Awards
- New words · GoldSekushal harasumento (sexual harassment)
- Kazuko Kawamoto (lawyer)
- New words · SilverHanako (the Magazine House women's magazine)
- Yoshihisa Kinameri (president of Magazine House)
- New words · BronzeDODA / Deuda (suru) (job-change magazine; "to DODA" meant to switch jobs)
- Miyuki Inoue (president of Gakusei Engokai)
- Popular phrases · GoldObatarian / Obatarian senpu ("Obatarian," brash middle-aged women, and the "Obatarian whirlwind")
- Katsuhiko Hotta (cartoonist) and Takako Doi (chair of the Japan Socialist Party)
- Popular phrases · SilverKejime ("drawing the line," taking clear responsibility)
- Hiroshi Kume (anchor of ANB's "News Station")
- Popular phrases · Bronze24-jikan tatakaemasuka ("Can you fight for 24 hours?" from an energy-drink ad)
- Saburo Tokito (actor)
- Popular phrases · Popular AwardIkaten (short for TBS's band-audition show Ikasu Band Tengoku)
- Yuji Miyake (TBS "Ikasu Band Tengoku")
“Ikaten” won the People’s Prize in the buzzword category. The silver prize in the new-word category, “Hanako,” is the name of a magazine. Jiyu Kokuminsha: winners of the sixth awards (in Japanese)
In 1990, band hits continued and Sanrio Puroland opened. The widening of places to listen to music and to meet characters is the next theme.
FAQ
Is 1989 in the Showa era or the Heisei era?
Both. Through January 7 it was Showa 64, and after Emperor Showa died, the next day, January 8, became the first year of Heisei. It is an unusual year, with two era names inside one calendar year.
Why is Ikasu Band Tengoku important in oshi-katsu history?
It gave viewers a chance to watch amateur bands perform on TV and to start cheering for them before their debut. Its nickname "Ikaten" won the People's Prize at that year's New Words and Buzzwords Awards.
When did The Best Ten end?
It ended on September 28, 1989, at episode 603. The final No. 1 was Shizuka Kudo's "Kosa ni Fukarete," with Hikaru GENJI's "Taiyo ga Ippai" at No. 2. At the end of the year, the 40th NHK Kohaku Uta Gassen was split into two parts for the first time.
Who won the Japan Record Awards in 1989?
The Grand Prix went to Wink's "Sabishii Nettaigyo" ("Lonely Tropical Fish"). A Special Honor Singer Award went to Hibari Misora, who died in June, and the composition award was shared by Akira Mitake and Tetsuya Komuro.
How did the word "otaku" change in 1989?
Through coverage of the serial abduction and murder case of young girls, a usage spread that tied a negative image to fans of anime and video. In the same year, participation in doujinshi sales events kept growing.
How big was Comic Market in 1989?
It was held three times, with a combined attendance over each two-day run of 70,000 for the 35th in March, 100,000 for the 36th in August and 120,000 for the 37th in December. The 37th moved to Makuhari Messe, and the number of circles rose from 8,900 to 11,000.
