Japan in blogs: Did Namie Amuro plagiarize?

First it was G-Dragon who was under the scrutiny of Korean netizens, this time its Japanese artist Namie Amuro.

South Korean magazine has stated that Amuro’s cover for her upcoming album “PAST < FUTURE” is a copy and Japan’s netizens on 2ch are calling it an “international disgrace” and are saying that the cover should be changed immediately. Japan is very proud of its top stars so for a Korean fashion magazine to publish this is a disgrace, especially since South Korea has been ‘plagiarizing’ (so to speak) Japan (i.e. the TV/variety shows) earlier this year.

Amuro who will release her new album “PAST < FUTURE” after 2-years has gained popularity all over Asia. She is a Oricon Chart topper and is voted as ‘most liked celebrity’ and ‘nicest female artist and lifestyle’ (ok its something along those lines, not exactly).

This album is expected to sell more than 500K just in the first week alone. Last year her album, “the best Fiction (BEST FICTION)” sold over 1,800,000, so this album is no exception.

Who caught this album jacket fluke is David from a fashion magazine, who remembers seeing the same picture from a past March issue with Russian model Vlada Roslyakova. Amuro’s jacket photo is almost exactly the same in both composition and hairstyle.

While I am loving the cover of her new album, she really should change it. Korean netizens were all over G-Dragon’s so-called ‘plagiarism’, but now Japanese netizens are all over Amuro’s, especially since it’s from a Korean fashion magazine. I still love Amuro so she’ll still get much love and support from us. Technically netizen’s shouldn’t blame her, its her production team who came up with the idea (I think) so they should be blaming her management, she’s just the talent.

release date: 2009.12.16

AVCD-38010 / 3990yen (Tax incl.) $43.53USD

Pre-Order: CDJ

Track list:

1. WILD

2. Dr.

3. MY LOVE

4. COPY THAT

5. FAST CAR

6. BAD HABIT

7. LOVE GAME

8. Steal my night

9. Shut Up

10. The Meaning Of Us

11. Defend Love

12. FIRST TIMER

[DVD]

1. FAST CAR (MV)

2. LOVE GAME (MV)

3. The Meaning Of Us (MV)

4. Defend Love (MV)

5. WILD (MV)

6. Dr. (MV)