I have a question :
I've written to several Japanese artists already and I NEVER ever got a reply from any of them . WHY ?
I'd like to know if some of you have ever gotten replies ? Do they ( at least ) read the letters they get from fans ( from abroad too ) ?
Maybe I'm asking for too much but , seriously, they do NOT have many fans outside Japan , so I don't understand why they don't make any effort to reply to them ... I'm very disappointed ! ( and I've sent letters written in Japanese though )

No surprise really.

They probably get hundreds/thousands of letters... They just can't reply to all (any?) of them, I guess.

I didn't write to the most famous artists though ......

Helene wrote:

I didn't write to the most famous artists though ......

Even the less famous ones probably get their fair share of fan letters.

I would not expect a personal reply from an artist. They are busy enough and have their own private lives.

Me too, I am busy and I have my own private life !
Japanese fans write to artists A LOT ?

Helene wrote:

Me too, I am busy and I have my own private life ! Japanese fans write to artists A LOT ?

I remember writing to a few American actors/actresses. Usually, they would send a black and white (sometimes colored) press photo autographed. I have one of Ming na wen somewhere.
I even remember one actor that wrote me back a couple of times! I was so happy...

I think in Japan, fanmail gets handled by the fanclub? And most of these fanclubs require membership fees.
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In the 1950s there was an American TV show titled "The Adventures of Superman"

Noel Neill, who played Lois Lane for 4 years on that show did a radio interview recently, telling the story about how half the cast was ready to quit the show two years in, because they thought no one was watching. No one cared. No one ever sent them any fan mail!

When the studio came to get the actors to sign new contracts in 1955, the actors pretty much told them no thanks. They explained why they didn't want to waste their time doing a show that no one cared about...

And that's when the studio told them that all fan mail, and all requests for pictures and autographs had been redirected to an office in the business department of the studio, and that a staff of clerks had been working full time, handling the mountains of fan mail for years.

The actors never saw any of it.

Once the actors were brought to the office, and shown the mail... they all signed new contracts.

Actors and actresses (especially on TV and in Film) love to get fan mail. They may not read it. They may not be able to read it. And if they're really popular, they probably have to hire assistants, or a service, to deal with all the mail.

But they love it. Fan mail, to a TV or Film actor, is like applause to a real--er, ah -- stage actor.

You may not get a response to a letter you send. But here's the question; Are you writing to let them know that you're out there watching and enjoying what they are doing? Or are you just writing because you want something more from them?

And by the way, if you're writing, asking for an autographed picture or something, you stand a better chance of getting one if you include a stamped, self addressed envelope in the letter you send.
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Geezer wrote:

In the 1950s there was an American TV show titled "The Adventures of Superman" Noel Neill, who played Lois Lane for 4 years on that show did a radio interview recently, telling the story about how half the cast was ready to quit the show two years in, because they thought no one was watching. No one cared. No one ever sent them any fan mail! When the studio came to get the actors to sign new contracts in 1955, the actors pretty much told them no thanks. They explained why they didn't want to waste their time doing a show that no one cared about... And that's when the studio told them that all fan mail, and all requests for pictures and autographs had been redirected to an office in the business department of the studio, and that a staff of clerks had been working full time, handling the mountains of fan mail for years. The actors never saw any of it. Once the actors were brought to the office, and shown the mail... they all signed new contracts. Actors and actresses (especially on TV and in Film) love to get fan mail. They may not read it. They may not be able to read it. And if they're really popular, they probably have to hire assistants, or a service, to deal with all the mail. But they love it. Fan mail, to a TV or Film actor, is like applause to a real--er, ah -- stage actor. You may not get a response to a letter you send. But here's the question; Are you writing to let them know that you're out there watching and enjoying what they are doing? Or are you just writing because you want something more from them? And by the way, if you're writing, asking for an autographed picture or something, you stand a better chance of getting one if you include a stamped, self addressed envelope in the letter you send.

Great story, Geez.

I'd better get to typing.....

Geezer wrote:

In the 1950s there was an American TV show titled "The Adventures of Superman" Noel Neill, who played Lois Lane for 4 years on that show did a radio interview recently, telling the story about how half the cast was ready to quit the show two years in, because they thought no one was watching. No one cared. No one ever sent them any fan mail! When the studio came to get the actors to sign new contracts in 1955, the actors pretty much told them no thanks. They explained why they didn't want to waste their time doing a show that no one cared about... And that's when the studio told them that all fan mail, and all requests for pictures and autographs had been redirected to an office in the business department of the studio, and that a staff of clerks had been working full time, handling the mountains of fan mail for years. The actors never saw any of it. Once the actors were brought to the office, and shown the mail... they all signed new contracts. Actors and actresses (especially on TV and in Film) love to get fan mail. They may not read it. They may not be able to read it. And if they're really popular, they probably have to hire assistants, or a service, to deal with all the mail. But they love it. Fan mail, to a TV or Film actor, is like applause to a real--er, ah -- stage actor. You may not get a response to a letter you send. But here's the question; Are you writing to let them know that you're out there watching and enjoying what they are doing? Or are you just writing because you want something more from them? And by the way, if you're writing, asking for an autographed picture or something, you stand a better chance of getting one if you include a stamped, self addressed envelope in the letter you send.

wowie .. yeah u have another thanks in your lap, very interesting story !

how the hell do u end with all this data man !! ..

Well, when I write to an artist , I let them know that I appreciate their work , that I like to watch their films or dramas , and listen to their CDs . I don't say " please write back and send me an autograph " , but something like " If you have time, I'd be happy to get a reply from you " . But the Japanese artists never reply !
several years ago, I've sent a letter to American Actor Lou Diamond Philips . 3 weeks later , He sent me an autographed picture and a postcard saying " thanx for your support , I am happy to have an admirer in France , I wish you good luck for your own career " ( I'm a model ) . 6 months later , I've sent him a postcard for Christmas , and guess what ? he sent me one too !!
Also, another story : One of my Japanese pals ( Junko ) is a fan of French actor Jean Reno ( international star ) . She asked me " helene, I want to send a letter to Jean Reno but I need you to translate my letter into French " . I did , and Junko sent her letter from Japan . 2 months later, Jean Reno sent her an autographed picture of him and greetings !
So ... I do NOT understand why Japanese artists don't reply to the letters they get ... but of course, if they can't read them, they can't reply ! so who's to blame ? the offices ? the fan clubs ?
that really sucks !!!!!!!

Helene wrote:

Well, when I write to an artist , I let them know that I appreciate their work , that I like to watch their films or dramas , and listen to their CDs . I don't say " please write back and send me an autograph " , but something like " If you have time, I'd be happy to get a reply from you " . But the Japanese artists never reply ! several years ago, I've sent a letter to American Actor Lou Diamond Philips . 3 weeks later , He sent me an autographed picture and a postcard saying " thanx for your support , I am happy to have an admirer in France , I wish you good luck for your own career " ( I'm a model ) . 6 months later , I've sent him a postcard for Christmas , and guess what ? he sent me one too !! Also, another story : One of my Japanese pals ( Junko ) is a fan of French actor Jean Reno ( international star ) . She asked me " helene, I want to send a letter to Jean Reno but I need you to translate my letter into French " . I did , and Junko sent her letter from Japan . 2 months later, Jean Reno sent her an autographed picture of him and greetings ! So ... I do NOT understand why Japanese artists don't reply to the letters they get ... but of course, if they can't read them, they can't reply ! so who's to blame ? the offices ? the fan clubs ? that really sucks !!!!!!!

Don't mean to burst peoples bubbles but can you prove Jean Reno (who I do like ) and Lou Diamond Philips actually replied to those letters? perhaps someone in the fan club office autographed them. how do you know if someone's signature is correct or not?

please give the Japanese artistes some slack. blame their respective fan club personnel for not signing photos and replying to letters!!

why is my message on twice?

maybe i have a twitch!

kenjilina wrote:

why is my message on twice? maybe i have a twitch!

I took care of it... There seems to be a continual problem with making posts... Lotsa double posts happening lately.

People are getting too "trigger happy"....
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i still have something that i didn`t understand....u all really postting mail to the company(their work place)... and waitting the reply mail?

acctually what kind of thing u all hoping 4?
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