Best Jeanist Awards 2006
Posted by sarah on 09-18-2006
What is a "Jeanist," you say? According to the Japan Jeans Makers Association, it’s a person who looks hot in jeans. Created by the JJMA, the Best Jeanist Awards have been running annually since the mid-eighties in order to revive lagging jeans sales.
This year, the primary "Jeanist Award" went to Shizuka Arakawa, the Olympic Gold Medalist in figure skating. Honorable mentions went to pop idol Kazuya Kamenashi, singer Kumi Koda, Yokohama Mayor Hiroshi Nakada and actress Yumiko Shaku.
This is the first time in six years that someone other than pop-sensation Ayumi Hamasaki has won. Hamasaki was disallowed in this year’s contest due to her previous five-year winning streak.
The Jeanist Awards are advertised in denim retailers where the public can vote for the one of the prominent Japanese personas nominated by the JJMA. The notoriety of the nominees for this award, combined with the public’s involvement in the voting process has been attributed to the success of this widely recognized awards ceremony.
Despite the fact that "Jeanist" isn’t even a real word, and that this competition seems to be the denim-clad cousin of the wet t-shirt contest, winning is considered a true achievement by the celebrities. The award is even listed on the personal sites and biographies of the winners. (Check out Ayumi Hamasaki’s list of personal achievements)
The true winners in this contest are the JJMA and the denim retailers. Sales in jeans have increased by 50% since the introduction of this award 21 years ago.
What’s next? In a similar vein, leather has been trying to make a comeback through the ‘Best Leathernist Awards’. So far, only models and actresses have been nominated for this short-lived contest. Politicians just don’t seem to have the image necessary for this award. Go figure.
September 18th, 2006 at 7:16 pm
I got into Japanese music around the time Ayumi came out. Her songs are pretty addictive but all tend to be very club/dance like, which is I guess what pop music is. She's been called the Madonna of Japan lots and lots of times because, although her career is much shorter, she has that ability to change her style and image each album that comes out, hence the reason she's always topped as a trendsetter.
Koda Kumi, this year's jeanster, has been gaining a lot of popularity in the last year or two mainly because of her (what I consider raunchy) sexy videos, although her music is nothing outstanding.